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Spiritual Topics, Part 5

Servants Preparation Curriculum

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Spiritual Topics, Part 5 – Repentance and Confession

Objectives:

  1. To study the negative consequences of sin
  2. To understand the causes of sin
  3. To learn the levels of sin
  4. To see the types of sinners
  5. Repentance
  6. Confession

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The Lost Son (Luke 15)

Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

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The Lost Son (Luke 15) Cont.

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

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“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

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The Lost Son (Luke 15) Cont.

But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

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“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

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The Lost Son (Luke 15) Cont.

But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore; his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

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“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ” (Luke 11-31)

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Luke 15

  • 3 Parables about Repentance and Return to God

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  1. The Parable of The Lost Sheep
  2. The Parable of The Lost Coin
  3. The Parable of The Lost Son

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Spiritual Topics, Part 5 – Repentance and Confession

Objectives:

  1. To study the negative consequences of sin
  2. To understand the causes of sin
  3. To learn the levels of sin
  4. To see the types of sinners
  5. Repentance
  6. Confession

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The Negative Consequences of Sin

  1. Separation from God
  2. Separation from the heavenly creatures and the saints
  3. Enmity with God
  4. Following Satan and his path
  5. Guilt, fear, and feelings of regret
  6. Failure in life and punishment from God
  7. Eternal torture

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The Causes of Sin

  1. Internal Desires
  2. External Temptations
  3. Evil Environment

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The Causes of Sin Cont.

  • Internal Desires
    • An internal wicked desire which push you to sin
      • Revenge
      • Jealousy
      • Mocking
      • Pride
      • Lust

“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1: 14)

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The Causes of Sin Cont.

  • External Temptations
    • Everyone will face external temptations during their life, but if their heart is full of love to God and high moral values they will be able to reject the temptations
      • Available cash for those who work with cash
      • Delicious foods during times of fasting for those in the food industry
      • Gossiping in gatherings
      • Romantic feelings with friends
      • Sexual desires from unrestricted social media usage, internet, etc.

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The Causes of Sin Cont.

  • External Temptations Cont.

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The Causes of Sin Cont.

  • External Temptations Cont.
    • Joseph rejected repeated temptations
    • David fell for into temptations

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The Causes of Sin Cont.

  • Evil Environment

“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

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  • Amnon listened to his friend for bad advice and raped Tamar
  • Pick friends who have high moral standards from religious families!

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The Causes of Sin Cont.

  • Evil Environment Cont.
  • Be aware of school and work environments
  • Cursing
  • Violence
  • Smoking
  • Vaping
  • Drugs

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Spiritual Topics, Part 5 – Repentance and Confession

Objectives:

  1. To study the negative consequences of sin
  2. To understand the causes of sin
  3. To learn the levels of sin
  4. To see the types of sinners
  5. Repentance
  6. Confession

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The Levels of Sin

“but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed” (James 1:14)

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  • Sin starts in the heart, then to the mind, and is then seen in the form of actions

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  • Try to stop sin at any stage before it gets to the next level!

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Cain and Abel

  • 1st Stage = Jealousy
  • 2nd Stage = Anger
  • 3rd Stage = Action (murder)

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  • He should have stopped at the first or second stage!

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Spiritual Topics, Part 5 – Repentance and Confession

Objectives:

  1. To study the negative consequences of sin
  2. To understand the causes of sin
  3. To learn the levels of sin
  4. To see the types of sinners
  5. Repentance
  6. Confession

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Types of Sinners

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” (1 Peter 4:18)

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  1. Ungodly = one who commit sin out of weakness or temptation (David)
  2. The Sinner = one who repeatedly commits sin without fear, regret, or remorse (The Samaritan Woman)
  3. The Immoral = one who deliberately sins and encourages others to sin (Sodom and Gomorrah, Jeroboam, and King Ahab)

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  • However, God accepts all sinners at any stage when they repent (St Moses the Strong)

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Types of Sinners Cont.

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Spiritual Topics, Part 5 – Repentance and Confession

Objectives:

  1. To study the negative consequences of sin
  2. To understand the causes of sin
  3. To learn the levels of sin
  4. To see the types of sinners
  5. Repentance
  6. Confession

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Repentance

  • Stages
  • Self Judgment
  • Confession to God
  • Confession in front of the priest
  • A vow to change your life
  • Acquire and grow in the life of virtue
  • Have fellowship with the saints

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Repentance

  • Self Judgment
    • Review your thoughts, feelings, and actions
    • Judge yourself and see what are your weakness and strengths
    • Decide on which areas need to focus
    • Do it routinely (daily, weekly, etc.)

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Spiritual Topics, Part 5 – Repentance and Confession

Objectives:

  1. To study the negative consequences of sin
  2. To understand the causes of sin
  3. To learn the levels of sin
  4. To see the types of sinners
  5. Repentance
  6. Confession

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Repentance

  • Confession in front of the priest
    1. Start with the big sins
    2. Blame yourself for your sins, not others
    3. Confess everything you remember
    4. Write down your sins if you are shy or afraid
    5. Promise not to go back to your old way of life
    6. Ask for spiritual practice to build you spiritually

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Repentance

  • Confession in front of the priest cont.
    1. Do not focus on the details during confession
    2. Do not postpone the confession session
    3. Do not wait until you get better to confess
    4. Do not feel down if you fall again in the same sin later
    5. Do not go back to your old habits or source of sin

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Spiritual Topics, Part 5 – Repentance and Confession

Objectives:

  1. To study the negative consequences of sin
  2. To understand the causes of sin
  3. To learn the levels of sin
  4. To see the types of sinners
  5. Repentance
  6. Confession

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God’s Grace in Repentance

  • Repentance is not only your goal, the goal is God, the angles, and the saints

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  • Your prayers
  • Your metanias
  • Your remorse

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  • God’s grace surrounds you and will give you the will to resist sin and encourage you to repent and seek a righteous life

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Keep in Mind

  • God will reward you
    • For your serious efforts to overcome sin
    • For your genuine feelings of regret on your sins
    • For your sincere desire to repent and live the life of Sainthood

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Great Examples

  • King Manasseh (2 Kings 21:1-18)

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The Fathers on Repentance

  • Repentance is replacing a desire with another desire

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  • Replacing the desire to sin with a desire to virtue

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  • Replacing the desire of lust with the desire of sainthood

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  • Replacing the desire of an earthly life with a heavenly one

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The Fathers on Repentance Cont.

  • It is good not to sin and if you sin do not postpone repentance and after repentance do not go back to sin again (St. Basil)

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  • Judge yourself before others judge you (St. Makarious the Great)

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  • God may not ask you why you fell in sin because he knows your weakness and external temptations, but, surely, he will ask you why you did not repent

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Spiritual Topics, Part 5 – Repentance and Confession

Objectives:

  1. To study the negative consequences of sin
  2. To understand the causes of sin
  3. To learn the levels of sin
  4. To see the types of sinners
  5. Repentance
  6. Confession

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Review Questions

  1. What are the three parables mentioned in Luke 15?
  2. List four of the consequences of sin.
  3. List the three main sources of sin.
  4. What are the three types of sinners?
  5. What are the six stages of repentance?
  6. What are the general rules for confession?
  7. Would God reward you for your efforts in repentance?

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Memorization Verses

  1. “and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2)

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  • “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16)

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  • “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:24)

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  • “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7)

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