THE SERVANTS BOOK: A SPIRITUAL GUIDE FOR SUNDAY …

1 THE SERVANTS book : A SPIRITUAL GUIDE FORSUNDAY school SERVICEST. MARY S COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCHRALEIGH, NCPrefaceThis book is intended as a SPIRITUAL GUIDE for SUNDAY school SERVANTS . The contents of thebook are based on lessons given in SERVANTS meetings for the past 8 years in St. Mary s CopticOrthodox Church in Raleigh, NC, covering the period 2002 - 2010. The book is broken up intoseveral chapters, covering topics that are suitable for discussion in SERVANTS meetings. Chapter1 gives a comprehensive overview of the characteristics of a servant. Chapter 2 specificallystudies the service of children. Chapter 3 presents Bible study of several books of the 4 discusses church fasts and feasts, while Chapter 5 takes a close look at tradition,church rites, and the Divine Liturgy. Chapter 6 covers saints of the Coptic Church and Chapter7 examines important social issues facing the Orthodox Christian.

2 Chapter 8 takes a deep lookat church theology and dogma, while Chapter 9 presents several SPIRITUAL articles for meditationand SPIRITUAL growth. Chapter 10 gives selected Agpeya prayers suitable for SERVANTS meetingsand Chapter 11 gives a comprehensive list of hymns that may be sung in SERVANTS meetingsthroughout the entire Coptic book is not yet finished. We will keep adding topics as they are completed. Weask that our Lord Jesus Christ accept this humble service. May Christ always GUIDE us in ourservice and Shepherd His flock from generation to generation. By the prayers and supplicationsof our Lady and Queen St. Mary, St. Mark the Apostle, our beloved Pope and Patriarch PopeShenouda III, and our beloved Bishop Michael, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be withus 1: Characteristics of a Servant1 The Purpose of SERVANTS Meetings .. 1 Characteristics of a Servant - Part I .. 2 Characteristics of a Servant - Part II.

3 4 Characteristics of a Servant - Part III .. 6 Service and Ministry .. 9 The Importance of Being a Role Model .. 12 The Life of Thanksgiving .. 14 The Life of Humility .. 22 The Life of Obedience .. 26 The Faithful Servant - Part I .. 31 SPIRITUAL Warfare in the Life of a Servant .. 36 Making God Real in the Orthodox Christian Home - Part I .. 40 Making God Real in the Orthodox Christian Home - Part II .. 43 Making God Real in the Orthodox Christian Home - Part III .. 46 Making God Real in the Orthodox Christian Home - Part IV .. 49 Making God Real in the Orthodox Christian Home - Part V - The Art of SuccessfulChristian Living .. 53 Making God Real in the Orthodox Christian Home - Part VI - The Art of SuccessfulChristian Living .. 59 Making God Real in the Orthodox Christian Home - Part VII - Obedience of a Child 63 Making God Real in the Orthodox Christian Home - Part VIII - Obedience of a Child 66iBless the Crown of the Year with Your Goodness O Lord.

4 70 Purification of the Heart .. 74 Wisdom .. 78 The Human Personality - Part I .. 84 Discipleship .. 88A Complete Surrender to God s Will: The Life of Abandonment .. 96 Knowing God s Will .. 100 Holy Zeal .. 110 SPIRITUAL Maturity .. 118 Impartiality in Service .. 123 Whom are You Trying to Please? .. 127 Christian Communication .. 133 The Spirit of Encouragement .. 140 Sins are Forgiven: A Meditation on Mark 2:1-12 .. 143 Crucifying the Ego .. 147 The Rich Young Ruler - Part I .. 149 The Rich Young Ruler - Part II .. 153 The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) .. 158 Who is My Brother?: A Meditation on Mark 3:22-34 .. 165 Keep Watch: A Meditation on Matthew 24:3-35 .. 169 Making Disciples: Luke 5:1-11 .. 173 The Parable of the Sower: Luke 8:4-15 .. 178 Come and See .. 183iiLukewarmness in Service - Part I .. 186 The Parable of the Unjust Steward .. 190 Chapter 2: Serving Children195 Leading a Child to Christ - Part I.

5 195 Leading a Child to Christ - Part II .. 198 The Relationship of a Child with His Parents .. 202 Parental Christian Upbringing of Children (Preschool - Grade 6) .. 205 The Structure of a SUNDAY school Lesson .. 208 Serving SUNDAY school Kids Outside of the Church .. 211 Making Decisions in Life: The Story of Lot .. 215 The Work That God Blesses .. 220 God Blesses Our Time in Service .. 226 Chapter 3: Bible Study231 How to Read the Bible .. 231 Introduction to the Bible .. 235 Timeline of the Bible .. 245 The book of Ezra - Part I .. 248 The book of Ezra - Part II .. 255 The Epistle of St. James .. 262St. Paul s Epistle to the Philippians .. 268 Commentary on the First book of Samuel .. 273St. Paul s Epistle to Philemon .. 285iiiThe Missionary Journeys of the Apostle Paul .. 290St. Paul s Epistle to the Romans: An Introduction .. 297 Justification by Faith .. 301 Bible Study for the book of Joshua.

6 303 Bible Study for the book of Judges .. 312 Bible Study for the book of Ruth .. 319 Bible Study for the First book of Samuel .. 323 Chapter 4: Church Fasts and Feasts335 The Lord s Feasts .. 335 The Flight into Egypt .. 338 The Gospel Readings of Lent .. 343 Epiphany (Theophany) .. 350 Nayrouz .. 353 The Feast of the Cross .. 358 Kiahk - Part I .. 368 Kiahk - Part II .. 370 The Transfiguration of Jesus .. 375 Jonah and Christ .. 379 Lying to the Holy Spirit .. 384 Between the Resurrection and the Ascension .. 395 Beholding the Resurrection of Jesus .. 400 The SPIRITUAL Aspects of Nayrouz .. 404ivPalm SUNDAY .. 407 Pentecost .. 413 Pascha Monday .. 417 Pascha Tuesday .. 420 Pascha Thursday .. 426 Chapter 5: Traditions, Church Rites, and the Divine Liturgy435 Tradition and Christianity .. 435 Fasting .. 440 Understanding the Coptic Orthodox Divine Liturgy .. 445 Baptism and Chrismation.

7 501 The Calculation of the Orthodox Easter .. 505 Tradition and Christianity - Part II .. 511 Chapter 6: Saints of the Coptic Orthodox Church522 Why Saints are Important .. 522 The Story of Saint Nicholas - Synaxarium Reading for 10th of Kiahk .. 529 John the Baptist .. 531 Chapter 7: Social Issues536 Anxiety .. 536 Dating .. 540 Dating - Part II .. 544 Pre-marital Sex .. 545vAddiction .. 548 Dancing .. 553 Cults .. 555 Living a Balanced Christian Life - Part I .. 559 Halloween: Hallowed or Harmful? .. 562 Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) .. 567 Music and its Effects on the Youth .. 571 The Six Stages of Moral Decline in Our Society .. 573 The Problem of Boredom .. 577 How to Make Church Exciting for the Kids .. 583 The Problem of Facebook - Part I .. 587 Chapter 8: Church Theology and Dogma592 The Ecumenical Councils .. 592A Brief History of the Christian Church .. 599 Comparative Theology of the Orthodox and Protestant Faiths.

8 602 Comparative Theology of the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Faiths - Part I .. 611 Comparative Theology of the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Faiths - Part II .. 615 Saint Mary in the Orthodox Concept - Part I .. 620 Saint Mary in the Orthodox Concept - Part II .. 630 Saint Mary in the Orthodox Concept - Part III .. 635 Saint Mary in the Orthodox Concept - Part IV .. 644 Creation and Evolution - Part I .. 647viThe Nature of Christ .. 652On the Mount of Temptation .. 660 Judas and the Last Supper .. 665 Prophecies of the Birth of Jesus - Part I .. 676 The Cross of Jesus in Our Life .. 680 Practical Aspects of the Holy Trinity .. 686 Guidelines for Prayer - Part I .. 692 The Critical Balance Between Faith and Works .. 695 Repentance - Part I .. 699 The Positive Side of Repentance .. 703 Chapter 9: SPIRITUAL Articles706An Invitation to Rest: Meditation on Matthew 11:28-30 .. 706 From Dust to the Image of God.

9 713 The Gift of Giving .. 716 The Widow of Nain .. 721Do Not Labor for the Food that Perishes .. 724 The Blood of Christ Purifies Our Conscience .. 728 Have No Anxiety About Anything .. 732 The Meaning of Christmas .. 737 The Light Shines in the Darkness .. 740 Christ Gathers His Sheep .. 745 Rejection and Acceptance .. 749viiThe Tongue .. 758 Modern Pharisees .. 764 The Sin of Doing Nothing .. 769 Angels .. 773 Chapter 10: Agpeya Prayers785 Introduction To Every Hour .. 785 Prime .. 787 Vespers .. 797 Compline .. 803 Chapter 11: Hymns811 Hymns for Nayrouz811 Come on All You Saints .. 811My Coptic Church so Great .. 812My Orthodox Church .. 814 Hymns for the Feast of the Cross816 Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross .. 816He Paid All My Debts .. 817Oh Beloved .. 818 Hymns for Kiahk820 The Burning Bush .. 820 Amen Alleluia .. 823viiiO Holy Trinity .. 827 The Lord Said to Moses .. 831 The Three Youth and the Fiery Furnace.

10 833 Hymns for Christmas838O Shepherds in the Fields .. 838 Our Father the Almighty Living God .. 839I am Glad .. 840 The King of Glory .. 841O Mary, to You All Peace .. 842To Mary Came Gabriel .. 844 Away in a Manger .. 845 Hymns for Epiphany846 Hymn for Epiphany .. 846 Hymns for Holy Lent849 Hymn of the Fraction of Lent .. 849 Hymn of the SUNDAY of Temptation .. 852 Hymn of the Prodigal Son .. 855 Hymn of the Samaritan Woman .. 859 Hymn of the Palsied Man .. 864 Hymn of the Man Born Blind .. 867 Hymn of Palm SUNDAY .. 870ixHosanna in the Highest .. 871 Hymns for the Resurrection875 Very Early SUNDAY Morning .. 875 Alleluia Risen is the King of Peace .. 877 Truly Risen .. 879O Christian Children .. 881O Sons and Daughters .. 883 Hymn of the Resurrection .. 885 Hymns for the Holy Apostles887 Peter and Paul .. 887 The Spirit of Truth, The Comforter .. 891 Hymns for the Virgin Mary892 Hail To Mary.