St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston

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.#Discipleship #OrthodoxChristianity #FollowChrist #SpiritualGrowth #FaithJourney #LivingIncense #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 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.#CreationAndFall #ChristianTeaching #OriginalSin #RedemptionInChrist #FaithAndGrace #SpiritualRenewal #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 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.#CreationAndFall #FreeWill #ChristOurSalvation #StAthanasius #NativitySeason #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

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.#OrthodoxChristianHome #StMonicaParenting #ChristianParenting #OrthodoxFaith #FamilySpiritualLife #ChurchAndFamily #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 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.#SpiritOfFailure #OvercomingFailure #ChristianGrowth #FaithInGod #HolyFamily #SpiritualPerseverance #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 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.#HarmonyOfTheGospels #NativityStudy #ShepherdsAndWiseMen #JesusBirth #BibleStudy #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

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.#Discipleship #ChristianLiving #OrthodoxFaith #SpiritualGrowth #FollowChrist #LivingIncense #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 Bible study on the harmony of the Gospels by examining the genealogies of Christ recorded in Matthew and Luke. He explains how Matthew traces Jesus’ lineage from Abraham through David to Joseph, emphasizing Christ as the Jewish Messiah, while Luke connects Jesus to Adam and God, highlighting His role as Savior for all humanity. Fr. Matthias explores the differences in genealogy, including the concept of levirate marriage, and reads both genealogies in detail.He then discusses the birth of Christ, explaining the significance of Joseph and Mary’s betrothal, the prophecy of Emmanuel, and the fulfillment of Micah’s prophecy about Bethlehem. Fr. Matthias clarifies misunderstandings about Jesus’ firstborn status and Mary’s perpetual virginity. He also provides historical and geographical context for the birth narrative, including the Roman census and the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem.This study offers a foundational understanding of Christ’s lineage, birth, and the prophetic fulfillment in Scripture.#HarmonyOfTheGospels #ChristGenealogy #BibleStudy #JesusBirth #MessiahLineage #FulfillmentOfProphecy #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 the Bible study on the harmony of the Gospels by exploring the birth of St. John the Baptist and the genealogy of Christ. He examines the visit of St. Mary to Elizabeth, highlighting the recognition of Christ’s presence even before His birth. Fr. Matthias discusses the significance of the Magnificat, St. John’s miraculous birth, and the prophecy of Zacharias about both Christ and John’s roles in salvation.He explains the Old Testament law of levirate marriage to clarify differences in the genealogies presented by St. Matthew and St. Luke, distinguishing between legal and biological lineage. Fr. Matthias emphasizes how Matthew traces Christ’s royal lineage through King Solomon for a Jewish audience, while Luke traces it back to Adam for the Gentiles. The study connects these genealogies to the fulfillment of Messianic prophecies and introduces the theological meaning behind names and covenants.This session sheds light on biblical context, prophecy fulfillment, and the foundations of Christ’s identity.#HarmonyOfTheGospels #BirthOfJohnTheBaptist #GenealogyOfChrist #BibleStudy #MessianicProphecies #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 continues the Bible study on the harmony of the Gospels by exploring the annunciations of the births of St. John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. He explains the priestly division of Abijah and the role of Zacharias and Elizabeth, highlighting the miraculous conception of John and his consecration from birth. Fr. Matthias then examines the annunciation to the Virgin Mary, clarifying the Jewish betrothal customs to explain Mary and Joseph's relationship and emphasizing Mary’s unique humility and obedience in accepting God's plan.Drawing connections to Old Testament prophecies, Fr. Matthias discusses the lineage of David, the mission of John as the forerunner to Christ, and the spiritual symbolism of the Church as the Bride of Christ through the stages of betrothal, consummation, and celebration. He also considers the significance of faith and acceptance in God’s calling using examples from Scripture.This study deepens understanding of the Gospel narratives surrounding the Nativity and the divine preparation for Christ’s coming.#HarmonyOfTheGospels #Annunciation #BibleStudy #JohnTheBaptist #Nativity #ChristBirth #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