Essays for King Jesus

Suffering Love is the Engine of the Kingdom of God

Essay

September 2, 2023

Chester Weaver

Suffering love propelled the work of Christ through the ages. Chester Weaver shares historical examples from Jesus’ sacrificial kingdom and challenges us to participate in that ageless burning engine.…

Noun Doctrines and Verb Doctrines

Essay

August 5, 2023

Dan Ziegler

“It is through the ‘verb doctrines’ that the poor are fed, the naked are clothed, the cheek is turned, the extra mile is walked, the good news is preached.” In this essay Dan Ziegler explains the temptation to take the great “noun…

Why Work? Work as Knowing

Essay

July 1, 2023

Marlin Sommers

Why do we work? Is work only a means to meet needs? Marlin Sommers makes the philosophical argument that our work is also part of how we know God and his creation. This includes knowing other people and their human creations as well.…

Teaching Children How to Relate to Children from Other Cultures

Essay

June 6, 2023

Ryan Grove

If we are cultivating and valuing friendship with folks from different cultures and even religions, then our children will view this as normal. In “Teaching Children to Relate to Children from Other Cultures,” Ryan Grove tells of his…

Grace and Truth vs. Grace or Truth

Essay

May 6, 2023

Chester Weaver

“Grace means unmerited favor and truth means that which is right. The human problem with grace and truth is not that the words remain mysterious, but that humans tend to emphasize one at the expense of the other.” Chester Weaver tells of the…

Walk in the Unity Jesus Created

Essay

April 1, 2023

Marlin Sommers

It’s not our job to create unity! In this essay, Marlin Sommers argues we must understand unity as something God already did. Our job is to walk out that unity by bearing with each other, caring for each other, and bringing our full range of…

Anabaptist on the Internet: Reflecting on Conversations about my Faith

Essay

March 4, 2023

Jaran Miller

“So you’re a Mennonite! Do you have a garden?”……“Why do the women wear bonnets?”……“If I decide to join your church, could I keep drinking beer?” Conversations like these resulted from letting those around me see a picture of…

Directing God’s Resources as a Homemaker

Essay

February 4, 2023

Robin Wolfer

In “Directing God’s Resources as a Homemaker,” Robin Wolfer urges women to see the management of whatever space God has entrusted to them as a divine trust, and gives encouragement for the difficulties that come with this. …

Forgiveness is not “Putting up with”

Essay

January 14, 2023

Marlin Sommers

Forgiving doesn’t mean downplaying wrong. True forgiveness is a powerful response to wrong that calls sin what it is, and often involves confronting the wrongdoer. Both forgiveness and forbearance involve releasing resentment and both flow from…

Part 2 – Losing and Recovering Non-resistance in the Civil War Era

Essay

December 17, 2022

Chester Weaver

Many Mennonites fought in the Civil War. However, this development roused others to renew the teaching of non-resistance and led to the Mennonite publishing movement. In “Losing and Recovering Non-resistance in the Civil War Era,” Chester Weaver…

Part 1 – Why Did the German Mennonites Become Nazis?

Essay

December 3, 2022

Chester Weaver

“Why would the descendants of Swiss and Dutch Anabaptist martyrs identify themselves with one of the most evil regimes in human history? A very good question. The short answer: God has no grandchildren.” In “Why did the German Mennonites…

Nationalism and Christianity

Essay

November 5, 2022

Mike Atnip

The Ukraine War vividly shows the power of nationalist ideologies. In this long form essay “Nationalism and Christianity,” Mike Atnip argues that the conflict is driven by three distinct nationalist movements. Nationalism is more than patriotism…

Rebirth and the Law of Sowing and Reaping

Essay

October 8, 2022

Marlin Sommers

How does the concept of sowing and reaping fit with the gospel? The gospel disrupts sowing and reaping; the path to death is interrupted by rebirth to new life. Does the gospel then mean the things we sow in our lives no longer have consequences?…

Cremation versus Burial: Why it Matters

Essay

September 3, 2022

Samantha (Trenkamp) Bender

Cremation of the body after death is becoming more and more popular among Christians and non-believers alike. Two reasons given for cremation are that it is cheaper and requires less space. While these practical concerns are not invalid,…

Cultivating Spiritual Creativity in God’s Kingdom

Essay

August 6, 2022

Reagan Schrock

When I read the New Testament, I am struck by what great lengths the early church went to in order to reach the world with the Gospel. Not only were they committed and bold, they were also quite creative in finding ways to interact with people in…

Money Modesty and Body Modesty

Essay

July 2, 2022

Marlin Sommers

Modesty is a lightning rod word. In “Money Modesty and Body Modesty” Marlin Sommers pulls together some familiar threads and some neglected threads in an attempt at realism.…

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Integrity? The Allure of Doubleness

Essay

June 4, 2022

Chester Weaver

When my father discovered that Marvin was an attorney, he said in his typically blunt manner, “I hear that attorneys do not always tell the truth.” Marvin replied, “We tell the truth according to our clients.” In “Integrity? The…

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The Importance of Christ’s Death and Resurrection

Essay

May 7, 2022

Milo Zehr

A common, popular view of how Christ’s death on the cross justifies sinners says that God imputed the sins of the whole world (or for those who believe in limited atonement, the sins of the elect) to Christ at the cross; that when a sinner…

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The Inside-out Sandwich: An Approach to Studying and Teaching the Bible

Essay

April 2, 2022

Marlin Sommers

Are commentaries cheating? Or do we need commentaries and study helps to understand and teach the scripture? I believe using commentaries and study helps is important. Even more important, though, is keeping our primary attention on scripture…

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Jesus means what He says and He is talking to us! – How Anabaptists Understand Scripture Part 2

Essay

March 19, 2022

Dan Ziegler

In my previous essay, we discussed what is behind the conservative Anabaptist way of life and faith. I shared that after 35 years of study and immersion in this faith community, I have become convinced that the answer is the way we Anabaptists…

Suffering Love is the Engine of the Kingdom of God

Noun Doctrines and Verb Doctrines

Why Work? Work as Knowing

Teaching Children How to Relate to Children from Other Cultures

Grace and Truth vs. Grace or Truth

Walk in the Unity Jesus Created

Anabaptist on the Internet: Reflecting on Conversations about my Faith

Directing God’s Resources as a Homemaker

Forgiveness is not “Putting up with”

Part 2 – Losing and Recovering Non-resistance in the Civil War Era

Part 1 – Why Did the German Mennonites Become Nazis?

Nationalism and Christianity

Rebirth and the Law of Sowing and Reaping

Cremation versus Burial: Why it Matters

Cultivating Spiritual Creativity in God’s Kingdom

Money Modesty and Body Modesty

Integrity? The Allure of Doubleness

The Importance of Christ’s Death and Resurrection

The Inside-out Sandwich: An Approach to Studying and Teaching the Bible

Jesus means what He says and He is talking to us! – How Anabaptists Understand Scripture Part 2

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Essays for King Jesus

Suffering Love is the Engine of the Kingdom of God

Noun Doctrines and Verb Doctrines

Why Work? Work as Knowing

Teaching Children How to Relate to Children from Other Cultures

Grace and Truth vs. Grace or Truth

Walk in the Unity Jesus Created

Anabaptist on the Internet: Reflecting on Conversations about my Faith

Directing God’s Resources as a Homemaker

Forgiveness is not “Putting up with”

Part 2 – Losing and Recovering Non-resistance in the Civil War Era

Part 1 – Why Did the German Mennonites Become Nazis?

Nationalism and Christianity

Rebirth and the Law of Sowing and Reaping

Cremation versus Burial: Why it Matters

Cultivating Spiritual Creativity in God’s Kingdom

Money Modesty and Body Modesty

Integrity? The Allure of Doubleness

The Importance of Christ’s Death and Resurrection

The Inside-out Sandwich: An Approach to Studying and Teaching the Bible

Jesus means what He says and He is talking to us! – How Anabaptists Understand Scripture Part 2

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