English Bible Study

Our motives and the way we think form our morals and how close we are able to be with God. The church motivates us to spend time in solitude because it allows us to listen to the Word of God and act on it without external factors. It is important to keep in mind that if we do not keep in mind the commandments of God, his blessings will vomit us out. If we run after the worldly friendships and environments while forsaking the Word of God, we will find ourselves without long-lasting friendships and without the blessings of God. We should run to God alone. When we seek company and friendship, we should seek those we can give to, those we can be selfless with. If we seek friendships with Spirit as our guide, God will unite us. A heart that wants to listen and benefit from God should prepare through love, fasting, and prayer. In the next section, Abouna Mina will discuss what it means to have the right heart to listen to the Word of God.

We have a problem with trusting God. This gives way to a burdensome life filled with anxiety and doubt. The solution to this is to place our troubles in front of God and forget them. By forgetting our worries we can focus our lives on God's true purpose for us. Our responsibility, as children of God, is to care for those in need. The scripture provides a clear guide for us on how to live our lives with the goal of heaven in mind. This section of proverbs in particular provides us with a variety of sayings on topics like the importance of almsgiving, prayer, and the necessity of discipline in our lives.

Since sin, death and corruption entered the world man has been living while facing two ends of a spectrum. Faced daily with challenges that challenge him on which one to choose. On one end he is faced with laziness which bears down the soul not to follow what God and the church has set for us, resulting in quenching of the spirit of prophecy. Another end is to choose to be uncomfortable and at an inconvenience so we can walk with God. On that road man is invited to learn that it is not about the temptation of being on the other side of the challenging spectrum of choices in life but rather about letting God fight for you so you could be won over to the follow the righteous life.

While material possessions create a difference between people, God binds both together. The Lord has made the rich and poor. Our Lord has given us a commandment to watch over the poor. An opportunity to love; thus man should not seek it as an opportunity to exploit and create divisions. The continuation of Bible study takes us through the different facets of love and care for others, from those who are in our first circle to the ones in our outermost circles.

The knowledge of the wise fills them with abundance, while the greed of the foolish destroys their wealth. In our spiritual lives, we can either continuously hear the word of God or we can meditate on it. The foolish will swallow nice words but the wise will act on it. The foolish are brought down by their laziness but the wise are uplifted by their struggles. God rewards the struggle and effort of the wise. Abouna Mina then discusses how the Lord has the final word over all, and our path to victory is only through Him.

Our eyes are attracted to many things. The eyes are windows to our hearts, so what attracts our eyes shows us what resides in our hearts. As children of God, we are created with a calling embedded in us to be sensitive to the cry of the poor. Moreover, when we fail to meet our calling our prayers are blocked and unheard from God. This Bible study takes us on a heart and eye opening journey through what poverty is and why it is present so that the rich may be saved.

This week's Bible study guides us through a few important spiritual topics. Young people have health and physical resources and old people have wisdom. And neither should look down upon the other. Wisdom is gained from living a righteous life, hence a person is only able to pass onto his kids such wisdom. The fruit of that wisdom are 3 pillars: charity, discipline and obedience.

This week's Bible study touches on the values of honesty and integrity. It reminds us of how God sees what is truly in our hearts, regardless of our outward appearance. Fr. Mina explains to us how certain successes like sudden wealth can make us lose wisdom and our sense of humility. He then explains the importance of respecting our parents and consistently seeking guidance and counsel from those wiser than us. This is how we maintain the virtues of honesty, integrity, and discernment.

This week's Bible study touches on the values of honesty and integrity. It reminds us of how God sees what is truly in our hearts, regardless of our outward appearance. Fr. Mina explains to us how certain successes like sudden wealth can make us lose wisdom and our sense of humility. He then explains the importance of respecting our parents and consistently seeking guidance and counsel from those wiser than us. This is how we maintain the virtues of honesty, integrity, and discernment.

A wonderful restart of Bible study this week with a recap by Fr Mina on the 3 books of Solomon with an emphasis on what the book of Proverbs explains to us — the basis of moral life. Fulfilling the will of God is directly related to happiness in eternity. Fr Mina elaborates on the sinful paths of alcohol consumption as the verse says it is a mocker. We then shift the focus onto the flame of love for God and calling Him Lord, as well as wise counsel.

Avoiding Complacency - Fr. Benjamin Girgis by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

كيف أدخل إلى الأعماق بعلاقتي مع ربنا - أبونا مينا دميتري by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

حياة الاستعداد والصلاة - أبونا مرقس حبيب by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

كونوا ساهرين حتى النهاية - أبونا كيرلس سعيد by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

ما هي إرادة الله في حياتي؟ - أبونا مارك حنا by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

Dr. Mourad gives the sermon on how we ought to live as those who are transformed into the Image of God.

Fr. Benjamin gives the Sunday sermon concerning on how to be full time Christians.

Fr. Benjamin gives the sermon on the eve of the revealing of the Assumption of St. Mary. He speaks on what it means to hunger and thirst for righteousness and the blessing that comes along with this hunger.

Fr. Jacob gives the sermon on the 15th night of Nahda concerning the Praise of St. Mary.

Dr. Hani Ashmalla gives the sermon on the 14th night of Nahda, concerning the life and lessons we can learn from St. Joseph the Carpenter.

Fr. Augustine gives the sermon on the 13th night of Nahda during the vespers of the feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord.

Our very own Fr. Mark gives the sermon on the 12th night of Nahda on the person of Nehemiah and what we can learn from this great character.

Fr. Michael gives the sermon on the 11th night of Nahda on the Power of the Resurrection in our lives and what the truly means.

Fr. Daniel gives the sermon on the 10th night of Nahda on how Chris is in each and every one of us.

Fr. Abraham gives the sermon on the 9th night of Nahda concerning the person of Joseph, the son of Jacob.

Fr. John gives the sermon on the 8th night of Nahda on how to live according to the Spirit.

Fr. Samuel gives the sermon on the 7th night of Nahda on how to live in alignment with God.

Fr. Bishoy Kamel gives the sermon the 6th night of Nahda concerning Noah.

Fr. Yacoub Ghaly gives the sermon on 5th night of Nahda.

Dr. Mourad Takla gives the sermon on the 4th night of Nahda concerning the Life of Grace, Law, and the Spirit. Dr. Takla expounds on these themes, especially in the book of Romans.

Fr. Mauritius gives the sermon on the 3rd night of Nahda concerning practical spirituality and how we can benefit from this period of fasting.

Fr. Abraam begins our Nahda series about Old Testament saints with the life of the Patriarch Jacob.

Fr. Raphael gives the sermon on the first night of Nahda about our mother St. Mary.

Hearing the Message of God - Fr. Benjamin Girgis by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

The Parable of the Vineyard and the Vinedresser - Fr. Mark Hanna by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

مثل الكرم والكرامين - أبونا كيرلس سعيد by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

God's Perfect Timing - Fr. Benjamin Girgis by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

Faith in God - Fr. Mark Iskander by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

Fr. Mina gives the sermon on being pure of heart. He explains the gospel of the day, which is when our Lord Jesus Christ performed a miracle to pay taxes. He explains that St. Peter and Our Lord paying the same amount of tax may have led the disciples to believe that He was choosing St. Peter as his second in command. Thus, our Lord explains that to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, we must be like little children.

Fr. Mark gives the sermon on humility.

Fr. Benjamin gives the Sunday sermon following the feast of the apostles concerning a phrase we hear during every liturgy, "The Word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty" and speaks about what this famous phrase really means.

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

Fr. Lazarus speaks to us about the calling to serve on the Feast of Apostles, reflecting on the martyrdom of St. Peter and St. Paul.

الخدمة - نيافة الأنبا بولا by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

Repentance and Confession - Fr. Mark Hanna by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

Hope - Fr. Benjamin Girgis by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

شفاء الرجل المفلوج - أبونا مينا ديمتري by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

Fr. Benjamin gives the sermon on the healing of paralytic. His reverence takes this oppurtunity to discuss God's plan as seen in the life of the paralytic and in our lives

The Holy Spirit - The Feast of Pentecost - Fr. Benjamin Girgis by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

الروح القدس - أبونا مينا دميتري by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

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.