Choice 4: 1 John 1–3. That Ye May Have Fellowship with Us and with God

Choice 4: 1 John 1–3. That Ye May Have Fellowship with Us and with God

1.    Read 1 John 1:1–4. Describe in writing John’s desire for those he wrote to. Study the following scripture references and then list what these verses teach about how we can come to know God better and have greater joy and fellowship with God:

o       1 John 1:8–10

If we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness we can know God better.

o       1 John 2:3–6

We will know God if we keep His commandments.

o       1 John 2:9–11; 3:11–19

We need to love our brother.

o       1 John 2:15–17

We need to not love the things of the world, if we love the world the

         love of the Lord is not in us. 

o       1 John 2:20–21, 27

Remember His teachings.

o       1 John 3:4–6

We should not sin, if we sin then we do not know Him.

John's desire for those her wrote to was that Christ lives and we must follow the commandments and fellowship Him.  If we do this our joy may be full. 

2.    Choose one of the ways to have greater joy and fellowship with God as you described it above, and write a paragraph explaining how you can better implement those principles in your life.

One way that I can have greater joy and fellowship with God is to regularly study my scriptures.   My husband and I read our scriptures together every night but I struggle doing my personal studies.  I am going to set a certain time everyday for scripture study and put an alarm on my phone that will remind me.  I am going to pick out certain topics of the gospel and study them with the scriptures and other resources.  

Choice 1: James 1. “Be Ye Doers of the Word and Not Hearers Only”

1.    Read James 1 and respond in writing to the following items:

o       What words or phrases encourage you to look for direction from God?

In James 1:5 it says, “if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God”

                In James 1:6 it says, “Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.”

In James 1:12 it says, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation.”

o       How did James further define the phrase to “ask in faith”?

James says that we must ask in faith and be unwavering.  We must have the faith to ask of God and then act when he gives us the answer.

o       How do Matthew 6:24 and 1 Kings 18:21 add to your understanding of James 1:8?

         All three scriptures talks about how no man can serve two masters.  We need to decide whether we are on the Lord’s side and be immoveable and follow the commandments.  We cannot say we are on the Lord’s side and then sin and break the commandments.  If we are doing those things then we are serving two masters and we will not have eternal life. 

o       From James 1:13–15, 19–27, make an outline of how we can better live the gospel of Jesus Christ.

         We can live a better life by:

1.     Knowing that God cannot tempt us with evil.  We need to be aware of who is leading us down the wrong path.

2.    We need to control our lusts and know that it is a sin and it will not lead us to eternal happiness.

3.    We should be “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”  We need to have control and listen not only to the spirit but to the people around us.  We should have good communication. 

4.    We need to put aside the evil and grow to be meek.

5.    We need to be doers and follow the commandments; we need to make sure we do not deceive ourselves in doing the wrong thing. 

6.    We need to serve others.

o       Give a few modern examples of how you have recently seen individuals exemplify James 1:22.

         I see people all around be doers of the word.  I live in a wonderful Ward where people are genuinely good.  They do not follow the commandments so they can receive recognition.  I see small acts of kindness happen all the time.  Small things that are never noticed.  For example I have noticed a sweet girl in my ward comes in late every week to relief society but I notice when she gets in she looks around the room and find someone who is sitting alone.  I think that she comes in late so she can sit by the people who sit alone. 

2.    Read the institute student manual commentary for James 1:5–6, “If Any of You Lack Wisdom” (p. 409). Make a list of reasons why Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–1985) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said these verses have “had a greater impact ... upon mankind than any other” scripture.

1.           The crowing act of the ministry of James was his guidance of the Holy Ghost.  

2.           We each will have a time in our lives where we need to bow down and ask God for the truth. 

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Hebrews 13 Works of Righteousness

Paul concluded his epistle to the Hebrews with some brief teachings and statements of counsel. Read Hebrews 13 and find statements about the following questions:

• How should we treat strangers and those “in bonds”?

We should remember these people and what they are going through.  

• How is marriage looked upon?

Marriage is honorable in all

• What warnings are given about covetousness?

Our conversations should be void of covetousness and we should be ok with the things that we have.  

• What is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever”?

Jesus Christ

• How are we sanctified?

Through Jesus Christ in His own flesh and blood

• How do we respond to those who rule over us?

Obey the people who rule over us and submit ourselves to their will.

• Who did Paul ask the people to pray for?

Pray for everyone!

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“What Does It Mean to Enter into the ‘Rest’ of the Lord?”

Read Hebrews 3:8–4:16 and the institute student manual commentary for Hebrews 3:11, “What Does It Mean to Enter into the ‘Rest’ of the Lord?” (p. 383). Write answers to the following questions:

• What group of people was refused entrance into the Lord’s rest?
• The unbelievers 
• What sins caused them to forfeit this privilege?
• They did not believe
• How does Doctrine and Covenants 84:23–24 help define what is the Lord’s rest?
• The is the "fulness of His glory"
• What sins did Paul repeatedly warn against so as not to incur the same punishment?
• Unbelieving 
• How do you think the warnings in Hebrews 3:12–15 apply to us?
• There is a lot of evil in the world that we live in and we can be deceived easily.  We should be a rock among our neighbors and help each other any way that we can.  We need to know who we are so when the time comes to take a stand we will have the courage to stand for the right.  
• List the counsel found in Hebrews 4 that will help a person enter into the rest of the Lord.
• Cease from your own works 
• Be forgiven of sins
• Come boldly to God
• How do Matthew 7:21–23; John 7:17; James 1:22 help in understanding how the word needs to be “mixed with faith”? (Hebrews 4:2–3).
• Faith requires action and we are following the commandments and sharing the Gospel we start to believe and we can Enter into Rest with the Lord. 

Finding Solutions in the Scriptures to Life's Challenges

Choice 1: Philippians 1–4. Find Solutions in the Scriptures to Life’s Challenges

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For each of the following common challenges, write the counsel from Philippians that you would use to resolve it:

• People sometimes argue and complain over petty matters in church meetings or throughout the week (see Philippians 2:1–8, 14–15).
• Be grateful for being a member of this gospel and remember to give thanks to God every prayer you give.  Have the love for all mankind that Heavenly Father has for you.  
• Many youth feel that their parents’ testimony is sufficient for them. Since they have good parents, they rely on them for all their spiritual strength (see Philippians 2:12–15 and institute student manual commentary for Philippians 2:12, “Work out Your Own Salvation with Fear and Trembling” [pp. 361–62]).
• You must gain your own testimony so when you have times of trial that your parents can not make the right choice for you, you will know what the right choice is and be able to choose the right.  
• An investigator is considering joining the Church, but his family will no longer associate with him if he does (see Philippians 3:7–16; 4:13).
• Even though it is a difficult decision, finding Christ and following the commandments will make up for the loss of your family in this life.  Everything will work out and as you pray for their hearts to be softened Heavenly Father will help your family understand.  
• How is this writing assignment an example of the principle taught in 2 Nephi 32:3? 
• This compares to the scripture because if we go to the scriptures with a problem or trail scriptures will help you make the right decision and help you make the right decision.  

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Baptism

Choice 3: Romans 6. Baptism

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1.    Review Romans 6:1–13 and answer the following questions in writing: 

What must be done with sin before baptism can occur?

         Sin must be destroyed.  Romans 6:6 “…henceforth we should not serve sin”

What events from Christ’s life are symbolized in baptism?

Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.

Considering this symbolism, why couldn’t someone be baptized by sprinkling?

True faithful baptism is a whole renewal.  Just like Christ’s body that was resurrected.  We must be rid of all our sins and that is why our whole body goes under the water. 

What do these verses teach us about how we can maintain the “newness of life”?

After we are baptized our sins are washed away. It is a renewal and we are able to start our life again.  Our sins are no more.

According to Mosiah 3:19, what part of us would ideally die at baptism?

The natural man

2.    Study Romans 6:14–23. Write a paragraph that describes how we know whose servant we are. Then write a statement identifying the true source of freedom.

We obey our Heavenly Father and so we are his servants.  We are here to further the work of the Lord. 

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Forgiveness

Choice 2  Corinthians 2:1-11 Forgiveness

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2 Corinthians 2:1-11; Matthew 6:14-15; Doctrine and Covenants 64:9-10.  

What were the people of Corinth commanded to do "if any have caused grief"?

Forgive those who have caused you grief and suffer with your fellow men.  

What blessings do we see if we forgive?

Our Heavenly Father will forgive us also 

We will be following God's commandment

We can receive comfort from God

What is the danger in failing to forgive?

If we do not forgive our fellow men, Heavenly Father will not forgive us

We will stand condemned before the Lord

Our sin is much greater

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