How are we to read the Old Testament when it describes things that are so evil compared to how we are called to live today? Stephen Russell outlines the concept of “uplift through covenant”, and explains how through the story of Scripture God is bringing his people forward to the coming of the Messiah and the practice of radical enemy love. Stephen…

When some sickness, struggle, or brokenness puts us into contact with our limits, we have a choice. We can choose to stay stuck or we can look beyond ourselves for help. This is the relationship between humility and healing -- when we realize that we can't fix it all ourselves, we can humbly look beyond ourselves. It's really that simple... but it …

We should not see salvation as a single event, John Coblentz says, but as God’s ongoing work. Focusing on a time when we “made a decision” or “went forward” in response to an invitation or “prayed the sinners prayer” can trouble believers who should have assurance and confidence while giving false assurance to those not walking with Jesus. John dis…

When my wife and I got married and moved into an apartment complex in Sacramento, CA, my neighbors began to give me an education. Several years after this education began, I was reading the Bible and read the story Jesus told in Matthew 25 about the king and the servants who were given talents. It struck me how much I am like these servants and how…

A team from TNC traveled to El Paso, TX and Ciudad Juarez, MX to join the work of our longtime kingdom partners Cesar and Raquel Quinonez. Listen to some stories, reflection, and inspiration from some of our team. NOTES -- // SCRIPTURE FOCUS -- Luke 10.1-12, 17 // SPEAKERS (In order) --/ Adam Wood/ Miguel Maymi/ Sami Young/ Tobi Brooks/ Maria Brunk…

For hundreds of years, the Middle East was home to a thriving church network. Who were these people? What can we learn from them? Lucas Hilty explains a largely forgotten piece of the church’s history, and brings out lessons for us today. The Patient Ferment of the Early Church This is the 219th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, …

How do we live faithfully in spite of the challenges we see in our neighborhood, relationships, and world? Our kingdom partner, Brady Smith, shares a heavenly vision from Revelation 7 that offers a heavenly perspective in the midst of struggle and suffering. As you listen, remember that though we aren't promised a life free from pain, we are promis…

Roseanne Bauman offers a definition of forgiveness, looks at an example of forgiveness from the Bible, and speaks about her own story of forgiveness. Forgiveness requires a commitment to not dwell on the injury mentally, to not bring it up and accuse the other person with it ever again, and to not gossip about it. This commitment must be chosen ove…

In his essay "Schism is Heresy", Frank Reed exhorts the church of Jesus Christ to be unified as a body, not falling prey to the many divisions of the world. In clear and simple language, he shares principle truths from Scripture regarding how the body of believers should view unity. "Principles transcend policies. If we are led by the same Spirit, …

Jesus was going somewhere important on behalf of someone important when he pauses to make space for a neighbor in need. How can we make space to hear the stories of those who get turned away or lost in the crowd? Becca Eby is a Divisional Coordinator for YoungLives -- a ministry that supports pregnant and parenting teens through mentorship, communi…

In the West, we have abundant access to the Bible. But in many parts of the world, believers and sometimes even pastors don’t have access to God’s Word. Tony High shares about the power of the Scriptures in places that don’t have access to it, and how the Bible is so transformative in the lives of those that read it. Tony High is director of Herald…

Take a good look at the Gospels and it seems like Jesus' ministry boils down to healing, teaching, and... eating. And sometimes all three at once! What can we learn from Jesus' dinner parties and the stories he tells about the kind of party God's inviting us into? What would our neighborhood look like if we broke more bread and broke down walls? I …

John Coblentz writes, “The church in its current state is not always glorious to us. We are still imperfect - our music is at times off-key, our theology is at times wide of the mark, and our interactions with each other fall short of the love we profess.” John encourages us to see what God wants to do and to work for the broader church, even in th…

Loving your enemies can be hard. Many people do not understand how it is possible to love even when being attacked. Even though it is hard, Jesus gives his followers the answers for this subject. Marlin Sommers wrote this blog about a conversation that he had with his college students, and he discusses the reasons that followers of Jesus should lov…

Since the beginning, God has always invited humanity to trust his voice and dive into life with him. When we hear his invitation to believe and follow, we’re born into God’s kingdom, baptized in water, and filled with the Holy Spirit. In our worship gathering this Saturday we celebrated a water baptism in our community and the baptism of the Holy S…

We’re seeing growing conflict once again in the Middle East, with America and its allies getting more involved. How should we be thinking about it? How do we avoid the temptation to take sides and think of this in patriotic terms of “our” country beating the “enemy”? Stephen Russell shares how he came to believe in nonresistance, and principles for…

Jesus' followers always have questions. Just when it seems they're coming to grips with Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, forty days after Easter Jesus slips into heaven and out of sight. The disciples are still looking, asking, and waiting. But! Jesus is still sending, filling, and helping those who keep walking the Way. Will we keep going with…

God’s Assembly (”Church”), says John Coblentz, is to show God’s glory, not just to people but to the principalities and powers. We should see local churches within the bigger picture of what God is doing in gathering a people. John shares the pain he has felt over division in the church and ways he has purposed to walk in unity. An Anabaptist View …

Many Anabaptists have been more scared of education than money. Brian Martin calls us to examine that assumption and approach both with fear and trembling (and wisdom and courage). We must not forget the biblical call to wisdom and knowledge and the avenues of service that can be opened by study.By Anabaptist Perspectives

Jesus says that he is the vine and his followers are the branches. So if his disciples want to bear fruit, they need to "Abide" in Jesus -- drawing on his life, love, and power to flourish (John 15). Then, Jesus deepens and focuses this invitation, now telling his followers to abide in "his love." If there is one area in which to build a life and m…

This is a lecture that was recorded at a ministry training event. David Bercot focused on how to explain the Trinity to those who are not Christians. Watch David's episode on how he was once a Jehovah’s Witness Bercot’s further teaching on the Trinity The history and full text of the Nicene Creed Bercot’s episode on Infant Baptism This is the 213th…

What difference does the resurrection make in my life today? We understand the grand victory over sin and death theologically but how do we experience this victory practically? For one answer, we go back in time to Jesus' final message to his disciples called the "Farewell Discourse." Jesus invites his friends to "Abide" in him as he abides in the …

It is not always easy to invest your time into another person. However, as Keeshon Wasington expressed in his life’s story, he is very grateful and thankful to God that someone took the time for him. Are we willing to let God use us to help those in need? To read more of Keeshon’s writing, check out his blog at: https://urbanitemusingskw.wordpress.…

Let's go on a journey with two people who are grieving, questioning, and trying to find hope. There we find Jesus is already there, ready to walk and talk with us. We journey inward and find our eyes and hearts opened, and we journey outward to tell the story to our neighbors.Scripture Focus - Luke 24:13-34Cleopas and the unnamed disciple left on E…

How should we view the current nation of Israel, and how does it relate to the church today? Paul Lamicela takes us through Scripture to explain how we should relate to the current Israeli nation, Jesus as the King of Israel, how this connects with prophecy, Zionism, and much more. Sign-up for our monthly email newsletter which contains new and fea…

John 21 is a post-credits scene that rolls after the Gospel story ends in chapter 20. This dream-like sequence of fishing, breakfast, and a walk on the shore wraps up the loose end hanging over Peter's story. Does Peter get another chance after denying Jesus? What about us when we fail? Do we have a chance to hear Jesus' voice and come back to the …

Is an investment a gamble? Does it matter? In this essay, Marlin Sommers seeks to clearly differentiate between gambling and investing, to call us to a positive moral ethos for investing, and to give some tools for how to think about borderline cases. Stephen Russell’s episodes on Usury and Distributism How Should We Then Money? Usury and the Histo…

Mary ran and told the others that Jesus had risen. Peter and John ran and looked into the empty tomb. Now we find the community locked in a room on Easter evening wondering two things: 1) are we on trial next? and 2) what will Jesus do next? Well, Jesus surprises them. Everyone, that is, but Thomas. So, what happens in the week in between those Sun…

How should we read the Book of Revelation? What is apocalyptic literature, and how does the first century context help us better understand this book? And what is the Mark of the Beast? Paul Lamicela answers these questions and much more in this interview. Paul’s website Paul’s Episode about Galatians Paul’s Episode about Biblical Storyline This is…

He is risen! And the surprise and amazement of 3 women leaps off the page. They didn't expect to find an empty tomb. Instead, they expected the heavy stone to remain in place. Who can move the immovable? Who can lift this darkness? Who can raise the dead to new life? These questions loom over Mark's cliffhanger ending. But no matter... because we, …

On Palm Sunday, the Hosanna song and the freedom symbols converge upon the shoulders of a peaceful king. This convergence creates a conflict of unmet expectations because where Jesus is, people come with their longings and expectations. We do too. We can't help it. But maybe the bigger question looming at the beginning of Holy Week is this: how is …

Samantha shares the tidbits and quirks that surprised her in joining the Mennonite world. What are some of the unexpected cultural elements within the Mennonite church that are often confusing to those coming from the outside? For example, what is the Mennonite game? Why do Mennonites often play harmonicas and accordions? What’s with the prevalence…

Life is not always easy, but having kind friends that are ready and willing to help and be there for you always makes those rough bumps easier. Keeshon continues writing his experiences in getting beat up, forgiving those guys and ultimately giving his life to Jesus. To read more of Keeshon’s writing, check out his blog at: https://urbanitemusingsk…

A group of foreigners says to a disciple, "Sir, we want to see Jesus." Here these seekers on the outer edge look to the center of the Jesus movement hoping to find... what, exactly? Maybe a miracle? A new teaching? A dramatic event? What they find instead is a mysterious response from Jesus who knows that his moment is drawing near.NOTES --// SCRIP…

David Bercot explains why he was an Anglican priest, why apostolic succession was initially convincing, and how he ultimately left and joined the Anabaptists. What is it about the High Church traditions that are appealing? How does this fit with the teachings of the Ante-Nicene fathers, and are the Anabaptists correct in their interpretation of the…

“We know we should sing, but what kind of song is most appropriate in public worship?” James S. Martin helps us think about five main questions that have plagued discussions about congregational singing over the centuries. He does not attempt to build theological bulwarks around a particular singing style. “If the musicians among us drink deeply an…

Jesus re-centers the center of his people's world in one of the most famous scenes in the Gospels. What is Jesus trying to demonstrate as he turns over tables and kicks out the livestock in the Temple? Where and when does all this happen --and why does that matter so much? We explore these questions and more as we consider the ways *we* need to mak…