SUNDAY SCHOOL YOUTH Come Follow Me Interactive Activities – JULY (week 2) New Testament “Ye Shall Be Witnesses unto Me” Come, Follow Me (Acts 1-5)

Reading about the experiences of the Apostles can help your class members see how they can receive power and guidance from the Holy Ghost in their Church callings and assignments. One way to review the experiences in Acts 1–5 would be to write on the board The Holy Ghost helped the Apostles lead the Church by: and then invite class members to search Acts 1:1–8; 2:37–39; and 4:1–13, 31–33, looking for ways to finish the sentence. Class members could then share experiences in which the Holy Ghost helped them in these ways. Why did the Apostles need the Holy Ghost—and why do we need Him?

Consider inviting class members to explain how a business might go about choosing a replacement for an executive position. What qualifications might they look for? Ask class members to contrast this with how the Apostle Matthias was called (see Acts 1:15–26; see also 1 Samuel 16:1–13) and with President Gordon B. Hinckley’s words in “Additional Resources” describing how Apostles are called today. How does God’s method for choosing leaders affect our faith in the leaders He has called? Class members could share how they have gained a witness that today’s apostles and prophets are called by Him.

As class members study the scriptures at home and together in class each week, they may often feel “pricked in their heart” (Acts 2:37). You may feel inspired to help them go a step further by asking, “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Read Acts 2:37–47 together, inviting class members to search for things this group of 3,000 people did as a result of Peter’s invitation. Maybe they could also share ways they have acted on inspiration from their study of the word of God. Then you might reserve time at the end of class for each person to ask themselves the question “What shall I do?” and record their impressions.

• Class members could review Acts 3; 4:1–21; 5:12–42, looking for examples of Peter testifying boldly. Or they could watch one of the following videos: “Peter Preaches and Is Arrested,” “Peter and John Are Judged,” or “Peter and John Continue Preaching the Gospel” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). What does it mean to speak “the word of God with boldness”? (Acts 4:31). How does the Holy Ghost help us share the gospel boldly? How is this kind of boldness different from being contentious? Class members might have experiences to share in which they, or someone they know, boldly defended or testified of the gospel.