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1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own… Read More

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there… Read More

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, 17… Read More

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes… Read More

1 “I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who… Read More

1 After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 2… Read More

1 After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples… Read More

28 Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and… Read More

1 Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on… Read More

17 They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. 18 There… Read More

31 Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high… Read More

1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the… Read More

19 So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews,… Read More

1 After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus,… Read More

15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You… Read More

In Judges 19:22-28, I don’t understand why they would offer the women instead of just ignoring those guys or leaving? In Judges 21:10-11, I wonder, Did the women and children… Read More

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

I don’t understand Deuteronomy 22:5. A lot of women wear men’s clothing! –Vero Some church groups teach that it is a sin for a woman to wear man’s clothing, and vice… Read More

I just completed reading the book of Revelation and I have a question. I read that as the seven plagues were being unleashed on the earth, the inhabitants, although in… Read More

My question: when was Jesus born? I have heard that it was in the summer, then recently I heard it was in October. How do you know the answer? — Renee Albert… Read More

There has been a lot of talk recently about the show "Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire" and the likely pending annulment case. Is there any biblical basis for an… Read More

In Leviticus 18.21 Deuteronomy 12.31 2 Kings 3.26-27 16.3 and Ezekiel 16.20-21 God seems to express an extraordinary disgust for the practice of child sacrifice. Could you please help me… Read More

I recently read of books called "Q" and the Gospel of Thomas. Interesting reading! I was wondering what you thought of them and their authenticity. Why are they not included… Read More

This is the “handout” to accompany the church history powerpoint presentation made in Lagos, Nigeria (2005). In addition, the 7 lessons of church history are: 1. No clergy/laity distinction! 2…. Read More

I have been studying out the difference or lack of difference between tithing from my firstfruits (I equate this with my income) and honoring God with my wealth (created by… Read More

In Acts 19:1-7, the men Paul spoke to were disciples. Where were those men standing with God if they had repented and been baptized and forgiven of their sins? What… Read More

I searched the internet for a good article in English about Saunière and his treasure, and apparently it”s more difficult than in French, which is logical since the original story… Read More

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

In John 3:22 and John 4:2, it says that the disciples of Jesus were baptising. What kind of baptism was this? In Romans 6:1-7, the scriptures say Jesus had to… 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

I had a question in Exodus 2:16-3:1. When reading this sector it appears that Reuel is Moses’ father-in-law and not Jethro. Who is Reuel? — Henrietta Reuel is simply another name… Read More

Since Satan always tempts people to do wicked things, why does God not destroy Satan? Also, did God know that Adam and Eve would eat from the tree of the… Read More

Since Satan knows that his fate is sealed, why is he acting as he does? Is he betting that God’s love will eventually lead to a reprieve? Or is Satan… Read More

North River Church of Christ: Sermon 20 NOV ’05 Holiday Preparation (5 Principles) HOLIDAY SPIRIT For many of us, 2006 promises to be one of the best years in a… Read More

From Focus on the Family – “The Busyness of Christianity.” http://www.christianitytoday.com/bcl/areas/spiritualgrowth/articles/100405.html

What do you think Matthew 11:13 means? If all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, why is the revelation in the Bible? — Belov (Moscow) I was reading… Read More

I always had the understanding (or misunderstanding) that on the day Jesus returns, that disciples would be taken up into heaven first. However, Matthew 13:30 (the parable of the weeds),… Read More

While discussing the Bible with a friend from a Mormon background, the topic of the "other sheep" of John 10 came up. The Mormons use this scripture to contend that… Read More

I have become curious about the "lost tribes" of Israel and the connection with Europe, Britain, and the USA inferred by some groups. What do they base this idea on… Read More

[Reworded] The Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that the name of God, Jehovah was taken out of the Scriptures. It was my understanding that the tetragrammaton (YHWH) was too holy to pronounce,… Read More

I think Job is such an inspiring book, but I must admit that reading it makes me feel a little insecure. Oftentimes, the words of the "worthless physicians" or "miserable… Read More

Check out this story if you haven’t seen it already. Link

Zondervan recently published a software disk for the TNIV that is currently available at Christianbook.com for $7.99. Since this translation is not available from the free e-sword.net website, I thought… 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

What is the "rapture," and what scriptural references do proponents of this idea use as supporting evidence? I fail to get a clear understanding from the often quoted 1 Thessalonians… Read More

In John 10, Jesus confronts the Jews who are upset about his claiming to be God’s Son. He quotes a psalm that calls people “gods” because the word of God… Read More

I’m from Jakarta, Indonesia. How can I help my Muslim friends become Christians? — Joe Although we dealt with this question earlier, let me amplify what I wrote before to… Read More

When the Bible says "take up his cross daily," what does that really mean? To kill your sin or to bear Jesus’ persecution? To me, "deny himself" and "take up… 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

What is the meaning of Ephesians 3:10? Don’t the heavenly realms already know the manifold wisdom of God? They can see God, or rather they see the spiritual realms (and… Read More

I was reading Jeremiah 8:8, which accuses the scribes of falsely handling the scriptures, and had several questions about the role of the scribes. Were the scribes responsible for wrongly… Read More

I would like to have a better understanding on the matter of 1 Corinthians 3:13-15. In v15, how can one can be saved if his work hasn’t passed the "fire… Read More

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

To me natural family planning is a form of contraception. I have looked in several Catholic theology defense books including the recent catechism but could not locate any biblical defense… Read More

Is birth control unrighteous? I read in Genesis 38:9-10 where Onan "spilled his semen on the ground to keep from producing offspring; what he did was wicked in the Lord’s… Read More

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

Having grown up in a Catholic church, I am now studying the subject of the Lord’s Supper. Do we have to make our worship of the communion time with the… 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

My question is on Matthew 17, the Transfiguration of Jesus. First, what is the purpose for this story, what am I supposed to learn from it. Second, why did God… Read More

Is 2 Timothy 3:16-17 speaking of the Old Testament when it says "all scripture"? The entire Bible as we know it wasn’t even completed at that point, right? So is… Read More

I have a question regarding a couple scriptures that seem to imply that they are not God-breathed. For instance, "To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord)" (1… Read More

Sometimes God confuses me in the Old Testament. For instance, take the whole chapter of Genesis 20, about Abraham and Abimelech. Here we read that for the second time Abraham… Read More

My question has to do with the two thieves crucified with Jesus. I grew up believing that one cursed Jesus and the other asked for forgiveness. In Matthew and Mark,… Read More

What are your thoughts on the letter to the Romans and the fate of the Jews who do not believe in Jesus? Will they be saved just by being God’s… 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

In his letters, Paul had always been inspiring, warm, yet serious. In Romans 6:7-23, Paul was rather "different." What’s the significance of this passage? — Chris Punya I assume you’re… Read More

Is it true that the earliest copies of the New Testament were around 125 AD, only about 25 years later than the date it was written? Is it also true… 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

Why in Judges 20 do we see Israel going to battle a righteous cause (punishing the Benjamites for the rape and murder of the concubine), being encouraged by God to… Read More

I was always taught to tithe and have always done so, and God has blessed my family tremendously. Yet the evangelist in my new ministry situation does not believe in… Read More

According to Acts 2, to become a Christian we must repent and be baptised. My question is in regard to exactly what repentance is referring to. In Acts, it does… Read More

Every time I’ve heard you speak, you have recommended reading other versions of the Bible than the NIV. Could you give a list of the most popular and best translations?… Read More

One of the chapters in the Bible that makes me think and desire help is in 1 Kings 13. Did the man of God sin, or was he simply deceived?… Read More

Recently I’ve had discussions with two women stuck on one question: "If God is so good and loving, why is there so much pain and suffering for innocent people?" Each time,… Read More

I came across the public television show, "Mysteries of the Bible," talking about Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. They made mention of a theory that Joseph of Arimathea was Jesus’ uncle…. Read More

What is your advice for someone that wants to become part of a sorority or fraternity? — Elvina U. Lake I think that depends on the nature of the sorority… Read More

”I ask a very intriguing question that has bugged me. What does it mean to put God to a test when we pray for God to act? Isn’t there a… Read More

I really appreciate your comments re Christians and the military. Can you provide a more detailed reference on Driver’s book? — Chris The reference is: John Driver, How Christians Made… Read More

Is there anything in the New Testament that shows that we should not use musical instruments in our church worship services? — Marsha Williams No, nothing at all. The New… Read More

What happens to those people that have not heard the gospel yet, if Jesus were to come today? Would they have a chance to come to repentance? According to John… Read More

What is your opinion about multilevel marketing (Amway, Avon, Mona Vie, etc)?  Much of the income from these ventures comes from recruiting new members. It is frustrating to be constantly… Read More

Romans 13 teaches us that the law is put into place by men under the authority of God. So if the death penalty is already in place for a particular… Read More

www.apollos.ws

Jesus teaches us to love our enemies. Does this mean that if a person attacks me–or for that matter tries to attack my wife or my child–I should remain silent… Read More

22-27 August 2005 we conducted AIM Session VII, with units on Church History (10 hours), World Religions (10 hours), and Campus Ministry (5 hours). Students converged from Georgia, California, Colorado,… Read More

First, in the face of severe suffering such as that many Americans began to experience on September 11th, our human response is naturally a desire for the downfall and destruction… 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

As I read question/answer 0056 about enemies, the curly question for me seems to be not so much attacking one’s enemies, but using force in defense of the oppressed or… Read More

by Thomas A. Jones Some unorganized thoughts: In the wake of the tragedies of September 11, the country has suddenly become once again interested in God. This presents unprecedented opportunities… Read More

I have recently finished reading THE CULTURE OF DISBELIEF: How American Law and Politics Trivialize Religious Devotion, by Stephen L. Carter (New York: Anchor, 1993, ISBN 0-385-47498-9). Even though the… Read More

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

The Bible seems to say that once someone has fallen away, he or she can never be brought back (Hebrews 6). And yet in our church we practice "restoration," or bringing back someone who has quit. What… Read More

I talked to a brother today who fell away some time ago but came back several years later. He is having difficulty with Hebrews 6:4-6, for he thinks it says… 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

John 20:22-23 reads (NLT): “Then he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you refuse to forgive… 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

Can the medium or spiritist bring back the spirit of the dead? Or is it that a demon was impersonating Samuel? — Peter Orire (Nigeria) In 1 Samuel 28, apparently… 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

1 Corinthians 11:9-10 says that because woman was created for man, and "because of the angels," she ought to have a sign of authority on her head. What do the… 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

I had a discussion with a friend recently and he referred me to a book he had read. It actually points to some interesting and disturbing ideas regarding the history… Read More

In some scriptures it appears that we are judged immediately at death (Luke 16:23) while in other scriptures it appears that we are all brought together for a final judgement… Read More

I have recently finished a Christian evidences class in my congregation. In that class we learned several proofs of the validity of the Bible including prophecies that eventually came true…. Read More

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

I live in a nation where the Orthodox Church has great power. They teach that true church must have continuity, with consistent succession of members from person to person all… Read More

Do you still hold to your position that the Apocrypha does not belong in the Bible? The Apocrypha: Second Thoughts (2000) Perhaps you have heard of Tobit, Judith, or Ecclesiasticus…. Read More

My question concerns the different versions of the Bible used by electronic concordances and databases such as the ones linked to www.douglasjacoby.com. I thought that the NIV was an accurate,… Read More

To: “FABRIZIO CONCIATORI, LASALLE” Subject: Biblical Pool of Siloam Is Uncovered in Jerusalem Tue Aug 09 2005 00:09:33 ET Workers repairing a sewage pipe in the old city of Jerusalem… Read More

This paper “disappeared” from the website for over a year. Although the original was written over 15 years ago, it will still be of interest to members of the churches… Read More

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

You said in your article The Trinity that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Spirit is God, but that the Father is not the Son, the… Read More

What are the criteria for disfellowship? 1 Corinthians 5:11 seems to indicate sin of which the believer will not repent of the type listed, coupled with calling oneself a "brother"… Read More

Jerusalem Journal King David’s Palace Is Found, Archaeologist Says By STEVEN ERLANGER Published: August 5, 2005 JERUSALEM, Aug. 4 – An Israeli archaeologist says she has uncovered in East Jerusalem… 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

While I agree that veiling is a cultural, not biblical issue, I don’t think veiling was the concern of 1 Corinthians 11. Regarding 1 Corinthians 11, it seems that if… Read More

My question is regarding how we (disciples) should respond to a person (relative) when he/she says that Jesus has died for all our sins (past, present, and future) and therefore… Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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 Cost. 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