Articles

This month I am referring readers to helpful family centered websites. The website for this week is http://www.familylife.com/. This article is copyrighted and is for private use and study only.

Today we would like to share with you the "required reading" for the marriage & family element of the Athens Institute of Ministry. Marriage & Parenting: The Minister’s Family Life1…. Read More

The following is an excerpt taken from chapter 13 of The Quiver: Christian Parenting in a Non-Christian World. CONVERSIONJesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not… Read More

Children do not read at the same level as adults, and naturally their needs vis-à-vis Bibles are different to ours. Check out the following weblink. http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_sp?sp=58297&p=1008728 This article is copyrighted… Read More

Ever since our nephew was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, my wife and I have taken a special interest in special needs children. So many families are affected by having special… Read More

Here is a list of one hundred books selected by the National Education Association as great reading for children and young people. To help make these books more useful, we… Read More

1. If all the blood vessels in your body were laid end to end, how far would they go?(a) 100 yards (b) 10 feet (c) A mile (d) 80 miles… Read More

One of the tragedies of denominational creationism is that it continues to produce a constant stream of radical creationists who turn science into the enemy and then attack it to… Read More

AIMING FOR EXCELLENCE: “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failures, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy… Read More

Wow! I think every evangelist and church leader would benefit from reading this article (from Christianity Today). It’s extremely informative and helpful. http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2005/004/14.89.html

John Piper, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2002. ISBN 080542620-5. Here is a book to make everyone think, Christian… Read More

Please read the excellent book Who Is My Brother?:  Facing a Crisis of Identity and Fellowship, by F. LaGard Smith (Nashville: Cotswold Publishers, 1997), ISBN 0-9660060-0-3. Smith discusses how we… Read More

Read the article by Haddon W. Robinson. It is in a pdf only. Available Downloads: article (.pdf – 217k)

Report by Anthony and Karlyn Battle – Tuesday, 29 November 2005Last Friday night, in Port Au Prince, Haiti, church leaders Reggie and Martine Lambert were ambushed at their front door… Read More

* Give God what’s right – not what’s left.* “Pray” is a four-letter word you can say anywhere – except in public schools.* Man’s way leads to a hopeless end… Read More

November 2nd, 2005– Opening lesson for the 11th Annual International Teachers’ Seminar. To read the whole article download the word document or pdf below. Available Download: Article (.doc – 45k)

In our congregations around the world, we are at the crossroads of Jeremiah (6:16): This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient… Read More

This is an update on the upcoming 11th annual International Teachers’ Seminar. The plan has now been finalized by Gordon Ferguson, Andy Fleming, and myself. We are very excited about… Read More

Report on October 2005 visit to Moscow, Kiev, Dnepropetrovs’k, and Chernobyl.

One of the most challenging family matters is the difficult child. Parents spend sleepless night worrying about the child who is difficult and often find no answers in spite of… Read More

by Michael Cameron February, 2003 Introduction The aim of this essay is to biblically examine the doctrine of “discipling”, for the purpose of reviewing the way we organise and structure… Read More

By Robert Jackson, Sydney, October 2005 “I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to… Read More

Church leaders from 16 congregations converged on Manila September 21-24, 2005, for the much anticipated AIM-Philippines launch. Douglas Jacoby led nearly forty eager students, some having traveled four hundred miles… Read More

Perspective – on the beginning of the International Churches of Christ Report  Speaker: Professor John Wilson The event: Pepperdine University, South Kensington, London on Saturday 20th March 2004. Hosted by:… Read More

http://www.acu.edu/ministry/centers_institutes/church_enrichment.html

In a lengthy, but I believe worthwhile, article Bill Hull writes about getting “tired of discipleship because you don’t see it working.” –Roger http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2005/003/6.26.html Excerpt: “Through my “dark night of… Read More

THROUGH THE GENEROSITY of brothers and sisters in Marietta, Georgia, as well as in Seattle, Washington, there is no longer any need to raise support. Everything has been covered. Thank… Read More

Dear Brothers and Sisters, It has been a long time since I reported from Jerusalem. It has been very busy here in many aspects. First we had the Mission Trip… Read More

June 25 ‘ July 8, 2005 This year’s Volunteer Corp was led by Kritsada ‘Tiam’ & Julie Jangphiphatnawakit of HWW Bangkok and Jim & Debbie Mackie, Program Directors for HWW… Read More

The term groupthink is a kind of false consensus common to decision-making groups dominated by a powerful leader. The relevance of this article to congregational leadership will soon be apparent…. Read More

This interesting article discusses belief in God on the part of scientists.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8916982/

DRIVEN MEN © 2005, Douglas Jacoby In Gordon MacDonald”s excellent Ordering Your Private World (Nashville: Oliver Nelson, 1985), the author distinguishes between the driven person and the called person. The… Read More

ONCE UPON A TREE If you’re looking for an excellent devotional book, let me recommend Calvin Miller’s ONCE UPON A TREE (Howard: West Monroe, Loiusiana), 2002. I’ve also recently read… Read More

Summer 2005This notice is to clarify a few rumors about me and my family. In May the Jacobys placed membership in the North River Church of Christ. Just as Athens… Read More

This material, with some additions, was presented at the New England Christian Conference. Note: Tom and Sheila currently reside in Nashville, Tennessee. As we make our way into this topic… Read More

A brother in our congregation sent round an e-mail with a link to this article, about unanswered scientific questions. I thought you might find it interesting. In our self-confident world,… Read More

To read the entire article by Glenn Giles download the pdf attached below. Available Downloads: Article (.pdf – 52k)

Our Current Movement Dilemma In the past two years [2003-2005], the changes in our movement have been monumental. Many of these changes have occurred in organizational areas, at the level… Read More

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ATHENS 2005 — ITS & BST PROGRAMS If you’re contemplating coming to Athens for the 11th annual International Teachers’ Seminar (2-4 November) and/or the Athens & Corinth Biblical Study Tour… Read More

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.” ‘ Zechariah 4:10 The Rogue Valley Church of Christ took off on May 1st for… Read More

Submitted by DFW Church of Christ On a recent visit May 14-15, 2005, Douglas Jacoby inspired the Dallas disciples to cast off old ways of thinking and challenged them to… Read More

US Tour by Aziz Abu Sarah It’s been two weeks since I have got back from the USA trip. I traveled around the East Coast. I was invited by different… Read More

by Camille Taylor, member of the Kingston Church of Christ The members of the Kingston Church of Christ were treated to faith-building lessons and presentations conducted by Douglas Jacoby during… Read More

From Christianity Today, May 2005, p. 21 “For the third year in a row, NORTH KOREA has been named the worst persecutor of Christians, according to OPEN DOORS INTERNATIONAL’s ‘World… Read More

ABTrain up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it…. Read More

A concept is a general idea that encompasses a set of specifics. Another way of describing it is to say it involves getting the big picture of a topic by… Read More

I recently had an experience and an insight from it that may be very significant to the way we are leading the church. The recent experience was going through the… Read More

18-20th March 2005 The content of the recent teaching weekend was excellent. The congregation needed doctrinal clarity on the Holy Spirit, and how to apply and live out Spirit-filled lives… Read More

Available Download: Article (.pdf – 492k)

THE SHEMA’: THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD AS THE GROUND FOR THE FAITHFULNESS OF MAN: AN EXEGETICAL EXPOSITION OF DEUTERONOMY 6:4-9 BY GLENN W. GILES March 3, 2005 To read the… Read More

This books list is related to past challenges, healing, and spiritual formation. Baile, Gil, Violence Unveiled, New York: Crossroad Publishing, 1992. This landmark work on how conflict emerges in communities… Read More

Co-authoring a book like Golden Rule Leadership has been a daunting task. Which of us thinks we have perfected Jesus’ style of leading? Certainly not Wyndham or I. Our primary… Read More

Sam Laing, The Guilty Soul’s Guide to Grace (Billerica, Mass.: DPI, 2005). Following is the review I recently wrote for DPI: Effective and masterful command of the English language make… Read More

January 2005 Douglas Jacoby’s visit to Manila was a breath of fresh air, a great start for the New Year. After his teaching time in Hong Kong, Doug flew a… Read More

The past two years [2003-2005] has ushered in a time of unsettledness, upheaval, re-examination and uncertainty within most churches of the ICOC movement. Some things connected with this time have… Read More

December 9, 2004 In the last article entitled “One of the Unique Elements of True Christianity”, I outlined the Biblical concept of relational/experiential knowing (yada’) as a foundation for one’s… Read More

2004For many years I have been contemplating the special-ness of our movement in the area of the heart. When I came to our movement I found very special relational aspect… Read More

Through the years, the BIBLICAL STUDY TOUR has focused on a number of remarkable cities: London, Jerusalem, Paris, Berlin, Athens, Chicago, Rome. In 2004 over 150 persons converged on Rome–the… Read More

Mick Porter, Brisbane AustraliaNovember 8, 2004Email: mickporter@hotmail.com "And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today. This is… Read More

The Last Discourse is written by James Greig of Oxford, England. It is a thorough analysis of John 13:31-17:26. Attached is the Word document. Available Downloads: Article (.doc – 230k)

10th Annual International Teacher’s Seminar & Inaugural Biblical Study Tour ROME, ITALY – Report by Steve Staten November 2004 Rome is called both the eternal city and the city of… Read More

Honest to God—Revolution through repentance and freedom in Christ February 2, 2003 How the Lord has covered the Daughter of Zion with the cloud of his anger! He has hurled… Read More

1Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being… Read More

2004 INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE Douglas Jacoby (Athens, Georgia) I’ve just returned from the 2004 International Leadership Conference in Chicago. Since the decentralization of the International Churches of Christ in 2002,… Read More

My Vision for the Church – Glenn Giles by GLENN GILES, September, 9, 2004 Available Downloads: Church (.doc – 50k)

To Forgive or Not to Forgive: The Heart Choiceby Aziz SarahSpring 1990 at 5 am: Israeli soldiers break into my home and invade the room I share with four brothers…. Read More

Like so many recent conferences taking place around the world, the Orlando get-together was superb for several reasons. First, those who attended truly wanted to be there. I was present… Read More

Introduction In Christianity, motivation is everything! If this statement is an example of hyperbole (an overstatement to make a point), it is only slightly so. God is not nearly as… Read More

Tom Jones, elder in the Boston Church of Christ, has published a new book, Strong in the Grace. I have read it and highly recommend it. Go to www.dpibooks.org to… Read More

Many people are asking this question, and have been doing so throughout all of 2004. The following paper, written by Ron Sawhill, covers the issues of Eldership requirements very well…. Read More

Introduction This article is a written form of a spoken message delivered on March 28, 2004 to the Phoenix Valley Church of Christ. As with the previous sermon, “What Do… Read More

This article, by Gordon Ferguson, is based on a message delivered at church in Phoenix, Arizona in February 2004. He calls ICOC members (former/present) to understand how some things in… Read More

THE RELIGION OF POWER, by Cheryl Forbes (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1983) will make you think. I bought it in connection with my purchse of Francine Rivers’ AND THE SHOFAR BLEW…. Read More

Recently I have had the opportunity to view Mel Gibson’s blockbuster THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. As many have asked me what I thought of the film, I would like… Read More

Many of my readers will be as enthralled in this 2003 release as I was. Rivers’ latest book is a study in character and leadership, and how spiritual power can… Read More

A Conversation Between the Churches of Christ and the International Churches of Christ Note: Although I was not present at the Abilene lectureship, I believe a good few of my… Read More

February 13th-16th I was in Stockholm, the snowy city where our family lived 1989-1992. As always, the return visit was a joyous reunion, and it was heartening to see so… Read More

On Wednesday 18th February 2004, I met Middle East leaders from a dozen nations in a conference headed up by Andy Fleming. Though Arabic was language of choice, I spoke… Read More

Douglas Jacoby just returned from a teaching tour in Tokyo, Japan. Here are some responses from Christians there who attended: * “Thank you for your great lessons and insights. I… Read More

For those who would like some guidance to be able to read through the Bible in a year’s pdf of a Bible reading plan is attached. It was crafted by… Read More

PERSPECTIVES ON DATING AND MARRIAGE TOKYO CHURCH OF CHRIST SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 11 JANUARY 2004 Perspectives on dating 1. The Bible does not talk about dating; nevertheless, there are many… Read More

This article is from Fred Faller. It appears in a series that can be found at www.immerland.com. “Money to Burn” Herm Foley drummed the fingers of his left hand on the table top. Before him on the Formica surface lay a single… Read More

Where do we go from here, now that all of the children have grown up? — Alan Parsons Project But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have… Read More

Introduction: A. God has provided the church with “everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2… Read More

REPORT: Discerning the Times International Teachers’ Seminar Chicago, 7-11 November 2003 The International Teachers’ Seminar, since 1995, has been a fellowship/teaching time for persons around the world who are involved… Read More

REPORT FROM AN OUTSIDER Last weekend, 31 October-2 November, hundreds of Christians converged on Gainesville, Florida, for a very large family reunion. This was the 30th anniversary of the founding… Read More

This 3 tape series is now available. Go to the product page and learn in detail about this audio series from Douglas Jacoby.

Summer 1991 by Douglas Jacoby Introduction In my view hell doesn’t last infinitely, but instead destroys the individual after an appropriate length of time. Hell is eternal in its consequences,… Read More

THE GENEALOGIES IN MATTHEW AND LUKE (Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23b-38) From THE NIV HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS By Robert L. Thomas and Stanley N. Gundry Download the attached pdf for… Read More

I studied out Lamentations recently, prompted first by Henry Kriete’s book Worship the King, in which he wrote about the ‘Rivers of Fire’ and the searing wrath of God. It… Read More

Below is a series of lessons on Eternity by Andrew Kitchen. View The Full Series on Eternity Listed below is the Contents. Lesson 1: From Here to Eternity Setting the… Read More

Attached below is an article by Tom Jones, teacher in the Nashville Church of Christ. He examines what the scriptures teach about hell. PDF File (296 KB)

Attached below is an overview of Revelation (Seven lessons) by James Greig. Revelations-Overview

Attached is a file which examines the significance of Armageddon in the book of Revelation. Written by James Greig. Revelation-Armageddon

Attached below is an exposition of Revelation chapter 10. Revelations-Little-Scroll

Attached below is an introduction and background to the book of Revelation. It is written by James Greig. Revelation-Introduction

Introduction Probably all religious people have questions about what happens when we die. Many of them believe that we cease to exist at death until the resurrection at the end… Read More

Our Teaching About John 15 For many years in our movement we have heard that the fruit Jesus describes in John 15 is the making of other disciples. Often we… Read More

BOOKS FOR PARENTS OF YOUNGER CHILDREN The Five Love Languages of Children, by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell. Very well written, easy to read. Makes you think about each individual… Read More

(c) 2003, Douglas Jacoby Scriptural Study: BIASTAI (“forceful men”) For years we have heard of the need for “forceful men” and women in positions of spiritual leadership. Certainly now more… Read More

This is a list (possibly incomplete) of pagan sources cited or alluded to in the N.T. books. The list omits references to other New Testament books. These works are “extrabiblical”… Read More

The following are very helpful manuals for ministers of the gospel, authored by Perry H. Biddle, Jr. A must for your ministerial library! * A Funeral Manual. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1976,… Read More

Introduction In 1976 after I my “conversion experience “1 I began attending charismatic prayer meetings. I continued to go because there were lots of food, nice girls and a high… Read More

I. Canonical Old Testament (all dates approximate) 1000-400 B.C. II. Catholic Apocrypha (non-Catholic apocrypha in italics) A. Pre-165 1. Tobit (400-200) 2. Sirach (190) B. Hasmonean (165-63) 1. Greek additions… Read More

While the Bible is certainly not a science book, occasionally it does touch on matters scientific. While I am not a trained scientist, I have always loved science, and make… Read More

A SERIES OF FOUR LESSONS GENERAL STUDY HABITS by Doug Jacoby, 1997 Lesson A We all want to be effective as students. At the same time, nearly every student is… Read More

(1) “In essentials, unity, in non-essentials, liberty, in all things, charity.” (Rupertus Meldenius) (2) “It would be strange indeed the Church should require more than Christ himself did, or make… Read More

One bulwark against disease was circumcision, or the removal of the foreskin from the male sexual organ. The command to practice circumcision (Genesis 17) was far from a barbaric practice… Read More

Greek, anyone?What were your favorite subjects in school? I have always loved languages, both "living" and "dead." The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew (with a few chapters in… Read More

Selected and adapted from a compilation by Lady Kofo Ademola appearing in a Bookcraft Ltd. publication (Ibadan, Nigeria). Here arranged by country of origin. Ghana * An empty sack will… Read More

D. Jacoby, Jan. 2002 Polity 1538. [–L. politia – Gr. politeia ] 1. Civil order. b. Administration of a state; civil government 1715. 2.a A particular form of political organization… Read More

Note: The following paper was a group effort. It does not claim to speak for a single church or even an association of congregations, but represents the opinion of a… Read More

Strategies for connecting with same-sex attracted persons Don’t avoid the person. Certainly sin erodes virtue and twists personality, yet no sin makes us subhuman. Yet like the priest and the… Read More

Douglas examines the use of statistics as a measure of church growth. He discusses positive aspects as well as the pitfalls inherent in their use. When he first presented his… Read More

For my thoughts on the 2024 summit, click on the .pdf link:  BB1234

ETHNOGRAPHY OF CHRISTIAN MEDICAL PERSONNEL WASHINGTON DC CHURCH OF CHRIST The following study is an ethnography of some of the most energetic and committed members of my congregation; as Christians… Read More

© DOUGLAS JACOBY, 1994. What does the Bible really say about church discipline? It may be time to reconsider the traditional view, which may be summarized as “Three strikes and… Read More

PREVIEWHere are the main passages, and you’re familiar with all of them:* Leviticus 27 * Malachi 3* Matthew 23Secondary passages, also addressing the tithe but not used so often for… Read More

I. Recommitment: The Old Testament Principle The Old Testament may surprisingly have something to say about “pruning,” or calling people to recommit themselves to their baptismal confession. There are a… Read More

Note: In December 1990 the first edition of this paper was written and sent to a group of 50 brothers and sisters around the world for their consideration. This group… Read More

“Smoke pours forth from his nostrils” (Job 41:20). “And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever” (Revelation 14:20). Whether the verses above have been properly exegeted or… Read More

The following article originally appeared in A Light to London, January & February 1986. I am convinced that we are living in the most exciting period of human history the… Read More