Displaying 151 - 180 of 181 in total
Success Is Planting A Seed
Today’s episode focused on a comparison of the apparent outcomes of both Peter and Stephen’s sermons in the book of Acts. First, we discussed why the Bible is systemat...
Peter Freed From Chains
We discuss the significance of James’s martyrdom and Peter’s being freed from his chains. Having been unsatisfied merely with the crucifixion of Christ, Herod Antipas-...
Jesus Christ & The Old Testament
Today’s reading from Acts finds Peter in the midst of a sermon given to many devout Jews who were in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost. We began by examining the pu...
In The Beginning Was The Word
We discuss why John 1 is read at Pascha rather than an account of the Resurrection. Fr Aaron connected the beginning of this Gospel to the reading from Matthew 28 at t...
Hebrews 12: Fear and Covid-19
In today’s episode we examined Hebrews 12 and how we might apply his instruction to our current situation. On the subject of fear, Fr Aaron stressed that rather than a...
The Testing of Abraham
Having received the promise of God to be the father of many nations, Abraham grew impatient and took it upon himself to have a child. Further illustrating his unbelief...
Mary Takes Up Her Cross
We addressed some of the common misconceptions regarding Mary and why she is paid such great honor and respect in the Orthodox Church. We call to remembrance her examp...
The Lord is a Rock of Stumbling?
Today’s episode provided an important clarification of how God can be both our fear and dread, and yet also become a sanctuary. Father Aaron stressed that we must firs...
Lent & Covid-19: Special Episode
Fr Aaron's sermon for Sunday, March 15, is being shared as a special episode. Father discusses how we have a unique and special opportunity to practice Lent this year....
The Great Cloud of Witnesses
We began today’s episode by discussing who St. Paul was referencing as the “great cloud of witnesses.” Father Aaron explained that Paul’s specific reference here was t...
Adam Names Eve
Today’s discussion focused on the reading of the book of Genesis during the first week of Lent. Fr Aaron began by clarifying that, while the Bible mentions many things...
Why Do We Fast?
In today’s episode we examined the various purposes of fasting; both what it is and what it is not. Father Aaron stressed that fasting is not meant to be a form of suf...
Beware of the Scribes
We begin by correcting our understanding of God's desire towards piety. Father Aaron clarified for us that--contrary to what is commonly thought of today--the scribes ...
Christian Suffering
Today’s discussion began with recognizing that most of us have been taught to expect rewards for good behavior and punishment for bad behavior. This mindset often tran...
Jesus Christ, The True Emperor
We begin by clarifying who it is that St. Paul refers to as the “principalities and powers in the heavenly places.” We make the case that Paul is not only referring to...
Listener Q&A: Salvation
Today we focus on listener questions related to salvation, both what it means and what it is we are being saved from. Father Aaron explained that salvation is comprise...
Listener Q&A: Forgive & Forget? How To Deal With Pride?
This is the first of two episodes answering listener-submitted questions. We begin by discussing the topic of forgiveness, specifically if a crime is committed against...
Simon, Son of Jonah, Do You Love Me?
We begin by addressing the significance of the threefold repetition of Jesus’ question to Peter, “Do you love me?” This repetition restores Peter from his previous thr...
Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness
We discuss the tempting of Jesus in the wilderness. Unlike the first Adam who was tempted and failed the test, Jesus, the new Adam, shows us that God has empowered us ...
Sell All You Have
Starting from Jesus' teaching in Mark 10 that we should "sell what [we] have," we discussed the central tenet of Jesus’ teaching in the Gospels: that our own righteous...
The Road to Emmaus
We discuss the underlying meaning of the story commonly referred to as “The Road to Emmaus” from Luke 24. While saddened over the recent death of Jesus, the disciples ...
Seven Husbands
Today’s episode provides clarity on the differences between three Jewish groups (the Sadducees, Pharisees, and scribes). Our discussion then turned to the Sadducees an...
For You Are All One in Christ Jesus
We discuss St. Paul’s declaration of equality and what it means to be sons of God by adoption. Fr Aaron explained that we will be judged only by whether we followed th...
Because You Have Been Faithful In A Little
In today’s episode we examine the Parable of the Talents and how it is often misunderstood. While Jesus refers to money in the parable, money is actually used as a met...
I Desire Mercy, Not Sacrifice
In today’s episode we discuss tax collectors in Jesus’ time and why the Pharisees were offended with Jesus sitting at table with them. In examining the passage, “I des...
My Kingdom Is Not Of This World
In this episode we discuss the Jewish expectations for a Messiah and how Jesus differed from their hopes. We also discuss the historical setting of the Gospel that wil...
The Image of God
In today’s episode, Fr Aaron emphasized the importance of seeking to understand Scripture in its totality and not within a very narrow context, separating isolated pas...
Lead Us Not Into Temptation
A discussion of "the Lord's Prayer," specifically the confusing passage: “Lead us not into temptation.” Fr Aaron offers a better translation from the Greek that helps ...
The Two Shall Become One Flesh
"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord." We discuss this controversial, yet misunderstood statement from St Paul's letter to the Ephesians, and why this e...
Freely You Received
The Lord tells His disciples: "freely you received, freely give" (or in some translations, "you received without paying, give without pay"). We discuss what that means...