Paul gives us a list of attributes that we can be continuously getting better at. I pulled together a list from 1 Thessalonians 3-5 and 2 Thessalonians 3:
- Love one another
- Be chaste
- Be clean/Holy/sanctify
- Honest
- Children of Light
- Prepared
- Full of hope
- Faithful
- Edify/strengthen others
- Be happy
- Prayerful
- Grateful
- Confident in God
This is quite a list which gives us ALL (including myself) to always have something to be working on. We are on a road of progression and what a blessing it is to have the Atonement of Christ to help us conquer our weaknesses!
I am going to choose three of these attributes to improve upon: Full of hope, Grateful, and focus on edifying/strengthening those around me.
THE HOW:
School really wears one out and makes it hard to see past the late nights of studying and the early lecture classes. This week I plan to focus on how all of these hard moments will be of benefit to me and it WILL be worth it! I think that the major part about having hope is the attitude we have. In a change of attitude I hope to see my circumstances in a better light.
I forget how really blessed I am. This week I want to make it a point to write down one thing I am grateful for each day. As I have been told, it helps us see in a different perspective. I want to build a habit of gratitude.
We are all here in this big scary world together so why not work as a team? I tend to get all worked up about my problems and stresses that I forget that others are struggling as well. I am going to make an active effort to include in my prayers the knowledge to know when I can be of help to someone else.
I challenge you to make your own goals that will help you become more as Christ would have us be.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Acts 16; 18 Paul's Second Mission
In my missionary experience I have learned that the spirit is very essential. In lessons I found myself many times saying things that we hadn't planned but just happened to be what our investigator needed to hear. We are human and don't know everything but as we direct our lives to following the spirit we see that the Lord has a better plan for us than for us. I can do better in following the spirit because often I get so wrapped up in my life that I forget others and my spiritual growth. This week I am going to make a effort in focusing on being prepared to follow the spirit and not being scared to follow the promptings.
Acts 16: 9-33
-In what ways did Paul turn his experiences into missionary opportunities?
It is incredible to see that Paul was always ready to share the gospel. His love for sharing the gospel reminds me of children when they have a prized possession... they want to show everyone! They went out to find people to share the wonderful news the gospel brought. In their efforts they found Lydia, who the Lord had prepared, and cast an evil spirit from her. This caused them to be put into prison but they managed to turn that in to a teaching opportunity as they taught the guard about the saving powers of the gospel.
-How can you learn from Paul's missionary experience?
I think it is important that we stand true at all times ready to share our most prized possession, the knowledge of the fullness of the gospel. It helps me understand why daily scripture study is so important because that is our spiritual strength that is needed to be prepared. We learn line upon line so it takes time, which is why daily efforts are the key to this dedication.
-How is the Jailer an example of a true convert?
He comes to Paul with a CHANGE OF HEART. A greater desire to be part of the Lord's chosen. He was worried for his life and was dropped into humility. We can all be truly converted. We can be converted in many aspects of our life.
-How does Mosiah 4:9-10 expand your understanding of Acts 17:30-31?
God wants us all to repent and become clean of our sins/misdeeds because He wants us to return with him. It is only through our humility and repentance that this can happen. I thought that it was interesting that in Acts 17:30 it said "...the times of ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent." There was a time when we were ignorant and God 'overlooked' that but now he has made it possible for more to learn of him and his gospel and he is calling us to repentance.
-What can you do to better prepare yourself to share the gospel, whether as a full-time missionary or as a member?
I have served a full-time mission and have realized that the biggest part of missionary work is within the members. It is so important that we love, support, and help those in our ward family. Also, super important is the example you are to those around you. I want to live in such a way that the Savior can be seen in my actions. I need to jump out of my comfort zone to be more friendly.... to get rid of that shell and love like Christ does.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
A little background on this blog..... I am a student at BYU-Idaho taking a New Testament class. As part of the class we were assigned to a special project throughout the whole semester. I chose to create a blog to share my insights and what I am learning.
This class is the second half of the New Testament so we have begun in the Acts.
Acts 1 A Special Witness of Christ
In chapter one of Acts verses 1-11 it talks about the apostles being able to see Christ after he has been resurrected. They were told that it was him by heavenly messengers after he had returned up to heaven.
In the topical guide we see many references to the sightings of Christ after his resurrection. I found three that I really enjoyed:
- Luke 24:39 Christ is in the presence of his apostles and he tells them to feel his hands and feet to know that he is real and of flesh & bone. The scars he has is a testimony that he was the same who suffered and died for our sins.
- 3 Nephi 11:15 (in the Book of Mormon) Christ appeared to the Americas to bear witness of himself. He again told the people to feel his wounds and know that he is real.
- John 20:29 Thomas said he would not believe without seeing. Christ appeared to him and told him that now that knows that Christ lives because he has seen him. I hope to have more faith than Thomas.
A comparison between Luke 1:1-3 and The Acts 1:1 we see that Luke is making a second appearance in his promise to testify of Christ.
The doctrine of the resurrection of Christ is so central in the preaching of the witnesses of Christ because if he has not been resurrected then they are preaching in vain. We are blessed with the power of prayer to receive personal witness that their testimonies are true.
3 Nephi 27: 13-14 Christ was sent to the world for the purpose of breaking two bonds of death that hold us back from returning to our Father in Heaven. Spiritual death which is commonly known as sin. Physical death when our body is no longer functioning. Through the Atonement of Christ we can repent of our sins and through his resurrection we have the blessing to become resurrected beings as well. His gospel is centered in helping us return home to our Father.
The gift of the Holy Ghost was a blessing bestowed upon us as followers of Christ after he left so we might still be guided by him. He explained this to his apostles before he was crucified.
How can we be modern Apostles of Christ?
In Acts 1:21-26 it explains how Apostles were appointed.
- vs 21 those who have accompanied the Lord. In our time this could mean our level of faithfulness to the Lord.
- Become baptized. This doesn't mean any baptism but one with proper authority.
-Become a witness of Christ. Live, act, and talk of Christ. A witness that He lives.
-Pure/humble heart
The Bible Dictionary states "The word means 'one sent forth'. It was the title Jesus gave to the twelve whom he chose and ordained..... The calling of an Apostle is to be a special witness of the name of Christ in all the world...."
With this background we can see that in order to be a modern Apostle of Christ we need to live in accordance of his teachings and testify (where ever we are in the world) that HE LIVES. We need to show our faith in action by show others what we believe by the way we live. It is more than weekly, it is daily!
This class is the second half of the New Testament so we have begun in the Acts.
Acts 1 A Special Witness of Christ
In chapter one of Acts verses 1-11 it talks about the apostles being able to see Christ after he has been resurrected. They were told that it was him by heavenly messengers after he had returned up to heaven.
In the topical guide we see many references to the sightings of Christ after his resurrection. I found three that I really enjoyed:
- Luke 24:39 Christ is in the presence of his apostles and he tells them to feel his hands and feet to know that he is real and of flesh & bone. The scars he has is a testimony that he was the same who suffered and died for our sins.
- 3 Nephi 11:15 (in the Book of Mormon) Christ appeared to the Americas to bear witness of himself. He again told the people to feel his wounds and know that he is real.
- John 20:29 Thomas said he would not believe without seeing. Christ appeared to him and told him that now that knows that Christ lives because he has seen him. I hope to have more faith than Thomas.
A comparison between Luke 1:1-3 and The Acts 1:1 we see that Luke is making a second appearance in his promise to testify of Christ.
The doctrine of the resurrection of Christ is so central in the preaching of the witnesses of Christ because if he has not been resurrected then they are preaching in vain. We are blessed with the power of prayer to receive personal witness that their testimonies are true.
3 Nephi 27: 13-14 Christ was sent to the world for the purpose of breaking two bonds of death that hold us back from returning to our Father in Heaven. Spiritual death which is commonly known as sin. Physical death when our body is no longer functioning. Through the Atonement of Christ we can repent of our sins and through his resurrection we have the blessing to become resurrected beings as well. His gospel is centered in helping us return home to our Father.
The gift of the Holy Ghost was a blessing bestowed upon us as followers of Christ after he left so we might still be guided by him. He explained this to his apostles before he was crucified.
How can we be modern Apostles of Christ?
In Acts 1:21-26 it explains how Apostles were appointed.
- vs 21 those who have accompanied the Lord. In our time this could mean our level of faithfulness to the Lord.
- Become baptized. This doesn't mean any baptism but one with proper authority.
-Become a witness of Christ. Live, act, and talk of Christ. A witness that He lives.
-Pure/humble heart
The Bible Dictionary states "The word means 'one sent forth'. It was the title Jesus gave to the twelve whom he chose and ordained..... The calling of an Apostle is to be a special witness of the name of Christ in all the world...."
With this background we can see that in order to be a modern Apostle of Christ we need to live in accordance of his teachings and testify (where ever we are in the world) that HE LIVES. We need to show our faith in action by show others what we believe by the way we live. It is more than weekly, it is daily!
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