Douglas Jacoby Podcast

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Intro Was Jesus a "carpenter" (Mark 6:3, Matt 13:55)? Tekton = builder. "Carpenter,” esp. in our culture, has a certain prestige. But not so much when someone tells you, “I’m in construction. I’m a manual laborer.” Jesus was more likely a stonemason. Wood is not the usual building material in Palestine – stone is much more common. As a...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Might we have a wrong view of religion – could our religion be “worthless” (Jas 1:26)? Do I excuse myself with the thought, "Perhaps I don’t need to worry about orphans and widows. After all, I’m not that wealthy. I’m just middle class."  James himself was not a wealthy man (the implication of 1 Cor 9:5). Nor was Jesus. Nor was the Lor...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Interesting facts about James James appears immediately after Acts in many early NTs. Some scholars think James was the first NT document to be written (sometime in the 40s). (Many conservative scholars believe Galatians is the oldest, penned in 48.) Note: James the brother of the Lord was executed in 62. James has 108 verses—about the...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. There are five important themes in the latter part of James 1 (vs.19-27), the first three of which we examined in the previous reflection: Restraint of hasty desire Practical obedience to God’s Word Reception of the Word with humility Concern for defenseless members of the community Turning from the ways of the world 1:26-27 Profanity,...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. The next two sections in James (today’s offering plus tomorrow’s) introduce 5 key themes in swift succession: Restraint of hasty desire Practical obedience to God’s Word Reception of the Word with humility Concern for defenseless members of the community Turning from the ways of the world 1:19-21 “There are four types of disciples: swi...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Reflection 5, "God's Perfect Gifts," unpacks James 1:16-18. Don’t be deceived. Don’t crack and crumble under the pressure of trials – don’t cave in! This requires us to think correctly about reality, about God. God is not fickle. He is good, and gives good gifts. He created the light(s), and he gave us new birth through the Word (see a...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.   The trials of chapter 1 probably refer to persecution. Don’t give up! When we give up, we are letting our lives be defined by our particular temptations and sins. In Christ we can overcome Note: temptations are not sins. The sin is what we decide to do about the temptation. As Martin Luther was fond of saying, “You can’t stop a bird...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. The man James   In the NT, James is by far the most significant (half-)brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3, Acts 1:14). Notice: “ servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (1:1)—similar humility in Jude, also penned by a brother of Christ. His is a humble stance James’ conversion We see early in the gospel of Mark that Mary an...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. 1:1—the 12 Tribes = Christians (see Gal 6:16), probably from a Jewish background. If James is like Ephesians (a circular letter) then it's possible the original letter or material was adapted after James's death for a broader Jewish-Christian audience (in the diaspora). The nature of James:  A letter? A sermon? A collection or compendi...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.  Resonance: Sermon on Mount (man phrases, and at least 6 points of connection) OT – a number of quotes, plus numerous allusions The impression of an OT prophet (notice how he challenges entrepreneurs and the wealthy) [the Jewish Apocryphal tradition] Listen closely!   In the next two reflections, we will begin to explore chapter 1, lea...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Forty Days with James (the brother of Jesus) will take us through this powerful letter by the brother of Jesus, passage by passage. We'll read through the epistle in multiple English translations, leaving no stone unturned. Some highlights: Why caring for the needy isn’t optional The truth about “falling away" Why James 3:1 applies to...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. This podcast is based on The Practice of the Presence of God, a record of the life and words of Brother Lawrence (Whitaker House, 1982). Includes the biography of his life by Joseph de Beaufort, written shortly after his death (in 1691). For clarity, I have put Brother Lawrence's words in blue. The other words, when in quotes, are Jose...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Our final selection in this series is drawn from "On Meditating Upon Death" (Book 1, Chapter 23), "On the Final Desire" (Book 3, Chapter 9), and "On the Clear Day of Eternity" (Book 3, Chapter 48). The podcast (14 minutes) contains only these three excerpts, read without comment. Scripture : Phil 3:14; (1 Macc 2:63); (Sir 7:6); (Sir 38...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Our penultimate devotional (13 minutes) is based on "On Not Resting on Goods and Gifts" (Book 3, Chapter 21), "On Delight Above All Things" (Book 3, Chapter 34), and "On the Free Spirit" (Book 3, Chapter 26). Scripture : Psalm 43:3-4; 55:6; 34:8; 106:45; 40:5; 19:9; 1 John 2:15; Rom 8:6; Col 3:11; Rom 6:6; Gal 5:17; Psalm 89:9; 44:26;...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. The 29th podcast (11 mins) in our series is "On Desiring Eternal Life" (Book 3, Chapter 49). Scripture : Phil 1:23-24; Jas 1:17; Rom 8:21; Luke 22:18; Josh 1:6; Eph 4:24; Isa 61:3; Phil 1:20. Powerful sentences : * "It's not by your own meditating and striving that you receive these gifts, but solely by the gracious mercy of my supreme...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Today's podcast (12 mins) is on "Avoiding Rash Judgment" (Book 1, Chapter 14), "On Restraint of Our Words" (Book 1, Chapter 10), and "On Avoiding Gossip" (Book 3, Chapter 24). Scripture : Matt 7:1-2; Jas 3:7-9; Matt 26:41; Eph 4:29; John 21:22; Rom 14:12; Ecc 1:14; John 2:25; Rev 3:20; 1 Pet 4:7. Thought questions :* Am I aware of how...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. "On Having a Sensitive Heart" (Book 1, Chapter 21) is our next podcast (12 mins). Scripture :  Prov 4:23; 19:23; Jas 4:9; Eph 4:29; Col 2:20-23; Psalm 80:5; 75:5. Spiritual focus: Holy reverence* Discipline* Avoiding senseless humor (flippancy)* Cultivating spiritual sensitivity.* Clear and clean conscience* Dealing with distraction* N...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. "On No Security in this Life" (Book 3, Chapter 35) and "On Resisting Temptation" (Book 1, Chapter 13). The podcast (12 mins) is read without interruption or comment. Scripture : 2 Cor 6:7; Psalm 91:14; Rev 2:17; Rom 8:18; Psalm 27:14; Psalm 91:15; Job 7:1; 1 Pet 5:8; Jas 1:14; Col 1:11; (Sir 31:26); 1 Cor 10:13; (Jud 8:17); Luke 1:52 F...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Podcast 25 (12 minutes) is "On the Reading of the Holy Scriptures" (Book 1, Chapter 5). Scriptures : 2 Tim 3:16; Heb 13:9; Psalm 117:2; Heb 1:1; Rom 2:11 Ten thoughts :* We shouldn't seek novelty for novelty's sake. The gospel is seldom advanced through curious, shocking, or novel ideas.* When we study Scripture, we must avoid reading...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Our devotional (12 mins) is from "On the Exercises of a Righteous Person" (Book 1, Chapter 19). Scripture : 2 Pet 1:5-8; Prov 16:9; Jer 10:23; Heb 12:1; Eph 6:11; Rom 8:18; Luke 12:37,42 Application : Daily renewal: Begin the day the right way!  * Stay busy. Redeem the time. The clock is ticking. Don't advertise our righteous acts.* Se...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Today's reflection (10 mins) is on three chapters of The Imitation of Christ: "On What Makes a Peaceable Person" (Book 2, Chapter 3), "On A Pure Mind and Simple Intentions" (Book 2, chapter 4), and "On the Joy of a Good Conscience" (Book 2, Chapter 6). Scripture : Gal 5:22-23; Eph 4:2; Gal 6:2; Rom 12:18; Phil 4:8; Rom 2:9; 1 Pet 3:16;...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Today's thoughts come from "On Seeking Peace of Mind" (Book 1, Chapter 11) and "On the Love of Solitude & Silence" (Book 1, Chapter 20). The podcast is 15 minutes long. Scripture :John 14:27; Matt 3:10; Gal 2:20; 5:24; 6:14; 2 Tim 2:4; Rev 2:4; Psalm 37:7; Mark 6:31; Luke 5:16; 2 Cor 1:12; Psalm 4:4; 1 John 2:17; Prov 23:32; Ecc 2:11;...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Today's meditation (11 mins) is "On Bearing with the Faults of Others" (Book 1, Chapter 16). Scriptures : Luke 11:4; Gen 50:20; Titus 3:10; Gal 6:2,5; 2 Cor 3:5; Prov 3:7; Col 3:13; 1 Thess 5:11 . Application : * We often operate under a double standard, wanting others to change, or their behavior to be modified, without holding oursel...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. "On the Confidence of Grace" (Book 3, Chapter 30) will be read without interruption or comment (8 minutes). Scripture :Jas 1:17; Nah 1:7; Matt 11:28; Jer 32:27; 1 Pet 5:10; Num 23:19; Ps 40:1; Matt 8:7; 6:34; John 14:27; 14:1; Ps 44:21; John 15:9; Luke 8:15; 2 Cor 6:4-10; 11:23-33; Ps 55:6   For further consideration : "Even if he give...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Today's podcast (19 mins) is "On Contempt of Vain and Worldly Knowledge" (Book 3, Chapter 43). Scripture :1 Cor 1:26-27; 2 Tim 4:3; Num 16; Ps 94:10; 119:100,130; Col 3:4; Zeph 1:12; 1 Cor 4:5,20; 12:11.. Application : * "Sweet-sounding compliments": beware flattery, and people lowering the standard. * "Never read the Word to appear le...