All Saints Homilies and Teachings

Part 2 of our 2025 Trinitytide Sermon Series

We discuss the sixth ecumenical council, yet another attempt to reconcile the increasingly fractured early church. The controversy at hand is whether Christ has two “energies” and two wills, a human and a divine. We also touch on the contemporary debate over the “eternal subordination of the Son in Reformed circles.

We discuss the fifth ecumenical council, which attempted to reconcile the churches of Syria and Egypt with the rest of the Church. The question at hand: how can Christ's human nature be a true nature without having its now personhood distinct from the Divine Person of the Logos?

Part 1 of our 2025 Trinitytide Sermon Series

Text: Matthew 16:13-19.

We discuss Monophysitism, the ongoing struggles between Antioch and Alexandria, the final “creed” of the Patristic era, and the ongoing schisms in the East.

In today's class we discuss the heresy of Nestorianism, its connection to Pelagianism, the Marian title "Theotokos," and how the theological distinction between justification and sanctification remains important today.

For further reading, see chapters 3 and 4 of TheCruelty of Heresy by C. FitzSimons Allison.

As a preface to the 3rd Council, we discuss the British monk Pelagius, and why his teaching was condemned by St. Augustine.

Texts: Acts 2:1ff, John 14:15ff, 1 Corinthians 12:4ff,Luke 11:9ff

We conclude our discussion of the First Council of Constantinople, 381AD, the second ecumenical council. We continue to discuss the theological controversies of semi-Arianism and Appolinarianism, as well as some of the issues covered in the canons.

See the Conqueror Mounts in Triumph1. See the Conqu'ror mounts in triumph; see the King in royal state, Riding on the clouds, his chariot, to his heav'nly palace gate.Hark the choirs of angel voices joyful alleluias sing,And the portals high are lifted to receive their heav'nly King.2. He who on the cross did suffer, He who from the grave arose,He has vanquished sin and Satan; He by death has spoiled his foes.While he lifts his hands in blessing, He is parted from his friends,While their eager eyes behold him, He upon the clouds ascends.3. Now our heav'nly Aaron enters, with his blood, within the veil;Joshua is come to Canaan, and the kings before him quail;Now he plants the tribes of Israel in their promised resting place;Now our great Elijah offers double portion of his grace.4. Thou hast raised our human nature on the clouds to God's right hand;There we sit in heav'nly places, there with thee in glory stand.Jesus reigns, adored by angels; Man with God is on the throne;Mighty Lord, in thine ascension, we by faith behold our own.

We begin a discussion of Constatninople 1, the 2nd Ecumenical Council (381AD). We cover the historical background and some of the theological implications of the main controversy (Semi-Arianism). Next week we will discuss the canons and creed from the Council.

Texts: John 14 & James 1

Mr. AJ Ellis concludes his discussion on Christology. We look at Nestorianism, Docetism, and Ebionism. The Anglican Compass series, "We Believe: Reflections on the Nicene Creed" can be found here.

Text: 1 Samuel 2:1-10

This week we have a guest presenter, Mr. A.J. Ellis, who is discerning a call to the Vocational Diaconate. In this episode, A.J. leads us in a discussion on how our understanding of Christ impacts our understanding of our own Salvation, an issue at the very heart of the Ecumenical Councils.

Texts: 1 Peter 2:19-25, 5:1-8

We discuss the background, people, and events related to the First Council of Nicaea (325 AD), including the Arian controversy, the school of Antioch vs the school of Alexandria, and the original version of the Nicene Creed.

Text: John 20:19ff

Text: Isaiah 25:1-9

We give a brief overview of the Seven Ecumenical Councils and discuss our general relationship to them as Anglicans.

Main Text: Philippians 2:5-11

We begin our study of the Ecumenical Councils by discussion the major kinds of Christological and Trinitarian heresies, and what problem in the human heart they stem from. Much of today's discussion is based on material from Bishop C. FitzSimmon-Allison's "The Cruelty of Heresy" which can be found here.

Text: John 8:46-end

Text: John 6:1-14

We conclude our study of the Didache with a discussion of Sunday worship, the local pastor/bishop, and the 2nd Coming of Christ. The text of the Didache can be read here

Text: Luke 11:14-28

This week we get into some of the Early Church's ecclesiology. Most importantly, we discuss how to tell true teachers, preachers, and missionaries from false ones.The text of the Didache can be found here

Text: Matthew 15:21-28

The full text of the Didache can be found here.

Text: Matthew 4:1ff

Texts: Joel 2:12ff, Matthew 6:16ff

As we begin Lent, we have an addendum to Chapter 8, discussing some advice and customs as to what fasting, prayer, and giving may look like in a modern Anglican context.

Text: Luke 18:31-43, 1 Corinthians 13

In today's calss we discuss baptism, fasting, and early Jewish/Christian relations. The text of the Didache can be found hereThe interview between Joe Colletti and Fr. Brandon LeTourneau (two Anglican converts from Judaism) can be found on Joe's channel, "Young Anglican"

Texts: Luke 8:4-15, Hebrews 6:4-9, Jeremiah 4:3

We continue our discussion of the Didache, the earliest extrabiblical Christian work. The text of the Didache can be found herehttps://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0714.htm

Text: 1 Corinthians 9:24-end

We continue our readthrough and discussion of the Didache looking at the love of neighbor and a litany of forbidden sins.

Texts: Luke 2:22ff, Malachi 3:1ff

Text: John 2:1-11

We continue our discussion of the relationship between Scripture and Tradition in the Anglican Way with a brief reading from the Book of Homilies, and a discussion of relevant portions of the 39 Articles of Religion.

Text: Mark 3:1-11 & Parallel Passages

As a Preface to our class on the Didache, we discuss the relationship between Scripture and Tradition. This week we look at three famous quotes on the topic from St. Vincent of Lerins, Bishop Lancelot Andrewes, and the Rev. Richard Hooker.

Texts: Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 2:41-52

Text: Matthew 2:13-23 - The Holy Family's Flight to and Return from Egypt

A guest homily by the Rev. Zachary Nash

Texts: John 1:1ff, Hebrews 1:1ff, Luke 2:1ff, "O Come, All Ye Faithful"

Texts: Philippians 4:4ff & John 1:19ff

We continue our Advent reflections by discussing the ordained ministry