Sharon Doran Archives

ST-V12 – Philippians – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – Video Podcast

“Philippians” – Seeking Truth Catholic Bible Study with Sharon Doran from Discerning Hearts on Vimeo.

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas visited the city of Philippi, so today we turn our attention to Paul’s beautiful letter to the Philippians. Written while in prison, Paul’s affection for the Philippians flows out through his words. Sharon begins with a panoramic historical view and then progressively narrows her focus, drawing us further in as the lecture progresses. To set the stage, Sharon takes us back to Daniel 2, showing us Daniel’s interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream which prophesied a succession of empires: Babylonian, Persian, Greek and ultimately Roman. Sharon then gives us a nice overview of the history of Roman emperors who ruled just before, during and following the time of Christ. Knowing this history enriches our understanding of not only Paul’s letter to the Philippians, but of the entire Bible and the initial 400 years of the Church. Sharon then turns her attention to Paul’s letter to the Philippians, which overflows with profound passages, rich in wisdom and theological significance. Working her way through this amazing epistle, Sharon periodically pauses and focuses on various important passages. The climax of the lecture is a wonderful teaching on Philippians 2:5-11, a beautiful hymn about Christ’s humility, obedience, humanity and divinity.

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Sharon Doran serves as the teaching director of “Seeking Truth.” An experienced Bible Study teacher, Sharon has a passion for scripture that will motivate and challenge you to immerse yourself in God’s Word and apply His message to your everyday life.

“Seeking Truth” is an in-depth Catholic Bible Study, commissioned by the Archdiocese of Omaha in response to John Paul II’s call to the New Evangelization as well as Pope Benedict XVI’s exhortation for all Catholics to study scripture. To learn more go to:www.seekingtruth.net

ST-V11 – Acts of the Apostles, Chapters Acts 16 – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – Video Podcast

“Acts 16” – Seeking Truth Catholic Bible Study from Discerning Hearts on Vimeo.

“The Lord opened her heart.” With these beautiful words, we learn about Lydia, a wealthy woman from Philippi and dealer of purple cloth. The story of Lydia serves as a springboard of encouragement for us to open our own hearts to the Lord, who is always knocking at but never forcing His way into our hearts. Sharon then gives us some fascinating details about the production of purple dyes and the political/social significance of this precious fabric. We also learn more about Timothy, who accompanies Paul during this part of his ministry and is later installed as the bishop of Ephesus. Sharon gives us insight into the cultures of Philippi and Ephesus, which helps us better understand the pastoral issues that Paul and Timothy addressed in their letters to these Christian communities. The chapter ends with an amazing jailbreak: secured by stocks, Paul and Silas witness to their fellow prisoners, only to be freed through a miraculous earthquake. The despondent jailer is about to take his own life, but Paul and Silas convince him otherwise, preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ, and the jailer along with his entire household are baptized.

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ST-V10 – Acts of the Apostles, Chapters Acts 15 – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – Video Podcast

“Acts 15” – Seeking Truth Catholic Bible Study from Discerning Hearts on Vimeo.

In Acts Chapter 15, we hear about the controversy in the early church regarding the need for circumcision. To resolve this issue, the first council of the church takes place in Jerusalem. At first glance, this might seem to be some obscure problem that is interesting, but not really pertinent to our faith. But Sharon gives us a masterful teaching about the importance of circumcision, showing us how it was the outward sign of God’s covenant with Israel. However, with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God establishes His final universal covenant with the entire world. The mediator of this new covenant is Jesus, and the sign of this new covenant is the Eucharist. And just as circumcision takes place on the 8th day after birth, so too does the celebration of the Eucharist take place on the 8th day, the day when we celebrate the resurrection of Christ and the dawn of a new creation.

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“Seeking Truth” is an in depth Catholic Bible Study, commissioned by the Archdiocese of Omaha in response to John Paul II’s call to the New Evangelization as well as Pope Benedict XVI’s exhortation for all Catholics to study scripture. To learn more go to:www.seekingtruth.net

ST-V9 – Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 13-14 – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – Video Podcast

“Acts 13-14” – Seeking Truth Catholic Bible Study from Discerning Hearts on Vimeo.

Our journey through the Acts of Apostles continues. Sharon gives us a nice summary of the series of progressive covenants that God has made throughout salvation history, showing us that each has both a covenant mediator and covenant sign. For example, Abraham was the covenant mediator and circumcision the covenant sign. Jesus Christ is the final covenant mediator and Eucharist the final covenant sign. We take a look at the stories of Peter’s vision at Joppa and the Baptism of Cornelius, both of which underscore the universal nature of God’s gift of salvation. Sharon goes on to give us a beautiful exhortation to use spiritual charisms granted to all of us by the Holy Spirit through the grace of our Baptism. From there, we focus on the execution of James, the first apostle to suffer martyrdom and the supernatural jailbreak of Peter. The lesson concludes with the commissioning of Paul and Barnabas who are sent to preach the kerygma, the good news, to anyone and everyone, Jew and Gentile alike.

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ST-V8 – Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 10 -12 – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – Video Podcast

“Acts 10-12” – Seeking Truth Catholic Bible Study from Discerning Hearts on Vimeo.
The Conversion of Saul. In this lesson, we narrow our focus to a single chapter in Acts, taking an in-depth look at the most famous of conversions. The most ferocious persecutor of the early church does an absolute 180 to become one of the most prolific witnesses of all times. Sharon shows us that true conversion requires both belief in Christ and repentance from sin as well as Baptism into the Trinity and mission. However, the call to share in the life of Christ is also a call to share in His suffering. Furthermore, Sharon teaches us that just as the life of Israel prefigures the life of Jesus, the life of the Church recapitulates the life of Christ. In particular, we receive a beautiful teaching about Paul’s three days of blindness, which recalls Jesus’ three days in the tomb and Jonah’s three days in the belly of the whale. Paul’s spirit is freed from the bondage of sin just as the imprisoned righteous spirits were freed from the bondage of hell. Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. Saint Paul goes from moral blindness to become a full-sighted spiritual wonder, by the grace of the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus.

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ST-V7 – “Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 9 ” – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – Video Podcast

“Acts 9” – Seeking Truth Catholic Bible Study from Discerning Hearts on Vimeo.

The Conversion of Saul. In this lesson, we narrow our focus to a single chapter in Acts, taking an in-depth look at the most famous of conversions. The most ferocious persecutor of the early church does an absolute 180 to become one of the most prolific witnesses of all times. Sharon shows us that true conversion requires both belief in Christ and repentance from sin as well as Baptism into the Trinity and mission. However, the call to share in the life of Christ is also a call to share in His suffering. Furthermore, Sharon teaches us that just as the life of Israel prefigures the life of Jesus, the life of the Church recapitulates the life of Christ. In particular, we receive a beautiful teaching about Paul’s three days of blindness, which recalls Jesus’ three days in the tomb and Jonah’s three days in the belly of the whale. Paul’s spirit is freed from the bondage of sin just as the imprisoned righteous spirits were freed from the bondage of hell. Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. Saint Paul goes from moral blindness to become a full sighted spiritual wonder, by the grace of the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus.

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ST-V6 – “Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 8 ” – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – Video Podcast

“Acts 8” – Seeking Truth Catholic Bible Study from Discerning Hearts on Vimeo.

Our lesson this week covers Acts, Chapter 8, which is brimming with amazing stories. With the persecution of the early Church, many of the disciples scatter to the regions of Judea and Samaria, just at Christ commanded in Acts 1:8. Sharon enlightens us about the history of Samaria, because understanding the relationship between the Jews and the Samaritans is vital to understanding many stories of the Bible. Sharon goes on to review some of the most profound teachings of Christ that occur in the region of Samaria: the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) and the healing of ten lepers (Luke 17). From there, we learn more about the curious character of Simon the magician. Simon, after seeing the signs and great miracles worked by Philip the deacon, comes to belief in Christ and is baptized. Yet, his conversion is tenuous, and almost immediately he is rebuked by Peter for attempting to purchase the apostolic power of laying hands. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, we receive this terrific teaching about the Catholic sacrament of Confirmation, whose origins are found in this dynamic chapter. Finally, the lecture builds to a crescendo with the beautiful story of the Ethiopian eunuch, who reads from Isaiah and asks the question so many of us continue to ask today: “How can I understand this unless someone guides me?” While once an outcast under Mosaic Law, this emasculated man is now welcomed into the universal new covenant of Christ through the sacrament of Baptism.

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ST-V1 – “Why Study the Bible” – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – Video Podcast

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ST-V5 – “Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 6 – 7 ” – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – Video Podcast

In Acts 6-7, we first learn that the apostles were faced with the pastoral challenge of equitable distribution of food to the widows. Sharon goes on to give a beautiful teaching about God’s tender heart towards widows, as seen both in Old and New Testament stories. To solve this pastoral problem, the Apostles appointed the first deacons, an ordained ministry of the early Church, now revived by Vatican II by the Western Church. Stephen, one of the first deacons, was also the first martyr of the post-resurrection Church. Sharon gives a terrific overview of Stephen’s famous speech to the Sanhedrin. As we find out, the life of Christ is recapitulated in the Church, and the martyrdom of Stephen echoes the martyrdom of Christ: both are executed for the undeserved charge of blasphemy. Stephen’s death and our own sufferings were foretold by Christ: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you (John 15:18-19).”

ST-V4 – “Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 3 – 5 ” – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – Video Podcast

Do some of the stories of the Bible seem unfair? Does God seem to be overly harsh? If these thoughts have occurred to you, keep reading. The birth of the Church at Pentecost is heralded by the dawn of a new priesthood. In this week’s lecture, Sharon traces the origin of the priesthood, beginning with Adam and then to Noah, Abraham, Moses and the Levites. However, with the great commissioning of the Apostles and our first Pope, Peter, a new priesthood in the order of Melchizedek is established. Jesus gives this new priesthood the power to forgive AND retain sins. Understanding this priestly role is critical to unlocking the unsettling story of Ananias and Sapphira, who were struck dead when they did not give Peter all their money. Many “Ah Hah!” moments are found in this lecture. You won’t want to miss it.