St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston

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...

Fr. Matthias Shehad reflects on the spiritual growth of St. John the Baptist as a model for believers to develop their own faith journey. He explores ten practical ways to measure growth in the spiritual life, including cultivating a hunger for God's truth, recognizing sin and embracing repentance, and increasing reliance on the Holy Spirit. Fr. Matthias discusses the importance of desiring to ser...

Fr. Younan William explores the meaning behind Jesus’ promise, "Ask, and it will be given to you," by discussing seven key factors that influence why some prayers are answered while others are not. He examines the difference between human and divine understanding of good and evil, the role of future outcomes unknown to us, and the importance of viewing events as part of a bigger picture. Fr. Youna...

Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his study on the harmony of the Gospels by exploring the events around Lazarus Saturday and the anointing of Jesus by Mary of Bethany. He explains the significance of Lazarus’s resurrection as a foreshadowing of Christ’s own resurrection and discusses the division among the Jewish people and religious leaders in response to Jesus’s miracles. Fr. Matthias examines the...

Fr. Matthias Shehad continues the Bible study on the Harmony of the Gospels by exploring several miracles of Christ found in the Gospel of Matthew and the calling of the 12 disciples. He examines Jesus healing two blind men and a demon-possessed mute man, highlighting the importance of faith in receiving healing and forgiveness. Fr. Matthias explains the spiritual significance behind Jesus forgivi...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores key Gospel passages focusing on faith, perseverance, and repentance through stories like the healing of the blind men in Jericho, the encounter with Zacchaeus, and the parable of the minas. He examines how faith enables believers to overcome obstacles in their spiritual journey, emphasizing the importance of persistent prayer and action. Fr. Matthias highlights Christ’...

In this sermon, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the significance of God’s touch as depicted in Scripture, beginning with the resurrection of the widow’s son. He explains how God’s touch brings humility, instructs with divine wisdom, purifies sin, and offers spiritual healing beyond physical restoration. Fr. Matthias highlights the illumination that opens spiritual eyes to deeper realities, the resurr...

Michael Sidrak explores key principles from Metropolitan Yusuf’s book *Raising Children*, which compiles over 30 years of sermons on Christian parenting. He emphasizes the importance of setting specific spiritual goals for children rather than vague or materialistic aims. Michael highlights three essential steps for parents: choosing the right influences for their children, instructing them throug...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the topic of boundaries in marriage, presenting them as essential protections that help maintain the health and holiness of the relationship. Using analogies like a garden and the parable of wheat and weeds, he explains how neglecting boundaries allows harmful influences to disrupt marriage. Fr. Matthias outlines three types of attacks on marriage: personal spiritual s...

In this Bible study, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the Parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15. He explains the story of a younger son who demands his inheritance early, leaves home, and squanders his wealth in a distant land, symbolizing humanity’s rebellion and separation from God. Fr. Matthias discusses the son’s eventual repentance, his return to the father, and the father’s compassionate and...

In this sermon, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the concept of "The Favor of God" by examining the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary and Scripture passages that reveal how believers can obtain God’s favor. He explains that God’s favor is not random but earned through prayer, obedience to God’s commandments, seeking God wholeheartedly, living righteously, offering our first fruits, and embracing humilit...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the harmony of the Gospels by examining key passages from Luke, including the journey of Jesus toward Jerusalem. He begins with the parable of the Good Samaritan, highlighting the lawyer's challenge to Jesus about inheriting eternal life and explaining both the literal and allegorical meanings of the parable. Fr. Matthias shows how the priest and Levite represent the O...

Fr. Polycarpus Shoukry provides a detailed overview of the Old Testament, tracing its narrative from creation through the major periods of Israelite history. He explains key events including the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Exodus led by Moses, the wilderness journey, and the conquest of Canaan. Fr. Polycarpus highlights the establishment of the priesthood and the significance of the...

Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his study on the Harmony of the Gospels by exploring Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, marking the beginning of Holy Week. He explains the significance of Jesus riding both a donkey and a colt, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy and symbolizing the unity of Jews and Gentiles under Christ’s kingship. Fr. Matthias discusses the varied reactions of...

In this Bible study, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the harmony of the Gospels focusing on the section "Back in Galilee," where Jesus resumes His ministry. Fr. Matthias unpacks stories such as Jesus paying the temple tax through a miraculous catch of a fish, demonstrating both His divine identity and humility. He then examines the disciples' dispute about greatness in the kingdom of heaven, emphasiz...

Fr. Matthias Shehad discusses the impact of media on children and the crucial role of parental influence. He reviews research showing how excessive screen time and exposure to inappropriate content affect children's cognitive, emotional, and social development, including issues like delayed language skills and behavioral changes. Fr. Matthias emphasizes the importance of parental mediation, especi...

Eric Tadros explores the promise of God’s presence and its significance in human and spiritual life. He begins by reflecting on how presence impacts relationships, from infancy to the church community, emphasizing that God’s presence is central to human fulfillment and connection. Eric examines biblical narratives, particularly the story of Adam and Eve’s loss of God’s presence through sin and the...

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...

In this teaching, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the concept of "getting your house in order," emphasizing personal responsibility for one’s own life and the impact this has on those under our care. He explains the importance of self-discipline, time management, and goal setting as foundational steps before guiding others effectively. Fr. Matthias focuses on healthy communication, highlighting activ...

Fr. James Gendi explores the theme of true power in this sermon for the third Sunday of the Coptic month of Paope. He reflects on biblical stories highlighting God’s authority over sickness, nature, and evil spirits, emphasizing that real power comes from God and not worldly sources. Fr. James identifies seven mistaken sources of power that people often rely on: knowledge, physical strength, relat...

In this Bible study, Fr. Matthias Shehad examines the harmony of the Gospels through the story of the woman caught in adultery, as recorded in John chapter 8. He explores the significance of Jesus’ interaction with the Pharisees, highlighting how Christ exposes their hypocrisy while upholding both the Mosaic law and divine mercy. Fr. Matthias explains Jesus’ teaching on salt and fire as symbols of...

Fr. Polycarpus Shoukry explores how marriage transforms a personal relationship with God into a shared spiritual journey between spouses. He contrasts societal views of marriage as a contract with the Church’s understanding of it as a sacred covenant and one of the seven sacraments designed to unite couples with God. Fr. Polycarpus emphasizes prioritizing a relationship with God within marriage, e...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the harmony of the Gospels through key parables: the Parable of the Sower, the Candle (Lamp), the Seed, and the Mustard Seed. He compares the accounts across Matthew, Mark, and Luke, highlighting subtle differences and shared messages. Fr. Matthias explains the spiritual meanings behind these parables, emphasizing how the word of God grows in different hearts and how f...

In this talk, Fr. Polycarpus Shoukry explores the theme of internal peace and spiritual balance. He compares the loss of physical balance to disturbances in our spiritual lives caused by sin, negativity, and external challenges. Fr. Polycarpus encourages holding firmly to the promises of God as a source of stability and peace, drawing on the example from Song of Songs where the soul searches for a...

In this Bible study, Fr. Matthias Shehad continues exploring the Sermon on the Mount, focusing on the teachings of Christ about meekness, forgiveness, and love of enemies as a new perspective beyond Old Testament law. He explains the difference between retaliation and meek endurance, emphasizing mercy and the call to forgive without conditions. Fr. Matthias also examines the importance of secrecy...