Come to the Table: Revisioning the Lord's Supper

This indepth study on the Lord's Supper has given me a deeper understanding and love for the covenant meal that Christ has provided for the church. Sitting at The Lord's Table will never be the same again after reading this book. Instead it will be all that Christ has desired it to be.

This book is deep yet practical theology that when applied can transform God's people from people of ritual to people renewed by his presence. The theology is insightful and convincing. As an active Baptist note that this book is written from a Church of Christ perspective, and I truly wish it had been written to a broader audience as the theology in this book is solid and needs to be applied in all churches not just Churches of Christ. Having said that though, this book is a must read by all evangelicals who are thinking through the big question of "why" we do the things we do. Especially useful to church planters who want to see people transformed in the services by God's presence; wanting people to connect with each other in the service in real, theologically rich, and meaningful ways.

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

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.

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!