PRIMARY & Home Come Follow Me Activities – NOVEMBER (week 1) New Testament TOPIC: Jesus Christ, “the Author of Eternal Salvation” with Scripture Scholars bookmarks & pop-ups – Hebrews 1-6

• Find some truths about Jesus Christ in Hebrews 1:1–10; 2:8–10, 17–18, and write them on strips of paper. Hide the papers around the room, and invite the children to find them. Help the children read the truths written on the papers, and talk about what these truths mean. If necessary, explain that Jesus is called the Son of God because Heavenly Father is the father of both His spirit and His body.

• Hold up a picture of the Savior, and share why you are thankful for Him. Let each child take a turn holding the picture and sharing why he or she is thankful for Jesus Christ.

   

• OLDER CHILDREN
  

  Hebrews 1:1–10; 2:8–10, 17–18

  The Epistle to the Hebrews was written to strengthen the Hebrew Saints’ faith in Jesus Christ. It can do the same for the children you teach.

  • Assign each child a few verses in Hebrews 1:1–10; 2:8–10, 17–18, and invite the children to search in those verses for truths about Jesus Christ. Let them share or write on the board what they find. What else do we know about Jesus Christ? The children might find some ideas in songs such as “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” (Hymns, no. 136) or “He Sent His Son” (Children’s Songbook, 34–35). DOWNLOAD song visuals for these songs below along with “I Believe In Christ”

  • Invite the children to draw pictures of themselves with their parents. Ask them to share what they have in common with their parents. Explain that when Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus Christ is “the express image of [God’s] person,” it means that Jesus and Heavenly Father have the same qualities and attributes. Talk with the children about how following Jesus Christ brings us closer to Heavenly Father.

• Bring to class something absorbent (like a sponge or a washcloth) and something hard (like a rock). Invite the children to touch the objects and describe how the objects feel. Put a few drops of water on each object, and point out that water soaks into the absorbent object better than into the rock. Explain that our hearts need to be soft and not hard so that we can accept Heavenly Father’s truths and His love.

• Cut a heart shape out of a soft material, such as cloth, and a harder material, such as cardboard. Discuss with the children the difference between having a soft heart and having a hard heart. Share some examples from the scriptures of people who had soft hearts or hard hearts, such as Nephi, Laman, and Lemuel (1 Nephi 2:16–19); Paul (Acts 9:1–22); or Joseph Smith (Joseph Smith—History 1:11–20). As you share each example, invite the children to point to the soft heart or the hard heart.

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  OLDER CHILDREN

• Hebrews 3:7–19

  To receive Heavenly Father’s guidance and blessings, we must “harden not [our] hearts.”

  In Hebrews 3, the story of the Israelites in the wilderness is used to teach the importance of not hardening our hearts. How can you use this story to teach the children in your class this principle?

  • Ask the children to think of things that are hard and soft. (If possible, bring some examples to show them.) Read together Hebrews 3:8. What does it mean to have a hard heart? Why does God want us to have soft hearts?

  • In your own words, share the story of the Israelites hardening their hearts against the Lord in the wilderness (see Numbers 14:1–12; Hebrews 3:7–19). Let the children act out the story. What will happen if we harden our hearts against the Lord and His gospel?

  • Invite the children to read Matthew 13:15; Hebrews 3:15; Mosiah 11:29; and Moses 6:27. Ask them to draw on the board the body parts mentioned in these verses. What does it mean to have spiritually dull ears, blind eyes, and hard hearts? How can we make sure that our ears, eyes, and hearts are ready to recognize the voice of the Spirit?

• Read Hebrews 5:4 to the children. Ask a priesthood holder to explain what the priesthood is. He could also share how he serves others as he fulfills his duties. Also ask a sister in the ward to share her experience being set apart to a calling in the Church. Encourage her to share how the Lord blessed her with the power to fulfill her calling.

• Help the children memorize phrases from the fifth article of faith.
  DOWNLOAD Articles of Faith 1:5 scripture poster/card set (HERE or below).
  Bear your testimony that people who are called to do God’s work are called by God through revelation.

   

• OLDER CHILDREN

Hebrews 5 provides an opportunity to discuss what priesthood is—the power and authority to act in God’s name—and how it is received.