Shalom Mennonite is one of two English-speaking Mennonite churches in Indianapolis. We were planted in 1992 by our sister church, First Mennonite. We are a small but active congregation, with some members living in the immediate neighborhood and others spread as far as Noblesville, Greenwood, and Richmond, IN. No matter who you are or what you’ve done, you are welcome to visit us, worship with us, and even join us in our quest to follow Christ in a broken world.
Brian Bither
Feb 16, 2020
We finish our "Slavery and Freedom in the Bible" series by considering the "underground" slavery that exists in the modern world and how it's tied to our economic system. Isaiah 61:1-4 and 1 Corinthians 10:23-31 will be the primary texts to give us both guidance and hope in our world of slavery for how we can continue to pursue Biblical freedom.
Deut 15:12-15; Phil 1-3, 10-25
Brian Bither
The Bible calls God's people not only to reject the institution of slavery but to make restitution to those who have been harmed by slavery, until the former slave and former free person are truly equals in the family of God. This week, we will consider what that call means for us who are the inheritors of the terrible racialized slavery.
Col. 3:8-15; Eph. 6:5-11
Pastor Brian continues our study of "Slavery and Freedom in the Bible" by looking at key texts cited by abolitionists and the defenders of slavery and closely examining them to get a better understanding of what Paul and other New Testament leaders were really trying to say to those who were enslaved. This may be a difficult topic for some of us, so pray that the Spirit will guide our corporate discernment and do what you need to do for self-care.
Brian will begin a four-part series on Slavery and Freedom in the Bible, with Exodus 1:1-14 and Galatians 4:1-7 as the introductory texts.
The Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary is sending one of their seminary students, Henok Mekonin, to preach at our church. Henok is from Nazreth, Oromiya, Ethiopia, and is a Master of Arts: Theology and Peace Studies student at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart.
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 60:1-3, 21-22; John 8:12
Brian Bither
January 5, 2020
We celebrated Epiphany and reflected on what it means to say that Christ is our light, drawing from Isaiah 60:1-3 and other texts.
December 22, 2019: On the fourth Sunday of Advent, our wait for Christ has almost reached its furthest point, which can be a strain on our faith. Not hearing from God for such a long time can push us toward darkness and despair, so how are we supposed to sustain our faith in these extended periods? Passages like Isaiah 7:10-16 and Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 suggest a radical answer: that God invites us to question Him during these times.
"I Stand at the Door” (Rev 3:20). This Advent, as we prepare to open the door of our lives to let Jesus in, may we take comfort in God’s presence, as we journey toward the coming Reign. Scriptures: Isaiah 35 – a journey in the wilderness - and James 5: 7-11 – a treatise on patient endurance; Psalm 146 – a song of assurance.
On the second Sunday of Advent, we read Isaiah 11:1-10 and Matthew 3:1-12, which both describe the same future reality from radically different perspectives. This forces us to consider what we are really saying when we pray for peace and justice on earth.
Matthew 24:1-8, 15-31, 36-44
