WE HAVE COME TO WORSHIP HIM

JANUARY 14-20 LUKE 2; MATTHEW 2

Transcript

1. WE HAVE COME TO WORSHIP HIM GOSPEL DOCTRINE LUKE 2; MATT 2
2. BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO THY WORD REVIEW OF LAST WEEK: MATT 1; LUKE 1 ▸ Waiting on the Lord- Elizabeth, Zacharias, Mary, and Joseph. Challenges->Responses 1. How can this relate to challenges I am facing? What does the Lord expect of me while I wait? (Uchtdorf “Continue in Patience” Ensign May 2010, and Callister “Fear Not” Ensign Dec 2010 ▸ Video: Sealed Together: The Manaus Temple Caravan Luke 1:26-38 With God nothing is impossible. How does this make a difference in your life? The way you interact with your family? The way you serve in the church?
3. LUKE 2:8-38; MATTHEW 2:1-12 ▸ Shepherds (Luke 2:8-20) ▸ Simeon (Luke 2:25-35) ▸ Anna (Luke 2:36-38) ▸ Wise Men (Matt 2:1-12) What do we learn about ways to worship and witness Christ? Oaks, “Witnesses of Christ” GC Oct 1990 THERE ARE MANY WITNESSES OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST
4. PARENTS CAN RECEIVE REVELATION TO PROTECT THEIR FAMILIES MATTHEW 2: 13-23 ▸ Joseph and Mary’s flight into Egypt. What are the dangers that families face today? How do we protect ourselves and our families from these dangers? “THE ADVERSARY IS INCREASING HIS ATTACKS ON FAITH AND UPON US AND OUR FAMILIES AT AN EXPONENTIAL RATE. TO SURVIVE SPIRITUALLY, WE NEED COUNTERSTRATEGIES AND PROACTIVE PLANS. ACCORDINGLY, WE NOW WANT TO PUT IN PLACE ORGANIZATIONAL ADJUSTMENTS THAT WILL FURTHER FORTIFY OUR MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.” Nelson, “Opening Remarks” GC 10/18
5. EVEN AS A YOUTH, JESUS WAS FOCUSED ON DOING HIS FATHER’S WILL. LUKE 2:40-52 ▸ Helping youth to see their potential What opportunities are we giving them to participate in their “Father’s Business”? (Moses 1:39) ▸ Luke 2:52 Patterns of Personal Growth: 1.Increase in Wisdom (Intelligence) 2. Increase in Stature (Physical) 3. Increase in favor with God (Spiritual) 4. Increase in favor with man. (Social) Choose today to set a goal in one or more of these areas. Like the Savior: Growing in Four Important Areas New Era Jan. 2019 ELDER JEFFREY R. HOLLAND OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES, QUOTING PRESIDENT J. REUBEN CLARK JR. (1871–1961), SAID, “NEVER LET YOUR FAITH BE DIFFICULT TO DETECT.” AS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, WE NEED TO STRIVE TO MAKE OUR FAITH AND TESTIMONY EASY FOR OUR CHILDREN TO DETECT! ELDER HOLLAND ADDED, “PARENTS HAVE TO SEIZE THE TEACHING MOMENT BECAUSE IT MAY NOT COME AGAIN.” Burgess, “About their Father’s Business” Ensign 8/2008
6. CONCLUSION: ▸ President Monson’s Formula for finding Jesus: “The earnest and sincere prayer of a humble and pure heart.” (Formula or recipe for making bread) ▸ Time: “In these busy days there are many who have time for golf, time for shopping, time for work, time for play—but no time for Christ.” ▸ Room: “In these busy days there many who have time for golf, time for shopping, time for work, time for play—but no time for Christ. Do we flush with embarrassment when we remember, “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7.) No room. No room. No room. Ever has it been”. See Link on next page for credit
7. “AS WE UNDERTAKE OUR PERSONAL SEARCH FOR JESUS, AIDED AND GUIDED BY THE PRINCIPLE OF PRAYER, IT IS FUNDAMENTAL THAT WE HAVE A CLEAR CONCEPT OF HIM WHOM WE SEEK. THE SHEPHERDS OF OLD SOUGHT JESUS THE CHILD. BUT WE SEEK JESUS THE CHRIST, OUR OLDER BROTHER, OUR MEDIATOR WITH THE FATHER, OUR REDEEMER, THE AUTHOR OF OUR SALVATION; HE WHO WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH THE FATHER; HE WHO TOOK UPON HIMSELF THE SINS OF THE WORLD AND SO WILLINGLY DIED THAT WE MIGHT FOREVER LIVE. THIS IS THE JESUS WHOM WE SEEK” (“THE SEARCH FOR JESUS,” ENSIGN, DEC. 1990, 4–5). Thomas S. Monson CONCLUSION
8. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN…. To help class members prepare to discuss John 1, ask them to make note of every place in the chapter where someone bears testimony of Jesus Christ. To encourage class members to study Matthew 3, Mark 1, and Luke 3, you could ask them to think of someone they would like to help bring to Christ. Tell them that in these chapters they will read about a prophet whose mission it was to prepare people to receive the Savior.