St Mark Sermons

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores 1 Samuel chapters 21 and 22, focusing on David's flight from King Saul. He explains David’s respectful patience despite Saul’s attempts to kill him and highlights David’s reliance on God during this time of distress. Fr. Matthias discusses David’s visit to Ahimelech the priest at Nob, where he receives holy bread and Goliath’s sword, and examines the priestly laws arou...

In this fellowship meeting, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores 1 Samuel chapters 19 and 20, focusing on the escalating conflict between King Saul and David. Fr. Matthias explains Saul's growing jealousy and repeated attempts to kill David, highlighting David’s transformation from celebrated warrior to fugitive. He discusses the role of Jonathan, Saul’s son, who supports David and helps protect him despi...

In this fellowship meeting, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores 1 Samuel chapters 19 and 20, focusing on the escalating conflict between King Saul and David. Fr. Matthias explains Saul's growing jealousy and repeated attempts to kill David, highlighting David’s transformation from celebrated warrior to fugitive. He discusses the role of Jonathan, Saul’s son, who supports David and helps protect him despi...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores 1 Samuel chapters 17 and 18, focusing on the story of David and Goliath. He explains why David was chosen by God, highlighting his faith and courage against Goliath, who symbolizes sin and evil. Fr. Matthias examines the battle’s significance as a spiritual struggle, emphasizing that victory comes from trusting God rather than relying on human strength or weapons. The...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the reign of King Saul through 1 Samuel chapters 13 and 14, focusing on Saul’s initial successes and eventual decline due to disobedience and misplaced trust. He explains Saul’s unlawful offering of a burnt sacrifice, highlighting the distinction between the roles of king and priest as commanded by God. The talk delves into Jonathan’s faith-driven military action again...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores 1 Samuel chapters 11 and 12, focusing on Saul’s early reign as king of Israel. He explains how Saul began his kingship well, responding to a threat from the Ammonites by uniting the tribes and demonstrating leadership and mercy. Fr. Matthias highlights the tension between God’s original plan for Israel without a king and the people’s insistence on having one, emphasizi...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the transition of Israel from the period of judges to monarchy as described in 1 Samuel chapters 7–10. He discusses how Samuel’s sons, appointed as judges, became corrupt, leading the people to demand a king “like other nations.” Fr. Matthias explains God’s warnings about the consequences of monarchy, including military conscription, taxation, and loss of personal free...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the return of the Ark of the Covenant to the Israelites, highlighting their initial failure to obey God's commands and the consequences they faced. He examines the people's repentance, their rejection of foreign gods, and the spiritual renewal under Samuel’s leadership. Fr. Matthias explains how Israel’s request for a king marked a shift from trusting God to relying on...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the events of 1 Samuel chapters 5 and 6, focusing on the capture and journey of the Ark of the Covenant by the Philistines. He explains the significance of the Ark, the mistakes made by both the Israelites and Philistines in handling it, and how God demonstrated His power over the false god Dagon. Fr. Matthias highlights the consequences of disobedience to God’s comman...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores key events from 1 Samuel chapters 3 and 4, focusing on the calling of Samuel and the moral failures of Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas. He explains the significance of the peace offering ritual and the corruption that led to God’s judgment on Eli’s household. Fr. Matthias highlights Samuel’s initial difficulty in recognizing God’s voice and the importance of obedience,...

In this Fellowship Meeting, Fr. Matthias Shehad begins the study of 1 Samuel, explaining the structure and historical context of the books of Samuel and Kings. He discusses the differences between the Septuagint and the Masoretic text, highlighting the significance of the Septuagint in Orthodox tradition and its closer alignment with the original scriptures. Fr. Matthias explores the birth and ded...

What if the greatest gift you've ever received was never meant to stay with you? On the feast of Pentecost, this sermon challenges us to stop being spectators and start carrying the faith from the pews to the streets, because the Holy Spirit wasn't given to us for our comfort alone but to empower us for mission. This sermon explores: - Pentecost as the birthday of the church, and why this birthday...

The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and working to keep it renewed.

In this Bible study on Acts 19, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores St. Paul's third missionary journey, focusing on his time in Ephesus where he stayed for three years. Fr. Matthias explains the distinction between John’s baptism and the sacramental baptism in the name of Jesus, emphasizing the necessity of receiving the Holy Spirit. He also discusses the separate sacraments of baptism and confirmation,...

In this Bible study on Acts 14, Fr. Matthias Shehad continues exploring St. Paul's first missionary journey, focusing on the challenges and breakthroughs in Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. Fr. Matthias explains how Paul and Barnabas initially preached in synagogues, addressing both Jews and Gentiles with different approaches. He examines the purpose of miracles performed by the apostles—as signs to in...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores Acts 13, focusing on the beginning of Paul and Barnabas’s first missionary journey from Antioch. He explains the distinction between the two cities named Antioch and the role of fasting and liturgy in the early church’s decision to send out missionaries. Fr. Matthias highlights the importance of laying on of hands as an early form of ordination. The discussion covers P...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores Acts chapters 11 and 12, focusing on the early Church’s recognition that salvation and the Holy Spirit were extended to the Gentiles, as shown through St. Peter’s encounter with Cornelius. He explains the Jewish customs about circumcision and dietary laws, the opposition Peter faced from Judaizers, and the significance of baptism replacing circumcision as a mark of fai...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the conversion of Saul (St. Paul) in Acts 9, highlighting his dramatic transformation from persecutor to preacher and the challenges he faced gaining acceptance from the early church. He explains how Saul’s ministry marked a turning point from persecution to peace within the early Christian community. Fr. Matthias then examines the miracles performed by St. Peter, incl...

Tune in for Fr Anthony's compelling new series 'Sowing Seeds' as he focuses on evangelism by emphasizing that every Christian is called to be a witness for Christ. Evangelism is not about convincing people or achieving results, but about bringing Christ to others through everyday faithfulness and responding to the guidance of the Holy Spirit!

On the Feast of Pentecost, Fr Elijah reflects on whether we are allowing the Holy Spirit to actively work in their lives after receiving Him. We are called to examine the Fruits of the Spirit as the visible evidence of a life transformed by Christ.

In this Bible study, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores Acts 8:26–9:22, focusing on the Spirit-led mission of Philip and the conversion of Saul. Fr. Matthias examines how the early Church established sacraments like baptism and chrismation as separate acts, highlighting Philip's encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch and the significance of his baptism despite social and religious barriers. The discussion...

In this Bible study on Acts 7:30 - 8:25, Fr. Matthias Shehad examines St. Stephen’s sermon before the Sanhedrin, highlighting how God’s choice of Israel was based on mercy rather than merit. Fr. Matthias unpacks Stephen’s defense, emphasizing the rejection of Christ by the Jewish leaders and the broader call to faith beyond ethnic boundaries. The study explores the history of Israel, Moses’ role a...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the importance of perseverance in prayer through the parable of the ten virgins, emphasizing how the wise prepared with extra oil while the foolish did not. He explains that prayer is ongoing communication with God, not confined to specific places or times, and encourages maintaining this connection despite challenges or spiritual dryness. Fr. Matthias breaks down the...

"We need to be the joy in the world". Tune in as Fr Antonios Kaldas contemplates on what it means to live in the light of Christ's Resurrection, how we should live in its joy every day of the year, what it means for us as Christians, and much more!

Tune in as HG Bishop Daniel explores Christ's ultimate Love in his response to the right hand thief, His dialogue on the cross,