Take Heed to Yourself and to the Doctrine
Main Idea:
This sermon revolves around the apostolic command: “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine; continue in them.”
Pope Shenouda III explains that true ministry cannot be separated from the servant’s inner spiritual life. Before one serves others, one must first serve one’s own soul, nurturing its purity, growth, and relationship with God.
- Watching Yourself
The Pope stresses that St. Paul said “Take heed to yourself” before “and to the doctrine,” because the soul comes first.
What benefit is it to gain the world but lose oneself?
A servant must examine their mind, heart, and progress in faith—asking, “Am I growing closer to Christ?”
Spiritual wakefulness is essential; negligence, forgetfulness, and desire are the roots of sin.
- Balancing Ministry and Inner Life
The Pope warns against allowing service to replace prayer and communion with God.
He says: “Beware of the time when you work for others but not for yourself.”
True service should not grow at the expense of one’s spiritual life; rather, it should flow from it.
Only those filled with God’s grace can nourish others.
- Sound Doctrine
Teaching must be built on correct faith and spiritual depth.
Education in the Church is not about giving lessons but imparting life.
Servants must constantly grow in both knowledge and grace to build others up.
- Service as Love
Sunday School is not merely an institution—it is hearts filled with divine love, desiring all to know and love God.
A true servant is not a teacher by title but a lover of souls.
He prays, weeps, and strives for their salvation with a heart aflame for God.
Spiritual Essence:
Coptic Orthodox ministry is a life of divine love, not outward work.
A holy servant watches their own soul, grows in grace and truth, and serves as a vessel of God’s love to others.
Personal holiness is the true foundation of Christian teaching and ministry.
