Service, Part 3

Servants Preparation Curriculum

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Goal of Service

To know God and live with Him

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“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3)

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““Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me (John 17:24)

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Service, Part 3 – The Whole Life of A Servant

Objectives

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1. The servants and their community
2. Stumbling blocks
3. The servant and the spiritual means
4. Compliments and critiques of the servant

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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A Servant’s community

• Family
• Other Servants
• Church congregation
• Priest
• Bishop

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Servants and Their Family

• How does your service affect your family?
• Does your family like Christ because of you?
• How does your family react to your service?
• Does anyone in your family want to serve because of you?

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“Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:51)

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Do you have a positive impact on your family?�

• Do you encourage your family to spiritual activities?
• 1) group prayer
• 2) Agpae prayer
• 3) Prayer before meals
• 4) Bible reading
• 5) Attending Tasbeha
• 6) Attending vesper prayer
• 7) Attending liturgy early
• 8) Donation to the church

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Servant and Other Servants

• You must be a team player
• You must display Christ’s attributes
• Love, meekness, submission, obedience, cooperation, helpfulness, etc.
• Should NOT have pride, ego, hatred, or disputes

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Servant and The Church

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Servant and The Church

• How many Liturgies does the servant attend per week?
• How often does the servant attend Liturgy from the beginning?
• Does the servant pay attention during liturgy?
• What can distract them?
• Does the servant listen to the readings and the sermon?
• How often does the servant take communion?
• How does the servant feel after communion?

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Servant and The Church Cont.

• How often does the servant repent and confess?
• How often the servant fast with the church?
• Does the servant celebrate saintly feasts?
• What types of service is the servant involved in?
• Festivals, spiritual days, family days, cleanings, organization, etc.

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Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Servant and The Clergy

• The priest nominated the servant to the servant's prep class
• The priest invites the servant to the service

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• A servant must obey the priest and work with him
• A servant must go to the priest with issues and challenges of their service

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Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Service, Part 3 – The Whole Life of A Servant

Objectives

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1. The servant and their community
2. Stumbling blocks
3. The servant & spiritual means
4. Compliments and critiques of the servant

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Stumbling Blocks

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea” (Mark 9:42)

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• Offenses by the servant
• A loud voice
• Lying and cursing
• Arguing and fighting
• Violating the dress code
• Forming inner circles

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Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Examples of Stumbling Blocks

• Examples of stumbling blocks
• Attitude
• Language
• Clothes
• Teachings

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Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The devil to Eve

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Service, Part 3 – The Whole Life of A Servant

Objectives

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1. The servant and their surroundings
2. Stumbling blocks
3. The servant & spiritual means
4. Compliments and critiques of the servant

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Servant & Spiritual Means

1. Prayer
2. Prostrations / Matanias
3. The Agpyae
4. Fasting
5. The Bible

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Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Servant and Prayer

• The servant is obligated to pray before preparing the lesson
• The servant is obligated to pray before giving the lesson
• The servant is obligated to pray for their class
• St. Paul did to this for his followers
• The servant prays for challenging cases in their service
• The servant prays for their spiritual growth
• The servant prays for other services and servant’s growth.

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Servant and Prostrations / Matanias

• The spiritual servant always resorts to prostrations / Matanias in their prayers

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1. To get The Lord’ help
2. To enjoy the prayers
3. To humble themselves

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Servant and The Agpyae

• Arranged in hours as a reminder of frequent prayer
• Deep and insightful psalms
• The litanies have a significant impact on the soul
• The absolution of every hour introduces different concepts
• The servant must pray from the hours in the Agpyae in order to memorize them and recite alone

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Servant and Fasting

• The servant participates in the church fasts
• The servant grows in level of fasting
• The servant benefits from fasting
• The servant may resort to special fasting within their service
• Ex. A sick person, someone in trouble

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Servant and The Bible

• The servant reads The Bible regularly and grows spiritually
• The servant studies The Bible and memorizes verses
• The servant regularly references The Bible in their service
• The servant meditates on The Bible

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“How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103)

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Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Service, Part 3 – The Whole Life of A Servant

Objectives

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1. The servant and their surroundings
2. Stumbling blocks
3. The servant & spiritual means
4. Compliments and critiques of the servant

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Reactions in The Service

1. Complements
2. Criticisms

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Complements in The Service

• The servant answers saying that they are glad that God uses them in service
• The servant remembers the bruised reed and smoking cloth

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“A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, (Matthew 12:20)

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Complements in The Service Cont.

• A broken reed
• Smoking flax (cloth)

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Critiques in The Service

• The servant should not be defensive
• The servant doesn’t attempt to quit or resign from the service
• The servant listens and understands the reasoning behind the claim
• The servant checks to see if changes can be made
• The servant shares the critiques and suggestions with other servants & priest

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Service, Part 3 – The Whole Life of A Servant

Objectives

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1. The servant and their surroundings
2. Stumbling blocks
3. The servant & spiritual means
4. Compliments and critiques of the servant

Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Memorization Verses

• “And this is eternal life, that they may know You” (John 17:3)

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• “How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103)

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• “A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench” (Matthew 12:20)

Lecture 2, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Review Questions

• How the servant make a positive impact on his family?

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• Is the servant aware of stumbling blocks in their ministry?

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• How the servant use the spiritual means for his growth?

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• How the servant reacts to critique of his ministry?

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Lecture 3, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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