St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston

In this Bible study, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores Jesus Christ's conversation with His disciples about the work of the Holy Spirit during the events leading up to His crucifixion. Fr. Matthias explains how Christ prepares the disciples for the suffering and trials they will face after His departure and emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit as the helper who guides believers into all truth. He highlights the disciples' struggle to comprehend the coming persecution, the significance of faith amid tribulation, and the contrast between human happiness and spiritual joy. Fr. Matthias also discusses the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, the deep connection between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and how believers gain direct access to God through Christ. This teaching challenges believers to maintain faith, peace, and joy through all hardships by trusting in God's sovereign plan and the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit. #HolySpirit #BibleStudy #FrMatthiasShehad #ChristianFaith #GospelHarmony #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias Subscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhouston Follow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhouston Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhouston Visit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

In this sermon, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the theme of loving the praise of God rather than the praise of men. He discusses how many believed in Christ inwardly but were afraid to confess their faith openly due to fear of persecution and social rejection. Fr. Matthias highlights the importance of both internal belief and outward confession as essential components of genuine faith, referencing Scripture such as Romans 10 and the story of the three holy youth in the Book of Daniel. He emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in transforming believers from secret followers into bold witnesses of Christ, encouraging Christians to live authentically and courageously in their faith despite societal pressures. Fr. Matthias calls for living as the light and salt of the earth by openly proclaiming and demonstrating Christian values, trusting in God’s power rather than seeking human approval. #ChristianFaith #ConfessingChrist #BoldWitness #HolySpirit #FaithAndCourage #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias Subscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhouston Follow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhouston Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhouston Visit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

Fr. Matthias Shehad continues the discussion on evangelism by distinguishing between active and passive approaches. He explores different types of active evangelism such as service, invitational, intellectual (apologetics), testimonial, and confrontational methods, illustrating each with scriptural examples. Emphasizing that community service should address both physical and spiritual needs, Fr. Matthias highlights how faith is shared through personal witness, reasoned dialogue, and direct proclamation. Regarding passive evangelism, he explains how personal conduct, church presence, and even martyrdom silently witness to faith. He addresses challenges specific to Orthodox evangelism, cautioning against diluting traditions to attract outsiders. Instead, Fr. Matthias advocates maintaining Orthodox practices while building bridges to help newcomers understand and engage with the faith. He underscores the importance of being ready to welcome and disciple those drawn to the church through both active efforts and the faithful witness of the community. #OrthodoxEvangelism #ActiveAndPassiveEvangelism #FaithWitness #OrthodoxChristianity #Apologetics #ChurchOutreach #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias Subscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhouston Follow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhouston Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhouston Visit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

In this episode of Living Incense, Fr. Matthias Shehad welcomes Diane, a recent convert to the Coptic Orthodox Church, to share her journey from a Protestant background rooted in the Druze culture to embracing Orthodoxy. Diane discusses her initial perceptions of the Coptic Church, her experience attending Bible studies and liturgy, and key theological differences she encountered, such as faith and works, eternal security, confession, baptism, and the intercession of saints. Diane reflects on the role of scripture in the Orthodox faith and how her questions were addressed through community and clergy support. She also describes her evolving understanding of the priesthood, sacraments, and the importance of both faith and works in salvation. The conversation highlights the challenges and revelations in transitioning into the Coptic Orthodox tradition. #CopticOrthodox #FaithJourney #OrthodoxChristianity #ChristianConversion #Sacraments #IntercessionOfSaints #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias Subscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhouston Follow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhouston Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhouston Visit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

In this sermon, Fr. Matthias Shehad reflects on the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, highlighting the significance of worshiping with true knowledge. He explains how the Samaritans’ mixed faith contrasts with the Jewish faith that leads to Christianity, emphasizing the importance of knowing God through scripture. Fr. Matthias outlines key truths Christians know about their origin, nature, God, purpose, and future. He contrasts this with the confusion in the modern world, where many worship without understanding or hold subjective beliefs. The sermon discusses baptism as a restoration to original divine nature and encourages living with purpose rooted in God's commandments. Fr. Matthias calls believers to align their lives with the revealed truth and live with hope for eternal life instead of worldly pursuits. He reminds listeners that true worship requires knowing God’s nature and living accordingly. #ChristianFaith #OrthodoxChristianity #BiblicalTruth #SamaritanWoman #EternalLife #SpiritualPurpose #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias Subscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhouston Follow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhouston Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhouston Visit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

His Grace Bishop Boules explores the story of the Road to Emmaus from Luke 24, focusing on the encounter between Jesus and the two disciples after His resurrection. Bishop Boules unpacks how Jesus reveals Himself through scripture and breaks the bread, highlighting themes of faith, recognition, and spiritual transformation. He emphasizes the importance of understanding scripture and trusting God’s plan, even during difficult times when answers are unclear. The message encourages believers to seek comfort in God’s presence and to grow in faith through prayer and scripture. This Bible study provides insights into resurrection power and the fulfillment of God’s promises. #RoadToEmmaus #Luke24 #BibleStudy #Resurrection #FaithInChrist #ChristianTeaching #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias Subscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhouston Follow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhouston Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhouston Visit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

In "Evangelism 101 [Part 1] | The Harvest," Fr. Matthias Shehad introduces the foundational mission of the Church: sharing the Christian faith to bring salvation to others. He traces the roots of evangelism to St. Mark the Apostle's work in Egypt and highlights the need for all believers to actively participate in spreading the Gospel. Fr. Matthias emphasizes that true evangelism begins with a personal experience and knowledge of God, drawn from the apostles’ firsthand encounters with Christ. He explains the balance between active and passive evangelism, encouraging believers to live as visible lights through their faith while also intentionally inviting others to take steps toward salvation. Using scriptural examples, Fr. Matthias addresses common misconceptions about evangelism and calls Christians to overcome fear or apathy to fulfill their role as the "laborers in the harvest." This talk sets the stage for a deeper exploration of evangelism methods in upcoming sessions. #Evangelism #ChristianFaith #CopticOrthodox #GreatCommission #SharingFaith #SpiritualGrowth #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias Subscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhouston Follow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhouston Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhouston Visit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

H.G. Metropolitan Youssef addresses common misconceptions about Christianity, focusing on the misunderstanding that suffering or self-punishment is required to please God. He explains that ascetic practices like fasting and prayer are spiritual medicines aimed at healing the soul, strengthening the will, and purifying the heart, rather than forms of punishment. The conversation explores the differences between Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox theology, particularly concerning Christ’s nature, and discusses the challenges posed by various church divisions and schisms. Metropolitan Youssef highlights the ongoing dialogues between churches and the importance of humility in understanding God’s wisdom. He also touches on the neopatristic movement within the Eastern Church and warns against reinterpreting traditional teachings to fit modern objections. The discussion underlines the need to remain faithful to scriptural and patristic teachings despite contemporary challenges. #ChristianityMisconceptions #OrthodoxTheology #Asceticism #ChurchUnity #MetropolitanYoussef #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias Subscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhouston Follow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhouston Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhouston Visit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

Michael Sedrak explores what it means to glorify God through practical steps rooted in Scripture. He explains that glorifying God begins with doing good works with the right attitude and gratitude, emphasizing wholehearted effort done as if serving the Lord rather than people. Michael highlights the importance of relying on God’s help in all we do, reminding that without Him, our efforts are in vain. He discusses how faith sometimes requires obeying God’s commands even when they don’t make sense from a human perspective, using biblical examples like Abraham’s trust and the disciples’ obedience. Throughout the talk, Michael stresses that glorifying God benefits us spiritually, renewing our souls and empowering us for service. He concludes by showing that when we glorify God, we partake in His glory, becoming united with Him through humility and faith.#GlorifyGod #FaithInAction #ChristianLiving #ServeTheLord #TrustInGod #BiblicalObedience #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias Subscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhouston Follow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhouston Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhouston Visit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org