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Service, Part 2

Servants Preparation Curriculum

Lecture 2, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Service, Part 2 – The Servant

Objectives

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  1. The Servant as a Role Model to Others
  2. The Ideal Servant
  3. How do I prepare myself for my ministry?
  4. Where do I start my ministry ?
  5. The reward!

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The Servant Should be a Role Model to Others

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4 Analogies for the Servant

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  1. Jacob’s Ladder
  2. The Icon of Christ
  3. Holy to The Lord
  4. Displayed to Everyone

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The Servant Should be a Role Model to Others Cont.

  1. Jacob’s Ladder

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    • The servant is like Jacob’s Ladder which carries the people up to Heaven

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The Servant Should be a Role Model to Others Cont.

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  1. The Icon of Christ

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    • “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20)

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The Servant Should be a Role Model to Others Cont.

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  1. Holy to The Lord

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    • The high priest wore a golden crown on his head that said,
    • “Holy to The Lord”

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The Servant Should be a Role Model to Others Cont.

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  1. Displayed to Everyone

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    • “For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men” (1 Corinthians 4:9)
    • When someone looks at a servant they should learn from their behavior, attitude, voice, clothes, laughter, reactions, emotions, etc.

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The Outcome of Being Close to God

  • Getting closer to God will make you more aware of other people's feelings, emotions, and needs
  • The servant should watch every word that comes from his mouth for it to not be offensive to anyone

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“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned”(Mathew 12:37)

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  • Carrier of Child Jesus
    • 251 AD

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  • He used to carry people over raging rivers and he once carried Jesus himself

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St. Christopher

Every servant should be like St Christopher

Carrying Jesus in his heart

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Service, Part 2 – The Servant

Objectives

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  1. The Servant as a Role Model to Others
  2. The Ideal Servant
  3. How do I prepare myself for my ministry?
  4. Where do I start my ministry ?
  5. Your reward!

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The Ideal Servant

  1. The Spiritual Servant
  2. The Church Servant
  3. The Knowledgeable Servant
  4. The Experienced Servant
  5. The Loving and Caring Servant

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The Ideal Servant Cont.

  1. The Spiritual Servant

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    • The spiritual servant is the one who longs for spiritual growth
      • Liturgy, Tasbeha, Vesper, Chorus, Hymns, etc.

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    • The spiritual servant is someone who practices and enjoys these and favors them over other activities

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The Ideal Servant Cont.

  1. The Church Servant

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    • The servant who actively participate in the church
    • Attends church regularly
    • Participates in fasts, activities, festivals, etc.
    • Celebrates saintly feasts
    • Donates to the church regularly.
    • Honor the priest and the bishop

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The Ideal Servant Cont.

  1. The Knowledgeable Servant

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    • Knows the dogma, rites, history, etc.
    • Reads and memorize Biblical stories and verses
    • Keeps learning and growing on his own

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  1. The Experienced Servant

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    • Experienced the Life with Christ
    • Experienced the role of God in their ministry
    • Experienced the power of prayer in their ministry
    • Experienced the youthful life and is familiar with their needs and weakness
      • “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:18)

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The Ideal Servant Cont.

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  1. The Loving and Caring Servant

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    • Their heart is full of Love to God and His children
    • They’re willing to prove their love by offering many sacrifices
    • They care about His children and are willing to help them in any areas of life as they need.
      • Ex. Schoolwork, jobs, etc.

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The Ideal Servant Cont.

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Service, Part 2 – The Servant

Objectives

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  1. The Servant as a Role Model to Others
  2. The Ideal Servant
  3. How do I prepare myself for my ministry?
  4. Where do I start my ministry ?
  5. Your reward!

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How do I prepare myself for my ministry?

  1. Cleanse yourself from sins, bad habits, and traits
    • Repentance and Confession
    • Sins of the mouth
      • Cursing, lying, screaming, etc.
    • Sins of emotions
      • Anger, nervousness, romance, etc.

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  • Grow your relationship with God daily
    • Regular Bible readings, spiritual meditations, prayers, liturgical attendance and participation in communion, etc.

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How do I prepare myself for my ministry? Cont.

  1. Staying away from Bad Friends
    • “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good morals”
    • (1 Corinthians 15:33)

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  • Getting closer to the saints by reading the Synxarium and their biographies

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  1. Read The Bible daily
  2. Read The Synxarium
  3. Read spiritual books either physically or online

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How do I prepare myself for my ministry? Cont.

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Where are your passion?

Partying vs Church Activities

Sleep vs Liturgy

Movies vs

Spiritual Acts

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Service, Part 2 – The Servant

Objectives

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  1. The Servant as a Role Model to Others
  2. The Ideal Servant
  3. How do I prepare myself for my ministry?
  4. Where do I start my ministry ?
  5. Your reward!

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Where do I start my service?

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8)

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  • Jerusalem: A symbol of myself
  • Judea: A symbol of my family
  • Samaria: A symbol of my church
  • Earth: A symbol of outside world
    • School, work, etc.

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Where do I start my service? Cont.

  • First, the servant should start serving themselves in growing spiritually and in knowledge
  • Then, the servant should serve their family at home
  • Then, the servant should serve the church
  • Then, the servant should (may) serve others

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  • Note: it is unacceptable if you try to serve in church and ignore your service to the family at home!

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Ministry Is…

  • A Personal experience
  • The servant who experiences how beautiful and enjoyable life with Christ is becomes the servant who can bring others to Christ’s Bosom
  • The servant who enjoys the service and is passionate/loving in their ministry would be very successful

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“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 34:8)

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Ministry Is…

  • A transfer of the spiritual life and experience from the servant to the served

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Sickness to Preaching

Sin to Preaching

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Service, Part 2 – The Servant

Objectives

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  1. The Servant as a Role Model to Others
  2. The Ideal Servant
  3. How do I prepare myself for my ministry?
  4. Where do I start my ministry ?
  5. Your reward!

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The Reward

“If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor” (John 12:26)

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The Religious vs. The Spiritual Servant?

  • The Religious Servant
    • Attends Liturgy on time, recite hymns, takes communion, organizes trips, cleans, etc. as a habit but NOT with enjoyment and satisfaction

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  • The Spiritual Servant
    • Enjoys the spiritual activities and prefers them over the earthly tasks
    • Does their service with passion, care, diligence and, thoroughness

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Question

Q: Which comes first? The spirituality or the knowledge of the servant?

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A: The spirituality is more important knowledge!

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Conclusion of Service (Part 2)

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  1. Characteristics of The Ideal Servant
  2. How to prepare yourself for ministry
  3. The Sequence of Service
  4. Ministry is a spiritual experience

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Memorization Verses

  • “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 34:8)

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  • “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9)

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  • “where I am, there my servant will be also.” (John 12:26)

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