St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston
All sermons, bible studies, and podcasts from St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston
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![Harmony of the Gospels [Ministry of John the Baptist] | Bible Study (Fr. Matthias Shehad)](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/21944452/Saint-paul-church-logo-final-white-background-large2_300x300.png){kind=logo}
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
In this Bible study, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the beginning of the ministry of John the Baptist as recorded in all four Gospels, focusing on his role in preparing the way for Christ. Fr. Matthias explains the significance of John's baptism of repentance in contrast to the sacramental baptism introduced by Jesus. He discusses the historical and spiritual context surrounding John’s ministry, including the roles of the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the symbolic meaning behind John’s lifestyle and message.Fr. Matthias highlights the prophecies fulfilled by John’s ministry, his call for genuine repentance characterized by producing good fruit, and his proclamation of the coming Messiah who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. The lecture also addresses the historical setting of Roman rule over Judea and emphasizes the distinctiveness of Christ’s divine incarnation as revealed through John’s witness.Subscribe 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
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Dr. Emad Mossad explores the Five Love Languages specifically applied to Christian parenting, focusing on how parents can connect deeply with their children through physical touch, words of affirmation, quality time, gifts, and acts of service. Drawing from scripture and his counseling experience, Dr. Emad emphasizes the importance of understanding each child’s unique love language to fill their emotional “love tank” and foster a lasting bond.He discusses the role of parenting as reflecting God's love, highlighting the challenges of discipline, especially physical discipline, and how to discipline with love rather than punishment. Dr. Emad also addresses loving teenage children during their search for identity, encouraging communication and respect to build bridges rather than walls.This talk is based on Dr. Gary Chapman's framework and offers practical advice for nurturing Godly love in children at every stage of life.Subscribe 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
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his Bible study on the harmony of the Gospels, focusing on the Flight of the Holy Family to Egypt and their return to Nazareth. He explores the biblical accounts, especially from Matthew and Luke, and discusses the significance of this event in fulfilling prophecy and revealing Christ’s humility. Fr. Matthias also shares traditions and visions related to the Holy Family’s journey in Egypt, including miracles performed by the young Jesus and the preparation of Egypt for the Christian faith.The talk then shifts to the only biblical episode from Christ’s childhood—his visit to the temple at age twelve—highlighting Jesus’ growth in wisdom, his unique mission, and his relationship with his parents. Fr. Matthias explains how Christ’s divine and human natures interacted during his upbringing, the meaning of temptation, and the purpose behind his earthly life.This study offers a deeper understanding of early events in Jesus’ life and their fulfillment of scripture in the context of God’s plan for salvation.Subscribe 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
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
In this Living Incense series on Discipleship, we explore what it truly means to follow Christ daily: to be formed by His teachings, shaped by His Church, and transformed through obedience, prayer, and sacramental life. Drawing from Scripture, the life of the early Church, and the lived experience of Orthodox Christianity, these episodes address both the foundations and the struggles of authentic discipleship.This series examines themes such as spiritual discipline, accountability, imitation of Christ, growth through repentance, and perseverance in a distracted world. Discipleship is presented not as an individual project, but as a life lived within the Body of Christ.Whether you are newly seeking the faith or striving for deeper faithfulness, this series invites you to move beyond belief alone and embrace a life of intentional, faithful following.
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his exploration of humanity’s original design and the consequences of the Fall. He explains how God created humans with five essential needs—physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, and purposeful—and how these needs were fully met in the Garden of Eden. After the Fall, these needs remain but the world no longer satisfies them, leading to suffering, fear, shame, and aimlessness.Fr. Matthias details how the incarnation of Christ initiates restoration by healing human nature, defeating death, reconciling humanity to God, and offering forgiveness and the Holy Spirit. He emphasizes that Christ meets our needs individually, not by restoring the original paradise on Earth, but through spiritual renewal and eternal life.This teaching addresses foundational themes in Christian theology, including original sin, redemption, the role of faith, and the ongoing struggle to live fully in Christ’s grace.Subscribe 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
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the relationship between creation, the fall, and the birth of Christ in this talk delivered during the Nativity season. He explains that God originally created humanity and the world in a perfect state, fulfilling every physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, and purposeful need. Using the analogy of a broken toy, Fr. Matthias illustrates how human free will led to disobedience, resulting in corruption and separation from God, which introduced death and suffering.Drawing from scripture and the writings of St. Athanasius, he highlights the significance of free will in choosing to love God and discusses why salvation was offered to humans but not angels. He also addresses common questions about the existence of evil and suffering, clarifying that these are consequences of human choices rather than God’s original design.The talk sets the stage for discussing how Christ restores humanity and creation to their intended state.Subscribe 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
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Eric Tadros explores the foundations of an Orthodox Christian home by drawing parallels between the Church and the family as a "little church" or miniature kingdom ordained by God. He emphasizes that the spiritual life is not separate from daily life but transcends all aspects of it, calling parents and children to live consistently within the rhythm of the Church.Eric discusses the importance of establishing a family spiritual rule that includes daily scripture reading, prayer, fasting, and participation in church seasons, supported by visual elements such as icons to create a worshipful environment at home. He highlights the roles of both parents as family priests responsible for offering spiritual sacrifices and guiding their children toward sainthood.Practical advice includes cultivating individual relationships with children, maintaining family fellowship, balancing commitments, and enduring challenges with joy and consistency. The talk concludes with a call to prioritize the spiritual life within the home as the foundation for raising children in the Orthodox faith.Subscribe 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
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the meaning behind the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt, connecting it with the call for Christians to flee the spirit of failure. He examines how failure can manifest not only through obvious temptation but also as a lifelong pattern of negative thoughts and behaviors that hinder spiritual growth and personal success.Fr. Matthias identifies six causes of the spirit of failure, including isolation after setbacks, negativity, wrong self-evaluation standards, pathological guilt, low self-esteem, and focusing solely on opposition. Through biblical examples such as Adam and Eve, Cain, Peter, and David, he shows how openness to God and perseverance are essential to overcoming failure.He encourages viewers to reject isolation and negativity, embrace God’s standards, and recognize God’s presence even amid challenges, enabling growth through failure rather than despair.Subscribe 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
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Fr. Matthias Shehad continues the study of the harmony of the Gospels by exploring the birth and early childhood of Christ. This session covers the Annunciation to the Shepherds, emphasizing their role as the first evangelists who spread the news of Jesus’ birth and salvation to all people. Fr. Matthias explains the spiritual significance of Christ’s circumcision and His presentation in the temple according to Jewish law, highlighting how Jesus fulfilled and transitioned from Old Covenant practices.The talk introduces Simeon and Anna, who recognize Jesus as the Messiah during His temple presentation, and details the visit of the Wise Men as recorded in Matthew. Fr. Matthias clarifies the timeline of events surrounding Jesus’ birth, the star of the Magi, Herod’s reaction, and the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. He also addresses the deeper meaning behind these events and their fulfillment of prophecy, including the conflict Christ’s coming would bring.This Bible study deepens understanding of the Nativity narrative by connecting scriptural events with their theological and historical context.Subscribe 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
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
Wednesday Jan 21, 2026
In this Living Incense series on Discipleship, we explore what it truly means to follow Christ daily: to be formed by His teachings, shaped by His Church, and transformed through obedience, prayer, and sacramental life. Drawing from Scripture, the life of the early Church, and the lived experience of Orthodox Christianity, these episodes address both the foundations and the struggles of authentic discipleship.This series examines themes such as spiritual discipline, accountability, imitation of Christ, growth through repentance, and perseverance in a distracted world. Discipleship is presented not as an individual project, but as a life lived within the Body of Christ.Whether you are newly seeking the faith or striving for deeper faithfulness, this series invites you to move beyond belief alone and embrace a life of intentional, faithful following.