Latest Posts

A song of ascents. Of David. How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on… Read More

I am concerned about an encouragement you gave in an e-mail: "I would encourage you not to use words of Jesus from one section of one gospel to illuminate the… Read More

In Matthew 9:9 it says Jesus called Matthew a tax collector whereas in Mark 2:14 it says Jesus called Levi the son of Alphaeus. My confusion is over why there… Read More

In Exodus 4:24, why was God going to kill Moses right after God gave him specific direction? Why was he going to kill his son? — Robert Davis (Arizona State University)… Read More

In converting people, where is the line drawn between your faith (believing they will become disciples) and their own personal decision? I have been told that if I believe someone… Read More

Why were the chosen people of God in the Old Testament told to destroy all the nations in the Promised Land as they entered it, not sparing men, women or… 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

What does the fruit in John 15 refer to?John 15 is broader than winning others to Christ, as essential as that is. It is much more! In the New Testament… Read More

The Roman catacombs are intricate labyrinths of burial chambers that were built roughly between the third and fifth century A.D. They are considered among the most important relics of early… Read More

Have you heard anything about the Hebrew Israelites and their doctrine? I am trying to gather any info on them. We find that a lot of their life and doctrine… Read More

Can you explain twofold prophecy? In Daniel, Isaiah, Matthew 24, and Revelation for example there are prophecies already fulfilled, yet some people say they also point to future events. How… Read More

Christ died on the cross two thousand years ago. How does he die for me now, when it happened two thousand years ago? — Norah W. To be theologically correct,… Read More

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8587435/ This 2000-year old manuscript of Leviticus was discovered in the Judean desert in 2005. Use the link above to read all about it!

I have a question about fasting. I have never read the Didache, but I believe it contains information which deals with fasting. In the first century church, did Christians fast… Read More

How can I be sure that the today’s Bible is complete? — Alexander Belov (Moscow) Short answer:  1. The New Testament expresses the assurance that the Old Testament is inspired…. Read More

Recuerdo que en uno de sus libros usted hace referencia al hecho de que el infierno no es un lugar de tormento eterno, que es lo que algunos entendemos, sino… 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)

I remember in one of your books you made passing reference to the fact that Hell will not be a place of eternal torment as some understand it but rather… Read More

In Mark 3:29 Jesus speaks about an eternal sin, for which no one will be forgiven. It states that whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will be condemned. Is the… Read More

According to Matthew 12:40, "the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (NIV). Now if Jesus was crucified on Friday (the… Read More

A question that I’ve asked a few people, but have never truly understood is this: In Mark 9:38-41, there is a situation where the disciples tell a man who is… Read More

Let me start by thanking God for a brother like you, educated in world religions. I came to the US in 1979 from Pakistan. My family are all Muslim. I… Read More

Can you please shed some light onto the biblical account of the first people to inhabit the earth? Who were the people Cain was so worried about (Genesis 4:14)? Where… Read More

Who are the people feared by Cain in Genesis 4:14 and acknowledged by God in Genesis 4:15? At the time, were Adam, Eve and Cain the only people on earth?… Read More

An extremely thought provoking book, one that students of church history will be sure to want to read, is Leonard Verduin’s THE ANATOMY OF A HYBRID: A STUDY IN CHURCH-STATE… Read More

How does one tell when the Kingdom actually comes? Jesus speaks of it in present tense in scriptures like Luke 11:20, and in Acts, no one ever says anything to… Read More

In Matthew 6:13, Jesus prays that God "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." Why would he pray this, if God cannot tempt us? –… Read More

Which passages would you use to show Jesus is God (in the flesh) and what would you say in support of those passages. — Steve Granger (London) One of the… Read More

What is the most effective way to share the gospel with/study the Bible with someone who is Jewish — grew up going to synagogue etc. in the United States? Would… Read More

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

If our final destination is determined upon reaching Hades, why would salvation judgement not occur immediately following physical death? Why should it take place when Christ returns? When does the… Read More

Download the PDF by clicking here.

I read in Titus 1:6 that a man has to have children who believe in order to be considered for eldership. I take this to mean that his children have… Read More

In a recent bible study on elders and deacons, I got hung up on a scripture about how an elder “…must be the husband of but one wife…” I wondered… Read More

You can now get the NET Bible for the free software from www.e-sword.net. See the link below. http://www.bible.org/default.asp?scid=3

Are there disciples in Africa who are married to more than one person, and if so, how is that biblical? Yes, I once shared a taxi ride with a member… Read More

Download the .pdf (97.3 KB)

What purpose did the baptism by John and the other disciples serve before Jesus’ death and resurrection? — Jamie Janus In John 3:22 and John 4:2, the Bible says that… Read More

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

John 4:1-2 mentions that Jesus disciples were baptizing, but Jesus had not yet died and been resurrected. So were they applying a form of the baptism of John? Did those… 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

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commanded his disciples to baptise the new disciples in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, but in Acts… Read More

I’ve been studying out different religious doctrines for a while. One that I am looking for a stronger answer to is the practice of speaking in tongues. It’s evident that… Read More

Could I hear your take (biblically) on speaking in tongues and why this is not practiced in the churches where I worship today? My other question is on the offices… 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

There’s a fellow on my ship who is a charismatic. He has real life experiences with miracles, including one instance with his wife. She had developed these bumps of some… Read More

I have a question about baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. There are certainly numerous accounts in the Bible indicating that baptism is an integral part of… Read More

In 1 Corinthians 7:14, what does the word "sanctified" mean? Does it mean "saved"? Can an unbelieving spouse be saved through the believing spouse? –Jeanette (Phoenix) I believe Paul is simply urging… Read More

Concerning your observation that “a number of paid ministers consider continuing education to be optional,” I believe it is important to remember that Jesus was never “educated” (John 7:15), and… Read More

I wanted to know what you thought about the authorship of some of the NT books traditionally accepted as written by Paul. For instance, some scholars state that the books… Read More

Click to read this article by Douglas. Acts 238 and Understanding Purpose

I’ve been taught that at the time the Israelites would have come upon Jericho, it was little more than an unfortified, and very sparsely populated town, whereas the biblical account… Read More

Since God created everything, did He create evil? I refuse to believe that, but I am left with no other thoughts; I am not a struggling disciple, and no matter… 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

The following question comes from a relative who I would like to help more: "Why would a God who is omnipresent omnipotent and all-loving create people when He knows such… Read More

In 1 Timothy 3 the scripture talks about the standard of appointing a man as deacon. Appointing women as deaconesses was not mentioned in the scripture. Why? Is it a matter of… Read More

What exactly is the abomination that causes desolation? — Kathy Ofallon (Boston) I believe you are referring to Jesus’ prophecy in Matthew 24:15 (Mark 13:14), which is a reference back… Read More

In Daniel 2:43, Daniel explains that the toes of the statue King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of were partly iron and partly clay, meaning that the people of that kingdom would be… Read More

I had an online Mormon friend, a woman supposedly dying of cancer. I tried sharing the gospel with her, yet it went nowhere. She kept trying to get me to… Read More

I have been advised that it is pretty useless studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses because they are stubborn and nothing will eventuate. Surely there has to be an effective way to… 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

Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that the Kingdom of God (invisible, apparently) is already here and it is not the church. Are there different definitions of "the Kingdom," and if so which… Read More

The Jehovah’s Witnesses forbid blood transfusion and quoted a scripture in Acts 15 to support their stance. I read that verse and it just mentioned “blood.” Taking into context the… Read More

Does Hebrews 8:10-11 mean that we will no longer have to teach people the Bible because they’ll already know the Lord? — Joanne Gross (Cincinnati) Not at all! Hebrews 8… 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

In 1 Samuel 19:9 and 16:14 it states that an evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul, and in James 1:13 it states God does not tempt anyone. How… 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

I’m curious about how to reconcile Jesus’ attitude towards enemies with the Old Testament’s. Further, I’m curious how a Christian is to view the maintenance of a standing army to protect… Read More

Lots of people talk about "baptizing disciples." And yet aren’t disciples already Christians? How can this be? This is a very common question. Let me share some relevant thoughts. Baptizing disciples? As you are aware,… Read More

From the Bible, I know that Jacob and Esau were sons of Isaac, but God chose Jacob to be one of the ancestors of Jesus’ ‘line’. After Jacob, I know… Read More

The Gospel of Matthew seems to be structured around five major discourses of Jesus. As such, Matthew 23 would come at the end of the last (fifth) narrative and immediately… Read More

Can a person’s lack of faith prevent someone else from becoming a Christian? And will God – prompted by faithful prayers – change the heart of a person that is… Read More

So far, Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code is one of the most popular, and controversial, books of the new century. It is gripping, fast moving, and (to me) well… Read More

A friend of mine justified the office of the papacy by referring to the office of the "keybearer "in Isaiah 22:22ff.  The keybearer was a successive office which had authority… Read More

You mentioned that there are varying degrees of punishment regarding non-disciples, which I think is true (Luke 12:47-48), but you then used Matthew 6:20 and Philippians 4:17 to argue in… Read More

Ephesians 4:29 says “Don’t let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth…” Is the usage of slang words like “gosh” and “gee” unwholesome, or is it profanity (Exodus 20:7)?… Read More

In 1 John 5:16-17, the author writes that there are some sins that lead to death and others that do not. I have always believed that all sin – any… Read More

Were Adam and Eve the only humans God (personally directly) created? Cain went out a got a wife later he built a city etc. Where did these people come from?… Read More

Who were the Nephilim? The term literally means "the fallen ones." Some say they were a race of giants, the offspring of angels and women, to which Goliath and Lahmi… Read More

It would be great if Dr. Jacoby could recommend a book or commentary or two on each book in the Bible, plus some general dictionaries, etc. There are so many… Read More

The attached paper is devoted to a study of the most frequently used Hebrew words in the OT. A final chapter will be devoted to a critical appraisal of the… Read More

We know from 1 Peter 2 that all Christians have come into the light from the darkness. At what point does a child enter into darkness? If it is at… Read More

Can you recommend a book of the history of the Bible? I mean how it was decided which books and letters were the Bible? How do I know which scriptures (like… 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)

One time I stopped and was talking to a girl taking some philosophy and religion courses at the University of Calgary. She’s studying the first century church and doubts the… Read More

The purpose of this paper is to determine bona fide messianic movements of the first century. Many have written articles using the term “messianic” or “messianic movement,” but few seem… Read More

What are the specific reasons (e.g. scriptural contradictions) that we can cite from Scripture or other sources, that show that the Apocrypha is not inspired by the Holy Spirit? Again,… Read More

EASTER LESSON 2005: Easter commemorates the resurrection of Christ. It also tells us about our own resurrection. WHAT RESURRECTION ISN’T:(1) The afterlife. Many believe in an afterlife who deny the… Read More

What has always puzzled me is the salvation of the righteous under the old covenant. How were Moses Abraham David et al. forgiven? If through faith in Christ looking forward… Read More

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

How can I help my Hindu friend see the way Christianity builds on top of the foundational truths that most religions share? [Condensation of longer question] — Dave McKay (Bloomington,… Read More

Associate Professor Zeev Herzog (Tel-Aviv University, Department of Archaeology & Near Eastern Studies) wrote an article in the renowned Ha’aretz magazine on Oct 29, 1999. I would like to know… Read More

Can you suggest some good study material for events that happened in the first century that are not recorded in the Bible. i.e. Destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem, Paul’s… Read More

What is the truth behind the 4th Commandment on the Sabbath? If Saturday is the 7th day, and the Sabbath, why do we not worship on Saturday? If we observe… Read More

When the New Testament talks about what happens and explains people’s heart and motives is it because that a disciple was there with them or what? For example take Matthew… Read More

I have always been troubled by Acts 8:14-19. One explanation I have been told is that the Holy Spirit discussed here means only the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, and… Read More

In Acts 15:9, in referring to Cornelius, Peter said that God "purified their hearts by faith." No one has ever used that scripture with me to justify forgiveness of sins… 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

You said on page 212 of The Spirit that Ananias laid his hands on Paul so that he would receive his sight, but Acts 9:17 also says "and be filled… 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

Was Paul’s apostleship a special version? How did he get it? Paul was not one of the original 12 disciples of Christ, a fact his critics made much of. Yes,… Read More

Does the prophecy Joel spoke of indicate preaching, or an infallible doctrinal gift? The nature of the prophecy Joel spoke of (Joel 2:28-32) is neither. Certainly it seems to have… Read More

Is "they" in Acts 2:1 referring to the twelve apostles, or the hundred and twenty? I believe the group are the apostles — all are Galileans, after all, according to… Read More

Hi Doug, could you tell me, What is your understanding of metaphysics, and how would you study the Bible with someone who believes in it? — Vicente Lopez(Washington DC) Metaphysics,… Read More

What was Paul referring to about the baptism for the dead? What are your thoughts and what do you know about it?–Thomas, as well as Ben (Hilo, Hawaii), and John… Read More

He oído que predicó acerca del fruto de Juan 15 que se refiere a la Gran y de los frutos del espíritu, el fruto de Juan 15 se refiere al… Read More

On page 122 of [James, Peter, John, Jude], you said that angels are “never described as having wings,” and yet Isaiah 6:2 describes the seraphs as having six wings. Were… 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

What is the explanation for Judas hanging himself (Matthew 27:5) to falling headfirst and his intestines falling out (Acts 1:18)? I suppose it might be decomposition for the guts part,… Read More

Matthew and Mark describe the calling of the first disciples in similar accounts. Would Luke be considered a more descriptive version of those accounts? Would John’s account be considered to… Read More

Who incited David to take the census? 2 Samuel says God incited David, and 1 Chronicles says Satan incited David. This question is related to 0022, as I read the… Read More

How are we to understand God’s hardening Pharaoh’s heart? I believe when you go back to Exodus you will see that in some passages it says God hardened his heart,… Read More

The Minneapolis/St.Paul Church of Christ enjoyed a weekend filled with inspirational teaching from Dr. Douglas Jacoby. The weekend saw extra encouragement as the brothers and sisters from Madison, WI joined… Read More

Deseo oír tu visión con respecto a lo que sucede cuando morimos. He estudiado algunos temas por mi propia cuenta y he concluido que entramos a un estado de sueño o… Read More

Who are the fundamentalists? What do they stand for? As far as I can judge, fundamentalists are Bible believers who: * Hold a high view of Christ and scripture, *… Read More

I would like to find out the explanation to the scripture in Peter where it mentions Jesus, after he was crucified, “preaching to the spirits in prison.” We understand that… Read More

Isn’t Psalm 137:9 a little harsh? This is the only verse in the bible that in my view, does not seem to describe God’s heart as I have known it…. Read More

How do you interpret John 1:48? My wife and I got a chance to see a fig tree in the Atlanta Botanical Gardens once. It is an interesting tree in… Read More

In Matthew 17:27, Jesus gives instructions to Peter to go fish for the temple tax, and give it so as “not to offend” the Pharisees. But Jesus was not one… Read More

Many theologians, from what I have heard, have gone as far to say that Melchizedek may have actually been Jesus. Can you shed any light on this subject for me?… 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

Dr. Douglas Jacoby was in Accra, Ghana, from January 5th – January 10th [2004] to conduct a teaching workshop. This was his first trip to West Africa. The sessions were… Read More

Would you please explain what Jesus meant in Luke 7:28? Jesus says, “I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John, yet the one… Read More

In Matthew 17:10-12 Jesus alludes to the fact that John the Baptist was the Elijah to come, yet in John 1:21 John the Baptist denies it. Is this because in… Read More

Have you always been supportive of Christian women preaching? If you’re interested, here’s a paper I wrote in 1990. Yes, my views have shifted since that time. Today I see no problem with… 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

How can we as Bible students tell the difference between characters in the Bible with the same first name? For example, James the brother of Jesus and James the brother… Read More

Several months ago, I wrote an article entitled, “Motivation: Guilt or Grace” In that article, I made the case that our primary spiritual motivation as disciples should be grounded in… Read More

What was the Leviathan, and is it significant? (Some say crocodile, I’m not so sure.)—Ric (Boston) Right, Ric, croc it is! Or, better said, the crocodile is a sort of… Read More

May I offer all readers some general advice on finding answers to your Bible questions: * Try to figure out the difficulty or question yourself using whatever Bible tools you… Read More

In Daniel 12:11-12, it says: “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is… Read More

In Luke 24:46, Jesus tells the disciples that it is written that ‘The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day.’ The only OT scripture I… Read More

Can you recommend reading material about ‘Trinity’ theology? — Joel Hughes, Triangle, North Carolina Many works – thousands of pages! – have been written about the Trinity. Because this is… Read More

What evidence proves the falseness of the Muslim faith? — Mitchell, Boston, Massachusetts Rather than aim to demonstrate the error of other religions, denominations, or sects, Christians are called to… Read More

I have always had some questions about Acts 2:42. The question I have is whether “devoting themselves to the breaking of the bread” is referring to eating meals with each… Read More

On the one hand, the Bible urges Christians to be fully confident that we are saved, and on the other, to work out our salvation with “fear and trembling.” Yet… Read More

I was taught that in Luke 14:26 the Greek word for hate means “love less,” and that is what I have taught others. To my surprise, when I looked it… Read More

I am concerned with the question of veiling. Why are Christian sisters today not veiled per 1 Corinthians 11:6? — Troy Hannon (Philadelphia) and Stephanie Collins (Cincinnati) Most Christians interpret… Read More

Unos años atras, usted escribió en su serie del antiguo testamento en el nuevo testamento (“la Biblia bajo prueba”, en www.acesonline.org (un sitio antiguo) ” … recuerdo que a menudo… Read More

A few years ago, you wrote in your online series about the use of the OT in the NT (“The Bible on Trial,” at www.Acesonline.org [old website]) “… remember that… 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

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions… Read More

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled… Read More

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and… Read More

1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer — at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth… Read More

1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly… Read More

1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money… Read More

1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily… Read More

1 Then the high priest asked him, “Are these charges true?” 2 To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father… Read More

1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered… Read More

1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus,… Read More

1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he… Read More

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and… Read More

1 The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers… Read More

1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to… Read More

1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul…. Read More

13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. 14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On… Read More

1 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. 2 But the… Read More

1 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2… Read More

1 He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. 2… Read More

1 When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and… Read More

1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his… Read More

1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the… Read More

1 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-bye and set out for Macedonia. 2 He travelled through that area, speaking many… Read More

1 After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Cos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to… Read More

1 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defence.” 2 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said: 3 “I am a… Read More

1 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” 2 At this the high… Read More

1 Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before… Read More

1 Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, 2 where the chief priests and Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges… Read More

1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defence: It 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself… Read More

1 When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment…. Read More

1 Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because… 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)

Download: article (.doc – 97k)

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 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