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Spiritual Topics, Part 1

Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Spiritual Topics, Part 1 – Spiritual Growth

Objectives:

  1. To learn about the types of growth
  2. To see methods of growth in specific areas through definitions and examples
  3. To understand the obstacles for growth
  4. To observe the fruits of growth

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Growth is a Sign of Life!

  • Plants grow
  • Animals grow
  • Humans grow physically, intellectually, and financially

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Types of Growth

  • Grace
    • A Heavenly Gift
  • Knowledge of Jesus Christ

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Types of Growth Cont.

  • The Definition of Grace:
    • Heavenly blessing beyond your worthiness

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  • How do I gain Grace?
    • Spiritual ways
    • Praying
      • Individual and groups
      • Agbeya
    • Bible readings and meditations
    • Reading spiritual books

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Spiritual Topics, Part 1 – Spiritual Growth

Objectives:

  1. To learn about the types of growth
  2. To see methods of growth in specific areas through definitions and examples
  3. To understand the obstacles for growth
  4. To observe the fruits of growth

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Spiritual Methods of Growth

  • Reading The Synaxarium
  • Confession
  • Communion
  • Attending Liturgy and Partaking of Communion
  • Helping the poor
  • Ministering to others
  • Acts of Mercy

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Spiritual Methods of Growth Cont.

  • Growth in amount
    • Prayer 4 times a day
    • Pray while traveling – car, bus, train, etc.
    • Sing songs and hymns
  • Growth in quality
    • Pray with depth and attention
    • Pray for your students - especially problematic ones
    • Pray for those in any and all troubles - religious, sickness, psychological, financial, etc.
    • Pray for the other servants
    • Pray for the priest

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Spiritual Methods of Growth Cont.

  • The Agbeya
    • Start with 2 or 3 psalms
    • Add The Gospel and The Litanies
    • Add one psalm every week
    • Try to memorize parts specific parts
    • Try to do 2 full Agbeya prayers per week
    • Add Matanias

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Spiritual Methods of Growth Cont.

  • The Liturgy
    • Attend more often
    • Attend Vespers
    • Attend early
    • Focus on the readings
    • Focus on the sermon
    • Take communion
    • Pray before communion
    • Pray after communion

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Spiritual Methods of Growth Cont.

  • Knowledge
    • Complete Biblical readings
    • Study Biblical characters
    • Study Biblical events
    • Study the Church Dogma
    • Study the Church rites
    • Study the Church saints
    • Study the Church feasts
    • Study the Church history

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Biblical Characters

  • Faith with Abraham

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Biblical Characters Cont.

  • Faith with Isaac
    • Isaac dug many wells and left them for Abimelech
    • God appeared to him and his crops brought 100 times the regular produce

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Biblical Characters Cont.

  • Faith with Jacob

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Generosity in Giving

  • Jesse sent 10 pieces of cheese to the army commander
  • David collected gold, sliver, and timber to build the temple
  • Solomon offered 1000 sacrifices to God

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Temptations

  • Joseph, David, and Samson

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Money

  • Abraham
    • He offered a calf to feed 3 strangers, his family, and the servants
    • He served them himself
  • The Rich Fool
    • He saved only for himself and ignored the poor around him

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Repentance

  • Pharoah
    • Faked his apology 4 times
  • David
    • Great and Influential = Psalm 50

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Faith

  • Gideon
    • Trust in God without counting on resources or strong soldiers

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Blessing

  • Isaac had 2 sons
  • Jacob got 12 sons
  • 70 people came to Egypt
  • 2 millions left Egypt

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The Meanings of Names

  • Noah = rest = people will rest with God through him
  • Abraham = a father of many nations = blessings
  • Isaac = laughter = joy = a symbol of Christ who brought happiness to the people on earth
  • Israel = victorious with God and men
  • David = beloved
  • Solomon = peace

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The Meanings of Numbers

  • The Rich Man had 5 brothers
  • David had 7 brothers
  • Solomon had 666 talents of Gold
  • Joshua marched 7 days around Jericho
  • Jesus mentioned 10 Parables on Virgins
  • The Disciples caught 153 fish

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Grow with The Saints

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Spiritual Methods of Growth Cont.

  1. Self - Examination
    • Habits = pray in the morning, bible readings, chores, etc.
    • Personality traits = anger, respect, isolated, etc.
    • Sins
    • Virtues
    • Improve vs Decline

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Spiritual Methods of Growth Cont.

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Spiritual Methods of Growth Cont.

  1. God’s Love in Your Heart
    • How do you measure God’s love in your heart?
    • How do you grow in God’s love?
    • Are there obstacles to God’s love?
    • Is there a strange love in your life?

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King David

  • Use his Psalms to grow in God’s love

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“I will love You, O Lord, my strength” (Psalm 18:1)

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Spiritual Methods of Growth Cont.

  • Set a plan of growth for yourself
  • Each month focus on one area/aspect

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Spiritual Topics, Part 1 – Spiritual Growth

Objectives:

  1. To learn about the types of growth
  2. To see methods of growth in specific areas through definitions and examples
  3. To understand the obstacles for growth
  4. To observe the fruits of growth

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Obstacles to Growth

  • Sin
  • Lust
  • A busy life
  • Daily concerns
  • A strange love in your heart

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A Strange Love in Your Heart

  • Adam and Eve enjoyed God’s presence before temptation, but Satan introduced new ideas:

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  • Love of knowledge
  • Equality to God

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A Strange Love in Your Heart Cont.

  • Money = Judas
  • Freedom = The Prodigal Son

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A Strange Love in Your Heart Cont.

  • Lust

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A Strange Love in Your Heart Cont.

  • Drink = Noah

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Spiritual Topics, Part 1 – Spiritual Growth

Objectives:

  1. To learn about the types of growth
  2. To see methods of growth in specific areas through definitions and examples
  3. To understand the obstacles for growth
  4. To observe the fruits of growth

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Fruits of Growth

  • Acquiring virtues is an assurance of spiritual growth
  • There are two types of virtues:
    1. Internal Virtues
    2. External Virtues

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Fruits of Growth Cont.

  • Internal Virtues:
    1. Humility
    2. Meekness
    3. Patience
    4. Peacefulness
    5. Satisfaction
    6. Gratefulness
    7. Obedience

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St. Reweis

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Fruits of Growth Cont.

  • External Virtues:
    1. Cheerful
    2. Faithful
    3. Serving
    4. Helpful
    5. Reaching out to others
    6. Giving
    7. Enjoying spiritual meetings and praises
    8. Sainthood

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Fruits of Growth Cont.

  • Bishop Sarabamon, The Bishop of Menophyia

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Fruits of Growth Cont.

  • Bishop Abram, The Bishop of Fayoum and Giza

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Our Goal

“till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13)

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Spiritual Topics, Part 1 – Spiritual Growth

Objectives:

  1. To learn about the types of growth
  2. To see methods of growth in specific areas through definitions and examples
  3. To understand the obstacles for growth
  4. To observe the fruits of growth

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Memorization Verses

  1. “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18)

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  • “I will love You, O Lord, my strength” (Psalm 18:1)

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