Leonard Verduin discusses the historical rift between the Reformers and the men of the Second Front, focusing on the perennial problem of how the Church should relate to its environment, balancing being 'in the world but not of the world.' He highlights the tension between losing the Church's identity by being too worldly and becoming irrelevant by being too detached. Verduin emphasizes the importance of finding a middle ground, acknowledging the struggles faced by the Radicals of the Reformation who were often misunderstood but were proven right in many aspects over time. He warns against the dangers of too much accommodation to culture or too much detachment, advocating for a balanced approach in integrating faith and society.

Leonard Verduin preaches about the Anabaptists' strong conviction in experiencing the Cross of Christ, leading them to reject the fusion of the Cross with the sword by the Reformers. The Stepchildren believed that true Christians must bear the Cross of suffering and persecution, not resorting to violence. They emphasized the importance of witnessing Christ through suffering and non-resistance, contrasting with the prevailing Christian sacralism that endorsed warfare. The Stepchildren's missionary zeal and refusal to participate in war reflected their commitment to following the peaceful example of Jesus, challenging the Constantinian distortion of Christianity.

Leonard Verduin preaches about the historical context of the term 'Rottengeister' used to describe agitators within society, highlighting the Anabaptists' role as faction-makers challenging the monolithic society of medieval times. The sermon delves into the Anabaptists' refusal to swear oaths, tracing the evolution of oath-taking from pre-Christian times to the medieval Church's sacralism. Verduin discusses the Anabaptists' stance on the oath, emphasizing their commitment to a Church of followers by choice rather than happenstance, contrasting with the Reformers' view. The sermon also explores the Anabaptists' deviation into docetic Christology and their emphasis on Cross-bearing as essential to discipleship, reflecting their rejection of 'Christian sacralism' and martyrdom as a hallmark of genuine faith.

Leonard Verduin discusses the economic principles and practices of the Anabaptist pioneers, highlighting their emphasis on communal sharing of resources to provide for those in need and their rejection of usury and excessive accumulation of wealth. The Anabaptists believed in helping the less fortunate out of brotherly love and without coercion, advocating for a Christian view of ownership that prioritizes compassion and stewardship. Despite facing persecution and being misunderstood, they stood firm in their belief in assisting those in need and promoting a more equitable distribution of resources.

Leonard Verduin delves into the historical tension between the Reformers and their Stepchildren regarding the concept of 'community of goods,' as seen in the Belgic Confession and accusations of rejecting authority and introducing disorder. The sermon explores the ancient cliche of heretics seeking to abolish magistracy and decency, often associated with advocating 'community of goods.' Verduin highlights the biblical perspective on ownership, emphasizing that God is the ultimate owner and humans are stewards accountable for sharing with those in need. The sermon also addresses false accusations of 'community of wives' and 'goods in common' against the Stepchildren, revealing a lack of understanding and unfair treatment by the Reformers.

Leonard Verduin delves into the historical struggles faced by early Christians, 'heretics,' Waldensians, and Reformers in maintaining their faith and gatherings amidst opposition from the Church and authorities. The sermon highlights the challenges of secrecy, persecution, and the clash between different religious ideologies, particularly regarding the establishment of public cults and the role of civil rulers in religious matters. Verduin emphasizes the importance of staying true to one's beliefs, even in the face of adversity and the temptation to conform to societal norms, drawing parallels between past struggles and the ongoing quest for religious freedom and authenticity.

Leonard Verduin delves into the historical context of the term 'Winckler' used by the Reformers to describe unauthorized religious gatherings in secluded places, highlighting the challenges faced by those who sought to worship outside the confines of the established Church. The sermon explores the implications of Wincklerism, including the clandestine nature of these gatherings, the persecution faced by those who participated, and the theological and societal threats perceived by the Church. It discusses the Nicodemite practices of attending both authorized and unauthorized services, the popular appeal of dissenting movements like the Waldensians, and the Church's relentless efforts to suppress these gatherings to maintain religious uniformity and sacral order.

Leonard Verduin delves into the historical context of Sacramentarians and Restitutionists, highlighting the anti-Sacramentalism present in Europe before the Reformation. He explores the resistance against Sacramentalism and the emphasis on salvation through believing response to the preached Word rather than sacramental manipulation. Verduin discusses the struggles faced by those who opposed the prevailing Church's sacerdotalism and the importance of vernacularism in the Anabaptist movement. He sheds light on the tension between Sacramentarians and the Reformers, as well as the persistence of anti-Sacramentalism among the Stepchildren, who repudiated salvation by sacramental manipulation.

Leonard Verduin delves into the clash between the Stepchildren of the Reformation and the Reformers, known as 'Sacramentarians,' highlighting the fundamental difference in conviction regarding the delineation of the Christian Church. The early Church emphasized preaching the Gospel and baptism for salvation, contrasting with the pre-Christian world's lack of religious dialogue. Verduin explores the early Church's belief in responding to God's controverting speech, emphasizing the importance of faith as saying yes to God's yes and no to His no. He discusses the shift towards 'Christian sacralism,' where salvation by sacramental manipulation replaced salvation by the preached Word, leading to the emphasis on acts over personal faith.

Leonard Verduin discusses the historical conflict between two delineations of the Church: one emphasizing personal faith as the basis for a confessional Church, and the other focusing on including all in a given locality. The Restitutionists in Hesse believed in a Church of regenerate Christians born again by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, while Protestant pastors emphasized the importance of the pure preaching of the Word and administration of Sacraments. The debate over Church marks and discipline led to a divergence in views on Church membership and conductual patterns, with the Restitutionists advocating for a Church of believers with inner renewal and discipline, contrasting the inclusive Church concept of the sacralists.

Leonard Verduin preaches about the impact of the Constantinian change on the Church, leading to a shift in conductual requirements. The sermon delves into the contrast between the unfallen Church, characterized by distinct deportment, and the inclusive Church where conductual-averagism blurs the line between Christian and worldly behavior. The Donatist rebellion is highlighted as a resistance to this leveling-off and a protest against the decline in moral rectitude and puritanical beliefs. Verduin emphasizes the importance of maintaining righteousness and purity in the Church, addressing the dangers of conductual-averagism and the need for believers to lead lives worthy of repentance.

Leonard Verduin discusses the historical struggle between Christian sacralism and the principles of freedom of conscience and voluntary affiliation with Christ's cause. He highlights the Reformers' collaboration with the secular power, leading to a resurgence of coercive culture in the Church, contrasting it with the beliefs of the Stepchildren who advocated for a voluntary Church, separation of Church and State, and religious liberty. Verduin emphasizes the importance of realizing that coercion in matters of faith corrupts religious practices and that the essence of the Gospel lies in voluntaryism, a principle championed by the Stepchildren and crucial for the development of human freedom.

Leonard Verduin delves into the historical context of the Constantinian change, highlighting the introduction of coercion into the Church's affairs and the subsequent loss of voluntaryism in the cause of Christ. He explores the resistance of the 'heretics' who advocated for voluntaryism and opposed coercionism, symbolized by carrying harmless staffs. Verduin contrasts the ideologies of coercionism versus voluntaryism, tracing the roots of this theological debate from early times through the Reformation era. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the Church's transition from a voluntary association to a mass held together by the symbol of coercion, shedding light on the struggles faced by Reformers in choosing between 'Christian sacralism' and the rebellion against it.

Leonard Verduin preaches about the historical impact of the Constantinian change on the Church, highlighting the dangerous fusion of secular power with religious authority, leading to the distortion of the Church's mission and the persecution of dissenters. He emphasizes the need to recognize and reject the remnants of 'Christian sacralism' in modern Christianity, advocating for a clear separation of Church and State to uphold freedom of conscience and prevent religious tyranny. Verduin praises the efforts of the Stepchildren who resisted the Constantinian influence, seeking to restore the Church to its pre-Constantinian purity and rejecting the use of the sword in matters of faith.

Leonard Verduin preaches about the historical context of the Donatist Rebellion in the fourth century and its relevance to the Reformation era. He highlights the concept of 'Christian sacralism' introduced by the Constantinian change, which led to the fusion of Church and State, causing a 'fall' of the Church. Verduin discusses the resistance of the Stepchildren, or neo-Donatists, against this fusion, emphasizing their belief in a Church based on personal faith and their rejection of a Church embracing all in a given locality. The sermon explores the parallels between the Donatist Rebellion and the Reformers' drift towards neo-Constantinianism, leading to the emergence of the Second Front and the Stepchildren's call for the restitution of the Church to its New Testament format.

Leonard Verduin discusses the emergence of deep-seated differences within the dissenters against the medieval order, leading to the Reformers facing opposition on a 'Second Front' from the Radicals. This Second Front significantly impacted the course of the Reformation, causing the Reformers to shift their focus and theology. The Radicals, also known as the Stepchildren of the Reformation, challenged Luther's emphasis on justification by faith alone and the role of good works in salvation, standing to the right of Luther on crucial theological points. The conflict at the Second Front centered around differing views of the Church of Christ, with the Stepchildren advocating for a Church based solely on personal faith, leading to their departure from the Reformers.