Topics for Talks, Retreats, and Seminars

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Topics for Talks, Retreats, and Seminars

Matthew is always willing to prepare talks on whatever topic the inviting church or organization would like him to address. However, he does have a number of ready-to-go presentations that can be tailored to fit any particular venue or format:

“This Orthodox Life” Series

This is Matthew’s most comprehensive work. These four presentations can be offered as a complete series, in any combination, or as individual, stand-alone talks. Collectively, they are designed to

1. introduce those outside the Orthodox Church to Original Christianity;

2. help Orthodox Christians better live their Ancient Faith; and

3. encourage personal evangelism and parish growth.

Presentation 1 — Seeking Truth, Finding Love: My Journey to the Orthodox Church

The tale of how I found Eastern Orthodoxy, and what I discovered when I
entered into it. Important topics addressed in this talk include:

 Do Christians with contradictory doctrines really worship “the same Jesus”?

 Can the truth be found in “the Scriptures alone”?

 Historical versus Theological Christianity.

 Reason versus Sacrament.

 God’s ultimate goal for humanity.

Presentation 2 — One: What It Means to be Orthodox

To be Orthodox means to fulfill God’s desire for us: to be one with Him,and one with each other, in the same way that the members of the Trinity are one (John 17:21-23). Some topics covered:

 The foundation of unity: the Holy Trinity and the life of God in the world.

 The Fall: humanity’s descent from oneness to individuality.

 The Incarnation and the coming of the Holy Spirit: the restoration of oneness.

 Salvation as transformation.

 Living in unity: facing up to the challenges of oneness.

Presentation 3 — Dancing with God: The Sacramental Life

Our experience of God is to be one of direct participation in His life. This presentation focuses on:

 The Eastern immediate experience of God versus the Western mediated approach to God.

 The meaning of mystical.

 The power of the sacramental life: one single experience of the one Spirit, across time and cultures.

 Preparing for Heaven by devotedly living the life of the Church.

Presentation 4 — “If You Build It, They Will Come”: Evangelism St. Seraphim Style

The key to growing our parish is our mutual commitment to living the life of the Body of Christ, and sharing that life with those around us who are “hungering and thirsting for righteousness” (Matthew 5:6). Topics include:

 A rich and full liturgical life: a parish’s life blood.

 Personal commitment to the sacramental life, spiritual struggle, and spiritual growth.

 “It’s all about oneness”: a simple model for sharing your faith.

 Fellowship and evangelism—at home, and at church.

“Discovering the Will of God”

For Eastern Orthodox Christians, the “will of God” and our relationship to it is not the enigma it is to those in the West. This series examines the essential differences between the Eastern and Western understanding of the nature of God’s will, the relationship between His foreknowledge and our freedom, the sacramental life as the revelation of God’s will, and practical advice from the saints regarding discerning God’s desires for us.

 Presentation 1 — Discovering God’s Will

 Presentation 2 — God’s Will and My Will: A Predestined Synergy of
Love

 Presentation 3 — Letting the Will of God Find Us

 Presentation 4 — Practical Advice From the Fathers

“What Was God Really Doing On Christmas?”

This is a two-part talk on the Incarnation. It was originally given as a one-day Nativity fast retreat; but with a reworking of the title, it can be presented any time of year. The first talk drives home the truth that the Incarnation is the centerpiece of God’s work in the world—not just a necessary condition for the satisfaction of God’s justice at the Cross. Experiencing the Incarnation through Holy Tradition is the theme of the second talk.

 Presentation 1 — What Was God Really Doing On Christmas?

 Presentation 2 — Living the Incarnation: Holy Tradition

“The Significance of Holy Tradition Today”

This series looks at Holy Tradition as the expression of the life of the Holy Trinity in the world. Beginning with an examination of God’s Old Testament relationship with Israel, and looking at the experience of the Early Church, we come to see Holy Tradition as the means by which God fulfills His purpose in our lives: to make us one with each other, and one with the Trinity, in the same way that the Father, Son, and Spirit are one. Tradition, then, becomes synonymous with love. The final presentation looks at the challenges facing Orthodox Christians today, when it comes to living our Tradition.

 Presentation 1 — Tradition: The Life of God, Not a Dirty Word

 Presentation 2 — Resisting Tradition = Resisting Love

 Presentation 3 — Holy Tradition: The Challenge Today

**In addition to his lectures, Matthew also has a blessing to give homilies.