St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the historical cost of evangelism, highlighting the immense sacrifices early Christians made, including persecution and even death for their faith. He contrasts this with the modern context, sharing a story of a Chinese Christian who risked his life in underground churches but was disillusioned by the casual approach to faith in the West. Fr. Matthias discusses how contemporary evangelism often seeks to avoid offense rather than proclaiming the full truth, noting changes in Catholic liturgical readings that omit references to sin and hell to be less confrontational. This talk challenges viewers to reconsider the courage and commitment involved in spreading the Christian faith.

#EvangelismHistory #ChristianPersecution #FaithAndSacrifice #ChurchLiturgicalChanges #EarlyChristianity

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the theme of Christian joy amidst sadness by reflecting on biblical passages from the New Testament, focusing on the parables of the lost coin, lost sheep, and prodigal son to highlight the value God places on individual repentance and restoration. He connects joy to abiding in Christ, emphasizing faith, baptism, confession, and the Eucharist as vital steps to maintain union with God.

Drawing from scriptures in John, Romans, Philippians, Galatians, James, and 1 Peter, Fr. Matthias explains the relationship between joy, hope, and peace as fruits of the Holy Spirit that sustain believers through trials and suffering. He discusses how faith and spiritual disciplines enable Christians to experience an abiding joy that transcends circumstances, grounded in God’s unchanging nature and salvation promise.

Fr. Matthias also addresses the role of pastoral care in supporting believers facing hardships, encouraging perseverance in spiritual growth to encounter the fullness of joy connected to the salvation of the soul.

#ChristianJoy #FaithAndHope #FruitOfTheSpirit #AbidingInChrist #BiblicalTeachings #CopticOrthodox

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the story of the man born blind healed by Jesus, highlighting the contrast between the blind man's faith and the Pharisees' rejection of the miracle. He discusses the importance of having a teachable spirit—being open to new understanding, willing to learn from any source, yielding to reason, and applying truth honestly in one’s life. Fr. Matthias emphasizes the value of humility, accountability, and the readiness to change as key traits of those with a teachable heart. Using biblical examples like Pope Demetrius and St. Peter, he shows how openness to learning fosters spiritual growth, strengthens relationships, and sustains hope for transformation. The sermon calls believers to embrace a disciple’s mindset, continuously seeking wisdom and correction to deepen their faith journey.

#TeachableSpirit #FaithGrowth #ChristianDiscipleship #SpiritualGrowth #BiblicalLessons #HumilityInChrist

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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In this Bible study, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the dispute among the apostles about greatness, as recorded in Luke 22, highlighting their misunderstandings and spiritual blindness during a critical moment before Christ's arrest. He explains how Jesus contrasts worldly authority with servant leadership, emphasizing humility and service as marks of true greatness in God's kingdom.

Fr. Matthias also examines Christ's prediction of Peter’s denial, revealing lessons about human weakness, pride, and the need for God’s grace. He addresses the role of faith, obedience, and self-denial in the Christian journey, unpacking Jesus’ promises about the Holy Spirit as the Comforter who will dwell within believers to guide and strengthen them.

Through this study, Fr. Matthias invites reflection on discipleship, the path to salvation, and what it truly means to love God by keeping His commandments.

#BibleStudy #ApostolicAuthority #HolySpirit #ChristianDiscipleship #PeterDenial #ServantLeadership

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias Shehad concludes his series on "Bringing Every Thought Captive" by examining how thoughts influence emotions and behavior through biblical examples. He discusses King Nebuchadnezzar’s distorted pride, Moses's self-doubt and God’s empowerment, and Martha’s struggle with priorities and perfectionism. Fr. Matthias highlights common thinking distortions like emotional reasoning, catastrophizing, and false humility. Emphasizing humility as submission to God's will, he explains that recognizing personal weakness can become a source of strength when relying on God's sufficiency. Fr. Matthias urges viewers to prioritize spiritual health over distractions and to actively choose how to respond to their thoughts rather than being controlled by them. His message encourages faithful stewardship of God’s gifts, discernment in priorities, and trusting God’s plan in service and challenges.

#SpiritualGrowth #FaithAndThoughts #BiblicalExamples #ChristianLiving #MindfulnessInFaith

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the events of Covenant Thursday, focusing on the Last Supper as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. He explains the preparation of the Passover meal, the institution of the Eucharist, and the significant symbolism of Jesus sharing bread and wine as his body and blood. Fr. Matthias discusses the prophecy of Judas' betrayal, the role of free will versus fate, and the spiritual meaning behind Jesus washing the disciples' feet. He highlights the call to serve one another and the new commandment to love one another as demonstrated by Christ. This Bible study also touches on the significance of the Eucharist in Christian life and the unfolding story of salvation leading to Holy Week.

#LastSupper #Eucharist #Passover #BibleStudy #CovenantThursday #FrMatthiasShehad

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his series on "Bringing Every Thought Captive," focusing on how sinful patterns begin with distorted thoughts. He explains several cognitive distortions such as mind reading, catastrophizing, all-or-nothing thinking, and emotional reasoning, and discusses their negative spiritual effects. Fr. Matthias emphasizes the importance of examining thoughts and feelings to prevent sin from taking root.

Drawing from Scripture and spiritual tradition, he outlines the process of how sin escalates—from initial temptation, through internal dialogue and agreement, to habitual bondage. Fr. Matthias stresses the need for early resistance against sinful thoughts and highlights practical steps for overcoming strongholds, including seeking God's help, accountability, and spiritual guidance.

This talk explores the connection between thought management and spiritual growth, encouraging vigilance against internal deception and reliance on God's grace to maintain purity of mind and soul.

#SpiritualWarfare #CognitiveDistortions #OvercomingTemptation #ChristianSpirituality #FrMatthiasShehad

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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In this episode of Living Incense, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the theme of Christian joy amid sadness by discussing key Scripture passages. Fr. Matthias distinguishes between happiness, which depends on circumstances, and joy, which is rooted in eternal truths and God's unchanging love. He highlights the joy of the Lord as strength from Nehemiah’s time, emphasizing hope and forgiveness even after sin and failure. Reflections on Psalms reveal that true joy comes from God’s presence and salvation, offering a promise beyond temporary suffering. The discussion also covers the challenges of maintaining joy through spiritual struggles, the transformative power of the resurrection over death, and the importance of surrender and spiritual discipline. Fr. Matthias relates joy to salvation’s gift of righteousness, urging believers to meditate on God’s love rather than transient feelings. This teaching invites deeper understanding of joy as a sustained, spiritual reality in the Christian life.

#ChristianJoy #SpiritualJoy #FaithAndHope #BibleStudy #ChristianLiving #JoyInChrist

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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In this sermon, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the question Jesus posed to the paralyzed man, "Do you want to be made well?" He emphasizes the importance of genuine desire and commitment in pursuing spiritual healing and overcoming sin. Fr. Matthias explains that listening to God's word reveals our identity as His children, leads to wisdom, and requires stillness and obedience.

He highlights that true listening begins in the heart with a sincere intention to follow God and involves letting go of the past to embrace a new life in Christ. Fr. Matthias also stresses the significance of practicing faith actively rather than passively and points to the spiritual benefits of fasting and repentance in preparation for the resurrection.

This message encourages believers to cultivate openness to God's word, trust His promises, and live wisely with an eternal perspective.

#SpiritualHealing #FaithInAction #ChristianWisdom #OvercomingSin #ChristianRepentance #ListeningToGod

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias Shehad discusses the distinctions between tithing, voluntary charity, and government-mandated welfare, emphasizing that giving to the poor should be an act of love and faith rather than obligation. He explores how the church discerns genuine need versus enabling dependency, highlighting the importance of holistic support that addresses both physical and spiritual needs.

Fr. Matthias also talks about practical challenges in helping those who are homeless or struggling with mental illness, stressing the role of counseling, job assistance, and stable shelter alongside financial aid. He explains the biblical principles behind structured generosity like gleaning and how New Testament love guides modern giving.

On tithing, Fr. Matthias clarifies that it expresses trust in God's provision and is not optional. He reflects on the blessings that come from faithful giving beyond material wealth, encouraging discernment and responsible stewardship of resources within the church and personal charity.#Tithing #ChristianGiving #FaithAndStewardship #BiblicalGenerosity #ChurchCharity #ChristianFaith #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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