THE NEWSLETTER OF IBTM
with Douglas Jacoby

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23 April 2025
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Good morning!

Today, in addition to two new Q&As, you’ll find stimulating articles by Greg Koukl and Nadine Templer. Greg, a renowned Christian apologist, provides an easy-to-follow rationale for the existence of the soul. I’ve read several articles on this topic, and appreciate Greg for his usual clarity and his conviction.

Nadine shares openly and honestly about the disconnect between preaching faith but inculcating fear—and in particular how this has affected our youth. Much food for thought…

TEACHING FAITH BUT PRACTICING FEAR
by Nadine Templer

Over the years, I have found myself teaching faith, grace, and love, but practicing something very different. The way I lived my faith and led others contradicted what I was teaching or even believing… When it became obvious a couple of years ago that the youth who grew up in the church were experiencing a lot of trauma, I asked myself so many questions!

I went back over the lessons taught, the retreats, conferences, etc, and I wondered where we had gone wrong. This caused many sleepless nights, but it was a necessary process. KEEP READING 

THE INVISIBLE MAN
by Greg Koukl

Though it’s fashionable nowadays for “enlightened” people tutored in scientific materialism to sniff with contempt at the antiquated idea of the “ghost in the machine,” here are four powerful reasons for your to be confident that not only do souls exist, but you are a soul.

KEEP READING

WAS JESUS ILLITERATE?

I recently read a book indicating that people in first-century Nazareth were very poor and illiterate. The writer claimed that Jesus too was illiterate. How can this be true? — A.M.
READ Q&A 1689

In Exodus 16 and Numbers 11 the Israelites grumble about having no meat. This doesn’t make sense, since they’d left Egypt with their livestock—presumably thousands of cattle, sheep and goats. If they wanted meat all they had to do was kill some livestock. – T.C.
READ Q&A 1690

2026 TOUR: GREECE & TURKEY

Many have asked about upcoming Biblical Study Tours. We are considering visiting Greece and Turkey in early October 2026. The tour would be co-led by Paul Copan and me. Details soon!

Next week: Is Materialism Eating our Souls? (by Nadine Templer), Two-phase salvation (a challenge to the doctrine of many Christians), and more Q&As.

Thanks for your support for all of us laboring in the International Bible Teaching Ministry.

Love from Lancashire,
Douglas

For years of previous newsletters, click here. For the audiovisual version of the newsletter (YouTube, about 3 minutes, read by Chase Mackintosh), click here. This is usually available the day after the newsletter is posted. Reach our website here.