Come to the Table: Revisioning the Lord's Supper [Paperback]

John Mark Hicks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2008

The premise of this book is that Christian practice of the Lord's Supper as a silent, solemn, individualistic eating of bread and drinking of wine is radically dissimilar from the joyous communal meal in earliest Christianity. The contemporary practice of the supper needs to be revisioned; according to biblical values.

Combining careful Bible study with gentle, practical suggestions, this book provides a valuable resource for enriching and renewing a central practice of Christian faith.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is a wonderful, comprehensive, and engaging invitation to deeper understanding of and participation in the Lord's Supper. This will be a most useful book for pastors and congregations. --William H. Willimon, author of Sunday Dinner: The Lord's Supper and the Christian Life

I have been fortunate to hear Dr. Hicks' Come to the Table in oral form. Our church family spent a month studying and implementing it. It has helped many see the Lord's Supper as a joyous community event that focuses on the Risen Christ instead of a solemn and solitary reflection on his death. Instead of silence, there is sharing. Instead of sorrow rooted in gruesome memories, we experience table fellowship and joy. Readers will be challenged. Those who implement its insights will be blessed. --Rubel Shelly, preaching minister, Family of God at Woodmont Hills, Nashville, TN

About the Author

John Mark Hicks is professor of theology at Lipscomb University, Nashville, Tennessee. He holds a PhD from Westminster Theological Seminary. His most recent books are Yet Will I Trust Him: Understanding God in a Suffering World and a commentary on 1 & 2 Chronicles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 205 pages
• Publisher: Leafwood Publishers (May 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971428972
• ISBN-13: 978-0971428973
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 7.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #254,275 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A timely plea for restored intent September 2, 2004

By Damien Lawrie

Format:Paperback

Contrary to the views espoused by the previous reviewer, Come to the Table is a felicitous call to imbue our time of communing around the "Lord's Table" with all that it was intended.

Whilst I take issue with much of gallantknights review, in my assessment he correctly notes several things:

* It is indeed a scholarly presentation, but it is far from unreadable and quite engaging at times

* Much of Dr Hicks' points are indeed based on Old Testament precedent, and rightly so. Hicks' ably brings to bear the covenental symbolism Jesus purposefully gives the Lord's Supper. From its relationship to the passover in particular, to the relationship between altar sacrifice and the ensuing table fellowship this book offers much insight into the desire of God for communion with and among His people.

* Hicks' historical survey of meals in both the Old and the New Testaments is a highlight of the book and provides the structure for most of it. His exegesis of pertinent passages is accurate, as noted, but the discerning reader will struggle to find examples of ignoring context, inspite of gallantknight's warnings. I find it strange that he would list Hicks' treatment of Acts 2:46 as an example of denying context, when the author's exposition of this verse was based solely on the immediate context. Those who would deny a reference to the Lord's Supper in that particular verse must wrest it from the text to disallow the clear flow of thought and terminology found in verse 42.

In this book Hicks' unapologetically presents an image of the Lord's supper that stands in stark dissonance to the practice of most contemporary traditions. This in several ways is a brave move for someone with a heritage in the Restoration Movement, as it invites(?!...) criticism like that from gallantknights. Motives impugned and monikers like "change-agent" cast... (What on earth is "change-agent language"???? It must have been too subtle for me to pick up!)

The strength of this book lies not so much in uniqueness, (more and more scholars acknowledge the early practice of a fellowship-meal Lord's Supper) but in its call for a thorough rethink of firstly the theological foundation of the LS, it's purpose, and how that is reflected in our modern practice, if it is at all.

Come to the Table is not without its weaknesses. Dr Hicks, I think, was quite aware of most of them when he penned the preface and detailed its purpose. Some more groundwork for the practice of the early church could have been detailed, but where that was light Hick's leaves a healthy bibliography for further study! Read more ›

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Come to the table, and enjoy it... January 15, 2011

By James A. Lee

Format:Paperback

Come to the Table: Revisioning the Lord's Supper is an interesting treatise concerning the manner in which the Eucharist is observed in modern Christianity. This book takes the reader through a journey from the Scriptural attestation, a brief early Christian witness, and a modern application in 205 short pages. John Mark Hicks' treatment of this debated, diversely observed, and often divisive issue is fair-minded and communicated in a conversing manner. Come to the Table invites the reader to do just that, come and dine with the master, who is host of the table.

The Table discussion has long been a controversial subject amongst believers. The debate of trans-substantiation vs. con-substantiation has raged for ages. Zwingli and Luther debated the manner in which the table was conducted and sparked a reformation dialog the carried on for centuries. Is it really that simple? Or is it actually much simpler? Some questions that lack answers normally, receive an admirable treatment in Come to the Table. Some of them include,

* What is discerning the body?
* What is eating and drinking unworthily?
* What is the table of demons and the table of the Lord?

I really enjoyed this book for it scriptural substance. Hicks is very purposeful in painting the picture of what the Lord's Table was according to Luke, Acts, and 1 Corinthians. You begin to find yourself seated at table with not only the Lord and his disciples, but also with those whom Paul is addressing in Corinth. Giving data from the Old Covenant, showing more clearly the data of the New, and modernizing our approach for today all come together quite well.... I also really enjoyed the audacity that Hicks demonstrates by taking the road less traveled and taking the debate out the picture by stating pretty plainly what scripture is saying.

If I could have my druthers with this book, I would opt for a more systematic approach to the topic. I am not sure that it could do the subject justice, but that tends to be my reading preference anyway. Of all the systematic deductions I have read, this book has gone an extra mile by delivering a simple, logical, and plain view without mucking it all up with presuppositions to support.

This book was much worth the read and if you are interesting in learning more about the Lord's table, maybe even 'revisioning' it, then this book will get you started. Hicks also provides a bit of a practical application guide for believers or congregations who are currently exploring the topic and looking for an example to kick things off with.

Hope you enjoy it, I did! Read more ›

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Come to the Table: Revisioning the Lord's Supper by John Mark Hicks July 3, 2007

By Sigmund Podlozny Jr.

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a must read for pastors and congregations alike, who have lost the "communion" of the "Lord's Table". Luke says in Acts 2:46 that "they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts...." Does this sound like the silent, solemn, individualistic celebrations we have in our churches today? John Mark Hicks' reflection in his book is found throughout the First and Second Testaments. As Congregations we need to revisit the original meaning "Lord's Supper" according to biblical and theological values as found in "Come to the Table: Revisioning the Lord's Supper" by John Mark Hicks. As a pastor I needed to read the book and so has my congregation.

The Reverend Sigmund Podlozny, Jr., MDiv, Pastor
Faith United Community Church
Dewey, Arizona

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars For those who wish to grow... December 5, 2006

By honestseeker

Format:Paperback

Come to the Table is an outstanding treatment of what the scope of Scripture reveals concerning the original purposes of the Lord's Supper. The author sets the Communion meal in the context of other sacred meals that God shared with his people in earlier times and that Jesus shared during his ministry. He also examines the relevant texts from the epistles and puts them in their original context so that the reader is able to hear what the apostle was really getting at. The author interacts with both Scripture and current church practice, comparing and contrasting the two. He writes with great respect for both, yet also with the candor to suggest that current practice needs to be reshaped by Scripture. The book is scholarly and full of careful exploration of biblical passages, yet it is also readily accessible to the average person.

For those who realize that, in spite of our good intentions, time and custom often lead us gradually away from the original intent of church practices, Dr. Hicks does the reader a great service in recovering from Scripture the full richness of the Supper as Jesus intended it. That is, Communion was originally a reverent yet celebrative meal in which the participants interacted with each other and shared their joy in Christ's salvation. It was given to the church to deepen our sense of fellowship as we encourage and commune with each other as well as with the Lord who saved us, rather than a time for soberly withdrawing into private meditation. Dr. Hicks also gives a good deal of attention to the fact that the mood of the meal was originally one of expressed joy and deep gratitude in what Jesus accomplished more than a sorrowful and guilt-ridden recounting of the agony that we caused him.

Dr.... Hicks concedes that many believers will resist the message of this book because they have grown to deeply value the private, deep introspection that they spend in silence with God during Communion. Having such moments is indeed crucial to spiritual life, and it can be relocated into other contexts. But he argues that Jesus' followers should recognize and desire the blessing that he intended for us to receive, and that the early church did receive, in the rich, Christ-centered conversation and interaction at his Table. Read more ›