Sermons

Anabaptism at 500: Renewal Through Trust and Yieldedness

Proverbs 3:5–8; Matthew 18:1–5
Pastor Calvary deJong

Introduction: Yield Signs and Life with God

When I was growing up in Winnipeg’s blue-collar neighbourhood of Transcona, big red four-way stop signs seemed to mark nearly every corner of our former railway town turned suburb. Later, when I moved to Saskatoon, I noticed something different—many intersections in historic neighbourhoods like City Park, Nutana, and Riversdale had yield signs instead. Rather than forcing every lane of traffic to stop, vehicles were able to flow more freely because one direction was willing to yield the right of way to the other. These triangular traffic signs illustrate a larger principle for life: yielding means recognizing the world doesn’t revolve around me. This is more than traffic engineering—it’s a picture of discipleship. The early Anabaptists used the German word Gelassenheit to describe this posture of yieldedness: a calm release, a surrender of self-will, and a trustful openness to God. It wasn’t passivity. It was active obedience—choosing to set aside personal preference to follow Christ and love others.

As we continue our series, “Anabaptism at 500,” we remember that the Radical Reformation didn’t begin with programs or structures, but with people whose lives were radically reoriented around Jesus. Renewal came as they trusted God completely and yielded their whole lives to Him. That same call comes to us today.

Trusting God, Not Ourselves (Proverbs 3:5–6)

Proverbs invites us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” In Hebrew poetry, this is an example of parallelism—two lines that echo and sharpen each other. The first is positive: place your whole weight upon God’s wisdom and character. The second is negative: refuse to prop yourself up with your own limited perspective. Together, the lines remind us that trust is more than mental agreement—it is dependence.

To lean on our own understanding is to insist that we know best. By contrast, yielding means giving God the right of way in every decision, resting the full weight of our lives on Him. Verse 6 continues the thought: “In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Here, submission is to yield. To put trust in action—acknowledging Jesus as Lord in every aspect of life. The promise is not that the road will be easy, but that it will be straight—aligned with God’s good purposes. Yieldedness shows up in the details of daily life. Every time we pray before making a decision, every time we set aside our own agenda to listen for God’s leading, every time we choose faithfulness over self-reliance, we are practicing the way of trust.

The Way of Childlike Humility (Matthew 18:1–5)

The disciples once asked Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” They assumed the kingdom of God worked like every other system of worldly power—with ladders to climb and honours to win. But Jesus turned their assumptions upside down. He placed a child in front of them and said, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Children in that culture had no real status or power. They were vulnerable, overlooked, and dependent. Yet Jesus said greatness belongs to those who take the lowly position of a child—those who yield, trust, and welcome others with humility. True greatness in the kingdom is not about achievement but about surrender. This challenges us in a culture that constantly tells us to push forward, take charge, and prove ourselves. Jesus calls us to yield, to trust, to be willing to stoop low. The Kingdom of heaven belongs not to the self-promoting but to the surrendered.

Michael & Margaretha Sattler and the Cost of Yieldedness

The story of Michael Sattler and his wife Margaretha illustrates the radical nature of Gelassenheit. Sattler helped draft the Schleitheim Confession (1527), the first Anabaptist confession of faith, which boldly declared that baptism belonged only to repentant believers. It condemned infant baptism as “the highest and chief abomination of the Pope,” and called Christians to reject violence. These convictions were not abstract theology—they were embodied surrender. The cost was severe. Michael was arrested, tortured, and executed, praying for his persecutors as flames rose around him. Margaretha, too, was drowned for her faith. Their witness shows us that yieldedness is not merely an inward posture—it is a costly, outward faith that may lead even through suffering. And yet, in their surrender, they testified to a greater trust: that the Lord who calls us is faithful, even unto death.

Yieldedness in Everyday Life

Not all acts of yieldedness are as dramatic as martyrdom. Sometimes they take the form of daily choices. Sociologist Donald Kraybill tells of the Amishin the modern-day USA, descendants of the Anabaptists, who resisted putting bright orange triangles on their buggies because it conflicted with their values of simplicity and humility. They were willing to face fines rather than compromise their convictions.

Our lives look very different from the Amish—we use technology, drive cars, and engage the modern world. But the call remains the same: to yield daily decisions, priorities, and desires to Christ. Yieldedness today might mean letting go of control in family conflicts, resisting the urge to always demand our own way, or learning to listen deeply before we speak.

The Gospel Invitation: Jesus Our Example

Here is the good news: Jesus has already walked this path of yieldedness. In the Garden of Gethsemane, facing the cross, He prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done.” He yielded to the Father fully—even when it meant suffering. He did it so that we could be forgiven and free. And by His Spirit, He gives us strength to walk the same road. Yielding is not something we can achieve by willpower alone. Left to ourselves, we cling to control. But when we yield to Christ, we discover the paradox of the kingdom: when we release, we receive; when we stoop low, God lifts us up; when we yield, we find true freedom. This is the renewal that Jesus offers.

Questions for Reflection & Action

• Where am I leaning on my own understanding instead of trusting the Lord?
• How is Jesus inviting me to take the lowly position of a child?
• What would it look like for me to practice Gelassenheit—yieldedness—in my daily relationships?

Prayer of Response

Lord Jesus,
You call us to trust You with all our hearts and to lean not on our own understanding.
Thank You for walking this road of yieldedness before us, praying “Not my will, but yours be done.”
By Your Spirit, renew us to live with surrendered hearts—so that our lives may testify to Your kingdom.

Amen.

Anabaptism at 500: Renewal Through Repentance

Scriptures: Psalm 51; Mark 1:14–15; 1 Corinthians 5:1–5; 2 Corinthians 2:5–11; 2 Corinthians 7:8–11
Pastor Calvary deJong

Introduction: When You Are the Villain

We love to picture ourselves as the hero in our own story. As the one who perseveres through hardship or shows kindness at just the right moment. But if we are honest, each of us is also capable of playing the villain in our own story. I learned that lesson in Grade 9 gym class when I was too competitive in volleyball and used my words to cut down a classmate, and was sent down to the principal’s office. Afterwards, my dad marched me over to the girl’s house along with flowers and a card with a handwritten apology. That was a memorable experience that I will never forget! It taught me something: repentance is more than embarrassment or fear of punishment. It is a turning of the heart, and the Bible calls that turning repentance.

As we continue our series Anabaptism at 500, we ask: What does repentance mean for us today? For the institutional church during the days of the Reformation? And how does this ancient practice remain the heartbeat of personal renewal and communal life?

Lessons From History: Institutional Repentance in the Reformation

By the sixteenth century, the church in Europe was in desperate need of repentance. Indulgence preachers promised forgiveness in exchange for donations. Many Catholic priests were poorly trained, and others were openly corrupt. Ordinary believers were shut out from Scripture, which was narrowly available in Latin. The very church that was supposed to call the world to repentance itself needed to repent. As a result, three responses to these very challenging circumstances emerged:

• The Magisterial Reformers (Luther, Calvin, Zwingli) insisted the church must be reformed by the Word of God. They broke from the Catholic church, declaring ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda—“the church reformed, always in need of reformation.”
• The Counter-Reformation sought renewal within Catholicism. At the Council of Trent (1545–1563), abuses by the Catholic clergy were confronted, priestly education strengthened, and some reforms enacted, though much of the ecclesial structure remained unchanged.
• The Radical Reformers, the Anabaptists, pressed further. Repentance could not remain a decree on paper or remain a matter of state religion. It had to be embodied in the life of the believer and the witness of the community. Baptism followed confession of faith, discipleship meant reconciliation with others, mutual accountability, and restitution where harm had been done. Menno Simons called it “a penitence possessed of power and works.” For Anabaptists, repentance was never just institutional reform. It was the visible reality of people turning toward Christ together in obedience and love.

Biblical Foundations of Repentance

1. David’s Cry for Mercy (Psalm 51)
   Exposed by Nathan after his adultery with Bathsheba, David confessed, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love.” He admitted his guilt before God, pleaded to be washed and cleansed, and prayed, “Create in me a pure heart.” Repentance is not cosmetic—it is a prayer for deep transformation.
2. Jesus’ Call (Mark 1:14–15; Luke 15:11–32)
   Jesus announced, “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.” In other words, repentance is the sane response to God’s nearness. When criticized for eating with sinners, Jesus said He came not for the healthy but for the sick, and he told of a father running to welcome a prodigal son. Repentance is not merely an invitation to forgiveness but the way to joy.
3. The Corinthian Example (1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2; 7)
   The Corinthian church tolerated a shocking sin—a man sleeping with his father’s wife. Paul rebuked them for this because sin spreads, weakens the witness of the Church, and therefore must be confronted. Yet by the time of 2 Corinthians, the offender had repented. Thus, Paul writes back now, urging the Corinthian church to forgive the wayward brother and reaffirm their love for him, lest sorrow overwhelm him. Paul taught them to distinguish worldly sorrow (grief at being caught, regret without change) from godly sorrow (grief that leads to repentance, life, and restoration).

Application: Repentance as a Way of Life

Repentance is not something we graduate from once we “become a Christian.” It is both the beginning of faith and the daily practice of discipleship. It is how we sustain our walk with Christ. In my own life, my first apology to a classmate was motivated more by a desire to avoid further discipline than by genuine sorrow. But later, when I realized the hypocrisy of mocking a classmate at school while leading worship on guitar at my church’s youth group, godly sorrow pierced my heart. That moment led not just to changed behaviour but to inner transformation—and that is the sincere repentance God desires.

The same is true for our church communities. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in Life Together, reminds us that true Christian fellowship is not the absence of differences or conflict but the ongoing practice of repentance and forgiveness in the context of community. Without it, relationships become brittle and churches divide. But with it, the church becomes a family where prodigals are welcomed home. Repentance is not punishment—it is the way home. It is how joy returns, and it is the path of renewal for our lives, our relationships, and the future of our church.

Questions for Reflection & Action

• Where am I tempted to explain away my failures instead of naming them before God?
• Am I experiencing worldly sorrow (fear, shame, regret) or godly sorrow (true heart-change)?
• What would it look like for our church to be marked by repentance and restoration, not just tolerance or avoidance?

Prayer of Response

Merciful God,
Forgive us where our hearts wander and our actions fall short.
Wash us, renew us, and create in us clean hearts.

Thank You that in Christ, repentance leads not to shame but to joy.
Teach us to live not in worldly sorrow, but in godly sorrow that produces life.
Make our church a community where forgiveness flows, where repentance is welcomed, and where prodigals find a home at Your table.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.

I ONCE WAS LOST: ENTERING THE KINGDOM
Acts 16:6-15
Pastor Calvary deJong
July 20, 2025

Introduction: When Closed Doors Lead to Open Hearts

Have you ever had a door slam shut in your face, only to realize later it was the best thing that could’ve happened? Years ago, my wife and I thought we were stepping into a new ministry. We prayed, planned, and even travelled to a new city to look for housing. But every door closed. Then came a voicemail from our realtor: “There’s nothing available that fits your needs or budget.” It felt frustrating—like we were following God’s call, only to be blocked. But that dead end became a divine detour. It redirected us here, to Saskatoon. Looking back, we can see God’s hand in the closed door.

This theme of redirection plays out in Acts 16. Paul and his team are eager to advance the gospel into new territory, but the Holy Spirit stops them—not once, but twice. Then God gives them a new direction. They head to Macedonia, and by a quiet riverbank outside the city, a woman named Lydia hears the gospel. Her heart is opened, she receives Christ, and the church in Philippi is born.

Today, we’ve come to the fifth and final threshold in our I Once Was Lost series based on the book by Everts and Schaupp. Informed by real-life stories of adult conversion, this series has followed five common steps many people take as they move toward Jesus:

1. From distrust to trust
2. From complacency to curiosity
3. From closed to open to change.
4. From meandering to seeking
5. And now: entering the Kingdom

This final threshold is when the journey turns into surrender. When curiosity becomes a decision to follow Jesus. When the gospel moves from being merely intriguing to becoming everything.

When God Closes a Door and Opens a Heart (Acts 16:6–15)

1. The Spirit Redirects Our Steps (v. 6–10)

Paul and his companions are eager to bring the gospel to new regions of the ancient world, but “the Holy Spirit kept them from preaching the word in Asia” (v.6). Then again, “the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them” to go into Bithynia (v.7). These aren’t accidents—God is actively guiding them through closed doors.

Then Paul receives a vision in the night: a man from Macedonia, pleading, “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (v.9). They respond immediately: “we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia” (v.10). When we’re seeking God, even closed doors often lead to the exact place we’re meant to be.

2. The Gospel Finds a Ready Heart (v. 11–14)

In Philippi, they find no synagogue, so they go outside the city gate to a place of prayer by the river. There they meet Lydia—a successful businesswoman, a “worshiper of God” (v.14). She’s already spiritually seeking. She’s crossed the earlier thresholds—trust, curiosity, openness, even active pursuit. But she hasn’t yet heard the gospel.

Paul preaches and then a spiritual awakening happens: “The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” It’s not just about information. It’s about transformation. God does the heart-work. And Lydia believes.

3. True Faith Leads to Action (v. 15)

Immediately, Lydia is baptized—and so is her whole household. Then she opens her home to Paul and the others: “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” Faith always bears fruit. Lydia goes from listener to believer to host. Through her, the first church in Europe was planted. What began with redirection ends with resurrection—new life, new faith, new beginnings.

Application: The Invitation Still Stands

The story of Lydia reminds us that entering the Kingdom isn’t about religious performance—it’s about the Spirit opening our hearts to respond to Jesus. Her journey wasn’t rushed or formulaic. She had been spiritually attentive for some time, but the moment came when the Lord opened her heart—and she responded in faith.

That’s the question today: Is your heart open to Christ? You may have spent years circling the airport without landing the plane—admiring Jesus, even learning about Him—but never stepping fully into surrender. Lydia reminds us it’s possible to be close to the truth, even attracted to it, without being changed by it. But the Spirit is still in the business of opening hearts. The invitation still stands.

What would it look like for you to say yes to Jesus today? Not to just know about Him—but to trust Him. To let go of your need to be in control and take hold of the new life Jesus offers. Or maybe you’re in a season where plans have fallen apart. But remember Paul: before he received the vision, the Spirit had already closed other doors to guide him. So, where has God said “not this way” in your life? What if that delay is not rejection, but redirection? What if the Spirit is guiding you even now? Let me offer two reflection questions for your heart this week:

• Reflect: Where have you sensed God saying “no” or “not yet”? Could that be the Spirit’s way of preparing something better?
• Respond: Like Lydia, pray, “Lord, open my heart.” Ask Jesus to help you to step into a relationship with Him.

The same Spirit who opened Lydia’s heart is here today. He’s still leading. Still redirecting. Still drawing people into the Kingdom. Will you respond when He calls?

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus,
Thank you for leading us—even when the way is unclear.
Thank you for closing doors that weren’t meant for us,
and for opening our hearts to hear Your voice.

We pray today for those still on the journey—
for those who are seeking, wandering, or waiting.
May your Spirit continue to stir and guide.
And may we be like Lydia—open, responsive, and ready to share what you’ve given.

Lead us to live as people of welcome and witness.
In your name we pray,
Amen.