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Episodes
Orthodox Christianity is a way of life, not a religion. Too often we relegate our belief in Christ to a mere mental exercise. Be Transfigured! And Live a New Life in Jesus Christ.
Episodes
Monday Mar 23, 2020
Monday Mar 23, 2020
During this unique season of Great Lent this year, because of the threat of the Coronavirus (COVID19), the Church has asked us to stay home. The Church has asked us to not come to Church during some of the most holy days of the year. This goes against our normal thinking, but for the good of our neighbors and society in general, we must stay away from the Church. Christ invites us, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” When we are obedient to our Church Fathers and leaders, we learn to sacrifice our will. Only after we learn to sacrifice our will, will be able to take up our cross. When we learn to be obedient to the Church, we learn to be obedient to God. Even Christ welcomed the cross because He loved us. When we sacrifice our will for God, we show our love for Him.
Monday Mar 16, 2020
Monday Mar 16, 2020
In times of crisis, our faith is not only challenged from within, it is challenged from others. While we normally encourage faithful to attend Church at difficult times, and to brings friends and relatives who need God’s healing, today we are encouraging faithful to remain home for the health and safety of others. For those who stay home, this does not mean they have lost their faith in God, nor does attending Church deny the truth of science. As Orthodox Christians, we welcome the partnership of faith and science. We believe God is all-powerful, AND that He has given us science as a gift to glorify Him. When we hold strong to this truth, others will witness our faith and be drawn to God because of our faith. This was the case with the healing of the paralytic found in Mark 2.1-12, and it can be the case with today’s health crisis.
Tuesday Mar 10, 2020
Tuesday Mar 10, 2020
A Bible Study on the Book of Romans based upon the homilies of St John Chrysostom in Tarpon Springs, Florida. This session originally LIVE STREAMED on Tuesday, March 10, 2020.
https://www.LiveANewLifeInChrist.org/romans
Monday Mar 09, 2020
Monday Mar 09, 2020
On the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the Church reinforces the truth of God’s incarnation in the person of Jesus Christ. We proclaim this truth, though we were not ourselves present. We do so, because someone sometime painted an icon of Him. The defense of Holy Icons isn’t about art, but about the truth of God’s incarnation. Jesus didn’t just speak to us from heaven. He became one of us to save us. The Disciples had been preparing for God’s appearance their entire life, so when He appeared, they were ready for Him. For more than two thousand years, the Church has invited others to Come and See Christ present for real in the Church and in history.
Monday Mar 02, 2020
Monday Mar 02, 2020
As we enter Great Lent, we are reminded by the Church that Christ call us all to a life of forgiveness. If we are not able, or willing, to forgive others, God will not forgive us. We must place ourselves in the same place as others, and realize that our hearts must prepare to forgive so that God will forgive us. That is the journey of Great Lent.
Monday Mar 02, 2020
Monday Mar 02, 2020
One week before Great Lent begins is the known as Judgement Sunday. It is a day when the Church recalls the words of Christ found in Matthew 25 describing exactly how He will judge the world. If we are able to see Christ in others, and serve them, we will be found worthy of heaven. If we are unable to see Christ in others, as Christ sees them, we will find ourselves outside the gates.
Tuesday Feb 18, 2020
Tuesday Feb 18, 2020
A Bible Study on the Book of Romans based upon the homilies of St John Chrysostom in Tarpon Springs, Florida. This session originally LIVE STREAMED on Tuesday, February 18, 2020.
https://www.LiveANewLifeInChrist.org/romans
Monday Feb 17, 2020
Monday Feb 17, 2020
On the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, the Second Sunday of the Triodion, we hear the most important message from the Church. No matter what we do, God loves us, but that does not mean that He wants us to remain in our sin. Even though we waste the gifts that God has given us, God will always welcome us Home when we return in repentance, but we musts first leave the sinful life behind. There is also a warning for those of us who are in Church. When we witness others who have returned to Church after a life away in a distant country, a life of sin, God invites us to join Him in celebrating their return. God offers us the greatest celebration when we return. The father didn’t just have a small dinner for the Prodigal Son when he returned, but he offered the most prized celebration to honor the son’s return. When we return to God, leaving the sinful life behind, God offers us the greatest celebration, Holy Communion and a life united to Him in heaven.
Tuesday Feb 11, 2020
Tuesday Feb 11, 2020
A Bible Study on the Book of Romans based upon the homilies of St John Chrysostom in Tarpon Springs, Florida. This session originally LIVE STREAMED on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.
https://www.LiveANewLifeInChrist.org/romans
Monday Jan 20, 2020
Monday Jan 20, 2020
If we think that God is somehow obligated to bless us, or to give us gifts, then we will likely not be grateful to Him. In truth we are not worthy of anything good from God. We do not deserve any blessings from him. If we are willing to accept this truth, then maybe we will be more thankful when God indeed chooses to bless us. How do we thank God? We come to the Church and we give Him gifts of thanks through our stewardship, olive oil for the lamps, prosforo for Holy Communion. Rather than demand that God does what we want, we can be grateful to God even when we do not deserve those blessings.