NT Come Follow Me 41
Introduction:
“For the Perfecting of the Saints”
Acts 19:23 Can we make the gospel of Jesus Christ “no small stir” today?
Acts 19:27–29 The gospel of Jesus Christ,
and the truth that shines light on the evils of our day, also destroys the
craft of people’s who main desire is to gain money and prey upon others for
their livelihood.
Acts 19:40 How can we live the gospel in
today’s world of a sea of lies and confusion?
Ephesians 2:13–14 Christ is our peace.
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made
nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken
down the middle wall of partition between us.
Ephesians 4:31 To be true disciples of Jesus, we need to live this now too:
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour,
and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.
Ephesians 6:10–13 As we put on the whole
armor of God, we can face the adversities of our day.
Personal Study: God chose, or foreordained, me to fulfill
certain responsibilities on earth.
There is a
difference between the doctrine of foreordination and predestination. We
certainly believe in our Father’s Plan which allows us all the gift of agency.
Heavenly Father loves all His children and has made eternal life accessible and
possible to all through His gift of the Son and through us practicing Faith in
Jesus Christ.
Gathering the Family of God “Our
Heavenly Father is anxious to gather and bless all of His family.”
“All of God’s children can accept the gospel and
its ordinances because of the work performed for the dead in holy temples.”
‘Some of God’s children were chosen, or
“foreordained,” in the premortal world to fulfill certain responsibilities in
accomplishing God’s purposes on earth.’
Personal Study: God will “gather together in one all
things in Christ.”
Our day is called “the dispensation of the
fulness of times.”
How are we gathering all things together in one
in Christ?
Ephesians 4:13 Verses 11 and 12 are important before this verse. In the true Church, Jesus has organized apostles, prophets, missionaries, Bishops, and teachers to administer His gospel; in order to fulfill the mission of the church: the work of the ministry, the perfecting of the saints, and edifying the members.
Vs 13 The church, the organization, and the structure of it was put in place and is necessary. The goal of these things is to help all of us come to a unity of faith in Jesus Christ and a knowledge of Him; so that we can repent and improve and become like Him through the merits of His grace.
2 Nephi 30:7–8 The scattered Jews will be gathered in and begin to belief in Jesus. Everyone will have a chance through the gathering to become His people.
Doctrine and Covenants 110:11–16 The keys of the kingdom are now giving to the leaders of the church in our day. They were bestowed by the very people who held them in previous dispensations.
Gather Together in One All Things in Christ
Personal Study: The Church is founded on apostles and
prophets, and Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone.
Prophets and
apostles are necessary in Christ’s Church, with Him being at the Head:
Ephesians 2:19–22 The prophets and apostles take the gospel to all the earth, as special witnesses of Christ, inviting all to be fellow members in His Church.
3:1–7 The prophets and apostles are inviting all to become beneficiaries of the blessings of the gospel and joint-heirs with Christ through His redeeming grace.
4:11–16 As we become unified in the faith and practice the gospel of Jesus Christ, we will be edified in and through Him and be protected from the evil doctrines of our day.
How have the
conference messages been a guide and a protection to you?
Jesus Christ is the
cornerstone of the Church. How are you making him the Cornerstone of your life?
Personal Study: Following the Savior’s example can strengthen
my family relationships.
Ephesians 5:21–33; 6:1–4 These verses can help you to strengthen your family relationships.
Ephesians 5:22–24 The social customs of our day are different than then. I believe that husbands and wives should love and submit themselves to each other, just as we all should do to the Lord. Jesus likened His love for the Church as a husband’s love and care for His wife. The marriage relationship is that important!
The Family: A Proclamation to the World Spouses are to work together as equal partners.
25 Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he
might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by
the word,
27 That he
might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or
any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men
to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth
his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man
ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it,
even as the Lord the church:
30 For we
are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this
cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his
wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a
great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless
let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and
the wife see that she reverence her husband.
How has Jesus showed
His love for you? How can you do better in your marriage with how you show love
for your husband? How can you improve the other relationships in your life?
Personal Study: The armor of God will help protect me from
evil.
Ephesians 6:10–18 Each piece of the armor is important? What is its purpose and function?
10 Finally, my
brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the
whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles
of the devil.
12 For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of
the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in
high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour
of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having
done all, to stand.
14 Stand
therefore, having your loins girt about
with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation
of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all,
taking the shield
of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the
helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word
of God:
18 Praying always with all
prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and
supplication for all saints;
How has the armor of
God protected you? How have the expectations of your own parents protected you?
How can you put on your armor more securely?
23 Awake,
my sons; put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off
the chains with which ye are bound, and come forth out of obscurity,
and arise from the dust.
Doctrine and Covenants 27:15–18
15 Wherefore, lift
up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and
take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil
day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand.
16 Stand,
therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on
the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the
preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent
mine angels to commit unto you;
17 Taking
the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all
the fiery darts of the wicked;
18 And
take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour
out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching
all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall
be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also. Amen.
Family Study: He will Gather Together in One All Things in Christ.
Ephesians
1:10
Gather Together in One All Things in Christ
How is God gathering all things together in Christ?
How has the
gathering blessed you personally? How are you using it to bless others?
Family Study: We Can
Feel our Father’s and His Son’s Love and Mercy
8 For by grace are
ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we
should walk in them.
3:14–21
We can more especially feel His love and mercy for us when we engage in prayer
with praise and thanksgiving.
19 And to know the love of Christ, which
passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh
in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church
by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
How have you felt’s
God’s love, mercy and grace in your own life? How are you extending that to
others?
Family Study: Stop
Building Walls of Exclusion
Ephesians
2:12–19 As members of the Church of Jesus Christ, we are to become one
people, His people.
18 For through him we
both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye
are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and
of the household of God.
verse 16 We can all be reconciled to
God through the atonement of His Son.
Family Study: Put on
the Armor of God
How does each piece of armor protect us
spiritually? What can we do to help each other “put on the whole armour of God”
(Ephesians 6:11) every day?
https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/eph/1?lang=eng
The Saints are foreordained to receive the
gospel—The gospel is to be restored in the latter days—The Saints are sealed by
the Holy Spirit of Promise—They know God and Christ by revelation.
Vs 3-4 Remember that the Almighty saw your
intelligence and the goodness and possibility in you and chose you to become
His daughter, even before you became His Spiritual daughter. He gave you the
opportunity through His love and the gift of His Son to choose to become like
Him through His grace.
Vs 5-9 We have always been taught about and drawn to Jesus Christ. He is
in the express image of His Father, with all of His eternal attributes. We
cleaved unto Him knowing that through His light we could always return to the
Father.
It is God's good pleasure to raise us to eternal life through
faith in and grace found in Jesus Christ.
We are adopted back into the Family of God through covenants we
make with Him.
Vs 10-14 We have been preserved for this day, the
fulness of times, that we might choose to still be involved in following the
Light and leading others to that Light, even Jesus Christ. That through faith
in Him we might be taken home to the Father and be one with them, gaining an
inheritance to God's glory along with Jesus Christ.
Vs 15-23 Be amazed, be in wonder of His love. Be grateful that Paul prayed
for the Ephesians and that His pray continues towards us, because of our faith
in Jesus and love towards one another.
Trust in God's plan and the leaders that He has called and chosen.
They make mention of you in their prayers! May we look forward to the promises
of our inheritance as we "think celestial", keep our covenants and
hold on to our faith in Jesus Christ.
https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/eph/2?lang=eng
We are saved by grace through faith—The blood of
Christ saves Jew and Gentile alike—The Church is built upon the foundation of
apostles and prophets.
Vs 1 Through Faith in Jesus Christ, repentance of
our former sins, baptism into His Church and the reception of the Holy Ghost,
we are quickened into a new life as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Vs 2-3 Once we are members
of the body of Christ, it's imperative that we give up all things ungodly.
Vs 4-6 God has and will
always love us. He reaches out to save us even when we are dead to Him. He
gives us life through His Son.
Vs 7-10 It is not meant
for us to always have immediate gratification. But in the great by and by, we
will see Him and be like Him. We are the children of God and His handiwork. We
are saved by faith in the Son of God. It is grace. It is a gift.
Vs 13-18 The Gospel of
Jesus Christ is for all, Jew, Gentile, and every people.
Vs 19 It doesn't matter
where we come from. When people are converted and make covenants with Christ,
if we are true disciples, we must accept them as members of our household. We
are to love one another.
Vs 20-22 The church is build with the foundation of apostles and prophets,
with Jesus being the chief corner stone.
It appears in these verses that we are to help build a perfect
structure that can sustain everyone who desires to come and be perfected in
Jesus.
https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/eph/3?lang=eng
The Gentiles are fellow heirs with Israel—The
love of Christ surpasses all understanding.
Vs 6 Jesus brought salvation not only to the Jews,
but to the Gentiles; not only to the people of His day, but to all generations.
Vs 9 God,
who created all
things by Jesus Christ
Vs 10-16 Have faith in Jesus Christ is more than just a gift or a
choice; it is power. It gives us the ability to move forward in our gifts and
blessings and to be able to bless the families of the earth. It is important.
Vs 17-21 As we come to know Jesus, we can have Him dwell
with us through faith in Him. As we are rooted and grounded in is love, His
power can work thorugh us, allowing us to bless others.
https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/eph/4?lang=eng
“There is one Lord, one faith, and one
baptism—Apostles and prophets are essential to the Church—The Saints are
exhorted to live righteously—They are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
Vs 1-3 How are you walking worthily? God has called
you to be his witness in these latter times. Are you enduring the simple trials
and tasks you've been given? Are you striving to love others even as Jesus
loves you? Are you being a peacemaker and seeking for unity? Are you thinking
of the treasures of the world or the treasures of the kingdom? Think celestial!
Vs 4-6 When we take upon
us the name of Jesus Christ, are we becoming one with Him and one with those
who also have covenanted with Him? He has told us, "If ye are not one, ye
are not mine."
Vs 7 Jesus has bestowed
grace upon each of us. How am I about extending grace to others?
Vs 8-10 Jesus comprehends
all of our highs and lows. He has experienced them all for all of us. There is
so much grace in that.
Vs 11-13 What is the reason that Jesus established His earth through His
apostles after His resurrection and again in this latter-day?
Look at Ephesians 4:11-13. This is the mission of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is His mission. This is our mission.
Perfecting the saints, preaching the gospel, redeeming the dead, and caring for
those in need.
Why? So that we can all be blessed through faith in Him and come
to a unity of the faith, and receive all that the Father has with Jesus and
because of Him.
Vs 14 If one is drifting, where are we to help? We
need everyone. We cannot be saved without each other.
Vs 15-16 As members of the
body of Christ, we are responsible for each other. Where is our love? We are
all needed. Stop looking down on others or lifting yourself up. Work on grace.
Extend His love.
Vs 11-16 As we become unified in the faith and practice the gospel of Jesus Christ, we will be edified in and through Him and be protected from the evil doctrines of our day.
How have the
conference messages been a guide and a protection to you?
Jesus Christ is the
cornerstone of the Church. How are you making him the Cornerstone of your life?
Vs 13 Ephesians 4:13 Verses 11 and 12 are important before this verse. In the true Church, Jesus has organized apostles, prophets, missionaries, Bishops, and teachers to administer His gospel; in order to fulfill the mission of the church: the work of the ministry, the perfecting of the saints, and edifying the members.
Vs 13 The church, the organization, and the structure of it was put in place and is necessary. The goal of these things is to help all of us come to a unity of faith in Jesus Christ and a knowledge of Him; so that we can repent and improve and become like Him through the merits of His grace.
Vs 23-24 We need to become
better. We need to do better.
Vs 25-32 Put away your
former and current grievances, bad attitudes, hate, deceit, and disdain. Put on
Christ and do those things which please the Holy Sport. Be kind and loving.
Forgive others and God has forgiven you.
Vs 31 To be true disciples of Jesus, we need to live this now too:
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour,
and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.
https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/eph/5?lang=eng
The Saints are exhorted to avoid uncleanness and
walk uprightly—Husbands and wives should love each other.
Vs 1-2 Be humble and teachable. Just do as Jesus would have you do.
Anything else just stinks.
Vs 4 There are so many ways we can do wrong. But if
we are choosing to do right, if we are choosing Jesus, let us choose to give
thanks for Him.
Vs 5 Only the righteous will inherit the kingdom of God and of His Christ.
Vs 6 There are
many who deceive with vain and flattering lies. But the truth is in Jesus.
Cleave unto the Word of God.
Vs 8 Since we
have become Christ's children through baptism, choose to walk as a child of
Light.
Vs 9-10 The
fruit of the Spirit is good, even as the Spirit is good.
Vs 13 Choose
light; choose Jesus.
Vs 15-16 What
can I do to redeem my time?
Vs 17 Seek the
Lord's will and do it.
Vs 18-21 As we
seek to have the Spirit with us, there are things that we can choose to do to
help us be in tune and choose the right.
Ephesians 5:21–33 These verses
can help you to strengthen your family relationships.
Vs 22-25, 28 Husbands and wives are to love each other with a pure and whole
love, even as Jesus loves the Church and gave His life for His disciples.
Vs 30-33 More
insights on the comparison of the marriage relationship and our duties as
members of Christ's church.
https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/eph/6?lang=eng
Children should honor their parents—Servants and
masters are judged by the same law—Saints should put on the whole armor of God.
Vs 1-3 I have always sought to obey and honor my
parents. They have been a blessing to me, and I have tried to be a blessing to
them.
Ephesians 6:1–4 These verses can help you to strengthen your family relationships.
Vs 4 Parents can
lead better with love and understanding than by force.
Vs 5-9 We can liken the
servant and master versus to a boss and employees. Give your best, even when
those who are "above" you at work do not.
Vs 10-18 Put on your
spiritual armor every day!
Vs 23-24 Always greet
fellow believers with love and grace.
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