New Testament LESSON 5
Teaching Sunday School – Come Follow Me just got easier with our activities for JANUARY (week #5)
Theme: “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord”
Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3
YOU WILL FIND:
• SCRIPTURE SCHOLARS to get them reading.
• Then scroll down to find Lesson-Match Interactive Activities to match the CFM curriculum
SCRIPTURE SCHOLARS is not only for SUNDAY SCHOOL youth but also for Primary, and for Individuals and Families.
The STAMPS & STAMP KEEPER are found HERE for JANUARY
Lesson 5 Scripture Scholars
Week’s Scripture Scholars BOOKMARKS & scripture POP-UP Includes:
• BOOKMARKS with Come, Follow Me scriptures to read and discuss topics for Primary and Individuals and Families. Also, for Sunday School (teens).
• POP-UP to glue in scripture binding next to scripture you underline.
EXTRA ITEMS (not included) … THERE’S MORE:
• STAMP. Award readers with a STAMP for the week’s scripture reading. See below to find matching STAMPS.
• STAMP KEEPER. These can be placed on the STAMP KEEPER (see below) where you can collect 50 stamps for the year
Lessons 1-5 Scripture Scholars
January’s BUNDLE of BOOKMARKS, POP-UPs, and STAMPS. Glue STAMPS onto the STAMP KEEPER (to download separately, below).
Click on the weekly lesson posters (below) to find interactive activities:
. . . LESSONS & ACTIVITIES . . .
Step 1 CHOOSE LESSON
Step 2 CHOOSE ACTIVITY
Step 3 CLICK ON POSTER
Step 4 DOWNLOAD ACTIVITY
. . . PREPARING TO RECEIVE JESUS . . .
Disciples prepare themselves and others to receive Jesus Christ.
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How do we prepare for the visit of an important guest? A question like this can help you introduce a discussion about how John the Baptist prepared people to receive Jesus Christ. You could then divide the class into three groups. Each group could read either Matthew 3:1–6; Matthew 3:7–12; or Luke 3:10–15, looking for how John the Baptist prepared people to receive Jesus Christ into their lives. Let each group take a turn sharing what they found.
Additional Resources
Our baptismal covenants.
Elder David A. Bednar taught: “The baptismal covenant includes three fundamental commitments: (1) to be willing to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, (2) to always remember Him, and (3) to keep His commandments. The promised blessing for honoring this covenant is ‘that [we] may always have his Spirit to be with [us]’ [Doctrine and Covenants 20:77]. Thus, baptism is the essential preparation to receive the authorized opportunity for the constant companionship of the third member of the Godhead” (“Always Retain a Remission of Your Sins,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2016, 60).
For an example of a young boy keeping his baptismal covenants, see the story at the beginning of Sister Carole M. Stephens’s message “We Have Great Reason to Rejoice” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 115–17).
YOUTH GOAL PLANNER. TAKE UPON THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. Youth can listen carefully to the sacrament prayers and record on the planner what it means to take upon the name of Jesus Christ. The planner reminds them to do something each day to keep their baptismal covenants and record things they did to follow Jesus. READ MORE
LESSON ACTIVITY. I PROMISE … HEAVENLY FATHER PROMISES … two-sided puzzle. This puzzle can be folded and glued back to back or left to display open to mix up and match wordstrips as you teach, putting them in place. For example, I PROMISE to keep the commandments; HEAVENLY FATHER PROMISES to give me the gift of the Holy Ghost. These can seem like instant rewards for keeping their baptismal covenants. READ MORE
CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY (Youth Can Present)
. . . PREPARING WITH TRUE REPENTANCE . . .
We need to bring forth “fruits worthy of repentance.”
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In Luke 3:8, John the Baptist taught the people that before they could be baptized, they needed to show “fruits,” or evidence, of their repentance. How can you help class members recognize the evidence of their own repentance? You might ask them to search Luke 3:8–14 and look for what John considered “fruits” of repentance. They could also review Moroni 6:1–3 and Doctrine and Covenants 20:37. You might draw a fruit tree on the board and let class members label the fruit on the tree with the “fruits” of repentance they find. This could also be a good time to talk about what it means to truly repent.
COMPARE FRUITS OF REPENTANCE WITH FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT
YOUTH LESSON ACTIVITY. FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT decision maker. Youth can compare this fruit tree with repentance (“a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit”). Replace those actions with right actions (“good fruit bringeth forth good fruit”). This way the Holy Ghost can guide us to make righteous decisions. Our rewards are FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT. They are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. READ MORE
YOUTH LESSON ACTIVITY. SUNSHINE REPENTANCE doorknob reminder (Mosiah 27:29). Youth can learn from Alma the Younger’s experience that they can move from darkness into light and feel the warmth and peace that true repentance brings. Then write the eight steps to repentance on the back: recognize, promise, recommit, restitution, feel repentance, prove, forgive, and commit. READ MORE
. . . BECOMING A MEMBER OF GOD’S KINGDOM . . .
We follow Jesus Christ by being baptized and receiving the Holy Ghost.
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To review the story of Jesus Christ’s baptism, try this idea: Ask class members how they could use Matthew 3:13–17 to teach someone, such as a child or someone of another faith, about baptism. (They could also use the picture in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families.) What important elements of baptism would they emphasize? They could practice their ideas by teaching each other.
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To help class members reflect on the importance of living their baptismal covenants, you might invite someone to read Elder Bednar’s statement in “Additional Resources.” Class members might enjoy sharing their feelings about their own baptisms and their baptismal covenants. They could also sing a hymn about following the Savior, such as “Come, Follow Me” (Hymns, no. 116).
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John the Baptist taught that the Savior would baptize “with the Holy Ghost, and with fire” (Matthew 3:11). The baptism of fire happens when we are confirmed and we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Why must we have the gift of the Holy Ghost to progress in God’s kingdom? What effect does the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost have on us? (see Alma 5:14). The video “Baptism of the Holy Ghost” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org) could help with this discussion.
YOUTH QUOTE. BAPTISMAL COVENANTS & THE HOLY GHOST ColorQuote. Youth can memorize “When we understand our baptismal covenant and the gift of the Holy Ghost, it will change our lives and will establish our total allegiance to the kingdom of God. When temptations come our way, if we will listen, the Holy Ghost will remind us that we have promised to remember our Savior and obey the commandments of God.” – Elder Robert D Hales READ MORE
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. THE HOLY GHOST HELPS ME concentration game. As the youth play this large poster match, they learn ways the Spirit helps us (found in the Book of Mormon scriptures): Change hearts, guides, comforts, testifies of Christ, teaches, protects us from sin, warns of danger, inspires, and fills us with hope and love. READ MORE
WEEK’S BUNDLE TO SAVE $
INDEX FOR THIS MONTH’S ACTIVITIES
