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 the 211th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life...

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 of Mennonite choirs and singing groups? Is "Mennonite" a Faith Culture or an Ethnic Culture? Samantha’s Testimony This is the 210th episode of...

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 early church writings? Scroll Publishing Bercot’s series on infant baptism. Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs. Bercot's Episode: I Was Once A...

The Anabaptist movement began and continues to have high ideals. Often the people who are attracted also have high ideals. Samantha speaks from her experience as one who did not grow up among Mennonites and the challenges of joining the Mennonite church. Samantha’s Testimony The Inner Ring by C. S. Lewis This is the 208th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought.  Sign-up for our monthly...

Who is Jesus? Dale Eby reviews basic historical claims most scholars would agree on whether or not they are believers. He presses into the question of what it means to know the risen Christ. This is the 207th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought.  Sign-up for our monthly email newsletter which contains new and featured content! Join us on Patreon or become a website partner to enjoy...

Amata Thomas, a bishop for Christian Believers Fellowship, discusses how business and finance training can integrate with discipleship and evangelism. He explains how Open Hands, the ministry that he works for, coordinates savings groups where participants support each other in completing a training program that moves trainees away from financial vulnerability, exposes them more deeply to Christ and his word, and encourages restoration of four fundamental relationships: God, others, self, and...

In this roundtable conversation, Reagan, Marlin, and Kyle discuss artificial intelligence, what that means for life in the church, and to live well in a world of AI generated content and conversations. Is AI actually intelligent? How is it helpful? What are the implications for future human interactions, and how is this technology a risk to humanity? Our previous series on the internet, algorithms, and proper use of technology: Software and the Heart: Internet Filtering and Accountability Why...

There are signs of impending death. How can we live the vision? Chester Weaver shares threats to the Christian vitality of Anabaptism and calls us to steady faithfulness. Harold Bender books Mennonite Experience in America Series Smith’s Story of the Mennonites 5th edition - C Henry Smith Introduction of Mennonite History - Cornelius Dyck This is the 204th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and...

Jesus appealed to prophecies and to his “works” do call people to faith in him. Peter and Paul used apologetic methods suited for their audiences. Daniel Yoder thoughtfully introduces a few topics and methods of Christian apologetics (from the Greek apologia, “defense, answer”) and defends the importance of this mode of thinking for strengthening believers and for engaging with unbelievers. While Anabaptists may have invested less in formal apologetics than some other traditions, the early...

What should a business owner do when your customers try to take advantage and cheat you? Gary Schrock started a business building roof and floor systems in 2006 and tells of his experiences working with difficult customers, how to respond when people cheat and steal from us, and how to be honest even when that is costly. Kevin Brechbill - Business That Serves the Kingdom This is the 202nd episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects...

Sister Judy was converted at 26. She shares her Christian life story. Why does she wear a habit? What has she learned from varied church settings? Sister Judy encourages us to find deeper life in Christ and fellowship with the fellow-disciples he brings to us. Access the Martyr’s Mirror online Access the Ante-Nicene Fathers online See all our episodes with David Bercot View Brother Bercot’s “An Anabaptist View of Salvation” on YouTube This is the 201st episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a...

{Note: Tuesday Nov. 28 is the Annual Giving Tuesday event. Your Giving Tuesday donations help support our remaining income budget need for 2023. For our part of Giving Tuesday, all Partner bonus content is freely available on our website from now till Giving Tuesday. This material is normally exclusive to our monthly donors. https://anabaptistperspectives.org/partners/. } Anabaptism has grown far beyond its European and North American past. Amata Thomas recounts the growth of the Mennonite...

Integration into a new church community does not happen automatically and often comes with difficulty. What does it take to successfully put deep roots into a new community? Melvin Lehman brings pastoral experience to questions from audience members and asks us to remember that participating in strong communities come at a price. Though building communities that is both strong and welcoming comes with challenges, Melvin encourages us to embrace the task. This is the 199th episode of...

To preach is to explain the Scripture and apply it to the life of the hearer. Paul Emerson calls those preaching to study, to pray, and to present the results simply so Scripture can speak to the listener. Paul gives guidance on Bible study and Greek and Hebrew that are useful to anyone, preacher or not. Getting Ready to Share from Scripture Episode — Verlon Miller The Inside-Out Sandwich Episode — Marlin Sommers The Inside-Out Sandwich Essay — Marlin Sommers Studying the Word of God Essay —...

God can bring redemption after abortion. Dale Eby speaks from his many conversations with women (and occasionally the men involved) who are considering abortion, feel pressured toward abortion, or who have had an abortion. This is the 197th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought.  Sign-up for our monthly email newsletter which contains new and featured content! Join us on Patreon or...

Suffering, from a worldly perspective, is meaningless. Dale Eby walks us through perspectives on suffering and redemption while acknowledging the hard realities that we don’t know how to respond to. What is the cause of suffering? How does God use it in our lives? What is the Christian’s ultimate hope with regard to suffering? This is the 196th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and...

We educate for reading the scripture and for service. Paul Emerson urges us to educate for eternity. Children getting good jobs or going to college is not the central aim (though it is not excluded). Since all wisdom and knowledge come from Christ, education is ultimately Christology. Learning how to read scripture is not just a matter of learning to read words in the early grades. For example, the study of literature and genre in high school or college also provides valuable training. The...

From the beginning, the phrase “The Earth Is the Lord’s” seized the imagination of Anabaptists. John Roth unpacks the powerful resonances of this phrase in the 16th century and calls us to see its contemporary significance for the global Anabaptist movement. This is the 194th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought.  Sign-up for our monthly email newsletter which contains new and...

A viewer asks: “Does Jesus really call us as His children to build anything?......an identity, a structure, or a culture or rather to simply align ourselves with what He has already promised us He would build in and through His ekklesia?” This was in response to Melvin Lehman’s previous episode “The New Conservatives”. In this episode Melvin argues that the New Testament calls churches to proactively create culture. The episode that sparked this comment. That episode followed up on this essay...

Freedom comes from mature integrity. Chester Weaver explains we can only relate well to others when we are honest with ourselves, others, and God and guided by God’s Spirit. This is the 192nd episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought.  Sign-up for our monthly email newsletter which contains new and featured content! Join us on Patreon or become a website partner to enjoy bonus...

What kind of community should Christians cultivate? Melvin Lehman argues that particular Christian communities should be shaped by shared values, shared geography, shared goals, and shared commitments. This includes submitting to brotherhood decisions. But it must be framed within the greater commitment to the Lordship of Jesus. Look for two more episodes with Melvin to further develop these ideas. Wendell Berry’s book Hannah Coulter {affiliate link} The story of Dirk Willems as told in the...

Doubt is not a sin and questions are not always doubt. Questions and doubts should spur us to dig deeper in the appropriate areas, be our struggle factual, philosophical, emotional or volitional. Daniel gives practical encouragement for each dimension of doubt. We should be active in our search for understanding and growth. Even as we wrestle with Christian doctrine we must not give up on prayer and spiritual formation. Beyond our own faith, we should be concerned with helping others come to...

How does a struggling believer find reassurance? Daniel Yoder discusses four categories of doubt: factual, philosophical, emotional and volitional. In dealing with any of these we need to investigate the truth.  The power is not in the strength of our faith but in the power of God in whom we have faith. Based on Romans 10, Daniel calls us to reconfirm our confession of Christ as Lord and submission to his Lordship. Whether or not we are bothered by doubt we should be regularly examining...