St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston

Fr. Matthias Shehad explains the foundational role of evangelism in the Christian life and the early church. He describes how Jesus trained the apostles during His ministry and instructed them to wait for the Holy Spirit before spreading the gospel. After Pentecost, the apostles actively established the church by sharing their faith with others beyond their original circle of believers.

Fr. Matthias emphasizes that evangelism is not just a mission for some but a calling for all Christians. While personal faith, repentance, worship, and teaching our children are essential, we must also reach out to people outside the church. Making the church welcoming for newcomers is vital for its growth and global presence.

This talk highlights evangelism as a key service and obligation in fulfilling Christ’s command to make disciples of all nations.

#ChristianEvangelism #EarlyChurch #MakingDisciples #FaithSharing #ChurchGrowth

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the meaning of taking up your cross in discipleship and offers guidance for those at different stages of their spiritual journey. He explains the challenge of embracing deeper discipleship through the example of the rich young ruler, who believed he had followed God’s commands but was called to a greater level of sacrifice and surrender by Christ.

Fr. Matthias emphasizes starting with small, manageable steps rather than feeling overwhelmed by the call to deny oneself and follow Jesus. He highlights the balance between the great rewards of living with Christ and the sacrifices required to walk more closely in His footsteps. This reflection encourages viewers to pursue humility, obedience, and deeper commitment in their faith.

#ChristianDiscipleship #TakeUpYourCross #FollowingChrist #SpiritualGrowth #SacrificeAndFaith

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias Shehad explains why the Church does not support surrogacy or third-party IVF, even for married couples facing infertility issues. He discusses how using another woman’s womb to carry a fertilized egg leads to confusion about motherhood and contradicts the Church’s teachings on family and parenthood. Fr. Matthias emphasizes that despite medical possibilities, the Church believes certain boundaries should not be crossed regarding the natural process of conception and childbirth. He highlights that these technologies challenge the intended understanding of motherhood and parenthood in the Christian faith.

#SurrogacyAndFaith #ChurchTeachingsOnIVF #ChristianParenthood #EthicsOfSurrogacy #FertilityAndFaith

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias Shehad discusses the dynamics of a Godly marriage as a partnership based on mutual love and respect. He emphasizes the husband’s role in showing love, appreciation, and selflessness toward his wife, while the wife is called to respect her husband and avoid actions that undermine him. Fr. Matthias points out the impact of public criticism on the husband's self-esteem and encourages healthy communication to express frustrations appropriately.

He highlights the balance needed for the marriage to thrive, where both spouses prioritize pleasing and supporting each other. The roles of husband and wife are described as timeless, requiring ongoing collaboration and understanding. This message offers guidance for strengthening marital relationships from a spiritual perspective.

#GodlyMarriage #ChristianMarriage #MutualRespect #MarriageAdvice #FrMatthiasShehad

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Joe Costandy explores the meaning behind the Procession of the Cross in the Coptic Church, unpacking its symbolism and structure. He explains that the procession consists of 12 stations divided into three groups of four, reflecting salvation through Christ's sacrifice, the establishment and history of the Church, and the practical Christian life.

Joe connects each station with biblical readings and key figures such as St. Mary, Archangels Gabriel and Michael, St. Mark, the apostles, martyrs, and saints. He shows how the procession narrates the journey from salvation to living a faithful Christian life, starting with the narrow gate, baptism, giving, and culminating in the example of St. John the Baptist.

Throughout, Joe emphasizes how these traditions communicate faith and encourage believers to live actively in Christ’s saving power.

#ProcessionOfTheCross #CopticChurch #ChristianSalvation #CopticTraditions #HolyCrossFeast

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the story from Luke 7 of the woman known as a sinner who repents by washing Jesus' feet, contrasting her genuine repentance with the Pharisee’s outward respectability but inward judgment and spiritual distance. He highlights the danger of "respectable sin," where external religious practices can mask an untransformed heart, leading to self-righteousness, hypocrisy, and inability to recognize true repentance in others.

Fr. Matthias emphasizes the importance of humility, self-awareness, and forgiveness, reminding listeners that God welcomes those who acknowledge their sin and seek mercy. He calls for introspection about how we treat others, especially those closest to us, and challenges believers to foster sincere love and repentance rather than mere external observance. This teaching invites us to deepen our relationship with God by recognizing our need for His grace and extending that grace to others.

#Repentance #Humility #ChristianLiving #Forgiveness #SpiritualTransformation

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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His Holiness recounts the story of St. Jacob the Struggler, a hermit and miracle worker known for casting out demons. The narrative follows a princess tormented by demon possession that no one could cure until she was brought to the secluded Jacob. Though initially reluctant, Jacob prays over her, driving the demon away. This cycle repeats multiple times, leading to the princess living near Jacob for easier healing.

Over time, their close proximity leads to a tragic fall into sin, resulting in Jacob killing the princess and hiding the truth. His Holiness reflects on the complexities of righteousness, temptation, and the subtle work of the devil within seemingly good actions. The story reveals lessons on spiritual warfare, isolation, human weakness, and the consequences of straying from one's path.

#StJacobTheStruggler #SpiritualWarfare #DemonPossession #OrthodoxChristianity #FaithAndTemptation

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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H.G. Metropolitan Youssef addresses the Protestant claim of a “great apostasy” following the Book of Acts, suggesting that the church remained in darkness until Martin Luther’s Reformation. He challenges this assertion by questioning the proof behind such a claim, emphasizing the faithfulness of the church throughout history, particularly through the sacrifices of countless martyrs.

Metropolitan Youssef explains that the Orthodox Church does not hold any individual Church Father as infallible. Instead, it relies on the consensus of the fathers while always holding Scripture as the ultimate authority. If any writing contradicts the Bible, it is rejected.

He challenges critics to provide evidence of teachings from accepted Church Fathers that contradict Christ or Scripture, asserting that such proof does not exist. The burden of proof lies with those making the apostasy claim.

#GreatApostasy #OrthodoxChurch #ChurchFathers #ChristianHistory #BiblicalAuthority

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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In this talk on discipleship and evangelism, Fr. Matthias Shehad explains how discipleship serves as the foundation for effective evangelism. He emphasizes that before sharing the faith with others, one must first live as a true disciple of Christ. Fr. Matthias highlights that the genuine way of life demonstrated by Christians becomes the primary witness that attracts others to the faith. Using St. Paul’s example, he points out that discipleship involves imitation of Christ, and only through this authentic lifestyle can evangelism be meaningful and impactful. The message encourages believers to focus on developing their own spiritual walk before engaging in outreach or preaching.

#Discipleship #Evangelism #ChristianLiving #StPaul #FaithWitness #ChristianDiscipleship

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias Shehad explores technology as a tool created through human faculties given by God, emphasizing its foundation in the natural laws of the universe. He discusses how science and technology are discoveries meant to improve human life, reflecting God's design for continual advancement.

Fr. Matthias also highlights the dual nature of technology, pointing out that although it serves good purposes, it can be misused or overused, leading to negative consequences. He compares it to a hammer, which can be used for building or harming, stressing that the moral value lies in how technology is employed with discernment.

This talk encourages thoughtful reflection on using technology responsibly within a spiritual framework, considering both its potential and its limitations.

#TechnologyAndFaith #ResponsibleUseOfTechnology #ScienceAndSpirituality #GodsCreation #EthicalTechnology

#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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