I still get anxious about teaching. Some weeks will be better than others. I will also try a variety of teaching methods. So if a lesson does not go well I use it as a learning experience. The only way I can ultimately deliver to you the best Sunday school experience is to fail and not be afraid of failing. So in those bad weeks, just be patient with me.
John 1
What messages do you find that will be of most value to you and your family? What could you share in your Church classes?
I have to be honest, my initial thoughts on John 1 were along the lines of "I'm not sure how much I got from that". Which is a problem when you need to teach a lesson about this chapter.
Thank goodness for the next weeks material that I have already got stuck into.
Before moving onto this weeks study though. I did give this some extra thought and study.
The podcasts I have started listening to were interesting. They focused on the history of the book of John. They focused on the language. They didn't really talk about the doctrine.
Despite their lack of doctrine this week, they did raise a good point that is worth nothing for the rest of our study of the new testament.
The host of the podcast pointed out some writers of the new testament are more poetic or flowery with their words than others. There was also a language barrier, I think a lot of the old texts were written in greek, but greek wasn't a 1st language to them. So it is generally accepted that there is ambiguity in the bible. We need to be wise as we read these books.
For example, John starts of with...
In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.
What is he on about?
Well, we actually have someone who has given us a new 'translation' of this in Joseph Smith.
In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. And the gospel was the word, and the word was with the Son, and the Son was with God, and the Son was of God.
So don't forget Joseph Smith Translation.
Also, who can tell me what is on page 684 of the Bible dictionary?
Harmony of the gospels. And what is the harmony of the gospels?
So, in summary, on first reading John 1 I didn't feel particularly inspired, however, I did remind myself of all these tools that are available to me to help me in my study of the new testament.
One final question before moving on, from the manual
Have you ever wondered whether you would have recognised Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God if you had been alive during His mortal ministry?
I have wondered this. I hope I would have. I've also wondered if I would recognise him if he came today. Just a regular guy doing good deeds. We do however know that when he comes again it will be in all glory and undeniable.
Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3
When it comes to this last weeks study, my mind was blown with what I learned and I was a little disgusted with myself for not identifying this earlier.
Who was Matthew?
The tax collector, probably well educated, spoke multiple languages and would have known arithmetic, possibly to a level we very much take for granted today. He was one of the original 12 apostles.
Who was Mark?
Likely in his teens when the Saviour was in Jerusalem, not one of the original 12 apostles. But later accompanied Peter and Paul on their missions. His writings are mainly the memories of Peter.
Who was Luke?
A convert post the death and resurrection of the saviour after Paul taught him. Having never met the saviour his texts originate from many eyewitness accounts.
Who was John?
One of the original apostles. His writings seem to be directed towards members of the church and it is claimed his texts post date the other gospels. Which is entirely possible because he is approximately 2,000 years old.
Who are Matthew, Mark, Luke & John?
https://www.lds.org/new-era/2007/01/who-are-matthew-mark-luke-and-john?
Remember what I said about harmony of the gospels and how the use of language can still leave questions about it meaning? I used it to investigate what each of these accounts say about the holy ghost descending 'in the form of a dove'. Each account slightly different. However after reading 4 accounts you should be able to get to the truth.
Matt 3:16 "Like a dove and lighting upon him"
Mark 1:10 "like a dove descending upon him"
Luke 3:22 "the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him"
John 1: 32 "descending from heaven like a dove and it abode upon him"
JST 1:31 "the spirit descending, from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him"
For me this exercise wasn't so much about whether the spirit can actually inhabit the body of a dove. If it could I do wonder why a dove of all things. But the technicality of it I don't think is particularly important, it's not going to make a difference to my salvation.
However it did get me thinking. I thought about the analogy of the spirit descending in this way. I don't believe it is literal.
What is happening here. Jesus has been living a pretty normal life (for a perfect man). John the Baptist, his cousin and prophet has been prophesying and baptising. Jesus comes to john to be baptised. What do the scriptures say he did next? This is important, then we will then circle back to the holy ghost thing.
Mark 1:12-28
40 day fast in the wilderness (v13)
Galilee preaching (v14)
Called his disciples (v16-20)
Taught in the synagogue in Capernaum with what? Authority (v21-22)
Cast out the unclean spirit that recognised him as the Holy one of God (v23-26)
People recognising his authority, not just unclean spirits, but witnesses who then spreading his fame (v27-28)
So what do we learn? Jesus was baptised, the holy ghost defends upon him, his father in heaven blesses him, he goes and fasts and consecrates himself, then starts his ministry.
Can you think of modern day examples of similar metaphors being used, Bishop?
What if I used the word 'mantle'?
We sometimes hear people describe a mantle falling upon someone like the Bishop when they are set apart. Could this be similar to what was being described in the gospels?
Turns out the spirit descending was more likely to be confirmation and the gift of the holy ghost. The scriptures do refer to a ministering of angels at the end of his 40 day fast, maybe he was given authority then. Maybe it was at his baptism, who knows.
This much I do know. Elder Bruce R McConkie said “But as pertaining to his mortal ministry, Christ … received the Melchizedek Priesthood here on earth, and was ordained to the office of a high priest therein, thus setting an example for others and being in all things the Prototype of salvation” (Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, vol. 3 [1973], 157).
So at some point post his baptism and pre his mortal ministry, he received the authority to teach his fathers gospel.
The teachers manual has two exercises I'd like to try.
Because we have at least two child baptisms in the ward this year...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.
I have no prepared answers for this question, just a few scriptures that car to mind.
I have no prepared answers for this question, just a few scriptures that car to mind.
Matt 3:15
2 Nephi 31:4-7
3 Nephi 11:33
Also, regarding the same verses Matt 3:13-17 listen to the following from Elder Robert D Hales as you think about your own baptism and the covenants you have committed to keep.
Elder Robert D. Hales taught:
“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. . . . Entering into the kingdom of God is so important that Jesus was baptized to show us ‘the straitness of the path’ [2 Nephi 31:9]. . . .
“As we follow the example of Jesus, we, too, demon- strate that we will repent and be obedient in keeping the commandments of our Father in Heaven. We humble ourselves with a broken heart and a contrite spirit as we recognize our sins and seek forgiveness of our trespasses [see 3 Nephi 9:20]. We covenant that we are willing to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ and always remember Him. . . .
“By choosing to be in [God’s] kingdom, we separate— not isolate—ourselves from the world. Our dress will be modest, our thoughts pure, our language clean. The movies and television we watch, the music we listen to, the books, magazines, and newspapers we read will be uplifting. We will choose friends who encourage our eternal goals, and we will treat others with kindness. We will shun the vices of immorality, gambling, tobacco, liquor, and illicit drugs. Our Sunday activities will reflect the commandment of God to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. We will follow the example of Jesus Christ in the way we treat others. We will live to be worthy to enter the house of the Lord” (“The Covenant of Baptism: To Be in the kingdom and of the kingdom,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 7–8).
Possible additional, less structured content.
lds.org making it very easy to get to this weeks study material.
Change
Learned about the idea of 'Content Zombies' from one of my podcasts. The idea being that you could just be learning all this great content, but doing nothing with it making no changes in your life? A couple of weeks ago I asked you why you are here. Do you want to change? The gospel is a gospel of change. We need to change.
John the Baptist’s invitation to repent & ‘change’.
Randomly someone stated singing the song "Everything changes but you" at work.
Then days later I learn about the concept of synchronicity on the radio.
In short wikipedia says Synchronicity is a concept, first introduced by analytical psychologist Carl Jung, which holds that events are "meaningful coincidences" if they occur with no causal relationship yet seem to be meaningfully related.
I like to think of these meaningful coincidences as divinely orchestrated symphonies.
Then I read this weeks lesson and within the first few paragraphs the word 'change' appears about 7 times.
The original apostles
Mark was not one of the original apostles but missionary companion to Paul & Peter
How many apostles did Christ call?
Can you name them? Incidentally, nobody can. What about Matthew, Mark, Luke & John? Matt 10;2-5
1. Simon Peter
2. Andrew
3. James (son of Zebedee)
4. John
5. Philip
6. Bartholomew
7. Thomas
8. Matthew
9. James (son of Alphaeus)
10. Lebbaeus
11. Simon (the Canaanite)
12. Judas Iscariot
