St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston

In this sermon, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the Christian command to love our enemies by examining the mission and challenges faced by the 70 apostles. He explains that loving enemies is not about emotions but about intentional actions such as doing good, blessing those who mistreat us, and praying for their transformation. Fr. Matthias highlights that forgiveness and refusal of retaliation require humility and trust in God's justice, not personal vengeance. He describes how prayer changes both hearts—ours and others’—and encourages viewing enemies as wounded souls in need of healing. Drawing on scripture examples like Christ’s sacrifice and the perseverance of St. Paul, he emphasizes that loving enemies is possible only through divine grace, and it opens the path for spiritual growth and bringing others to salvation.

#ChristianLove #LoveYourEnemies #Forgiveness #Prayer #FrMatthiasShehad #ApostlesFaith

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias Shehad concludes the Harmony of the Gospels series by exploring the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to His disciples and the Ascension. He explains Jesus rebuking the apostles for their initial unbelief and commissioning them to preach the gospel to all nations, emphasizing baptism and the power of the Holy Spirit in their mission. Fr. Matthias clarifies the symbolism behind miraculous signs and the nature of Jesus’ resurrected body. He discusses the restoration of Peter, the importance of faith without physical proof as taught through Thomas’s encounter, and the significance of the Great Commission to make disciples baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The talk also touches on early church practices, apostolic authority, and how the apostles were prepared to continue Christ’s work empowered by the Holy Spirit after His Ascension.

#ResurrectionAppearances #GreatCommission #HolySpirit #ApostolicMission #Ascension #FaithWithoutSight

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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In this final part of his Evangelism 101 series, Fr. Matthias Shehad focuses on the specific challenges and cultural differences faced by the Coptic Church in the West, particularly in American society. He discusses the importance of both active and passive evangelism, emphasizing the need for the church to be welcoming and accessible to newcomers who may have little understanding of Orthodox traditions.

Fr. Matthias addresses real-life issues such as relationships, marriage, divorce, abuse, sexuality, and the struggles with faith in a highly individualistic and rationalistic culture. He highlights the significance of the church as a healing community and the need for balance between upholding biblical truth and showing compassion. Additionally, Fr. Matthias explores how Western cultural mindsets like hyperrationalism, postmodern relativism, and democratic values contrast with Orthodox Christianity’s teachings and communal nature, encouraging believers to embrace transformation through faith.

#CopticChurch #Evangelism #OrthodoxChristianity #FaithAndCulture #ChurchOutreach

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his Harmony of the Gospels Bible study by exploring the events at the tomb during Bright Saturday and Resurrection Sunday. He discusses the significance of Christ’s descent into Hades as a liberator, not condemned like others, and explains the guards placed by the Pharisees to prevent the disciples from stealing Jesus’ body. Fr. Matthias examines the accounts of the women visiting the empty tomb, their encounter with the angel—identified as Archangel Michael—and the initial disbelief of the disciples. He highlights the resurrection appearances, including Mary Magdalene’s encounter with Jesus and the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, emphasizing how Jesus opened the scriptures to reveal the fulfillment of prophecy. The study reflects on faith’s role in accepting the resurrection and warns against counterfeit beliefs, calling for alignment with Scripture over popular tradition.

#Resurrection #EmptyTomb #HarmonyOfTheGospels #BibleStudy #HolyWeek #ChristIsRisen

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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In this episode of Evangelism 101, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the calling of Levi (Matthew the Evangelist) and the essential qualities of evangelism in the Church. He highlights how Levi’s immediate response to Christ’s invitation to “follow me” and his willingness to leave behind his old life demonstrate the true spirit of an evangelist. Fr. Matthias discusses the challenges of sharing faith, including the necessity of prioritizing others' salvation over personal comfort, the importance of loving and respecting people, and the patience required in nurturing faith.

Fr. Matthias also addresses the mindset differences between Pharisees and Christ’s approach to sinners, emphasizing that evangelism involves inviting others to “come and see” rather than judging them. He shares practical habits crucial for effective evangelism such as believing in Orthodoxy’s truth, understanding human nature, clear communication, humility, and joyful living. This teaching encourages believers to embody these principles as they share the message of hope and salvation.

#Evangelism #ChristianDiscipleship #MatthewTheEvangelist #OrthodoxFaith #SharingTheGospel #ChristianLife

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias discusses creation, evolution, and how Christians should understand Genesis alongside modern science. He talks about the Big Bang, intelligent design, Adam and Eve, and what Scripture is ultimately meant to reveal.

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In this episode, Fr. Matthias explores the relationship between faith, science, and truth. He discusses why the Bible is not a science textbook, how Christians should approach scientific discoveries, and why God cannot be studied as a scientific object. Watch to learn how faith and science work together in the pursuit of truth.

#faith #science #orthodox #coptic #christianity #spirituality

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Fr. Matthias Shehad explores why Christians are called to love their enemies, a command often seen as challenging and counterintuitive. He explains that loving enemies sets Christians apart from the world, demonstrating a higher standard of love that reflects God's character. Fr. Matthias highlights that enemies can reveal hidden flaws like pride and impatience, prompting self-examination and spiritual growth.

He emphasizes that loving enemies makes believers more like Christ, who forgave even in His greatest suffering. This love requires the presence of the Holy Spirit and a proactive spiritual life, not just reactionary prayer. Fr. Matthias also discusses the freedom and peace that come from forgiving and loving those who have wronged us, preserving the purity of heart necessary for true worship.

This teaching encourages believers to overcome hatred with love, as a witness to the transformative power of Christianity.

#ChristianLove #Forgiveness #LoveYourEnemies #SpiritualGrowth #FrMatthiasShehad

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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In this Bible study, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the harmony of the Gospels focusing on the Crucifixion aftermath and burial of Jesus Christ. He examines the darkness that covered the land during the crucifixion and its significance, including nature’s mourning and the tearing of the temple veil, symbolizing the removal of the barrier between God and humanity. Fr. Matthias discusses messianic prophecies fulfilled at this time, such as Jesus’ cry from Psalm 22 and the breaking of no bones, connecting these to Old Testament symbolism.

He further explains the significance of the piercing of Christ’s side, representing the birth of the Church through the blood and water. The study continues with the burial process, highlighting Joseph of Arimathea’s role and the presence of the women followers. Fr. Matthias emphasizes the fulfillment of scripture through these events and their connection to salvation history.

#Crucifixion #BurialOfJesus #HarmonyOfTheGospels #MessianicProphecy #BiblicalStudy #FrMatthias

#StPaulHouston #Coptic

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Fr. Tobia Manoli explores the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, emphasizing its unique mention in all four Gospels and its lessons for Christian life. He highlights the significance of order and organization—“make them sit down in groups of fifty”—as the foundation for experiencing God's blessings. Fr. Tobia connects this to spiritual growth, discipleship, and practical living, showing how priorities and discipline enable believers to recognize and receive God’s daily blessings. He also addresses common misunderstandings about blessings and encourages cultivating a faithful, servant-hearted life rooted in order, commitment, and responsibility at home, church, and work.

This talk underscores the importance of spiritual and practical order for thriving in faith, relationships, and daily challenges, with reflections on the role of the Holy Spirit as the spirit of blessing.

#FeedingOfTheFiveThousand #ChristianDiscipleship #HolySpiritBlessings #CopticOrthodox #FaithAndOrder

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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