Today’s Episode is titled “The Great Commission, part 2. Covering Matthew 28:16-20. All Authority Has Been Given Unto Me…I Am With You Always Jesus said that. Do you believe Him, and if so, what are you doing with your belief? Episode 118, recorded on 5/22/25 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
Today's Episode is titled "The Great Commision". Covering Matthew 28:16-20, as we're nearing the end of Matthew, after everything the followers of Jesus witnessed, there are still some doubters. Episode 117, recorded on 5/15/2025 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI
Today's Episode is titled "Who's Telling the Truth?" Covering Matthew 28:11-15. The guards at Christ’s tomb know Jesus rose from the dead. The Chief Priests bribe them to say His body was stolen. Your truth. My truth. And then there is Objective Truth. Episode 116, recorded on 5/8/25 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
Today we look at the end of Chapter 27 and the beginning of Matthew's final chapter, Chapter 28. We begin with Joseph of Arimathea coming to ask Pilate for the body of Jesus and end with the myrrh-bearing women coming to the tomb and meeting the risen Christ. They departed "with fear and great joy" and we discuss how these can both exist in us at the same time. Episode 115, recorded on 4/30/25 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
Today’s Episode is titled “The Death of Jesus”. CoveringMatthew 27:45-56. “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” That’s not despair but prophecy…Psalm 21. Episode 114, recorded on 4/10/25 at St. NicholasOrthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
Today’s Episode is titled “Obedient to the End” Covering Matthew 27:27-43. Jesus’ enemies mocked Him, dressed Him like a king, taunted and beat Him. Yet Christ, in obedience to the Father, never thwarted them nor stopped His crucifixion. Episode 113 recorded on 4/3/25 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
Today’s Episode is titled “Curse or Blessing?” CoveringMatthew 27:11-26. Bartering over Jesus’ life for Barabbas and declaring a curse on themselves. The Jews demand Pilate condemn Jesus to crucifixion and in doing so, also declare, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Has it been a curse on the Jews or a blessing? Episode 112 recorded on 3/27/25 at St. Nicholas OrthodoxChurch in Grand Rapids, MI.
Today’s Episode is titled “How Do We Justify Ourselves?” Covering Matthew 27:3-10, 11-14. The Gospel of Matthew is written for our Salvation. As we learned last week, Judas felt regret yet did not repent. In these verses, the chief priest sand elders felt no guilt or responsibility for their deliberate actions in plotting Jesus’s death though they acknowledged the 30 pieces of silver given to Judas was blood money. As with Judas and the chief priests, we often justify ourselves and cut God out o...
Today's Episode is titled "What is Repentance?" Covering Matthew 27: 1-10, Judas' response to Jesus being brought to Plate to be killed is a cautionary tale for us. Judas was remorseful yet did not complete the process of forgiveness by going back to Jesus to be restored. He remained unrepentant. These verses are a warning to us to complete the process of forgiveness and not just be sorry. We're to seek restoration. Episode 110, recorded on 2/27/25 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids...
Today's Episode is titled "Peter's Three Denials". Covering Matthew 26:69-75 when It’s not enough to regret denying Christ. Regret alone, can lead to death, as with Judas. Peter repented and that made all the difference. Episode 109, recorded on 2/13/25 at St. Nicholas
Today's Episode is titled "Pick Your Side". Covering Mattew 26:57-68. The Chief Priest, Elders, and Council seek false witnesses to condemn Jesus. Caiaphas forces Jesus to swear upon the Living God to tell them who He is. When Christ reveals He is the Son of Man, they charge Him with blasphemy. They picked their side. Episode 108, recorded on 1/30/25 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
Today's Episode is titled "Judas Betrays Jesus". Covering Matthew 26:47-56. Judas things he's doing the right thing. How far do we go thinking we're doing the right thing? Episode 107, recorded on 1/16/25 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
Today's Episode is titled "Jesus' Humanity". Covering Matthew 26:36-45 when In the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ asked for the cup to pass from Him, displaying His humanity. But He decided He would place His will under the Father's will. He was sorrowful for His Apostles and all of us that we would succumb to temptation. He teaches us to watch and pray. Episode 106, recorded on 01/09/25 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
Today's episode is titled "The Common Christian Response" Covering Matthew 26:31-35, when Jesus tells Peter that Peter will deny Him, three times. Immediately, Peter says he would never do that. That could be our response, too. We are like Peter. Episode 105, recorded on 12/19/24 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
Today's episode is titlted "The Last Supper—Jesus institutes the Eucharist." Covering Matthew 26:26-30. While we bring the gifts of bread and wine, God gives us Himself. When we’re in Divine Liturgy, we’re in the Kingdom. Episode 104, recorded on 12/12/24 at St. Nicholas
Today's episdoe is titled "Lord, Is It I?" Covering Matthew 26:14-25. All the disciples asked Christ if they were His betrayer. They knew they were capable of it. Could this have been one of their finest moments? Episode 103, recorded at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
Today's episode is titled "Jesus Tells His Disciples He Will Be Taken Away, but the Poor Will Always Be with Them". Covering Matthew 26:1-13. Jesus talks about when we care for the poor, it is a way of taking care of Christ. Episode 102, recorded on 11/14/24 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
Today's Episode is titled "Judgement of Works". Covering Matthew 25:31-46. Jesus teaches His followers that when He returns in His glory, all will be judged by the mercy and love that they showed to those in need. "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, My Brethren, you did it to Me." Episode 101, recorded on 11/7/24 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
Today's episode is titled "What Are You Doing with the Talents You Are Given?" Covering Matthew 25:14-30. Are you growing and producing with the gifts you are given or are you burying your talents? What price will you pay for doing nothing? Episode 100, recorded on 10/31/24 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church.
Today's episode is titled "Are You Prepared for When the Bridegroom Comes?" Covering Matthew 25:1-3. 10 Virgins were waiting with their lamps of oil to escort Jesus into the wedding banquet. He was delayed. 5 Virgins were running out of oil and had to leave to buy more. When they returned, He had already arrived, and the doors were shut to them. Will you be prepared when Jesus comes again? Are you getting ready? Episode 99, recorded on 10/24/24 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI...
Today's episode is titled "Be Faithful and Wise". Covering Matthew 24:45-51. If we’re not doing what we’re supposed to do, we suffer the consequences. If we choose our timeline instead of waiting on God’s timeline, choose our way and not His, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Episode 98, recorded on 10/10/24 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
Today's Episode is titled "Who's Taken? Who's Left Behind?". Covering Matthew 24: 36-44. This is one of the Apocalyptic scriptures in the Bible. In the Second Coming, what will pass away? Who will stay? Who will be ready for what’s to come? Episode 97, recorded on 10/3/24 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI
Today's episode Titled "The End is Coming—No One Knows the Hour". Covering Matthew 24:29-35. Judgement is seeing things accurately, setting things straight. There are parallels between the Day of Crucifixion and the Last Day. There will be signs as there were then. Will you be ready? Episode 96, recorded on 9/26/24 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
Today's episode Titled "End of the World is NOT a date but a Series of Events". Covering Matthew 24:15-28 There will be signs; there will be fear and confusion; there will be false gods. Will you be ready? Will you follow temptation, or will you endure to the end? Episode 95, recorded on 9/19/24 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
Welcome back as we kick off the new Liturgical Year with coming back to Bible Study! Today's episode Titled "He Who Endures to the End Will Be Saved". Covering Matthew 24:1-14, Everyone wants to know when the “end times” are arriving. What would we do if we knew the day and the hour? Episode 94, recorded on 9/12/24 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
Jesus Admonishes the Pharisees. Is Christ Addressing Us, As Well? - Episode 93 MATTHEW 23:29-39 It’s easy to read scripture and see the faults Jesus is pointing out about the scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. Do we share any of those same faults?
Woe to You - Episode 92 Matthew 23:13-28 In verses 13-28, Jesus says, "Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!" He condemns their behavior, because they were given the authority to teach God's Law to His people, but they failed to act accordingly and follow the Law themselves. "Hypocrites!" "After thoroughly dismantling scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees in debate, Jesus even more thoroughly condemns these religious leaders for their religious hypocrisy."...
ABUSES OF AUTHORITY - Episode 91 MATTHEW 23: 1-12 Christ criticizes the scribes and Pharisees for their actions that don’t align with their words. As hypocrites, they place themselves above God in power and importance. But Christ tells the people, power is servitude, not weakness. "Whoever is greatest among you shall be your servant."
Whose Son is the Christ? - Episode 90 MATTHEW 22:41-46 When Jesus asks the Pharisees this question, they answer, “The Son of David.” Jesus then asks how David can call His Son Lord? The Pharisees wouldn’t answer because they refused to call Jesus the incarnate God. God reveals the Truth to us. We either refuse it or accept it.
THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT IS LOVE - Episode 89 MATTHEW 22:34-40 The Jews, Sadducees and Pharisees, had the 10 commandments and 613 other laws. One of the members, known as a lawyer, tried to test Jesus asking, “Which is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus told the group there are two upon which all the others hang.
