St Mark Sermons

Tune in as Sam explores how different Saints found rest in Jesus Christ and delves into the things that we can do in our daily lives to find peace and rest in Him.

In this inspiring talk from St. Demiana, TX - Fr. Simon explores how to live out the virtues of faith, hope, and love in our daily ministries. He explains that faith is a divine gift received through humility, hope is what sustains our hard work, and love is best shown through acts of mercy. It is a beautiful reflection on how these core Christian values are not just ideas but should be lived out actively to truly impact the lives of those around us for the glory of God.

Wisdom Through Faith

In this sermon, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores how people often deceive themselves by distorting truth to fit their own desires, using the example of how John the Baptist and Christ were unfairly judged. Fr. Matthias highlights common signs of self-deception, such as applying double standards, ignoring evidence, blaming others for personal failings, renaming sins to avoid responsibility, and believing one is always the exception. He explains the dangers of prioritizing being right over seeking truth and encourages humility, honest self-examination, and genuine confession. Fr. Matthias offers practical ways to overcome self-deception, including justifying God rather than ourselves, asking questions that...

In this talk, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the role and virtues of the Virgin St. Mary in the Orthodox Church as presented by HH Pope Shenouda III. He discusses her unique faith that endured suffering without complaint, highlighting her acceptance of God's plan despite hardships, including witnessing Christ’s persecution and crucifixion. Fr. Matthias emphasizes the humility and obscurity that defined her life, contrasting her virtues with human desires for recognition. He explains the theological significance behind Marian hymns and icons, illustrating her position as the Theotokos, the Mother of God, always depicted with Christ to honor her role in sa...

The devil doesn't tempt us to leave the service. Instead, little by little, he tempts us to make ministry less about loving Christ and more about loving service and ourselves. Tune in as His Eminence reveals to us the signs we should look out for in our own service, so we may be more like that 'mind' of Christ which St Paul wrote about! "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking...

It's often easy to get lost in the responsibilities of service; preparing lessons, attending servant retreats, organising Church events. However, we should not forget about inwardly growing and continuing to press towards the true goal... Christ! Those we serve should not just hear about Christ from us, but encounter Christ through us. Tune in as HE Bishop Youssef speaks about how to 'press towards the goal, that I may know Him', as St Paul writes in Philippians, and more importantly to have the heart of wanting to know Him more.

The Church chooses for us the parable of the wicked vinedressers as we near the end of the Coptic year, and for very good reason! We are constantly reminded through the last major month of the year of the significance of being ready for the account we will give to God. Tune in as His Eminence dives into this parable with a whole new lens, and it's direct parallel to our own lives!

"And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house." (Mark 3:25-27) In the passage of today's Gospel, the passage not only speaks about our own spiritual warfare, but also the condition of our hearts, our family, and the Church. Tune in as His Eminence explains how all of these pieces link!

As we near the end of the Coptic year, why does the Church remind us that the world will end? How do we examine ourselves for our readiness? What does Christ mean when He speaks about the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet? Tune in with HE Bishop Youssef to find out!

The Gospel teaches that Jesus rejoices not in our achievments or reputation, but when people return to God, become teachable, see his Holiness with renewed wonder, and put their faith into action.

Fr Anthony Messeh goes through Chapter 6 of Romans, focusing on St. Paul’s teaching that baptism unites us with Christ’s death and resurrection, freeing us from slavery to sin and calling us to walk in newness of life.

Fr Anthony Messeh goes through Chapter 6 of Romans, focusing on St. Paul’s teaching that baptism unites us with Christ’s death and resurrection, freeing us from slavery to sin and calling us to walk in newness of life.

The sermon reflects on the beginning of the Coptic New Year and St. John the Baptist’s call to change, challenging Christians to approach the Church not as spectators but as people seeking healing and transformation. It identifies self-awareness, the fear of God, and actively doing God’s word as essential to repentance and genuine change. Pasted text

The Living Word Bible Study goes through Chapter 6 of 1 Timothy with Anthony Zaccariotto, exploring St. Paul’s call to pursue godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness while guarding against pride, greed, false teaching, and the love of money. The study emphasises finding contentment in God, living as a faithful Christian example, generously sharing what God has given us, and prioritising eternal life and our relationship with God over worldly possessions and success.

St. John the Baptist and the martyrs are presented as examples of unwavering faith, refusing to bend to political or social pressure even at the cost of their lives. The sermon challenges Christians to consider whether they are like reeds shaped by the opinions around them or whether, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they will stand firmly for Christ and live within His Kingdom. Pasted text

When we think of leadership, we often think of authority and being in charge. But Jesus showed us that true leadership is about serving others. He said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” — Mark 10:45

Joseph is a type of Christ in the Old Testament. How exactly? Dr Bas tells us some of the how's and how that applies to us today

The dichotomy of our flesh vs the spirit is one that we engage with everyday and will engage with for our whole lives. Sam Hermena helps us to learn more about this daily struggle and how to combat it.

Know yourself. St John the Baptist was the greatest born of women and yet for us if we hold fast to Christ we are greater than he. It is enough then to know yourself as St John did by saying that he must decrease and Christ must increase. This is a model and example for all of us to know ourselves so that we may realise that without God we are nothing. In turn this leads us to cry out to him with three words that encapsulate all of salvation, "Lord have mercy".

The hearts of many will grow cold. Our Lord teaches us that in the last days many hearts will grow cold from within the faithful. Yet he who watches to the end will be saved and will inherit the crown of life. Let us all press on to take hold of the prize set before us and that we may remain faithful, our hearts warm and aflame with the love of God.

A message about making Christ the true treasure of our lives and realizing that following Him isn’t about what we give up, but about what we gain. A reminder to put Christ first and seek Him with joy.

What makes or breaks a life is NOT the events that happen to us, but rather how we choose to respond to the events that happen to us! All of us are living in the same world // All of us deal with people // All of us have various tribulations // All of us have weaknesses. Yet some of us are joyful and living life to the fullest while some of us are miserable. What are the lies that we so readily believe and what is the TRUTH?

Have you ever considered that in the parable of the pearl of great price, the merchant might not be you, but Christ himself? The Syrian Church Fathers saw it from this stunning angle: Christ is the merchant who sold everything, who "did not cling to his glory," to purchase the Church as His special treasure. This sermon explores: The Syrian Fathers' reading of Matthew 13:45, where Christ is the merchant seeking the pearl How God called His people "a special treasure" from as early as Exodus 19:5 The connection between God's covenant calling and our response of obedience St. Paul and St...

What makes someone the greatest person who ever lived? It's not miracles, accomplishments, or recognition. According to Christ himself, it was John the Baptist, a man with no recorded miracles, whose entire life did one thing: point to Jesus. As we begin a new Coptic year, this sermon asks a beautifully uncomfortable question: who is the main character of your story? This sermon explores: Why Christ called John the Baptist the greatest born among women, despite having no recorded miracles The temptation to make ourselves the center of our own story and how it echoes the fall of Satan How...

"To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27

A Common Theme Among The Saints - The Greatest Virtue

Fr Michael Sorial gives a powerful sermon on the meaning of the Coptic New Year and what it takes to have a spiritually successful year in our Lord Jesus Christ, by making a transformation of your old heart into the Heart of our Lord.

Join Fr Anthony in Part 3 of 'Not Even a Hint' as he explains that the battle against lust and impurity requires us to make steady progress toward Christ by identifying triggers, while also being grounded in God's grace

Fr Paul Baky teaches us that the Coptic New Year is meaningful only when it brings a new heart and genuine change through repentance.

In the first Sunday of the Coptic New Year, Fr Lazarus Yassa teaches us that God calls us to respond immediately to His warnings and blessings, leave behind sin, and begin a renewed life with Christ.

Fr Anthony Mourad teaches us to begin the Coptic New Year by renewing our faithfulness to God, following the example of the martyrs and saints who trusted His promises.

Fr Anthony Mourad teaches us to begin the Coptic New Year by renewing our faithfulness to God, following the example of the martyrs and saints who trusted His promises.

In this talk, Fr. Simon reflects on the significance of new beginnings as we enter the Coptic New Year. He shares how we can dedicate the start of our days, weeks, and seasons to God, moving beyond just going through the motions. By focusing on intentional prayer, maintaining integrity in our studies and careers, and nurturing our relationships and families with a Christ-centered approach, we can build a stronger foundation for the future and truly reap the blessings of a faithful life.

Fr. Matthias Shehad concludes his series on 2 Timothy 3:7, exploring why people are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” He examines different types of learning that fall short of true spiritual understanding, such as focusing solely on worldly wisdom, reading scripture without faith or application, and being distracted by life’s cares. Fr. Matthias discusses the consequences of pursuing worldly wisdom, including grief, despair, vanity, and ultimately destruction. Drawing from biblical books like Ecclesiastes and Proverbs, he highlights how worldly success fails to satisfy the soul or provide lasting joy. He emphasizes the need to cho...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores St. Paul's message to Timothy about the last days, focusing on the phrase "always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." He examines how increasing knowledge, especially worldly or superficial, does not necessarily lead to true understanding or closeness to God. Fr. Matthias discusses different types of learning that fail to bring one to truth, such as learning without faith, application, or experience. He highlights barriers to knowing the truth, including pride, laziness, ignorance, unrepentant sin, and being distracted by worldly cares. These obstacles prevent believers from experiencing a genuine relationship...

In this talk, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the nature of knowledge and its role in coming to the truth. He begins by examining why worldly knowledge, despite its usefulness, does not lead to the ultimate truth about God or eternal life, as it is limited to the physical world. Fr. Matthias also discusses the pitfalls of studying the Bible purely as literature or history without recognizing it as the inspired Word of God meant for transformation and instruction in righteousness. He emphasizes the importance of faith in receiving and benefitting from the Gospel, explaining that evidence differs from absolute proof...

Fr. Matthias explores the meaning of “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord” from Psalm 112 through the lens of early Church scholar Tertullian. He highlights key aspects of the fear of God, including devout church attendance, modesty in appearance and behavior, and the importance of unity within the body of Christ. Fr. Matthias emphasizes the necessity of gathering with the Church for spiritual growth, participation in the sacraments, and mutual encouragement. He explains how modesty reflects the reverence due to God’s house and why unity among believers strengthens the Church’s mission. Using biblical references and practical examples, he chall...

Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his series on "Blessed Is the Man Who Fears the Lord," exploring the meaning of fear of God as seriousness, diligence, and persistent spiritual effort. He discusses the importance of consistency in faith, comparing the spiritual life to a marathon requiring ongoing dedication rather than short bursts of zeal. Fr. Matthias explains the significance of safeguarding communion by defending the Orthodox faith and highlights good works as a reflection of genuine obedience to God’s commandments. He also addresses submission to authority within the Church, emphasizing obedience even when it challenges personal understanding, and shares stories fr...

Fr. Matthias Shehad begins a new series exploring the meaning of the fear of the Lord. He clarifies that fearing God is not about terror but reverence, respect, and a relationship rooted in love. Drawing on the teachings of early Church scholar Tertullian, Fr. Matthias outlines characteristics of fearing God, such as seriousness, diligence, self-examination, repentance, and carefulness in daily life. He emphasizes the importance of living intentionally in faith—through consistent Bible reading, prayer, and aligning one’s life with God’s standards. Using examples from Scripture, including King David and King Saul, Fr. Matthias illustrates how true seriousness in fai...