St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the temptation of Christ in the wilderness, highlighting the threefold nature of temptation as described by St. John: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. He explains how Christ resisted each temptation by maintaining control over his desires, rejecting self-glorification, and refusing worldly power. Fr. Matthias emphasizes that temptatio...

In this sermon, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the distinction between earthly treasures and heavenly treasures, emphasizing that where our heart is, there lies our treasure. Drawing from the Gospel of St. Matthew, he examines the question of whether one is a slave to the love of money, highlighting how money can become a master rather than a tool. Fr. Matthias outlines nine signs that reveal an att...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the essential requirements for couples preparing for marriage in the Coptic Orthodox Church, emphasizing emotional, spiritual, and financial maturity. He discusses the role of premarital counseling, communication skills, and conflict resolution as foundational elements for a healthy marriage. Fr. Matthias addresses topics such as intellectual compatibility, age gaps, a...

Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his exploration of Jonah the Prophet, focusing on Jonah’s transformation and struggle with mercy and obedience. He explains how Jonah’s experience inside the fish symbolizes God’s plan for salvation, highlighting Jonah’s lack of compassion toward the Ninevites. Fr. Matthias discusses Jonah’s prayer, faith, and thanksgiving amid hardship, emphasizing God’s command over...

Fr. Matthias discusses the challenges and realities of building a godly marriage in the 21st century. He explores common newlywed conflicts, societal shifts affecting marriage such as delayed marriage age, increased female workforce participation, and changing family dynamics. Fr. Matthias explains the Orthodox Christian view on marriage as a path to salvation, emphasizing sacrifice, forgiveness,...

Joe Costandy explores the allegorical interpretation of the biblical story of David and Goliath, focusing on its deeper spiritual meanings beyond the literal and moral layers. He explains the symbolism of key characters, showing Saul as a figure representing Adam and David as a symbol of Christ, the beloved son who replaces the first king. Joe discusses the significance of the battle setting, the...

In this sermon, Fr. Younan William reflects on the true meaning and purpose of the Great Fast as a season of spiritual renewal and loyalty to Christ. He emphasizes that fasting is not merely about dietary restrictions but a tool for gaining self-control, deepening prayer, repentance, and fellowship with Christ and the church. Fr. Younan encourages preparing the right mindset, combining physical fa...

In "Have You Seen the One I Love": Contemplation on Song of Solomon 1:15, Eric Tadros explores the deep spiritual relationship between the soul and God as reflected in the Song of Solomon. Eric discusses how the Lord views the soul as beautiful and desirable, even amid sin, emphasizing God’s persistent desire for the soul’s return. Eric highlights the importance of seeking God's testimony over wor...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the challenges of balancing spiritual life with daily responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing God’s presence in all aspects of life—whether at work, church, or home. He discusses practical ways to incorporate prayer and spiritual practices into busy schedules, like listening to sermons or praying the Jesus Prayer during everyday tasks. Fr. Matthias...

In this continuation of the series on Jonah the Prophet, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores God's sovereignty over creation as revealed through Jonah’s story. He examines Jonah’s resistance to God’s command to preach to Nineveh, contrasting Jonah’s apathy with the pagan sailors’ active efforts to survive the storm. Fr. Matthias highlights Jonah’s spiritual numbness, depression, and lack of compassion th...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the meaning of the glory of God through the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, highlighting its biblical foundations and spiritual significance. He discusses the role of Simeon the Elder and the prophecy revealing Christ as the light for the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. Fr. Matthias examines how God's glory is shown in scripture through creation, miracles like...

In this episode of Living Incense, we reflect on how the ordinary rhythms of modern life—work, responsibilities, screens, and constant busyness—quietly shape our priorities and often crowd out our spiritual life without us realizing it. What begins as necessary activity can easily turn into distraction when balance is lost, even when the things occupying our time appear good or productive. The con...

In this part of the series, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the origins of the Orthodox Church by tracing the historical developments that led to various Christian denominations. He discusses how the Protestant Reformation introduced the principle of sola scriptura, resulting in multiple interpretations of the Bible and the proliferation of thousands of denominations. Fr. Matthias explains the differ...

Fr. Polycarpus Shoukry explores the importance of integrity in daily life and faith. He illustrates integrity as doing the right thing even when no one is watching and shares personal stories to highlight challenges we face in maintaining it. Fr. Polycarpus emphasizes that integrity is the core of a person’s being, comparing it to the center of a pizza, essential for wholeness. He reflects on bibl...

Elisabeth Abouelkheir (Missy) shares practical insights on navigating conflict within marriage, emphasizing that the purpose of marriage is sanctification rather than mere happiness. Drawing from her 32 years of marriage experience, she explains why conflict is inevitable due to individual differences and how it can be productive when handled with respect. Missy discusses Dr. John Gottman’s "Four...

Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his series on salvation in the Orthodox Church by focusing on the sacrament of confession. He reviews the biblical and patristic foundations for confessing sins to a priest, explaining the priest’s unique role in binding and loosing sins through the Holy Spirit’s authority given by Christ to the Apostles. Fr. Matthias elaborates on how confession complements baptism b...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the theme of thanksgiving through the story of Hannah, the mother of Samuel, highlighting how she navigated sorrow, prayer, and faith despite her barrenness. He discusses Hannah’s personal pain, the provocation from her rival, and how she turned to honest prayer rather than bitterness or escape. Fr. Matthias emphasizes the importance of persistent prayer, trust in God’...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the Parable of the Talents from the Gospel of Matthew, explaining its significance as a teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven. He unpacks how the master entrusts his servants with talents (money) according to their abilities and the varied responses they have—two servants invest and multiply their talents, while one hides his out of fear and laziness. Fr. Matthias discu...

Fr. Polycarpus Shoukry explores the contrasting ministries of St. John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, focusing on the call to boldly share the truth of repentance and salvation despite rejection or hardship. He explains how truth, when coupled with courage, love, empathy, accuracy, and respect—represented by the acronym C.L.E.A.R.—can effectively reach others and bring healing rather than hurt. Dra...

Peter Awad discusses the importance of family prayer, exploring its spiritual and practical benefits. He explains how gathering as a family to pray fosters gratitude, unity, forgiveness, and improved relationships. Peter shares insights on the challenges families face in establishing regular prayer, such as time constraints, tension, and uncertainty about how to pray, offering practical advice to...

His Grace Bishop Gregory reflects on the commandment to love God with all heart, soul, mind, and strength as the foundation for inheriting eternal life. He explores how true love for God demands fervent labor and zeal in serving Him, emphasizing that this inner fervency transforms even small acts into offerings pleasing to God. Bishop Gregory explains that this zeal sustains believers through the...

In this Bible study, Fr. Polycarpus Shoukry explores the biblical foundation and rich symbolism behind the raising of incense during Vespers and Matins in the Coptic Orthodox tradition. He guides viewers through the structure of these services, focusing on the prayer of incense, its historical practice, and deep roots in Scripture, particularly the Old Testament offerings from Numbers 28-29. Fr. P...

Eric Tadros explains the concept and importance of having a spiritual Canon, a structured daily rule of prayer and spiritual discipline tailored in consultation with one’s spiritual father. He discusses how a Canon provides order and consistency in prayer life, helping believers maintain spiritual motivation beyond fluctuating feelings and distractions. Eric addresses common challenges such as laz...

Rodelf Edward explores practical and spiritual aspects of parenting, emphasizing the importance of raising children with grace rather than shame. He discusses different parenting styles—authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved—highlighting their impacts on children’s behavior and spiritual growth. Rodelf stresses the need for personalized parenting that recognizes each child’s uniq...

Fr. Polycarpus Shoukry discusses the importance of teaching children the joy of repentance within the family. He explores the purpose of repentance, emphasizing that its true goal is union with God rather than simply discipline, remorse, or confession. Fr. Polycarpus highlights how parents must model repentance and maintain a spiritual life centered on the Holy Spirit to nurture this practice in t...