Serve the Lord with Gladness (Psalm 100:2)

Serving the Lord our Savior is the highest calling, for it elevates us to the level of angels, who are: “all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation.”

(Heb 1:14 NKJV)

Serving is a form of worship we offer to our Lord, when we fulfill His commandment:

“Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (NKJV) / your spiritual service of worship (NASB).”

(Rom 12:1)

Serving is calling others to salvation. It is the work of the Holy Spirit through His servants, when they obediently pursue the great commission our Lord Jesus Christ has asked every Christian:

“Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.”

(Mark 16:15 NKJV)

And also:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.”

(Matt 28:19 NKJV)

In observance of these great commandments and promises, this web site has been developed, modeling the Servant Preparatory Curriculum, in current use at Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Church of Chicago, in Burr Ridge, Illinois.

“You shall love the LORD your God …

                                 with all your heart,

                                             with all your soul,

                                                         with all your strength,

                                                                     and with all your mind.”

 (Deuteronomy 6:5 / Matthew 22:37 / Mark 12:30 / Luke 10:27)

Preparation of any believer to serve the Lord requires primarily discipleship combined with humility, while bathing the entire process in prayer. The use of this web site alone without the mentorship and blessings of experienced spiritual elders and church fathers, cannot be relied on in creating a spirit of serving within the heart and soul of the believer.

The material presented here, however, is very useful for both students and teachers of Servant Preparatory Classes. Each lesson is displayed in slide-presentation style conducive of interactive discussion and meditation, for maximum benefit. There is an abundance of biblical references in every part of the curriculum.

The resources used to compile this curriculum are numerous, and highly reputable. These include books and tapes of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, Early Church Fathers’ writings, lecture notes and handouts from the seminary of the Theological School of Alexandria – in Cairo, the writings of the Late Bishop Youannis, the Late Fr. Pishoy Kamel, the Late Fr. Matta the Poor, Hegemon Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty, and several other famous Coptic authors.

The selection of topics for the lessons was based on examination of curricula being used by several Coptic churches in Cairo, as well as recognition of the unique needs of serving the Coptic Orthodox congregations in North America.

We hope the use of this web site turns out to be a joyful and edifying experience. Through the continuous prayers of our beloved father, His Holiness, Pope Shenouda III, and all the clergy of our Coptic Orthodox Church, and through the supplications of the cloud of saints and heavenly hosts standing at the Throne of Divinity, we ask for the Lord's blessings. May all the glory be to Our God, the Father and His Son, Christ our Savior and Our Comforter, the Holy Spirit, at all times, Amen.

The Servants of Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Chruch

in Burr Ridge, Greater Chicago Area, Illinois, USA

Serve the Lord with Fear (Psalm 2:11)