14. Teología Sacramental: Experimentando la Presencia Divina

June 11, 2025

An English version is available here. La teología sacramental, en algunos sectores del cristianismo norteamericano, necesita una reorientación desde una comprensión antropocéntrica, centrada en el ser humano, donde los sacramentos son concebidos como meros actos de obediencia humana, hacia una comprensión más teocéntrica donde los sacramentos son concebidos como actos divinos de gracia a través […]


BOOK REVIEW: Matthew Bates, Beyond the Salvation Wars

May 11, 2025

PDF version of the Review available here. Beyond the Salvation Wars: Why Both Protestants and Catholics Must Reimagine How We Are Saved, authored by Matthew W. Bates, is a provocative contribution to the “salvation wars.” It not only explores common ground among disputants but also invites them to embrace a holistic perspective “beyond the salvation […]


GRACIA, OBRAS Y CERTEZA: UNA ESTRUCTURA TEOLOGICA

September 23, 2024

Presentado en la HUGSR Foro Anual de Predicadores Abril 14, 1992 [Publicado en   Grace, Faith, Works: How Do They Relate, ed. by C. Philip Slate (Huntsville, AL: Publishing Designs, Inc.,, 1992), 5-28. The English original is available here.] El peregrino es un extraño en busca de un hogar. Es un extraño en un país hostil […]


Reaching Back Over Forty Years to 1982: An Article on Baptism.

August 26, 2024

I think this is my first published article on baptism. It appeared in Basil Overton’s World Evangelist (December 1982). Teaching and writing over the next forty-two years has adjusted the language (hopefully improved the writing as well) but the substance remains with some nuancing. John Mark Hicks, “Baptism: Salvation by Works?” World Evangelist (December 1982). […]


Union with Christ: The Central Soteriological Claim

June 1, 2023

I have now read the sixth of twelve books suggested by FB friends. This one was recommended by Clayton Homewood.  This is my summary. Marcus Peter Johnson, One with Christ: An Evangelical Theology of Salvation (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2013). Salvation, according to historic Christianity, is our personal union with the living Christ, our inclusion in […]


Oral History of Churches of Christ: James Gorman Interviews John Mark Hicks

November 17, 2022

James Gorman, an historian of the Restoration Movement (Stone-Campbell Movement) and Professor at Johnson University near Knoxville, Tennessee, is conducting a series of oral histories about the churches of Christ in the 21st century. These oral histories are available on the ACU website. Jamey asked me a series of questions about my biography and life […]


Embracing Creation

April 27, 2017

The Ray Evans Seminar, an annual event at the Alameda Church of Christ in Norman, Oklahoma, was held March 31-April 2, 2017. The general topic was Embracing Creation, which is also the title of the book I co-authored with Bobby Valentine and Mark Wilson. The book is available here. I gave six presentations as well […]


Enter the Water, Come to the Table

May 30, 2015

Below are summary statements that correspond to chapters or sections of chapters in my most recent book Enter the Water, Come to the Table (Leafwood, 2014). They summarize the theology present in the book, which is deeply rooted (I hope) in the story of God as given to us in Scripture. I am grateful for […]


Psalm 63 – Longing for Assembly

April 12, 2013

The ancient compilation Apostolic Constitutions (2.59) advises believers to gather for daily worship and to open their service with Psalm 63. Reflecting the same time period (ca. 400 CE), Chrysostom reports that believers sang this Psalm at the begining of their morning assemblies (Commentary on Psalms, cv. 63). It is still part of the communal daily morning […]


Amos 5:18-27: The First Woe

March 21, 2013

This text begins the third major section of Amos. In the first section (Amos 1-2) the prophet addressed eight nations and climaxed his message with an extended application to Israel. In the second section (Amos 3:1-5:17) the prophet declares the word of the Lord in three brief speeches (“hear this word” in 3:1, 4:1 and […]