Malcolm Cox Malcolm Cox

Introduction

A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, another model that may help us understand how God changes us. This week we take a look at a model of spiritual growth put forward by James Bryan Smith. By the way, I heartily recommend his book, The Good and Beautiful God. You can also find helpful articles written by him on the Renovare site. 

Smith's model is a variation on the model developed by Dallas Willard and Trevor Hudson in previous Quiet Time Coaching episodes. 

We will focus on the key difference - 'Adopting the narratives of Jesus'. His key idea is that we have a narrative in our minds about how we are doing spiritually, who God is, how he views us, what he wants from us and how we grow. However, our narratives are not always accurate. Thus, it is critically important we allow the narratives of Jesus to shape our own. 

"Our family, cultural and even religious narratives might have their roots in the kingdom of this world. As Christ-followers we are called to “set [our] minds on things that are above” (Colossians 3:2). Most of all, we are called to have the very mind of Jesus: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). Adopting Jesus’ narratives is a way we come to have the mind of Christ. Once we get the right narratives in place, change will begin." The Good and Beautiful God" p26 

This practice is not just about knowing the stories of Jesus but letting them reshape our very being. What does this mean? Let's break it down. 

1. Look at Father God through the eyes of Jesus 

Read passages where Jesus speaks to God -- for example, John 11:41-42, Matthew 11:25-26, John 17:4-5 -- and meditate on what they reveal about the way he is seeing God at those moments. What narrative about God and himself is going on in the mind and heart of Jesus? 

Imagine you’ve always seen God as distant and unapproachable. But through the eyes of Jesus, you encounter a God who is loving, forgiving, and present. This new narrative can fundamentally change how you relate to God and yourself. 



2. Imitate Jesus 

Next, let's explore imitation of Christ. Think of it as a spiritual apprenticeship. As you study Jesus’ actions and attitudes, you start to reflect those in your daily life. This isn’t about perfect mimicry but a heartfelt transformation where Jesus’ way becomes your way. 


John 13.15 
“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” 

When faced with a difficult situation, ask yourself: "How would Jesus respond?" This kind of active engagement with Jesus' teachings leads to real-world spiritual growth. 

3. Community 

Engaging with Jesus’ narratives is often best done in community. In a group setting, we can learn from each other, offer support, and grow together. This mirrors how Jesus taught His disciples, fostering an environment of shared learning and encouragement. 

Mark 8.27 
“Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”” 

We all see Jesus a little differently due to our varied life experiences and personalities. 

Conclusion 

When Jesus’ attitudes, thinking and teachings become the lens through which we view our lives, every part of us is transformed. 



For Reflection 





When you meditate on the Scriptures showing us how Jesus viewed Father God, what changes in your view of God?
How can you prevent imitating Jesus from becoming mechanical? What part does prayer have in this growth process?
What do you see as the key ways community can aid your spiritual growth?

Next time we will go on to look at celebrating disciplines.
 
Your brother, Malcolm

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, or practical? Could you send me your questions or su

You can find more notes on this lesson here: https://www.malcolmcox.org/who-is-rich-luke-16-19-31-malcolm-cox-09-june-2024/ 

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

Teaching Tip 366 | “Plain Speaking - Reading Scriptures with Zest” | Malcolm Cox 

Introduction

Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. 

"...it's of utmost importance that when you read from the Bible, it enhances your sermon rather than detracts from it." 112

Bercot offers several tips. Five are below.





Check your references
Read an intelligible translation
Repeat the Scripture reference
Pause before reading

Read with expression. For example, think of how different Matthew 5.3 sounds when we read it with meaning.

What are your thoughts on the techniques Bercot raises? 

Conclusion

Next time, we will speak about the special place for devotionals.

Has today’s tip been worth two minutes of your time? I hope so.

Remember to keep calm and carry on teaching.

Consider joining AIM UK&Ireland to develop your understanding of Scripture: https://aimukandireland.com/. Our next module is Spiritual Life.

Contact us here with enquiries: courses@aimukandireland.com  

The website can be found here: https://aimukandireland.com  
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, or practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here's the email: 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. 

Please pass the link on, subscribe, and leave a review. 

Remember to keep calm, and carry on teaching.

God bless, Malcolm

Introduction

A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, another model that may help us understand how God changes us. This week we take a look at a model of spiritual growth put forward by Trevor Hudson. His model is a variation on the model developed by Dallas Willard we explored in QTC 521.

See a picture of the model here.

Hudson's take is very similar to Willard's. We will focus on the key difference - community. However, first a brief comment on what he calls the "Divine friendship with the Trinity".




"Redeemed people are redeemed to God and to his community. God is Community, and so are his people. We need to recover a proper appreciation for the Trinitarian doctrine of God, and noting how it affects thinking about community." 'A Particular People -- Toward a faithful and effective Ecclesiology' -- Inagrace T. Dietterich
Bear in mind that this model is no formula.




In community with individuals

Our closest relationships are the litmus test of our growth.
We love each other by telling each other the truth -- in a loving way.

Ephesians 4.14-16
“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”





"As members of God’s kingdom community, each of us is given a manifestation of the Spirit in our lives for the purpose of the common good. We all have something to offer because of what the Spirit gives to us (1 Corinthians 12.7)." Forgotten God. Francis Chan and Danae Yankoski
1 Corinthians 12.7
 “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

2. In community with the group





The church is a catalyst for change. A place where it is safe enough to be ourselves and allow one another to influence us to stretch towards Christ.
Regular collective worship is vital to our spiritual formation because it reshapes us by reconnecting us to the community of faith.

Hebrews 10.24-25
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Conclusion




"God measures our spiritual health or spiritual dysfunction by the relationships and community and the people around us. (Location 2244)" Wide Awake, Erwin Raphael McManus

For reflection





What does it mean to you to have healthy spiritual friendships? How do you know they are spiritually enriching?
What hesitations do you have regarding devoting yourself to spiritual community, and why?
What do you see as the key ways community can aid your spiritual growth?
What do you believe you have to offer your spiritual community to help other people grow?

Next time we will go on to look at James Bryan Smith's model of spiritual transformation.

Your brother, Malcolm

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, or practical? Could you send me your questions or suggestions? Here’s the email: 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.

Please pass the link on, subscribe, and leave a review.

"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License 

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Introduction

A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, the connection between being a new creation and change.  How do we change?
Before we can talk about change, we have to ask a question. Do we believe we can change? Do you believe you can change?
You might like to pause this recording and discuss this with your friends before going on.

1. God is the change-agent
“…are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NRSV)
We are in an ongoing, life-long process of change. The glory we grow into is from the Lord, the Spirit. Spiritual change is challenging, but it is not all about us. God empowers the change, our part is to cooperate with him. If we fully accept that God is the change-agent, then we will have no difficulty believing that we can change.
So, God changes us, but what is the goal?

2. Change goal
Is the goal transformation? Yes, but, what is the point of that transformation? What are we aiming at? 
“…the goal of Christian spiritual formation is intimate, loving connection and relationship with the Trinity." The outcome of that is transformation. 

John 17.3
““This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

This understanding is important because if we aim too hard at transformation will become a slave to our growth and change hopes. In other words transformation could become an idol. Instead, we understand that the goal is a deep relationship with God, and we anticipate transformation, growth and change. 
So, the goal is God, but how does this happen?

3. Jesus the transformer
Jesus was skilled and powerful at helping people be transformed. 
* Take Peter.....from indisciplined mouth to effective preacher/teacher. 
* Woman at the well. One encounter took her from shame-ridden outcast to greatest evangelist of her community.
* Zacchaeus - corrupt thief to generous benefactor.
* James & John - sons of thunder, restless, selfish ambition, harsh. Later, James was first disciple martyr, and John became the Apostle of love. 
What happened? They all encountered Jesus in a way that freed them from remaining stuck where they were, as they were. That same hope for change is available today. 
“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8.36
Valuing spiritual formation takes this promise seriously. We can learn to love and live well.
"I dream of a day when spiritual formation has so saturated all who follow hard after Jesus that they become known to all as experts in how to live well. How to love a spouse well. How to raise children well. How to study well. How to face adversity well. How to run business and financial institutions well. How to form community life well. How to reach out to those on the margins well. And even how to die well." Richard Foster

For reflection
* In which area of spiritual growth do you sense God prompting you, and how can you cooperate with him?
* How can you make sure your goal is a deep relationship with God, not the change that comes from him?
* What does it mean to you that Jesus has come to set you free? Is it more than sin? If so, what does that look like?
* How do you see Jesus transforming you and your friends today? What makes that more likely to happen?

Next time we will go on to look at another aspect of change, focusing on how our relationship with Jesus is the key.

Your brother, Malcolm

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, or practical? Could you send me your questions or suggestions? Here’s the email: 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.
Please pass the link on, sub

Introduction 

Here is your 2-minute tip based on the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. 

"Bloopers and memory lapses are no big deal...you can conquer the fear they've held over you." 

Bercot offers the following advice. 





Own Up
If something minor goes wrong, don't draw attention to it. Otherwise the congregation will be unnecessarily distracted. Not so long ago I didn't have the page numbers printed on my sermon notes. I got the pages in a muddle. Rather than draw attention to the fact, I paused for a few moments to sort them out. I doubt anybody noticed.
However, if it's obvious to everyone, acknowledge it. When you're having a conversation with a friend and your mind suddenly goes blank and you say, "I've completely forgotten what I was going to say next!", everyone laughs and no one thinks it's a big deal. If something like that happens when you are delivering a lesson, simply tell the congregation. Have a laugh together, and it will help your congregation to believe you are human. It can be bonding rather than problematic.

 2. Plan ahead
If you are especially nervous about the lesson, plan what to do if you get tongue-tied. Have a relevant Scripture, quote, or the lyrics of a hymn to hand. If your mind goes blank you can invite someone to read them, giving yourself a few moments to clear your head.

What are your thoughts on the ideas Bercot raises?

Conclusion
Next time, we will explore reading Scriptures with zest!

Has today’s tip been worth two minutes of your time? I hope so.

Remember to keep calm and carry on teaching.

Consider joining AIM UK&Ireland to develop your understanding of Scripture: https://aimukandireland.com/. Our next module is Spiritual Life.

Contact us here with enquiries: courses@aimukandireland.com 

The website can be found here: https://aimukandireland.com 
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, or practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here's the email: 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. 

Please pass the link on, subscribe, and leave a review. 

Remember to keep calm, and carry on teaching.
 
God bless, Malcolm