May 16, 2016
It is rather distressing to see Christians wringing their hands over the state of the nation. Facebook is populated by “Christian rants,” which reflect a state of anxiety, anger, and angst. Many live in fear. Believers, however, worship God. Perhaps the contrast is not apparent. Perhaps Christians are so filled with fear, it is difficult […]
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Biblical Texts | Tagged: Assembly, Creation, Psalm 96, Sovereignty, Worship |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
August 29, 2015
Here is concluding counsel for a marginalized, victimized group. As exiles and aliens (1 Peter 2:11-12) within Roman society, Peter calls them to transcend their situation by living as an authentic community, which seeks only good for its surrounding culture. This section concludes the major exhortation section of 1 Peter. It opened with the vocative […]
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Biblical Texts | Tagged: Assembly, Ecclesiology, Eschatology, Hospitality, Liturgy, Love, Worship |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
August 14, 2013
Psalm 1 counseled wisdom. Worshippers, as they pray, mediate and sing the Psalms, align themselves with the way of righteousness. Psalm 2 assures these worshippers that Yahweh reigns and even the nations must ultimately submit to the God of Israel. Psalm 2, then, as a further introduction to the Psalter, grounds the worship of and […]
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Biblical Texts | Tagged: Assembly, Christology, Kingdom of God, Messiah, Psalm 2, Psalms, Psalter, Worship |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
July 29, 2013
Who can stand on the days when the wrath of God and the Lamb are poured out on empires? That is the question asked when the sixth seal is opened in Revelation 6:12-17. The shaking of the Roman empire, as with all empires, will affect everyone from rich to poor, from free to slave. Who […]
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Biblical Texts | Tagged: 144000, Assembly, Dead, Death, Intermediate State, Liturgy, Martyrs, Revelation 7, Worship |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
July 14, 2013
While Revelation 4 focused on the worth of the Creator who sits on the throne, Revelation 5 turns our attention to the dramatic investiture of the one who is worthy to break the seals and unroll the scroll. Revelation 4 portrays the reality of the heavenly throne room where the sovereign God, sitting on the throne, […]
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Biblical Texts | Tagged: Assembly, Christology, Instrumental Music, justice, Lamb, Liturgy, Music, Prayer, Revelation 5, Sing, Worship |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
July 7, 2013
Revelation 4-16 gives us eyes to see the conflict between the kingdom of God and world powers with the eyes of God. We see the conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this earth from a heavenly perspective; we see it from the throne room of God. John, “in the Spirit,” is […]
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Biblical Texts | Tagged: Assembly, Chaos, God, Kingdom, Revelation 4, Sovereignty, Throne, Worship |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
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 […]
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Biblical Texts | Tagged: Amos, Amos 5:18-27, Assembly, Bible-Amos, justice, Music, Poor, Righteousness, Sacraments, Sacrifices, Worship |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks