St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston

Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his series on "Blessed Is the Man Who Fears the Lord," exploring the meaning of fear of God as seriousness, diligence, and persistent spiritual effort. He discusses the importance of consistency in faith, comparing the spiritual life to a marathon requiring ongoing dedication rather than short bursts of zeal. Fr. Matthias explains the significance of safeguarding communion by defending the Orthodox faith and highlights good works as a reflection of genuine obedience to God’s commandments.He also addresses submission to authority within the Church, emphasizing obedience even when it challenges personal understanding, and shares stories from early monastic tradition to illustrate the spiritual fruit of humility and submission. The talk encourages believers to persevere in faith with intentionality, acknowledging the support of church authority as part of fearing God. This teaching offers guidance on living a disciplined, faithful Christian life grounded in reverence and obedience.#FearoftheLord #OrthodoxFaith #ChristianDiscipline #SpiritualLife #Faithfulness #BlessedIsTheMan #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 origins and meaning of Halloween, tracing it back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which celebrated the transition from summer to winter and involved pagan rituals, bonfires, and beliefs about spirits crossing into the living world. He explains how many modern Halloween customs—such as costumes, trick-or-treating, and Jack-o'-lanterns—are rooted in these pagan practices.Fr. Matthias discusses how the Christian Church responded by establishing All Saints Day on November 1st to offer a Christian alternative to the pagan festival. He highlights the occult and Satanic associations with Halloween today, referencing practices within witchcraft and how some use the day to honor dark forces.He presents biblical warnings against occult practices and urges Christians to understand Halloween’s origins, encouraging discernment about participation. Fr. Matthias emphasizes the importance of standing apart from Halloween customs, explaining different approaches families can take to educate children about its spiritual implications.#ChristianHalloween #AllSaintsDay #FaithAndCulture #BiblicalDiscernment #ChristianTeaching #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 begins a new series exploring the meaning of the fear of the Lord. He clarifies that fearing God is not about terror but reverence, respect, and a relationship rooted in love. Drawing on the teachings of early Church scholar Tertullian, Fr. Matthias outlines characteristics of fearing God, such as seriousness, diligence, self-examination, repentance, and carefulness in daily life.He emphasizes the importance of living intentionally in faith—through consistent Bible reading, prayer, and aligning one’s life with God’s standards. Using examples from Scripture, including King David and King Saul, Fr. Matthias illustrates how true seriousness in faith involves recognizing sin, responding with repentance, and striving for growth. This teaching highlights how fear of the Lord leads to communion with God and a purposeful spiritual life.#FearOfTheLord #ChristianFaith #Repentance #SpiritualGrowth #BlessedIsTheMan #FaithInAction #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 talk, Fr. Akhnoukh Ghatas explores the spiritual journey toward victory over sin, emphasizing the importance of setting clear goals in one’s spiritual life just as in any professional or personal endeavor. He outlines a three-stage process of overcoming sin: beginning with hope, followed by active healing, and culminating in freedom from sin's hold.Fr. Akhnoukh discusses how repentance begins with feelings and thoughts but requires concrete decisions and actions to bring about true change. He highlights the need for realistic expectations and perseverance, comparing spiritual growth to learning to walk or winning a sports match, where setbacks are part of the process.Drawing on biblical examples and practical advice, he encourages embracing spiritual disciplines, seeking support from the church community, and maintaining hope even amid struggles. The talk concludes with a call to align one’s priorities with God and commit fully to the path of repentance and healing.#SpiritualVictory #OvercomingSin #ChristianRepentance #FaithJourney #HealingInChrist #RoadToVictory #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, Fr. Polycarpus Shoukry explores the theme of integrity as the foundation of the Christian life, using Psalm 101 as a guide to living with righteousness and sincerity. Fr. Polycarpus emphasizes the importance of aligning actions, thoughts, and words with God’s will—doing what is right even when no one is watching—and highlights the need to guard one’s heart by rejecting wickedness and deceit.He discusses the significance of examining one’s heart, controlling what one sees and speaks, and choosing relationships that foster spiritual growth. Fr. Polycarpus also stresses the role of prayer, especially praying the Psalms meditating deeply on their meaning as a path toward shaping the heart to resemble God’s own heart. The sermon offers practical insights into resisting evil influences and living a wise, God-centered life of integrity in everyday situations.#ChristianIntegrity #Psalm101 #FaithInAction #GuardYourHeart #SpiritualGrowth #PrayThePsalms #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 discusses the Orthodox understanding of salvation through the sacraments, focusing on chrismation, the second sacrament necessary for salvation after baptism. He explains the role of the Holy Spirit received in chrismation, highlighting its work in spiritual illumination, prayer assistance, bearing fruit, granting spiritual gifts, uniting the Church, and convicting of sin. Fr. Matthias distinguishes between the fruit and gifts of the Spirit and emphasizes the importance of living a life manifested by the Spirit’s fruit.He then explores repentance and confession, explaining their biblical foundation and significance. Fr. Matthias clarifies that repentance is an active decision, not just a feeling, and confession to a priest is essential for the forgiveness of sins in the Orthodox tradition. He emphasizes the priest’s role as God's instrument in absolution, supported by early Church Fathers’ teachings, making confession necessary for salvation.#OrthodoxSalvation #Chrismation #HolySpirit #Confession #Repentance #OrthodoxFaith #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 Orthodox understanding of salvation by examining the sacraments of baptism and chrismation. He explains baptism as the first sacrament where a believer is spiritually reborn and becomes a child of God through a physical rite involving water. Fr. Matthias then describes chrismation, the receiving of the Holy Spirit after baptism, highlighting its biblical foundation in the Acts of the Apostles and its role in the life of a Christian. The distinction between symbolic baptism, such as John the Baptist’s, and sacramental baptism instituted by Christ is emphasized. He further discusses the necessity of priesthood in administering sacraments and contrasts the Orthodox approach to the Holy Spirit’s work with Pentecostal practices. The talk also addresses the importance of visible rites that convey invisible spiritual realities and the ongoing path toward unity among apostolic churches.#OrthodoxChristianity #SalvationInOrthodoxy #BaptismAndChrismation #HolySpirit #SacramentsInOrthodoxy #OrthodoxFaith #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 talk, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the Orthodox Christian understanding of salvation, focusing on the role of sacraments as essential responses to God’s gift of salvation. He explains that salvation restores the broken union between humanity and God, made possible by Christ’s incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection. Fr. Matthias emphasizes that while salvation is a free gift, believers must actively participate through faith, sacraments, and good works.The discussion centers on the seven sacraments, highlighting baptism as the initial sacrament necessary for salvation. Fr. Matthias examines biblical foundations for baptism, showing how it symbolizes dying and rising with Christ, and how it initiates the believer’s spiritual rebirth and adoption as God’s child. He also addresses why infant baptism is practiced and the significance of the physical actions combined with the work of the Holy Spirit.By linking baptism to the ongoing process of sanctification and ultimate salvation, Fr. Matthias presents salvation as a journey beginning with death to sin, continuing through spiritual growth, and completed by faithful endurance until death.#OrthodoxChristianity #Salvation #Sacraments #Baptism #FaithAndWorks #SpiritualRebirth #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 Orthodox understanding of salvation, detailing why humanity needs salvation due to the fall of Adam and Eve and the entrance of sin and death into the world. He explains that salvation is a gift from God through the sacrifice of Christ, who alone was without sin and took upon himself the punishment deserved by humanity. Fr. Matthias clarifies that salvation is not earned by faith or works alone but is accessed through faith in Christ’s redemptive blood, accompanied by a living faith reflected in good works.He discusses biblical foundations of salvation, including Christ’s descent into Hades to free the righteous who died before the incarnation. Fr. Matthias emphasizes the necessity of believing in Christ’s identity, crucifixion, and resurrection, and previewing the role of sacraments as essential for receiving salvation. The talk includes reflections on how to strengthen faith through prayer and Scripture, highlighting the cooperation between God’s grace and human response.#OrthodoxChristianity #SalvationInChrist #FaithAndWorks #ChristCrucified #OrthodoxFaith #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 begins a series exploring the Orthodox understanding of salvation, emphasizing the importance of reading Scripture in full context rather than relying on isolated verses. He explains how salvation is a comprehensive process involving faith supported by works, not faith or works alone. Fr. Matthias outlines the original purpose of humanity’s creation in union with God, the consequence of sin as separation and death, and the role of Christ’s sacrificial love in restoring that union.He discusses the symbolism of Old Testament sacrifices as a preparation for Christ’s ultimate sacrifice and clarifies that salvation cannot be earned by works but is a gift through God’s grace. The talk also addresses common misunderstandings about salvation, rejecting ideas like purgatory, and highlights the balance between God’s justice and mercy in the salvation plan. Fr. Matthias invites reflection on the personal role believers have in responding to God’s gift of salvation.#OrthodoxChristianity #Salvation #FaithAndWorks #ChristSacrifice #GodsGrace #OrthodoxTheology #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