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 […]
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Biblical Texts, Theodrama | Tagged: Cleansing of the Temple, Eucharist, First Commandment, Greatest Commandments, Last Supper, Leadership, Lord's Supper, Ransom, Second commandment, Servant, Service, Table, Temple |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
November 2, 2017
Paul has set a high bar for Philemon. Given Philemon’s social world, Paul’s requests are astounding. As Philemon’s slave, Onesimus has neither social status nor civil rights. Onesimus cannot sit at the same table with his master. He cannot marry whom he chooses, and he has no real options other than what Philemon decides. As […]
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Uncategorized | Tagged: Cruciform, Gospel, Kenosis, Onesimus, Philemon, Slavery, Table |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
October 16, 2017
Listening to this letter within the community of his own house church, Philemon hears Paul’s affection for Onesimus. He is not only Paul’s child but Paul’s own “heart.” “I am sending my heart back to you,” Paul writes. This simple statement has several significant rhetorical functions. First, Paul not only does not secretly hide Onesimus […]
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Uncategorized | Tagged: Church, Onesimus, Philemon, Philemon 12-16, Roman Slavery, Slavery, Table |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
March 27, 2016
On Resurrection Day, almost two thousand years ago, two disciples were transformed by their experience of the risen Messiah at a table in Emmaus. While walking to Emmaus, they heard the story of a Messiah who must first suffer and then enter glory. The stranger who walked with them expounded Scripture, and their hearts burned […]
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Biblical Texts, Theology | Tagged: 1 Corinthians 10:16, Easter, Eschatology, Eucharist, Lord's Supper, Luke 24:35, Resurrection, Table |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
October 8, 2013
The book unChristian alerted Christendom that it had an image problem with millennials. Christians are perceived as insensitive, judgmental and hypocritical. Some responses to the book were skeptical and defensive. Others not only agreed that Christianity had an image problem but they went further. Christianity has a reality problem, that is, contemporary discipleship is often […]
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Biblical Texts, Theology | Tagged: Anger, Compassion, Forgiveness, Grace, Hospitality, Luke 15, Prodigal Son, Table, unChristian |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
January 17, 2012
Jesus resumed his kingdom ministry when he returned to the sea of Galilee from the regions of Tyre and Sidon. After some time (“in those days”) Jesus was followed by a large crowd (4,000 people) into a remote place where food was not easily accessible. Mark describes this area as a “wilderness” (8:4) and uses […]
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Theology | Tagged: Bible-Mark, Eucharist, Feeding of the 4000, Fellowship, Gentile Mission, Lord's Supper, Mark 8:1-10, Meal, Missional, Table |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks