Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
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I am suffering from spiritual sluggishness. I do not feel like attending meetings nor listening to spiritual talks. I'm a servant. However, I am beginning to dislike serving, its responsibility and the fact that I should take it seriously. As a result this reflects in my Sunday School lessons. What should I do? Also, I feel sometimes that Christianity is so complex by what I hear in sermons and read in books. But I'm thinking it may just be because I lack the virtue of simplicity.

I think what you need is time to sit with yourself and conduct an honest self examination searching for the true reason for your resentful feelings, and behavior. Why you do not like the service? Is it too much commitment, it is taking time you would rather be spending doing other things? Do you love your Sunday School children? What are you resenting in the sermons? Why spiritual sermons are hard to listen to. Is it because they convict you?

Sermons are usually based on the Holy Bible and contain useful messages to us. These messages should be a source of rejoice for they constitute messages to us from God that we understand through the Spirit. Our Lord Jesus Christ said "The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life" (Jn 6:62).

Is being tired of listening really an excuse? Do you get tired of eating every day? Just as you need food daily for your physical growth, so do you need a daily spiritual meal presented in the form of a sermon or a passage from the Holy Bible. Do not stop listening or reading the words of God for He tells us "Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you" (Isa 55:3) and also "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it" (Isa 55:11).

Have you discussed your problems regarding your Sunday school lessons with your confessor father? If not you should do so for it is not beneficial to you nor to the children to continue while you have doubts. Talk to your church priest about the service and if you feel you need some timeout, it might be better for you to do so until you have peace with yourself and you are sure that your spiritual state will not affect your Sunday school children.
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