Articles

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

October, 2004 These days there is a lot of talk about good and evil, and a great tendency to label and categorise people who act in particularly antisocial ways as… 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

“An Aid to Discerning the Scriptures” was written by Douglas Jacoby. Jeff Chacon refined Douglas’ article and used it in his congregation. This illustrates how a group of disciples who… Read More

The challenge of evangelism is to make the faith real to those who are just coming to faith. We all know that spiritual things become real as one reads the… 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

http://www.douglasjacoby.com/wp-content/uploads/ThroughtheBible.pdf This is a plan I have recommended ever since 1995.  Many have followed it and accomplished the victory of reading through the entire Bible in a year. If this… 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

Perhaps the key differentiator Christianity has in the field of world religions is the concept of grace. In a world driven by competitiveness, performance measurement and the relentless march for… 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

A biblical study for those who feel they have been treated unfairly and want to keep a pure heart in God’s sight. In five parts. See the attached pdf file:… Read More

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

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

I. Introduction to 3 John Written (apparently) by the same "’elder" as the one who wrote 2 John. A personal letter written from one friend (the elder) another (Gaius). A… Read More

COMMENTS General: The short epistle was written by Jude (Judas), one of the four brothers of Jesus Christ (Matthew 13:55-56), and warns against the godlessness of false teachers espousing libertinism…. Read More

This article discusses indepth what the Bible says about women. It was written by Douglas Jacoby (with Patricia Gempel) in 1990. To read it, click on the pdf attachment below. Available… Read More

“Instrumental Music: A Live Issue’ was written by Douglas Jacoby in 1993. It discusses what the Bible says about the use of instrumental music — an issue for the Restoration… Read More

THE 5 SHORT BOOKS OF THE BIBLE: LESSON II I. Introduction to Obadiah Many Obadiahs in the Bible. Obadiah = ‘servant of God’ = Abdullah in Arabic Written shortly after… Read More

  Introduction John, author of 5 books Gospel of John 1-3 John Revelation of John (the Apocalypse) 2 John was written in later part of 1st century AD Gnosticism (central… Read More

Introduction to the series * 2 Tim 3:16-17 — we all need training and teaching. This passage says all scripture is inspired and useful. Includes every book of the Bible,… 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

Download .pdf file

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

Here is a paper on the life and ministry of Martin Luther. It is written by James Greig: pdf file.

The Bible Unearthed: An Introduction to Biblical Archaeology for the Disciple in the United Kingdom. It is written by Jon Yorke. Click here to open the pdf file.

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)

Moses was raised in the learning and wisdom of the Egyptians (Acts 7:22). Traditionally the Pentateuch (the first five books, or rolls, of the Bible) are attributed to him. Whether… Read More

Muslims commonly claim that the Bible has been "changed," and that there are over 100,000 "errors" which occurred through the transmission process. What can the disciple of Jesus Christ respond… Read More

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

Having seen that biblical prophecy (type a) can be prophetic without necessarily being predictive, we are now ready to examine type (b), or predictive, prophecy. Biblical predictive prophecy was not… 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

In the Old Testament capital punishment was mandated for many offenses: 1. Adultery (Leviticus 20:11) 2. Attacking parents (Exodus 21:15) 3. Bestiality (Exodus 22:19, Leviticus 20:15) 4. Blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16)… Read More

The following are excerpts from Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (published Ambassador, complete), first published Basle 1559. John Foxe studied at Oxford and was ordained by Nicholas Ridley in 1550. He… Read More

Biblical prophecy falls into two categories:* Speaking for another, as in someone’s speaking the truth of God to his fellows* Foretelling what will take place in future. In English the… 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

Like Bethlehem, Bethsaida was a town with a long history before the light of Jesus shone in its streets. Unlike Bethlehem, it is an uninhabited ruin today. In fact, it… Read More

Don’t be LAZY! You need to read the bible deeply to build your faith. Basic1. Don’t dig at random; have a plan.2. Assemble lists of verses on common themes.3. Finish… Read More

This article first appeared in A Light to London, the bulletin of the London Church of Christ, May-June 1987. Christians must observe the Sabbath! Such at any rate is the… Read More

Campbell Study MILLENNIAL HARBINGER, NEW SERIES. VOLUME III.—–NUMBER I. ================================================================= B E T H A N Y, VA. JANUARY, 1839. ================================================================= BIBLE READING NOTHING is more talked about amongst professors, and nothing… Read More

Dr. Douglas Jacoby (1997, Revised 2001) If you have an appetite for something “meaty,”1 I believe you will enjoy the following study, which investigates the Red Heifer sacrifice – a… 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

Prejudice against the Word Very soon we will enter into a new millennium. This should be a time of hope, progress, greater openness to truth and to change. And yet… Read More

The most significant biblical find of the century is undoubtedly the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS), discovered in the 1940s by the Dead Sea, not far from Jerusalem. The scrolls contain… Read More

Introduction In the twelve years I have been a Christian I have had the privilege of studying the Bible with five men who were active Freemasons. I know that throughout… Read More

Silver BibleThe Bible was translated into many languages other than the original Hebrew and Greek. Latin was the major secondary translation language as the official language of the Roman Empire…. Read More

In our study of biblical prophecy, we have seen that Jesus Christ richly fulfilled the words of the Prophets, and in fact the words of the Law and the Writings… Read More

The Recordp52 is by no means the only ancient manuscript of the New Testament which has survived. There are literally thousands of Greek manuscripts, as well as tens of thousands… 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

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

1. How many DSS are there? 870 manuscripts, from 15,000 scraps. 2. When were they discovered? Initial discovery of seven scrolls in 1947. Last one (cave 11) in 1956. 3…. 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

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

Adapted from the May/June 1998 issue of Biblical Archaeological Review. An Egyptian Record of the Plagues? The Admonitions of an Egyptian Sage, commonly known as the Papyrus Ipuwer, set forth… Read More

Accuracy in a prophecy is closely related to the specificity of the prophecy (the subject we covered in the last unit). Details of purported prophecies often claim to be accurate… 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

The following is an adaptation of a paper written for a Politics class in the course of D.Min. studies at Drew University. It has been shortened and simplified. A revolution… Read More

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

Douglas Jacoby, Stockholm 1990 The following study is useful for anyone who has heard that we should never “judge.” Certainly, a judgmental spirit is wrong and unbecoming of a believer,… 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