St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston

In this Bible study, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the journey of Christ toward Jerusalem, focusing on the teaching about salvation found in Luke 13. He examines the meaning of entering through the narrow gate, emphasizing the need for daily struggle, repentance, and true discipleship rather than mere proximity to holiness. Fr. Matthias explains Jesus’ parable of the great supper, illustrating how many reject God’s invitation due to worldly distractions and excuses, while salvation is open to all who respond in faith and repentance.He highlights Christ’s warnings about the final judgment, the importance of humility, and the call to serve others without expecting reward. The study also addresses Jesus’ conflict with religious leaders and the prophecy of Jerusalem's desolation. Fr. Matthias encourages viewers to examine their own spiritual path, urging a committed and disciplined pursuit of salvation in the light of Christ’s teaching and example.#BibleStudy #ParableOfTheGreatSupper #Luke13 #ChristianDiscipleship #SalvationInChrist #FrMatthiasShehad #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 Parable of the Talents from the Gospel of Matthew, explaining its significance as a teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven. He unpacks how the master entrusts his servants with talents (money) according to their abilities and the varied responses they have—two servants invest and multiply their talents, while one hides his out of fear and laziness.Fr. Matthias discusses the meaning of these talents as God-given gifts and responsibilities, emphasizing that each person is called to use their unique abilities for service and growth in God’s kingdom. He highlights how faithfulness and diligence in small tasks lead to greater responsibility and joy in serving the Lord. The parable also warns of judgment for those who neglect their gifts. Through this teaching, Fr. Matthias encourages believers to understand stewardship, courage in service, and the importance of using all God’s gifts for His glory and the benefit of others.#ParableOfTheTalents #ChristianStewardship #KingdomOfHeaven #FaithfulServants #FrMatthiasShehad #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 reflects on the spiritual growth of St. John the Baptist as a model for believers to develop their own faith journey. He explores ten practical ways to measure growth in the spiritual life, including cultivating a hunger for God's truth, recognizing sin and embracing repentance, and increasing reliance on the Holy Spirit. Fr. Matthias discusses the importance of desiring to serve God daily, obeying Him regardless of the outcome, and deepening faith rooted in trust rather than understanding. The talk emphasizes valuing eternal treasures over earthly ones, fostering a love for private prayer, seeking God’s will in decision-making, and maintaining an ongoing awareness of God’s presence. Through these measures, believers can assess their progress in virtue and love, growing stronger in spirit as they prepare to live out their faith fully.#SpiritualGrowth #FaithJourney #ChristianLiving #HolySpirit #Repentance #PrayerLife #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 continues his study on the Harmony of the Gospels by exploring key events of Holy Week, starting with Hosanna Sunday. He examines the people's conflicted expectations of the Messiah, the presence of Pharisees, and the significance of “Hosanna” as a plea for salvation. Fr. Matthias highlights how despite Jesus performing many miracles, belief in Him was limited because of hardened hearts and fear of persecution.He then discusses the cleansing of the temple, explaining the issue with money changers exploiting worshippers and Jesus’ righteous anger in restoring the temple’s sanctity. Fr. Matthias unpacks the cursing of the fig tree as a symbol of Israel’s spiritual barrenness, and Jesus’ teaching on faith and forgiveness, emphasizing that forgiving others is key to receiving God’s forgiveness.The talk also addresses practical questions about forgiveness, divorce, and healing from deep personal wounds, underscoring forgiveness as a process vital to Christian discipleship and spiritual health.#HarmonyOfTheGospels #HolyWeek #CursedFigTree #BibleStudy #FaithAndForgiveness #JesusTeachings #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 continues his study on the Harmony of the Gospels by exploring Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, marking the beginning of Holy Week. He explains the significance of Jesus riding both a donkey and a colt, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy and symbolizing the unity of Jews and Gentiles under Christ’s kingship.Fr. Matthias discusses the varied reactions of the crowds, the disbelief of the Pharisees, and the disciples’ initial lack of understanding about Jesus’ mission and impending sacrifice. He highlights the spiritual meaning behind Jesus’ words about losing and gaining life, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the foreshadowing of the Temple’s destruction.The talk also addresses the importance of faith, discipleship, and following Christ’s example in service and obedience. Fr. Matthias concludes with reflections on Jesus’ prayer and God’s glorification through the Passion, inviting listeners to deepen their understanding of salvation history.#PalmSunday #HolyWeek #TriumphalEntry #HarmonyOfTheGospels #JesusKingship #BibleStudy #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

Eric Tadros holds a practical discussion on bringing thoughts captive by focusing on what to do after identifying distorted or maladaptive thinking. He explains how thoughts shape feelings and behaviors, and how avoidance and other reactions can reinforce anxious, jealous, angry, or fearful patterns.Eric outlines key influences on thought formation, including personality and genetics, upbringing and life experiences, culture, and the spiritual life. He reviews common cognitive distortions such as mind reading, catastrophizing, emotional reasoning, labeling, overgeneralization, and minimizing positives, then contrasts secular counseling approaches with a deeper spiritual framework.Eric presents a progression of watchfulness, acknowledgement, and confession, with practical tools like journaling, and applies reframing and virtue-based “acting opposite” using Scripture and examples from the lives of the apostles to emphasize transformation through lived experience.#BringThoughtsCaptive #ChristianMindset #SpiritualTransformation #FaithAndMentalHealth #BiblicalCounseling #EricTadros #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. James Gendi explores the meaning of "finding favor with God" through the example of St. Mary and King David. He explains how favor with God is closely tied to grace, humility, and sincere repentance. Drawing from scripture, Fr. James highlights St. Mary's humble acceptance of God's plan and David’s deep, sincere repentance despite his sins. He discusses the importance of responding to praise with humility and shares stories about spiritual gifts and the avoidance of pride. Fr. James emphasizes that believers today are also graced by the Holy Trinity, receiving the Holy Spirit and partaking in Christ’s body and blood. He points out that God’s favor can be attained by cultivating a humble heart like Mary’s or a repentant heart like David’s.The sermon concludes with a call to embrace humility and repentance to share in God’s grace and reflect His image in our lives.#FindingFavorWithGod #ChristianSermon #StMary #KingDavid #HumilityAndRepentance #GodsGrace #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 continues his study on the harmony of the Gospels by exploring the events around Lazarus Saturday and the anointing of Jesus by Mary of Bethany. He explains the significance of Lazarus’s resurrection as a foreshadowing of Christ’s own resurrection and discusses the division among the Jewish people and religious leaders in response to Jesus’s miracles. Fr. Matthias examines the motives behind the Sanhedrin’s plot to kill Jesus, highlighting the political concerns of the Pharisees and the fulfillment of prophecy through Caiaphas’s words. He also unpacks the symbolism of Mary’s costly anointing of Jesus, contrasting it with Judas Iscariot’s criticism, and reflects on the importance of faith and genuine sacrifice. The talk connects Old Testament traditions like the Passover and tithing with their New Testament fulfillment in Christ’s sacrifice, emphasizing God’s sovereignty over human plans and the extension of salvation beyond Israel to all nations.#HarmonyOfTheGospels #AnointingOfMary #BibleStudy #LazarusSaturday #ChristianFaith #ChristResurrection #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

Nagy Wassef explores the meaning of Psalm 23, emphasizing God's ongoing presence as "my shepherd" who meets all our needs daily. Drawing parallels between David’s experience as a shepherd and our relationship with God, he highlights the dependence and vulnerability of sheep as metaphors for human life. Nagy discusses how God leads us beside still waters, restores our souls, and protects us against life’s challenges with his rod and staff.He explains key verses, including the present tense nature of God’s care, the importance of trusting God even through life’s valleys, and the overflowing blessings symbolized by “my cup runs over.” Through biblical stories and practical reflections, Nagy encourages cultivating a personal relationship with God, recognizing his guidance in both big and small moments, and trusting in his lifelong faithfulness. This talk offers a detailed look at Psalm 23’s themes of protection, provision, and spiritual restoration.#Psalm23 #TheLordIsMyShepherd #ChristianFaith #GodsProvision #SpiritualRestoration #FaithInGod #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

Michael Sedrak explores the story of the Samaritan woman and Lord Jesus Christ, focusing on the themes of salvation, patience, and human response to God’s invitation. He examines how God's love extends to all, regardless of sin or background, emphasizing that both the sinner’s repentance and God’s outreach are essential for salvation. Sedrak highlights the historical animosity between Jews and Samaritans to underscore the significance of Christ’s encounter with the Samaritan woman.Drawing from scripture and teachings of Pope Shenouda, he reflects on God’s gentleness in dealing with sinners and the transformation that follows sincere human response. Sedrak also discusses how strong personalities, like the Samaritan woman’s, can be used by God for His kingdom when redirected. He encourages listeners to remain patient and prayerful for those who have yet to embrace salvation, trusting in God’s timing and mercy.#SamaritanWoman #JesusChrist #Salvation #GodsLove #ChristianFaith #PatienceInGod #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