In this sermon, I go through the stories of Luke 9 (feeding the 5,000, Jesus asks his discples who the people say he is, Jesus' transfiguration) and connect them with the journey of the early Swiss Anabaptists deciding where they fit in the larger Reformation story.

The Reformation in Switzerland continues as Zwingli and a growing number of other local pastors start advocating for the removal of sacred images in churches, cathedrals, and monasteries. The city hosts another debate, but almost nobody is satisfied with the results.

The historical storytelling episodes will be back soon, but for now here is a sermon I preached on January 26, telling the story and connecting it with Acts 19.

Faith, whether today in our personal lives or for the church over centuries, is a lot like a community crossword puzzle, where you show up ready to build on someone else's work, that is, until you find too many mistakes and you need to start fresh.

The story of the Anabaptists in Switzerland begins with a radical new priest who seems intent on stirring up controversy everywhere he goes. But ultimately, the city council sides with him on theological matters, even against representatives of Rome.

Season Two of this podcast will cover the events of the early Anabaptists in Zurich, Switzerland 500 years ago.

This episode contains a recording of a sermon given by Will Loewen at Trinity Mennonite Church in Calgary, on January 19, 2025. It weaves together the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch with the stories of Balthasar Hübmaier and the Zurich group of Anabaptists.

In this wrap up of season one, I think through a variety of different approaches to historical storytelling.

Professor Gerald Mast of Bluffton University in Ohio joins us to talk about the connection between Menno Simons and the Münster story.

Geoffrey Dipple joins the podcast to explain community of goods as implemented during the Anabaptist Kingdom of Münster. Was it spiritual? Was it practical? Was it just greed? We discuss these questions and more.

Gareth Brandt is a professor and pastor from Abbotsford, British Columbia. In September we hosted a live event in Calgary, and this episode was a recording from that gathering.

After a quick summary of the story, we discuss the religious and cultural undercurrents that made it possible, and we discuss some art and imagery around the story.

Professor Jim West is a scholar of, among other things, the life and work of Ulrich Zwingli. He shares some of his thoughts on the Anabaptist movement as a whole, and the events in Münster in particular.