John Mark Hicks

Bobby Valentine and John Mark Hicks walk through the meaning of Psalm 9, which both remembers God’s mighty deeds for Israel in the past with gratitude and cries out to God to renew those mighty deeds in the present. It is a Psalm of both thanksgiving and lament. The Psalm remembers God’s justice for the […]

Hosea 1:1 and 14:9 The first line of the book of Hosea identifies the author as a prophet, the time of his ministry, and the social setting in which he lives. The last verse of Hosea invites hearers to discern the ways of the Yahweh and walk in them. This video introduces the prophet and […]

Psalm 149 invites the faithful to sing a new song with dancing and music in celebration of God’s deliverance because God delights in the people and has glorified (or beautified) them in God’s deliverance. The Psalm calls Judah to praise God with their mouths as they celebrate the divine victory through festive celebration. Given their […]

Revelation 17 describes the unholy prostitute, the city that rules the kings of the earth. The final chapters of Revelation describe the bride of the Lamb, the new Jerusalem. This contrast pictures two destinies–one for the kings of the earth who worship the beast and serve its interests, and those who follow the Lamb, even […]

An English version of “Women, Assemblies, and the Churches of Christ” is available here. A Spanish PDF is available here. Porque todos podéis profetizar uno por uno, para que todos aprendan y todos sean exhortados. 1 Corintios 14:31 [Este ensayo ofrece una sucinta defensa de la plena participación de las mujeres en las asambleas que […]

The Center for Christian Studies just released a new video series on Psalms, written and presented by John Mark Hicks. Check out the trailer and read about the series here. https://www.christian-studies.org/post/jesus-favorite-book And then, of course, subscribe to get the entire series! Do you know what Jesus’ favorite book was?  A good case can be made […]

“Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah”–it was #148 in my hymnbook growing up. I loved singing it because it called even “dragons” to praise the Lord (according to KJV). The hymn is based on Psalm 148. Psalm 148 invites all heaven and earth to praise God from their heights to their depths. Yahweh is praised as creator of […]

John Mark Hicks walks through the contrast between old and new, between chaos and order, between disruption and renewal, between evil and intimacy with God. The hope of the Christian faith is to enjoy God who dwells with new humanity in a new heaven and new earth. This is the inheritance of the Abrahamic promise […]

Psalm 147, the second of five Psalms in the “Little Hallel” at the end of the Psalter, commands Israel to “praise the Lord” because God’s steadfast love has remembered the covenant with Israel. And because God is the creator who continues to provide sustenance for the cosmos. God is an active agent within the creation […]

Blog on Revelation 3:14-22 available here. The congregation at Laodicea was wealthy, proud, and self-sufficient. But Jesus says they are poor, naked, and blind. They compromised their witness by living comfortably with a culture that was hostile to Jesus; they compromised their allegiance. They need wealth refined by fire, white robes to cover their shameful […]