The Christian Education Department of the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese has made the Book of Exodus the focus of our Sunday School year 2025-26 and the summer’s Bible Bowl. Brainstorming ideas of teaching the Teen SOYO class, my partner advisor, Philip Riske, brought up “The Life of Moses” by St. Gregory of Nyssa as a goodContinue reading “Rethinking Exodus: A Forgotten Pursuit of Virtue?”
Category Archives: Bible
Advent One: The Need for Realignment
We are nibbling on our Thanksgiving Day leftovers as we walk into the Advent Season. Many non-Denominational congregations as well as mainline Protestants and Roman Catholics will have special candle lightings, prayers, and scriptures readings to prepare hearts and minds to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ (Feast of the Lord’s Nativity). New calendar EasternContinue reading “Advent One: The Need for Realignment”
Three Reasons for a Prayer Rule
Call No Man Father?
Visitors to my YouTube channel may be put off by the title Father Deacon John Gresham. In the Orthodox Church, I am officially Father Deacon, Reverend Deacon, and since I was ordained in the Arabic speaking Antiochian Archdiocese, Abouna Shamas. I don’t fly off the handle when people only refer to me as “Deacon” sinceContinue reading “Call No Man Father?”
An Acts/Herman Model of Evangelism
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo,Continue reading “An Acts/Herman Model of Evangelism”
Matthias, the Bible, and Other Books
August 9th is the feast day of an overlooked Saint Matthias. In the Book of Acts (1:12 to 26) he was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot to join the Twelve Apostles. Peter takes the lead in the beginning of the book with Paul’s mission to the Gentiles occupying much of this scripture. Deacon Philip’s evangelizingContinue reading “Matthias, the Bible, and Other Books”
West Point Orthodox Christian Chapel 