St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston

Self Forgetting | The Harvest & BOLD (Fr. Kyrillos Ibrahim of@stpaulochymns)

In this talk, Fr. Kyrillos Ibrahim explores the spiritual virtue of self-forgetfulness and its connection to meekness and modesty, virtues exemplified by Christ. He explains self-forgetfulness as a form of humility that involves acknowledging our dependence on God while relinquishing self-centeredness to love and serve others freely. Fr. Kyrillos discusses how this virtue helps overcome pride, self-absorption, and passion, enabling forgiveness and growth in holiness.He also defines meekness as strength under control, a peaceful self-possession rooted in patience and gentleness, citing examples from the lives of saints like St. Samuel and Pope Shenouda. Modesty is presented as the culture of the Church, expressing a preference for others over self, seen in speech, behavior, and worship.Fr. Kyrillos concludes by emphasizing the balance between hiddenness and using God-given gifts for the glory of God and the edification of others in authentic Christian living and evangelism.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 Job [Part 1] | The Harvest (Fr. Matthias Shehad)

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the story of Job to address the difficult topic of suffering and its purpose in the Christian life. He explains that while Satan causes trials, God remains in control, setting limits on what can happen. Fr. Matthias emphasizes that bad things can happen to good people and suffering is not always a punishment but can be a means of spiritual refinement and growth.Drawing from Scripture and Church tradition, he discusses maintaining hope amid trials, the importance of persistent prayer, and trusting in God’s timing even when His presence feels silent. Fr. Matthias also reflects on how friends may fail us during hard times, but God’s faithfulness endures. This teaching invites believers to deepen their faith by embracing the example of Job’s trust in God throughout pain and loss.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

Miracles & Eucharist | Sermon (Fr. Kyrillos Ibrahim of @stpaulochymns)

Fr. Kyrillos Ibrahim explores the meaning behind the miracles performed by Jesus, focusing on their purpose to reveal God’s presence to all rather than to grant favors to select individuals. He connects the miracle of the feeding of the multitudes with the Eucharist, explaining how this miracle points to the sacramental grace found in Holy Communion. Fr. Kyrillos emphasizes that true faith in the Eucharist goes beyond belief—it calls for a personal acceptance of Christ’s love and a response to His desire to unite with us.He also reflects on the role of suffering and apparent disasters in life, showing how God can transform pain into purpose and how Christ’s own suffering strengthens believers. Through stories and spiritual insights, Fr. Kyrillos encourages a faith grounded in trust when facing life’s mysteries, inviting viewers to deepen their understanding of God’s kingdom, love, and the transformative power of the sacraments.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

Searching for God with Wrong Motives | Sermon (Fr. Matthias Shehad)

In this sermon, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the theme of searching for God with wrong motives, drawing from the Gospel story after the feeding of the multitude. He explains how the crowd’s desire to follow Jesus was driven by physical hunger rather than spiritual longing for salvation and eternal life. Fr. Matthias examines common pitfalls in spiritual life, including serving, giving, praying, and fasting for the wrong reasons such as seeking rewards, recognition, or personal comfort.Using the parable of the prodigal son, he highlights how even outward obedience can mask incorrect intentions. Fr. Matthias discusses spiritual growth as a process where one moves beyond external motivations to mature faith, acting out of genuine love and obedience rather than emotional gain or social expectation. He encourages reflection on personal motives in the Christian walk and stresses the importance of striving for true spiritual maturity.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

Obstacles to Faith | Sermon (Fr. Matthias Shehad)

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the reasons why people struggle with faith despite witnessing clear signs and miracles performed by Jesus Christ. Drawing from Scripture and the example of St. John the Baptist, Fr. Matthias explains how a spiritual mindset is essential to truly believe and embrace faith. He identifies four key obstacles: focusing only on the physical, prioritizing external appearances over inner transformation, concentrating solely on personal needs, and having a skewed or misunderstanding image of God. Fr. Matthias emphasizes that faith requires looking beyond what is visible and understanding God’s mercy, justice, and purpose. This message encourages believers to deepen their spiritual awareness and trust in God’s work within their lives beyond just seeking signs or external proof.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

Leviticus 1-2 [The Burnt Offering & The Grain Offering] | Bible Study (Fr. Matthias Shehad)

In this Bible study, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the first two chapters of Leviticus, focusing on the burnt offering and the grain offering. He explains the context of Leviticus within the Torah as a detailed guide on ritual worship and priestly duties, emphasizing the specific ways God instructed Israel to offer sacrifices.Fr. Matthias discusses the significance of different types of offerings, highlighting their spiritual meanings and how they point to Christ as the ultimate sacrifice for sin. He contrasts the burnt offering, which involves the shedding of blood for atonement, with the grain offering, which symbolizes thanksgiving for God's provision. The talk also covers the role of priests, the importance of offering the best to God, and how Old Testament practices relate to Christian worship today.Throughout the session, Fr. Matthias addresses questions about the acceptance of sacrifices, Jewish responses to Christ, and the continuity of Old Testament laws in the New Covenant.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 Repentance of the Ninevites | Sermon (Fr. Matthias Shehad)

In this sermon, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the repentance of the Ninevites as described in the story of Jonah and its significance in the teachings of Christ. Fr. Matthias highlights key lessons from the Ninevites' response to Jonah’s warning, including their hope despite no promise of salvation, their sincere repentance without detailed instructions, and their unified return to God.He explains that the Ninevites repented after a single warning, without debate or resistance, and accepted the message from a stranger without skepticism. Fr. Matthias contrasts their response with those who seek signs for belief and stresses the example they set for genuine repentance.This reflection challenges viewers to evaluate their own approach to repentance and faith, encouraging a heartfelt and unified turning back to God.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

1st John 4-5 [Christ Is Love and Life] | Bible Study (Fr. Matthias Shehad)

In this Bible study on 1st John chapters 4 and 5, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores key themes of testing the spirits, discerning false teachings, and understanding the nature of true faith. He highlights the importance of recognizing the spirit of the Antichrist by the confession that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, addressing early heresies such as Gnosticism. Fr. Matthias emphasizes that love is central to the Christian life, teaching that knowing God leads to genuine love for others, which is evidence of abiding in God. He explains the relationship between fear and love in spiritual growth, showing how perfect love casts out fear. The study also covers the significance of baptism, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the witness of the Trinity.Practical aspects include how to love one’s neighbor, the connection between faith and overcoming the world, and the power and purpose of prayer when aligned with God’s will. Fr. Matthias concludes with reflections on eternal life through Jesus Christ and the call to remain vigilant in faith and love.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

Rites of Holy Baptism [Part 2] | The Harvest (Fr. Matthias Shehad)

Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his in-depth explanation of the rites of Holy Baptism, focusing on the consecration of the baptismal water and the use of three specific oils: the simple oil, the oil of joy, and the Holy Myron. He connects the preparation of the water to the Spirit of God hovering over the waters in Genesis, symbolizing new spiritual creation through baptism.Fr. Matthias details the sequence of anointing the baptized person and the role of the Myron oil in granting the Holy Spirit, highlighting its origin as a substitute for the apostolic laying on of hands. The ceremony's subsequent steps include the white garment symbolizing purification, the tying of the red baptismal ribbon representing salvation, and the important promises made to godparents or the baptized adult.He addresses cultural practices like the bathing prayer and the discontinued use of crowns within baptismal rites. The talk concludes with reflections on the connection between baptism, salvation, and receiving the Holy Spirit through chrismation.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

Parenting the Prodigal Son | St. Monica Parenting Meeting (Fr. Matthias Shehad)

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the parable of the Prodigal Son to reveal key lessons for parenting. He explains how the story highlights hidden challenges children may face and the importance of recognizing these early. Fr. Matthias discusses the balance between allowing children to experience consequences and avoiding overprotection, emphasizing the role of giving children freedom to make choices and learn responsibility.He addresses issues of entitlement, materialism, and wastefulness, encouraging parents to teach financial responsibility and value beyond possessions. Fr. Matthias warns against rescuing children from every failure, advocating instead for allowing natural consequences to foster growth. He underscores the importance of modeling good behavior over giving excessive advice and stresses mercy within discipline, showing how love can guide children even when they stray.Throughout, Fr. Matthias draws practical insights from the parable to help parents nurture independence, accountability, and spiritual maturity in their children.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