Podcasts about orthodox christians

Georgia's ancient faith is still alive — and it demands more than just going through the motions.Professor Levan Gigineishvili joins John to discuss the importance of continuous personal growth as an Orthodox Christian, the ultimate answer to avoiding complacency and transforming our lives in Christ. A medievalist, philosopher, and one of Georgia's most respected public intellectuals — walks us through 1,600 years of Christianity that refuses to die.This conversation goes deep, we cover:✧ Why Ilia Chavchavadze (philosopher, national hero, and saint) believed good ritual isn't good enough✧ The Golden Age of Georgia: Rustavelli, Neoplatonism, and the "Second Athens"✧ How Georgia kept the faith when empires — Byzantine, Persian, Ottoman, Russian, Soviet — tried to erase it✧ Why Sola Scriptura and the Reformation never took root in the Caucasus✧ Levan's own journey from Soviet atheism to Orthodox Christianity✧ The Georgian Supra: why Americans are falling in love with this ancient feast tradition✧ And one unforgettable story about a panic attack, a monastery, and a phone call

Orthodoxy Live with Fr. Evan Armatas offers listeners an opportunity to ask pointed questions about the Orthodox Church. Perfect for seekers, converts, and cradle Orthodox Christians alike, this program is your chance to ask the tough questions about the Orthodox faith. 0:00 - Intro 3:41 - Resentment towards Father? 16:44 - Challenges attending church due to neurodivergence 28:50 - Ad break 29:53 - On Confession 31:32 - Terminal genetic disorders? 48:06 - Why is the Orthodox Bible different than others? 1:03:33 - Outro

Before ascending into heaven, Jesus gave His followers a clear mission: “You will be My witnesses… to the ends of the earth” — a calling they boldly began to live out on the day of Pentecost and that we are called to continue today.But witnessing isn't one-size-fits-all.In this series, we'll explore the lives of different evangelists and missionaries throughout history and discover that while the methods may vary, the mission remains the same: to help disconnected people become connected to Christ.

In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Sarah Riccardi-Swartz to discuss how an uptick in converts, especially among young men, is impacting Orthodoxy in America. Dr. Riccardi-Swartz brings an interesting perspective to this topic as she is both an academic anthropologist and an Orthodox Christian herself. Her research is some of the first of its kind regarding Orthodoxy in America. Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicityBook a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austinRead my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.comGet her book, Between Heaven and Russia: https://amzn.to/3SdX6vdLearn more about Dr. Riccardi-Swartz: https://www.riccardiswartz.com/About the Guest:Dr. Sarah Riccardi-Swartz is an assistant professor of religion and anthropology at Northeastern University, where she is also an affiliate faculty member in the women's, gender, and sexuality studies program. Before joining Northeastern University she was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Recovering Truth: Religion, Journalism, and Democracy in a Post-Truth Era project at the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict (Arizona State University). She has a Ph.D. in Sociocultural Anthropology from New York University. After completing an honors B.A. and M.A. in Religious Studies (American religions) at Missouri State University, she attended NYU to study and research religion and politics in the United States from an anthropological perspective. Along the way, she obtained a graduate certificate in Culture and Media (ethnographic filmmaking) and an M.Phil in Anthropology from NYU. Her research focuses on conservative politics, gender/sexuality, race, media worlds, and Orthodox Christianity.Chapters00:00 Orthodoxy: An Anthropological Perspective06:11 Media & Orthodoxy's Visibility09:07 Cultural Identity and Conversion 12:10 Politics & Conversion20:55 Community in Conversion Experiences23:56 ROCOR and the Fascination with Russia26:54 The Future of Orthodoxy in America30:36 Orthodoxy in Appalachia35:47 The Emergence of Political Conversations40:39 Understanding the Unique Nature of ROCOR42:24 Cultural Heritage45:49 The Internet & Orthodoxy53:02 Fr. Seraphim RoseSupport the show

In this episode of That Would Be Rad, we dive headfirst into one of the strangest intersections of religion, history, folklore, and the modern UFO phenomenon.For decades, reports of mysterious craft and non-human intelligences have captured the imagination of millions. Governments investigate them. Fighter pilots report them. Entire belief systems have formed around them. But long before congressional hearings, Pentagon footage, and discussions about "non-human intelligence," a group of Orthodox Christian mystics and saints were issuing a very different warning.What if the phenomenon is real... but not extraterrestrial?Join Woody and Tyler as they explore the ancient world of Orthodox Christianity, the Desert Fathers, aerial spirits, Ezekiel's famous "wheel within a wheel" vision, the Nephilim, medieval encounters with strange beings in the sky, and the teachings of four influential Orthodox holy men who all arrived at a remarkably similar conclusion about UFOs.What We Talk About in This Episode:• Why UFOs and UAPs have suddenly become mainstream topics of discussion• The Pentagon, military encounters, and the rise of "non-human intelligence" conversations• What Orthodox Christianity actually is and why it differs from most forms of Christianity in America• The Desert Fathers, spiritual warfare, and the Orthodox tradition of discerning spirits• Ezekiel's bizarre vision and why UFO researchers have been fascinated by it for decades• The Nephilim, the Book of Enoch, and ancient stories of beings descending from the sky• Medieval encounters with faeries, aerial beings, and mysterious sky phenomena• St. Gabriel Urgebadze, St. Paisios of Mount Athos, St. Porphyrios, and Fr. Seraphim Rose• Why these four influential Orthodox figures all viewed UFO encounters through a spiritual lens• The fascinating idea that humanity may interpret the same unexplained phenomena differently depending on the culture and era• Whether modern UFO encounters are something entirely new—or simply the latest version of a mystery humans have been trying to explain for thousands of yearsWhy You NEED to Listen:Whether you're a skeptic, a believer, a Christian, an atheist, a UFO enthusiast, or just someone who loves exploring strange ideas, this episode is guaranteed to make you think.This isn't an episode about proving that aliens are demons.It's an exploration of one of the most fascinating questions we've ever discussed on the show:If something beyond human understanding really was interacting with humanity... would we even recognize it for what it truly is?So grab your Bible, your tinfoil hat, or maybe both—and join us as we venture into one of the weirdest rabbit holes we've explored in a long time.Be Rad.RAD WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR SHOW:JOIN OUR PATREON: Exclusive episodes, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes weirdness: patreon.com/thatwouldberadBUY US A COFFEE: Fuel our late-night research sessions — buymeacoffee.com/thatwouldberad ☕️CHECK OUT OUR MERCH: Grab official That Would Be Rad gear — thatwouldberad.myspreadshop.comSHOW INFO:

Listen to Fr. Abraham's Sunday sermon.www.stsa.church

Conrad Franz of World War Now talks geopolitics, religion, and globalism analyzing current conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine through the lens of Orthodox Christian prophecy. Turkey appears to be next on the chopping block. Both Western powers and revisionist states like Russia and China are implementing similar technocratic controls. North America will morph into the Technate. Franz shares firsthand observations from his time in Russia and the Donbas, detailing the human cost of the war. Watch on BitChute / Brighteon / Rumble / Substack / YouTube *Support Geopolitics & Empire! Become a Member https://geopoliticsandempire.substack.com Donate https://geopoliticsandempire.com/donations Consult https://geopoliticsandempire.com/consultation **Listen Ad-Free for $4.99 a Month or $49.99 a Year! Apple Subscriptions https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/geopolitics-empire/id1003465597 Supercast https://geopoliticsandempire.supercast.com ***Visit Our Affiliates & Sponsors! Above Phone https://abovephone.com/?above=geopolitics American Gold Exchange https://www.amergold.com/geopolitics Escape The Technocracy (15% off w/ GEOPOLITICS!) https://escapethetechnocracy.com/geopolitics Expat Money (FREE “Plan B” Report!) https://expatmoney.com/geopolitics PassVult https://passvult.com Sociatates Civis https://societates-civis.com StartMail https://www.startmail.com/partner/?ref=ngu4nzr Wise Wolf Gold https://www.wolfpack.gold/?ref=geopolitics Websites World War Now https://worldwarnow.co YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@WorldWarNow_ X https://x.com/WorldWarNow_ Conrad on X https://x.com/GnomeRad About Conrad Franz Conrad Franz is host of World War Now covering the Third World War through the lens of Orthodox Christian Tradition, Saintly prophecy, & worldwide re-enchantment. *Podcast intro music used with permission is from the song “The Queens Jig” by the fantastic “Musicke & Mirth” from their album “Music for Two Lyra Viols”: http://musicke-mirth.de/en/recordings.html (available on iTunes or Amazon)

​​1. TO SUPPORT this Orthodox Christian ministry and the digitisation of our many cassette-tapes for new podcasts, please visit us at the BUY ME A COFFEE support platform:​​http://buymeacoffee.com/octeaching​2. TO FIND THE TITLES AND LINKS for all our podcasts, please visit our podcast directory. Just search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching Podcast Directory' in the Apple Podcasts app or in the podcasts section of the Spotify app OR search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching' in the Apple Podcasts app or the Spotify app,​3. DIRECT LINKS to the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TEACHING PODCAST DIRECTORY:​On the APPLE PODCASTS app:​https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/orthodox-christian-teaching-podcast-directory/id1680765527​On the SPOTIFY app:​https://open.spotify.com/show/1ALQ9YkJ0hhZ20GGZv7MH9?si=hVv_aqKtSrypyTLr1YZQIQ​​​

Listen to Fr. Timothy's Sunday sermon.www.stsa.church

Orthodoxy, the Gospel, and Wartime UkraineAs war forces millions of Ukrainians to confront questions about death and eternity, one spiritual question stands at the center of this conversation:Can someone truly know they are forgiven by God?From Odesa, Ukraine, Caleb introduces the topic of Eastern Orthodoxy and its deep influence on Ukrainian faith, culture, and religious life before sitting down with Pastor Andrii Murzin in Kyiv, for a conversation on theology, war, and the gospel. The interview explores some of the major differences between Orthodox and evangelical Christianity, particularly regarding assurance of salvation, justification by faith, ritualism, and the authority of Scripture. Andrii and Caleb also examines how religion shapes culture, why many Ukrainians are searching for hope beyond religious tradition, and how the gospel continues speaking into fear and uncertainty during wartime.The Uncertainty”Pastor Andriin has spent years studying Orthodoxy and engaging with Orthodox believers throughout Ukraine. While he emphasized the importance of treating Orthodox Christians with kindness and respect, he also explained that there are significant theological differences Protestants cannot ignore.One of the clearest differences, he argued, is assurance of salvation.They will never dare say that I know that I am forgiven... They always have this uncertainty.According to Andrii, this uncertainty comes from a different understanding of salvation itself. Orthodox theology often emphasizes salvation as an ongoing process rather than beginning with justification by faith in Christ. By contrast, Protestant theology historically distinguishes between justification, sanctification, and glorification. Christians are justified through faith, sanctified throughout life as they grow spiritually, and ultimately glorified in eternity. Murzin argued that without justification as a foundation, believers can become trapped in fear and uncertainty over whether they have done enough to receive God's mercy.You cannot grow in sanctification unless you first receive the joy of knowing that God has forgiven you.At the same time, Andrii warned that Protestants can also drift into shallow understandings of salvation by reducing Christianity to merely praying a prayer or treating salvation like a “ticket to heaven.”War Makes Eternity Feel CloserThese questions carry enormous weight in a country at war. For millions of Ukrainians, death is no longer distant or theoretical. Air raid sirens, military funerals, missile strikes, and constant uncertainty have forced many people to think seriously about eternity. Caleb reflected on attending Orthodox funerals where priests repeatedly pray, “Lord have mercy,” while grieving families stand unsure of what awaits their loved ones beyond death. In contrast, evangelical Christians often speak confidently about Christ's promises of forgiveness and eternal life. For Andrii, this contrast reveals one of the central differences between Orthodox and Protestant theology.Rituals, Candles, and External ReligionThe Orthodox Church also contains a heavy presence of ritualism. Murzin explained that many people approach religion primarily through external actions and sacred traditions: lighting candles, repeating prayers, making signs, or participating in liturgies. When Ukrainians from Orthodox backgrounds speak with him, their questions often sound like this:What candles do I light? How many candles? When do I light them?According to Andrii, the danger is that the focus can become centered on performing the correct rituals rather than understanding biblical truth or having genuine faith in Christ. Referencing passages such as John 4 and 1 Corinthians 10, he explained that biblical worship is not confined to church rituals or sacred buildings. Worship flows from truth, faith, love for God, and obedience in everyday life. Riitualism is a passive form of religion where outward performance replaces inward transformation.So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. - 1 Corinthians 10:31Cultural Christianity in UkraineTheology has shaped entire societies. Andrii argued that religion profoundly influences a nation's mentality, values, and culture over generations. In Ukraine, many people identify strongly with Orthodoxy culturally while remaining disconnected from personal faith or biblical understanding. It doesn't actually really matter that much what you believe.Caleb noted that many Ukrainians attend church on holidays, participate in religious traditions, and identify as Orthodox while living lives largely untouched by Scripture or discipleship. For him, this revealed a major spiritual challenge facing Ukraine today: the difference between inherited religion and genuine faith.The Church in a Time of WarAs the conversation turned toward the war itself, Andrii asked believers around the world to continue praying for Ukraine. He spoke about soldiers on the front lines, prisoners of war, grieving families, and civilians who have lost homes, health, and loved ones. But he also emphasized the responsibility of the church during this historic moment.Please pray that the Ukrainian church would be sacrificial, caring, and actively involved in serving the Ukrainian people.Across Ukraine, churches continue feeding refugees, helping wounded soldiers, counseling grieving families, and sharing the gospel while air raid sirens and missile attacks remain part of daily life. For Caleb, the role of the church may become even more important after the war eventually ends.[When] victory comes and the church hasn't walked along with Ukrainians the whole way... it's going to be an empty victory.”The Gospel Still StandsThe conversation concluded with a reminder that earthly peace will always remain temporary. Political victories, military success, and rebuilt cities cannot ultimately remove humanity's deepest problem: sin and separation from God.True peace, Murzin explained, is found only in Christ. As war continues across Ukraine, questions about eternity, forgiveness, suffering, and hope are becoming impossible for many people to ignore. And in a nation surrounded by uncertainty, that message still offers something many people desperately long for - assurance.‍

Host of "American Orthodoxy" a live Orthodox news show, Benjamin Michael (formerly Orthodox Luigi) is a prior Marine Corps Officer and now Orthodox Christian apologist and Independent Journalist. He engages in public debates, and creates educational content on Orthodox theology and various topics related to politics and religion, while also conducting advocacy work in Washington, D.C. He is the Director of Public Affairs, Co-Founder, and Chair of Orthodox Worldwide, INC. He also serves as Secretary of the Society of St. John of San Francisco, a nationwide pan-Orthodox fraternity.   IN THIS EPISODE * Benjamin Michael's journey into Orthodoxy * Why he began speaking publicly about Israel and geopolitics * What people mean by "the Jewish Question" * Orthodox perspectives on nationalism and identity * The modern Right and its internal fractures * Boomers, Gen X, and the changing political landscape * Zionism, empire, and modern power structures * The Russian Revolution and ideological upheaval * Marxism, globalism, and spiritual dislocation * The Third Temple and modern prophetic movements * Why many people feel politically betrayed * The difference between Orthodox nationalism and secular nationalism   For Ben's show: https://youtube.com/@realbenmichael Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow  Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com  Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com  Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA  Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

Listen to Fr. Abraham's Sunday sermon.www.stsa.church

Today is the feast day of St. Andrew Bobola. He lived in the 1600s and tried to bring about peace and unity between Catholic and Orthodox Christians.

Listen to Fr. Abraham's Sunday sermon.www.stsa.church

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we're joined by Aaron Graham, lead pastor of The District Church, a diverse and growing congregation in the heart of Washington, D.C. Founded in 2010 just a few miles from the White House, the church has become known for its global diversity—with people from more than 80 nations represented—and its commitment to living out the gospel for the good of the city. Are you noticing both spiritual curiosity and spiritual drift among people in your community? Wondering how to disciple people faithfully in a culture that increasingly pushes back against historic Christian orthodoxy? In this conversation, Aaron shares insights from his ministry context in D.C. and his new book Unshakable Faith: How to Stand Firm in a Culture of Lies, offering practical ways churches can respond to cultural pressure while forming resilient disciples from the next generation. A generation leaning in—and drifting away. // Aaron observes a striking tension among young adults today: some are pursuing faith with new seriousness, while others are quietly drifting away. Cities like Washington, D.C., attract highly educated young professionals who want to make a difference in the world through public service. Many are motivated by compassion and a desire to serve others, but they also face cultural pressures that can slowly reshape their beliefs. In Aaron's experience, this environment creates both incredible opportunities for ministry and real challenges in maintaining historic Christian faith. Some people are exploring spiritual questions deeply, while others disengage from church entirely through gradual spiritual drift. Understanding doubt, deconstruction, and denial. // Aaron encourages church leaders to distinguish between three different spiritual responses: doubt, deconstruction, and denial. Doubt is a natural part of faith—it involves uncertainty and questions that can ultimately strengthen belief when handled within a supportive community. Deconstruction, however, goes further by dismantling previously held beliefs. While some deconstruction may be necessary—especially when people have experienced unhealthy theology or spiritual abuse—it becomes dangerous when it happens in isolation without reconstructing a healthier biblical foundation. Denial is the final stage, where a person actively rejects core Christian beliefs. Recognizing these distinctions helps pastors respond with wisdom and compassion rather than assuming everyone wrestling with faith is in the same place. Creating space for honest questions. // One practical way The District Church engages doubt is through a summer series called “This Is My Story.” During this series, church members share short testimonies about their biggest spiritual questions and how God met them through those struggles and doubts. These stories normalize honest questions while showing that faith can deepen through wrestling with difficult issues. Instead of centering doubt itself, the church highlights the journey from questioning to deeper trust in God. This approach has been especially meaningful for newcomers, helping them see that the church is a place where people can wrestle honestly with faith while still moving toward spiritual maturity. Resisting the pull of cultural lies. // Aaron's book identifies several cultural narratives that quietly reshape Christian belief. One example is what he calls the “selective Christian”—someone who edits Scripture to match personal preferences or cultural expectations. When believers accept only the parts of the Bible that feel comfortable, the authority of Scripture slowly erodes. Over time, this selective approach strips the gospel of its transformative power. Aaron emphasizes that discipleship must include serious engagement with the whole Bible, even the passages that challenge modern assumptions. Returning to deep Bible engagement. // One of the most effective ways Aaron addresses cultural pressure is by encouraging consistent Bible engagement within the church. Through reading plans, group discussions, and teaching that emphasizes submission to Scripture rather than simply learning about it, believers begin to develop a more holistic faith. Interestingly, Aaron notes that people who deeply engage Scripture often become both more morally conservative and more socially liberal with deeper compassion toward others. Instead of fitting into political categories, they develop a kingdom perspective shaped by the teachings of Jesus. Holding together justice and biblical conviction. // Throughout his ministry, Aaron has worked extensively in justice initiatives, advocating for the poor and vulnerable. However, he has also seen many leaders abandon historic Christian beliefs while pursuing social justice causes. This experience convinced him that justice and biblical orthodoxy must remain connected. True justice flows naturally from a high view of Scripture and the lordship of Christ. When churches separate the two, they risk losing both their theological foundation and their long-term spiritual influence. To learn more about Aaron Graham's book Unshakable Faith: How to Stand Firm in a Culture of Lies, visit aarongrahamdc.com, where you can find resources, curriculum, and links to purchase the book. Plus, check out District Church at districtchurch.org. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Risepointe Do you feel like your church’s or school's facility could be preventing growth? Are you frustrated or possibly overwhelmed at the thought of a complicated or costly building project? Are the limitations of your building becoming obstacles in the path of expanding your ministry? Have you ever felt that you could reach more people if only the facility was better suited to the community’s needs? Well, the team over at Risepointe can help! As former ministry staff and church leaders, they understand how to prioritize and help lead you to a place where the building is a ministry multiplier. Your mission should not be held back by your building. Their team of architects, interior designers and project managers have the professional experience to incorporate creative design solutions to help move YOUR mission forward. Check them out at risepointe.com and while you’re there, schedule a FREE call to explore possibilities for your needs, vision and future…Risepointe believes that God still uses spaces…and they're here to help. Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. Super excited that you have decided to tune in today. I know you got a lot going on this week and the fact that you would turn us on is just incredible. So we want to honor you for that. Thanks for doing that. Rich Birch — Today, we’re going to talk about some stuff that I know is applicable to all of us. It It’s the kind of conversation that we’re we’re wrestling with in all of our churches. And we also have a repeat guest, which you know does not happen that often at unSeminary. And you know when we have repeat guests, it means I really want you to hear them and hear what they have to say out. Rich Birch — Today we’re honored to have Aaron Graham with us. He is the lead pastor of of District Church. It was founded in 2010 in Washington, D.C. It’s a Christ-centered, culture-defining church. for transplants and natives. The church was born from a dream about what it would look like for a church to be, or to seek the peace of the city and to exist for the sake of Christ and for the good of the city.Rich Birch — So we’re really excited to have Aaron with us today. Aaron, welcome back to the podcast after a couple of years, but glad to you glad you decided to come back on. Appreciate that.Aaron Graham — Thanks, Rich, for having me and love what you guys are doing and how you’re practically helping church leaders like myself address problems we’re facing in our organizations and culture cultural contexts. Rich Birch — Kind of you to say that. Give us a bit of the District story for folks that, you know, my mom listens to every episode, but not everyone listens to every episode. But kind of to give us a bit of the District story and and talk a little bit about how you intersect with all of that.Aaron Graham — Yeah, we launched 15 years ago right in the heart of DC. We meet two miles north of the White House, and made up of mostly young adults becoming more intergenerational. But one of the things we’ve become known for is just our diversity. So there’s over 80 nations represented in the church. Last night at the newcomers dinner, there were 14 nations represented… Rich Birch — Wow.Aaron Graham — …and so just in that small little dinner. So that’s a real privilege we have of of doing that. We’re a church of life groups and just love what we’re doing right here in the heart of DC.Rich Birch — So good. I once heard a leader say that, you know, DC is full of young leaders, young people like, and, you know, the the whole thing that, you know, the main business will call it in DC is all run on the back of, you know, 20s and 30s who are making a huge difference. What have you noticed with reaching that? And I know, i know you’re, you’re, you’re, like you said there, you’re becoming a more diverse church and, you know, age-wise in all different ways. But let’s let’s kind of focus in on that kind of 20-somethings, 30-somethings. What have you been noticing with folks in that generation as it comes to faith and their relationship with Jesus and, you know, all of their kind of spiritual side? What’s what are some of the observations you’re seeing?Aaron Graham — Yeah, well, I think a lot of young adults are leaning into their faith more than ever. There’s a revival in so many ways happening among young people, but there’s also a lot of retreating and people drifting in their faith. And so we kind of find ourselves with people either leaning in like never before or leaning out like never before. And in a context like D.C., people move to D.C. to change the world. I mean, this is where you come.Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — This is a city of public service. And so these are the Ivy League, educated top of their class. They move here. They land that that job at the U.S. Capitol working for a member of Congress or the White House or an agency whatever, an advocacy advocacy firm. Aaron Graham — And so what happens is it’s very highly educated people here. And highly educated people I’ve noticed have a deep care for those who are suffering. And they want to make a difference. That’s like what public service is all about. Rich Birch — Right. Aaron Graham — Like I want to help serve people. Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — And like the government is supposed to exist to serve people. And so just that kind of love for neighbor. I want to help people out. And so D.C. is like a very politically progressive, highly educated city. And there’s a lot to draw upon with that because people are making a lot of sacrifices. But it does come with some problems, mainly people drifting from biblical orthodoxy, the historic Christian faith that has been handed down to us.Rich Birch — Yeah, I, so I’m Canadian for folks that are listening in and don’t know that I lived in the States for a bunch of years. We lived in New Jersey. And I remember the first time I visited D.C. as a Canadian, I felt patriotic for America. I was like, man, this place is unbelievable. Aaron Graham — Yeah. Yeah. Rich Birch — I’m like, you know, and obviously I was just there as a tourist and actually we’re visiting some friends and we got the tour of the Capitol, one of these like behind the scenes, let me put you behind the velvet rope. And I was like, this place is unreal. Like what a, what a place to serve and… Aaron Graham — Yeah. Rich Birch — …it has that kind of feeling of, you know, while people are are coming to change the world really in a positive way. I’d love to kind of focus in on this as you talk about people that are leaning, you know, leaning back, leaning away, drifting from their faith, drifting from orthodoxy. You know, we’ve we’ve heard a lot about even the kind of deconstructing movement and that, you know, there’s, it is an interesting time we live in, spiritually, because these are like two realities that are kind of happening at the same time, people leaning in and leaning back.Rich Birch — What are some of those common assumptions that you’ve noticed for people who are leaning back from, from, like you say, an Orthodox Christian faith?Aaron Graham — Yeah, absolutely. I think one is just, we’ve we’ve heard this, but just church hurt. I think scandals and hypocrisy in the church among leaders is kind of at least at an all time high of what we’re hearing about right now. And so because we’re so tapped into the news and online, I think most people are very aware, if they haven’t had a bad experience, they know somebody who has been been hurt by a religious leader or by you know a church leader. And it’s sort of like, you know we always hear the bad examples, right? Aaron Graham — Like all the planes that arrive safely every day, you never hear about. But when when the one plane has some mechanical issues or has has a rough landing, you hear about it. And I think there’s so many just faithful pastors and church leaders out there that are doing awesome work. But unfortunately, we’re hearing about the, the, the bad apples. And there’s been a lot of them that have been reported on. So I think that influences people saying, do I really want to be a part of this? If it’s an option, do I? You know, so church hurt’s one of them. Aaron Graham — I think theological differences. I mean, this is the age of the church split and human sexuality is like front and center of that. Rich Birch — Right. Aaron Graham — But politics increasing these, these last few years or what side are you on and how do you interpret? So, so I think, political, theological differences. And then I think just like complacency, like just straight up spiritual drift. It’s not doctrine doctrinal. It’s not scandal. It’s just like, you know what? Like, it’s just easier not to go to church. Aaron Graham — It’s sort of the folks that left during COVID. It’s like, oh I’m going to watch online and then I’m not going to return to church. It’s just like that spiritual drift. So those are some themes I’m seeing, you know, right here in DC. And I’ve seen as a pattern and talking to other church leaders.Rich Birch — Yeah, that I’d love to kind of narrow in a little bit there on this tension between spiritual drift, like it’s the, you know, I’d rather watch football or whatever, you know, complacency. And then actually folks that are wrestling, honestly, that are asking questions and are are struggling. What have you seen? How how do you discern that how how does that? How does that work itself out? What have you learned about the difference between people who are in these kind of two categories?Aaron Graham — Yeah, I talk a lot about the difference between doubt, deconstruction, and denial. And I think it’s helpful to have these kind of three categories because it’s easy to just put everybody in the same category when they’re not dealing with the same thing.Aaron Graham — And so to doubt is to lack confidence, to be unsure about something. And that’s like part of what it means to be human, to have questions.Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — Like we want to have churches where like youth and young adults can ask honest questions about human suffering and about questions they have theologically like that. You want people to be curious and it says in the book of Jude that we need to be merciful to those who doubt.Aaron Graham — And so we see that modeled in Jesus. But he ultimately calls us beyond our doubt. Like he doesn He doesn’t call us to like center our doubt. He calls us to walk by faith, not by doubt. And so we have to create space for that. But you know if a church is like, you know its mission statement is to just welcome doubters and then you center that, that’s actually not a very forward…Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — …facing thing. Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — And so, so, so we need to create space for doubt. And sometimes people, that’s just what they’re having. They’re are just having questions. Aaron Graham — I think deconstruction is a step beyond doubt and deconstruction is like when you are in the process of dismantling your beliefs. And sometimes there’s some beliefs that need to be dismantled because there’s like, you grew up in a church that had like really messed up theology. Rich Birch — Right. Yeah. Aaron Graham — Like you grew up in a cult or something. Rich Birch — Yeah. Aaron Graham — And you’re like, I’ve got to deconstruct this. Or like I experienced spiritual manipulation and I thought this is what it meant to honor a leader. Or I experienced abuse in some way. And so you have to kind of deconstruct that. The problem is a lot of people are deconstructing outside of the context of community or biblical community. And so they’re doing so in isolation and the enemy loves that. Like the enemy loves to isolate us. Aaron Graham — And so if you’re going to deconstruct something unhealthy, you have to reconstruct. And the problem is there’s been a lot of deconstruction without reconstructing. So so there’s doubt, there’s deconstruction, and then unhealthy deconstruction can lead to denial, right? This is Judas, right? This is like, I will not go with you. Rich Birch — rightAaron Graham — Like and so denial is like, is more active, where doubt is more passive, denial can be ah more more active. And I think it’s very dangerous. This is Jude saying, snatch them from the fire. You know, this is life or death type of thing. So.Rich Birch — Can we focus in a bit on the doubt piece for a second? What does that look like for you as a leader? Like, what are some practical ways that we can offer space for people who are, who do have legit doubts? And, you know, I get that there’s this tension of like, we don’t want to create just like, let’s all get around and talk about what we don’t know. But like, how how can we do that? Or how are you doing that at District? What’s that look like for you guys?Aaron Graham — We do a series every summer called This Is My Story, where I don’t preach for two weeks and we hear 10-minute testimonies from people in our church. So three 10-minute testimonies each week, and we select people in our church and then we coach them around how to prepare for it. And they share a question, their biggest question, their biggest doubt, their biggest struggle and how they’ve moved through that and how it’s actually enabled them to deepen their faith and not to deconstruct their faith.Aaron Graham — So it’s testimony time, but it’s structured around how they’ve moved through doubt. Because I think our biggest questions, for me as a child, it was why do kids die of preventable causes? Like it shapes so much of your calling if you process it in a healthy way. And so, yeah, so this is my story. And that’s just been really helpful. It gives the pastor a break. Rich Birch — Right. Aaron Graham — Sometimes I’m doing it when I’m on vacation. Rich Birch — Yeah. Aaron Graham — So allows me to step out, but it also allows leaders. And so what it does in terms of formation in the congregation is we’re actually moving the date this year to be when most newcomers come at the end of August. Rich Birch — That’s cool.Aaron Graham — Because it’s been so popular with newcomers. Cause they’re like, Oh, I see myself in this church. Like, Oh, you have questions too. I have questions. But once again, it’s not like I’m centering that doubt or that question at the end of the day. So, so that’s, that’s one thing practically, you know, we’ve done.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s cool. I love that. And, you know, there there was a time in the generation before me where, yeah, it was like, you don’t acknowledge any of that, right? It’s like, you don’t, you can’t ask any of those questions. Cause that, that is it’s like, just asking the question is going to, it’s like something bad is going to happen. I worked for a long time for a lead pastor that did open forum Q and A after every single message. So every single message you would say, Hey, like, is there anything, have any questions about anything I said or left unsaid? And similarly, it, it created a culture where, people kept you honest as a preacher. I hated it when I spoke. I was like, gosh, because you know, like any question? Aaron Graham — Totally.Rich Birch — But it did create a culture where like, hey, it’s okay to ask, right? It’s okay to to explore for sure.Aaron Graham — Yeah, that’s great.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s interesting.Aaron Graham — I love it.Rich Birch — So getting back to this whole idea, you know, doubt, discernment, denial, at some point, you know, you’ve started to see some patterns in the culture around us, some recurring themes that you’ve seen. And actually you package these into a book that I want to make sure people, I actually think it’d be a really helpful tool for folks. But and so no, I’m not just trying to sell books, but I do think it’s a helpful thing. Help us talk through, so tell us about the book and how is it set up? What is the framework for it?Aaron Graham — Yeah, so the new book’s called Unshakable Faith: How to Stand Firm in a Culture of Lies. And for me, it really came about from trying to see this pattern of so many people slowly drifting from their faith and saying, how do we prevent this as pastors?Aaron Graham — Like, the if we don’t disciple our people, the world gladly will. And in some ways, they’re doing the world’s doing a better job…Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — …of discipling our people. And so what are these like subtle lies that people are believing that is causing people to, you know, not lean into their faith. And I’ve just seen it like in the urban center here, I’ve just seen so many well-intentioned, highly educated, sometimes often sincere people just drift.Aaron Graham — And so they’re no longer going to church. They’re not raising their kids in the faith. And so, yeah, I’ve just seen it over and over. And so I wrote this book in response to that. And honestly, in so many ways, it’s a critique of what I what I call progressive Christianity. And I mean that theologically, not politically. But it’s it’s when someone reinterprets Scripture, the historic teachings of Scripture, to make it more comfortable or palatable to the current culture.Aaron Graham — It’s it’s like emphasizing relevance over faithfulness. And so what I’ve seen so often over and over is that oh, this isn’t just a conversation around human sexuality or progressive Christianity. Progressive Christianity is becoming a layover to post-Christianity for so many people. And so I just began to say, okay, is this new thing? Oh, it’s actually not new. It’s not in the last like 20 years.Aaron Graham — This has been happening for like 500 years since the enlightenment where you know progressive Christians, or however they’re labeled, end up denying the miraculous. And then denying at the core the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is like the very core of our faith. Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — I was like, this isn’t just a conversation around human sexuality, which is where it started with the newcomer. This is, you know, or with the leader, even in the church, this is about something much more deep.Aaron Graham — And so that’s when I just began to pray in this and and just say, what are the patterns that I’m seeing? What are these lies that people are often like well-meaning, but believing? And how is that compromising our ability to call people to faith, but also help make disciples. So.Rich Birch — Is there, I think, friends, I had a chance to sneak peek at this book and I think it could be a great resource for many of our churches. It could be a great kind of small group discussion, a great leadership book. I think it could be a fantastic thing for us to do with our leadership team together wrestling through these these issues. so We’re not going to be able to cover all of it, but what would you say maybe one of these pernicious subtle lies that you see is prevailing? It it’s it it pops up all the time. Help us unpack one of those.Aaron Graham — Yeah, sure. So one of them I talk about is the selective Christian, the person who edits scripture to fit preferences rather than engaging in the whole word of God. And you know, Jim Wallace, who is a well-known social justice advocate in the 70s, when he was at Trinity Evangelical Seminary, got together with some friends, and they went through the Bible and they cut up every reference in the Bible to the poor, or to the widow, the orphan. And there’s like 2000 verses in the Bible about about that. And he would go around and he’d hold up a Bible and he’d say, this is the Bible we have in in America. It’s a Bible full of holes because we’ve neglected the call to justice and the call to care for the poor.Aaron Graham — Well, I’m seeing that same thing happen in this next generation around some other core doctrine, around human depravity, around human sexuality, around gender and marriage and these other things that we don’t want to talk about. But what’s really at stake in so many ways is the authority of Scripture. And so we pick and choose what parts we want to believe. And then we strip the gospel of its saving power because we’ve only chosen to believe the parts that are the most acceptable to us and our friends in this cultural moment. That’s just a really dangerous way to not be formed in our faith.Rich Birch — Yeah. And, you know, I think we’ve, you can see that in how, you know, we handle scripture. I think one of the dangers that we face as preachers, we did a study where we looked at common passages that people were using over a couple years in churches. And we found that, you know, it’s not surprising, right? People come back to like the same passages time and time again, because I think we are trying to, even if it’s not if it’s not a like a willful decision, we just kind of drift in that direction of like, hey, well, I’m just not going to talk about that because I just am not sure what to say. Rich Birch — How how do you fight this in yourself, in the church around you? Because you know you are a winsome leader. You’re a church full of grace. You’re trying to actually interact with the culture. You’re not running for the hills. You’re not like, you know, putting your head in the sand kind of thing. How, how do you, how does not being a selective Christian work itself out in, in your world?Aaron Graham — Yeah, so one of the things I’m trying to really emphasize in our church is like Bible engagement. It seems like so 101, but it’s like, guys, we got to read our Bibles. Rich Birch — Yeah, no, absolutely. Aaron Graham — And so it’s like you know Bible in a year kind of plans, getting as many groups together. I lead a group on on Bible in a year, and it’s like, let’s read the whole Bible and let’s like struggle with these passages and talking about it and like, let’s see the power of the word of God.Aaron Graham — And so, you know, there’s a lot of research that shows that people who engage with the Bible have like measurable differences in their life. And one of the things is that when you actually engage in not in reading the Bible, but actually submitting yourself to it, you become both more liberal and conservative. Because you you you become more morally conservative and you become more socially liberal, like in caring for the needs of others. And so you just break out of these categories.Aaron Graham — And for somebody like you in Canada, that’s not in the US, like, it’s kind of crazy how we get polarized in the U.S. over certain things that that global Christians don’t get as as polarized on in some ways.Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — And so I think that’s one of the things that I’ve seen a lot of fruit in is like, hey, we’re going to be at a church that’s about the word of God. We’re going to teach the word of God. We’re going to sit under its authority even when it’s uncomfortable.Aaron Graham — And I find even in very progressive cities like D.C., people hunger for biblical teaching.Even if they they don’t agree with it all, they’ll come listen to it because they’re looking for something that’s different than what they’re hearing everywhere else where it’s like affirm, affirm, affirm everything. It’s like, I wanna be called to something higher, something that’s bigger than me, that’s more historic than me. So as it relates to being a selective Christian, I think just simple Bible engagement and really putting effort in that has is has borne a lot of fruit.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s cool. I know my lead pastor has been saying the same thing for the last few years. And I would I would echo this. I think this has been, this is a very unique season where I think in general, the culture is leaning in and asking the question, what is it about this? And, you know, Jeff, my lead pastor makes the joke. He’s like this, you see this rippling it all in all parts of culture. There’s you know one of the outcomes of the fact that things are so kind of changing all the time, we’re we’re obsessed with the you know the latest trend or whatever, is people want things that have been true for a long time. They’re and it’s why are people putting chickens in their backyards? And what is it with all the sourdough? Like, why does that stuff, why is that resonating? Rich Birch — There’s a connection to this so, you know, similar kind of cultural issue that we’re saying here with scripture, where it’s like, I’m intrigued by the Bible. I want to learn about that because that’s it something we’ve been telling each other these stories for thousands of years. And how does that apply to our lives? Let’s not miss that moment, church leaders, and not actually give them what they’re what they’re looking for. So yeah, that’s that’s interesting.Aaron Graham — Absolutely. I think the devil really overplayed his hand as it relates to secular culture. Meaning, secular culture meaning it’s defined itself in opposition to the church with a message of the more personal freedom you have, the more autonomy you have, the more the happier you’ll be. And Gen Z is waking up and being like…Rich Birch — That’s not true. Yeah.Aaron Graham — …no, this is not fulfilling. I want something more historic and rooted. And that’s, I think, one of the things that’s leading a lot of people to come into the church right now in this generation. They’re just saying, I’m hungry for God. And I don’t think that just having more freedom and flexibility is the answer.Aaron Graham — It’s like so somebody just gave their life to Jesus on Sunday, came to the newcomer’s dinner last night, and he’s like, what do I need to do next? And and you know and I gave it to him hard. I was like, it’s not just about praying a prayer. You prayed that, praise the Lord, and you’re going to baptized and you’re doing a Rooted group and all this. But it’s like, what in your life, in your relationships in your work, like you need to cut some things off, like repentance, like change directions. And he’s like, yeah, like, tell me more. You know, he’s like leaning in.Rich Birch — Yeah, yeah.Aaron Graham — Like, I think people want to be led, like in love, but they want to be led. Rich Birch — Yeah.Aaron Graham — It’s not just like choose your own adventure.Rich Birch — Yeah.Aaron Graham — That’s not helping this generation.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so true. I would echo that. You know, it does feel like we’ve come to the end of secular humanism. And and I remember a time when I first started ministry, I was like, well, it sure seems that that’s working. Aaron Graham — Yeah. Rich Birch — Like, it’s just so dominant, but it feels like there’s this collective like, well, that didn’t work. So. Rich Birch — What was that what’s another lie that we, again, we’re not gonna able to get to all of them. So don’t worry, friends. And we, you know, you’re gonna have to read the book. But what’s another one that that has bubbled up that’s been, you know particularly intriguing as you’ve interacted with people around it?Aaron Graham — Yeah, um there’s there’s so many different ones, but I think um one of them is the divisive influencer. This is the seventh lie, so I’ll kind of take it to the the end of the book here. But the divisive influencer is really growing right now. It’s somebody who kind of mirrors cancel culture instead of practicing radical forgiveness and grace. Aaron Graham — And so we see a lot of political polarization right now. We feel it in our families. We feel it in our churches where it’s like you’re coming for a holiday meal and it’s like, it’s this tension underneath. We feel it in life groups and it’s like, how do we navigate this? And so that’s that’s one of the ones that, you know, being in DC the political…Rich Birch — Yeah, it was gonna that was going to be my follow-up. I’m like, wait a second. Isn’t that the bread and butter of the people you work with?Aaron Graham — Yes. And honestly, people, when they come to church, even in DC, they don’t want to like enter into an echo chamber. They want to be formed. They want to go upstream. They want to hear the word of the Lord.Aaron Graham — And so I think that one of the things as it relates to this, like cancel culture and like the solution to that obviously is like Jesus, it’s like, love your enemies, forgive those who persecute you. Like actually when you lean into relationships with people who are different, like that’s that’s how you you grow.Aaron Graham — And so whenever we’re dealing with an issue, like whatever, some issues in the news, and it’s like, oh, what should should we what should we include in our prayer? Do we need to talk about that in the sermon? And you know you’re getting pressure from certain people to do that. One of the things I’ve realized is that if we haven’t gone upstream as church leaders, and taught our congregation the biblical call around poverty or abortion or immigration or whatever, then when it pops up in the news, we get very reactive and people interpret that through their political lens. They’ve already made their mind up.Aaron Graham — And so some pastors are playing on this and you can kind of grow your church, like you’ll lose 10%, but grow 40% because you kind of lean into that predictable division.Rich Birch — Yep.Aaron Graham — But I think that one of the the calls of of Jesus is like, how do we we go upstream so you can form people to say, hey, we have to engage in poverty. We have to… But like two Christians can agree on addressing something like abortion, poverty, you know justice, and disagree which policy solution will be the best. And so we should have that kind of diversity our church.Aaron Graham — That’s what’s made our nation great is having that level of diversity. And I think we need to model that out in the church, not just our racial and ethnic diversity but I think our political diversity is increasingly important and it’s not to say that each side is like morally equivalent on each issue. I think some parties are way better on certain issues than others. But I think we have to really lean into this forgiveness and not lean into this radical divisive influencer even though that kind of posture may be rewarded online. And this next generation is, I think a high percentage of them want to be influencers online. So there’s ah a great temptation to kind of lean into that. But it’s like, what does Jesus teach us around that?Rich Birch — Right. Yeah, that’s so good. Yeah, I think you’re calling out of something that we you know definitely see. And there’s ah even ah ah this kind of return of particularly young men back to church. There’s some of that that I’m not sure is is actually positive where it’s it’s leaning towards. It’s a it is a very politically charged kind of faith that to me doesn’t read Jesus. It or it’s a it’s just one aspect maybe of of of Jesus. So that’s interesting you’re calling that out for sure.Rich Birch — Off-roading a little bit on a similar topic, one of the things I find fascinating about you, about the church, about District, is that there was like this false dichotomy that’s set up in a lot of churches. It’s like, hey, you can either be a church that is has a high value on scripture, which you clearly do. Or you can be a church that is engaged in issues of development and justice in the world around you. You can’t do both of those. You can’t actually make a difference in the community around you, be cared, be care about the poor care about those things and also have a high view of scripture. I’m not saying that’s true. I’m saying there seems to be this popular notion out there. Your church seems to be doing both, trying to do both. Am I reading that correctly? Help me understand how, how you see those interacting with each other.Aaron Graham — Yeah, I’ve always been known the last 20 years in ministry as the justice guy, the one calling the church to engage in justice. And then I looked up around and saw so many of my justice friends had deconstructed their faith, were no longer pastoring churches, and their kids weren’t following Jesus. Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — And I was like, something’s wrong. Because it’s like, oh, we’re trying to like care for the poor, but now we’ve lost our faith in the process. And the kids that we’re raising, we have no message for them other than just be tolerant and inclusive Christians. Like tolerant being tolerant and inclusive and loving is a great value. Jesus is the most loving person, but he called people to repentance and he called people to the to to the Father.Aaron Graham — And so I think that that’s always just been a a big value of ours is like the authority of scripture and the Lordship of Christ. And I think that leads to justice. Like, um and so I think it’s just being willing to stand alone. I’ve lost a lot of friendships over this. Not not just friendships. Not like I don’t talk to somebody, but just like colleagues in ministry, because there’s like theologically, like you just believe something that’s different. Like you’ve stepped outside of biblical orthodoxy.Aaron Graham — So I think we have to be, be willing to to stand alone. And i think we’re on the winning side. I think Jesus and justice, I think both those things go together. Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — So I don’t think we’re crazy, but it is hard to hold them together when the political narratives are so forming and deceptive. And so it’s hard. It’s hard for me. I got a lot of flack for my theological positions in this city. but I think, you know, we got to be willing to stand alone.Rich Birch — Yeah. Very cool. Well, I want to, I think this could be a great book, as you were writing it. What were kind of what were you picturing your kind of ideal situation where it would land? Obviously you want lots of people to read it, but to me, I saw it. I was like the, when I, the sneak peek I looked into, I was like, man, this could be a great, I think a really good discussion starter in a leadership team. Are there other environments you think, Hey man, this could be really a great place to, you know, to use this resource.Aaron Graham — Yeah, the the the main person I’m writing to, and I hope a lot of people read it, but the main person is like a 23-year-old that graduates from college that has at least a nominal Christian faith. They have the intention to join a church when they move to the city and land their first job, but they are totally at risk of abandoning their faith unless they make some very clear decisions and are a part of a church that has made some really clear decisions around, we’re not going to believe these lies. We’re going to call them out, and we’re going intentionally disciple you away from being discipled by secular culture and disciple you around the Word of God. Aaron Graham — That’s my hope. You know If anybody that’s deconstructed comes back to faith, praise the Lord. Hallelujah.Rich Birch — Right. Yeah, that’s amazing.Aaron Graham — But I’m actually trying to do a prevention so that all the people who are coming to faith right now in this revival, that it falls on good ground. Because we have such a discipleship culture in our churches that is able to name and discern, first, and then name these lies and to help this next generation stand firm in the gospel. And so that’s that’s the subtitle of the the book is how to stand firm in a culture of lies.Aaron Graham — And for so long, we were trained in the church as church leaders to evangelize people who were like spiritually kind of curious and open, like kind of the seeker sensitive movement. That’s how like international, but I grew up as a missionary kid. So it’s like, we were trained to like share the gospel with people who like just needed to hear that there’s one God and that he loves you and that you can have a relationship with him.Aaron Graham — But now we’re trying to evangelize a post-Christian culture, which you know a lot about in Canada. And we’re learning more about here in in North America. And that culture actually is not just like ambivalent towards Christianity. It’s actually anti-Christian faith. Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — They’re trying to evangelize us. And so if we just try to take the same approach where we’re just loving and let me give them a hug, see if they hug back, they’re actually winning. Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Graham — And so so so it’s like, how do we… how do we have a plan to say, you know what, we’re going to love the world. We’re going in the world, but not of the world. But it’s it’s like it’s a whole different, I can use that word on on this, ah the word here on this church leaders podcast. It’s a whole different missiology around how to engage in mission.Aaron Graham — And so, yeah, so I’m hoping that we reach the 20-something and I’m hoping that people talk about this. We wrote this and we have a small group video curriculum coming out as well, because we really want pastors who say, I want this culture in my church to be able to have people do it in groups, discuss it… Rich Birch — That’s great. Aaron Graham — …and be able to make these commitments before it becomes an even greater problem in our churches.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. That’s a really vivid picture of, like you say, the 23 year old who’s moving to the city, um you know, who has some faith, but is is maybe at risk, I think is ah is ah is a vivid picture for all of us. And I would share, you didn’t actually say it this way, but I would share some concern with the swell towards faith. I don’t, who am I? Like the, obviously it’s an amazing thing that’s going on. Lots of people are taking steps toward Jesus. I’m not going to be the guy that’s like, that’s bad.Rich Birch — But I would say I’m concerned that we are a good steward of this moment, that it’s like, man, I have been waiting my entire ministry career for this to happen.Aaron Graham — Yeah.Rich Birch — And now, gosh, let’s not drop the ball. And I think your book could be a part of helping us think through and helping leaders and individuals think through this. So the name of the book is Unshakable Faith. And again, you said that: How to stand firm in a culture of lies. Where can people, look at that? There’s a shot of it. There’s got a beautiful front on. It’s very hip. I’m assuming we can get it at Amazon. Are there other places we should go to get copies of this?Aaron Graham — Everywhere books are sold so um if you go to aarongrahamDC.com—just my name aarongrahamDC (double meaning for District Church and DC of the the city of DC) aarongrahamDC.com —and then you’ll see the links to all the retailers on there, including Amazon, but all the different retailers Christianbook, Books-a-million, Barnes and Noble, all that. And so, yeah, you can you can grab a copy there, and we’d love to hear from you as well. You you can have a place where you can contact me on there.Rich Birch — Oh, that’s great. Perfect. We’ll put links to all of that in the show notes. And friends, like I say, if you’re a long-term listener, you know, we don’t actually typically have a lot of authors on, but I wanted to have Aaron on because I do think this is particularly poignant for us, I think, in in today’s culture. And I think it could be a thing that could really help your team, help, you know, people at your church, I think could be ah a really great resource for that. Rich Birch — As we wrap up today’s episode, any kind of final words you’d have for a church leader that’s wrestling in, that’s wrestling with these issues today is, is maybe feeling some of this tension around, you know, feeling compromised at the door kind of thing. Help us, help us as we wrap up today.Aaron Graham — Yeah, well, first off, just thanks for having me on and having me back, you know, as a repeat guest. That’s awesome. I love what you’re doing. Like I said, I learned so much from you. Some practical stuff is so great to hear all the different speakers that come on and and leaders. Aaron Graham — But yeah, no, I think the the the message that I want leaders church leaders to hear is that if you don’t run to this problem around what’s happening in our culture and how it’s affecting discipleship, this problem will get worse. And, and I think that one of the the challenges for me being in the belly of the beast in the heart of DC, I’m not just like DC, like, so I’m like in the heart with all these national leaders, very educated people, is that it’s sort of like a signal, kind of like downtown New York city is as well. It’s like a signal of where culture is going.Aaron Graham — And so if, if you don’t lean towards this conversation and learn, this problem will only grow in your church. And so while it might be uncomfortable for some of you based on, like if you’re like me and you’re wired as like a harmony person, like I don’t want to have disagreements on my staff or with my board or in my family conversation, like it will only get bigger and worse. So lean in and and take advantage of of resources from people who are writing about this, who have thought about it. And don’t be alone in this. Don’t try to be isolated in this conversation because there’s a lot of people who, even though you might feel alone where you’re pastoring or where you’re leading, there’s a lot of people who feel the same way you are. And so, so get connected in, in with them. So, so that’s, that’s what I’d say.Rich Birch — That’s great. Thanks so much, Aaron. Give us that website again where we want to send people to if they want to connect more directly with you or with the church.Aaron Graham — Yeah, just aarongrahamDC.com. And that’ll also link to our church website, districtchurch.org. And we’d love to have people visit us when you’re in DC, because like you said, DC is a fun city.Rich Birch — Love it. It is a fun city.Aaron Graham — It’s one of the best cities to 250th anniversary of DC. Lots of celebrations happening this year. Rich Birch — Yes, that’s true. Aaron Graham — So come in and see us. Rich Birch — It’ll be a big year. That’s great. Thanks so much. Appreciate being here today, sir. And we’ll have you back on sometime soon. Thanks for coming.Aaron Graham — Awesome. Thanks, Rich.

“If the church compiled the Bible, what was the authority before the Bible?” A candid journey from Protestant certainty to Eastern Orthodoxy, sparked by a friend's conversion and a history problem you can't ignore.A friend you trust changes everything. Brian tells us how years of Protestant assumptions started cracking when his friend James, a man he respects as clearly regenerated and serious about Christ, said he felt led toward Roman Catholicism and later Eastern Orthodoxy. Brian's mind could not make it add up, and that tension launched a long stretch of debate, study, and a surprisingly practical test during Lent: what happens if you try living like an Orthodox Christian for 30 days?Jeremy Jeremiah and Mario Andrew, of Cloud of Witnesses, talk with Brian and Hannah about how a trusted friend's move toward Catholicism and then Eastern Orthodoxy forced a hard rethink of authority, history, and the first thousand years of the Church. We trace what finally opened the door, from catechism confusion and trauma triggers to a change in prayer life at home and a first visit to an Orthodox parish on Forgiveness Sunday.• growing up on YouTube apologetics and adopting harsh views of Catholics and Orthodox Christians• watching a friend show clear fruit while moving toward Rome and then Eastern Orthodoxy• debating sola scriptura alongside the formation of the biblical canon and early Church councils• asking where Protestant identity fits in the first thousand years of Christianity• trying “30 days living like an Orthodox Christian” during Lent through prayer, study, and liturgy• reacting to catechism language and fears about exorcism due to past Pentecostal experiences• choosing unity in marriage and taking the discipline to explore the faith together• stepping into an Orthodox church for the first time near Forgiveness SundayWe dig into the core questions that keep coming up for seekers: Where do you place yourself in the first thousand years of Christianity? What does sola scriptura mean once you face the history of the biblical canon, the early Church councils, and the claim that the Church is the “pillar and ground of the truth”? Brian shares why “historical reliability” began to matter more than hot takes, and how Orthodox prayer, worship, and tradition started to feel less like an argument and more like a lived inheritance.Hannah brings the marriage and mindset side of the journey. She's honest about being put off by long Orthodox services and about how unfamiliar words like catechism, plus vague talk about “emptying yourself,” can trigger fears shaped by past church experiences. But she also shares what softened her posture: seeing a new consistency and depth in Brian's prayer life, and choosing not to build a divided household. Their first visit to an Orthodox parish lands near Forgiveness Sunday, a moment that reframes repentance and community in a powerful way.If you're exploring Eastern Orthodoxy, church history, Orthodox conversion, or the authority of Scripture and tradition, come listen and think with us. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with the biggest question you're still wrestling with.Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

Listen to Fr. Anthony's Sunday sermon.www.stsa.church

Donate Now To Human Coalition:http://humancoalition.org/ruslanWatch this early here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/157648636?pr=trueTampa Show Here: https://tinyurl.com/4766swyfAll Dates Here: https://blessgod.co/pages/liveOrthodox Christian Presses Me On My Protestant Theology (Part 2)Logos Bible 60 Day Free Trial →→ http://logos.com/ruslan

Full Text of Readings Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter Lectionary: 292 The Saint of the day is Saint Leopold Mandic Saint Leopold Mandic's story Western Christians who are working for greater dialogue with Orthodox Christians may be reaping the fruits of Father Leopold's prayers. A native of Croatia, Leopold Mandic joined the Capuchin Franciscans and was ordained several years later in spite of several health problems. He could not speak loudly enough to preach publicly. For many years he also suffered from severe arthritis, poor eyesight, and a stomach ailment. For several years Leopold Mandic taught patrology, the study of the Church Fathers, to the clerics of his province, but he is best known for his work in the confessional, where he sometimes spent 13-15 hours a day. Several bishops sought out his spiritual advice. Leopold's dream was to go to the Orthodox Christians and work for the reunion of Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy. His health never permitted it. Leopold often renewed his vow to go to the Eastern Christians; the cause of unity was constantly in his prayers. At a time when Pope Pius XII said that the greatest sin of our time is “to have lost all sense of sin,” Leopold Mandic had a profound sense of sin and an even firmer sense of God's grace awaiting human cooperation. Leopold Mandic, who lived most of his life in Padua, died on July 30, 1942, and was canonized in 1982. In the Roman liturgy his feast is celebrated on July 30. Reflection Saint Francis of Assisi advised his followers to “pursue what they must desire above all things, to have the Spirit of the Lord and His holy manner of working” (Rule of 1223, Chapter 10)—words that Leopold lived out. When the Capuchin minister general wrote his friars on the occasion of Leopold's beatification, he said that this friar's life showed “the priority of that which is essential.”Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Join Michaela Nikolaenko and me as we discuss how our view on spiritual warfare has changed. Michaela and I have a similar path; we are both ex-occultists and ex-Protestants and now newly Orthodox Christians. During our journey into the Orthodox faith, we both fell victim to misconceptions about spiritual warfare.As occultists, we both encountered demons. Not realizing what they truly were yet, we were tricked into believing they were our spiritual "friends," trying to utilize them on our path to healing. Once Christ came into our lives, like many new Christians, we fell into not only Protestantism but also charismatic teaching. This experience gave us a whole other deceptive view on what we initially believed spiritual warfare was. By God's grace, we both came to understand that what we had been taught about demons and spiritual warfare was not the truth, and we entered the Orthodox Church—the true church. Once there, we realized the true nature of spiritual warfare and that picking up your cross and following Christ meant an ongoing battle, but not with the eternal demons like we once believed—it was warfare within. A lifelong battle not just with demons, but against our passions and sin.Watch Video on YoutubeIf you enjoy this episode there is also a bonus chat where Michaela and I dive deeper into the topics discussed in this episode. Find it on The Friendship Membership. Want more? Let's be friends. Join the Friendship Membership.Want to read my memoir, Here Comes Trouble? It's available now. Order your copy  or from my website www.karamosher.comMain Topics:The reality of demons and demonic shapeshifting in spiritual warfareThe false origins of UFOs and alien encounters as demonic deceptionsThe importance of spiritual fathers, holy traditions, and the Orthodox approach to salvationThe spiritual significance of suffering, passions, and humility in our spiritual journeyHow to test and discern spiritual experiences through Orthodox spiritual practicesThe false promise of sinless perfection and the reality of ongoing spiritual struggleThe difference between subjective and objective grace in Orthodox spiritualityThe coming false alien invasion and the spiritual deception of the end times

A wise man once said, "Show me your friends and I'll show you your future". In this series, we'll discover what Scripture teaches about choosing the right friends, building meaningful community, and surrounding ourselves with relationships that help us find success in life. Because as Proverbs reminds us, “He who walks with wise men will be wise”—and the people we walk with today will help determine where we end up tomorrow.Or in other words, show me your friends and I'll show you your future..https://www.youtube.com/stsachurchhttps://www.stsa.church/the-well

Listen to Fr. Timothy's Sunday sermon.www.stsa.church

Listen to Fr. Abraham's Sunday sermon.www.stsa.church

​DYNAMIX: Daily Orthodox Christian Catechesis​DYNAMIX brings you a daily Bible reading, a ‘Question and Answer' from the Catechism of St Philaret of Moscow and ‘A Word for Today' - a short quote of spiritual guidance from ancient and contemporary teachers of Orthodox Christian discipleship.​Listen on APPLE PODCASTS app: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dynamix-daily-bible-orthodox-catechesis-and-lives/id1847918564​Listen on SPOTIFY app: https://open.spotify.com/show/4iBRyu9SATM87yzbZKTFhv​TO SUPPORT the work of the Orthodox Christian Teaching podcast ministry:BUY ME A COFFEE: http://buymeacoffee.com/octeaching

​​1. TO SUPPORT this Orthodox Christian ministry and the digitisation of our many cassette-tapes for new podcasts, please visit us at the BUY ME A COFFEE support platform:​​http://buymeacoffee.com/octeaching​2. TO FIND THE TITLES AND LINKS for all our podcasts, please visit our podcast directory. Just search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching Podcast Directory' in the Apple Podcasts app or in the podcasts section of the Spotify app OR search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching' in the Apple Podcasts app or the Spotify app,​3. DIRECT LINKS to the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TEACHING PODCAST DIRECTORY:​On the APPLE PODCASTS app:​https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/orthodox-christian-teaching-podcast-directory/id1680765527​On the SPOTIFY app:​https://open.spotify.com/show/1ALQ9YkJ0hhZ20GGZv7MH9?si=hVv_aqKtSrypyTLr1YZQIQ​​​

​ ​1. TO SUPPORT this Orthodox Christian ministry and the digitisation of our many cassette-tapes for new podcasts, please visit us at the BUY ME A COFFEE support platform:​​http://buymeacoffee.com/octeaching​2. TO FIND THE TITLES AND LINKS for all our podcasts, please visit our podcast directory. Just search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching Podcast Directory' in the Apple Podcasts app or in the podcasts section of the Spotify app OR search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching' in the Apple Podcasts app or the Spotify app,​3. DIRECT LINKS to the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TEACHING PODCAST DIRECTORY:​On the APPLE PODCASTS app:​https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/orthodox-christian-teaching-podcast-directory/id1680765527​On the SPOTIFY app:​https://open.spotify.com/show/1ALQ9YkJ0hhZ20GGZv7MH9?si=hVv_aqKtSrypyTLr1YZQIQ​​​

​​1. TO SUPPORT this Orthodox Christian ministry and the digitisation of our many cassette-tapes for new podcasts, please visit us at the BUY ME A COFFEE support platform:​​http://buymeacoffee.com/octeaching​2. TO FIND THE TITLES AND LINKS for all our podcasts, please visit our podcast directory. Just search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching Podcast Directory' in the Apple Podcasts app or in the podcasts section of the Spotify app OR search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching' in the Apple Podcasts app or the Spotify app,​3. DIRECT LINKS to the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TEACHING PODCAST DIRECTORY:​On the APPLE PODCASTS app:​https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/orthodox-christian-teaching-podcast-directory/id1680765527​On the SPOTIFY app:​https://open.spotify.com/show/1ALQ9YkJ0hhZ20GGZv7MH9?si=hVv_aqKtSrypyTLr1YZQIQ​​​

​​1. TO SUPPORT this Orthodox Christian ministry and the digitisation of our many cassette-tapes for new podcasts, please visit us at the BUY ME A COFFEE support platform:​​http://buymeacoffee.com/octeaching​2. TO FIND THE TITLES AND LINKS for all our podcasts, please visit our podcast directory. Just search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching Podcast Directory' in the Apple Podcasts app or in the podcasts section of the Spotify app OR search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching' in the Apple Podcasts app or the Spotify app,​3. DIRECT LINKS to the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TEACHING PODCAST DIRECTORY:​On the APPLE PODCASTS app:​https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/orthodox-christian-teaching-podcast-directory/id1680765527​On the SPOTIFY app:​https://open.spotify.com/show/1ALQ9YkJ0hhZ20GGZv7MH9?si=hVv_aqKtSrypyTLr1YZQIQ​​​

​​1. TO SUPPORT this Orthodox Christian ministry and the digitisation of our many cassette-tapes for new podcasts, please visit us at the BUY ME A COFFEE support platform:​​http://buymeacoffee.com/octeaching​2. TO FIND THE TITLES AND LINKS for all our podcasts, please visit our podcast directory. Just search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching Podcast Directory' in the Apple Podcasts app or in the podcasts section of the Spotify app OR search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching' in the Apple Podcasts app or the Spotify app,​3. DIRECT LINKS to the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TEACHING PODCAST DIRECTORY:​On the APPLE PODCASTS app:​https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/orthodox-christian-teaching-podcast-directory/id1680765527​On the SPOTIFY app:​https://open.spotify.com/show/1ALQ9YkJ0hhZ20GGZv7MH9?si=hVv_aqKtSrypyTLr1YZQIQ​​​

​​1. TO SUPPORT this Orthodox Christian ministry and the digitisation of our many cassette-tapes for new podcasts, please visit us at the BUY ME A COFFEE support platform:​​http://buymeacoffee.com/octeaching​2. TO FIND THE TITLES AND LINKS for all our podcasts, please visit our podcast directory. Just search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching Podcast Directory' in the Apple Podcasts app or in the podcasts section of the Spotify app OR search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching' in the Apple Podcasts app or the Spotify app,​3. DIRECT LINKS to the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TEACHING PODCAST DIRECTORY:​On the APPLE PODCASTS app:​https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/orthodox-christian-teaching-podcast-directory/id1680765527​On the SPOTIFY app:​https://open.spotify.com/show/1ALQ9YkJ0hhZ20GGZv7MH9?si=hVv_aqKtSrypyTLr1YZQIQ​​​

​​1. TO SUPPORT this Orthodox Christian ministry and the digitisation of our many cassette-tapes for new podcasts, please visit us at the BUY ME A COFFEE support platform:​​http://buymeacoffee.com/octeaching​2. TO FIND THE TITLES AND LINKS for all our podcasts, please visit our podcast directory. Just search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching Podcast Directory' in the Apple Podcasts app or in the podcasts section of the Spotify app OR search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching' in the Apple Podcasts app or the Spotify app,​3. DIRECT LINKS to the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TEACHING PODCAST DIRECTORY:​On the APPLE PODCASTS app:​https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/orthodox-christian-teaching-podcast-directory/id1680765527​On the SPOTIFY app:​https://open.spotify.com/show/1ALQ9YkJ0hhZ20GGZv7MH9?si=hVv_aqKtSrypyTLr1YZQIQ​​​

​​1. TO SUPPORT this Orthodox Christian ministry and the digitisation of our many cassette-tapes for new podcasts, please visit us at the BUY ME A COFFEE support platform:​​http://buymeacoffee.com/octeaching​2. TO FIND THE TITLES AND LINKS for all our podcasts, please visit our podcast directory. Just search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching Podcast Directory' in the Apple Podcasts app or in the podcasts section of the Spotify app OR search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching' in the Apple Podcasts app or the Spotify app,​3. DIRECT LINKS to the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TEACHING PODCAST DIRECTORY:​On the APPLE PODCASTS app:​https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/orthodox-christian-teaching-podcast-directory/id1680765527​On the SPOTIFY app:​https://open.spotify.com/show/1ALQ9YkJ0hhZ20GGZv7MH9?si=hVv_aqKtSrypyTLr1YZQIQ​​​

An Australian based Protestant ministry called "Evangelising Eastern Orthodoxy" led by a former Greek Orthodox adherent claims that Orthodox Christians are "led away" from the Gospel because it's "obscured by other things." Fr. Tom responds with the truth of the matter.

Listen to Fr. Abraham's Sunday sermon.www.stsa.church

​DYNAMIX: Daily Orthodox Christian CatechesisDYNAMIX brings you a daily Bible reading, a ‘Question and Answer' from the Catechism of St Philaret of Moscow and a short quote as a ‘Word for Today'; a gem of spiritual wisdom drawn from ancient and content teachers of ‘the Way' - the path of Orthodox Christian discipleship.Listen on APPLE PODCASTS app: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dynamix-daily-bible-orthodox-catechesis-and-lives/id1847918564Listen on SPOTIFY app: https://open.spotify.com/show/4iBRyu9SATM87yzbZKTFhv

​DYNAMIX: Daily Orthodox Christian CatechesisDYNAMIX brings you a daily Bible reading, a ‘Question and Answer' from the Catechism of St Philaret of Moscow and a short quote as a ‘Word for Today'; a gem of spiritual wisdom drawn from ancient and content teachers of ‘the Way' - the path of Orthodox Christian discipleship.Listen on APPLE PODCASTS app: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dynamix-daily-bible-orthodox-catechesis-and-lives/id1847918564Listen on SPOTIFY app: https://open.spotify.com/show/4iBRyu9SATM87yzbZKTFhv

​DYNAMIX: Daily Orthodox Christian CatechesisDYNAMIX brings you a daily Bible reading, a ‘Question and Answer' from the Catechism of St Philaret of Moscow and a short quote as a ‘Word for Today'; a gem of spiritual wisdom drawn from ancient and content teachers of ‘the Way' - the path of Orthodox Christian discipleship.Listen on APPLE PODCASTS app: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dynamix-daily-bible-orthodox-catechesis-and-lives/id1847918564Listen on SPOTIFY app: https://open.spotify.com/show/4iBRyu9SATM87yzbZKTFhv

​​1. TO SUPPORT this Orthodox Christian ministry and the digitisation of our many cassette-tapes for new podcasts, please visit us at the BUY ME A COFFEE support platform:​​http://buymeacoffee.com/octeaching​2. TO FIND THE TITLES AND LINKS for all our podcasts, please visit our podcast directory. Just search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching Podcast Directory' in the Apple Podcasts app or in the podcasts section of the Spotify app OR search for ‘Orthodox Christian Teaching' in the Apple Podcasts app or the Spotify app,​3. DIRECT LINKS to the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TEACHING PODCAST DIRECTORY:​On the APPLE PODCASTS app:​https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/orthodox-christian-teaching-podcast-directory/id1680765527​On the SPOTIFY app:​https://open.spotify.com/show/1ALQ9YkJ0hhZ20GGZv7MH9?si=hVv_aqKtSrypyTLr1YZQIQ​​​

Listen to Fr. Timothy's Sunday sermon.www.stsa.church

Former Orthodox priest Joshua Schooping makes more baseless claims against the Orthodox Christian faith in his latest interview. Fr Tom responds to every point.

A wise man once said, "Show me your friends and I'll show you your future". In this series, we'll discover what Scripture teaches about choosing the right friends, building meaningful community, and surrounding ourselves with relationships that help us find success in life. Because as Proverbs reminds us, “He who walks with wise men will be wise”—and the people we walk with today will help determine where we end up tomorrow.Or in other words, show me your friends and I'll show you your future..https://www.youtube.com/stsachurchhttps://www.stsa.church/the-well

Listen to Fr. Abraham's Sunday sermon.www.stsa.church

Listen to Fr. Timothy's Sunday sermon.www.stsa.church

Listen to Fr. Timothy's Lazarus Saturday sermon.www.stsa.church

A wise man once said, "Show me your friends and I'll show you your future". In this series, we'll discover what Scripture teaches about choosing the right friends, building meaningful community, and surrounding ourselves with relationships that help us find success in life. Because as Proverbs reminds us, “He who walks with wise men will be wise”—and the people we walk with today will help determine where we end up tomorrow.Or in other words, show me your friends and I'll show you your future..https://www.youtube.com/stsachurchhttps://www.stsa.church/the-well

On this week's episode of TheFallenState TV, host Jesse Lee Peterson is joined by Jay Dyer—He is a YouTuber, comedian, writer, author, and TV presenter. Jay joins Jesse for a deep and wide-ranging conversation on theology, philosophy, and the hidden structures shaping modern culture. He breaks down his perspective on Orthodox Christianity, metaphysics, and why he believes many mainstream worldviews fail to account for truth and reality. He and Jesse dive into topics like faith, skepticism, conspiracy, and the spiritual battle underlying today’s social and political conflicts. It’s an intense, thought-provoking exchange filled with big ideas, sharp debate, and moments that will leave you thinking long after it’s over.

Listen to Fr. Abraham's Sunday sermon.www.stsa.church

Listen to Fr. Anthony's Sunday sermon.www.stsa.church

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (04/08/26), Hank continues to provide an overview of the days of Holy Week, picking up with Holy Wednesday, otherwise known as Spy Wednesday. For on the Wednesday of the last week of Christ's earthly sojourn, Judas became a spy for the enemies of the Messiah. On this day, the ancient Church commemorates the ultimate in contrasts: a prostitute transformed into a pure bride in contrast to a chosen disciple who conspires with sinful men to betray the King of Truth.Hank also answers the following questions:I have a friend who is a member of Rodney Howard-Browne's church. If he believes in the essentials, how does that make his ministry a cult, and how can I explain that to my friend? Nancy - PA (15:46)What is your take on sola scriptura now as an Orthodox Christian, and do you think it is biblical? Chris - Seattle, WA (19:33)I heard you say the other day that there was no rapture. Am I incorrect, or did you actually say that? Charles - Dexter, MO (23:04)