Revelation II

Our last discussion of the year will focus on the Book of Revelation. Here is a link to the manual.

Christmas

On Dec. 20 we will have a special Sunday School class focusing on the message of Christmas.

Revelation I

Next week (Dec. 13) will be the first of two weeks on the Book of Revelation. Here is a link to the manual.

1 & 2 John

Next week (Dec 6): 1 & 2 John. Here is the link to the manual.

Peter

On Nov. 29 we will discuss the epistles of Peter. Here is a link to the lesson manual.

James

On Nov. 22 we will have a discussion led by Michaela over the book of James. Link the lesson here.

Timothy and Titus

Next up, a discussion of Timothy and Titus on November 15.

Here is the link to the lesson.

George Herbert "The Elixir"

A 16th-century poem I didn't have time to read in class today:

Teach me, my God and King,

         In all things Thee to see,

And what I do in anything

         To do it as for Thee.

[...]

A servant with this clause

         Makes drudgery divine:

Who sweeps a room as for Thy laws,

         Makes that and th' action fine.

See the entire poem here.

Philippians

On Sunday, November 8 Michaela will lead a discussion on the letter to the Philippians.

Note that Philippians 2:6-11 is a hymn that Paul transcribes and that some commentators believe is the oldest text in the New Testament, composed just after Christ's resurrection.

Here is the link to the manual.

Ephesians

Sunday November 1 we will study the epistle to the Ephesians (gospel doctrine manual lesson 39). We will primarily discuss the second half of chapter 5 and the first half of chapter 6.

Here are some questions to consider as you read:

How does Ephesians suggest our relationships with others (spouse, children, masters) should change? On what should they be based?

Does the Bible condone slavery?

What does Ephesians suggest about how we should approach our jobs?

Acts 21-28

Here is the link to this week's lesson taught by Michaela.

Hebrews

After Michaela's excellent lesson last Sunday on Romans, we will tackle Hebrews this weekend.

Here are a few questions we may consider:

1-Many epistles are written to a specific group to address a specific problem (e.g. circumcision in Galatians). What seems to be the problem Hebrews addresses?

2-How does Hebrews represent Christ (what imagery, references, etc. are used)?

3-What is faith? What does faith allow people to do/become?

General Conference

General Conference is this weekend. For your conference weekend reading, consider perusing Romans and Hebrews, the next two books we will cover in gospel doctrine.

1 Corinthians 11-15

On Sep. 27, we will wander through 1 Corinthians 11-15 (Corry will be teaching). Here is the link to the lesson in the gospel doctrine instructor's manual. The big topics here are charity and the resurrection.

(Note, we are backing up from last week to catch up from the regional conference week. We'll be back on with the stake schedule next Sunday.)

2 Corinthians

Our next lesson will be on Sep. 20 (regional conference is on the 13th). The focus is 2 Cor.  Here is a link to the lesson manual for this lesson. Jeff Turley will teach this lesson.

(Note that we are going slightly out of order. The stake schedule has us skipping lesson 33. The above is lesson 35. We will study lesson 34, the end of 1 Cor., on the 27th.)

Acts 18-20, Galatians

On Sunday September 6 Michaela will teach material from lesson 32 in the gospel doctrine manual. It covers Acts 18-20 and Galatians.

Acts 16

On Aug. 30 we will discuss Acts 16 and look at how Paul and Silas bring three very different people to Christianity. Here is a link to the gospel doctrine instructor's manual for this lesson.

Acts 10-15

On Sunday Aug. 23 we will study Acts 10-15 and discuss the exciting topics of dietary restrictions, circumcision, and the Council of Jerusalem. Here is the link to the lesson in the gospel doctrine instructor manual.

Consider this question as you read these chapters: how might these chapters apply as we think about the Church and its global reach today?

And here is some bonus reading from the Ensign, since the issue of the seer stone has been in the news lately.

Acts 6-9

On Sunday Aug. 16 we will discuss Acts 6-9. Here is a link to the lesson in the instructor's manual.

Acts 1-5

On Sunday August 9 we will discuss Acts 1-5 (Here is the link to the gospel doctrine instructor's manual).

The Ascension (Acts 1.1-14)
-Any particular significance to the fact that Christ was with the disciples for 40 days?
-Can it be argued that the ascension was necessary for Christianity to really take off?

Pentecost (Acts 2.1-13)
-What is God teaching through the Pentecostal experience of the disciples? In other words, what do you think is the primary message of this passage?
-Why did this happen on the day of Pentecost (what is the symbolic importance of the day)?

Peter's Discourse (Acts 2.14-40)
-Why does Peter quote scripture?
-What pattern does Peter establish for a Christian discourse? How might this be applied in our sacrament meeting talks?
(Look at verses 37-47 to see the impact of the experience and of Peter's talk in the lives of those to whom he spoke.)

The Healing and its Aftermath (Acts 3-5)
-What do Peter's healing words imply about human values and expectations?
-What is the cost of this healing to Peter (see chapters 4 and 5) and what does this teach us both about discipleship and about the atonement?
-How is Peter's discourse like the one he gave in chapter 2?

He Is Risen

Up next, the resurrection taught by Michaela. Here is the link to the gospel doctrine instructor's manual and class member study guide.

Here is the reading:
Matthew 28
Luke 24
John 20-21

Arrest, Trial, Crucifixion

Next Sunday (July 26) we will focus on the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus.

(Link to the gospel doctrine instructor's manual)

There is a lot of reading listed in the manual: Matthew 26.47-75 and all of chapter 27; Mark 14.43-72 and chapter 15; Luke 22.47-71 and chapter 23; John 18 and 19.


We will focus on the three following passages:

The arrest of Jesus in John 18:1-14

The trial of Jesus in Mark 15.1-15

And the crucifixion of Jesus in Matthew 27.28-51

Here are a few questions to consider about Jesus' arrest:
-How does Jesus present himself and why is this significant?
-How can what happens to the Roman soldiers be considered a scriptural pattern for encountering God?
-Compare/contrast this passage with Abraham's interaction with God in Genesis 18.
-How does Jesus respond to Peter's continued lack of understanding about His mission?

A question about Jesus's trial:
-Compare and contrast Jesus's substitution for Barabbas with his substitution for his disciples in John 18.8. What conclusion do you draw from bringing these two passages into parallel?

Finally, some questions about Jesus's crucifixion:
What appears to be the source of Christ's greatest pain on the cross?
Why do you think he goes through with it?
At the moment of Christ's death, the veil of the temple tears, symbolizing the fulfillment of the law and suggestion that access to the divine is now open to everyone through Christ. If this is true, why would we, as Christians, still have temples?

Not My Will, But Thine, Be Done

Next Sunday (July 19) Michaela will teach lesson 25. Here are the links to the instructor's manual and to the class member study guide. This lesson focuses on the Savior's suffering in Gethsemane.

Knowing God, Knowing Joy

Next week (Sunday July 12) we will discuss John 16 and 17.

Here are the links to the teacher's manual and the student guide (lesson 24).

We will focus on two questions:

1) What does it mean to know God? (See John 17)
2) Is joy possible in this life and what is joy? (See John 16.16-33)

Follow up to our in-class discussion:
We didn't have time to discuss the idea of knowing God in class. Here are a few thoughts:
-We can know about God without knowing Him.
-But we cannot know God without knowing about Him.
-To know God is to know about him through study and prayer, and to know him by reaching out to his treasure, our neighbors. It is also to know something of his joy (John 16) and of his suffering (John 17).
-The key feature of Christianity is not a series of commandments or even a lifestyle, it is that eternal life comes through a personal relationship with a divine person.

Love One Another

On July 5th Michaela will lead a discussion based on the material from lesson 23 in the gospel doctrine manual. Here is a link to the teachers manual and here is a link to the class member study guide.

Waiting for the Lord

On Sunday June 28 we will discuss Matthew 25. It is lesson 22 in the gospel doctrine instructor's manual. And here is a link to lesson 22 in the gospel doctrine class member study guide.

Matthew 24 focused on the Parousia, the physical presence of the Lord, usually translated as the second coming.

In Matthew 25, Jesus suggests what attitudes and actions to have while we, as believers, wait for that moment of renewal. I think this chapter points to what Tom Griffith has called the vertical and the horizontal pull of the atonement. In other words, while waiting for the bridegroom to return, we are invited to look up to Christ (vertical) and out to the poor, the sick, and the captive (horizontal).

There are three passages in Matthew 25:

The parable of the foolish and wise virgins

• How does this parable relate to Christ's lesson in Matthew 7.22-23?
• What does this parable suggest about how we are to wait?
• What does this imply about how we live our faith each day?

 The parable of the talents

• First, remember that a talent is a substantial sum of money. While it's impossible to say what the precise equivalent is, some suggest that a single talent is worth a million US dollars today. Many translations use the phrase "bag of gold" (instead of "talent") to underscore the amount in question.
• How is this parable related to the Parousia (Matthew 24) and to the parable of the wise and foolish virgins?
• What prevents the slothful servant from investing the money he is given? How might this be relevant to us?
• In the preceding parable, the foolish virgins are foolish because they go into the market instead of waiting; in this parable, the unprofitable servant is unprofitable because he doesn't go into the market while waiting. How might you explain this apparent contradiction?

The sheep and the goats

• This passage relates what will happen when the Son of Man comes in his glory: he will divide the wise from the foolish, the profitable servants from the unprofitable ones, the sheep from the goats.
• Like many websites that discuss sheep and goats, this one states, "If you look closely at sheep and goats, you'll notice their physical differences and be able to distinguish between the two." The implication is that the difference isn't readily obvious: you have to "look closely" to distinguish sheep from goats. What does this imply about the judgment described in Matthew 25.31-33?
• How is this passage (Matthew 25.31-46) connected to the parable of the talents? (By the way, the answer to this question is, I think, the key to understanding the parable of the talents.)

June 21

The lesson for June 21 is lesson 21. Michaela is slated to teach.

Accepting the King

Gospel doctrine manual lesson 20.

Lesson for June 14. Taught by Corry.

In class we will focus on passages from Matthew 21 and Matthew 22.

Jesus enters as king in Jerusalem. He choreographs a triumphant entry that makes him a fulfillment of prophecies found in Genesis and Zechariah and comes with supporters from Bethphage and Bethany (where he had recently raised Lazarus from the grave) who herald him as "Son of David." He then goes to the temple where he overturns the tables of the money changers and calls the temple, "My house."

After Jesus cleanses the temple, the religious leaders ("chief priests and elders") in Jerusalem question his authority. They had authority through their schooling and moral living; Jesus was just an upstart without the proper credentials! Jesus's responses suggest that they have gotten in the way of their own salvation, that their understanding of religious authority prevents them from recognizing divine authority from the Father.  He offers several examples of how religious people fail to recognize Christ as king:

1) They put themselves in the place of God
Read the parable of the husbandmen/tenants (21.28-46)
Who do the different people represent?
How might people today be guilty of "killing the son" in the way the tenants do in this parable?

2) They don't want to change or give up the life they have
Read the parable of the wedding banquet (22.1-14)
Who are the first guests and why don't they come?
Who replaces them?
What's up with the garment story (verses 11-14)?

3) They put their ultimate faith in worldly structures
Read the account of the imperial head tax (22.15-22)
The coin in question is a denarius. Read about it here. What is its significance?
What does Christ's response imply about political power structures?
What should our commitment be to them?
What ultimately will change the world, according to this passage?

Stake Conference

Stake Conference is June 6-7.

When we meet next (June 14) we will study passages from lesson 20 in the Gospel Doctrine manual.

Our focus will be Matthew 21 & 22.

More soon...

Publicans, Pharisees, Zacchaeus, and Lazarus

Lesson 19: Thy Faith Hath Saved Thee

Luke 18, Luke 19.1-10, John 11

We will focus on the raising of Lazarus. Watch the LDS Bible video here.

Follow up
In class we discussed what we learn about who Jesus is in the story of Lazarus. Here are the responses you gave in class (as I remember them) plus a few I added (verses in parentheses from John 11):

• Jesus loves people, in this case Lazarus, and this causes him grief and joy (3)
• He helps others come to faith (15)
• He does not fear death (25)
• He feels emotion (35)
• He knows people and gives different answers to the same question depending on the individual (21-25, 32-35)
• He is a perfect blend of testifying/reason (23, 25) and emotion/compassion (33, 35)
• He prays with faith (41)
• He engages others to help with his mission (44)

He Was Lost, and Is Found

Lesson for May 24 (taught by Michaela):

Lesson 18: “He Was Lost, and Is Found”
Luke 15, 17, Matthew 18.11-14

Heaven and Hell

Lesson 17 ("What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?")
for May 17

This week's reading: Mark 10, Luke 12, 14, 16.

In class we will focus primarily on two passages: the story of the rich young ruler (Mark 10.17-32) and the parable of Lazarus (Luke 16.19-31); and we will explore two questions:

1) What is heaven (and who goes there)?

2) What is hell (and who goes there)?

Remember from our discussion of the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) that the question (more or less) of who gains eternal life was asked by the lawyer. Notice that Christ's answer is very different to the rich young ruler in Mark 10.

A few verses from Doctrine and Covenants 76 to consider as you think about the two questions above:

Speaking of the celestial kingdom:

69 These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood.
61 Wherefore, let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all enemies under his feet. 

Speaking of the telestial kingdom:

82 These are they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus.
84 These are they who are thrust down to hell.
85 These are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil until the last resurrection, until the Lord, even Christ the Lamb, shall have finished his work.

If you already have thoughts on these two questions, feel free to comment below.

John 9 & 10

Lesson for May 10 (taught by Michaela)

Lesson 16 "I was blind, now I see" (link to the Gospel Doctrine manual)

John 7 & 8

Lesson for May 3
I Am the Light of the World (Gospel Doctrine manual lesson 15)

Introduction
John 8.12: "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

While you study, consider listening to O Light of Life by Mack Wilberg, performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

In class this week we will look at two questions:

1) Who is Jesus?

2) How does Jesus relate to us?


First, Who is Jesus?

John 7 
This chapter gives us a glimpse into how people perceive Jesus. Jesus was--and still is--troubling to anyone who encounters him, because he asks us to give up the way we see the world and to put him at the center of our lives. In this chapter we see methods people adopt to try to explain him away.

Identify the different ways people attempt to explain who Jesus is in this chapter. How might you respond to the various accusations leveled at Jesus?

John 8.12-30
What does Christ mean when he says he is the light of the world? How is this description related to Old Testament images of God's presence (it might help to notice where he is when he makes this declaration)? How does light help us? How can it be dangerous? What does thinking of Christ as "light" teach about overcoming sin and about the role he can play in our lives?

Consider the following scriptures to help understand Christ as the light of the world: Exodus 34.29-35, 2 Cor. 3.13-18, 3 Nephi 19.25.

John 8.31-59
Here, Christ explains again who he is to a group of believers. Yet when he is done speaking they pick up stones to kill him. What does he say that is so offensive? What are the consequences of that statement for us?

Second, how does Jesus relate to us?

John 8.1-11
As you read John, remember the purpose John gives for everything he included in the book: "Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20.30-31).

How does the story of the woman taken in adultery encapsulate the core of the gospel? Why is the order of Christ's statements ("Neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more.") significant? Who are your accusers? How does Christ show his meekness in this passage? How does he relate to the woman and to her accusers?

Final thoughts, post lesson...
What amazes me about these chapters is the contrast between Christ's grandeur on the one hand ("Before Abraham was, I am"), and his mercy and humility on the other. He insists that people see him as the Creator, as someone powerful enough to crush the entire earth with his little finger, then, in the beginning of chapter 8, he restrains all this power and focuses on saving a single, sinful person. This is a beautiful summary of the gospel.


If you have questions or thoughts as you read, feel free to comment below.

Matthew 18, Luke 10

Sunday April 26

Lesson 14

This lesson focuses on four primary sections: two in Matthew 18 and two in Luke 10.

1) Matthew 18.1-14 (Mark 9.33-37)

In this passage the Savior teaches the disciples who had been "disputing" who should be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Note that every kingdom and most organizations have some sort of hierarchy. What is the hierarchy in the kingdom of heaven? How does this passage point to Christ and his mission?


2) Matthew 18.21-35

The parable of the unmerciful servant

Among many other things, in this passage we learn:

-How to forgive

-Why to forgive

-How the Savior was willing to give up everything to forgive us

Questions to consider as you read this parable: What is the Savior teaching by using such an astronomical amount? What does the servant do to earn the master's forgiveness? How does the master decide to forgive and at what cost? How can the example of the Savior and his forgiveness change our hearts? In what circumstances can we, like the master, seek justice?

Since we won't have much time (if any) to discuss this in class, here are my thoughts on this passage if you are interested:

Verse 27 offers a pattern for how to forgive:
First, the master had compassion on the servant who owes him a phenomenal sum. Compassion comes from two old French words and means people (or groups) suffer together, one has pity for the other by putting himself or herself in the other person's shoes, by seeing things from the other's perspective. You may think, for example, that someone is a liar! But when you speak with her you have compassion on her you find that she knows she lied, feels bad about it, and lied because she was in a difficult position, or because she didn't know how else to respond, or to avoid hurting someone's feelings. She can't be reduced to "a liar." She made a mistake and wants to do better next time. She's a person! Sometimes she is a weak person to be sure, but when you consider her perspective she becomes much easier to forgive.

Next, the master forgave the debt. As you read this passage, keep in mind that 10,000 talents represents about 145 years of work (with no weekends or holidays), and that the other debt owed to the servant is about 100 days worth of work or about one-third of a year. (Here is a conversion calculator.) Some have suggested that in modern amounts, the servant lost a trillion dollars while being owed only about 10,000! How could he have lost so much? This servant was probably responsible for managing part of the master's estate. You can read about a modern day equivalent involving a French trader named Jérôme Kerviel here. Note that when the bank made Kerviel's losses public, it nearly ruined the bank. And we can imagine that, given the amount, this master put his kingdom and his reputation in jeopardy by forgiving such a colossal debt accrued by someone he clearly trusted to administer his kingdom and his wealth. When we forgive, it is also at great cost to us--perhaps financially, but more usually emotionally or psychologically. But this text suggests we can choose to forgive the debt, even when it costs us.

Finally, the master let the servant go. Letting go can be a significant challenge. It is so easy to harbor ill-will toward someone for days, even for years, to feel morally superior because they wronged us. Those who don't let go usually want to make things fair and harbor a grudge. But resentment can be a prison. People who think, "I'll never do X because my father made me do it," or, "Every time she does X it reminds me of the time she did Y and I'll never forgive her for that" are in fact still controlled by that person and in prison to their own anger. The master here "loosed" the servant (other translations read, "let him go"), meaning he let go of the resentment and the hurt associated with his offense.

This parable also provides a motivation to forgive. The story suggests that when we consider the magnitude of Christ's sacrifice for us, we realize that the offenses against us are small in comparison. This, in turn, can provide motivation to forgive and to help those who may have offended us or who we think owe us.

A quick story to illustrate this last point. When I first begin biking, a friend of mine let me use his bike. I didn't know much about road bikes and after a few miles noticed the brakes sounded a little strange, but I kept on riding. When the ride was over, my friend noticed that the brake pads had fallen off and my braking had completely ruined the wheel. Instead of being angry at me, he told me not to worry about it, he wanted to get new wheels anyway. Much later I learned that a nice set of bike wheels can be very expensive. The fact that he forgave and was generous to me has led me to do the same to beginners I ride with now. I share equipment and encouragement with them. I don't do this to pay back what my friend did to me, I do it because I remember how gracious he was, I am grateful for that, and that makes me perpetuate the kindness to those I have a chance to help. My friend absorbed the cost of the wheels, forgave me, and let it go. And that, in a small way, changed me and made me a more forgiving and a more giving person.

Here is a passage from Elder Renlund's April General Conference talk that relates to this parable:

Some years ago a wonderful young man named Curtis was called to serve a mission. He was the kind of missionary every mission president prays for. He was focused and worked hard. At one point he was assigned a missionary companion who was immature, socially awkward, and not particularly enthusiastic about getting the work done.

One day, while they were riding their bicycles, Curtis looked back and saw that his companion had inexplicably gotten off his bike and was walking. Silently, Curtis expressed his frustration to God; what a chore it was to be saddled with a companion he had to drag around in order to accomplish anything. Moments later, Curtis had a profound impression, as if God were saying to him, “You know, Curtis, compared to me, the two of you aren’t all that different.” Curtis learned that he needed to be patient with an imperfect companion who nonetheless was trying in his own way. (Read the entire talk here)

Curtis, unlike the unwise steward, understood that harboring anger or resentment against his companion would only hold him hostage. He understood that compared to God, he and his companion were really very similar, that he, like his companion, needed the infinite forgiveness available through the sacrifice of the Savior. Forgiving his companion such a small debt became much easier when he considered the eternal perspective of his situation.

3) Luke 10.25-37

The Good Samaritan

Jack Welch published an interesting article about this parable in The Ensign. Adhering to a reading popular in the middle ages, Welch shows the parallels between the Samaritan's actions and Christ's sacrifice to overcome the fall. You can read the article here.

Welch draws inspiration for his reading from the stained glass window at Chartres Cathedral in France. You can see images and a description of the window at this site. Notice the juxtaposition of the good Samaritan with the fall of Adam and ultimate redemption through Christ. (Stained glass windows are read from the bottom to the top and from left to right.)

We will discuss this story extensively in class, but you may consider the following questions as you read: What does it mean to "justify" oneself? Why does Christ select a Samaritan as the "neighbor"? The Savior invites his listener to "do likewise"; How can I demonstrate a comparable level of compassion?

4) Luke 10.38-42

Mary, Martha, and the Savior

How is Martha like the lawyer who questions Jesus in the previous section? Can Martha be seen as attempting to manipulate Jesus? What does Christ's response suggest about what our priority should be and why?


Next week: Lesson 15 (John 7 & 8)