Spiritual Topics, Part 2

Servants Preparation Curriculum

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Spiritual Topics, Part 2 – Steadfastness in The Lord

Objectives:

1. To view examples of instability
2. To study the root of instability
3. To learn how to be steady in your relationship with God

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Be Steadfast

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“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Shaky and Unsteady Characters

• The Jewish Nation over time
• Even after all the miracles God did for them, the Jewish people were inconsistent in their relationship with God

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“But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness” (1 Corinthians 10:5)

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Shaky and Unsteady Characters Cont.

• The Jewish Nation with Joshua
• After a great and easy victory over Jericho, Achan, the son of Kermi, violated God’s command and stole a few items from the tent

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Shaky and Unsteady Characters Cont.

• The Jewish Nation with during the era of The Judges
• Gideon’s amazing victory over the Midianites
• Every time God sent a judge to lead His people, the people followed; however, once the judge died, they all tuned their backs and began to worship other gods

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Shaky and Unsteady Characters Cont.

• Samson
• Although Samson had previous bad experiences with foreign women, he never stopped dating them or changing his path, until he met his death with Delilah

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Parable of Building a Tower

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?” (Luke 14:28-30)

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• Anyone who plans to build a solid spiritual life must not repeat their old mistakes!

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Spiritual Topics, Part 2 – Steadfastness in The Lord

Objectives:

1. To view examples of instability
2. To study the root of instability
3. To learn how to be steady in your relationship with God

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Root of Instability

1. A lack of God’ Love in your heart
2. A growing love for lusts and sins
3. Distance from spiritual means
4. The cessation of spiritual meetings, vespers, praises, sacraments (confession, communion), prayer, Agbeya, etc.
5. An attachment to bad environments - friends, social media, etc.

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

10

Spiritual Topics, Part 2 – Steadfastness in The Lord

Objectives:

1. To view examples of instability
2. To study the root of instability
3. To learn how to be steady in your relationship with God

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Be Steady In…

1. Faith
2. Love to God
3. Fear of The Lord
4. Repentance
5. Virtues
6. Ministry

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Faith

• Always adhere to your faith
• Do not change your faith or denomination
• Example: Demas

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“for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia” (2 Timothy 4:10)

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Faith Cont.

• Others who denied Christ: Judas (one of the 12 disciples), Nicholas (one of the 7 deacons), Julian the Apostate (am emperor)

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• Under persecution, many people leave Christ
• Islamic invasion of Egypt

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Faith Cont.

• Some may change denominations to:
• Obtain a divorce
• Get a job
• The rise of new wave of non-denominational Christianity

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Faith Cont.

• The Parable of The Sower
• Those that were planted on rocky ground died the next morning since there was no depth

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Love to God

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Love to God Cont.

• The Jewish Nation miraculously crossed The Red Sea
• The Jewish Nation received fresh food from God every morning (Manna) but they grumbled, complained, and objected God leadership
• The Jewish Nation had no true love for God in their hearts and hence God destroyed them

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Love to God Cont.

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Love to God Cont.

• The three saintly youth were filled with God’s Love in their hearts

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Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Love to God Cont.

• Daniel’s love for God challenged death

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Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Love to God Cont.

• Paul and Silas sang and praised God while in jail

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Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Love to God Cont.

• St. Paul’s great love for God

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“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39)

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Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Fear of The Lord

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10)

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• A fear of The Lord generates reverence and respect to God and His holy places
• You should never ignore this command or void it from your dictionary - no matter how long you have served The Lord or are present in the field of ministry

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Fear of The Lord Cont.

“How fearful and awesome is this place! , This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gateway to heaven” (Genesis 28:17)

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Fear of The Lord Cont.

• God taught Moses to fear and honor His presence

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“Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5)

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Fear of The Lord Cont.

• Respect His Holy Name
• Honor The Bible
• Respect the church
• Respect the time of prayer in the church and at home
• Honor the church fathers
• Honor the saints

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Repentance

• Never turn back to your old sins
• Grow in repentance with passion, regret, and tears
• Do matanias, have sympathy toward others, use your energy to serve and to save others from sins
• Be aware of fake remorse like Pharaoh when he confessed his errors but never repented and ended up dead whereas The Prodigal Son repented and lived

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Repentance Cont.

• The Great Example of St. Moses the Black

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Virtues

1. Charity / Donations
2. Ministry / Service
3. Daily Bible readings
4. Fasting with the church
5. Singing praises
6. Attendance in Liturgies and participation in communion

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Virtues Cont.

Ministry:

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1. Praises /Choirs
2. Hymns / The Coptic Language
3. Sunday School
4. Youth Service
5. Visiting the Sick
6. Helping the orphans, widows, needy, etc.
7. Praying for others

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Achieving Steadfastness

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He [a]takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:1-2)

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“Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16)

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Achieving Steadfastness Cont.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Spiritual Topics, Part 2 – Steadfastness in The Lord

Objectives:

1. To view examples of instability
2. To study the root of instability
3. To learn how to be steady in your relationship with God

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

34

Memorization Verses

1. “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

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• “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16)

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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