Psalm 51, a prayer of repentance so familiar to Orthodox Christians, teaches the double-edged wisdom of judgment and hope. Fr. Paul Lundberg suggests the psalm provides sobriety and a connection to the grace of humility, essential for anyone who wants to take leadership seriously, and to do it well. With "my sins ever against me" and acknowledging that "against Thee only have I sinned," does self-absorption run its course, realizing that our only hope is the hesed, the mercy of the Lord.

If you want like to learn more about current Biblical Hebrew or Greek course offerings as this podcast mentions, please contact Fr. Timothy Lowe. 

Read the full episode transcript here.

When tempted to say, "I quit," or "I'm indispensable," consider whether this might signal a kind of self-importance that has lost sight of the greater mission. We struggle with self-importance at every turn. When work is challenging, it's tempting to despair, quit, and presume to deserve better. And when others rely on us, it's tempting to pridefully assume that our expertise is indispensable. Even the Prophet Elijah was tempted to despair and presumed he was indispensable to the Lord's work. Fr. Timothy Lowe suggests we cut the drama and be ready with a humble and sober answer to the Lord's small voice when He asks, "What are you doing here?"  

Read the full episode transcript here.

In this week's episode, we are challenged by the Gospel of John, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit for apart from me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5)  

Mariam Haddad, successful entrepreneur, community supporter, and devoted mother, shares her encounter with the pruning shears wielded by the Lord. In the solitude of the pandemic, she gives up her grandiose plans for her children and business and loses every possession in the Houston freeze. Mariam glorifies God for this new season of repentance by which the dead branches of pride and personal agendas are pruned and cut away. 

​Read the full episode transcript here.​

The story of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples is unique to the Gospel of John and replaces the Eucharistic element expressed in the other Gospels.  Jesus demonstrates that unity in love and compassion is essential within the leadership hierarchy for the witness of the gospel. He instructs His disciples to behave according to the Gospel message they carry, urging them "to wash one another's feet." 

Fr. Timothy Lowe, former Rector of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem, exegetes John 13, and reminds us that this intimate act of service and love is transformative for all who hear and do as the Lord instructs. 

​Read the full episode transcript here.

Have you ever worked for someone who had trouble confronting a difficult employee? Perhaps you've noticed yourself avoiding conflict by working extra long and hard to cover someone who is stealing energy and productivity from the team. What do you say? How do you say it? Is humility the same as avoiding conflict?

This week's episode continues the study of Ephesians 4:25-32 and the responsibility we have as "members one of another" to speak the truth in love even when we would rather avoid the conflict. 

​Read the full episode transcript here.

​In our jobs, families, neighborhoods, and church communities, we expect people to exercise an appropriate level of authority to carry out their particular responsibilities. As Christians, the authority that we exercise over people or things in our care require us to serve as one under the authority of God's instruction.

Fr. Sergius looks to Christ, the Theotokos, and the faithful Centurion as shining examples of those who humbly submit to the Lord's instruction and exercise the power of that instruction to carry out their responsibilities for those in their care.

Fr. Sergius Halvorsen, Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at St. Vladimir’s Seminary and contributor to Doulos – The Intensive Program in Servant Leadership, shares the final episode of a four-part series to explore serving with Christ-like authority and humility.

See the full episode transcript.

We may aspire to be humble, but unless we are submitting to the Lord's instruction that would have us imitate Christ who "emptied himself, taking the form of a servant . . . and humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross" (Phil 2:8-9) we risk an idolatrous image of humility fashioned by our own hands.

Fr. Sergius encourages Christians to imitate Christ's humility by 

1. Submitting to the authority of God's instruction.
2. Allowing God's word to correct us.
3. Giving thanks to God when corrected.

​Fr. Sergius Halvorsen, Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at St. Vladimir’s Seminary and contributor to Doulos – The Intensive Program in Servant Leadership, shares Part Three of a four-part series to explore serving with Christlike authority and humility.

​Read the full episode transcript here.

​Are you suspicious of those who cloak excuses in false humility? 

• I'm so busy and I just don't have time to help.
• Thanks for asking, but who am I to take on such a responsibility?
• I'll just keep quiet and avoid any conflict.
• I'm so broken, how could God use me?

False humility seeks excuse from duty and personal accountability, appearing humble for personal gain. Rather than pointing out the false humility in others, how do we recognize excuses and false piety in our own behavior and repent from it? 

Fr. Sergius Halvorsen, Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at St. Vladimir’s Seminary and contributor to Doulos – The Intensive Program in Servant Leadership, shares Part Two of a four-part series that explores serving with Christlike authority and humility.