John Mark Hicks

Psalm 30 narrates a testimony of God’s deliverance, but the narrative involves God’s hiddenness, and the petitioner struggles with God. The Psalmist asks, “What profit is there in my death?” Though once prosperous, the Psalmist experienced God’s hiddenness, and then God’s grace. The Psalmist has come to the temple to testify, give thanks, and invite […]

I was honored to speak at the Homewood Church of Christ in Birmingham, AL, on May 17, 2026. Sermon: Yes, Virginia, There is a Rapture! (at 34 minute mark) What does rapture mean in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18? Bible Class: A New Heaven and New Earth, Home of the Righteous (at 1 hour, 28 minute mark). […]

This section in Hosea’s last oracle begins and ends with the language of “guilt” (Hosea 13:1, 16). This functions like an inclusio or two bookends that characterize the content. Israel is guilty because they worshipped Baal and because Samaria rebelled against God. Hosea brings this message home by retelling the story of Ephraim’s demise. They […]

The Psalm confesses an allegiance to God. The Psalmist chooses Yahweh and recognizes every good thing is from the Lord. From this comes an intimacy with God that guides and forms the Psalmist. Therefore, the Psalmist is confident God will choose life for the Psalmist–God will not abandoned us to death. Peter (Acts 2) and […]

John is in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day (1:9-11) John Sees the Risen, Exalted, and Enthroned Messiah (1:12-16) The Risen Messiah Speaks (1:17-20) A Domitian coin with seven stars depicts the deified infant son of Emperor Domitian, Flavius Caesar, seated on a globe surrounded by seven stars. Minted in Rome between 82 and 83 CE, […]

An English version is available here. Con demasiada frecuencia, la «escatología» (el estudio de los últimos tiempos) se limita a los debates milenaristas (posmilenio, premilenio pretribulacionista, premilenio mesotribulacionista, premilenio posttribulacionista, premilenio histórico, ¿amil?) y al destino eterno de los seres humanos (¿cielo o infierno?). Para algunos, estos debates se ignoran porque parecen relativamente irrelevantes (Dios […]

James Thompson of Christianity Today asked for a statement about the Lord’s Supper. This is what I gave him (and it was published in the paper today). “Table is the dominant metaphor among Churches of Christ. We practice it weekly. Given our Presbyterian roots, both Zwinglian (memorialist) and Calvinian (spiritual presence) perspectives are present. At […]

New Heaven and New Earth: Revelation 21:1-7 and 22:1-5 Imagine no pain, mourning, or death. It ain’t easy; I’ve tried. Imagine no chaos, brokenness, or struggle. Yeah, it ain’t easy; it sounds like fantasy. Sometimes the floods, both metaphorical and real, overwhelm us. Tornadoes, heavy rain, and lightning threaten us, and sometimes they destroy us. […]