St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston

In this SA&SP Couple's Meeting, Fr. Matthias Shehad discusses healing through forgiveness and compromise in marriage. He explains how unresolved emotional wounds from childhood and past experiences can affect relationships and create conflict. Fr. Matthias emphasizes that healing involves restoring trust, emotional safety, communication, peace, unity, and love—not just avoiding conflict.

He highlights the importance of identifying personal wounds, practicing honest communication, listening actively, embracing vulnerability, and sincere repentance. Fr. Matthias also addresses common harmful behaviors like avoidance, defensiveness, and scorekeeping that hinder healing. Forgiveness is defined as a continuous choice to release bitterness and choose love, essential for lasting unity.

Compromise is presented as a key to resolving disagreements by prioritizing peace and unity over being right. Fr. Matthias encourages couples to seek God as the ultimate healer and to be patient through the healing process, keeping Christ at the center of marriage.

#MarriageHealing #ForgivenessInMarriage #ChristianMarriage #MarriageCounseling #EmotionalHealing #CompromiseInMarriage

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias Shehad explores John 17, focusing on Jesus’ prayer before His crucifixion, highlighting the intimate communication within the Holy Trinity. He explains the concept of eternal life as a relationship with God rather than a physical place, clarifying common misunderstandings about salvation and glorification. The talk emphasizes the mission of believers as light in the world, the reality of spiritual warfare, and the importance of prayer and vigilance to resist temptation.

Fr. Matthias also reflects on the agony of Christ in Gethsemane, unpacking the deep emotional and spiritual distress Jesus experienced as He took on the sins of humanity. He connects this moment to the call for Christians to “watch and pray,” encouraging spiritual preparedness amid trials. The discussion includes the challenge of maintaining faithfulness and the significance of unity among believers as Christ desires.

#John17 #GethsemanePrayer #ChristianFaith #EternalLife #SpiritualWarfare #HolyWeek

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Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the practice and purpose of evangelism in the Orthodox Church, emphasizing that evangelism goes beyond simply inviting others to church—it involves walking with them on their spiritual journey. He highlights the importance of presenting the fullness of the Orthodox faith, including its challenges and disciplines, with enthusiasm and truth.

Fr. Matthias discusses the church’s responsibility to serve three groups: active members, non-active members (lost sheep), and non-believers, outlining how the church nourishes, keeps, searches for, and heals these groups. He stresses that evangelism requires proactively sharing truth without compromising essential doctrines and avoiding cultural assimilation while inviting people to experience the faith.

The talk underscores that all believers are called to be evangelists, demonstrating genuine joy and faith that can draw others to Christ, fulfilling the mission to reach the plentiful harvest waiting beyond the church walls.

#OrthodoxEvangelism #ChurchMission #FaithJourney #OrthodoxChurch #SpiritualGrowth #EvangelismInOrthodoxy

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In this episode of Living Incense, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the journey of Dian, a convert to the Orthodox faith. Dian shares her initial encounters with the church hierarchy, including meeting a bishop, and her early questions about Orthodox practices like kissing the cross and the role of tradition. She explains how her background in Bible study shaped her pursuit of answers within Scripture and how she came to understand the significance of church tradition and the writings of the Church Fathers, especially St. John Chrysostom.

Fr. Matthias discusses common challenges faced by catechumens, the importance of commitment and discipline during the catechism process, and how the church supports new converts beyond baptism. They also address the differences in how converts from Protestant backgrounds and those less rooted in Scripture approach Orthodoxy.

This conversation highlights the importance of the continuity of Apostolic teaching and the role of both Scripture and tradition in the Orthodox Church.

#OrthodoxChristianity #CatechismJourney #ChurchTradition #OrthodoxFaith #ConvertStory #BibleAndTradition

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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