TxtandContxt: Recent Episodes
Andrew Hicks
Book reviews, interesting interviews, theological discussions, recent sermons, and all things Bible nerd!
The Sunday morning sermon from the Cold Springs Church of Christ in Lancaster, TX on 8.13.23.
The Sunday morning Bible class from the Bastrop Church of Christ on 7.9.23. The prayer prayer at the beginning of class is called the “Te Deum.”
The Sunday morning sermon from the Bastrop Church of Christ on Father’s Day Sunday 2023 - 6.18.23. Happy Father’s Day to all fathers and father figures of every kind. Please feel free to reach out with your thoughts and questions: txtandcontxt@gmail.com.
The Sunday morning Bible class from the Bastrop Church of Christ on 6.18.23. Please feel free to reach out with your thoughts and questions: txtandcontxt@gmail.com.
A special Bible class from the Bastrop Church of Christ on 5.28.23 on the Biblical Theology of New Heavens and New Earth. For a free download of the Bible Project’s excellent workbook on this topic see here: bit.ly/newheavensandearth.
A special Bible class from the Bastrop Church of Christ on 5.28.23 on the Biblical Theology of New Heavens and New Earth. For a free download of the Bible Project’s excellent workbook on this topic see here: bit.ly/newheavensandearth.
A special Bible class from the Bastrop Church of Christ on 5.28.23 on the Biblical Theology of New Heavens and New Earth. For a free download of the Bible Project’s excellent workbook on this topic see here: bit.ly/newheavensandearth.
The Sunday morning sermon from the Bastrop Church of Christ on 5.21.23. For a picture of the chairs used in this sermon see txtandcontxt.com/homiletical-hijinx-seeing-the-ascension.
A special Bible class from the Bastrop Church of Christ on 5.21.23 on the Biblical Theology of New Heavens and New Earth. For a free download of the Bible Project’s excellent workbook on this topic see here: bit.ly/newheavensandearth. And for the video played in class see bit.ly/TBPHeavenandearth.
The teaching from Wednesday night service at the Gathering on 5.17.23. Text used is the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).
The Sunday morning sermon from the Bastrop Church of Christ on 5.14.23. Happy Mother’s Day to ALL mothers of every kind!
The Sunday morning sermon from the Bastrop Church of Christ on 4.16.23. The video mentioned and played during service is here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3BGO9Mmd_cU.
The Sunday morning sermon from the Bastrop Church of Christ. The readings for the 6th Sunday of Lent: Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 26:14-27:66 or Matthew 27:11-54. Txtandcontxt.com/Lent2023.
The Sunday morning sermon from the Bastrop Church of Christ on 3.26.23. The readings for the fifth Sunday in Lent: Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 130, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45
The Sunday morning sermon from the Bastrop Church of Christ on 3.19.23. The readings for the fourth Sunday in Lent: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41. See Txtandcontxt.com/lent2023.
The Sunday morning sermon from the Bastrop Church of Christ on 3.12.23. This sermon is from the gospel text for the third Sunday of Lent according to the Revised Common Lectionary. The readings for the 3rd Sunday of Lent are: Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42. See txtandcontxt.com/lent2023.
The Sunday morning sermon for the second Sunday in Lent from the Bastrop Church of Christ on 3.5.23. The readings for the second Sunday in Lent: Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Roman’s 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17 OR Matthew 17:1-9. See txtandcontxt.com/the-transfiguration-an-introduction.
The Sunday morning Bible class from the Bastrop Church of Christ on 3.5.23. See https://txtandcontxt.com/the-transfiguration-an-introduction/
This is a guided meditation on Transfiguration. Enjoy and be blessed. See https://txtandcontxt.com/the-transfiguration-an-introduction/
The Sunday morning sermon from the Bastrop Church of Christ on 2.26.23. First Sunday in Lent Readings: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11. See Txtandcontxt.com/lent2023 for more devotional content for lent. See also txtandcontxt.com/biblestudy for free online Bible study tools that I recommend as mentioned in the sermon.
This is the Sunday morning Bible class from Bastrop Church of Christ on February 12, 2023.
The Sunday morning sermon from Bastrop Church of Christ on Sunday January 15, 2023. See txtandcontxt.com/gal for more ideas for spiritual practices.
The Sunday morning Bible class from Bastrop church of Christ on Sunday January 15, 2023.
The teaching given Wednesday night at The Gathering [ thegatheringbastrop.com ] on January 11, 2023. The video practice at the end is from A New Liturgy No. 2: Blessed to Be a Blessing. Here is the YouTube link: https://youtu.be/6B_MrYGoy_Q.
This is the Sunday morning sermon from the Bastrop Church of Christ on Sunday January 8, 2023. See txtandcontxt.com/reenchantment for more detailed suggestions for inhabiting the sacred world. The text under discussion is Exodus 40:34- Leviticus 1:2 : Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on each stage of their journey, but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel at each stage of their journey.The Lord summoned Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When any of you bring an offering of livestock to the Lord, you shall bring your offering from the herd or from the flock.
This is the Sunday morning Bible class from the Bastrop Church of Christ on Sunday January 8, 2022. The text under discussion is Mark 6:30-56: The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.” When they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and he divided the two fish among them all. And all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came toward them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
The Sunday morning Bible class from the Bastrop Church of Christ on December 18, 2022. Here is the text in the NRSVue: The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.” When they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and he divided the two fish among them all. And all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came toward them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
This is the Sunday morning sermon from the Bastrop Church of Christ on December 18, 2022. The text is the Gospel text from the Revised Common Lectionary (Matthew 1:18-25): Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:“Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,”which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.
This is the Sunday morning sermon from Bastrop Church of Christ. The sermon followed the Revised Common Lectionary’s appointed texts for the Third Sunday of Advent: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11). Here is the sermon text: When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What, then, did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What, then, did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written,‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’“Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist, yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
This is the Bible class from Bastrop Church of Christ on December 11, 2022. See bit.ly/Mark6intertext for the handout. Mark 6:6-29 (NRSVue) - Then he went about among the villages teaching. He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff: no bread, no bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’s name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests, and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was deeply grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
This was the Sunday morning communion meditation given by Hannah Hicks at the Bastrop Church of Christ on December 4, 2022. The book referenced is “Mother God” by Teresa Kim Pecinovsky. Illustrated by Khoa Le.
The Sunday morning sermon at the Bastrop Church of Christ on December 4, 2022. From Genesis 16: Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had an Egyptian slave whose name was Hagar, and Sarai said to Abram, “You see that the Lord has prevented me from bearing children; go in to my slave; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her slave, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife. He went in to Hagar, and she conceived, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my slave to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!” But Abram said to Sarai, “Your slave is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she ran away from her.The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am running away from my mistress Sarai.” The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her.” The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will so greatly multiply your offspring that they cannot be counted for multitude.” And the angel of the Lord said to her,“Now you have conceived and shall bear a son; you shall call him Ishmael, for the Lord has given heed to your affliction.He shall be a wild ass of a man,with his hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him,and he shall live at odds with all his kin.”So she named the Lord who spoke to her, “You are El-roi,” for she said, “Have I really seen God and remained alive after seeing him?” Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered.Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael. (NRSVue). See also the excellent book mentioned in this sermon: “God Is” by Mallory Wyckoff.
The Sunday morning Bible class at the Gathering on December 4, 2022. Mark 6:1-13 - He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown and among their own kin and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.Then he went about among the villages teaching. He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff: no bread, no bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. (NRSVue)
The teaching from Wednesday night at Gathering on November 30, 2022. See bit.ly/sacredleviticus for a copy of the handout. And see bit.ly/diaperliturgy for the video.
The Sunday morning sermon at the Bastrop Church of Christ on November 13, 2022. This sermon is the first of a two-part meditation on Ephesians 5:12 in the Message: Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
The Sunday morning sermon at the Bastrop Church of Christ on November 6, 2022. This sermon is the first of a two-part meditation on Ephesians 5:12 in the Message: Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
Bible class from Sunday morning at the Gathering October 2, 2022. For study material suggestions see Txtandcontxt.com/Mark. To access the Google Slide presentation and other content used in class see bit.ly/hicksbibleclassmark.
Bible class from Sunday morning at the Gathering September 25, 2022. For study material suggestions see Txtandcontxt.com/Mark. To access the Google Slide presentation and other content used in class see bit.ly/hicksbibleclassmark.
Bible class from Sunday morning at the Gathering September 18, 2022. For study material suggestions see Txtandcontxt.com/Mark. To access the Google Slide presentation and other content used in class see bit.ly/hicksbibleclassmark.
Bible class from Sunday morning at the Gathering September 11, 2022. For study material suggestions see Txtandcontxt.com/Mark. To access the Google Slide presentation and other content used in class see bit.ly/hicksbibleclassmark.
Bible class from Sunday morning at the Gathering September 4, 2022. For study material suggestions see Txtandcontxt.com/Mark. To access the Google Slide presentation and other content used in class see bit.ly/hicksbibleclassmark.
Bible class from Sunday morning at the Gathering August 28, 2022. For study material suggestions see Txtandcontxt.com/Mark. To access the Google Slide presentation used in class see bit.ly/gatheringbibleclass.
Bible class from Sunday morning at the Gathering August 21, 2022. For study material suggestions see Txtandcontxt.com/Mark. To access the Google Slide presentation used in class see bit.ly/gatheringbibleclass.
Bible class from Sunday morning at the Gathering August 14, 2022. For study material suggestions see Txtandcontxt.com/Mark. To access the Google Slide presentation used in class see bit.ly/gatheringbibleclass.
Dr. A.J. Levine joins me for a free flowing discussion of the New Testament and Judaism. See here for some of Dr. Levine's publications mentioned in the podcast.
Bible class from Sunday morning at the Gathering August 7, 2022. For study material suggestions see Txtandcontxt.com/Mark. To access the Google Slide presentation used in class see bit.ly/gatheringbibleclass.
The sermon from the Gathering Wednesday night Bible study on July 27, 2022. For a copy of the “God’s Word Search” see bit.ly/godswordsearchpoa.
The Sunday Morning sermon from the Bastrop Church of Christ July 17, 2022. This sermon is a first person narrative sermon from the perspective of a pilgrim who lived in a time when he made three annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem singing the Psalms of Ascents as he went and came back.
Bible class from Sunday morning at the Gathering July 17, 2022. For study material suggestions see Txtandcontxt.com/Mark. To access the Google Slide presentation used in class see bit.ly/gatheringbibleclass.
A conversation with Dr. Mark Allen Powell about narrative criticism and the New Testament.
Bible class from Sunday morning at the Gathering July 10, 2022. For study material suggestions see Txtandcontxt.com/Mark. To access the Google Slide presentation used in class see bit.ly/gatheringbibleclass.
A conversation with the reverend Dr. Will Willimon, professor at Duke Divinity School, about his book "Leading With the Sermon" in the Working Preacher Books series.
Bible class from Sunday morning at the Gathering July 3, 2022. For study material suggestions see Txtandcontxt.com/Mark. To access the Google Slide presentation used in class see bit.ly/gatheringbibleclass.
The sermon given at the Gathering on Wednesday night June 29, 2022. For the slides used go to bit.ly/verybadpsalm.
A conversation with the reverend Dr. Tom Long about where preaching has been, where it is now, and where it is going in the future.
A conversation with Dr. Tod Bolsinger about his books “Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory” and “Tempered Resilience: How Leaders Are Formed in the Crucible of Change.”
A cross over episode with the Not Sunday School Podcast for an interview with Dr. John Walton about the "lost worlds" of scripture.
A sermon given at the Gathering on May 11, 2022. PowerPoint used: https://bit.ly/prophethoodofall
A conversation with Austin Carty about his book “The Pastor’s Bookshelf: Why Reading Matters for Ministry.” See also: txtandcontxt.com/thepastorsbookshelf
My sermon from Sunday morning at the Bastrop Church of Christ on May 8, 2022 for Mother’s Day.
My sermon from Sunday morning at the Bastrop Church of Christ on April 24, 2022 for Blue Sunday 2022. Bluesunday.org
A conversation with Dr. Edmon Gallagher about the Septuagint and his recent book “The Translation of the Seventy.” See also txtandcontxt.com/Septuagint.
My sermon from Sunday morning at the Bastrop Church of Christ on April 17, 2022. [The same sermon was also given at the Easter sunrise service]
The sermon from Sunday morning at Bastrop Church of Christ on February 27, 2022. Txtandcontxt.com/Nahum
Check out some of the other stuff Wes is up to: Instagram: @workbywes YouTube: YouTube.com/c/workbywes Facebook: Wesley Hargon
The sermon from Sunday morning at Bastrop Church of Christ on February 20, 2022. Txtandcontxt.com/Jonah
Check out some of the other stuff Wes is up to: Instagram: @workbywes YouTube: YouTube.com/c/workbywes Facebook: Wesley Hargon
The sermon from Sunday morning at Bastrop Church of Christ on February 13, 2022. Txtandcontxt.com/Jonah
The sermon from Sunday morning at Bastrop Church of Christ on February 6, 2022. Txtandcontxt.com/Jonah
The sermon from Sunday morning at Bastrop Church of Christ on January 30, 2022. Txtandcontxt.com/Jonah
A Bible Class over the opening verses of Mark’s Gospel at Bastrop Church of Christ Sunday morning Bible class 1/23/22. Txtandcontxt.com/Mark