Malcolm Cox

Abraham’s New Thing relationship with God, Thames Valley churches of Christ, January 2024, Genesis 18  ‘A New Thing’ Series Class 2 — Abraham Introduction * When studying Abraham we often focus on the promises, the blessings and the sacrifice of Isaac * This class will focus on the newness within Abraham’s relationship with God * Genesis 18.16-33 1. God Trusts Abraham * He reveals himself * He accepts hospitality * He reveals his plans * He practices ‘vulnerability’ * Leads to a ‘partnership’ with Abraham - a new thing     * ‘he was no yes-man but a true partner.’ Tyndale * Jesus treats us as ‘friends’: John 15.15
 * Do you sense God trusts you? * What helps you believe Jesus sees you as his friend? * He made himself vulnerable to draw us to him -Philippians 2:5-8 NRSV * - ’Vulnerability begets vulnerability; courage is contagious.’ Daring Greatly, Brene Brown * * ‘Point of Grace’ song, ‘He believes in you’ — ,     * The story behind the song: https://youtu.be/fh_tdLFe67k?si=8TxCF76pHKe_fv1l     * YouTube

Teaching Tip 345 | “Plain Speaking - Don’t settle for mediocrity” | Malcolm Cox Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on chapter 2 of the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot.  Too much preaching and teaching is mediocre. A travesty! The Holy Spirit is not a limitation on your effectiveness as a speaker - he is an unlimited resource More likely, your lack of passion is the problem. We need to find the fire. How do we grow in our desire to speak about God for the benefit of other people?  Five things can help us according to Bercot: Understanding the privilege.“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors...” 2 Corinthians 5:20 Understand the responsibility. If we do not speak — who will? It might be those who speak in error, from false motives or for personal gain.  Understand the impact. Lives are changed by the Word of God, but it must be spoken for people to hear it, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard thro

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 461 | New Thing Series — Part 16 | “Abraham’s Blessings” | Malcolm Cox Introduction A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.' We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of Abraham. Today we explore Abraham’s blessings.  “The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”” (Genesis 12:1-3 NIV11) The words ‘bless’ and ‘blessing’ come up repeatedly here. I doubt Abraham was in any doubt about God’s desire to bless him and others through him.  Abraham’s Blessings

Introduction A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.' We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the lives of Elijah and Elisha. Today we explore Elisha’s faith.  “Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.” (2 Kings 2:13-15 NIV11) Elisha’s faith is tested by grief - Can you imagine how Elijah felt seeing his father in the faith leave him behind? -

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 459 | New Thing Series — Part 14 | “Elisha’s Experience” | Malcolm Cox Introduction A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.' We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the lives of Elijah and Elisha. Today we explore Elisha’s experience.  “As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.” 2 Kings 2:11-15 Why did God take Elijah up into heaven in a whirlwind? Why did He honour this great prophet in such a way as to escape death? Why did He not let Elijah go through the normal, c

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 458 | New Thing Series — Part 13 | “Elisha’s Request” | Malcolm Cox Introduction A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.' We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the lives of Elijah and Elisha. Today we explore Elisha’s request.  “When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”   “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.” As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! Th

At the beginning of the year Osagie brought us a lesson encouraging us to think faithfully about God doing new things. Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.  Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [malcolm@malcolmcox.org](mailto:malcolm@malcolmcox.org).  If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](http://www.malcolmcox.org/).  Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.  “Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)  God bless, Malcolm

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 457 | New Thing Series — Part 12 | “Elisha’s Loyalty” | Malcolm Cox Introduction A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.' We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the lives of Elijah and Elisha. Today we explore Elisha’s loyalty.  “When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel.”  But Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.” Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the LORD has sent

Introduction A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.' For the next few days we are focussed on God doing a new thing in the lives of Elijah and Elisha. Today we explore Elijah’s future.  Elijah had a terrific, yet troubled past. His present was convicting and inspiring. What of his future? Go back “The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came...” (1 Kings 19:15 NIV11) Sometimes the way back is the way forward. Not so much that we should repeat the past, but that we can go back to friends, church, family group, prayer, evangelism and serving with a spirit renewed by God. Is God calling you to go back to something — so as to do a new thing? Work with my people “The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoi

TJ and myself explored the way in which God did a new thing in the lives of Elijah and Elisha. Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.  Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [malcolm@malcolmcox.org](mailto:malcolm@malcolmcox.org).  If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](http://www.malcolmcox.org/).  Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.  “Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)  God bless, Malcolm

Introduction A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.' For the next few days we are focussed on God doing a new thing in the lives of Elijah and Elisha. Today we explore how Elijah’s present circumstances prepared him for a new thing.  We find Elijah on the run. Jezebel has threatened to kill him. The wilderness is his first stop, and a mountain cave his next temporary shelter. Not exactly the best Airbnb. He is hungry, thirsty, physically exhausted and emotionally drained. Nothing to be envied. Yet, he is in the perfect position for God to do a new thing. How is that? God provides refreshment The angel touches him (twice) - tenderness  The angel waits while he sleeps - patience The angel provides food and drink - kindness In other words, Elijah did none of this for himself. He had run to the end of his st

‘A New Thing’ Series Class 1 — Elijah Introduction Theme Scripture: “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19 NRSV) Elijah was a man of God with a hugely impressive spiritual CV. For example, he prays and changes the weather, he miraculously supplies the widow with food and raises her son back to life, he confronted hundreds of sword-wielding false prophets and sees fire rain down from heaven as an answered prayer. Why would he need to do anything ‘new’? He’s seen it and done it all.  Elijah is a case-study in how God prepares us for something new. At the end of his false prophet slaughtering conference at Carmel he receives the equivalent of hate mail. “Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”

Introduction Here is your 2-minute tip based on chapter 1 of the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot.  My first preaching experience: Half a sermon; profound sense of being an imposter; doing the opposite of the advice I was given. I was not asked again for a long time! What God wants is more important than what you want, your peers want, those who evaluate you want, and your listeners want.  Three necessary things according to Bercot: The anointing of the Holy Spirit. More on this next week, but what does it mean to you to rely on the Spirit in your speaking? The desire to learn to preach. Note, desire is not the same as confidence. It is an inner motivation, not about presentation skill or experience.  Some basic training on how to prepare an effective message. Note, it is important to avoid the extremes. God can use the untrained, but why would you want to ignore the resources available to you. Training is hugely valuable, but your confidence should

Introduction A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.' For the next few days we are focussed on God doing a new thing in the lives of Elijah and Elisha. Today we explore Elijah’s past.  Before God could do a new thing in Elijah, he had to reckon with his past. How does Elijah view his history? “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” (1 Kings 19:10 NIV11) Note the phrase - ‘I have been’. Elijah’s previous faith-exploits are the stuff of legend. He predicted a drought that lasted three and a half years, he helped a widow whose oil didn't run out despite her poverty, he brought a widow's dead son back to life, he called d

Introduction A new thing! Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.' I'm Malcolm Cox. Join me in January and February for a daily devotional podcast aimed at inspiring your personal times of quiet with God.  In the first few podcast episodes we will set the scene by looking at the entirety of Isaiah chapter 43. Today it is verses 22-28. ““Yet you have not called on me, Jacob, you have not wearied yourselves for me, Israel.  You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honoured me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense.  You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me, or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offences.  “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remember

Introduction A new thing! Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.' I'm Malcolm Cox. Join me in January and February for a daily devotional podcast aimed at inspiring your personal times of quiet with God.  In the first few podcast episodes we will set the scene by looking at the entirety of Isaiah chapter 43. Today it is verses 18-21. ““Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.  The wild animals honour me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen,  the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.” (Isaiah 43:18-21 NIV11) - He will do great things, even a new thing: Will guide & provid

Introduction A new thing! Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.' I'm Malcolm Cox. Join me in January and February for a daily devotional podcast aimed at inspiring your personal times of quiet with God.  In the first few podcast episodes we will set the scene by looking at the entirety of Isaiah chapter 43. Today it is verses 14-17. “This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I will send to Babylon and bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians, in the ships in which they took pride.  I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King.”  This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters,  who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:” (Isaiah

Tabernacle Building Sunday Exodus 40 Introduction Why are we doing this - ““Set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, on the first day of the first month.” (Exodus 40:2) - first day of the Hebrew calendar month of Nisan.  Nisan: First month of religious year; March-April; Passover falls in this period - celebration of exodus  When was this done - “So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year.” (Exodus 40:17) - 1 year after exodus; 9 months after arrival at Sinai 1. “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34) God shows approval by being ‘present’ with them 2. “In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted.” (Exodus 40:36-37) God guides them on their faith journey Final recorded act in Exodus - ready to move on with God to destination Please add your comments on

Introduction A new thing! Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.' I'm Malcolm Cox. Join me in January and February for a daily devotional podcast aimed at inspiring your personal times of quiet with God.  In the first few podcast episodes we will set the scene by looking at the entirety of Isaiah chapter 43. Today it is verses 10-13. ““You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.  I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no Saviour.  I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “that I am God.  Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?”” (

Introduction A new thing! Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.' I'm Malcolm Cox. Join me in January and February for a daily devotional podcast aimed at inspiring your personal times of quiet with God. In the first few podcast episodes we will set the scene by looking at the entirety of Isaiah chapter 43. Today it is verses 5-9. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Which of their gods foretold this and