What We Believe Together: Exploring the ?Shared Convictions? of Anabaptist-Related Churches
Today, more than 1.7 million Christians are members of Mennonite-related churches. They are scattered across eighty-three countries. They trace their history to the Anabaptist movement, a part of the sixteenth-century Radical Reformation in Europe.

What beliefs do these heirs of the free-church movement, only loosely connected to each other, hold in common today? This first-of-its-kind book explores seven convictions shared by these churches, now on six continents, who have always insisted that what they believe will be reflected in how they live.

Theologian and teacher Alfred Neufeld, of Asunción, Paraguay, was asked by Mennonite World Conference to write this commentary on the seven convictions. In a rich and readable style, he fills out their meaning and significance, drawing upon Old and New Testament scriptures as well as examples and stories from history and current church life around the world.

Writing as a member from the Southern Hemisphere, Neufeld brings a fresh view to a movement that for more than four hundred years was active primarily in Europe and North America. (The majority of members now live in the global south.)

This book offers a fresh and up-to-date look at the core beliefs and the practices that have developed from them, held by Mennonite-related groups around the world today.

This newly updated edition contains vibrant full-color photos throughout.
"1111324913"
What We Believe Together: Exploring the ?Shared Convictions? of Anabaptist-Related Churches
Today, more than 1.7 million Christians are members of Mennonite-related churches. They are scattered across eighty-three countries. They trace their history to the Anabaptist movement, a part of the sixteenth-century Radical Reformation in Europe.

What beliefs do these heirs of the free-church movement, only loosely connected to each other, hold in common today? This first-of-its-kind book explores seven convictions shared by these churches, now on six continents, who have always insisted that what they believe will be reflected in how they live.

Theologian and teacher Alfred Neufeld, of Asunción, Paraguay, was asked by Mennonite World Conference to write this commentary on the seven convictions. In a rich and readable style, he fills out their meaning and significance, drawing upon Old and New Testament scriptures as well as examples and stories from history and current church life around the world.

Writing as a member from the Southern Hemisphere, Neufeld brings a fresh view to a movement that for more than four hundred years was active primarily in Europe and North America. (The majority of members now live in the global south.)

This book offers a fresh and up-to-date look at the core beliefs and the practices that have developed from them, held by Mennonite-related groups around the world today.

This newly updated edition contains vibrant full-color photos throughout.
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What We Believe Together: Exploring the ?Shared Convictions? of Anabaptist-Related Churches

What We Believe Together: Exploring the ?Shared Convictions? of Anabaptist-Related Churches

What We Believe Together: Exploring the ?Shared Convictions? of Anabaptist-Related Churches

What We Believe Together: Exploring the ?Shared Convictions? of Anabaptist-Related Churches

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Overview

Today, more than 1.7 million Christians are members of Mennonite-related churches. They are scattered across eighty-three countries. They trace their history to the Anabaptist movement, a part of the sixteenth-century Radical Reformation in Europe.

What beliefs do these heirs of the free-church movement, only loosely connected to each other, hold in common today? This first-of-its-kind book explores seven convictions shared by these churches, now on six continents, who have always insisted that what they believe will be reflected in how they live.

Theologian and teacher Alfred Neufeld, of Asunción, Paraguay, was asked by Mennonite World Conference to write this commentary on the seven convictions. In a rich and readable style, he fills out their meaning and significance, drawing upon Old and New Testament scriptures as well as examples and stories from history and current church life around the world.

Writing as a member from the Southern Hemisphere, Neufeld brings a fresh view to a movement that for more than four hundred years was active primarily in Europe and North America. (The majority of members now live in the global south.)

This book offers a fresh and up-to-date look at the core beliefs and the practices that have developed from them, held by Mennonite-related groups around the world today.

This newly updated edition contains vibrant full-color photos throughout.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781561487639
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Publication date: 08/04/2015
Sold by: SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format: eBook
Pages: 160
File size: 14 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Alfred Neufeld is a Mennonite theologian from Paraguay. An ordained minister, he has spent most of his professional life teaching and building up educational institutions. Neufeld is currently rector (president) of the Universidad Evangélica del Paraguay, a Protestant university owned by the Anglican, Baptist, Presbyterian, Disciples of Christ, Mennonite, and Mennonite Brethren churches of Paraguay. He is also a visiting professor at the Basel-Bienenberg Mennonite Seminary in Switzerland. He lives in Asunción, Paraguay.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Statement of "Shared Convictions" 4

Good News 7

Only God's grace enables us 7

We seek to live and proclaim good news 9

Reconciliation comes through Jesus Christ 11

We are part of the one body of Christ 12

We are linked to the past and scattered over many places 14

Even though we differ from each other, we share central convictions of belief and practice 15

1 We Give Glory to the Father 19

We know God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 19

The Creator is the restorer 22

Humanity has fallen 24

God is calling for a faithful people 25

As God's people we want to be faithful in fellowship 27

As God's people we want to be faithful in worship 28

As God's people we want to be faithful in service 30

As God's people we want to be faithful in witness 31

2 We Give Glory to the Son 37

Jesus shows us who God is 37

The life of Jesus is our model 39

The teaching of Jesus gives us orientation 41

The death of Jesus makes us free 43

The resurrection of Jesus gives us hope 46

The faithfulness of Jesus enables us to be faithful 49

The way of Jesus redeems the world 51

Whoever is united to Jesus has eternal life 53

3 We Give Glory to the Holy Spirit 59

When the Holy Spirit came, the church was born as a community of believers 59

Wherever the Holy Spirit works, people turn away from sin 62

Wherever the Holy Spirit convinces, people acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord 64

Wherever the Holy Spirit takes hold of human life, people confess their faith through baptism 67

Whoever belongs to the church of the Holy Spirit wants to follow Christ in life 69

4 We Read the Bible Together 73

We know the story of the Triune God through the Bible 73

This history and this information are the authority for our faith and life 76

In order to understand the Bible's meaning for today, we need each other 79

In order to understand the Bible's meaning for today, we need the Holy Spirit 83

Jesus Christ gives light to interpreting the Bible 86

We seek to discern and to do the will of God 88

5 We Pursue Shalom 95

To be different from the world, we need the empowerment of the Spirit of Jesus 95

To be different from the world, we need to entrust all areas of our lives to God 97

We believe that peacemaking is a blessed duty 99

There is no peace without the renunciation of violence 101

There is no peace without unconditionally loving our enemies 104

There is no lasting peace without the pursuit of justice 106

A Christian culture of peace enables us to share possessions 110

6 We Worship and Celebrate Together 115

Our Christian community loves to get together 115

Worship is the main reason for Christian meetings 117

The celebration of the Lord's Supper and baptism are powerful experiences 118

We get together so that God may speak to us and we might listen 122

We make major decisions together in a spirit of shared responsibility 124

7 We Are a Worldwide Family 129

What began small has become global, reflecting the dynamics of the kingdom of God 129

Christian community is not limited by nationalities 132

Christian community is not limited by ethnicity, race, or language 134

Christian community is not segregated by class or gender 136

In the middle of the world, Christians oppose the powers of evil 139

In the middle of the world, Christians witness to the transforming grace of God 143

Because God is love, we want to live a life of service 144

Because we have hope, we want to care for creation 146

Because we have faith, we invite all people to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord 148

History Matters 153

We are thankful for a "cloud of witnesses" 153

We want to walk with Jesus as they did 156

The kingdom of God will prevail 158

Readings and Sources 162

About the Author 164

About the Photographer 164

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