Forest Hills Mennonite Church

Two Swords | Fire. Water. Blood.

After Christianity becomes not only legally acceptable but required within the Roman Empire, the Church and the State settle into an often uneasy coexistence. At the core of their relationship is the question of violence. Who gets to rightfully wield the sword? In the turbulence of the early 1500s, the Anabaptists propose a radical solution: no Christian should ever engage in violence. It's a shocking claim that continues to challenge us today.

To Change the World | Fire. Water. Blood.

On January 21, 1525, a group of protestors baptized each other—the first known rebaptism to take place during the Protestant Reformation. Within two years, most of the participants would dead at the hands of the state. What was it about their obedience to Jesus' instructions about baptism that led to such violent reprisal?

What's in a Name? | Fire. Water. Blood.

On January 21, 1525, two people in Zürich baptized each other during a Bible study. This unexpected action catalyzed the Anabaptist (re-baptizing) movement within the Reformation. As we approach the 500th anniversary the start of a movement that reshaped the world, we're spending the month of January exploring how God was at work through the Radical Reformation, what it looks like to faithfully follow Jesus, and how we might be renewed today.

A New and Glorious Morn

The birth of Christ is God's hope breaking into the world anew. As we reflect on this new and glorious morn, what's our expectation for the future? 

For Yonder Breaks

The Christian story complicates some understandings of hope, particularly when we think about human agency. Christmas is an opportunity to recognize that God's power—not just our own—is the focus of true hope. 

The Weary World

If hope is about a better future, then true hope begins with an honest acknowledgment of all that is wrong in the present.

A Thrill of Hope

What's your prediction for the future? It's a notoriously tricky business making predictions like that. But the story of Christ's arrival seems to radically reshape humanity's relationship with the future. Through Christ, God assures that the future can be better than present. In other words, Christ gives humanity hope. 

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

What do we do while we wait? The Apostle Paul describes Christians as people with a "citizenship in heaven" and a people who are eagerly waiting for a savior from there. What does faithful waiting look like?