Watch Yourself and the Doctrine (Service Preparation)

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains the command of St. Paul to Timothy: “Watch yourself and the doctrine; continue in them.” He emphasizes that the servant must begin with himself before serving others, because losing the inner life leads to the fall of the servant and the loss of his ministry.

First: Watching Yourself Before the Ministry

• A servant may focus on others and forget himself, falling into serious mistakes unknowingly.
• Biblical examples of servants who strayed confirm the danger of neglecting oneself, such as Demas, Nicolaus the deacon, and the elder son in the parable.
• Even St. Paul feared becoming rejected after preaching to others.

Signs of a Servant Who Does Not Watch Himself

• Pride: feeling above learning and refusing advice.
• Losing discipleship and spiritual childhood.
• Focusing on external work and entering administrative conflicts.
• Private teaching: spreading personal opinions instead of the Church’s doctrine.
• Turning spirituality into philosophy without real practice.
• Neglecting worship under the excuse of ministry.
• Anger, harsh rebuke, and judgment within the service.

A Call to a Strong Inner Life

• The servant must begin from within: his heart, mind, prayer, feelings, and spirituality.
• Ministry is built not on knowledge alone but on a pure heart and a living relationship with God.
• Reading should be first for personal spiritual growth, then for teaching.
• The spirituality of the servant must come before any administrative or educational activity.

The Danger of Losing the Ministry’s Purpose

• The primary goal is: the salvation of oneself and the salvation of those served.
• Being occupied with church conflicts, criticizing priests or councils, or entering church politics leads to spiritual decline.
• The servant who forgets himself may become like a “bridge” others cross while he himself remains unmoved.

The Need for Spiritual Supervision

• Every church activity must have spiritual oversight, not merely organization.
• The club, activities, library—all must lead to spiritual building, not only entertainment.

Overall Spiritual Message

The true servant begins with the salvation of his own soul first, continuously grows spiritually, preserves humility and discipleship, and then delivers the correct doctrine with love. Without a strong inner life, ministry becomes an outward form with no fruit.