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The Spiritual Man, book by H. H. Pope Shenouda III

7- The depth in preaching

 

St-Takla.org Image: Saint Paul the Apostle in front of King Agrippa and Festus صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: القديس بولس الرسول أمام الملك أغريباس و فستوس

The history of Christianity began with its depth in the work of preaching which was concentrated in twelve apostles, some of them from the foolish things of the world and things which are despised (1 Cor 1:27-28). But with all seriousness, honesty and commitment, they entered the service with every effort. They endured flogging, imprisonment and persecution to take the word of God to everyone. And so those: “Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world” (Ps 19:3-4).

St Paul the Apostle expresses the depth of the work of preaching and says:

“But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in labours, in sleeplessness, in fastings,..as deceivers;... unknown;... dying;.. as sorrowful” (2 Cor 6:4-10).

Their depth appeared in their holy zeal which never calmed down.

They worked for God at all times, in season and out of season ( 2 Tim 4:2) ,even in prison ( Acts 16:24). St Paul wrote some of his epistles while he was in prison; even during their trials... when St Paul stood before Felix the Governor and before King Agrippa. They were ,“preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him” (Acts 28:31).

This reminds us of the missionaries who carried the faith to countries populated by cannibals...

Here comes out the depth in the love of God and His Kingdom, and the depth in serving the word...

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