Jesus Washes Feet (John 13): Receiving and Giving Grace

June 26, 2023

Text: John 13:1-17 The sermon begins at about minute 43 at this link. Through washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus teaches us to receive grace even when we feel unworthy and full of shame, and he also teaches us to follow his example of giving grace by serving others.


The Formation of Community: Shared Generosity, Communal Prayer, and Giftedness

April 23, 2023

Texts: Acts 2:42-45; 3:1; Eph 4:7-8, 11-12 Days 62-64 in Around the Bible in Eighty Days. Previously, we have seen the formation of community through a shared initiation (baptism), shared faith in Jesus the Messiah (through the apostles’ teaching), and a shared table (breaking bread). These were communal moments in Acts 2. Together, 3000 were […]


Jesus Serves: Temple, Template, and Table

March 1, 2023

Texts: Mark 10:41-45; 11:15-18; 12:28-34; 14:22-25 Days 43-46 in Around the Bible in Eighty Days. As Jesus traveled to Jerusalem in order to suffer and die, he frames this journey as one of service. The mission of Jesus is to serve others, and that is why he became a “slave of all.” The “Son of […]


Profiles in Character: A Look at Shepherding and Spiritual Leadership V

July 27, 2009

[This is a brief small group/Bible class series that parallels the sermons of Dean Barham at Woodmont Hills Family of God in Nashville, TN, for the month of July 2009. The is the final installment. Unfortunately, I offer the homily on this one to which you may listen here when it becomes available.] Leadership in Community 1 […]


Profiles in Character: A Look at Shepherding and Spiritual Leadership III

July 15, 2009

[This is a brief small group/Bible class series that parallels the sermons of Dean Barham at Woodmont Hills Family of God in Nashville, TN, for the month of July 2009. You may listen to Dean’s lessons here.] A Shepherd Model Acts 20:17-38 Paul had spent several years in Ephesus ministering among God’s people in that city. […]


Profiles in Character: A Look at Shepherding and Spiritual Leadership I

July 1, 2009

[This is a brief small group/Bible class series that parallels the sermons of Dean Barham at Woodmont Hills Family of God in Nashville, TN, for the month of July 2009. You may listen to Dean’s lessons here.] THE DIVINE SHEPHERD Psalm 23 “God Who Has Been My Shepherd All My Life” Genesis 48:15 The “Shepherd” […]


My “Contending for the Faith” Articles–More 1970s

March 15, 2009

Yes, it is true. I wrote articles for Contending for the Faith, edited by Ira Y. Rice, Jr., in the late 1970s. Ira Y. Rice, Jr. was a good friend of my father Mark N. Hicks. Ira would stay in our home, it seemed, at least once a year. He would either hold a meeting […]


Leadership: A Teaching/Discussion Resource

March 9, 2009

Leadership Series Cordova Community Church, Cordova, TN (1998) This material was presented in the form of 30 minutes of teaching followed by 30 minutes of discussion within small groups. The new church plant was moving toward appointing their first shepherds. We probably moved too quickly as I think about it now, but this is the […]


New Items Posted, Again

March 2, 2009

A.  I have conducted several seminars on 1 Corinthians, especially for newer church plants (e.g., Kiev).  I have uploaded the lecture outlines and small group question materials for a series on 1 Corinthians that I put together for the Cordova Community Church in the late 1990s.  This was the congregation that Gary Ealy and I, […]


Madisonville, Kentucky Seminars

June 19, 2008

In 1996, 1998, and 2000 I conducted one day, Saturday, seminars for the Pennyrile Church of Christ in Madisonville, KY to which area ministers and members were invited to spend a day discussing “current” theological questions.  My friend Norris DeBerry was the minister for the church at the time. Those were encouraging, helpful discussions, I […]