St Mark Sermons

Pentecost in the Old Testament -Feast of Weeks Covenant with God Covenant with God + The Holy Spirit’s work in us - The Holy Spirit’s work in us - A Life Ordered by His Commands - To Inherit the Promised Land The Holy Spirit makes us children of God via adoption

Celebrating the Coptic monthly feast of the Annunciation, Nativity, and Resurrection, Fr. Anthony Mourad unpacks St. John’s declaration that "God is light." Using the analogies of a harsh morning light switch and a medical MRI scan, he challenges believers to bring their hidden sins out of the dark corners of secrecy and step into a transformative intimacy that, like Moses on the mountain, turns o...

Drawing from the sharp warnings in the Book of James and a vivid childhood story of a runaway fire, Fr. Anthony Mourad breaks down the immense destructive power of the human tongue. He contrasts the defensive blame-shifting of Adam with the raw, silent repentance of King David, challenging believers to stop using their words as weapons of self-defense and instead actively reform their speech throu...

Contrasting the rigid rule-following of the Pharisees with the instant transformation of Matthew the tax collector, Fr. Anthony Mourad warns against the spiritual danger of empty religious routines. He challenges believers to look past mere church regulations and pursue the deep, private intimacy modeled by the Virgin Mary, reminding us that God desires an authentic, life-altering relationship ove...

In this sermon, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the role of temptation in the Christian spiritual journey by reflecting on the Lord Christ’s temptation in the wilderness. Fr. Matthias explains how temptation reveals the passions and desires hidden within us, showing areas of weakness and brokenness that we need to address through repentance and confession. He distinguishes between the pure nature of...

Fr. Anthony Mourad explains that while the world once used the cross as a scandalous tool for criminal execution, Jesus transformed it into a throne of glory and the ultimate weapon against spiritual darkness. Moving past treating the cross as mere cultural jewelry, he urges believers to actively bless their homes and combat inner battles like fear and pride with this ancient sign of divine author...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the story of the man born blind and the reactions of different people around him, focusing especially on the man’s parents. Despite witnessing their son’s miraculous healing by Jesus, they hesitated to openly acknowledge it due to fear of the Jewish authorities. Fr. Matthias discusses why miracles alone do not necessarily change hearts, examining examples such as Simon...

Fr. Anthony Mourad challenges believers to move past selective, "practical" compliance and embrace total obedience to God's word, even when it defies human logic. He emphasizes that while disobedience in the little things erodes our spiritual foundation, anchoring our lives in quiet faithfulness allows God to disrupt our self-reliance and unlock His overwhelming blessings.

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the concept of the faith cycle, explaining how God develops our faith through life's challenges. Drawing from Scripture, he discusses key moments such as John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus and two biblical case studies: the healing of the paralytic and the calling of the disciples. Fr. Matthias highlights five stages in the faith cycle: encountering a problem, ma...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the meaning of harmony in marriage through the lens of the Wedding at Cana, where Christ’s blessing signifies His presence in marital unity. Drawing from early church writings by Tertullian, Fr. Matthias emphasizes that a harmonious marriage requires shared hope, purpose, and faith, highlighting the importance of common spiritual goals such as prayer, worship, fasting,...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the reasons why many did not believe in Jesus Christ during the Theophany, despite witnessing miraculous signs such as the Spirit descending like a dove and hearing God's voice proclaiming Jesus as His Son. He explains how the Pharisees' lack of spiritual perception, their focus on worldly matters, and their preconceived notions about God prevented them from recognizin...

Fr. Matthias Shehad reflects on the story of Anna the Prophetess, who dedicated her life to serving God through fasting, prayer, and perseverance in the temple. He explains the significance of Christ’s circumcision as the fulfillment of the Old Testament law and its connection to baptism in the New Testament. Fr. Matthias highlights Anna’s example for those who are single, widowed, or experiencing...

Fr. Anthony Mourad explains that the church is "bankrupt without God" and completely dependent on His grace to serve a broken world. He challenges believers to adopt a self-sacrificing priority of putting God first, their neighbors second, and themselves last, promising that giving our minimal resources back to God unlocks His abundant blessings.

Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his exploration of Ecclesiastes chapters 5 and 6, focusing on themes of wisdom, vanity, and the human condition under the sun. He discusses the importance of approaching worship with the right motives, distinguishing between those who come to hear and apply God's word and those offering the "sacrifice of fools" by coming for improper reasons. Fr. Matthias examines the...

In this fellowship meeting, Fr. Matthias Shehad continues the study of Ecclesiastes chapters 3 and 4, exploring the theme of the vanity of earthly life without God. He reflects on King Solomon’s teachings about the seasons of life, emphasizing that every activity has its proper time under heaven, and highlights the importance of trusting God rather than worldly possessions or achievements. Fr. Mat...

Fr. Matthias Shehad begins an in-depth study of the Book of Ecclesiastes, a wisdom book of the Old Testament written by King Solomon. He explains how Ecclesiastes differs from historical books in style and purpose by focusing on poetic reflections about the meaning and vanity of life. Fr. Matthias highlights Solomon’s unique perspective as a king who experienced immense wealth, pleasure, and wisdo...

“When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt.” – Matthew 2:14

“When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt.” – Matthew 2:14

What is the significance of a name? Names carry meaning Names are Given in Covenant Names Mark Belonging and Ownership — and Responsibility Names can be Forgotten What Preserves Our Names? Repentance Fear of God Faithful perseverance Faithful Service

+ Laying the Foundation - We Are All Captives - Christ came to liberate us - The Spirit of Truth + Misconceptions About Freedom - The Absence of Boundaries - Freedom as Autonomy from God - Freedom as License to Sin + The Correct Understanding of Freedom - Freedom is FOR, Not Just FROM - Conforming to Our True Nature - Freedom as Liberation from the Passions + The Law of Love Over the Law of Libert...

The only difference between us and the saints is that they yielded to the Holy Spirit. Many of us struggle and try to conquer our sins and passions through sheer willpower, but it's only through the grace of the Holy Spirit that we are able to resist our sins and move closer to God.

This sermon reflects on the first Sunday of the Apostles’ Fast, calling believers to enter the world filled with the Holy Spirit and face temptation by truly confessing Jesus as Lord. It emphasizes that those who belong to Christ must trust, obey, worship, serve, and love Him, even when obedience brings discomfort, risk, or suffering.

Tune in for Part 2 of "Sowing Seeds" as Fr Anthony explores the call for every Christian to be a witness, emphasizing that evangelism is not about producing results but about bringing Christ to others. Using the example of Saint Photini, we learn how a transformed life, combined with courageous testimony, can plant seeds of faith that God uses to change lives.

This sermon reflects on the feeding of the five thousand, and David's prayer “I spread out my hands to You, my soul longs for You like a thirsty land” to emphasize the importance of approaching God with humility. Fr Jonathan teaches that believers should come before God recognizing their need for His mercy and kindness rather than relying on their own service.

Father Anthony Mourad unpacks Christ's provocative call to "hate" one's family and life, explaining that true biblical love requires choosing and prioritizing God above everything else. He challenges the modern "gospel of comfort" by reminding the congregation to count the cost of discipleship, while pointing to God's deep compassion and grace to sustain us when we fall short