NT Come Follow Me 32

NT Come Follow Me Lesson 32

Introduction:

““A Minister and a Witness”

To Learn, to Do, to Be “When we are on the Lord’s errand,” President Thomas S. Monson promised, “we are entitled to the Lord’s help.”

Acts 9:15 Paul had the errand to “bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.”

Acts 23:11Even through all of trials, Jesus stood by Paul, and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.”

Doctrine and Covenants 29:4–5 When we are sharing the gospel, we can also be of good cheer. “Lift up your hearts and be glad, for I am in your midst, and am your advocate with the Father; and it is his good will to give you the kingdom.”

Matthew 28:19–20 Disciples of Jesus are all commissioned to testify of Him.

19 ¶ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Personal Study: Disciples of Jesus Christ share their testimonies boldly.

Acts 26:19 Even while in prison, Paul is true to his testimony. “Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.”

What are you doing with your testimony? Are you bold enough to share it? Do you fear God or men more? Pray about who would benefit from you sharing your testimony each week.

Joseph Smith—History 1:24–25 Joseph Smith had also see a great light; “For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it.”

https://intelligentgospelstudy.blogspot.com/2023/07/disciples-of-jesus-boldly-testify-of-him.html

Personal Study: The Lord stands by those who strive to serve Him.

Sometimes it is during our greatest struggles and trials that we are given heaven’s greatest support.

Acts 14:19–20 Paul was stoned.
16:19–27 Paul and Silas were whipped and cast into prison.
21:31–34 Paul was beaten and chained and taken into the castle.
23:10–11 Paul was being literally torn in many directions.
27:13–25 Paul was shipwrecked in a tumultuous sea.
40–44 The ship was driven back; everyone had to either swim or hold on to driftwood.

How did the Lord stand by Paul?

When and how has He stood by you?

Personal Study: There is safety and peace in heeding the words of God’s servants.

There were those who hearkened to Paul and others and believed on their testimony of Jesus Christ. Other people did not.

Acts 24:24–27 Felix only wanted to help Paul if he received financial gain. To please the Jews, he left Paul bound.

Acts 26:1–3 Festus told Paul that much learning had made him mad.

24–29 King Agrippa was almost persuaded of Paul to be a Chrisian.

Acts 27:10 Paul warned, while sailing to Rome to be tried of Caesar, that much hurt and damage would come to the ship and its passengers. Pay attention, when you read this chapter, to the reactions of the shipmates.

How do you act to prophecies and warnings from the prophet and church leaders? Why is it important to heed the counsel of the Lord given through His living servants?

2 Nephi 33:1–2 Hearken to the voice of the Holy Ghost and do not harden your heart.

The Voice of Warning

Follow the Living Prophet

Family Study: Have a Conscience Void of Offense

Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

How can I work on having this type of conscience? By living the first two great commandments.

Family Study: With Love, We Can Teach the Gospel

Acts 26:16–18 Paul was sent to the Gentiles “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

Work to not offend others, but to love them and to teach them the gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Family Study: The Lord Watches Over His Missionaries

Acts 28:1–9 Though a venomous snake bit Paul, he received no harm, because he was faithful and still had a mission to perform. Because others saw this miracle, they believed and he was able to pronounce healings on others.

Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

What a marvelous promise!

Family Study: Christ’s Church is Not a Cult

Acts 28:22–24 Both with the early church and the church today, there are those outside the church and those who have left the church that call us a sect or a cult. Paul had this challenge too.

But “he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.”

Make sure you have courage to testify. You are allowing people to have agency to believe!

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/acts/22?lang=eng

Paul recounts the story of his conversion and also tells of seeing Jesus in a vision—He is accorded some privileges as a Roman citizen.

Vs 1-16 Paul talks to the Jews in their own Hebrew language. He recounts his opposition to the cause of Christians in the beginning, his visitation from Jesus Christ, his repentance and conversion, and his call to preach the gospel.

Vs 17-30 He further tells the people of the Lord's warning him to leave Jerusalem and teach the Gentiles. His audience wants him condemned. So he is taking for scourging and questioning, until he asks a soldier if it's lawful to scourge and uncondemned Roman. They all feared that!

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/acts/23?lang=eng

Paul is smitten at Ananias’s order—The Lord again appears to Paul—Forty Jews plot his death—He is delivered over to Felix.

Vs 6-10 Paul was quick-witted. He again used what he had in common to appeal to men's reason. He let them know that he was also a Pharisee. Then the Pharisees said if Paul had see an angel, they shouldn't fight against God. Now the Pharisees and Saducees were at great odds over this.

Vs 11 Jesus came to Paul the following night and told him to be of good cheer; Paul would also bear witness of Him in Jerusalem.

Vs 15-21 Paul's nephew warned him of those who lied in wait to kill him. He was then able to tell the chief captain, who did not allow this to happen.

Vs 22-24 Claudius Lysias sent him safely to Felix. (See vs 25-30)

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/acts/24?lang=eng

Paul is accused of sedition—He answers in defense of his life and doctrine—He teaches Felix of righteousness, temperance, and the judgment to come.

Vs 10-16 Paul's defense before Felix shows that he, in support of Jewish beliefs, traditions, and prophesies, was worshiping according to their laws.

Vs 21-27 Felix's wife was a Jew, so he listened to Paul. But he found that Paul said to concerning righteousness, temperance, and judgment to be disturbing. He continued to hear from him from time to time, hoping Paul would give him money; but he kept him bound.

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/acts/25?lang=eng

Paul, before Festus, appeals unto Cæsar—Agrippa desires to hear Paul.

Vs 8-12 Festus wanted to do the Jews a favor and send Paul back to Jerusalem to be judged; but, Paul appealed unto Caesar.

Vs 23-27 Festus agreed to let King Agrippa question Paul. He was also hoping to have some accusation or at least explanation against Paul. So far there wasn't anything.

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/acts/26?lang=eng

Paul recounts his former persecution of the Saints as a Pharisee—He testifies of the appearance of Jesus on the Damascus road—Paul bears his testimony to King Agrippa.

Vs 2-29 Paul recounts his conversion and his ministry before King Agrippa. He tells Festus that he is not crazy. He says that King Agrippa understands what he's talking about. King Agrippa acknowledges that he believes, when he says, "Almost thou persuadeth me to be a Christian."

Vs 31-32 The leaders including King Agrippa and Festus agree that Paul has done nothing worthy of death or bonds. Agrippa says h "might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar."

Appealing to Caesar was Paul's ticket into Rome. Jesus wanted him to testify there!

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/acts/27?lang=eng

Paul, in a perilous voyage, travels toward Rome—An angel comforts him—He uses the gift of seership—He is shipwrecked.

Vs 10-11 Paul warned them that the voyage would be severling damaged and their lives in danger, but they didn't listen to him.

Vs 21-25 Paul later told them that none of their lives would be lost, only the ship. The angel of God told him and he believes God's word.

Vs 33-38 Paul appealed to the crew member's to stay on the ship and to eat. They did so, then lightened the ship.

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/acts/28?lang=eng

Paul is unharmed by a viper’s bite—He heals the sick in Melita—He preaches in Rome, first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles.

Vs 3-6 Paul survived shipwreck and also the bite of a venemous snake. His mission was not yet finished, and God protected him.

Vs 8-10 Paul gave healing blessings to the sick and his company received gifts for their journeyings.

Vs 16-24 In Rome, Paul again sought out the Jews and he preached the gospel to them. Some believed and some didn't.

Vs 25-27 Paul quoted Isaiah. Those with closed hearts, ears, and eyes don't receive the gospel, aren't converted, and the Lord can't heal them.

Vs 28-31 Paul knew that salvation would be sent to the Gentiles, because the Jews of that day were rejecting the gospel. For two years, Paul taught the people about the Lord Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God in Italy.

He was given free leave to teach.