Anabaptist and Quaker essays, sermons, and other writings
I am so thankful to be part of a congregation that asks things boldly, though aware that our privilege does not make us worthy of Jesus’ attention; and also a congregation that serves humbly, aware that as part of the body of Christ, our attention needs to go where Jesus’ […]
Beatitude: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. I was on the baseball team while I was a student at Hesston College. Each year in March, we would travel to Phoenix, Arizona during spring break to play in a tournament. Our coach had […]
The third Sunday in Advent is Gaudete Sunday, or Rejoicing Sunday, and the lectionary scriptures all proclaim the joy of God’s work in the world. And yet, beloved church, I have to tell you, I was having a hard time accessing some joy to preach about. It’s been a very […]
In 1708 the original eight members of what would become the Church of the Brethren started something new as they entered the waters of the Eder River for their baptism. Though it was indeed a new church they began, it was not without historical antecedents. The Church of the Brethren […]
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. – Matthew 12:36 KJV Pan rhēma argon, reads the original Greek, which the New Revised Standard Version translates “every careless word.” Or we might say, “every empty, […]
When have you been able to put it on the calendar ahead of time that a certain day was supposed to change your life? For many of us, a wedding day might come to mind. That date is saved far in advance, with tremendous preparation ahead of time; making vows […]
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” In Matthew 5:5 Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” As a good Jewish Rabbi, Jesus is quoting from the scriptures of Israel. This time, he quotes from Psalm 37:11 which says, “The meek shall […]
Mark 13:14-13 Not quite ten years ago, the predictions of Harold Camping of Family Radio in California created a sensation, especially in Christian circles. Camping confidently predicted that, based on a calculation of the creation of the world about 6,000 years ago, that same world would be ending on May […]
The doorbell rings, and there, standing on the mat, are a pair of door-to-door evangelists: Jehovah’s Witnesses, maybe, or Latter-Day Saints, or something else. We’re sure that if we let them in, we’re going to end up disagreeing in a way that leaves everybody feeling icky. They’ll want us “saved,” […]
The author has requested a link be provided to the Langston Hughes poem “Let America be America Again.” Please consider meditating on the poem before reading the sermon below. Thank you. Let’s start off by each answering one question, just for ourselves: How far back are “the good old days” […]