Be Transfigured Ministries

This is the first of our “Ask Father” sermons for Summer2016. This week’s questions both deal with relationships with others, insideand outside the Church. Can I receive Holy Communion in a non-Orthodox Church?What is the proper way to bless others as a layperson? These questions aresimply but serve a very practical role in our relationship with others. You maysubmit questions at any time for this year’s “Ask Father” sermons by visitingthe Church’s website listed below.

www.GoFlorence.org

www.LiveANewLifeInChrist.org

This Bible Study was originally LIVE STREAM via YouTube on Wednesday, May 25, 2016, in Florence, SC.

When it comes to our physical health we would never tolerate

a doctor not being honest about a serious illness. But when it comes to our

spiritual health, many would rather ignore or deny that our soul is suffering

with serious illness. Like the paralytic found in John 5.1-15 who says, “I have

no man to put me into the pool,” many of us try to go it alone by dragging

ourselves along while the healing is right in front of our face. Christ healed

the paralytic and He can heal our soul when we take full advantage of the life

of the Church He has given to us. Just as a medical doctor prescribes

treatment, the Church has a treatment available to heal our soul. One problem

seems to stand in the way. The world continues to lie to us about how sick our

soul really is. We wouldn’t allow our friends to convince us to ignore our

doctor; why do we allow society to convince us to ignore the Church?

This Bible Study on Acts 26.30-27.44 was originally LIVE STREAM via YouTube on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, in Florence, SC.

The combining of the Sunday of Thomas, the Feast of Saint

John the Theologian and Mothers’ Day present a special opportunity to honor our

mothers. Our mothers nurture us, they teach us, they maintain the faith for us,

and they protect us. In return for their love, devotion and commitment to us

and to the Church, sometimes we are too stuck in our own selfish minds and we refuse

to believe the Church and the truth of the Gospel. Rather than honoring our

mothers we refuse to share the gift of the Church with others. If we really

want to honor our mothers we should take the example of Saint Thomas and Saint

John the Theologian and become a witness to the joy and truth of the Gospel. If

we really want to honor our mothers, we should bring the Gospel as a Light to

those around us who might be lost in darkness. If we really want to honor our

mothers, we should honor the Church.