Strength to Strength

Strength to Strength welcomed David Anderson for a discussion of what monasticism contributes to a holistic and healthy life.In its best form, monasticism was a form of resistance: not just against compromise in the church, but against hurry, distraction, and disordered desire in the soul.This episode explores the history of monasticism and what it offers today: not escape, but attention; not performance, but formation. Through rhythm, prayer, and ordered love, monks sought to become fully alive to God. In this episode, we will explore how their wisdom still speaks to our distracted and restless age.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.

Strength to Strength welcomed four homeschooling moms to share about their experience in their children's formal education.Can we effectively disciple our children through homeschooling? Join four experienced homeschooling moms for an interactive discussion on topics like academics, sustainability, structure and resources. There will be a time for you to share your questions. Come prepared to be inspired while gaining practical insights and encouragement for your journey.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/discipling-our-children-through-homeschooling/

May 24, 2025Strength to Strength welcomed David Anderson to discuss the nature of the church.What kind of community did Jesus intend the church to be? Is it a place for the pure or the penitent – a gathering of the saints or a hospital for sinners? These questions are just as much alive for us today as they were in the time of the apostles. Join us as we explore how the Church has wrestled with these problems in the past and how we can engage with them today.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-nature-of-church-assembly-of-saints-hospital-for-sinners/

Strength to Strength welcomed Luke Tiroly to share his testimony of life-changing shift of allegiances.In this presentation, Luke shares his testimony on how he went from desiring to kill for the government to wanting to serve Jesus and advance God's kingdom.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.Resources:Document: CO letters by Luke TirolyYouTube: “It's Just War—Should Christians Fight?” debateBook: “Change of Allegiance” by Dean Taylorhttps://strengthtostrength.org/my-journey-from-navy-to-kingdom-warrior/

Strength to Strength welcomed Bryant Martin to discuss the unlikely way to change the world.We all want to be part of changing the world but let's be real, many things—the world, the flesh and the devil, a.k.a., tech, tiredness and toys—can threaten this dream and make it seem distant and dull. How do we cut through the noise and stay true to our values?We will dive into three mindsets that can make a real difference: subversive loyalty, unreasonable generosity, and patient love. Through stories from past failures and lessons learned, through examining Biblical themes, we will see that it's not loud announcements, but through quiet, powerful, consistent action we change the world.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.

Strength to Strength welcomed Tara Foster to share her experiences sharing the Gospel on a college campus.In this Talk, Tara explores various aspects of what it means to be a woman in ministry as an older single. We will talk about relational boundaries, respect for authority, and our own soul's needs.Tara's perspective will focus on how this looks on American soil and in an academic setting. She would love to hear your reflections on this topic as well.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/being-effective-women-in-ministry/

Salt & Light is a Bible-based financial teaching course to help you demonstrate God's kingdom locally. It helps you discover how to become better stewards of God's resources and actively engage with your local community, church, and youth.SALT reaches out globally to people in material poverty in dozens of countries through savings groups, agricultural development, microloans, and vocational training. We foster hope and opportunity to people in communities where life seems hopeless.The Salt & Light course provides Biblical stewardship teaching and endeavors to bring this same hope to our North American communities. The course is designed with four “Tracks” tailored for investing in our own churches as well as for reaching out to others. Many Anabaptist communities have been blessed for generations with godly homes and biblical teaching. The overarching goal of the Salt & Light course is to provide a tool to help “Kingdom Christians” walk with their neighbors, coworkers, employees, and others, demonstrating Christ while providing sustainable, long-term way-of-life help.contact@saltbooks.orghttps://saltbooks.org/

Strength to Strength welcomed Stephen Russell to discuss the church during the medieval period.Medieval Europe is often seen as the Dark Ages. It was a time of great changes and turmoil. G. K. Chesterton, referring to that period, wrote in Orthodoxy, "The Church was the only thing that ever brought us out of [the Dark Ages]."Join us as we discuss the church in the medieval period, an era largely unstudied and misunderstood today.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.

Strength to Strength welcomed Ryan Grove to discuss the ongoing conflict in Gaza.The current conflict in Israel and Gaza gets large amounts of attention by many people who have very different viewpoints. We recognize and mourn the ongoing and recent human suffering by the inhabitants of these lands that are full of history and religious significance. We will look at some history and the viewpoints of different sides of the conflict. Most importantly, how can we as followers of Jesus communicate the message that Jesus' kingdom is good for all.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/understanding-the-current-conflict-in-gaza/

April 5, 2025Strength to Strength welcomed Jennifer Miller to discuss how singleness can be a blessing.Sometimes we get the message that a woman most truly fulfills her purpose as a woman when she is in the role of wife and mother. A more robust understanding of God's purpose for marriage, however, reveals that both singleness and marriage are intended to showcase God's plan for His relationship with His people. Rather than being a second-rate position or a Plan B that I just need to make the best of, singleness allows believers to fill a vital role in the kingdom of God.This talk aims to empower both single and married women to embrace the role they are currently in and to encourage each other to do the same.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/gods-purposes-for-singleness/

March 22, 2025Strength to Strength welcomed David Anderson to discuss the church's development in understanding who Jesus is.Is the Trinity just an abstract doctrine? Why did early Christians fight so hard to define who Jesus is? In this two-part episode, David Anderson breaks down the Trinity and Christology in simple terms showing how they are not just abstract ideas but central to our salvation, worship, and daily discipleship.In Part 1, we will explore what it means to do theology, its risks, and why it's a necessary Christian task. It will also explain why the Trinity and Christology aren't just two doctrines among many: rather, they are the heartbeat of Christianity itself.In this Part 2, we will explain the fundamentals of the Trinity and of Christology as well as exploring their scriptural and historical bases. It will, moreover, elaborate on both doctrines and explore why they are important for the Church. Ultimately, how can these realities help us grow in faithfulness to and fellowship with God?An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-trinity-and-christology-part-2/

March 22, 2025Strength to Strength welcomed David Anderson to discuss the church's development in understanding who Jesus is.Is the Trinity just an abstract doctrine? Why did early Christians fight so hard to define who Jesus is? In this two-part episode, David Anderson breaks down the Trinity and Christology in simple terms showing how they are not just abstract ideas but central to our salvation, worship, and daily discipleship.In this Part 1, we will explore what it means to do theology, its risks, and why it's a necessary Christian task. It will also explain why the Trinity and Christology aren't just two doctrines among many: rather, they are the heartbeat of Christianity itself.In Part 2, we will explain the fundamentals of the Trinity and of Christology as well as exploring their scriptural and historical bases. It will, moreover, elaborate on both doctrines and explore why they are important for the Church. Ultimately, how can these realities help us grow in faithfulness to and fellowship with God?An interactive question-and-answer period follows.“The son of God became the son of man, so the son of man can become the Son of God.”- IraenausRecommended:“Life in the Trinity” by Donald Fairbairn“The Deep Things of God” by Fred Sandershttps://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-trinity-and-christology-part-1/

Strength to Strength welcomed Anan Twijjukye to share an underappreciated historical reality: western Christianity has deep roots in Africa.Christianity is often labeled a “Western export” to Africa. However, long before European missionaries arrived, African communities had embraced Christianity for centuries, forging movements and shaping a faith that transcends geography. This talk reclaims that narrative, highlighting why recognizing Africa's contributions is key to healing divides and building a faith that truly unites all nationsAn interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-beyond-the-west-how-africa-shaped-christianity/

Strength to Strength welcomed Manya Hozen to share her testimony.Join in on the story of God's faithfulness in my life even yet while I fell, failed, feared, fought, and fled in ignorance. He ultimately brought me to the place of fidelity and faithfulness.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.

February 22, 2025 Strength to Strength welcomed Stephen Russell to discuss how the apostolic church's original stance towards their earthly nation shifted over time.The first 300 years of the Church's existence were marked by distrust and persecution of the Church by the Roman Empire. The next twelve centuries reveal an ever-closer entanglement of Church and State in western Europe (the core of Christendom). Why and what were some of the results of this?An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-development-of-the-relationship-between-church-and-state/

February 15, 2025Strength to Strength welcomed six brothers to discuss what their lives look like being a disciple of Jesus.The unsung heroes of Jesus' kingdom are the faithful disciples who serve their Lord without fanfare or applause.Whether you are a warrior in secret prayer, a widow who casts in the last two mites, or a worker advancing the bleeding edge of the kingdom, you can rest assured that deeds of service do not escape the eye of our benevolent King.- 2:38 Bryant Martin, for Extend Café (https://www.extendcafes.com/)- 17:57 Saimir Braho, for Kingdom Connect Europe (https://kingdomconnecteurope.org/)- 33:13 Luke North, for ADAPTech (https://adaptechmissions.org/)- 48:01 Dallas Penner, for REACH 2025 - part 1 (https://www.fbep.org/attend/events/reach/)- 50:59 Lucas Hilty, for REACH 2025 - part 2 (https://www.fbep.org/attend/events/reach/)- 56:24 Patrick Matthews, for Tent Maker Travels (https://tentmakertravels.org/)An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/walk-the-talk-spotlight-on-kingdom-work-part-5/

February 11, 2025Strength to Strength welcomed David Anderson to discuss the uniqueness of the Early Church.The early church “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) through their lives, teaching, and witness. This talk explores the practical distinctives of the early church from the New Testament era to the fourth century with a special focus on the nature of the church meeting, attitudes towards wealth, practical holiness, and involvement in the world.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-practical-distinctives-of-the-early-church/

Strength to Strength welcomed Mary Ann Brechbill to share insights she's learned.Discover how to use the power of influence in your role as a woman, and allow your position as a woman in Christ to grow you personally and spiritually. Experience the beauty, freedom, and power found in embracing Biblical Headship.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.

January 25, 2025Strength to Strength welcomed Stephen Russell to discuss Gnosticism and its effects.God has told us in the first two chapters of Genesis about the world he has made. It has a spiritual and a physical aspect. And, it is all good. But in the early days of the church there were those who rejected the truth, only saw the spiritual as good, and yet considered themselves Christians.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-gnosticism-the-first-serious-threat-to-the-church/

January 25, 2025Strength to Strength welcomed Stephen Russell to discuss Gnosticism and its effects.God has told us in the first two chapters of Genesis about the world he has made. It has a spiritual and a physical aspect. And, it is all good. But in the early days of the church there were those who rejected the truth, only saw the spiritual as good, and yet considered themselves Christians.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-gnosticism-the-first-serious-threat-to-the-church/

John Coblentz. Five hundred years ago, a group of seekers determined to follow the call of Christ in the Scriptures without regard to the cost. As they followed the New Testament pattern of repentance, baptism, and surrender to the Spirit, a believers' church was born. In the years that followed, the commitment to follow Christ supremely was tested by pressures both within the church and from without.

Strength to Strength welcomed Sam Baer to discuss crossbearing.What has it cost you to be a disciple of Jesus? Are you willing to make the sacrifice? What did Jesus mean when he asked us to bear our cross?We readily agree that Jesus has asked us to bear our cross but are we willing to clarify what that means?Jesus not only calls us to bear our cross; He offers the resources needed and great reward.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.

Dorcas Hoover. The Victor's Crown of Glory takes the reader to the frontlines of the battle in the Middle East where God's miraculous power is displayed in the midst of evil. Stories of God at work in the 21st Century feel as if they come straight from the book of Acts. Gripping accounts showcase daring, modern day heroes of the faith risking all to follow Jesus in the face of radical ISIS terrorism, kidnappings, bombs, secret police, and imprisonment. The book is filled with heartwarming eyewitness accounts of miracles of God at work in the midst of the darkest, most dangerous of circumstances.

Strength to Strength welcomed Marlene Nisly to share about the blessings and challenges of living in a population center like New York City.Having grown up in rural Pennsylvania and now living in Brooklyn, NY, for nearly twenty-five years, Marlene will talk about the call and the challenge to live well as followers of Jesus, with specific focus on an urban setting.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.

December 28, 2024 Strength to Strength welcomed David Anderson to discuss the value church history is to our lives today.We are the product of, not only our reading of scripture, but two millenia of church history that has shaped our culture and experience. Only by knowing the past can we be informed to chart a way forward.Skeptics of the value of church history are encouraged to bring their hardest questions for David.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-why-study-church-history/

Salt & Light is a Bible-based financial teaching course to help you demonstrate God's kingdom locally. It helps you discover how to become better stewards of God's resources and actively engage with your local community, church, and youth.SALT reaches out globally to people in material poverty in dozens of countries through savings groups, agricultural development, microloans, and vocational training. We foster hope and opportunity to people in communities where life seems hopeless.The Salt & Light course provides Biblical stewardship teaching and endeavors to bring this same hope to our North American communities. The course is designed with four “Tracks” tailored for investing in our own churches as well as for reaching out to others. Many Anabaptist communities have been blessed for generations with godly homes and biblical teaching. The overarching goal of the Salt & Light course is to provide a tool to help “Kingdom Christians” walk with their neighbors, coworkers, employees, and others, demonstrating Christ while providing sustainable, long-term way-of-life help.contact@saltbooks.orghttps://saltbooks.org/

Strength to Strength welcomed Finny Kuruvilla to reexamine the record of the church as recorded in Acts.Is the book of Acts an historical account which is not intended to be repeated? Or is it supposed to be the template for the Christian life? This talk will explore this age-old question and make a biblically grounded proposal.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-the-book-of-acts-descriptive-or-prescriptive/Books recommended by Finny particularly for those with Anabaptist heritage, in order of priority:Book: “Conrad Grebel: The Founder of the Swiss Brethren” by Harold S. Bender https://www.amazon.com/Conrad-Grebel-Harold-S-Bender/dp/1532666683/Book: “The Legacy of Michael Sattler” by C. Arnold Snyderhttps://www.amazon.com/Michael-Sattler-Classics-Radical-Reformation/dp/0874862566/Book: “The Anabaptist Story” by William Estephttps://www.amazon.com/Anabaptist-Story-William-R-Estep/dp/0802808867/Book: “The Sources of Swiss Anabaptism: The Grebel Letters and Related Documents” (primary source)https://www.amazon.com/Sources-Anabaptism-Classics-Radical-Reformation/dp/0874862620/Book: “Writing of Pilgram Marpack” (primary source)https://www.amazon.com/Writings-Pilgram-Marpeck-Classics-Reformation/dp/0874862582/Book: “Complete Works of Menno Simons” (primary source)https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Works-Menno-Simon/dp/1015480578/Other recommendation by Finny in the context of continuationism:Study: “Is There a Pattern to the Bible's Miracles?” by Joel Arnold https://joelarnold.com/is-there-a-pattern-to-the-bibles-miracles/Book: “A Story of God's Faithfulness” by George Chavanikamannil https://www.amazon.com/Barren-Mango-Orchard-Faithfulness-Architect/dp/B0CTN4DNHC

December 14, 2024Strength to Strength welcomed Finny Kuruvilla to explore how, and more importantly, why the earliest church flourished.One of the themes of the Jesus' preaching was the kingdom of God. In the book of Acts, we watch as the kingdom of God expands throughout the Roman empire. This talk will explore the biblical theology of the book of Acts and practical principles of the kingdom.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-the-book-of-acts-the-kingdom-of-god-fills-the-earth/

December 7, 2024Strength to Strength welcomed Gina Martin, Laura Smucker, and Delphine Martin for a panel discussion to share about lessons that walking through grief can teach us.Can life ever be good again after devastating loss? What questions should I be asking God about the valley I have experienced? How can I look outward in my muddled state? Join us for this panel discussion on Navigating the Journey of Grief as the panelists discuss these questions, as well as how grief matures and helpful and harmful words and how they impact grief. They plan to share ways people walked beside them to support them in their grief.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/navigating-the-journey-of-grief/

On the one-year anniversary of S2S Books, the Strength to Strength team met to discuss the latest news and updates.Sam is headed to Europe in 2025, leading a new initiate called “Kingdom Connect,” which is an effort to bring together European kingdom Christians.S2S Books is collaborating with the Salt team from Christian Aid Ministries to bring new Salt & Light courses to the market.Joining us was a special guest from Mexico, Phil Reiff, to discuss the latest developments with his new café in Creel, Mexico. This was previously introduced in November 2023 when he shared his vision for a during a “Walk the Talk” episode. Consider partnering with this ministry and help us spread the word about this opportunity to advance the kingdom. You can get more information at the link below, or check out their page on the Extend Cafés website.Click here for a newsletter (PDF) about the new La Cosecha café that Phil Reiff is starting.Also, we shared an update on the Sacred Roots series.All this and more in this episode. Thanks for being a part of Strength to Strength!

November 23, 2024Strength to Strength welcomed Zack Johnson to discuss truth-telling and swearing of oaths.Can the imitation of Christ truly involve oath-taking? This talk traces the evolution of oath-taking from the Old Covenant through the teachings of Jesus and James, the nuances in Paul's writings, and the convictions of early Christians like Maximilian. It explores why James highlighted Jesus' reversal of Mosaic teachings on oaths as essential for believers, demonstrating how early disciples were willing to die for this principle. Concluding with a call for contemporary Christians to embody integrity and consistent truthfulness, it challenges followers of Christ to reject society's reliance on oaths as both a substitute for genuine honesty and faithfulness and as a means of pledging loyalty to anything other than Christ the King.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-why-above-all-matters/

Gregory Weaver. Jesus told his Jewish audience, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” What did Jesus imply with this statement?In this book, Gregory Weaver examines how Jesus and his apostles understood the promises made to Abraham. Rediscover the historic view of the promises to Abraham, and see how dispensationalism is exposed as a modern, errant innovation.https://strengthtostrength.org/a-great-nation/

Strength to Strength welcomed David Bercot to discuss the purpose of studying the doctrine and practice of the earliest disciples of the faith.Jude, the brother of Jesus, tells us:I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.Jude 3b NKJVWhy can we not just read our Bible and be confident we've got it right?An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/sacred-roots-why-study-the-early-christians/

November 2, 2024Strength to Strength welcomed Melody Schrock to discuss beauty, designed by God, created for our enjoyment.Whether we acknowledge it or not, we have a worldview of beauty. Beauty was God's idea and He has a standard. As women, we are image bearers and we display the beauty of God, but how? When people see us, are they drawn to us or to worship of our Creator? What does it look like to veil ourselves spirit, soul, and body? Is beauty truly in the eye of the beholder? We'll explore some of these questions in our time together. God has a design and it is good!An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/gods-design-for-beauty-our-creators-standard/

Strength to Strength welcomed Mary Z. to share a testimony of living a life of wholehearted, passionate service to God.We are created in the image of God. Mary will be sharing about how believing that with all her heart, changed her and led her to where she is today. Living on foreign soil for most of the past seven years has given her deeper insights into the heart of God and His will for the people she works among. She will be sharing about how she can keep her passion for the work alive.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/my-journey-to-living-as-a-faithful-emissary/

Alan Kreider. How and why did the early church grow in the first four hundred years despite disincentives, harassment, and occasional persecution? In this unique historical study, veteran scholar Alan Kreider delivers the fruit of a lifetime of study as he tells the amazing story of the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire. Challenging traditional understandings, Kreider contends the church grew because the virtue of patience was of central importance in the life and witness of the early Christians. They wrote about patience, not evangelism, and reflected on prayer, catechesis, and worship, yet the church grew–not by specific strategies but by patient ferment.https://strengthtostrength.org/the-patient-ferment-of-the-early-church/

Strength to Strength welcomed four brothers to discuss what their lives look like being a disciple of Jesus. They will share with us ways to pray and partner with them in their work.The unsung heros of Jesus' kingdom are the faithful disciples who serve their Lord without fanfare or applause.Whether you are a warrior in secret prayer, a widow who casts in the last two mites, or a worker advancing the bleeding edge of the kingdom, you can rest assured that deeds of service do not escape the eye of our benevolent King.“Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your vocation.”- AristotleShawn Miller joins to represent LifeQuest Community: a disciple-making ministry in State College, Pennsylvania. There is a huge gulf between what people know before they come to State College, PA and who we hope they will know when they leave State College. These people need a bridge. LifeQuest is a nonprofit organization that allows volunteers to be that bridge to point people to Jesus. With over 50,000 students attending Penn State University and 50 different countries represented, we have a golden opportunity to preach the Good News of our King to those who have never heard or seen genuine Christianity. Our goal is to be a local ministry with a worldwide reach. For more info, contact Ernest Eby by email at erneste@lifeq.org or by phone at (814) 325-7644.Verlynn Eby joins to represent Christian Aid Ministries a channel enabling the church to minister to physical and spiritual needs around the world. He will be sharing about the devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Helene, and offering some ways we as Christians can seize this moment and use it to build the Kingdom. Join their Telegram/Cloudveil channel to follow updates: https://t.me/christianaidministries.Jolan Sommers joins to represent Soldiers of the Cross, and providing a brief overview of the 10-day evangelism training they offer, developed with the purpose of equipping people to share the Gospel as a lifestyle. To contact, please call (330) 473-5145 or email soldiersofthecross2@gmail.comMerle Weaver joins to represent Upward Way Response, a disaster response organization organized to facilitate the response of God's people to major disasters internationally and domestically, including Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. UWR is currently actively involved in recovery efforts in Black Mountain, NC, under the umbrella of Plain Compassion Crisis Response (PCCR). You may follow Upward Way Response on Telegram/Cloudveil at https://t.me/+LxfiPR1CcM9lMGFh. To volunteer, go to https://form.jotform.com/242824523080047 or call (803) 953-0991. To contribute financially, go to https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/LDG2B29R8KTS4 or mail a check to: Upward Way Response, 230 Pleasant Valley Rd, East Earl, PA 17519.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/walk-the-talk-spotlight-on-kingdom-work-part-4/

Strength to Strength welcomed Tania Taylor to discuss how our communities can be a piece of heaven on earth.Getting the bigger picture of our calling as sisters, to further Christ's kingdom through the local church body.One of the biggest threats to the church in any given age or place is that of nationalism. How easily we can become sidelined and distracted by the transient problems and interests of our earthly parent country, entangling ourselves with all manner of political causes and ideals that have absolutely nothing to do with our calling to be pilgrims and strangers in this life. When this happens, we ultimately experience confusion and impotence. Where does our allegiance lie? We as Christians have a distinct calling to represent the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Our calling to represent Christ's Kingdom is best promoted through the everyday expression of local church life. When we get this bigger picture, we can invest ourselves in our local churches with abandon, and in the process, fulfill our divine calling as sisters to help represent little embassies of Heaven—Christ's Kingdom displayed on earth, just as it is in Heaven.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/little-embassies-of-heaven/

Strength to Strength welcomed Brandon Byler to discuss God's kingdom and earthly kingdoms, specifically American politics, and how followers of Jesus should relate, especially in a hotly-contested election season.In this meeting we'd like to consider several questions: Why have Anabaptists typically shunned national, political involvement? What sort of attitude should we have toward American leaders at all levels of government? Does the Bible give us any guidance for interacting with those in authority? Is there anything Anabaptists can legitimately do to influence the direction of nations?An interactive question-and-answer period follows.Recommended: YouTube video: “The Kingdom of God” by David BercotRecommended: “The Kingdom of God that Turned the World Upside Down” by David BercotRecommended: “Pilgrims and Politics” by Michael S. Martinhttps://strengthtostrength.org/kingdom-pilgrims-and-american-politics/

Strength to Strength welcomes Wendell Martin to share lessons from his personal story of difficult experiences.When bad things happen in life, we might console others or ourselves with reassurance that “it was God's will” or that everything happens for a reason. But is everything that happens the will of God? Can I trust the goodness of God in spite of all the evil in the world?An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/when-bad-things-happen/

Strength to Strength welcomed Dylan Heidrich to share his spiritual life journey.In this episode, Dylan shares his journey from growing up in an atheist household to being baptized in a Baptist church at 18. He reflects on his transition to house church life, his desire for missional living, and how discovering the early church led him to kingdom Christianity.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.Resource: Follow Dylan and Abigail's Youtube channel, “The Forgotten Faith.”

Strength to Strength welcomed Linda Amendt to take a closer look at what winning on this battleground may look like.“Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny.”“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”Proverbs 23:7Linda will share a bit of her journey in relation to her learning how powerful our thoughts are and where they can lead us. We will explore some ways that as daughters of God and yet soldiers, we can fight this battle and win. It is God's will that we overcome the enemy of our souls, Satan, the father of lies, who can come as an angel of light. Is positive thinking enough to make our minds new as spoken in Romans 12:2? What does it actually look like to put on the armor of God? Let's explore this together.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/battleground-of-the-mind/

We, as the admin team at S2S, met virtually to have another Roundtable discussion. We discussed some of the latest happenings, reflect on things such as the recent Kingdom Fellowship Weekend, and have a guest on to hear his story. Evan Smith joined us to tell his story about journeying into the kingdom of God and with fellowship with other kingdom minded folks.

Strength to Strength welcomed Justin Zehr to discuss Jesus' interaction with Nicodemus.In this talk we'll be taking a look at the miracle of New Birth and the metamorphosis of one who is transformed into the likeness of Christ. The miracle of one who is dead in sin and trapped in the state of fallen humanity then becoming a new creature in Christ through the new birth.We are going to let a little creature (the monarch) teach us big things of our awesome Creator and his renewal or redemption plan for all of us.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.

Strength to Strength welcomed Marji Wagler to discuss marriage as God inteneded.God designed an other-centered union for a me-centered world."With the unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit which isn't wrought up or anxious… adapting themselves to their husbands."-adapted from 1 Peter 3:3–5, Amplified BibleThat inner person is reflected in your words and even your body language. There is only one way to have a peaceful and gentle heart – that is to yield to and trust our Father God."The biggest investment that a wife or a husband can make in their spouse is the investment they make in their own souls."-John PiperAn interactive question-and-answer period follows.

David Bercot. There are hundreds of commentaries on Romans in print today, and thousands have been written over the centuries. So what is the point of still one more commentary? The reason is that this is not “still one more commentary.” In this commentary, the reader will be seeing Romans through the eyes of the Christians who lived in the first few centuries after Romans was written. Some of these men personally knew the apostles. They all lived in the same culture in which Paul lived. Their native tongue was koiné Greek.This commentary enables the reader to share the same experience that a Christian living in the first four centuries would have experienced when hearing Romans explained on a given Sunday. You will hear the same explanations they would have heard. As you will see, those early Christians understood Romans quite differently than what most Christians do today. That is because they lived prior to the two major reinterpretations of Romans: that of Augustine and that of Luther. After hearing the early Christian understanding of Romans, the readers can then decide whether they think the entire church got Romans wrong from the very beginning—or if Christians today are badly misreading this important book of Scripture.https://strengthtostrength.org/romans-commentary/

Strength to Strength welcomed Renee Miles to discuss how God's instruction for sisters' headcovering compliments His design for womanhood.There is an agreement among Christians that the verses in 1 Corinthians 11 are talking about a head covering, but this is where the agreement ends. Beyond that there is much debate and differences of opinion:Is it a practice for today?Is it an actual item to wear?Do we wear it all the time?What should a head covering look like?The journey to discovering solid answers to the many questions and arguments in this area was a long one but worth the effort. Renee will share the experience of what she and her husband learned that led to their conviction.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.Resource: More-detailed testimony by Renee Mills, 2023 (audio MP3).Resource: YouTube: “Head Coverings: History, Context, and Exegesis” by Carlton C. McLeodResource: YouTube: “Headcovering Series” by Finny Kuruvilla:Part 1: “Cultural or Counter-Cultural”Part 2: “Long Hair or a Fabric Covering? Just in Church, or for Everyday Life?”Part 3: “As Modesty, Liberation, and a Gateway to the Spirit's Power”Resource: YouTube: “Headship Series” by Matthew Milioni:Part 1: “The Order of the Headship”Part 2: “Patterns of the Headship Order”Part 3: “The Practical Manifestation of Veiling”Part 4: “Women Are the Glory of Man”https://strengthtostrength.org/gods-design-for-headcovering-my-search-for-answers/

Strength to Strength welcomed Josh Wray for a discussion about discipleship modeled after Jesus.As disciples of Jesus, we are invited to follow Him in fellowship with other believers. Through the joys and challenges of interacting with other disciples, we are being conformed into the image of Christ. In this message, Josh will share what practical discipleship has looked like in his life, and his dream of seeing equipped disciples rise up as mighty men and women in our day.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.Resource: “Disciplecast” is a podcast about discipling, which is organized in part by Josh Wray. Join this Telegram group for updates and more! https://t.me/+EPbZDLhSoOhmMmJhhttps://strengthtostrength.org/practical-discipleship-in-the-local-church/

Sherilyn Shirk. This delightful children's book is a full-color, beautifully illustrated treasure for young children aged 2–10. “You Are Precious in His Sight” was designed by a mother of six, and dedicated to foster children. It introduces the child to Jesus as the Creator and Designer of all things good. Further, it assures the child that the hurts they face were never God's intention, and that their obedience to Jesus' way will lead to happiness and fulfillment.Bryant and Lynelle Martin interview Andrew and Sherilyn Shirk to discuss Sherilyn's new book, “You Are Precious in His Sight.”https://strengthtostrength.org/you-are-precious-in-his-sight/

Strength to Strength welcomed Renita Petersheim to discuss a biblical view of what it means to be a person and why it is integral to our faith today.In Genesis 1 and 2, when God created the earth, particularly mankind, He pronounced “very good”. Sometimes that is hard to believe as we experience life through our bodies, personalities, sexuality, and stories. We'll talk about the incongruence we may feel at times and examine God's creative design and purpose for us.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/gods-design-for-personhood-my-whole-self-unified-for-gods-glory/

Strength to Strength welcomed Glenn Martin for a discussion about the yoke of Jesus. What does it mean that Jesus' yoke is “easy” and his burden is “light?”In this Talk, Glenn discusses how our perception of God and the motivations for our obedience affect our joy – or lack thereof.Many Christians believe there is “pie in the sky by and by when I die,” essentially supposing that while life is depressing now, our joy will finally be realized in heaven. What does the Bible say about that?An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/is-your-christian-life-hard/