Blessed by a Witch! / Conversing with a Medium? / Connecting with Jesus / Biblical Tour Updates 2026-2028

THE NEWSLETTER OF IBTM
with Douglas Jacoby

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30 April 2026

Good morning from North Georgia!

How are you? We’re well, and IBTM continues to flourish. It’s always good to hear back how the ministry is making a difference around the world. For example, I just received this most heartening message:
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Hello from Chennai, India!

I have listened to 60 of your podcasts to date, and it is mind blowing. Our church has about 900 members. We are grateful to God that we are learning so many new things from the podcast.

Thanks for all your efforts in building God’s church. — F. H.
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(Thank you, brother!) In fact, 1000+ podcasts are now live. You can sign up at our homepage. Producing free educational materials—audio, video, articles, books, podcasts—is an important part of the ministry. We are also in the process of converting many of our podcasts to Spanish—not difficult, with technologies available today. All it takes is our talented tech team—and money. Every month I continue work on the Living New Testament Commentary. There have been 100+ additions in the last two weeks alone! If you ever have questions about any NT verse, or you’re preparing a lesson and want some fresh ideas, consider the Living NT Commentary. (Note: this is for website members only—at $1/week for each year of subscription.)

In today’s edition: 4 unusual Q&As, a new book recommendation, updates on our upcoming tours, and personal notes. Thank for reading our newsletter!

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Question & Answer

We continue to add to the bank of Q&As—which in a few years should total 2000. I’m currently working on Qs submitted 2023-2026. Here are the latest.
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Q&A 1747—Conversing with a medium
Can you please tell me if conversing with people who say they can speak with the dead is sinful. I believe it is, but would appreciate your input from the scriptures. – D.F.

There was an earlier Q&A on consulting the dead (perhaps you saw this), but I see that your question takes it to a level deeper. In that Q&A (back in 2007) I referenced Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:11; 1 Sam 28:21ff; 1 Chronicles 10:13; Isaiah 8:19, 19:3; and Galatians 5:20. Such passages forbid necromancy (for example, consulting the dead in order to learn the future). I stated that whether or not contacting the dead is possible, God's word tells us to keep our distance. You are asking whether is permissible even to talk to a medium in a social setting (non-occult), with or without the purpose of contacting the departed... Keep reading Q&A 1747.

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Q&A 1748—What is panentheism?
I’d never heard of “panentheism”—until today. I’d previously heard of pantheism, which is clearly unbiblical, but some aspects of panentheism sounds biblical. What are your thoughts? — C.M.

This term can be biblical, if properly freighted—otherwise it can mislead, and even veer on the side of New Age. The fundamental point is God's immanence and his transcendence. These are, respectively, terms scholars used to indicate his presence (or omnipresence) and his otherness, loftiness, and distance from us. For a nice explanation, see the article by Christopher Watkin. I thought Wikipedia’s entry was quite good… Keep reading Q&A 1749.
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Q&A 1749—Discipling through song?
My question is about Colossians 3:16. On the surface it seems to be saying that the way to teach and admonish one another is through the singing of psalms, hymns and songs of the spirit. Discipling through song? So, I checked about 30 translations and only one (HCSB) had the word “and” between “teach and admonish” and the psalms etc. The only thing I can come up with is that in the early church, with scant access to Scripture and lower literacy levels, scripture-based songs would have been a good way to impart biblical teaching in a memorable way. Do you have any thoughts on this? Also, what exactly are “songs from the spirit” or “spiritual songs”? Perhaps they are songs with lyrics reflecting scripture? — A.K.

About Col 3:26, the “and” is in the original. Although copulatives don’t always have to be translated as such. I believe you are right that the songs were content-rich. But in participatory church services there were certainly people sharing reminiscences of the Lord and even of the apostles... Keep reading Q&A 1749.

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Q&A 1750—How can I help my Wiccan co-worker?
I have a coworker who's into Wicca. She seems tormented in so many ways, has been married three times, with four kids by three different partners. Now she’s desperately on to another boyfriend, and it saddens me to see her this way. She swore a lot when we first met, and now she says that I have influenced her to think before speaking. I’m trying to help. I offered her a Bible to read. She said she might read it. Can you shed any light on this? Have you ever met any practitioners?

Wicca has been around a long time. Here in Britain there is a very large following. Like New Age teaching, Gaia worship, white magic, shamanism, etc., the system isn’t particularly logical. It’s in some ways a reaction against true (biblical) faith than a coherent ideology. There is nothing for a Christian to fear. We have the truth. "Witches" and "warlocks" are fumbling in the darkness. Playing with fire—dancing with the Evil One. Your coworker needs the love of Christ as much as anyone on the planet. I recently met a Wiccan, when I was having lunch with a friend… Keep reading Q&A 1750.

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