St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston

In this Nativity sermon, Fr. Matthias Shehad shares the papal message from His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and the episcopal message from Bishop Yusuf of the Southern Diocese, inviting believers to reflect on the birth of Christ and its spiritual significance. Fr. Matthias explores the story of the Wise Men from the East, highlighting seven key lessons from their journey: their watchfulness for the divine, seizing opportunities, overcoming obstacles, responding promptly, accepting the humble circumstances of Christ’s birth, offering gifts in worship, and dedicating their trip without personal gain.He emphasizes how the Wise Men’s faith and actions contrast with common human hesitation and distractions, encouraging viewers to respond with the same dedication and reverence in their spiritual lives. This message connects the Nativity story to practical lessons on faith, obedience, and worship within the Coptic Orthodox tradition.#NativitySermon #PopeTawadrosII #CopticOrthodox #WisdomOfTheWiseMen #FaithAndWorship #ChristianReflection #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthiasSubscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhoustonFollow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhoustonFollow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhoustonVisit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the significance of the Feast of Theophany and the baptism of Jesus Christ, highlighting its foundational role in the Christian life. He explains how Christ’s baptism opened the way for humanity to receive the forgiveness of sins and initiate a life of salvation through baptism.Fr. Matthias outlines six key benefits of baptism: liberation from the slavery of sin, adoption as sons and daughters of God, forgiveness of sins, receiving a new nature, unity with Christ and the church, and salvation. He emphasizes the transformative power baptism holds, not only cleansing past sins but also granting a new spiritual life and membership in the body of Christ.This sermon deepens understanding of baptism’s essential role in the sacraments and Christian identity, encouraging believers to appreciate its spiritual impact beyond the outward ritual.#Baptism #HolySpirit #Theophany #ChristianLife #ForgivenessOfSins #SpiritualTransformation #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthiasSubscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhoustonFollow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhoustonFollow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhoustonVisit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the distinction between the inner and outer man, focusing on the spiritual depth of prayer beyond external actions. Drawing on teachings from St. Dimitri of Rostov, Fr. Matthias explains that true prayer is an inner work involving an awareness and remembrance of God's presence, rather than just reciting words or ritual postures.He addresses the common misunderstanding of prayer as solely external and emphasizes the need to nurture the hidden person of the heart through discipline, personal connection with God, and spiritual growth. Fr. Matthias discusses the challenges of spiritual blindness and encourages viewers to seek the secret communion with God that surpasses visible activities.The talk also highlights the balance between caring for the body and nourishing the spirit, urging a deeper investment in cultivating the inner man while participating in necessary outer activities. This teaching invites reflection on how to deepen our spiritual life and relationship with God.#InnerMan #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianPrayer #FaithJourney #FrMatthiasShehad #TheHarvest #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthiasSubscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhoustonFollow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhoustonFollow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhoustonVisit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

In this teaching, Fr. Matthias Shehad continues exploring the spiritual distinction between the inner man and outer man. He emphasizes that true prayer goes beyond reading prayers from the Agpeya or other church books and must come from the heart, fostering a secret communion with God.Fr. Matthias explains that while the outer man’s actions are visible to others, the inner man’s motivations and intentions are known only to God. He discusses the duality of human nature—the flesh seeking worldly desires versus the spirit seeking God—and how external religious activities serve to strengthen the inner spiritual life but are not ends in themselves.Drawing on scripture, Fr. Matthias stresses the importance of moving beyond knowledge of God towards a living relationship with Him, engaging in both communal and secret prayer. He encourages believers to seek inner prayer continually, combining external discipline with heartfelt devotion to experience God’s presence daily.#InnerManOuterMan #ChristianPrayer #SpiritualGrowth #FrMatthiasShehad #LivingFaith #PrayerFromTheHeart #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthiasSubscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhoustonFollow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhoustonFollow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhoustonVisit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

H.G. Bishop Gregory explores the power and dangers of the tongue based on St. James chapter 3, emphasizing how words can determine our spiritual fate by either justifying or condemning us. He explains the tongue’s influence as both a tool for great things and a source of destructive fire, capable of harming relationships and spreading slander. Bishop Gregory highlights the necessity of guarding our speech by purifying the heart through repentance and filling it with the Word of God. He advises practicing patience in speaking, choosing words that build up and offer encouragement rather than criticism or hypocrisy. Through practical examples and biblical stories, Bishop Gregory instructs on overcoming harmful speech by listening more, speaking less, and timing our words wisely. He concludes with a call to prayer, asking the Lord to protect our lips and enable us to speak what is edifying and life-giving.#ChristianLiving #PowerOfTheTongue #BibleTeaching #FaithInAction #SpiritualGrowth #HGGBishopGregory #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthiasSubscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhoustonFollow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhoustonFollow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhoustonVisit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

Mira Elias discusses approaches to sex education for children, emphasizing the importance of age-appropriate conversations that begin early and continue as a natural process. Mira highlights topics such as peer pressure, dating, purity, and how to address questions about sexuality with calmness and biblical perspective. She stresses the need to prepare kids for influences from media and peers, including topics on homosexuality, and to provide clear, truthful answers to maintain trust.Mira shares strategies for talking with different age groups, from preschoolers learning about male and female roles in nature to middle and high schoolers understanding marriage, intimacy, and the risks of unsafe behaviors. She also addresses how to guide children in respecting their bodies and setting boundaries. The talk includes practical tips for parents and caregivers to create open, ongoing dialogue grounded in faith and to help children navigate modern challenges with knowledge and confidence.#ChristianParenting #FaithBasedEducation #SexEdForKids #BiblicalParenting #PurityEducation #ChristianFamily #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthiasSubscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhoustonFollow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhoustonFollow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhoustonVisit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

In this sermon titled "Blessed Are the Merciful," Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the Christian teaching on mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation. He discusses how holding onto anger and resentment damages relationships and personal well-being, urging believers to follow Christ’s example by showing mercy to those who have wronged them.Fr. Matthias highlights the importance of confronting offenses directly and pursuing reconciliation instead of resorting to revenge or judgment. He reflects on how modern society struggles with true tolerance and mercy, especially in personal relationships and social interactions like bullying. Emphasizing self-awareness, he explains that recognizing one’s own flaws helps foster compassion toward others.Fr. Matthias concludes by encouraging forgiveness as a path to peace and mercy from God, calling the faithful to forgive past and present hurts to live harmoniously and receive God’s mercy in return.#BlessedAreTheMerciful #ChristianMercy #ForgivenessInChrist #Reconciliation #FrMatthiasShehad #NewYearsSermon2019 #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthiasSubscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhoustonFollow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhoustonFollow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhoustonVisit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

H.G. Bishop Gregory reflects on the Gospel story of the sinful woman who repents at the feet of Jesus, highlighting lessons from the characters involved: Simon the Pharisee, the sinful woman, and Christ. Bishop Gregory warns against self-righteousness and judgment like Simon’s, urging believers to approach the Lord with humility and repentance. He emphasizes the power of tears as a form of repentance that renews the soul beyond baptism, drawing on St. John Climacus’s teaching about cleansing through tears.Bishop Gregory explains how Christ responds with patience, kindness, and forgiveness, offering a model for believers to accept grace sincerely. He discusses the importance of receiving God’s forgiveness with a contrite heart, warning against the dangers of pride and quick judgment. Through this meditation, Bishop Gregory encourages viewers to embrace repentance daily and imitate the woman’s example by loving the Lord and keeping His word.#ChristianRepentance #ForgivenessInChrist #LessonsFromTheBible #HGBCGregorySermon #RepentanceAndGrace #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthiasSubscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhoustonFollow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhoustonFollow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhoustonVisit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the concept of salvation as a cooperative work between God and humanity, focusing on the role of man in this spiritual process. He draws from Scripture to explain that while God alone accomplishes salvation through Christ’s incarnation and sacrifice, humans must actively participate by believing, repenting, confessing sins, receiving baptism and communion, and sharing the Gospel. Fr. Matthias emphasizes that salvation requires a response of faith and obedience, including forgiveness toward others and engagement in the sacraments. Using biblical examples such as St. Mary, St. John the Baptist, and Christ’s teachings, he illustrates how God invites human cooperation without coercion. The message highlights how believers open their spiritual eyes to receive the gift of salvation and live in union with Christ, stressing both divine initiative and human responsibility in the journey of faith.#Salvation #FaithAndObedience #ChristianSermon #ManAndGod #SpiritualGrowth #RoleInSalvation #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthiasSubscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhoustonFollow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhoustonFollow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhoustonVisit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

Fr. Matthias Shehad explains God’s role in salvation, emphasizing that salvation is a cooperative work between God and humanity. He explores the meaning of Jesus’ name as Savior and highlights salvation as an act of grace, unearned by human effort. Fr. Matthias traces key acts of God’s grace throughout history, from creation—where God made humans in His image despite foreseeing their sin—to the early promise of redemption in the Garden of Eden.He discusses the significance of the expulsion from Eden as an act of grace protecting humanity from eternal corruption, and the sending of prophets who pointed to the coming Messiah. Fr. Matthias focuses on the Incarnation, the crucifixion, and resurrection as central milestones where God’s grace offers forgiveness and eternal life. The sermon sets the foundation for next week’s talk on humanity’s role in salvation, inviting viewers to reflect on how we can respond to God’s gift.#Salvation #GodsGrace #JesusSavior #ChristianFaith #Incarnation #EternalLife #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthiasSubscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhoustonFollow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhoustonFollow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhoustonVisit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org