NT Come Follow Me 39

NT Come Follow Me Lesson 39

Introduction:

“God Loveth a Cheerful Giver”

 

Would you be willing to help another group that was in poverty have the material blessings that they need.

Paul hoped that the Corinthians saints would rise to the occasion and donate some of their abundance to more needful saints.

 

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

 

Give out of love. You have the opportunity to fast more willingly and give more freely.

 

Personal Study: I can cheerfully share what I have to bless the poor and needy.

Are We Not All Beggars?

“Rich or poor, we are to ‘do what we can’ when others are in need [see Mark 14:6, 8]. … [God] will help you and guide you in compassionate acts of discipleship if you are conscientiously wanting and praying and looking for ways to keep a commandment He has given us again and again.”

(Look at chapters 8-9 to find notes relating to this section.)

Mosiah 4:16–27 All that we have comes from God; we are beggars too; we need to share what we have from others, and not ever despise them. As we freely give, we are freely forgiven and can retain a remission of our sins.

 

The Second Great Commandment

 

Is Not This the Fast That I Have Chosen?

 

Personal Study: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.”

2 Corinthians 11:3 The House of Israel and Christians have often strayed from the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ and looked beyond the mark. Work on not doing that.

2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you…?”

How can I more fully seek to have the guidance of the Holy Ghost?

What does it mean to you to “be in the faith?”

It Works Wonderfully!

“If you ever think that the gospel isn’t working so well for you, I invite you to step back, look at your life from a higher plane, and simplify your approach to discipleship. Focus on the basic doctrines, principles, and applications of the gospel. I promise that God will guide and bless you on your path to a fulfilling life, and the gospel will definitely work better for you” (President Uchtdorf).

Personal Study: The Savior’s grace is sufficient to help me find strength in my weakness.

Have you identified some of your thorns in your flesh? How have they helped you to rely more fully upon the Lord?

2 Corinthians 12:5–10 God will not always remove our infirmities, but the can serve as a reminder to us of His grace and our reliance upon Him.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Family Study: How Can We Reach out to the Poor and Needy?

Plan a service to help someone in need.

Family Study: Be a Cheerful Giver

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 Who do you know who is a cheerful giver? How will you make your service more cheerful? (even the routine and mundane things)

Family Study: Our Warfare against Wickedness

2 Corinthians 10:3–7 How can we cast down things that lead us away from God, and how can we “[bring] into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ?”

Vs 7 “If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.”

Remember to assess your own self and to leave the judgment of others to whom it doth rightly belong.

Ephesians 6:11–18 What are the spiritual “weapons” we use for self-control and mastery?

Put on the whole armor of God.

Family Study: Rely Upon the Simplicity You Have Found in Jesus

Focus on an area or two in which you can simplify things which will make you feel freer, be a better disciple, and more able to serve.

‘Give,’ Said the Little Stream

 

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/2-cor/8?lang=eng

True Saints impart of their substance to the poor—Christ, out of His poverty, brought eternal riches.

2 Corinthians 8:1–15 What did Paul teach about caring for the poor and needy? What are you inspired to do? How will you be more diligent in your prayers to seek the Lord’s will in how you can serve?

Vs 7-8 Because I have been given much, I too should give.

Vs 9 Even though all things were subject to Jesus, He willingly made Himself of mean estate, so that He could allow us a path to become joint-heirs with Him.

Vs 11 First needed thing is a willing heart. Learn about how to serve. Second thing needed is appliation. Go ahead and do what you have felt inspired to do.

Vs 12-15 We should give of what we have in abundance and willingly share our talents and our means to help others, and to receive from them as well.

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/2-cor/9?lang=eng

God loves and rewards a cheerful giver—Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.

9:6–15 What did Paul Teach about caring for the poor and needy? What are you inspired to do? How will you be more diligent in your prayers to seek the Lord’s will in how you can serve?

Vs 6 How can you sow bountifully, so that you can reap bountifully and share your bounty? This doesn't mean just monetarily.

Vs 7-8 How can you sow bountifully, so that you can reap bountifully and share your bounty? This doesn't mean just monitarily.

Vs 9-11 God provides for those who are faithful to Him in loving and serving Him and His children.

Vs 12 When we give, we also show are gratitude to God, the Giver of all.

Vs 13-14 Experiment in giving. Pray for the Lord's grace and direction to help you as you give.

15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/2-cor/10?lang=eng

Bring every thought into obedience—Paul glories in the Lord.

Vs 3-6 Although we are in the world, the Lord would have us to live NOT after the manner of the world. As He overcame the world, He has given us the commission to also become perfected in Him.

Vs 7 Don't ever think that you are more faithful or better than someone else, whether they are practicing Christians, or other children of our Father who worship according to the dictates of their conscience.

Vs 11 Don't ever think that you are more faithful or better than someone else, whether they are practicing Christians, or other children of our Father who worship according to the dictates of their conscience.

Vs 12 Don't compare yourself with others, either to elevate or demean yourself. Be introspective and value the progress the Lord is helping you to make.

Vs 17-18 Glory in the Lord and seek to please Him.

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/2-cor/11?lang=eng

Maintain the simplicity that is in Christ—Satan sends forth false apostles—Paul glories in his sufferings for Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:1–6, 13–15 Look for how you can stay true to the simplicity of the doctrine of Christ?

Vs 4 The Latter-day Saints believe the gospel of Jesus Christ as He and His apostles taught and teach it.

Vs 9 We all bring our own talents and gifts to the table. This is the diversity that should be celebrated.

Vs 13-15 Not everyone that professes to be of Christ is. Dont' be deceived. Know the doctrine and follow the Spirit.

Vs 29-31 Paul suffered several deprivations, insults, scourages, and trials. What am I willing to suffer for my testimony of Jesus Christ? Do I glory in Him? Do I glory in the privilege that it is to suffer injustices in His name?

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/2-cor/12?lang=eng

Paul is caught up to the third heaven—The Lord gives men weaknesses that they may triumph over them—Paul manifests the signs of an Apostle.

Vs 7-9 Think about your own thorns in the flesh, how the Lord has helped you to deal with them, who being faithful to Him and to your testimony has strengthened you; and who your particular trials have proved to strengthen you because of your dependence upon the Lord.

Vs 10 Remember Paul never revealed his thorn in the flesh, and you don't need to either. But they can serve to make us more empathetic and better able to love and to serve God's children.

Vs 15 Do you yet love those you minister to like Paul loved those he ministered to? Do you seek their salvation as much as the Lord has sought yours and to the extent you feel embraced and forgiven?

Vs 19 True leaders in Christ's church do those things that edify their congregations.

Vs 20-21 All types of contention are of the devil. Don't savor unrighteous debates. Don't envy or speak ill to or about others, or gossip. Stay pure in your thoughts and your actions. Be clean.

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/2-cor/13?lang=eng

Saints should test themselves as to righteousness—Be perfect and of one mind; live in peace.

Vs 5 How can you examine and prove yourself? How can you keep yourself in the faith, standing in holy places and not being moved?

Vs 7 Be honest indeed.

Vs 8 Are you doing all that you can for the truth? Are you testifying of Christ?

Vs 11-14 Seek unity. Worship, work, love, and play together.