The World's Premier Online Orthodox Christian Homiletics Resource
In preaching about Biblical principles, one must be careful to avoid simple 'proof texting' to make points, but instead to see the core principles of life and freedom. Rabbi Spero makes this very clear. By Rabbi Aryeh Spero Who would have expected that in a Republican primary campaign the single biggest complaint among candidates would be that the front-runner has taken capitalism too far? As if his success and achievement were evidence of … [Read more...]
by Fr. John A. Peck Dormition is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Christian faith. Of course, this is a great preaching opportunity, so we here at Preachers Institute, are offering an article on Dormition and a few things which we hope you will find valuable as you prepare this festal sermon. 1. Preach the Gospel … [Read more...]
This article was written by someone who listens to sermons. One of the folks. The one's we preach to every week. What a surprise - they're listening. You might be surprised what they hear, and what they don't. Pay attention. It was not written to any particular priest, but distills the experience from a multitude of contemporary preachers, and every priest should be attentive to what it says. I will attempt to publish many such articles, as … [Read more...]
It is wrong for a Christian Church to be a political power, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church has argued. "The church must have no political means of exercising an influence on those in authority," Patriarch Kirill said in answering letters from televiewers in the "Pastor's Word" program on Russia's First Channel television. The church "loses public confidence" if it becomes a political player. "The church only has one way to … [Read more...]
Fr. Sergius Halvorsen was an early supporter of Preachers Institute, and we are very happy that St. Vlad's is taking homiletics seriously. We hope that the new hybrid D.Min. will also include a 'Homiletics' major, but this remains to be seen. Congratulations, Fr. Serge! Fr. Sergius Halvorsen Joins Faculty, Institutes Homiletics Course and D.Min. Hybrid Program February 18, 2011 • Deborah (Malacky) Belonick “Renewing St. Vladimir’s … [Read more...]
by Fr. John Behr A lecture delivered by Fr John Behr, Dean of St Vladimir’s Theological Seminary, at the parish of St John Chrysostom Orthodox Church, House Springs, Missouri, September 29, 2007, on the occasion of the 1600th Anniversary of St John’s repose. In his oration of thanks to his teacher, St Gregory the Wonderworker commented: For a mighty and energetic thing is the discourse of man, and subtle with its sophisms, and … [Read more...]
by St. Irenaeus of Lyons Against Heresies, Book 4, Chapters 7, 10, 11, 23 Therefore Abraham also, knowing the Father through the Word, who made heaven and earth, confessed Him to be God; and having learned, by an announcement [made to him], that the Son of God would be a man among men, by whose advent his seed should be as the stars of heaven, he desired to see that day, so that he might himself also embrace Christ; and, seeing it through … [Read more...]
by St. Gregory Palamas Our father among the saints Gregory Palamas (1296-1359), Archbishop of Thessalonica, was a monk of Mount Athos in Greece (at Vatopedi and Esphigmenou Monasteries), and later became Archbishop of Thessalonica. His feast days in the Church are Nov. 14 and the 2nd Sunday of Great Lent. David indicates that our Lord Jesus Christ has no genealogy with regard to His divinity (Ps. 110:4), Isaiah says the same (Isa. 53:8), … [Read more...]
by Fr. John A. Peck Well, friends, it is that time in our exercise. There's no shame in it. Blogging has become difficult. We're hitting 'the wall' in this marathon. Runners know what 'the wall' is. It's that wonderful experience you just have to push through. It's tough. It's all will power. Now for those of you who took up the challenge of the 30 (40) Days of Blogging, first let me congratulate you for takinng the challenge. Second, for … [Read more...]
Well begun is half done. Aristotle, Politics We are officially half way through our 30(40) Days of Blogging exercise! I bet you didn't know that it was Aristotle who first wrote the above quote, but I digress. Congratulations to all of our bloggers, and especially those who continue to blog daily throughout the Nativity fast. Best thing to do it to write your blog entry NOW. Sometimes it gets tough trying get something out every day … [Read more...]
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