New Testament Class Week 5 two posts in one

Ok so here are my two New Testament posts all in one big long post!! Only one more week of classes left!!

Unit One:

Choice Three: Hebrews 13. Works of Righteousness

Paul concluded his epistle to the Hebrews with some brief teachings and statements of counsel. Read Hebrews 13 and find statements about the following questions:

• How should we treat strangers and those “in bonds”?

We should entertain them, because by doing so we may entertain angels.

We should remember be in bonds, and be compassionate towards them.

• How is marriage looked upon?

It is honorable in all.

• What warnings are given about covetousness?

That we should not be covetous, and be grateful for everything that we have, and realize that God will give us everything that we need.

• What is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever”?

Jesus Christ

• How are we sanctified?

Through the blood and suffering of Christ.

• How do we respond to those who rule over us?

We must Obey them and subject ourselves to them.

• Who did Paul ask the people to pray for?

Paul asked them to pray for him and the others of the ministry

Unit Two:

Topic Choices (Choose One)

Choice 1: James 1. “Be Ye Doers of the Word and Not Hearers Only”

1. Read James 1 and respond in writing to the following items:
• What words or phrases encourage you to look for direction from God?
1. That I can ask God and not have to worry about being chastised for asking.
2. When going through trials I will receive blessings for what I have gone through
3. That when I am being tempted it is not from God, so that encourages me to ask for His help.
4. Every good and perfect gift is from God.
• How did James further define the phrase to “ask in faith”?
1. Nothing wavering, that we shouldn’t doubt whether we will get an answer from God, because if we doubt than we will not get an answer.
• How do Matthew 6:24 and 1 Kings 18:21 add to your understanding of James 1:8?
1. If we are double minded than we are serving two masters, which the verses from Matthew and 1 Kings are very plain on we cannot serve two masters because we will hate one and love the other. And when they serve two masters they mean following God and following Satan which you can’t do both at once.
• From James 1:13–15, 19–27, make an outline of how we can better live the gospel of Jesus Christ.
1. That we cannot be tempted of God, and so if we cleave unto the things of the Lord we cannot be tempted. It says that we are tempted when taken away from our lusts, so we need to just stay away from those things and stay close to God.
2. Listen to the teachings of the gospel
3. be slow to anger
4. stay away from all “filthiness”
5. be doers of the word, and not hearers only.
6. be charitable, help the poor and the widowed.
• Give a few modern examples of how you have recently seen individuals exemplify James 1:22.
1. The one example that popped into my head as soon I read this question was of a lady I came into contact with at work a couple of days ago. I work at the Gap, and unfortunately we have a lot of problems with shoplifters. I was helping a lady with her purchases, she was returning a shirt and buying a couple of other things. When I finished ringing everything up her daughter put everything into the bag to help out, and we were really busy so I didn’t think anything of it. They left the store and I continued helping other customers; about 15 minutes after they left the lady came back in and said they had accidently taken the shirt the had returned with them. I was touched by that small act of honesty, because it would have been easy enough for them to just keep the shirt, they had already returned it. She took the time to come back into the store and give us the shirt back. So many people wouldn’t do that.
2. Read the institute student manual commentary for James 1:5–6, “If Any of You Lack Wisdom” (p. 409). Make a list of reasons why Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–1985) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said these verses have “had a greater impact ... upon mankind than any other” scripture.

Because it has helped any investigator of truth to direct his questions to God to find the answers

It was the crowning act of the ministry of James

It led Joseph Smith to ask which church he should join which then in turn opened the heavens once more, which has allowed the priesthood to be established on the Earth so we can all have to opportunity to receive the saving ordinances we must have to live with our Father in Heaven once more.

New Testament Class Week 4 second post

Unit TWO

Choice 4: Titus 1–3. Epistle of Obedience

1. Read Titus 1:1–5 and the Bible Dictionary entry for “Titus” (pp. 785–86). Write a paragraph about who Titus was and what responsibility he had toward the Saints living in Crete.
• It sounds like Titus was Paul’s son. I’m not sure if Paul used that term literally or figuratively. Either way he used that term in the scriptures Titus was a very near and dear person to Paul. Titus traveled with Paul on several of his missions, and was present at a lot of the conferences. His role in Crete was to carry on the work there and establish the priests and the “government” of the church.
2. List the attributes of a bishop found in Titus 1:6–9; 1 Timothy 3:1–7.
• Blameless
• One wife
• Faithful children
• Not accused of riot
• Not unruly
• Not selfwilled
• Steward of God
• Not soon angry
• Not given to wine
• No striker
• Not given to filthy lucre a lover of hospitality
• Lover of good men
• Sober
• Just
• Holy
• Temperate
• Holding fast to the word
• Good behavior
• Apt to teach
• Patient
• Not covetous
• Presides well over his own house
3. Read Titus 1:10–16 and the institute student manual commentary for Titus 1:12, “The Nature and Character of the Cretans” (p. 373). Make a list of the problems Paul identified that existed among the Saints in Crete.
• Many unruly, vain talkers, deceivers
• Lovers of filthy lucre
• Always liars
• False prophets
• Evil beasts
• Slow bellies
• Unbelievers
• Disobedient
• Deny God
• Hypocrites
4. Read Titus 2–3. Then write your answers to the following questions:
• In Titus 2:1, what did Paul encourage Titus to speak of?
1. Speak only sound doctrine
• What impact did Paul say sound doctrine would have upon the aged?
1. it teaches them to be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things.
• How could that also apply to the young?
1. it also teachers them to be sober, chaste, good works, obedient.
• How can the counsel given in Titus 3:2–5 help us be patient with new members of the Church?
1. That we have all made “fools” of ourselves and we have all been learners and brand new to something so we should have love and patience for those who are new and learning.
• What role does the Lord’s grace play in our salvation? Read Titus 3:5–7; 2 Nephi 2:6–8; 10:24; Moroni 6:4; 10:32–33; Doctrine and Covenants 45:3–5.
1. Without the Lord’s grace there is no way we could be saved. He is our advocate during the judgment. He suffered for all of our sins so that if we just live as righteously as we can and repent of our sins with our Lord’s grace we can be clean 100%.
5. Read Titus 3:9 and the institute student manual commentary for Titus 3:9, “Why ‘Avoid Foolish Questions, and Genealogies, and Contentions, and Strivings About the Law’?” (p. 374). Write a definition for what is meant by foolish questions and genealogies. Write a paragraph about how you could stay grounded in “sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1) and “avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law.”
• I figure what is meant by foolish questions and genealogies is when people ask things to be contentious, or to try and start a “bible bash” and we are supposed to avoid those.
• I can stay grounded in sound doctrine by obviously going to church every Sunday, attending FHE on Monday nights, go to institute if it is offered. Also reading my scriptures and praying, studying conference talks. Doing all these things can help me stay grounded in sound doctrine. Ways to avoid foolish questions and contentions would be to just not rise to the challenge. Many times in my life people have tried to trip me up in my beliefs, or have wanted to bible bash. As soon as I start to get a hint of that kind of attitude I simply bare my testimony and try to end the conversation. People who want to argue are not spiritually sensitive enough to understand the spirit.

New Testament Class Week 4

Here is my most recent post for my new testament class. I don't know if anyone is reading my blog here, but if you are, hopefully you are enjoying these little insights I have had! This post is on how we can use the scriptures to solve our day to day problems. ENJOY!

Unit one

Choice 1: Philippians 1–4. Find Solutions in the Scriptures to Life’s Challenges

For each of the following common challenges, write the counsel from Philippians that you would use to resolve it:

• People sometimes argue and complain over petty matters in church meetings or throughout the week (see Philippians 2:1–8, 14–15).

In this set of scriptures it talks about how we should be like minded and remember Christ who died for us. These scriptures made me think about how we need to realize that everyone is different, and so we will all have different opinions. We need to realize this, and think well if it isn’t something vitally important, than we shouldn’t argue over it. I a lot of times try (and the key word here is try), to just think let bygones be bygones, if it isn’t eternally important, I try to just let it go.

• Many youth feel that their parents’ testimony is sufficient for them. Since they have good parents, they rely on them for all their spiritual strength (see Philippians 2:12–15 and institute student manual commentary for Philippians 2:12, “Work out Your Own Salvation with Fear and Trembling” [pp. 361–62]).

These are good scriptures, but what really helped it hit home was the part of the institute manual. We are responsible for our own testimony. This is an action gospel, we can’t just sit idly by and expect to gain exhalation. No, we must live and strive for it constantly by always trying to better our testimony. Not only can we forever lean on the testimony of our parents, but we can’t just have one spiritual experience and think we have a testimony and never work on it again. Having spiritual strength and a testimony is a lifelong process of hard work.

• An investigator is considering joining the Church, but his family will no longer associate with him if he does (see Philippians 3:7–16; 4:13).

These scriptures are very comforting, and help us realize that Christ has suffered it all. He knows what it is like for someone to lose their family, He asks us to follow Him, and He will make it all better. He will strengthen us in our tough times; we just have to have faith in Him.

• How is this writing assignment an example of the principle taught in 2 Nephi 32:3?

In this scripture it is telling us we should feast upon the words of Christ, because they are the words of Christ, and will be a comfort for us. So this activity of seeing how the scriptures can help solve day to day problems is like feasting on them. So many times we want other people to solve our problems for us, or help us figure them out, when really all we have to do is learn to turn to the scriptures for all our problems.

Two in one day!!

So here is another insight I gained from my New Testament class, I really like this one!

Choice 3: Romans 6. Baptism

1. Review Romans 6:1-13 and answer the following questions in writing:

a. What must be done with sin before baptism can occur?

i. We must repent and forsake of sin before baptism can occur.

b. What events from Christ’s life are symbolized in baptism?

i. His death and resurrection are symbolized in baptism.

c. Considering this symbolism, why couldn’t someone be baptized by sprinkling?

i. Because we must be immersed in the water, the reason we are laid down in the water and brought back up again is to symbolize that Christ laid down His life for us and was raised. The sprinkling can’t show that symbolism.

d. What do these verses teach us about how we can maintain the “newness of life”?

i. By keeping the commandments of God.

e. According to Mosiah 3:19, what part of us would ideally die at baptism?

i. The natural man. When we are baptized we are saying that we are putting aside our will for the will of God, so we are symbolizing that the natural man has died and we will live a more spiritual life.

2. Study Romans 6:14-23. Write a paragraph that describes how we know whose servant we are. Then write a statement identifying the true source of freedom.

We know whose servant we are when sin has no power over us, we live by grace. We are obedient to the commandments of God, and are free from sin. And by our fruits you can tell whose servant we are. It is so important to remember this concept, that by their fruits ye shall know them; the same will go for us. People can tell who we serve by the way we act.

The true source of freedom comes from living the commandments and having our will be the same as God’s will. He will always make sure we are free.

New Testament Class Week 3

Here is another spiritual insight for my New Testament class, Enjoy:

Romans 12-16 Live as Saints should Live

1. Review Romans 13:11 and look for what is “nearer”. Read Ezekiel 3:20; D&C 14:7; and explain in writing what we must continue doing to work out our salvation.

Our salvation is “nearer” than what we thought. I take this to be a warning that the second coming is nearer than we think, or that we shouldn’t procrastinate the day of our repentance. We must continue to be obedient and repent to work out our salvation. We mustn’t leave it to the last minute because we never know what may happen tomorrow. And as it says in the doctrine and covenants, if we keep the commandments, endure to the end we will have eternal life, and that is the best of all the gifts God can give us.

2. In Romans 12-13 Paul gave much counsel that leads to salvation. Read each of the following verses and list what Paul taught would help lead to salvation:

a. Romans 12:1

i. To present ourselves as a living sacrifice, such as service.

b. Romans 12:2

i. Conform my will to the will of God.

c. Romans 12:9

i. Abhor evil, and cleave unto righteousness.

d. Romans 12:13

i. Be charitable.

e. Romans 12:16

i. Be not prideful towards others.

f. Romans 12:21

i. Overcome evil with good.

g. Romans 13:1

i. Be subject to God’s powers.

h. Romans 13:3

i. Do good.

i. Romans 13:8

i. Love one another

j. Romans 13:9

i. Keep the commandments.

3. Review Romans 14:1-13; 15:1-3. Then write answers to the following questions:

a. What cautions did Paul give about judging?

i. That we shouldn’t judge, because in the manner that we judge others, we will be judged.

b. People may have different opinions and practices, but what is most important to remember?

i. I really liked the verses on people having differing opinions. It basically said live and let live, if someone doesn’t think the same way as you, just let it be. I find in my life and especially in my family, we want everyone to see the way we see and believe the way we believe, and sometimes it is best to just let things go. As long as it isn’t essential to our salvation, it is ok to have different opinions.

c. What additional insight comes from reading D&C 38:25-27?

i. I think it just means we need to be more united. It is ok to have differing opinions, as long as we are united in the gospel and can understand and love one another.

4. Review Romans 15:25-26, 31; 16:2, 15. Write the term Paul frequently used to refer to members of the Church in his day.

Paul refers to the members of the Church in his day as saints. This is really nice because we are now the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. So it is as if we are of the same church, nothing has changed in the two thousand years since it was established.