Made to Be a Kingdom

The Christian family is the primary way most of us grow the Kingdom of God. We are called to make disciples of all nations but that also means in all nations, in the place where we are. We fulfill this calling by reciprocally nurturing our spouses and raising children to be followers of the Creator and Redeemer of all. The hosts also discuss the role of the family in satisfying Christ's calling to...

The hosts talk about the logistics of family prayer and individual prayer and the role these prayers play in growing us in The Kingdom. The topics addressed include variations of prayer rules and the extent to which listening to recorded prayers are useful. Enjoy the show!

We often compartmentalize our lives. Last episode we talked about how just as your parish priest is a priest to the faithful, so also are the faithful priests to the world and its people. Just as the church functions as priests for the world and all its people—Orthodox Christians, other Christians, and even heathens, so also in our families, at least in our extended families, we have all these par...

Being part of the Kingdom requires repentance; today the hosts talk about some of the ways of thinking (even about Orthodoxy!) that have to change in order for us to better fulfill our calling as the Royal Priesthood. For example, we often think of ourselves as what we are not rather than what we are (i.e. we are “not them.”). That, however, is quite different from what God thinks of us and our ca...

In this episode which continues a discussion of the way the two Kingdoms are present in the theology of Holy Week, Fr. Harry blows Fr. Anthony's mind with his presentation of the way the Mystical Supper brings all Christians into the death and resurrection of Christ. So awesome.

Today Fr. Harry and Fr. Anthony make a deep dive into the two Kingdoms, their gates, (e.g. Matthew 7), and the Harrowing of Hades. They cover a lot of ground, including a review of the services of Holy Week, setting the stage for deeper discussions in the next few episodes.

It's easy for us to think of the Divine Liturgy as a participation in the New Covenant because of its ties to the Mystical Supper (and Passion/Resurrection), but our hosts describe how it is also tied explicitly to Pentecost. They also talk about the beauty and utility of exploring the Old Testament Pentecosts (and they did not even cover them all!).

Our hosts continue their discussion of Old Testament Pentecosts with the promise of Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob and the ladder and the promise is the Messiah, Joseph and the salvation of Israel. Hosts also discuss how blessings precede curses in many of these cases, the latter also to benefit the faithful, and how all of these things inform us today of our mission as the Royal Priesthood.

Our hosts almost allow themselves to devote the episode to aliens, but somehow manage to pull themselves back to the notes and talk about language, the gift of tongues, and the danger of heresy. However, the focus of their discussion was the epiphany of the Trinity(!) to Abraham and Sarah at Mamre. You won't want to miss this one!

The hosts continue their conversation about the Old Testament connections with Pentecost. This time, they focus on Pentecost as the healing of Babel's divisions AND the sickness that preceded it. They also talk about why it is the perfect remedy for our own age, which is both divided and sick. Enjoy the show!

In this, the first of several episodes on Pentecost, our hosts introduce the many Old Testament Pentecosts, focusing on God's covenant with Noah. It's a connection that may be new to some listeners, but that is sure to resonate. Enjoy the show!

The hosts finish up their conversation on the services of Pascha and Paschaltide by talking about some of the other traditions and rituals that put us into the Paschal pattern. This includes a discussion of keeping various doors open during Bright Week and Paschaltide. Enjoy the show!

The hosts continue sharing the joy of Paschaltide by talking about services and food, including the tradition of blessing and sharing Paschal baskets. Fr. Harry talks more about how the practice of his parish follows syncs with the ancient one at the Holy Sepulcher. Enjoy the show!

The hosts share the joy of Paschaltide by talking about how awesome the services were at Holy Protection in Dover, Florida. They also talk about the fast-free time of Pentecost. Enjoy the show!

In this episode our hosts discuss what exactly it means - and doesn't mean - that Satan was bound at the death and resurrection of Christ.

In this episode, our hosts further explore our participation in the burial and resurrection of Christ in the Liturgical services extending from the end of Holy Week through Paschaltide.

In this, the second of a two-part series, our hosts continue discussing materialism and secularism, and how they separate us from God. The episode begins with a discussion of debt and how tithing works to open our noetic faculties and ends with them undermining the faith/works debate.

In this, the first of a two-part series, our hosts discuss materialism and secularism and how they poison us against God on a practical level. They talk about how salvation is not transactional and how we as faithful children of the Kingdom must not have two separate lives; our whole life can and should be integrated and committed to Christ our God, even in our secular jobs (secular does not mean...

In this episode, our hosts discuss judgment and the confusion that arises as to whether judgment is good or bad in the Christian worldview. They discuss relevant passages, including the much famed “judge not…” The need for personal accountability in our walk with Christ is also discussed.

Orthodox Christian ethics are revolutionary to the world, and have never been found prior to Christ’s giving them nor since in any other philosophical or religious framework. In this episode, our hosts discuss why Christ’s ethics, the moral principles that govern behavior and activity, are crucial for the faithful to understand and practice. Their origin, purpose, and function are distinct from an...

In this episode, our hosts discuss the third of the royal and priestly practices given by Christ to the children of the Kingdom. In the past few episodes, they discussed works of love (Almsgiving) and prayer, and in this episode, they discuss fasting. They discuss why fasting is important, what it accomplishes, and why it is especially important to understand this in our day.

All Orthodox Christians are called to exercise this priestly ministry of prayer which impacts our lives and bears a positive impact on the world. Prayer is synergy with God. He talks to us as we talk to Him. We speak of the four kinds of prayer listed in Scripture: supplications, requests, intercessions and thanksgiving, and what that means for us, and how we produce the fruits of the will of God...

Our hosts discuss our ministry (service) in God’s Kingdom and some of the duties and responsibilities that comprise this ministry, including the Christian duties given by the Lord in Matthew 6 and other places and how they are priestly ministries. Our hosts then go on to discuss the first Christian duty of Charitable work (aka Almsgiving or Works of mercy) as priestly powers given by God to all of...

Our hosts discuss how Christ brought death to an end as separation from God and from Life. He transforms natural bodily death to a necessary stage in life whereby the person is freed from the passions of their earthly walk. As Orthodox Christians, we celebrate that fact in the funeral service, which is connected to its celebration on Holy Saturday. It is a personal Holy Sabbath for the person, and...

In this episode, our hosts offer reflections on the Church’s teachings and the centrality of the Sanctity of Life in the salvation plan of God, and in the doctrinal and liturgical life of the Church. They discuss also the recent March for Life and our place as Orthodox Christians in such efforts using the prayer offered at the opening to the March to frame the discussion.