A bonus episode from Certainty for Life with John Diacos.In Jesus’ story of the two sons, the younger son tries a transactional “repentance” to earn his way back—yet discovers forgiveness can’t be bought or worked for. The father runs, embraces, and restores him as a son—without repayment—revealing mercy, costly love, and true reconciliation. The older brother exposes a second “lostness”: rule‑keeping that seeks to merit blessing rather than love the Father.

This talk explains:

• Why transactional religion fails

• Why obedience cannot earn forgiveness

• How God’s love is costly, personal, and undeserved

• Why Jesus is the true picture of the Prodigal God

• What it really means to come home to God

Drawing from Scripture, early Church Fathers, and real‑life illustrations, this teaching shows that the gospel is not about being good enough—but about being found.

Whether you feel far from God through rebellion or religion, this message is an invitation to stop striving and receive the forgiveness that restores us as sons and daughters.

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📚 Based on themes from Certainty for Life: An Invitation to Eastern Orthodoxy

📘 Learn more about the book Certainty for Life- An Invitation to those in Eastern Orthodoxy

👉 Print, ebook and audiobook available at https://www.certaintyforlife.com

🔔 If you found this helpful, LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and share with a friend.

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@EvangelisingEasternOrthodoxy

👉 Share with anyone seeking clarity, faith, and assurance

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00:00 Introduction: The Prodigal Son and the Problem of Forgiveness

01:08 A Transactional Repentance

02:36 Can Broken Relationships Be Repaired Without Forgiveness?

03:26The Shocking Father Who Runs

04:32 Compassion fromthe Gut

05:52 Forgiveness That Restores Sonship,Not Servanthood

07:08 Robe, Ring, and Feast: Signsof Full Restoration

08:45 The Prodigal God:Extravagant Mercy Beyond Human Justice

11:30 TheOlder Brother: Obedience Without Love

13:07 “AllThat I Have Is Yours”: Grace vs Merit

15:02 WhichSon Are You? Two Ways of Being Far from God

17:25The God who offers Grace and Pardon

19:56 Heaven asHome: Rest, Banquet, and Eternal Life

23:05 WelcomeHome: The Costly Love of the Heavenly Father

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#gospeltruth #orthodoxy #orthodox #evangelism #christianity #ChurchHistory #orthodoxchurch #easternorthodoxy #orthodoxfaith #greekorthodoxchurch #russianorthodoxchurch #orthodoxevangelism #ancientfaith #ProdigalSon #ProdigalGod #ChristianTeaching #GraceNotWorks #GodsForgiveness #BibleTeaching #ChristianSermon #GospelMessage #GodsLove #FaithAndGrace #ChristianFaith #JesusParables #Luke15 #ComingHome #Forgiveness #ChristianExplained #BiblicalTruth #SalvationByGrace

What happens when faith, culture, and tradition collide with the gospel of grace?In this compelling episode of Evangelising Eastern Orthodoxy, Spero Katos shares his remarkable journey from growing up Greek Orthodox in Melbourne to becoming a lifelong evangelical Christian and passionate evangelist among Greek communities in Australia.Raised in a traditional Orthodox household, Spiro reflects honestly on his early experiences with church, culture, icons, and identity—and the moment everything changed when he encountered the Bible as a child. Converted at just seven years old through an evangelical Sunday school, Spiro recounts the challenges, family tensions, and cultural opposition he faced after embracing Christ by faith alone.This conversation explores:• The deep connection between Greek identity and Eastern Orthodoxy • Why tradition and culture often outweigh theology for Orthodox believers • The role of Scripture (especially the New Testament in Greek) in conversion • Family opposition, accusations of betrayal, and social pressure • Evangelising Orthodox people with clarity, compassion, and patience • Why Australia has been uniquely fertile ground for Greek evangelical ministry • How to lovingly point Orthodox friends to the Gospel of Mark and the BibleSpiro also reflects on decades of gospel outreach through churches, one‑to‑one evangelism, New Testament distribution, and Greek Christian television ministry across Melbourne and Geelong.If you want to better understand Eastern Orthodoxy, reach Orthodox friends with the gospel, or be encouraged by a faithful Christian testimony, this interview will strengthen and equip you.🔔 If you found this helpful, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and share with a friend.▶️ YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@evangelisingeasternorthodoxy⁠⁠⁠⁠

 --------00:00 Evangelising Eastern Orthodoxy – Interview Introduction00:19 Who Is Spero Katos? Greek Christian Testimony00:36 Growing Up Greek Orthodox in Melbourne01:46 Raised Orthodox but Spiritually Unfulfilled03:20 Disillusionment with Icons and Orthodox Tradition05:47 The Evangelical Sunday School That Changed His Life07:49 Coming to Faith in Jesus Christ at Age Seven09:45 Family Conflict After Rejecting Orthodox Practices11:25 A Mother’s Conversion Through the Greek New Testament13:03 Called to Evangelise Greek Orthodox People15:02 Evangelical Outreach to Greeks Across Australia18:15 Why Greeks Are More Open to the Gospel in Australia23:25 The Biggest Barrier to Orthodox Conversion: Culture28:33 How to Share the Gospel with Orthodox Friends31:34 Faithful to Christ Until the End33:39 Final Gospel Appeal and Closing Exhortation--------RSS link

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⁠⁠⁠⁠open.spotify.com/show/6s5um4hik86ayd9wv1efzk⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/eeorthodoxy⁠⁠⁠⁠

Continue the conversation in our Facebook group ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fb.me/g/6joZtjfAb/vzZPehtH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Evangelising Eastern Orthodoxy training course available free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠eeo.net.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Certainty for Life: An Invitation for those in Eastern Orthodoxy available from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠certaintyforlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

#gospeltruth #orthodoxy #orthodox #evangelism #christianity #ChurchHistory #orthodoxchurch #easternorthodoxy #orthodoxfaith #greekorthodoxchurch #russianorthodoxchurch #orthodoxevangelism #ancientfaith #apologetics #converts #christiantheology #FromOrthodoxyToChrist #ChristianConversion #GreekChristians #GospelOfGrace #BibleInGreek#OrthodoxEvangelism #ChristianFaith #JesusChrist #ChristianPodcast #MelbourneChristians

In this video, we explore Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son and uncover its deeper meaning: sin as ingratitude toward a generous and loving Father. Drawing from Scripture, theology, and the wisdom of the early Church, this teaching explains how our desire for independence from God lies at the heart of humanity’s broken relationship with Him.

In this video, you’ll discover:

• Why Jesus’ story of the Prodigal Son is really about all of us
• How ingratitude is at the core of what the Bible calls sin
• Why separation from God results in judgment—and why that truth matters
• How recognizing the problem is the first step toward real hope

In the next video, we will look at Jesus’ conclusion to the story and the solution God provides.

--------

📘 Learn more about the book Certainty for Life

Available in print, e‑book, and audiobook at 👉 ⁠https://www.certaintyforlife.com⁠

Print, ebook and audiobook available at 👉 ⁠https://books2read.com/u/4NkwQo⁠👉

Subscribe to continue the series ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EvangelisingEasternOrthodoxy⁠

👉 Share with anyone seeking clarity, faith, and assurance

#orthodoxy #orthodox #evangelism #christianity #gospeltruth

In this video, we explore Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son and uncover its deeper meaning: sin as ingratitude toward a generous and loving Father. Drawing from Scripture, theology, and the wisdom of the early Church, this teaching explains how our desire for independence from God lies at the heart of humanity’s broken relationship with Him.

In this video, you’ll discover:

• Why Jesus’ story of the Prodigal Son is really about all of us
• How ingratitude is at the core of what the Bible calls sin
• Why separation from God results in judgment—and why that truth matters
• How recognizing the problem is the first step toward real hope

In the next video, we will look at Jesus’ conclusion to the story and the solution God provides.

--------

📘 Learn more about the book Certainty for Life

Available in print, e‑book, and audiobook at 👉 https://www.certaintyforlife.com

Print, ebook and audiobook available at 👉 https://books2read.com/u/4NkwQo👉

Subscribe to continue the series https://www.youtube.com/@EvangelisingEasternOrthodoxy

👉 Share with anyone seeking clarity, faith, and assurance

#orthodoxy #orthodox #evangelism #christianity #gospeltruth

The goal of Evangelising Eastern Orthodoxy is to understand Orthodox doctrine and worldview in order to communicate the Gospel to our friends.

In this episode I discuss the shape of Eastern Orthodox Theology with the author of A Christian’s Pocket Guide to Eastern Orthodox Theology, Panagiotis Kantartzis.

He is Pastor of the First Greek Evangelical Church in Athens and heads the “Evangelical Center for the Study of Orthodox Christianity” (ecsoc.org).

We will hear how Orthodoxy addresses the challenge of how to know a distant creator God.

A Christian's Pocket Guide to Eastern Orthodox Theology: An Evangelical Perspective by Panagiotis Kantartzishttps://www.amazon.com.au/Christians-Pocket-Eastern-Orthodox-Theology/dp/1527106411

Make sure you don’t miss it by subscribing now

⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@evangelisingeasternorthodoxy⁠⁠⁠

RSS link

⁠⁠⁠anchor.fm/s/10f48e33c/podcast/rss⁠⁠⁠

Link to all podcast feeds

https://pod.link/1878240547

Apple Podcasts⁠⁠podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evangelising-eastern-orthodoxy/id1878240547⁠⁠ 

Spotify

⁠⁠⁠open.spotify.com/show/6s5um4hik86ayd9wv1efzk⁠⁠⁠

Instagram

⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/eeorthodoxy⁠⁠⁠

Continue the conversation in our Facebook group ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fb.me/g/6joZtjfAb/vzZPehtH⁠⁠⁠⁠

Evangelising Eastern Orthodoxy training course available free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠eeo.net.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Certainty for Life: An Invitation for those in Eastern Orthodoxy available from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠certaintyforlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

The goal of Evangelising Eastern Orthodoxy is to understand Orthodox doctrine and worldview in order to communicate the Gospel to our friends.

In this episode I discuss the shape of Eastern Orthodox Theology with the author of A Christian’s Pocket Guide to Eastern Orthodox Theology, Panagiotis Kantartzis.

He is Pastor of the First Greek Evangelical Church in Athens and heads the “Evangelical Center for the Study of Orthodox Christianity” (ecsoc.org).

We will hear how Orthodoxy addresses the challenge of how to know a distant creator God.

A Christian's Pocket Guide to Eastern Orthodox Theology: An Evangelical Perspective by Panagiotis Kantartzis⁠https://www.amazon.com.au/Christians-Pocket-Eastern-Orthodox-Theology/dp/1527106411⁠

Make sure you don’t miss it by subscribing now

⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@evangelisingeasternorthodoxy⁠⁠⁠⁠

RSS link

⁠⁠⁠⁠anchor.fm/s/10f48e33c/podcast/rss⁠⁠⁠⁠

Link to all podcast feeds

⁠https://pod.link/1878240547⁠

Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evangelising-eastern-orthodoxy/id1878240547⁠⁠⁠ 

Spotify

⁠⁠⁠⁠open.spotify.com/show/6s5um4hik86ayd9wv1efzk⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram

⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/eeorthodoxy⁠⁠⁠⁠

Continue the conversation in our Facebook group ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fb.me/g/6joZtjfAb/vzZPehtH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Evangelising Eastern Orthodoxy training course available free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠eeo.net.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Certainty for Life: An Invitation for those in Eastern Orthodoxy available from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠certaintyforlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Part 2 of a discussion with Scott Hurst, lead Pastor at Northminster Baptist Church, Toronto and Christian Clement-Schlimm, PhD candidate at Wycliffe College, University of Toronto, who co-authored an article entitled “Evangelical Pastors and The Challenge of Eastern Orthodoxy”

We talk about how to be proactive in addressing the concerns of converts before they leave, what to say to them if they do and why it’s helpful to gain an understanding of Eastern Orthodoxy.

Scott and Christians Article:https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/article/evangelical-pastors-and-the-challenge-of-eastern-orthodoxy/

Make sure you don’t miss it by subscribing now

⁠⁠youtube.com/@evangelisingeasternorthodoxy⁠⁠

RSS link

⁠⁠anchor.fm/s/10f48e33c/podcast/rss⁠⁠

Link to all podcast feeds

https://pod.link/1878240547

Apple Podcasts

⁠⁠podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evangelising-eastern-orthodoxy/id1878240547⁠ 

Spotify

⁠⁠open.spotify.com/show/6s5um4hik86ayd9wv1efzk⁠⁠

Instagram

⁠⁠instagram.com/eeorthodoxy⁠⁠

Continue the conversation in our Facebook group ⁠⁠⁠https://fb.me/g/6joZtjfAb/vzZPehtH⁠⁠⁠

Evangelising Eastern Orthodoxy training course available free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠eeo.net.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Certainty for Life: An Invitation for those in Eastern Orthodoxy available from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠certaintyforlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Part 2 of a discussion with Scott Hurst, lead Pastor at Northminster Baptist Church, Toronto and Christian Clement-Schlimm, PhD candidate at Wycliffe College, University of Toronto, who co-authored an article entitled “Evangelical Pastors and The Challenge of Eastern Orthodoxy” We talk about how to be proactive in addressing the concerns of converts before they leave, what to say to them if they do and why it’s helpful to gain an understanding of Eastern Orthodoxy.

Find Scott and Christian's article at⁠https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/article/evangelical-pastors-and-the-challenge-of-eastern-orthodoxy/⁠

Make sure you don’t miss it by subscribing now

⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@evangelisingeasternorthodoxy⁠⁠⁠

RSS link

⁠⁠⁠anchor.fm/s/10f48e33c/podcast/rss⁠⁠⁠

Link to all podcast feeds

⁠⁠⁠pod.link/1878240547⁠⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts⁠podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evangelising-eastern-orthodoxy/id1878240547⁠⁠ 

Spotify

⁠⁠⁠open.spotify.com/show/6s5um4hik86ayd9wv1efzk⁠⁠⁠

Instagram

⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/eeorthodoxy⁠⁠⁠

Continue the conversation in our Facebook group ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fb.me/g/6joZtjfAb/vzZPehtH⁠⁠⁠⁠

Evangelising Eastern Orthodoxy training course available free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠eeo.net.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Certainty for Life: An Invitation for those in Eastern Orthodoxy available from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠certaintyforlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Part 1 of a discussion with Scott Hurst, lead Pastor at Northminster Baptist Church, Toronto and Christian Clement-Schlimm, PhD candidate at Wycliffe College, University of Toronto, who co-authored an article entitled “Evangelical Pastors and The Challenge of Eastern Orthodoxy”

We'll discuss what is attracting converts, why we should be concerned and what converts feel they are missing at their Churches that causes them to leave.

Find Scott and Christian's article athttps://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/article/evangelical-pastors-and-the-challenge-of-eastern-orthodoxy/

Make sure you don’t miss it by subscribing now

⁠⁠youtube.com/@evangelisingeasternorthodoxy⁠⁠

RSS link

⁠⁠anchor.fm/s/10f48e33c/podcast/rss⁠⁠

Link to all podcast feeds

https://pod.link/1878240547

Apple Podcasts

⁠⁠podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evangelising-eastern-orthodoxy/id1878240547⁠ 

Spotify

⁠⁠open.spotify.com/show/6s5um4hik86ayd9wv1efzk⁠⁠

Instagram

⁠⁠instagram.com/eeorthodoxy⁠⁠

Continue the conversation in our Facebook group ⁠⁠⁠https://fb.me/g/6joZtjfAb/vzZPehtH⁠⁠⁠

Evangelising Eastern Orthodoxy training course available free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠eeo.net.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Certainty for Life: An Invitation for those in Eastern Orthodoxy available from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠certaintyforlife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

A new podcast where we will seek to understand Eastern Orthodox doctrine and worldview in order to clearly communicate the Gospel to our Orthodox friends and neighbours.

In this season we are going to be hearing about

• Responding to Converts to Orthodoxy with Scott Hurst and Christian Clement-Schimm
• An Introduction to Eastern Orthodox Theology with Pastor Panagiotis Kantartzis
• Coptic Orthodoxy with Pastor Samuel Farag
• The Protestant Patriarch: Cyril Lucaris with Jason Wallace
• Catholicism and Orthodoxy- Similarities and Differences with Mark Gilbert

• as well as hearing the stories of Spero Katos, Sash, Zac and others

Make sure you don’t miss it by subscribing now

⁠youtube.com/@evangelisingeasternorthodoxy⁠

RSS link

⁠anchor.fm/s/10f48e33c/podcast/rss⁠

Link to all podcast feeds

⁠https://pod.link/1878240547

Apple Podcasts

⁠podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evangelising-eastern-orthodoxy/id1878240547 

Spotify

⁠open.spotify.com/show/6s5um4hik86ayd9wv1efzk⁠

Instagram

⁠instagram.com/eeorthodoxy⁠

Continue the conversation in our Facebook group ⁠⁠https://fb.me/g/6joZtjfAb/vzZPehtH⁠⁠

Evangelising Eastern Orthodoxy training course available free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠eeo.net.au⁠⁠⁠⁠

Certainty for Life: An Invitation for those in Eastern Orthodoxy available from ⁠⁠⁠⁠certaintyforlife.com⁠⁠⁠