NT Come Follow Me 31

NT Come Follow Me Lesson 31

Introduction:

“The Lord Had Called Us for to Preach the Gospel”

Matthew 28:19–20 Commission: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.”

These early disciples were able to establish roots of Christianity far and wide, and we are again commissioned in this dispensation to take the gospel to all the earth.

Acts 17:16 When you are stirred by promptings of the Spirit, act upon that!

Acts 16:14 The Lord has opened many hearts in preparation to be invited to accept and follow the Doctrine of Christ.

Personal Study: The Spirit will guide me in my efforts to share the gospel.

In order to share the gospel, we need the Holy Ghost with us (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 332).

How did the Spirit help the early saints in sharing the gospel? Think of experiences in your own ministering, when the Spirit has led you to know what to say and do.

Personal Study: I can declare the gospel in all circumstances.

Acts 16:16–34 Even while in prison, Paul and Silas taught of Jesus Christ.

How can you develop the faith and boldness that Paul had in sharing the Gospel (see Romans 1:16).

Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart

Personal Study: We are the offspring of God

Acts 17:19–21 The people in Athens were eager to hear new and different things.

 

Acts 17:23 These people worshiped many false gods and also an Unknown God. This God, our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ, is the God that Paul taught them about.

 

Acts 17:29 Paul taught that things fashioned by the hands of man are not Gods, but that we are all the offspring of the True God, and we are fashioned in His image.

 

How does recognizing that you are a child of God, not just one of His creations, influence how you see and treat yourself and others?

 

Bear your own testimony of God being your Father.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

 

1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

 

Video: “We Are the Offspring of God”

Family Study: Paul’s Missionary Journeys Acts 16-21

Refer to map.

Sharing the Gospel Learn how to share the gospel. (It doesn’t matter if you go to the right hand or to the left. Love your neighbors.)

Family Study: Strengthening our own Discipleship

Acts 17:10–12; 18:24–28

Acts 17:11 We can be like the early saints by receiving the word with readiness of mind and searching the scriptures daily.

18:24–28 We can live by the light we already have, application of what we know, and we can accept more light and understanding as we receive it.

Family Study: We must be baptized by water and also by the Spirit

Acts 19:1–7 When we accept the gospel of Jesus Christ and His doctrine, and when we are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, by one who has priesthood authority and permission, this is one step of our baptism unto Jesus Christ. After that, we can have hands laid upon us and have the Gift of the Holy Ghost conferred upon us. After that, it is up to us to accept that Spirit and allow for the Lord to baptize us with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

“Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half—that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 95). The Holy Ghost helps us to continue on the covenant path in the Doctrine of Christ.

3 Nephi 27:19–20 The Holy Ghost is a Sanctifier.

John 3:5 We must be born again, of the water and the Spirit.

Moses 6:59–61 God has designed the way for us to be born again and made clean to enter His presence.

Family Study: The gospel of Jesus Christ is the Greatest Treasure

Acts 19:18–20 These people got rid of inappropriate literature, which was worth a lot of money, so that they could follow Jesus and have the Spirit to be with them.

What are you willing to sacrifice to have the Spirit more fully in your life?

Family Study: It is more blessed to give than to receive

Acts 20:32–35 To be an example of the believers, we need to love and serve one another. How can you support the weak? Whom can I help?

I Am a Child of God

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/acts/16?lang=eng

Paul is directed in a vision to preach in Macedonia—He casts an evil spirit out of a woman—He and Silas are imprisoned, and they convert the jailor—They admonish all to believe on the Lord Jesus and be saved.

Vs 4-5 Timotheus and Paul traveled together, teaching the gospel and ordaining local leaders, and establishing the church in local congregations.

Vs 9-10 The Spirit directed Paul and Timothy wear to go and wear not to yet go. Paul obeyed the Lord's will.

Vs 13-15 The disciples gathered for prayer by a riverside. It was here that Lydia heard the good news. She and all her household were baptized. Paul and his companions were guests in her house.

Vs 25-34 God heard the prayers of Paul and Silas in prison. All the prison doors were open. The guard asked what he needed to do to be saved. He took them from pison and washed their stripes and was baptized and all his household.

Vs 37-40 Paul and Silas were friends now with the prison guard. They had returned to the prison for his protection, most likely. Paul wanted the Romans to know that they had beat and imprisoned those who were also Romans publicly without due process.

Again they became Lydia's guests.

 

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/acts/17?lang=eng

Paul and Silas preach and are persecuted in Thessalonica and in Berea—Paul, in Athens, preaches from Mars’ Hill about the unknown god—He says, We are the offspring of God.

Vs 2-4 Many of the Thessalonians heard Paul and Silas and believe on Jesus Christ. But the Jews there did not.

Vs 10-12 The Jews in Berea were more valiant than those in Thessalonia. Many of them and many of the Greek people there also believed. They received the word with readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily.

We have people all around us that do the same, who are seeking to receive the word with all readiness of mind and willingness of heart.

 

Vs 22-31 Paul preaches to those on Mar's Hill of their own divinity as sons and daughters of God, and that we on earth all came from the same parents. He preaches of Christ as our Savior and Redeemer, and that God raised Him from the dead.

 

Vs 34 Some of those who heard Paul there clave to him.

 

 

 

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/acts/18?lang=eng

Being rejected by the Jews, Paul turns to the Gentiles—He preaches, ministers, and travels—Apollos also preaches with power.

Vs 2-3 Paul and Aquila were both tentmakers.

Vs 4-8 Many of the Gentiles continue to believe and be baptized, while the Jews are blasphemous. Paul decides to testify of Christ to those with believing hearts and ready to receive the word.

Vs 9-11 Paul continued in that place testifying of Jesus for a year, because the Lord spoke to him in a night vision.

Vs 14-17 Gallio didn't want to be involved in the Jewish squabbles. He told them to judge their own matters.

Then instead they beat the chief ruler of the synagogue.

 

Vs 24-28 Apollos had been converted to the repentance and baptism taught by John. Aquila and Priscilla taught him the good news of Jesus Christ. He became a great testifier to the Jews.  

 

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/acts/19?lang=eng

Paul confers the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands—He preaches and works many miracles—The sons of Sceva fail to cast out devils by exorcism—The worshippers of Diana (Artemis) raise a tumult against Paul.

Vs 2-7 Paul taught the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who had only heard John's message unto the baptism of repentance. Then this 12 (or so) men were baptized in the name of Jesus and Paul conferred the gift of the Holy Ghost upon them by the laying on of hands.

Vs 10-12 The gospel was preached by Paul to all of Asia. People had great faith unto healing, that blessings were imparted through articles of clothing of those who could not be with Paul in person.

Vs 18-20 Those who spoke without authority in the name of Jesus, were overcome by the evil spirits.

Many believed and confessed their sins. Many got rid of their sorcery books. The word of God prevailed.

Vs 35-41 The townclerk would not allow the people to treat Paul and the other disciples rashly, as they were neither robbers or blasphemeres.

How many injustices have been done, because people love wealth more than righteousness and the welfare of their fellowmen?

 

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/acts/20?lang=eng

Paul raises Eutychus from death—Paul is free from the blood of all men—He predicts apostasy from within the Church—He reveals a teaching from Jesus, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Vs 7 They held their sacrament on the first day of the week, a Sunday.

Vs 9-12 Paul preached so long that a young man had fallen asleep and fell out of a third story window, and suffered death. Through Paul, through priesthood power and faith in Christ, he was brought back to life.

Vs 18-38 Paul met with the Elders with departing words and testimony before going to Jerusalem. Paul did what he could. He knew it. And he was passing on the baton and giving them warnings. They all wept.

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/acts/21?lang=eng

Paul journeys to Jerusalem—He is persecuted, arrested, and bound.

Vs 13 Many warned Paul not to go to Jerusalem, but he was intent on going and dying for the Lord if that was his course.

Vs 26-40 There are those in our day who will discredit the Church just as there were back then. I'm thankful that Paul was valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ. Vs 40 and that he spoke to the people in their Hebrew tongue.