Lesson 3: the Spirit of Serving (pope Shenouda Iii)

Duration: 60 minutes
Target Audience: Servants and Sunday School Teachers

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, servants will be able to:

1. Understand the "warmth" that should characterize Christian service
2. Recognize the importance of follow-up and pastoral visits
3. Distinguish between service in the flesh and service in the Spirit
4. Apply principles of love-motivated ministry
5. Remember key spiritual practices to maintain throughout service life

Opening Prayer

"Heavenly Father, we thank You for the example of our beloved father Pope Shenouda III, who served Your Church with warmth, wisdom, and unwavering love. Grant us his pastoral heart, his zeal for souls, and his dependence on Your Holy Spirit. May we never grow cold in our service, but always burn with love for You and for those You have entrusted to our care. Amen."

Introduction: Learning From Pope Shenouda III

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III (1923-2012), 117th Pope of Alexandria, served the Coptic Orthodox Church for over 40 years as Pope and many more as monk, priest, and teacher. His teachings on service remain invaluable for all who serve the Lord.

This lesson draws from his article "The Spirit of Serving," which distills decades of pastoral wisdom.

Part I: the Warmth of the Service

The Apostolic Example

St. Paul's Burning Heart:

"Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?" (2 Corinthians 11:29)

"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more. To the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." (1 Corinthians 9:19-22)

His zeal, in flaming love, encompassed all.

What Is "warmth" in Service?

Warmth is the spiritual temperature of the servant's heart—the passion, zeal, and emotional investment in those being served.

Cold Service:

• Mechanical, routine, obligatory
• Going through motions
• Teaching without caring
• Preaching without compassion
• Duty without delight

Warm Service:

• Personal investment in souls
• Genuine care for individuals
• Joy in the work
• Compassion that burns
• Love that motivates every action

Signs Your Service Has Lost Warmth

1. You serve out of obligation, not joy
2. You don't think about your students outside class time
3. You're relieved when class is cancelled
4. You don't pray for them by name
5. You're bored during your own lessons
6. You don't miss them when they're absent
7. You focus on curriculum, not souls
8. You're watching the clock during class

How to Maintain Warmth

1. Remember Your First Love:

"I have this against you, that you have left your first love" (Revelation 2:4)

When did service feel exciting and meaningful? Return to that passion.

2. See Christ in Each Soul:

"Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me" (Matthew 25:40)

You are not teaching "kids"—you are serving Christ Himself in each precious soul.

3. Fan into Flame the Gift Within You:

"Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you" (2 Timothy 1:6)

Gifts grow cold without intentional cultivation. Prayer, reading, reflection rekindle the flame.

4. Remember Eternity:

These souls will exist forever—either with God or separated from Him. Your service has eternal consequences.

5. Love Deeply:

Paul wrote: "My affection for you is very great" (2 Corinthians 7:4). When you genuinely love those you serve, warmth flows naturally.

Part Ii: Visits of Service and Follow-up

The Apostolic Pattern

Our Fathers, the Apostles, did not neglect the service they began but used all means to follow it up:

By Sending Epistles:

• Paul's letters to churches
• Peter's letters
• John's letters
• These showed ongoing care and connection

By Sending Disciples:

• Paul sent Titus and Timothy
• Barnabas was sent to Antioch
• This demonstrated investment in the work begun

By Making Personal Visits:

"Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing" (Acts 15:36)

The Importance of Follow-up

Why Follow-Up Matters:

1. Shows You Care - Follow-up says "You matter to me beyond Sunday"
2. Builds Trust - Consistent contact creates deep relationships
3. Identifies Problems Early - Catch struggles before they become crises
4. Encourages Growth - People grow more when they know someone is watching lovingly
5. Demonstrates Commitment - You're not just doing a job; you're investing in souls

Forms of Follow-Up in Modern Context:

1. Phone Calls/Texts:

• Check in during the week
• Remember important events in their lives
• Encourage before tests, games, performances
• Quick "thinking of you" messages

2. Emails/Messages:

• Send resources related to questions asked in class
• Share articles, videos, or books
• Follow up on prayer requests
• Birthday messages

3. Home Visits:

• Meet families
• See home environment
• Pray with families
• Build bridges with parents

4. Hospital/Crisis Visits:

• When youth are sick
• When families face tragedy
• During difficult times
• These visits are never forgotten

5. Social Occasions:

• Attend their events (games, concerts, graduations)
• Celebrate milestones
• Include them in appropriate social activities
• Show interest in their whole lives

The Principle:

Ministry happens in moments between Sunday School classes just as much as during them. The classroom is important, but relationships are built in follow-up.

Practical Wisdom:

• Keep a list of your youth with important dates (birthdays, etc.)
• Set reminders to follow up on specific situations
• Respond to messages promptly
• Don't let more than 2 weeks pass without some contact
• Document prayer requests so you can ask about them later

Part Iii: Service Filled with Spirit and Power

Wait for the Holy Spirit

The Apostles did not serve except after they received the Holy Spirit, as the Lord said:

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me" (Acts 1:8)

Before Pentecost vs. After Pentecost:

The Testimony of Scripture

"And with great power the Apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all." (Acts 4:33)

About St. Stephen:

"Full of faith and power...And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke." (Acts 6:8, 10)

The Principle:

"For the word of God is living and powerful" (Hebrews 4:12)

Service in the Flesh Vs. Service in the Spirit

Service in the Flesh:

• Relies on human wisdom and ability
• Depends on techniques and methods
• Focuses on programs and curriculum
• Can be impressive but lacks transformation
• Produces temporary results
• Leaves us exhausted and frustrated

Service in the Spirit:

• Depends on God's power
• Prayer is the foundation
• Methods are tools, not the source
• Focuses on heart transformation
• Produces lasting fruit
• Energizes rather than depletes

How to Serve in the Spirit

1. Begin with Prayer:

Before every class, every meeting, every interaction—pray:

• "Lord, I cannot do this without You"
• "Send Your Holy Spirit"
• "Speak through me"
• "Transform hearts"

2. Maintain Your Prayer Life:

Your personal prayer life fuels spiritual service. If you're prayerless, your service will be powerless.

3. Fast and Pray:

The Apostles "ministered to the Lord and fasted" (Acts 13:2). Fasting sensitizes us to the Spirit's voice.

4. Depend on Scripture:

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12)

Let Scripture do the work—you're just the messenger.

5. Confess and Commune Regularly:

You cannot be a vessel of the Holy Spirit while harboring unconfessed sin. Regular confession and Holy Communion keep you spiritually vital.

6. Expect God to Work:

Faith expects God to move. Serve with expectation that God will transform lives.

The Promise:

"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6)

Part Iv: Service Filled with Love

Christ's Example

The Lord Jesus "loved His own...to the end" (John 13:1), and with the same love He served the Apostles.

It was not mere official service—it was love-driven ministry.

What Love Looks Like in Service

Love is Patient:

• With slow learners
• With rebellious youth
• With questioning minds
• With repetitive problems

Love is Kind:

• Speaks gently even when correcting
• Looks for opportunities to encourage
• Gives benefit of doubt
• Assumes the best

Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs:

• Doesn't bring up past failures
• Forgives quickly and completely
• Doesn't hold grudges
• Gives fresh starts

Love Never Fails:

• Doesn't give up on difficult youth
• Persists in prayer
• Believes in transformation
• Hope remains even in darkest situations

Love Manifested in Action

1. Sacrifice:

Love costs something:

• Time beyond scheduled class
• Energy for difficult situations
• Money for resources or helps
• Emotional investment
• Tears and prayers

2. Attention:

Love pays attention to details:

• Remember names, faces, stories
• Notice changes in behavior or mood
• Ask specific questions
• Listen more than talk

3. Advocacy:

Love defends and supports:

• Defend youth when others criticize
• Speak well of them
• Help them when they're in trouble
• Stand with them in hard times

4. Truth-Telling:

True love tells the truth:

• Doesn't flatter with lies
• Corrects in love
• Addresses sin directly but gently
• Speaks truth wrapped in compassion

Orthodox Perspective:

St. John Chrysostom writes: "Nothing is stronger than love, for it makes all things light. If you love Christ, no labor is hard."

Part V: Always Remember - Five Key Reminders

Pope Shenouda III concluded his article with five crucial reminders for all servants. These are spiritual safeguards to protect our service.

Reminder #1: Remember Your Weakness

"Remember your weakness, then you will be more cautious and you will not submit to the thoughts of pride and false glory which may attack you."

Why This Matters:

Service success can breed pride:

• "Look how well my class is doing"
• "I'm such a good teacher"
• "These youth really need me"
• "I'm more effective than other servants"

The Antidote:

Remember:

• Any fruit is God's work, not yours
• You are an unprofitable servant (Luke 17:10)
• "Without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5)
• Your gifts are received, not self-generated

Practical Application:

When tempted to pride:

• Remember your own struggles and sins
• Recall times you failed in service
• Think of areas where you're weak
• Give God all glory for any success

Reminder #2: Remember the Lord's Loving Kindness

"Remember the loving kindness of the Lord bestowed on you, and you will always lead a life of thanksgiving. Faith will grow in your heart as well as the trust in God's love and work. Your past experiences with God would encourage you in the life of faith."

Why This Matters:

Ingratitude leads to:

• Bitterness
• Burnout
• Entitlement
• Complaint
• Spiritual coldness

The Antidote:

Keep a "remembrance journal":

• How God saved you
• How He's worked in your life
• Prayers He's answered
• Times He rescued you
• Blessings He's given

Biblical Pattern:

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits" (Psalm 103:2)

God commanded Israel to remember:

• Passover—remember deliverance from Egypt
• Feast of Tabernacles—remember wilderness provision
• Communion—"Do this in remembrance of Me"

Practical Application:

• Daily thank God for specific blessings
• Share testimonies of God's faithfulness
• In discouragement, recall past victories
• Teach youth to remember God's works

Reminder #3: Remember People's Love and Their Good Past

"Remember people's love and their good past with you. Should you doubt their sincerity or find out they have done something wrong to you, their old love will make intercession for them and your anger will fade away."

Why This Matters:

In service, people will:

• Disappoint you
• Betray trust
• Speak against you
• Fail to appreciate you
• Let you down

The Antidote:

Remember the good:

• That youth who now rebels was once eager
• That parent who criticizes helped you before
• That fellow servant who hurt you also blessed you
• Love covers a multitude of sins

Orthodox Wisdom:

Desert Fathers taught: "Judge not your brother, for you do not know what hour you yourself may fall into the same sin."

Practical Application:

When hurt:

• List good things about that person
• Remember times they blessed you
• Look for explanations beyond malice
• Pray for them rather than against them
• Forgive as Christ forgave you

Reminder #4: Remember Death

"Remember death, so all worldly temptations will disappear and you feel that 'all is vanity and grasping for the wind' (Ecclesiastes 1:14)."

Why This Matters:

We get distracted by:

• Positions and titles
• Recognition and praise
• Material success
• Worldly achievements
• Temporary pleasures

The Antidote:

Memento mori (Remember death):

• All earthly things are temporary
• You will stand before God
• You can't take anything with you
• Only souls and holiness matter eternally

Biblical Reality:

"What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" (Matthew 16:26)

"For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out" (1 Timothy 6:7)

Practical Application:

• Start each day: "I may die today—what truly matters?"
• Evaluate activities: "Will this matter in 100 years?"
• Invest in eternal things: souls, holiness, relationships
• Hold earthly things loosely

Orthodox Tradition:

The Church's prayer: "Make us mindful of the hour of our death." This isn't morbid—it's focusing on eternity.

Conclusion: the Spirit That Animates All Service

Pope Shenouda III's teaching reveals that the spirit of serving is more important than the techniques of serving.

Key Principles:

1. Warmth - Serve with passion, not just duty
2. Follow-up - Ministry continues beyond classroom
3. Spirit's Power - Depend on God, not self
4. Love - Make love your motivation and method
5. Remember - Keep perspective through spiritual remembrance

The Ultimate Question:

Is your service characterized by:

• Warmth or coldness?
• Spirit or flesh?
• Love or duty?
• Humility or pride?
• Thanksgiving or complaint?
• Eternal perspective or temporal focus?

The Call:

Return to your first love. Rekindle the gift within you. Serve in the power of the Holy Spirit. Let love be your driving force.

Reflection Questions

1. When did your service feel warmest? What has changed since then?

2. How well do you follow up with those you serve? What one practice could you add?

3. Do you depend more on the Holy Spirit or on your own abilities?

4. Is your service motivated primarily by love? What other motivations have crept in?

5. Which of the five "remembers" do you most need to practice?

6. If you died today, what would you wish you had done differently in your service?

7. What concrete steps will you take this week to renew the spirit of your service?

Practical Application

This Week:

• Make one follow-up contact you've been putting off
• Spend 30 minutes in prayer for each person you serve (by name)
• Write down five things you're thankful for in your ministry

This Month:

• Visit one family's home
• Attend one youth's event outside church
• Fast and pray for revival in your service
• Read a book about spiritual service

This Year:

• Develop a systematic follow-up plan
• Establish a prayer partner for your ministry
• Attend a retreat or conference on spiritual renewal
• Memorize 1 Corinthians 13 and meditate on it monthly

Closing Prayer

"Lord Jesus Christ, who served in perfect love, fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Rekindle the warmth of our first love. Help us to remember our weakness, Your kindness, others' love, and our mortality. May we serve with warmth, follow up with care, depend on Your Spirit, and overflow with love. Through the prayers of Pope Shenouda III and all faithful servants, make us vessels fit for Your use. Amen."

Memory Verse

"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts." (Zechariah 4:6)