Brother, sister, respected friend, have you paused to examine carefully this faith that is being highlighted again and again over these days?

This message will take a fast flight over human history from the book of Genesis until now and look again at the foundations of this FAITH! The just shall LIVE by faith… and that wasn’t just the idea of Luther and the reformers, it IS the Word of God! But wait, LIVE by faith? Is this a concept… or a life changing reality? And, as the old song states: will it “do when I am dying?”

Fallow ground is unprepared, unseeded, and unattended. It is both neglected and hardened, unable to reach its full potential. Fallow ground speaks of missed purpose, lukewarmness, apathy and slothfulness. Count on it… fallow ground never leads to abundant fruitfulness.

The call to break up fallow ground was not given to the heathen nations, but to God’s people. Repentance was the first message of Jesus as He began His preaching ministry. It is more than a one-time experience in becoming saved. Repentance is a way of life for those living in the light and are bearing glorious fruit for God.

The theme of the panel discussion is taken from 1 Corinthians 16:13.

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

—1 Corinthians 16:13, KJV

Each panelist focuses on one phrase, then wrestle through questions. Following are the four topics:

• “Watch Ye” by Harold Troyer, Belleville, PA
• “Stand Fast in the Faith” by Brandon Byler, Shippensburg, PA
• “Quit You Like Men” by Harry Argo, Virginia Beach, VA
• “Be Strong” by Kai Steinmann, Burkesville, KY

Tradition is a system of beliefs or expected behaviors passed down within a group of people with symbolic meaning or special significance…customs, ethics, values, norms, heritage and culture are nearly synonymous terms.

Traditionalism refers to a profound distrust of anything that would alter or interfere with maintaining traditions. In the extreme, this behavior becomes “reactionary,” that is, an opposition to (and rejection of) any and all innovations that cause traditions to be modified or lost.

Anabaptist commitment to a cultural heritage has been a two-edged sword. It has been a tremendous blessing… insulating our churches from many damaging societal influences… “a friend to grace to help us on to God.”

Clearly, though, an unhealthy preoccupation with the past can diminish our ability to portray the glory of Christ. It can distract us (and the watching world) from His Gospel. It can damage our compelling portrayal of His kingdom.

This sermon will attempt to consider an answer to Francis Schaeffer’s pressing question: “How, then, shall we live?”

As the focus of this conference will include the inspiring history of some courageous young men in the 1500s who took a tough stand for clear principles of the Word of God, this message for youth will jump back a few centuries earlier and gain courage and inspiration from a boy in the Bible. This boy stood firmly with faith in his God in a very absorbing and challenging cultural setting that was not entirely unlike ours today. Will you?

What would come to be called the “Radical Reformation or Anabaptism” began in a time of unrest and upheaval. The medieval traditions and the authority of the established church were being challenged by many voices and ideas.

How could someone know the truth in such a chaotic and confusing time? If the traditional medieval church model was corrupted, should it be reformed or completely rebuilt? How should the Scriptures be interpreted and applied to give the right direction? By what process would believers determine God’s direction for their lives and how would they counsel other believers?

Those decisions were important, because they would live, and perhaps die, by what they believed and by whose voice they chose to follow.

Thousands of courageous young men willingly gave their lives to defend the “cause of freedom” in the World Wars.

Where are the men and women, young and old, who would willingly risk their lives for the cause of Spiritual Freedom today? Why aren’t we hearing about more Anabaptist people losing their lives in spreading the Gospel?

Fifty days after Christ’s resurrection, the mighty wind of the Spirit of Power roared through the midst of 120 disciples when the Day of Pentecost “was fully come.” This birthed the Church of the Firstborn, 3,000 strong, from a rag-tag band of disciples. Corruption invaded almost immediately (Acts 5) among the Brethren. This disgrace quickly “made havock of the Church… perverting its Gospel” (Gal. 1:6-9), and devastating its testimony.

The Spirit of Pentecost continued to whisper breezes of Truth among nascent reform movements through long centuries riddled with compromise and error among God’s people. Early in the 16th century, these stirrings became storm-clouds and the “rushing mighty wind” of the Spirit roared again on another tiny band of disciples. Reformers? Yes, but radicalized… doggedly determined to unleash the Spirit of Truth and the Sword of His Word. Their non-negotiable goal? A rebirth in the Church of the Firstborn.

Four men that loomed large in the early days of this Spirit-powered upheaval deserve some thoughtful consideration. Ulrich Zwingli, Felix Manz, Conrad Grebel and George Blaurock all bled and died in the early days of Anabaptism for their understanding of the Church. We do well to examine the two Spirits clashing among them… the Harlot Church, and the Church of the Living God have come to blows. This same battle rages in our day. Whose testimony will we pattern the church after in our day?