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364. 45 Years of Faith, Leadership, and Lessons That Still Matter | Douglas Jacoby

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

Release Date: 12/29/2025

388. Holy Distress: How One Man Shook an Entire City show art 388. Holy Distress: How One Man Shook an Entire City

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

Holy Distress: How One Man Shook an Entire City Have you ever walked into a city—or even a room—and felt something stir deep inside you? Not anger. Not annoyance. But a holy distress. In this episode, Rob Skinner takes us to Acts 17 and walks with Paul into Athens—the intellectual capital of the ancient world. One man. One city. One burning conviction. Paul wasn’t impressed by Athens’ architecture, culture, or ideas. He was distressed. Why? Because the city was full of idols and people didn’t know God. This message is a blueprint for spiritual courage in a modern city. 📖 Key...

info_outline 387. Berlin Mission Update: Raising Kids, Learning German, and Watching God Move show art 387. Berlin Mission Update: Raising Kids, Learning German, and Watching God Move

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

Berlin Mission Update: Raising Kids, Learning German, and Watching God Move In this episode of The Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob sits down with Austen and Sara Bolves, missionaries serving the church in Berlin, Germany, for an honest, inspiring update on life and ministry overseas. Austen and Sara share how they became Christians, how they met in the campus ministry at the University of Washington, and what led them to leave stability in the U.S. to help strengthen the church in Europe. They open up about the real challenges of leading a church in a different culture, building a leadership team...

info_outline 386. It Is Impossible for God to Lie — The Truth That Silences Every Doubt show art 386. It Is Impossible for God to Lie — The Truth That Silences Every Doubt

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

What if the greatest battle you’re facing right now isn’t your circumstances… but what you’re believing? From the Garden of Eden until today, the enemy has used the same strategy—casting doubt on God’s Word. “Did God really say…?” In this powerful episode, Rob Skinner unpacks the explosive truth of Hebrews 6:18: “It is impossible for God to lie.” Not unlikely. Not rare. Impossible. If you’ve ever wondered whether God will come through… whether His promises are still true… or whether He’s forgotten you… This message will anchor your faith and help you fight the...

info_outline 385. If God Is For You, You’ve Already Won show art 385. If God Is For You, You’ve Already Won

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

📝 If God Is For You, You’ve Already Won Scripture: Romans 8:31 What if the greatest advantage in your life has nothing to do with your talent, position, or past—but everything to do with who is on your side? In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob unpacks the life-changing truth of Romans 8:31: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” This isn’t motivational hype—it’s spiritual reality. When you realize that the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and the armies of heaven are on your team, fear begins to fade and confidence takes its place. Through powerful Scripture,...

info_outline 384. When Your Worst Sermon Becomes God’s Best Work show art 384. When Your Worst Sermon Becomes God’s Best Work

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

📝 When Your Worst Sermon Becomes God’s Best Work Podcast: The Rob Skinner Podcast Episode Summary Have you ever poured your heart into something—only to walk away feeling like it completely failed? In this honest and encouraging episode, Rob Skinner shares a recent preaching experience that felt weak, quiet, and ineffective… until God revealed a very different story. Through an unexpected conversation after church, Rob was reminded of a powerful spiritual truth: Your feelings are a terrible measure of God’s effectiveness. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 12:9, this episode explores how...

info_outline 383. The Freedom of Living Beyond People’s Opinions show art 383. The Freedom of Living Beyond People’s Opinions

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

  📝 The Freedom of Living Beyond People’s Opinions Podcast: The Rob Skinner Podcast Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 4:3 Episode Summary Have you ever felt crushed by what others think of you—or even worse, by the voice inside your own head? In this powerful devotional episode, Rob Skinner explores the radical freedom found in the apostle Paul’s words from 1 Corinthians 4:3: “I care very little if I am judged by you… indeed, I do not even judge myself.” Paul lived with an unshakable peace that most of us have never experienced—freedom from people-pleasing, freedom...

info_outline 382. What God Calls Pure Christianity (And Why It’s So Uncomfortable) show art 382. What God Calls Pure Christianity (And Why It’s So Uncomfortable)

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

What God Calls Pure Christianity (And Why It’s So Uncomfortable) What if much of what we call Christianity… God wouldn’t call pure? In this powerful episode of The Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob explores the simple yet challenging definition of real faith found in James 1:27. When church culture, traditions, and labels are stripped away, Scripture reveals a clear picture of what God considers pure and faultless religion: Loving the vulnerable and living with a clean heart. Rob unpacks how early Christians transformed the world through radical compassion—serving the sick, the poor, and the...

info_outline 381. It’s Not the Facts—It’s Your Attitude That Moves Mountains show art 381. It’s Not the Facts—It’s Your Attitude That Moves Mountains

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

📝 It’s Not the Facts—It’s Your Attitude That Moves Mountains What if the facts of your life aren’t the real problem? Psychiatrist Carl Menninger once said, “Attitudes are more important than facts.” At first, that sounds risky—until you realize how deeply biblical it really is. From a Roman prison cell, uncertain of his future, the apostle Paul wrote: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” (Philippians 4:4) “I have learned the secret of being content in every situation.” (Philippians 4:12) Paul’s facts were terrible. But his attitude was unshakable—and it changed...

info_outline 380. You’ve Been Assigned This Mountain (And It’s Not to Stop You) show art 380. You’ve Been Assigned This Mountain (And It’s Not to Stop You)

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

You’ve Been Assigned This Mountain (And It’s Not to Stop You) Sometimes life hands us a mountain we never asked for. A health crisis. A financial setback. A broken relationship. A ministry that feels stuck. And the question rises in our hearts: “God… why this?” But what if the mountain in front of you isn’t punishment— what if it’s purpose? In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob explores Jesus’ powerful words about faith the size of a mustard seed and what it really means to move mountains. You’ll discover: Why God allows impossible situations How faith grows...

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The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

The One Thing You Can’t Afford to Miss (Even If You’re Busy Doing Good) Are you busy doing good things—but still feeling spiritually dry, distracted, or stuck? In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob looks at Jesus’ words to Martha in Luke 10:41–42, where Jesus gently reminds her that while she was busy and faithful, she was missing what mattered most. Rob explores: Why being busy—even with good and spiritual things—can still leave us empty The difference between doing things for God and being with God How distraction quietly pulls our hearts away from intimacy with...

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🎙️ 45 Years of Faith, Leadership, and Lessons That Still Matter | Douglas Jacoby

In this wide-ranging and deeply thoughtful conversation, Rob Skinner sits down with longtime teacher, author, and global church leader Douglas Jacoby to reflect on nearly five decades of faith, ministry, and leadership across continents.

From becoming a Christian at Duke University, to helping plant churches in London and Scandinavia, to pioneering an international teaching ministry, Doug shares lessons learned from decades of evangelism, writing, church leadership, and global travel.

This episode explores how faith matures over time, why humility and lifelong learning matter, and what it truly means to make this life count.

🧭 Episode Highlights

  • How Doug became a Christian through campus ministry at Duke University

  • Moving from the U.S. to London, Sweden, and beyond for global church planting

  • The early days of the Boston Church movement and international missions

  • Why theological education and teaching matter deeply for the church

  • Writing over 35 books while serving in full-time ministry

  • Lessons from going independent after 2003 and navigating ministry without institutional support

  • Building resilience, focusing on strengths, and sustaining ministry long-term

  • Reflections on autonomy, unity, and connection within the ICOC

  • Thoughts on leadership, humility, church history, and learning from others

  • Advice for disciples who want to live faithfully and finish well

📚 About Douglas Jacoby

Douglas Jacoby is a longtime Bible teacher, author, and speaker who has served churches around the world for over 45 years. He has written more than 35 books, leads teaching tours and conferences globally, and continues to equip disciples through writing, podcasting, and training.

🎯 Key Takeaway

Spiritual impact isn’t built overnight—it’s forged through decades of faithfulness, humility, learning, and relationships.

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📘 Learn more about Rob’s book The 10x Christian at RobSkinner.com or on Amazon.

Live a no-regrets life.
Make this life count.
Multiply disciples, leaders, and churches.