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.

2 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. 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.

3 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.

4 2 Characteristics of a Servant - Part II .. 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.

5 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 .. 70 Purification of the Heart.

6 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).

7 158 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 .. 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).

8 205 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.

9 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 .. 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.

10 358 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.