Sermons

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.

I ONCE WAS LOST: SEEKING AFTER GOD
Mark 10:17-31
Pastor Calvary deJong
July 13, 2025

Introduction: The Little Mermaid

Have you ever wanted something—until you found out what it would cost? And then you completely changed your mind? In Hans Christian Andersen’s original version of The Little Mermaid, the story is far more tragic than the Disney version most of us know. The mermaid isn’t just curious—she’s captivated. She longs to belong, to love, to be part of something greater than the sea. When she sees the prince, her desire deepens, so she makes a deal with the sea witch: she gives up her voice—her ability to speak and sing—for human legs. But there’s a catch. If the prince doesn’t love her in return, she will die.

She agrees. She gives up everything: her voice, her home, even her identity—for the hope of a new life. But in the end, the prince chooses another, and the little mermaid dissolves into sea foam. She longed for love—but the cost was too much.

A similar tension runs through today’s Scripture. A rich young ruler comes to Jesus, longing for eternal life. But when Jesus names the cost, he walks away sad. He wanted a new life—but not enough to let go of the old one. We live in a culture full of spiritual interest. People explore meaning and ask deep questions. But in Mark 10, we meet someone who seemed to be seeking—until Jesus revealed what was really going on in his heart. We’re now in week four of our series on evangelism informed by Everts & Schaupp’s book I Once Was Lost, which traces the five thresholds people often cross on their way to faith in Jesus. So far, we’ve explored:

1. Moving from distrust to trust
2. From complacency to curiosity
3. Becoming open to change
4. And now—seeking after God

This fourth threshold feels especially urgent—because this is where longing becomes active. Questions turn into an active pursuit. The soul begins reaching for God. But often, this is also where people get stuck. They want something more—but they’re not ready to give something up.

When Seeking Meets a Crossroads

Mark 10 introduces us to a man who looks like the perfect seeker. He runs to Jesus (v.17), kneels before Him, and asks the ultimate question: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” He’s eager. He’s respectful. He’s moral. And yet, his story ends in heartbreak.

Jesus begins by referencing the Old Testament commandments (v.18–19). The young man responds, “Teacher, all these I have kept since I was a boy” (v.20). But Jesus sees deeper. “Jesus looked at him and loved him,” the text says (v.21). And it’s from that place of love that Jesus says, “One thing you lack: Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” This is the turning point. Jesus isn’t rejecting the man—He’s inviting him into something far more beautiful than religious rule-keeping. But it will cost him. And at that moment, the man’s face falls. He walks away sad, “because he had great wealth” (v.22).

What makes this so tragic is how close he was. He recognized something valuable in Jesus. He sought Him out. He even asked the right question. But he wasn’t ready to surrender. He wanted eternal life—but on his own terms.

Jesus then turns to His disciples and teaches them what this moment reveals: “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” (v.23). Not because wealth is inherently bad, but because it tempts us to rely on ourselves. The disciples are shocked. “Who then can be saved?” they ask (v.26). Jesus replies, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” (v.27).

It’s not just about money. It’s about anything that keeps us from fully trusting Jesus—control, comfort, approval, or security. In contrast to the ruler’s sorrow, Peter speaks up and says, “We have left everything to follow you!” (v.28). Jesus affirms their sacrifice and promises reward—not just in eternity, but now: “a hundred times as much… along with persecutions” (v.30). The way of Jesus is costly—but it’s worth it. This passage confronts each of us with a question: What’s my “one thing”? What am I still holding onto?

Application: Seeking Means Surrender

Many people today are seeking—spiritually open, curious, even eager. But seeking without surrender is like circling the block and never turning into the driveway. It’s movement without destination.

I’ve seen this up close in the life of my friend Lance. He didn’t come from a religious background. He’d been through a lot—drugs, instability. But he started showing up at everything our church offered: Sunday nights, Bible studies, and our young adults group. Slowly, he began to open his life to Jesus.

One moment that stuck with him? A soccer game. He slipped up and swore loudly in front of my wife—the “pastor’s wife”. He thought he’d blown it. But no one scolded him. And in that moment of grace, he realized he didn’t have to clean up to belong. He was welcome to belong while he figured out what he believed about Jesus and that seeking was welcome—even when it was messy.

Today, Lance is following Jesus—married, raising kids, and being considered for pastoral leadership. Because he didn’t just seek. He surrendered. And the reason we can surrender? Because Jesus did it first. He is the true Rich Young Ruler—who gave up eternal riches, divine power, and heaven’s throne to become poor for our sake. “Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich”(2 Corinthians 8:9). Jesus didn’t just point us to the kingdom. He made a way in.

Questions for Reflection & Action

• Where am I still seeking, but not yet surrendered?
• What is my “one thing”—the obstacle Jesus may be gently naming?
• Who around me is seeking God and needs my encouragement or example?

Prayer of Response

Jesus,
You know me completely.
You see what I hold onto—what I’m afraid to let go.
And still You love me.
Give me the courage to surrender whatever keeps me from You.
Help me to trust Your call, to follow You fully,
And to walk in the freedom only You can give.
Amen.