St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the meaning of discipleship through the call to "bear his cross and come after me" in Luke 14. He explains the sacrifices required to follow Christ, emphasizing the need to love God above family and friends when they become distractions from spiritual growth. Fr. Matthias discusses the role of family as a place for mutual encouragement toward God and highlights the challenges of distancing oneself from ungodly influences, even within close relationships.He addresses the spiritual disciplines of self-denial, repentance, perseverance, and the lifelong battle against sin and temptation. Drawing on Scripture, Fr. Matthias explains that true discipleship involves planning for the spiritual journey's cost, fighting spiritual warfare with God's help, and forsaking all attachments that hinder communion with God. The message guides believers toward understanding the cost and commitment necessary for following Christ.#Discipleship #BearingTheCross #FollowChrist #ChristianSermon #SpiritualGrowth #FaithJourney #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 common reasons why people doubt God, highlighting the importance of perseverance through trials, temptations, and persecution as taught in Scripture. He discusses how misunderstandings of God's nature, lack of trust in His character and power, and separation from Him through sin lead to doubt. Fr. Matthias emphasizes the difference between scientific proof and faith, explaining that while science seeks observable, repeatable results, faith involves trust in an unseen God whose ways surpass human understanding. He also addresses how expecting God to conform to human ideas causes disbelief. Drawing from biblical examples and teachings, Fr. Matthias encourages believers to seek a personal relationship with God, trust His divine wisdom, and remain steadfast in faith despite challenges, promising the reward of eternal life for those who endure to the end.#FaithOverDoubt #TrustInGod #ChristianFaith #EndureInFaith #GodsWisdom #BiblicalFaith #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 biblical teaching that Christ is the door to salvation, emphasizing the urgency to respond to God's call without delay. He explains how time is a gift from God meant to be redeemed wisely for holiness, righteousness, and service. Drawing from Scripture, Fr. Matthias highlights the dangers of procrastination, fear, excuses, and hatred in hindering spiritual growth and obedience.Using examples from the lives of the apostles, Jonah, and biblical parables like the ten virgins, Fr. Matthias stresses the importance of immediate action in repentance, fulfilling vows, helping others, and following God's purpose. He warns against assuming unlimited time to act, reminding viewers that God’s opportunity to respond may close, as seen in both Christ’s teachings and Old Testament prophets.This sermon encourages living faithfully and attentively in the present moment, making spiritual preparedness a priority for the coming of Christ.#ChristianSermon #FaithInAction #SalvationInChrist #SpiritualUrgency #LiveForGod #BiblicalTeachings #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 meaning and practice of prayer through the lens of the Lord’s Prayer as taught by Christ in Matthew 6. He explains prayer as communication with God and a restoration of the original communion lost by sin, highlighting the importance of private, heartfelt prayer. Fr. Matthias breaks down the content of the Lord’s Prayer, emphasizing reverence, seeking God’s will, daily dependence, forgiveness, and protection from temptation.He addresses when and how to pray, encouraging persistent, unceasing prayer that honors God’s constant presence. Using examples from scripture and the Jesus Prayer tradition, Fr. Matthias explains why perseverance is essential, even when prayers seem unanswered. He discusses common obstacles such as asking with wrong motives or living in sin, encouraging trust in God’s timing and wisdom. The message underscores prayer’s role in spiritual growth and transformation over time.#PerseveranceInPrayer #LordsPrayer #PrayerLife #ChristianFaith #UnceasingPrayer #SpiritualGrowth #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 Christ’s promise of the abundant life from the Gospel of the Good Shepherd, focusing on what it truly means to live abundantly according to God’s intention. Fr. Matthias clarifies that abundant life is not the absence of struggle, but thriving in the midst of trials through contentment, trust in God, and inner transformation.Fr. Matthias traces God’s original design for humanity in the Garden of Eden and explains how sin separates humanity from this life of peace, simplicity, and communion with God. He discusses how God continually seeks humanity, sacrifices for salvation through the Incarnation and the Cross, and offers hope through the promise of heaven.Fr. Matthias concludes by teaching that restoration to the abundant life requires repentance, humility, and dependence on God, calling believers to receive the life Christ offers rather than resisting it through pride, fear, or self-reliance.#AbundantLife #FaithInChrist #ChristianLiving #GodsPromise #SpiritualGrowth #TrustInGod #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 biblical account of the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Zechariah about the birth of John the Baptist, highlighting the challenges of faith and doubt. Fr. Matthias discusses how Zechariah’s doubt, despite witnessing a miracle, reflects a common human struggle to trust God’s promises without seeing all the details.He explains the importance of faith as trusting God’s word beyond our understanding and compares this to the patience exhibited by biblical figures like Abraham, Sarah, Gideon, and Joseph. Fr. Matthias emphasizes that God’s purpose often goes beyond immediate circumstances, using trials to increase faith, develop patience, and ultimately bring salvation.Drawing on Scripture, he encourages believers to draw closer to God during difficult times, trust in His greater plan, and understand that God’s ways and timing are higher than human reasoning. This message underlines the role of faith in the Christian life and the call to trust God’s love and providence.#AngelGabriel #FaithInGod #ChristianSermon #TrustGodsPlan #BiblicalFaith #GodsTiming #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 deeper meaning behind Christ’s miracle of feeding the 5,000 and the motivations of those who followed Him. He explains how people often seek God for physical blessings like food or success rather than spiritual nourishment and salvation. Fr. Matthias highlights Jesus’ teaching to seek the food that endures to eternal life and not just temporary, physical needs.Using examples such as the healing of the paralytic, he reveals that Christ’s ultimate authority is over the spiritual realm, especially forgiveness of sins. Fr. Matthias addresses common wrong motives for coming to church, including social pressure, fear of man, and seeking justification rather than genuine repentance.He emphasizes the importance of approaching God out of love and faith, always being spiritually vigilant, and valuing the eternal over immediate physical benefits.#GoodShepherd #SpiritualNourishment #FaithInJesus #EternalLife #ChristianSermon #SeekGod #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 nature of Christian joy, exploring how sorrow allowed by God ultimately leads to hope, joy, purification, and repentance. He explains that while Christians may experience pain and suffering, these are temporary and serve a greater purpose in spiritual growth and restoration to God. Fr. Matthias emphasizes the difference between worldly sorrow, which leads to despair, and godly sorrow, which produces salvation.He identifies key sources of godly joy, including the word of God, the church, and reconciliation with God. These elements offer comfort and assurance of eternal life, reminding believers that true joy is found in union with Christ. The message encourages trust in God's promises, highlighting that joy is an abiding gift that no one can take away. This teaching invites reflection on the eternal perspective amid life's challenges.#ChristianJoy #GodlySorrow #FaithAndHope #SpiritualGrowth #JoyInChrist #TrustInGod #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 theme of spiritual maturity through the dialogue between Christ and St. Peter after the resurrection. He examines how the apostles’ faith grew from seeking immediate rewards to embracing selfless service and perseverance without constant consolation. Fr. Matthias contrasts the motivations of children and adults, emphasizing the shift from seeking personal gain to acting out of duty and love for others. He highlights the process of spiritual growth, showing how initial experiences of joy and miracles later give way to trials, suffering, and obedience in difficult circumstances.Using biblical examples, including St. Peter's restoration and the apostles’ early ministry, Fr. Matthias explains how true maturity involves commitment to follow Christ even when the path is challenging or unclear. He encourages viewers to accept times of spiritual dryness and uncertainty as part of God's plan to strengthen faith and deepen dependence on Him. This sermon offers insight into persevering in faith beyond feelings and immediate rewards.#SpiritualMaturity #FaithJourney #ChristianSermon #FollowingChrist #PerseveranceInFaith #StPeterRestoration #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 greatness through the life of St. John the Baptist, emphasizing how God’s view of greatness differs from the world’s. Using Mark chapter 1 as a foundation, Fr. Matthias explains that greatness is not about appearance, status, or performing miracles, but about humility, truthfulness, and obedience to God.He highlights St. John’s austere lifestyle, his boldness in speaking truth to power, and his focus on preparing the way for Christ rather than seeking personal glory. Fr. Matthias also discusses St. John’s interactions with Herod, illustrating his unwavering conviction and fearlessness despite opposition.The sermon concludes by reflecting on why people followed St. John—his humility, selflessness, integrity, sincere care, and courage—and invites listeners to emulate these qualities in their own pursuit of spiritual greatness.#ChristianFaith #StJohnTheBaptist #HumilityAndGreatness #SpiritualGrowth #FaithInAction #GodsWayOfGreatness #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