Be Transfigured Ministries

Communion is the Center of Life

When it comes to Holy Communion, there are many different opinions about how often, when, how and is what spiritual condition we should receive. This week’s “Ask Father” sermon returns again to topic of Holy Communion, this time more with a more functional perspective. But if Holy Communion is left to a Sunday only experience, then instead of life-giving and life-saving, it can become condemning and a source of death. If we want life then we will live the entire Orthodox Life of prayer, fasting, reading the Holy Scriptures and being in a state of constant preparedness for Holy Communion, as Saint Basil said, every Sunday, and every Wednesday and every other day it is offered. It will be the center of life.

Is it sinful to step back and let something happen?

The question of whether to step back and allow something to happen or to step in and get involved to stop an evil is a challenge with which Christians have been struggling since the first days of the Church. The witness of the Holy Scriptures, Holy Canon s and the Holy Fathers is consistent in the call for each Christian to take advantage of the free will given to us by God. Only when we remember that God has given us a free will to use for good can we grow closer to God in our choices.

Bible Study on Acts - Session 56

This was the final session of our Bible Study on Acts originally LIVE STREAM from Florence, SC, on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.

What can Non-Orthodox Christians do in the Church?

This week’s “Ask Father” question is a follow-up to last week’s topic about Holy Communion. Now that we understand why a non-Orthodox Christian cannot receive Holy Communion in our Church, and why we cannot receive Holy Communion in a non-Orthodox Church, this week’s question asks, “So what can a non-Orthodox Christian do in our Church?” This is a very timely and practical question since most of us have at least one family member who is not Orthodox, and ALL of us have non-Orthodox friends who visit our Church either for sacraments or Divine Liturgy. Our Orthodox way of life is an expression of our belief in Jesus Christ, so many of the daily activities we do can also be done by non-Orthodox Christians. Although our non-Orthodox friends and family members can do some of the physical things we do, we still must be careful not to allow what we do to become nothing more than empty customs.

What is the difference between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Church?

With the approaching Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church our “Ask Father” series speaks on the differences, or in this case similarities, between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Church. Defending the truth about God and the Church has never been an easy or simple task. The Holy Fathers of the Church debated rigorously and sometimes succumbed to name-calling. After 1,500 years of debate and disagreement the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox remain divided, but with hope of a future healing of the ancient schism that divides us. We ask all our fans to fervently pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as the Church gathers. Though some Churches have indicated they will not attend the coming council, we here at Be Transfigured remain hopeful that, if nothing else, understanding the real history of the long-lasting debates in the Church will help to explain that protecting the truth of Orthodoxy requires patience and prayer. DISCLAIMER: This episode of Be Transfigured in not meant to be a complete discussion of the theological or ecclesiological issues that exist between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Church, but is meant to be a general discussion to assist in our general understanding of how the Church functions.

Receiving Holy Communion in Non-Orthodox Churches and Blessing others

This is the first of our “Ask Father” sermons for Summer2016. This week’s questions both deal with relationships with others, insideand outside the Church. Can I receive Holy Communion in a non-Orthodox Church?What is the proper way to bless others as a layperson? These questions aresimply but serve a very practical role in our relationship with others. You maysubmit questions at any time for this year’s “Ask Father” sermons by visitingthe Church’s website listed below.

www.GoFlorence.org

www.LiveANewLifeInChrist.org

Bible Study on Acts - Session 55

This Bible Study was originally LIVE STREAM via YouTube on Wednesday, May 25, 2016, in Florence, SC.

It is about time we start listening to the Church and ignore the world

When it comes to our physical health we would never tolerate a doctor not being honest about a serious illness. But when it comes to our spiritual health, many would rather ignore or deny that our soul is suffering with serious illness. Like the paralytic found in John 5.1-15 who says, “I have no man to put me into the pool,” many of us try to go it alone by dragging ourselves along while the healing is right in front of our face. Christ healed the paralytic and He can heal our soul when we take full advantage of the life of the Church He has given to us. Just as a medical doctor prescribes treatment, the Church has a treatment available to heal our soul. One problem seems to stand in the way. The world continues to lie to us about how sick our soul really is. We wouldn’t allow our friends to convince us to ignore our doctor; why do we allow society to convince us to ignore the Church?

Bible Study on Acts - Session 54

This Bible Study on Acts 26.30-27.44 was originally LIVE STREAM via YouTube on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, in Florence, SC.

Honor Your Mother by Honoring the Church

The combining of the Sunday of Thomas, the Feast of Saint John the Theologian and Mothers’ Day present a special opportunity to honor our mothers. Our mothers nurture us, they teach us, they maintain the faith for us, and they protect us. In return for their love, devotion and commitment to us and to the Church, sometimes we are too stuck in our own selfish minds and we refuse to believe the Church and the truth of the Gospel. Rather than honoring our mothers we refuse to share the gift of the Church with others. If we really want to honor our mothers we should take the example of Saint Thomas and Saint John the Theologian and become a witness to the joy and truth of the Gospel. If we really want to honor our mothers, we should bring the Gospel as a Light to those around us who might be lost in darkness. If we really want to honor our mothers, we should honor the Church.