Make His Path Straight: A St. John The Baptist Bible Study

In this session of Make His Path Straight, we continue our journey through Matthew Chapter 8, moving from Christ’s teachings in the Sermon on the Mount to His works of healing, restoration, and power.

Through the cleansing of the leper, the faith of the centurion, the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, and the calming of the storm, we see Christ bringing order into chaos and restoring what has been broken. Even the wind, the sea, sickness, and the powers of darkness submit to His word.

Through these encounters, we are invited to recognize Christ’s presence in the storms of our own lives, call out to Him in faith, and trust that He meets us where we are, restores what is broken, and provides.

In this session of Make His Path Straight, we conclude the Sermon on the Mount with Matthew Chapter 7.

Christ teaches us about judgment and discernment, calling us to first recognize our own struggles before condemning others. We then reflect on His invitation to ask, seek, and knock, the narrow gate that leads to life, and His warning that we will know others by the fruits they bear.

Finally, as the Sermon on the Mount comes to a close, Christ calls us not simply to hear His words, but to live them—building our lives upon Him as our rock and foundation, so that when the storms of life come, we may remain rooted in His loving and saving presence.

In this session of Make His Path Straight, we conclude Matthew Chapter 6 and continue through the Sermon on the Mount.

Christ calls us to consider where we place our treasure, what we allow to capture our focus, and whether we are serving God or the things of this world. We then reflect on Christ’s words, “Do not be anxious,” and His invitation to trust in the Father who knows our needs and continually provides for us.

Ultimately, Christ calls us to seek first the Kingdom of God, keeping our eyes fixed on Him and trusting that He will continue to provide everything we need as we grow in His loving and saving presence.

In this session of Make His Path Straight, we continue through the Sermon on the Mount as we begin Matthew Chapter 6.

Christ teaches us about almsgiving, prayer, forgiveness, and fasting, calling us to examine not only what we do, but the intentions behind our actions. Through the Lord’s Prayer, we are reminded to call upon God as our Father, trusting that He knows our needs and continually provides for us.

Throughout these teachings, we see that prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are not ends in themselves, but ways of deepening our relationship with God—learning to serve as He serves, call upon Him in prayer, and offer Him whatever separates us from His loving and saving presence.

Next week, God willing, we continue through Matthew Chapter 6.

The Gospel According to St. Matthew | Chapter 5 Continued

In this session of Make His Path Straight, we continue through Matthew Chapter 5 and the Sermon on the Mount, exploring Christ’s teachings on anger, reconciliation, lust, marriage, keeping our word, turning the other cheek, and loving our enemies.

Throughout these teachings, Christ calls us beyond simply following the letter of the Law and reveals its fulfillment in a life centered on love, mercy, and communion with God and one another.

Ultimately, we are reminded that we cannot perfect ourselves. Christ is the One who fills what is lacking in us, heals our divisions, and leads us toward the fullness of life in His loving and saving presence.

The Gospel According to St. Matthew | Chapter 5

In this session of Make His Path Straight, we begin Matthew Chapter 5 and the Sermon on the Mount, starting with the Beatitudes and Christ’s call to be the salt of the earth and light of the world.

Throughout these teachings, we reflect on our complete dependence upon God and what it means to live as Christ calls us to live: with humility, mercy, purity of heart, and peace.

Finally, we explore Christ’s words that He came not to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them, revealing their fullness through His loving and saving presence.

Join us as we begin our journey through the Sermon on the Mount and consider how these teachings can shape our own life in Christ.

The Gospel According to St. Matthew | Chapters 3–4

In this session of Make His Path Straight, we continue through Matthew Chapters 3–4, beginning with St. John the Baptist’s call to repentance and his role as the Forerunner who prepares the way of the Lord.

We then explore the Baptism of Christ and the revelation of the Holy Trinity, Christ’s forty days of temptation in the wilderness, and the beginning of His public ministry with the calling of Peter, Andrew, James, and John.

Throughout these chapters, we are invited to repent, follow Christ, and allow Him to transform what separates us from God, as the great Light shines in our darkness and leads us toward true life in His loving and saving presence.

Next week, God willing, we begin the Sermon on the Mount.

Welcome back to Make His Path Straight, a St. John the Baptist Bible Study! After nearly three years journeying through the letters of St. Paul, we return to the Gospels and begin our study of the Gospel According to St. Matthew.

In this opening session, we explore Matthew Chapters 1–2 and the theme of fulfillment that runs throughout the Gospel. From the genealogy of Christ and God's promises to Abraham and David, to St. Joseph, the Magi, Herod, and the flight into Egypt, Matthew reveals how the story of salvation finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

Along the way, we reflect on how God works through the messiness of human history—and the messiness of our own lives—continually providing, transforming, and calling us toward Himself.

Above all, these opening chapters remind us of the meaning of Emmanuel: “God with us.” The God revealed in Jesus Christ does not remain distant from our struggles but enters into them, meets us where we are, and calls us into new life in His loving and saving presence.

Next week, God willing, we continue with Matthew Chapters 3–4.

Join our St. John the Baptist Bible Study, as we conclude our journey through St. Paul’s Letter to Titus with the third chapter. In this session, we reflect on the saving mercy of God revealed through Jesus Christ, the renewal of our lives through the Holy Spirit, and the call to devote ourselves to good works as faithful witnesses to the Gospel in the world.

If any of these topics interest you, be sure to stream this week’s session.
Orthros begins every Sunday at 8:30 a.m., followed by Divine Liturgy at approximately 9:45 a.m.

Learn more about our community:
https://www.saintjohnthebaptist.org/

Looking for a parish near you?
https://www.goarch.org/parishes

Join our St. John the Baptist Bible Study, as we begin our journey through St. Paul’s Letter to Titus with the first and second chapters. In this session, we reflect on Paul’s instruction concerning sound doctrine, faithful leadership within the Church, and the transformative power of God's grace, which calls us to lives of holiness, self-control, and good works as we await the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If any of these topics interest you, be sure to stream this week’s session.
Orthros begins every Sunday at 8:30 a.m., followed by Divine Liturgy at approximately 9:45 a.m.

Learn more about our community:
https://www.saintjohnthebaptist.org/

Looking for a parish near you?
https://www.goarch.org/parishes