Live seminar: What is your sermon doing?
What is your sermon doing? A preaching refresher Allan Rudy-Froese, PhD, a Linklater voice teacher and Associate Professor of Christian Proclamation at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, weaves vocal exercises and games into his seminary teaching and workshops for preachers, worship leaders, and storytellers. Allan’s research includes the book of Jonah as comedy, swearing (yes, bad words!), […]
What is an Anabaptist Christian? (Anabaptism at 500 edition)
Palmer Becker, a lifelong Mennonite pastor and educator, summarizes Anabaptist understandings in three key statements: (1) Jesus is the center of our faith; (2) community is the center of our lives; and (3) reconciliation is the center of our work.
Being a servant to one another
When I think of the word “service,” one of the first things that pops into my head is the lyrics to a song we often sing in our congregation, “Will You Let Me Be Your Servant” (Voices Together 778). Our hymnal sometimes uses first lines as titles; however, the actual song title is “The Servant […]
Meet Mission Network board member Kelsey Hochstetler
Meet Kelsey Hochstetler, a member of the board of directors with Mennonite Mission Network. Each Mission Network board member brings their unique voice and perspective to the leadership team, and each one is passionate about Mission Network’s guiding vision: to lead, mobilize and equip the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a […]
PSA: Service Adventure unit leaders aren’t house parents! 👪
Live out your faith. Mentor young adults. Nurture grassroots community. Cooking, cleaning and house activities are shared among everyone in the unit. For unit leaders, their goal is to mentor the participants living with them in the unit house; helping them learn how to live in community, together. There is no ‘typical’ Service Adventure leader. […]
Episode 4: Mutual (A vision for the church in mission)
The church in Antioch practiced a spirit of mutuality. In Antioch, Barnabas set an example for the church, by sharing leadership. Instead of working alone, Barnabas brought Saul from Tarsus to Antioch to help instruct the growing number of believers in the way of the Lord.
Episode 3: Maturing (A vision for the church in mission)
While the church in Antioch was multiplying, it was also maturing into what Ephesians 4 calls the fullness of Christ.
Episode 2: Multiplying (A vision for the church in mission)
The church in Antioch was a community that was multiplying. There are two phases of quantitative growth in Acts 11:19-30, and in each case the Lord is the agent of growth.
Episode 1: Multiethnic (A vision for the church in mission)
The church in Antioch was a multiethnic community, many nations from the Greek ethnos that were gathered as one body in Christ.
Bonus Episode: Spirtual gifts (A vision for the church in mission)
How the spiritual giftings of Ephesians 4:11 work together in the context of Acts 11.
With steadfast devotion
The early church’s origins, detailed in Acts 11:19-30, tell the story of a community that embodied traits here called the “4 Ms.” The 4 Ms, multiethnic, multiplying, maturing and mutuality, describe a church body that is fully engaged in God’s mission. These traits make the church the church. This booklet explores this passage and investigates […]
Meet Ben and Laurel—named co-directors of the Paris Mennonite Center
Ben and Laurel Woodward-Breckbill are eager to continue the ministry of the Paris (France) Mennonite Center. For more than half a century, the center has served as an Anabaptist witness to French communities and scholars from around the world. The Paris (France) Mennonite Center (PMC) has named Ben and Laurel Woodward-Breckbill as their new co-directors […]