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ICOC 3.00 by Jim McCartney
The energy and enthusiasm around the recent ICOC 3.0 initiative are impressive, and I respect and appreciate all the work that is going into it. As a local church Board member, I was able to participate in the New England/New York meeting in Hartford CT and was...
On Not Being Judgmental…An Introduction to “The Gospel Divide”
Being judgmental is an interesting concept. An over-used and often misapplied verse from Jesus is this one: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1). Jesus also said, “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly” (John 7:24). Paul...
How Important Are Doctrinal Differences?
Introduction Let us begin by making it clear that doctrine is very important to God. The basic Greek term for doctrine is didaskalia, and is translated in the more modern versions simply as “teaching.” With either translation, the word most often refers to God’s...
The Mystery Solved!
The Mystery Solved! I first met the group of churches in 1981 that was later to be called the ICOC movement (International Churches of Christ). I was highly impressed with their evangelistic effectiveness and level of commitment, and figured out almost immediately...
Was Apollos Re-Baptized?
Most Bible readers assume that Apollos was re-baptized as a part of being taught the way of God more adequately by Priscilla and Aquila. Let’s begin by reading the end of Acts 18 and the beginning of Acts 19. 24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria,...
The Young Saul: Zeal or Anger?
Introductory Note: This article is actually an excerpt of the first few pages of my book, "The Apostle Paul: Master Imitator of Christ." The book is one of my longest (272 pages) and also one of my most in-depth. Greater spirituality must include greater knowledge,...
Facebook, Politics and the Bible
Like many readers of Facebook, I have tired of reading about politics long after the last election was held. Each of us has a right to our political views and preferences, and each of has the choice to vote or not vote as American citizens. We are never going to agree...
The Holy Spirit and Man’s Salvation
The Indwelling Spirit of Promise Ezekiel 36:26-27, in an apparent Messianic prophecy, gives a wonderful promise of the Spirit’s presence in our hearts and lives as Christians. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart...
The Big Black Brother’s Club
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26-28). Spiritual...
What About Watchman Nee’s Teaching on Soul and Spirit?
My Introduction To Watchman Nee and Witness Lee In my first ministry job, I was one of several ministers on the staff of a local church. The main pulpit preacher was using terminology and concepts that were strange to my ears, which was significant, since I had just...
Paradigm Shift Evaluation
Based on Lessons by Jamie Robbins and Douglas Jacoby Evaluation by Gordon Ferguson: a Series of Articles The Genesis of This Evaluation At a fairly recent staff meeting of the DFW Church, our congregational evangelist, Todd Asaad, asked if I had watched the Paradigm...
Are We Saved By Faith Alone
Introduction The doctrine of salvation by “faith alone” (Sola fide in Latin, a historically popular usage) has its roots in the Reformation Movement, with men like Martin Luther emphasizing this concept in reaction to certain teachings in the Catholic Church. The...
Biblical Baptism Explained
BIBLICAL BAPTISM EXPLAINED The Commonly Accepted Viewpoint The standard approach of Protestant churches (including those who immerse adults) is that a person is saved at the point of faith (their definition of faith) and then baptized at some later point. Baptism is...
The Unnatural Leader
At first glance, that is an unusual title, isn’t it? It could bring to mind someone who was pressed into leadership out of pure necessity, although leadership wasn’t his or her gift (Romans 12:8). Sometimes the need does in fact call for such a decision and those who...
Second Chance Gospel — After Death?
SECOND CHANCE GOSPEL – AFTER DEATH? Will people get a second chance to be saved after they die? Certainly no one contemplates the idea of anyone being lost in eternity with anything but emotional pain. What could be worse than being separated from God and all that’s...
Protecting Relationships
Through my many years of preaching, I have often asked and answered this question: “What is life really all about?” The answer, of course, is relationships – not surprisingly the very focus of the Bible. God’s Word makes this focus clear as relationships in four key...
Objective Negativity
(The primary material in this article was taken from my book, Dynamic Leadership, Appendix 7, and later expanded.) We Live in a Negative World! The subject of negativity is a broad one, and although we are going to focus on a certain highly dangerous type of...
The Use of Instrumental Music in Worship
Distinct from other groups in the Restoration Movement, mainline Churches of Christ have been known for years for their stand against the use of instruments in accompaniment to spiritual songs. Historically, this position has not been held as a matter of preference or...
When Did the Kingdom Come?
(This material was taken from my exposition of Acts, entitled “World Changers,” Appendix 1) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10, King James Version) This brief verse has been used as the basis of songs, poems and quotations...
Congregational Autonomy
In discussing this subject, I can only attest to my own experiences in the Mainline Church of Christ. Although the Christian Church shares a common ancestry in the Restoration Movement, I don’t know exactly what their beliefs and practices are regarding congregational...
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Your One Wild and Precious Life and the Loving Outrageousness of Jesus A fresh, even surprising and sometimes provocative look at our own lives and the Jesus we might not know. In a brilliant, compell...