St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the parable of the evil vine dressers, emphasizing that we are stewards of God’s gifts rather than owners of our lives. He discusses the biblical call to self-denial as essential for following Christ, highlighting how denying ungodly relationships, personal comfort, sinful pleasures, and selfish rights aligns us more closely with God’s will. Fr. Matthias explains that self-denial is not about loss, but about gaining a greater treasure—eternal life and spiritual fulfillment.

He addresses the dangers of pursuing wealth and our own will instead of God’s, urging believers to seek humility and discipline in their spiritual journey. Drawing from scripture, Fr. Matthias stresses that spirituality is a conscious choice to follow God’s guidance through prayer, fasting, and self-control. This message offers practical ways to carry one’s cross and grow in faith by prioritizing God above all else.#SelfDenial #ChristianFaith #SpiritualGrowth #FollowingChrist #BiblicalTeaching #ChristianDiscipleship #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the story of Christ raising Lazarus, focusing on the phrase "He whom you love is sick" to reveal how Christ’s love is manifested in our lives. He explains the true meaning of love through four key aspects: sacrifice, unworthiness, magnitude, and freedom. Fr. Matthias discusses how Christ’s love is shown in His willing sacrifice despite our unworthiness, the great gift of salvation, and His choice to love us freely, not by compulsion.

He emphasizes the need to imitate this divine love in our relationships, explaining that real love involves sacrifice, loving the unworthy, giving beyond convenience, and choosing freely to love. Fr. Matthias also contrasts genuine love with mere liking and highlights love's role in sustaining marriages and friendships.

This sermon offers a biblical foundation for understanding and practicing sacrificial love as Christ demonstrated.#ChristLove #SacrificialLove #LazarusSermon #ChristianFaith #DivineLove #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the concept of superficial faith, contrasting it with genuine faith as revealed in the scriptures. He discusses how the apostles’ initial belief in Christ’s words was seen by Jesus as shallow, lacking true commitment. Fr. Matthias addresses various forms of superficial faith, including faith untested by trials, faith based only on miracles or personal experiences, and faith reliant on logical understanding rather than trust in God.

He emphasizes the importance of self-examination, urging believers to assess whether their faith is rooted in sacrifice, sanctification, and works, rather than mere outward appearances or ulterior motives. Drawing from biblical examples, Fr. Matthias highlights that genuine faith involves an ongoing transformation, perseverance through difficulties, and a relationship with God that transcends external actions or benefits.

The message concludes with a call to seek authentic faith that enables believers to overcome worldly challenges by living in accordance with God’s will.#SuperficialFaith #GenuineFaith #FaithInChrist #ChristianFaith #FaithAndWorks #SpiritualGrowth #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias Shehad explores Christ’s prayer to the Father, emphasizing the Christian calling to live in the world without conforming to its ways. He explains the balance between being in the world and not of the world, highlighting the importance of living according to God’s word and resisting sinful influences. Drawing from scripture and the teachings of St. Cyril of Alexandria, Fr. Matthias discusses how Christians are called to be moral examples, teachers of truth, servants to their communities, and intercessors through prayer.

He illustrates that Christians should engage with others through love and service while maintaining spiritual purity, offering guidance on avoiding conformity to worldly patterns. Fr. Matthias also underscores the role of persecution as a consequence of living faithfully in a secular world. The talk encourages believers to embody the salt and light of the earth, influencing the world positively while maintaining their distinct identity in Christ.#ChristianLiving #InTheWorldNotOfTheWorld #FaithAndPrayer #LivingForChrist #SpiritualPurity #SaltAndLight #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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In this sermon, Fr. Matthias Shehad reflects on Christ’s teachings about sorrow and joy before His crucifixion, emphasizing the Christian call to carry the cross. Fr. Matthias explains that worldly joys are temporary and can be taken away, while the joy Christ promises after sorrow is lasting and cannot be taken away.

He addresses common attitudes toward suffering and the cross, including ignorance, carelessness, offense, fear, and contrasts these with the correct attitude of obedience as exemplified by St. Peter. The talk challenges believers to embrace the crosses God permits in their lives, understanding them as part of spiritual growth and salvation. Fr. Matthias invites listeners to personally ask God what cross they are called to carry for their journey with Christ, emphasizing the importance of following Him through both sorrow and joy.#AttitudesTowardsTheCross #ChristianSermon #CarryYourCross #FaithAndSuffering #JoyInChrist #SpiritualGrowth #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the importance of perseverance in prayer through the parable of the ten virgins, emphasizing how the wise prepared with extra oil while the foolish did not. He explains that prayer is ongoing communication with God, not confined to specific places or times, and encourages maintaining this connection despite challenges or spiritual dryness.

Fr. Matthias breaks down the Lord’s Prayer, highlighting its significance as a model for what and how to pray. He addresses the reasons behind unanswered prayers, such as lack of perseverance, misaligned intentions, or God’s will.

The sermon stresses the need for persistence and faith in prayer as a vital part of the spiritual journey. Prayer connects believers to God’s presence, sustains spiritual life, and prepares them for salvation, urging listeners to remain steadfast in their prayer life until the end.#PerseveranceInPrayer #FaithfulPrayer #ChristianSermon #PrayerLife #SpiritualGrowth #StayConnectedToGod #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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In this Bible study, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the story of the Samaritan woman from John chapter 4, focusing on Jesus’ encounter at Jacob’s well. He explains the historical and cultural context of Samaria, highlighting the divide between Jews and Samaritans and their differing religious beliefs. Fr. Matthias discusses how Jesus offers “living water,” symbolizing the Holy Spirit and eternal life, shifting the woman’s focus from earthly needs to spiritual truths.

The conversation reveals steps in the woman’s spiritual awakening, including confession of her sin and acknowledgment of Jesus as the Messiah. Fr. Matthias also emphasizes the transition from worshiping in physical locations to worshiping “in spirit and truth,” reflecting the new covenant brought by Christ.

He concludes by illustrating the woman’s transformation into an evangelist who spreads the gospel, and reflects on the disciples’ mission to harvest souls ready for salvation. This study sheds light on the deeper meanings within this unique gospel passage and its implications for faith and worship.#BibleStudy #SamaritanWoman #LivingWater #JesusAtJacobsWell #SpiritualAwakening #GospelHarmony #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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In this Bible study, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the story of the Samaritan woman from John chapter 4, focusing on Jesus’ encounter at Jacob’s well. He explains the historical and cultural context of Samaria, highlighting the divide between Jews and Samaritans and their differing religious beliefs. Fr. Matthias discusses how Jesus offers “living water,” symbolizing the Holy Spirit and eternal life, shifting the woman’s focus from earthly needs to spiritual truths.

The conversation reveals steps in the woman’s spiritual awakening, including confession of her sin and acknowledgment of Jesus as the Messiah. Fr. Matthias also emphasizes the transition from worshiping in physical locations to worshiping “in spirit and truth,” reflecting the new covenant brought by Christ.

He concludes by illustrating the woman’s transformation into an evangelist who spreads the gospel, and reflects on the disciples’ mission to harvest souls ready for salvation. This study sheds light on the deeper meanings within this unique gospel passage and its implications for faith and worship.#BibleStudy #SamaritanWoman #LivingWater #JesusAtJacobsWell #SpiritualAwakening #GospelHarmony #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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Fr. Matthias Shehad reflects on the life and ministry of John the Baptist, emphasizing his commitment to answering God’s call with seriousness and diligence. He explains how John’s message centered on repentance and preparation for the coming of Christ, delivered with unwavering courage and humility. Fr. Matthias explores John’s austere lifestyle, his rejection of worldly pleasures, and his focus on eternal salvation. He contrasts John’s approach with the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and highlights John’s inclusive ministry toward all people, including sinners and outcasts.

Fr. Matthias also discusses John’s readiness to confront sin openly, even at great personal cost, and his faithful endurance of suffering and martyrdom. He challenges viewers to examine their own dedication to faith, their willingness to speak truth in love, and their perseverance through trials, drawing inspiration from John’s example as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments.#JohnTheBaptist #FaithfulServant #ChristianSermon #Repentance #GodsCall #EnduranceInFaith #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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In this episode of the Living Incense Podcast, we reflect on evangelism as a core calling of the Christian life—not as a program, argument, or checklist, but as a natural response to encountering the truth of Christ. Fr. Matthias explains how evangelism has always been central to the life of the Church, from the apostles after Pentecost to the everyday witness of believers today.

The conversation explores why evangelism flows from love rather than obligation, how neglecting it can lead the Church to become inward-focused, and why authentic evangelism is rooted in relationships, humility, and personal transformation rather than information alone. We discuss the role of joy, integrity, and daily life as powerful witnesses to the Gospel, as well as the place of the sacraments at the heart of Orthodox evangelism.

This episode also addresses common fears and misconceptions, reminding us that success in evangelism is faithfulness, not results, and that every Christian—regardless of personality or knowledge—has a role to play. Evangelism is ultimately about living as a servant of Christ in every place, trusting the Holy Spirit to work through love, patience, and truth.#Evangelism #ChristianLiving #LivingIncense #FaithInAction #WitnessingChrist #OrthodoxFaith #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias

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