St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston

Get Your House in Order [Part 1] | The Harvest (Fr. Matthias Shehad)

In this teaching, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the concept of "getting your house in order," emphasizing personal responsibility for one’s own life and the impact this has on those under our care. He explains the importance of self-discipline, time management, and goal setting as foundational steps before guiding others effectively.Fr. Matthias focuses on healthy communication, highlighting active listening, avoiding assumptions, and using clarifying statements to resolve conflicts. He discusses the balance of consistent expectations, gentle correction, and sincere encouragement in relationships, whether in families, workplaces, or communities.Practical examples, including the biblical story of Rehoboam, illustrate how compassionate leadership and thoughtful speech can foster growth and harmony. Fr. Matthias also cautions against negative speech, manipulation, and reactive anger, encouraging grace-filled communication that builds rather than breaks down.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

Lessons from the Life of St. Anthony | The Harvest (Michael Sedrak)

Michael Sedrak explores key lessons from the life of St. Anthony, the father of Christian monasticism, drawing from the biography written by St. Athanasius. He highlights the importance of spiritual discipline, regular self-reflection, and faith in receiving God's blessings. Michael emphasizes St. Anthony’s reverence for clergy, his strong stance against heresy, and his commitment to rejoicing in God despite hardships.The talk also addresses St. Anthony’s respectful attitude toward all people, including those who opposed or challenged him, and how he used his influence to guide rulers toward justice and faithfulness. Michael encourages viewers to apply these lessons for spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with Christ, grounded in humility, love, and perseverance.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

”Have I Been with You so Long, and Yet You Have Not Known Me?” | The Harvest (Fr. Titus Necola)

In this talk, Fr. Titus Necola explores the profound encounter between Jesus Christ and St. Philip from the Gospel of John, emphasizing the different levels of knowing God—intellectual, experiential, and communal. Fr. Titus challenges listeners to move beyond merely knowing God at the level of the mind and to seek a deeper, unceasing communion with Him through everyday life.Drawing on biblical stories and the lives of saints like Ababa Bishoy, he highlights the importance of recognizing Christ in all people and situations, not just within the church walls. Fr. Titus also encourages believers to become authentic witnesses of Christ’s love, shaping how others perceive God through their actions.This message invites reflection on how we see and show Christ in a fragmented world, urging a life of continuous prayer and love that transforms personal faith into healing presence for others.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

The Five Levels of Leadership [Part 3] | The Harvest (Fr. Matthias Shehad)

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the fourth and fifth levels of leadership, focusing on people development and personhood. He explains how effective leaders invest in mentoring others, empowering them with responsibility and authority rather than simply demanding results. Fr. Matthias highlights the importance of delegation, long-term vision, and overcoming insecurities that can hinder growth within teams or organizations.He discusses biblical examples, such as Moses and King Saul, to illustrate how leadership can either foster growth or create division. At the highest level, leaders are followed for who they are and what they represent, working selflessly for the benefit of the community and preparing the next generation of leaders.Fr. Matthias connects leadership principles to the mission of the Church, emphasizing sustained growth through developing faithful servants who carry the work forward.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

The Five Levels of Leadership [Part 2] | The Harvest (Fr. Matthias Shehad)

In this talk, Fr. Matthias Shehad continues the discussion on the five levels of leadership, focusing on the second and third levels: permission and production. Fr. Matthias explains how leadership goes beyond positional authority to building trust and genuine relationships that motivate cooperation and open communication. He emphasizes the importance of valuing people over tasks to foster loyalty and team morale.Fr. Matthias then explores the production level, where a leader uses influence and relationships to achieve concrete results. He outlines the challenges of balancing people’s needs with organizational goals, making difficult decisions, and taking responsibility for outcomes. The talk highlights how effective leadership combines vision, communication, and the ability to empower a team for shared success.Practical examples from scripture and everyday life illustrate the principles Fr. Matthias presents for growing leadership influence and impact.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

The Five Levels of Leadership [Part 1] | The Harvest (Fr. Matthias Shehad)

In this first part of "The Five Levels of Leadership," Fr. Matthias Shehad explores leadership as influence, emphasizing that true leadership goes beyond positional authority. Drawing from John Maxwell’s leadership principles, Fr. Matthias explains how leadership begins with identifying problems and taking initiative, then grows through motivating and inspiring others to share a vision.He contrasts leadership with management, highlighting that leaders engage and develop people rather than simply directing them. Fr. Matthias details the first level of leadership—position—where influence comes solely from a title, often resulting in minimal motivation and high turnover. He discusses common challenges positional leaders face, such as insecurity, control issues, and difficulty working with volunteers or talented individuals.Fr. Matthias also reflects on leadership examples from history, scripture, and real-life scenarios to illustrate leadership as a skill that can be learned and developed. This talk is relevant for anyone seeking to understand and improve their leadership influence in church, community, or workplace settings.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

Dealing with Stress | The Harvest (Fr. Matthias Shehad)

In this talk, Fr. Matthias Shehad addresses the common experience of stress and offers practical, faith-based guidance on how to manage it. He discusses identifying controllable sources of stress, such as rushing and overcommitting, and emphasizes the importance of contentment, realistic expectations, and forgiveness. Fr. Matthias highlights the need for honesty, living a repentant life, and maintaining a light-hearted attitude rooted in gratitude.He also stresses the value of seeking accountability, trusting God’s plan, and taking responsibility for one’s choices rather than adopting a victim mentality. Fr. Matthias encourages viewers to set boundaries by learning to say no and to care for themselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually to reduce stress.Throughout, he connects these strategies with Scripture and encourages a deeper relationship with God as the foundation for peace amid life’s challenges.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

”Have You Seen the One I Love”: Contemplation on Song of Solomon 3:1-4 | The Harvest (Eric Tadros)

In this contemplation on Song of Solomon 3:1-4, Eric Tadros explores the spiritual journey expressed in the yearning for God amidst darkness and spiritual struggle. Eric unpacks the symbolism of night and bed as representing sin and laziness, emphasizing that even in these states, the soul’s desire for God remains. He discusses how this seeking often arises unexpectedly, highlighting our responsibility to respond to others’ silent yearnings by offering support and prayer.Eric stresses the importance of moving from desire to action in the spiritual life, illustrating how God initiates the call but expects a response through persistent effort. He reflects on the temporary feeling of God’s absence as a means of humility and spiritual growth, encouraging continual pursuit of God despite challenges. The role of spiritual guides, confession, and communion in finding and holding onto God is also addressed, emphasizing an active, loving relationship with the Lord.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

Fleeing Evil | Sermon (Fr. Younan William of@saintmaryhouston)

In this sermon, Fr. Younan William reflects on the Flight of the Holy Family to Egypt as an example of fleeing from evil rather than confronting it. He discusses four specific evils Christians are called to avoid: immorality, bad company, anger and revenge, and foolish disputes. Fr. Younan emphasizes the importance of running away from temptation because human strength alone cannot overcome it and exposure weakens the will over time.He highlights virtues needed to flee evil effectively, including discernment to recognize danger early, humility to admit personal weakness, courage to act decisively, and honesty to identify sin clearly. Using biblical examples like Joseph and St. Paul’s teachings, Fr. Younan calls believers to imitate the Holy Family by avoiding situations that lead to sin and relying on God’s guidance to maintain spiritual integrity.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

Promises Fulfilled | Sermon (Fr. Matthias Shehad)

In this sermon, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the fulfillment of God’s promises through the Incarnation of Christ, referencing prophecies from the Old Testament including the Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem and His lineage from Abraham and King David. Fr. Matthias highlights how these fulfilled promises demonstrate God’s faithfulness.He discusses key promises God continues to keep for believers today, such as answering prayers according to His will, granting peace beyond understanding, and offering hope amid suffering. Fr. Matthias also emphasizes the assurance of Christ’s second coming, the resurrection of the dead, eternal life, and final victory over evil as revealed in scripture.Through scripture passages from Matthew, 1 John, Isaiah, 1 Thessalonians, and Revelation, Fr. Matthias encourages perseverance in faith and hope in God’s ultimate plan for salvation and eternal joy with Him.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