New Testament – Class Member Study Guide
This month's Sunday School message comes from the booklet all Sunday School members receive in their Sunday School classes entitled, New Testament - Class Member Study Guide. The basis of the introduction to the booklet is to help the student or the class member understand their responsibilities. "Jesus said, "Learn of me" (Matthew 11:29). Learning of the Savior and his truths is an essential part of living his gospel. Your efforts to search the scriptures daily will help you draw nearer to him, for "these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through him name" (John 20:31)".
"This study guide is divided into numbered sections that correspond with the lessons in the New Testament Gospel Doctrine course. Each section provides the week's reading assignment and questions to enhance your study. You may use the questions to improve personal application of the scriptures, to prompt gospel-centered discussions among family members, and to prepare to make meaningful contributions to class discussions".
"This study guide is a valuable resource for families. Each section contains a suggestion for an activity of discussion to add interest and variety to gospel learning in the home".
The booklet also explains how to mark your scriptures and how to create a scripture chain, which would be very valuable for future reference. It also lists your responsibilities. "You share with your Gospel Doctrine teacher the responsibility to help the class be successful. The Lord has said that teachers need to "preach...by the Spirit of truth" and that those who receive "the word of truth" should "receive it by the Spirit of truth" (D&C 50:17, 19). Come to class prepared to contribute insights, ask questions, share experiences, bear testimony, and listen attentively to the teacher and the other class members. When you have studied the reading assignment and pondered the questions in this study guide, you will be better prepared to experience the fulfillment of the Lord's words when he said, "He that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together" (D&C 50:22)".
As you can see from the above information, the class members are highly recommended to be prepared to participate in the class through reading the Class Member Study Guide, which contains a very short, quick, easy-to-read summary of what will be discussed in their Sunday School class. The guide always lists some questions, and it always lists some suggestions for family discussion.
"An additional section at the end of the study guide contains statements by latter-day prophets on the blessings of scripture study".
One of the scriptures found at the back of the pamphlet that we as a presidency like is the very first one by Joseph Smith: "Search the scriptures--search the revelations which we publish, and ask you Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, to manifest the truth unto you, and if you do it with an eye single to His glory nothing doubting, He will answer you by the power of His Holy Spirit. You will then know for yourselves and not for another. You will not then be dependent on man for the knowledge of God; nor will there by any room for speculation. No; for when men receive their instruction from Him that made them, they know how He will save them" (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 11-12)".
It is our hope and prayer that teachers will be prepared with gospel-centered questions that will encourage gospel-centered discussions, and that class members will come with questions and participate in the discussion. Teachers should remember that a few class members come to class with a burning question that they have always hoped to get answered, and we need to be sure to give them an opportunity to voice that question and receive answers from either the teacher or other class members. There also may be class members who want to participate who have spent time reading the prepared materials as recommended by the Class Member Study Guide. Therefore, teachers should make every effort to allow class participation and discussion that will provide answers for class members, and never cut discussion short in order to try to finish the material that they have prepared.
It is a great work that all of our teachers do in the wards, and also a great work we do in our homes teaching our spouses and our children. We pray that we might all be able to "learn of me", as the Savior would have us do.
