English Bible Study

H.G. Bishop Rewis of East Asia gives the sermon on how to have a repentant heart during the Holy 50 days which is a time of joy and hope.

Fr. Mark gives the Sunday sermon on being the light of the world.

Fr. Benjamin gives a sermon on being the light of the world and focusing on the question: Who are you reflecting?

The Samaritan Woman During the Holy 50 Days - Fr. Benjamin Girgis by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

الثبات مع المسيح - نيافة الأنبا أنيانوس by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

The Testimony of the Samaritan Woman - Fr. Mark Hanna by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

أنا هو خبز الحياة – أبونا مارك حنا by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

Fr. Benjamin gives the sermon on the gospel of the 2nd week of the Holy 50 days. The gospel is John 6:35-45, which is about the bread of life and Christ's proclamation as the bread of life.

The growth of children is a reflection of their parents' love and bond. If the parents focus on feeding their love, figuring out how to manage conflict, not letting any schism come between them – instructing their children and helping them through constant guidance on their path towards salvation comes naturally and makes them see and feel life in a different way. This week's Bible study sheds light on how wisdom is utilized in raising and instructing children.

A man's success depends on the prudence of the wife. The house's success depends on the communication and dealing of conflict between the husband and the wife. While many seek to build a successful life through careful planning while the foundation is built on seeking foolish gratification. This week's Bible study takes us on a journey to discover the important pillars of marriage and the means that God uses to join two together.

Fr. Mark gives the sermon on the day of Great Friday of the Holy Pascha. He focuses on the words of our Lord on the cross, specifically, when He said "I Thirst". He focuses on the theological meaning and the spiritual depth behind those words.

Fr. Benjamin gives the sermon on Great Friday. He gives the sermon concerning the lamentations of Jeremiah and the suffering of Our Lord on this day.

Fr. Benjamin gives the sermon on the eve of Great Friday. He focuses on the pressure that our Lord was experiencing at the time, the prayer in Gethsemane, what our Lords priorities were that night, and how this should affect our priorities.

Fr. Kyrillos gives the sermon on the eve of Wednesday concerning the parable of the 10 virgins.

Fr. Mark gives the sermon on the eve of Tuesday of the blessed pascha week.

Fr. Mauritius gives the sermon on the Eve of Monday.

Fr. Benjamin gives the sermon on the gospel of the 6th Sunday of Lent concerning the gospel of the man born blind. Fr. Benjamin connects this Sunday's gospel and readings to our journey of Lent. Fr. Benjamin focuses on the importance of not only seeing things along this journey but understanding the journey, just as the blind mind at first saw who Our Lord was but then understood who Our Lord Jesus Christ is.

Fr. Mauritius gives the sermon on the 6th Sunday of Lent concerning the gospel of the man born blind.

The main thing we must seek and build off all relationships must be wisdom. Especially in marriage. Societal norms push us for a certain ideal, while God's heart desires for us to seal off all things with wisdom. A righteous man who walks in integrity, will want all branches and all his relationships to be founded in truth and honesty.

Dr. George Doss gives the 3rd talk in a series concerning the saints of March with St. Pishoy Kamel Dr. George gives us the historical context, especially that surrounds the history of Alexandria and its revival before jumping into Fr. Pishoy's life and his impact on the modern history of the Coptic Church in Alexandria and abroad, while also sharing his personal memories with Fr. Pishoy.

Wisdom is one of the most emphasized traits in Proverbs, and it often highlights the importance of having a heart that desires righteousness and honors God. Fr Mina discusses how living with integrity is essential for a fulfilling life, and how patience and understanding are key in building strong, healthy relationships

Dr. George Doss gives the 2nd talk in series concerning the saints of March with Pope Shenouda III. Dr. George gives us the historical context before jumping into Pope Shenouda's life and his impact on the modern history of the Coptic Church and how his impact continues to be seen today.

Fr. Kyrillos gives the sermon on the 3rd week of lent concerning the prodigal son.

Fr. Mark gives the sermon on the 3rd Sunday of lent concerning the prodigal son.

This week's Bible study guides us through the dangers of spending time alone in isolation. God had meant that we live communally saying that it is not good for man to be alone, hence, He created the whole Body to worship in communal prayer and strengthen one another. One who settles on staying in isolation desires to fulfill his own desires, whatever that may be from boredom which leads to lust. A person who does not desire to discover the true meaning of life, ends up hating himself.

Dr. George Doss begins a series on the saints of the month of March with St. Pope Kyrillos VI. Dr. George gives us some historical context before jumping into Pope Kyrillos' life and his impact on the modern history of the Coptic Church.

Fr. Mark gives the sermon on the 2nd Sunday of lent concerning the temptation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fr. Benjamin gives the sermon during the 2nd Sunday of lent concerning the temptation of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

This week's Bible study's emphasis was on parental relationships as the lack of its proper development is a huge social issue. A man full of understanding grows from his roots upward, becoming a long tree which withstands the devil's attacks. These roots grow from within the family dynamic.

Fr. Mark gives the sermon concerning the gospel of the first week of Lent, Matthew 6:19-33.

Fr. Benjamin gives the sermon concerning the gospel of the first week of Lent, Matthew 6:19-33.

Making intentional decisions can make a huge impact in our lives. Choices and decisions are presented before us daily, every day gives us active choices to make, every day becomes an active choice between foolishness and righteousness to lead our lives. God gave us the book of Proverbs as the foundation of Christian ethics. This passage emphasizes what the pillars of our relationships with others are. Everyday there is wisdom that enters our hearts and changes our ways.

Fr. Benjamin gives the sermon on the Sunday Gospel before lent, on how to prepare for the great fast.

Fr. Mark gives the sermon on the Sunday Gospel before lent, on how to prepare for the great fast.

تقديمات الطفل - أبونا مارك حنا by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

Increase my Faith - Fr. Mina Dimitri by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

Inward control over our spirit is better than physical feasting. There are banquets people seek to host while within the household there is strife, such banquets the Lord is not pleased with because it is better to have a house full of quiet. Thus, our happiness does not lie in such things and not in thinking that tomorrow will grant us happiness. Happiness is found when one looks at the present moment and chooses to use it as best he could. While pain that is not transformed is transmitted by afflicting it upon others, but he who covers shame makes an active choice of doing the work of God who covers all transgression. These points summarized the first half of this week's Bible study. From verses 7-9, we learn that eloquence is a gift that is not granted to the fool. The fool only produces curses and empty speech while blaming his heart saying “I am just saying what is on my heart”, declaring that in the depth of his heart he is saying ‘there is no God, who is Lord over us'. Our lives are affected by everything that we allow to enter into it. We concluded with the importance of mercy over those who cannot give back: that is the Christian standard.

This passage of the book of Proverbs starts with the wellspring that God waters us with. Such wellspring Christ spoke of during His ministry, saying that no one will thirst if they rely on this wellspring to quench them all the days of their lives. This wellspring is nothing short of the fruit of the Spirit Himself. Those of love, joy, peace and excitement over every day as it is a gift from God. The passage then splits up into speaking regarding a fork in the road that separates pleasantness and maliciousness. Highlighting that we become human when we are described as prudent. Such prudence dominates over one's life in the way he labors. The source of his life becomes God, who is His only Provider.

Fr. Augustine gives the sermon on the gospel of the Good Shepherd in John chapter 10, he focuses on how we can be good sheep for the Shepherd. Given 2/14/2025.

The founder of all ethics and morals is the Christian faith. This week guides us through the fruit of a loving union with God. It makes God pleased with us hence even our enemies are at peace with us. God then guides His steps even though man's heart may plan other things and have aspirations. He fills everything with His grace, even our ability to pray to Him. When God takes over one's life in such a way, the person bears wisdom which allows him to navigate all situations in his life whether that be work life, interpersonal relationships, and holding onto the present moment so tightly as it is a gift of God. We conclude this week by looking at the fruit of inner wisdom that is – the tongue. Wisdom starts with heading to words that are being spoken then with sweetness questioning back or answering.

This week's Bible study elaborates on the reality of how God weighs the soul. There is a scale that measures righteousness and foolishness. One side measures acts of justice, love and service and the other side measures sin and iniquity. Man's eyes may deceive him into seeing his righteous works to be of value while God searches his spirit.

His Grace Bishop Daniel, the abbot of St. Paul's Red Sea monastery gives the sermon on 7 ways that can help you change. This sermon was given at St. Marys on 10/12/2024

Melismatic Praxis Response, long "Shere ne Maria" as prayed by St. Mary's Church deacons led by Diakon Philopateer on New Year's Eve during the month of Kiahk.

We continue our journey of understanding the importance of the heart in respect to one's spiritual life. God must be in the center of the heart and when we fail to put Him as the center of our lives, then one's ego becomes the center in His place. The heart, as it is the place one meets with God, it then must be guarded as the most intimate of chambers. If this guard is put down even for just one hour, the person quickly succumbs to sin. Fr Mina elaborates on how our senses have an effect on our heart and its journey to seeking God.

Wisdom is one of the most emphasized traits in Proverbs, and it often highlights the importance of having a heart that desires righteousness and honors God. Fr Mina discusses how living with integrity is essential for a fulfilling life, and how patience and understanding are key in building strong, healthy relationships. A simple, humble life focused on love and faith is far more valuable than the pursuit of material wealth. This week we go through different examples from the Bible to illustrate these lessons, encouraging us to grow closer to God while also nurturing deep, meaningful connections with our families and communities. Throughout, the message is one of seeking wisdom, living with purpose, and practicing love and respect in all areas of life.

This week's Bible study highlights key points: the righteous person is full of peace and joy, and constantly knows where he stands on the way of salvation. Wisdom can be used to be shared towards the love for others or it can be used to harm them. Monastics give good advice about relationships even though they are hermits because they learned how to truly love. They have been with Lord Love. Once I belittle the truth my heart will become hardened to receive it. The rest of Bible study this week continues to present to us what defines the heart.

The heart is the source and fountain of life, from it all issues of life spring forth. Wisdom rests in the heart and gives clarity. Another Proverb says “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”. If the heart is such a focus for the functions of one's life then how does it get nourished so that it may be brought to the kingdom? The answer is in small words but takes a lifetime of practice: love, wisdom and discernment. This concluded chapter 14. Chapter 15 starts with teaching the benefits of soft answers in turning away wrath. We are always one word away from quenching or fueling a fire. Sometimes that word is staying in silence.

Fr Mina jumpstarts this week's Bible study by recounting the life of Pope Kyrillos the Sixth. Mocked and belittled in the eyes of laymen and clergy yet by his prayers the Coptic Church was saved after a great period of darkness and ignorance. His holiness and closeness to God was not realized until he was on his deathbed about to be welcomed by our Savior into His kingdom for his faithfulness over his service. This week's Proverbs verses and Fr Mina's commentary on it guides us through how we are like the ignorant who does not value holiness in disguise.

Morality is the rule of life but God invites us to a way deeper life, if morality says to be just, Christ says to love your enemies. Hence, doing things with intention behind it is a great key to life. The common ground between natural human bonds is based on virtue. Wisdom and foolishness are two extremes, but the virtue of discernment is moderation. Human beings tend to belittle the sinful nature of sin through mockery. All evil comes because of the inability for a human being to sit by themselves in a room. The heart knows exactly the intentions, the things that a human being seeks and goes after. And no one is able to handle sitting and searching into it. We have to search the heart and notice when there are new things being introduced to my heart. For example, something that didn't anger me now angers me. “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul” (Psalm 94:19). Our society does a really good job at keeping us distracted from the true calling of God that lets us dwell in joy. Fr. Mina encapsulates the point behind the proverb by mentioning the story of Voltaire at his deathbed said “I can feel the presence of God” and he told his doctors he would give them half his money if they were to let him live 6 more months to fix his life.

The book of Proverbs has no grey area, a person is either righteous or wicked. This week's Bible study highlights our lives as faithful Christians. The definition of a human being can only be defined in his relation to God. Our feelings, thoughts and motivations are not constant; they change often, but the purpose and definition of a person is only in God, who is eternal. When we desire greatness we must accompany ourselves with the greatest. And if we want to be wise we must not be blown to and fro with the smallest things we hear but recognize where our dynamics with others stand. Our goal is eternal life, everything else is a means to direct us to the goal!

Fr. Joseph gives the Sunday sermon concerning the gospel of the young rich man and what we ought to do.