Sermon topic

Great Lent preparation

2 sermons with this topic

February 23, 2025

Rivers of Living Water: Faith and Trust in Christ

Unknown preacher

The preacher reflects on John 7:37-38, where Christ says 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink,' and promises that rivers of living water will flow from the believer's belly. The Armenian portion emphasizes faith as the foundation of all spiritual and eternal life, without which nothing is possible. The English sermon uses the Hoover Dam as an analogy for latent power, explains that the 'belly' refers to the soul's dwelling place, and identifies the living water as the Holy Spirit received at baptism. The preacher connects this to the upcoming Great Lent as a time to cultivate and exercise faith, and cites St. Vartan Mamigonian's trust in Christ at the Battle of Avarayr as the supreme example of faith in action.

John 7:37-38; John 7:39

February 9, 2025

The Church as the Boat: Christ Comes to Us Despite All Obstacles

Not explicitly identified in transcript

The Armenian sermon introduces the upcoming Fast of the Catechumens (Առաջավորաց պահք), encouraging the faithful to observe it as preparation for Great Lent, and emphasizes the three pillars of spiritual life: prayer, Scripture reading, and fasting. The English sermon reflects on Christ walking on water from the Gospel of John, exploring how this miracle reveals Christ's authority over the physical and spiritual worlds, his bringing of peace, and the prefiguration of the church as a boat. The preacher connects the disciples' boat to the church nave, emphasizing that all belong in the church regardless of background or struggles, and that Christ comes to us despite all obstacles, overcoming loneliness and isolation.

John 6:16-21; John 2:1-11