Be Transfigured Ministries

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.

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

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

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?

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

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.

This Bible Study originally LIVE STREAM via YouTube on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, in Florence, SC.

The story of Palm Sunday reveals how easy it is to struggle between declaring Jesus Christ as our King or to betray Him and crucify Him. It is very easy to get wrapped up into calling Him our King and showing Him our devotion, but with just a little pressure from the secular world, we crucify Him. If we really mean that He is our King, then we will choose to stay with Him during Holy Week, and walk along with Him during His final days before His Crucifixion. Ever since the first days of the Church, people who declare Jesus their King would dedicate the days before Pascha with prayer and fasting and devotion. How you spend this week will reveal which side of the wire you choose. Is Jesus your King, or is the world your King?

There is something that is special and unique in the final miracle of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. On the day before Palm Sunday the Church commemorates the Feast of the Raising of Lazarus from the dead by Jesus. Jesus had performed many other miracles before including bringing dead people back to life, but the raising of Lazarus was different. This miracle required only Jesus speaking for life to return to a man who had been dead for four days. The Jews standing by remembered where they had seen life created just be the spoken word. They remembered how in Genesis it was explained that God is the ONLY one who can create simply because He speaks. This is why the Church prepares us for Palm Sunday and Holy Week by showing us the power of the God of Creation Who came to united us to Himself.

This Bible study was originally LIVE STREAM via YouTube on Wednesday, April 20, 2016, in Florence, SC.