St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston

Eric Tadros holds a practical discussion on bringing thoughts captive by focusing on what to do after identifying distorted or maladaptive thinking. He explains how thoughts shape feelings and behaviors, and how avoidance and other reactions can reinforce anxious, jealous, angry, or fearful patterns. Eric outlines key influences on thought formation, including personality and genetics, upbringing...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explains the spiritual significance of self-denial as essential for discipleship and union with Christ. Drawing from Scripture, including Luke 1 and various New Testament passages, Fr. Matthias emphasizes that Christ brings light to those in darkness, but individuals must open their eyes through self-denial to fully receive this light. He explores the practical aspects of denyi...

Dr. Abraham Ghattas explores stress management through the lens of the Garden of Gethsemane, focusing on how Jesus experienced intense emotional agony before His crucifixion. He highlights Christ’s dual nature as fully God and fully human, emphasizing how Jesus’ example guides us in handling stress and despair. Dr. Ghattas discusses the importance of beginning difficult times with praise and hymns...

Michael Sedrak explores the concept of living a continuous life of thanksgiving grounded in faith, humility, and patience. He explains that thanksgiving is not limited to specific moments but should permeate every aspect of our lives, even amid trials and tribulations. Michael discusses different levels of gratitude, from thanking God for evident blessings to giving thanks for unseen protection an...

In this talk, Sarah Iskander, PharmD, MS, LPC-A, NCC, explores how the power of our thoughts significantly impacts our relationships with our partners. Sarah begins by explaining the cognitive triangle from cognitive behavioral therapy, showing how thoughts influence feelings and behaviors, shaping marital interactions. She contrasts unhelpful, distress-maintaining thoughts like innocent victimhoo...

In this sermon, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the story of Zacchaeus, who sought to see Jesus despite the obstacles presented by the crowd. Fr. Matthias reflects on how other people can become obstacles to our spiritual growth through comparison, rivalry, obsession with others’ opinions, rejection, embarrassment about admitting faults, and inability to forgive. He emphasizes Zacchaeus’s determinati...

In this sermon, Fr. Titus Necola reflects on the spiritual meaning of true beauty as taught by St. Peter in the First Epistle. He emphasizes the importance of cultivating the incorruptible beauty of the heart—a gentle and quiet spirit—rather than focusing on outward appearance. Fr. Titus highlights the example of St. Mary and the call to live with the end of life in mind, preparing for the second...

In this talk, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the biblical foundation and spiritual meaning of a Godly marriage, emphasizing that marriage was created by God before the fall of man as a union intended for companionship, support, and spiritual growth. He explains how marriage is designed to be a supernatural covenant sustained by the Holy Spirit, with God at its center, and highlights the significance...

In this St. Monica Parenting Meeting, Fr. Younan William explores the challenges of balanced parenting based on a verse from the book of Sirach. Fr. Younan discusses the dangers of extreme leniency and harshness in raising children, emphasizing the need for a middle ground that combines love with discipline, nurturing with structure, and freedom with boundaries. He explains how parents can maintai...

Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his study of 2nd Maccabees chapters 11 and 12, focusing on the military struggles between the Jewish people and the Greek forces under the rule of Antiochus and his successors. He explains how Lysias, guardian of the young king, leads a large army to besiege Jerusalem, but is defeated through prayer and divine intervention. Fr. Matthias highlights the peace treaty neg...

Nagy Wassef explores the meaning of Psalm 23, emphasizing God's ongoing presence as "my shepherd" who meets all our needs daily. Drawing parallels between David’s experience as a shepherd and our relationship with God, he highlights the dependence and vulnerability of sheep as metaphors for human life. Nagy discusses how God leads us beside still waters, restores our souls, and protects us against...

Fr. Matthias Shehad begins an in-depth study of the Book of Ecclesiastes, a wisdom book of the Old Testament written by King Solomon. He explains how Ecclesiastes differs from historical books in style and purpose by focusing on poetic reflections about the meaning and vanity of life. Fr. Matthias highlights Solomon’s unique perspective as a king who experienced immense wealth, pleasure, and wisdo...

Fr. Matthias Shehad discusses the virtue of silence through the lens of the Annunciation of the birth of St. John the Baptist. He explores how silence serves as a time of inward reflection, helping us focus on self-examination and spiritual growth. Fr. Matthias explains that silence enhances our prayer life by turning our desire to communicate inward toward God, deepening our connection with Him....

In his talk “Bring Every Thought Into Captivity,” Eric Tadros explores how thoughts influence our behavior and spiritual life, highlighting common cognitive distortions such as mind reading, catastrophizing, emotional reasoning, labeling, and overgeneralization. He explains how these distorted thoughts contribute to fear, anxiety, and sin, using biblical examples like the woman with the flow of bl...

Fr. Matthias Shehad teaches on Christ’s words, “Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” by examining where believers place their treasure during the Great Fast. Fr. Matthias explains how worry, materialism, and attachment to possessions distract the heart from God and shift focus away from spiritual life toward earthly concerns. Fr. Matthias traces this struggle back to the fa...

In this sermon, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores who will rise in judgment according to Christ’s teaching. He highlights the examples of the Queen of the South and the Ninevites, who responded wisely to God's message without needing miraculous signs. Fr. Matthias explains that rising in judgment means their actions stand as a testimony to others, showing that wisdom, repentance, purity, humility, and...

In this talk, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the Parable of the Great Banquet from Luke 14, explaining the spiritual meaning behind God's invitation to salvation and union with Christ. Fr. Matthias discusses how this invitation represents both a general call to live a holy life and a specific call to use one’s God-given talents in service. He addresses common excuses people offer for not responding...

Eric Tadros discusses the biblical theme of mercy and truth based on Psalm 85: "Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed." He explains how this verse prophesies Christ as the fulfillment of both mercy and truth—truth through the Old Testament law and mercy through Christ’s sacrifice. Eric emphasizes that mercy and truth are inseparable; mercy without truth becomes a l...

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...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the story of the man born blind and the reactions of different people around him, focusing especially on the man’s parents. Despite witnessing their son’s miraculous healing by Jesus, they hesitated to openly acknowledge it due to fear of the Jewish authorities. Fr. Matthias discusses why miracles alone do not necessarily change hearts, examining examples such as Simon...

In this Bible study, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the Book of 2nd Maccabees, focusing on its historical and spiritual context within the intertestamental period. He explains how this deuterocanonical book, not included in most Protestant Bibles but recognized in Orthodox tradition, presents a theological perspective on the Jewish resistance against the Seleucid Empire and the desecration of the te...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores Second Maccabees chapters 7 and 8, focusing on the martyrdom of the seven brothers and their mother who refused to violate Jewish law under Greek persecution. He discusses their steadfast faith, highlighting their belief in the resurrection as they faced torture and death rather than renounce their religion. Fr. Matthias then shifts to Judas Maccabeus’ revolt against A...

Fr. Matthias Shehad presents a Bible study on 2nd Maccabees chapters 13-15, covering the continued conflicts between the Jewish people and their Greek adversaries. He details the military campaigns led by Judas Maccabeus against Antiochus V and his generals, highlighting internal Jewish struggles involving high priests seeking power through bribery and betrayal. Fr. Matthias explores key figures l...

In this Bible study, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores chapters 3 and 4 of 2nd Maccabees, focusing on the historical and spiritual events during the Greek conquest of Israel. He details the respect initially shown to the Jewish temple by King Solus IV and the later internal betrayal by Simon from the Tribe of Benjamin, which opened the door for the desecration of the temple’s treasury by Heliodes under...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores chapters 9 and 10 of 2nd Maccabees, highlighting God’s judgment on Antiochus IV and the military victories of Judas Maccabeus. He describes Antiochus’s arrogance, his divine punishment through illness, and his eventual repentance as he humbles himself before God. Fr. Matthias compares Antiochus’s transformation to biblical examples of pride humbled by God. The teaching...