Search the Scriptures Live

By Dr. Jeannie Constantinou, and Ancient Faith Ministries

Religion & Spirituality Christianity

What's Search the Scriptures Live about?

Interesting and Accessible Bible Study for Busy People

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Search the Scriptures Live episodes:

05.30.2024
For What Shall it Profit a Man to Gain the World But Lose His Soul?
What should we be willing to do for Christ? Is a Christian really required to die to the world to have eternal life, and what does that even mean? How do we die for Christ in our modern...
05.21.2024
Let Him Pick Up His Cross and Follow Me
What does it mean to pick up your cross? Most people assume that Christ is teaching us how to handle the difficulties of life. But the Fathers would not agree with that! Join Dr. Jeannie to learn the truth about...
05.14.2024
Get Thee Behind Me, Satan !
In one of the most dramatic reversals of the New Testament, the Lord, who previously praised Peter and gave him the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, now associates Peter's words with the Devil. What were Christ's words and Peter's...
04.23.2024
The Louhs with "6 Hours, 7 Lessons"
As we approach Holy Week and will be contemplating the Passion of the Lord, Fr. Nick and Dr. Roxanne Louh are Dr. Jeannie's special guests this week to discuss the seven last statements of the Lord, the lessons we can...
04.16.2024
The Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven
Did the early Church understand the words of Christ to Peter as giving unique powers or special privileges to Peter? How, when and why did the Roman Church develop its theology of papal supremacy? What did the early Fathers say...
04.09.2024
You are Peter and On This Rock....
Our examination of Peter's confession and Christ's blessing continues. Was Peter ever the bishop of Rome? Did the Lord's words give Peter and all bishops of Rome universal jurisdiction over the entire Church? What did the holy Fathers say about...
04.02.2024
On This Rock I Will Build My Church
Peter's acknowledgment of the true identity of Jesus, led to him receiving a new name and a blessing. The Catholic Church has used this verse to support its papal supremacy doctrine. Is Peter the Rock on which the Church is...
03.26.2024
An Evil and Adulterous Generation Asks for a Sign
When the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign from heaven, why did he reject their request? Is it unacceptable to ask God for a sign? Is a sign the same as a miracle? What role should miracles play in supporting...
03.19.2024
Did Jesus Really Call Her a Dog?
One of the most uncomfortable scenes in the gospels is when a Canaanite woman follows Jesus, begging for his help. First, he ignores her. Then he insults her. Why? The story is actually a wonderful one, with great spiritual lessons...
03.12.2024
Christ Rejects Tradition?
The Pharisees challenged Jesus to explain why he ignored "the traditions of the elders." His disregard for their customs has fueled Protestant criticisms of Holy Tradition. Which traditions did the Lord reject and why?
03.05.2024
Enough Faith To Walk On Water?
We all know about the Lord walking on water. But only Matthew has the story of Peter joining him amid the waves and storm. The Fathers have much to say about this story and its lessons for us about the...
02.27.2024
Walking on Water
This amazing story of the disciples' experience of the Lord is more than just a miracle, but a deep expression of theology. In Matthew's Gospel, Peter's attempt to join him on the water is added to this story. Both events...
02.20.2024
The Multiplication of the Loaves
This miracle is the most widely attested but also among the most commonly disputed. Why? The story seems simple, and we all know it well. But it has great theological depth and spiritual meaning, which we will discover with the...
02.13.2024
The Beheading of the Lord's Forerunner
Information, and even intrigue, exists about the beheading of St. John, including the discovery of his head, which the Church also remembers. We'll take a historical and patristic look at the lives, motivation, and ultimate fates of those involved in...
02.06.2024
The Kingdom of Heaven is Like....
More parables in Matthew 13 teach us about the nature of the Kingdom, its hidden and dynamic qualities, the power of the apostles despite overwhelming opposition by the world, and the tenacity required by the faithful and their ability to...
01.30.2024
Seeing They Do Not See, And Hearing They Do Not Understand
This strange statement actually appears in all four gospels and Acts of the Apostles and is a prophecy about Christ. Why was this prophecy so crucial in the early Church, and why didn't Christ just explain or enlighten people so...
01.23.2024
"To Those Who Have More Will Be Given"
Christ told the disciples they would understand the mysteries and receive more. Others "seeing would not see and hearing would not understand" and would receive less. Why aren't the mysteries of heaven understandable to all? Does God choose some people...
01.16.2024
Why Did Jesus Use Parables?
The Lord's teachings were enigmatic at times, especially when He used parables. He said, "Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand." This sounds strange and unfair. Did the Lord truly want people not to understand him?
01.09.2024
The Kingdom of Heaven
One of Matthew's major themes is acquiring the Kingdom of Heaven. Chapter 13, the mid-point of the five main sections of Matthew's gospel, is entirely devoted to this single topic. Here Matthew gathers all of Jesus' parables...
12.19.2023
The Family of Jesus
The gospel reading on the Sunday before Christmas concerns the genealogy of Jesus. The Scriptures refer to his brothers and sisters. Who were these people? What do we know about them? Why do Christians disagree about their...
12.12.2023
Signs of Jonah
The image of Jonah was ubiquitous in the early Church and remains frequently referenced in Orthodoxy. The statement is deeper than we realize, and Christ's citation of Jonah also reveals His own specific technique of scripture interpretation that the Orthodox...
12.05.2023
Idle Words
The Lord warns us that on Judgment Day, we will account for every idle word we utter. Why are mere words so important? We will discuss this...and just a little more about the sin against the Holy Spirit.
12.04.2023
Idle Words
The Lord warns us that on Judgment Day, we will account for every idle word we utter. Why are mere words so important? We will discuss this...and just a little more about the sin against the Holy Spirit.
11.28.2023
The Sin Against the Holy Spirit- Part 2
The Lord said there is one sin that cannot be forgiven, neither in this life nor in the next: The sin against the Holy Spirit. Fr. Costa will join us this week as we continue our discussion of this verse.
11.21.2023
The Sin Against the Holy Spirit
The Lord's immense power caused confusion among Jewish leaders and his actions evoked consternation. They accused him of using the devil's power to heal. He responded by warning them, and us, about "the sin against the Holy Spirit." But...
11.14.2023
Something Greater Than the Temple
In Matthew chapter 12, the Pharisees increasingly challenge the Lord for what they perceive to be his violations of the Law of Moses. But the Lord defends his actions artfully, and in one healing story, Matthew shows how the Lord...
11.07.2023
Hiding Christ's Teachings From the Learned and Wise
Christ thanked the Father for "hiding" his teaching from the "learned and wise" and revealing it to children. Why would God do that if God loves us all and Christ came to save us? Does God prevent some people from...
10.31.2023
The Kingdom of Heaven Suffers Violence
"The kingdom of heaven suffers violence." For most modern commentators, this is a most enigmatic saying. But for Orthodox Christians this statement is well understood and has always been interpreted in the same way in the history of the Church....
10.24.2023
John the Baptist's Strange Question
“Are you the one who is to come or shall we look for another?” This seems to be an odd question from St. John the Forerunner, who had dedicated his life to preparing the way for Christ. Did John have...
10.17.2023
Picking up Your Cross: Christ or Family ?
In Church history, many people were forced to choose between Christ and their own family members, who sometimes even persecuted them. The Lord predicted this and invited us to pick up our cross. Does picking up your cross mean enduring...
10.10.2023
Do Not fear Those Who Kill the Body
In Matthew 10, the sermon known as The Missionary Discourse, the Lord tells his disciples to expect persecution. All true Christians should expect persecution and must endure until the end to be saved. But why are Christians persecuted? The Lord...
10.03.2023
Family Persecution Because of Christ
“Brother will deliver up brother to death.” The Lord foretold that we would face persecution for his sake, even from members of our family. The Fathers of the Church explain this and St. John Chrysostom considers how our lives...
09.26.2023
Wolves and Sheep, Serpents and Dove
This week, we continue the patristic explanation of the Missionary Discourse of the Lord’s Instructions to the disciples before sending them out on their first mission of teaching and healing. What does it mean to be a sheep? A serpent?...
09.19.2023
When You Enter A House Let Your Peace Come Upon It
This instruction by the Lord to the disciples led St. John Chrysostom to make a lengthy comment about his personal experience as a priest. He repeatedly blessed the congregation but his blessing of “peace” was not returned by...
09.12.2023
Sheep Among Wolves
The Lord bluntly described the challenging circumstances the disciples faced when he sent them out to preach. They were to take no money and no extra clothing. "Freely you have received, freely give." How were they to live, and why...
09.05.2023
Spiritual Insight Despite Physical Limitations
As we conclude this remarkable set of ten miracle stories, we meet two blind men who persist in crying, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" and a deaf and mute man who cannot express himself at all. Who is...
08.29.2023
Leaving Everything for Christ
The call of St. Matthew seems odd to us. He was doing his job and suddenly left everything to follow Christ. Other disciples also responded suddenly and inexplicably. Did they have free will? What brought on such a reaction? What...
08.22.2023
Did Jesus Ever Claim to be God ?
Some people have asserted that Jesus himself never claimed to be God; rather, this notion was invented by his followers. In the healing of the paralytic, Jesus’ identity and claims of authority are challenged as he is accused of “blasphemy.”...
08.15.2023
How Many Demons? How Many Demoniacs?
This week we examine a familiar and puzzling story, especially in Matthew's gospel. Not one but two demoniacs live among tombs, severely possessed by perhaps thousands of demons. Among other things, we will discuss demonic possession and why the herd...
08.08.2023
The Stilling of the Storm
The string of miracles Matthew presents here continue, including the stilling of the storm and the healing of Peter's mother-in-law. These stories are so familiar that their lessons are easily overlooked – but not by the Fathers who draw out...
08.01.2023
A Man Under Authority
A Roman centurion relates the authority of Jesus to his own military experience, recognizing not only the Lord's authority but even His divinity, despite being pagan. The Lord "marvels" at the faith and humility of this non-Israelite.
07.25.2023
The Miracles of Matthew
After the Sermon on the Mount, St. Matthew depicts Christ performing ten miracles in a row, but they aren't included simply to impress us with Christ's sheer power. Miracles serve a different purpose in this gospel. Join us as Christ...
07.18.2023
False Prophets
As the Lord wraps up the Sermon on the Mount, He issues warnings to us about false prophets and about how we must bear fruit and build a solid foundation for our lives on the Rock. Join us as we...
07.11.2023
The Golden Rule
The "Golden Rule" is considered by many to be the greatest ethical instruction in the history of mankind. Did you know that there is also a "Silver Rule" that is found in other religious traditions? What make's Christ's instruction superior...
07.04.2023
Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged
The admonition to "judge not" may be the most misunderstood or misused verse in the Bible. Are we never to identify anything as sin? In addition to this verse, Dr. Jeannie will discuss Bible manuscript variations to clarify an earlier...
06.27.2023
Treasure in Heaven
After finishing his instructions on prayer the Lord continues with emphasizing forgiveness, the secret pursuit of virtue, seeking the Kingdom and the impossibility of loving both God and money. As usual, we will hear from the Fathers on all these...
06.20.2023
Lead Us Not Into Temptation Part 2
Why does God allow temptations? Are some trials or tests different from others? Since God is only the source of good, but He allows temptation for our benefit, why does the Lord instruct us in the Lord's Prayer to ask,...
06.13.2023
Lead Us Not Into Temptation
The Lord's Prayer ends with this rather strange statement. Are we asking the Lord Himself not to tempt us? Is He the source of the temptations that afflict us? How are we to understand this phrase?
06.06.2023
Forgive Us Our Trespasses
This line from the Lord's Prayer seems straightforward, but why does Christ say "forgive our trespasses" instead of "forgive our sins"? This has great significance and may be the most important line of all. Our salvation depends upon how we...
05.23.2023
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
This line of the Lord's Prayer has many levels of meaning. The interpretation of one word in particular, rendered in the King James Bible as "daily," has sometimes been interpreted by the Fathers differently. Are we asking for ordinary food?...

What's Search the Scriptures Live about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Search the Scriptures Live episodes:

For What Shall it Profit a Man to Gain the World But Lose His Soul?

Let Him Pick Up His Cross and Follow Me

Get Thee Behind Me, Satan !

The Louhs with "6 Hours, 7 Lessons"

The Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven

You are Peter and On This Rock....

On This Rock I Will Build My Church

An Evil and Adulterous Generation Asks for a Sign

Did Jesus Really Call Her a Dog?

Christ Rejects Tradition?

Enough Faith To Walk On Water?

Walking on Water

The Multiplication of the Loaves

The Beheading of the Lord's Forerunner

The Kingdom of Heaven is Like....

Seeing They Do Not See, And Hearing They Do Not Understand

"To Those Who Have More Will Be Given"

Why Did Jesus Use Parables?

The Kingdom of Heaven

The Family of Jesus

Signs of Jonah

Idle Words

Idle Words

The Sin Against the Holy Spirit- Part 2

The Sin Against the Holy Spirit

Something Greater Than the Temple

Hiding Christ's Teachings From the Learned and Wise

The Kingdom of Heaven Suffers Violence

John the Baptist's Strange Question

Picking up Your Cross: Christ or Family ?

Do Not fear Those Who Kill the Body

Family Persecution Because of Christ

Wolves and Sheep, Serpents and Dove

When You Enter A House Let Your Peace Come Upon It

Sheep Among Wolves

Spiritual Insight Despite Physical Limitations

Leaving Everything for Christ

Did Jesus Ever Claim to be God ?

How Many Demons? How Many Demoniacs?

The Stilling of the Storm

A Man Under Authority

The Miracles of Matthew

False Prophets

The Golden Rule

Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged

Treasure in Heaven

Lead Us Not Into Temptation Part 2

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Forgive Us Our Trespasses

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread