new testament study guide gospel doctrine #3

8/10/2019 New Testament Study Guide Gospel Doctrine #3

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Theres a difference between expecting God to be faithful and anticipating the specificways he will demonstrate his faithfulness. The first attitude hopes in Gods constancyand wisdom; the second may assume that we know whats best. If we get the two

confused, we are liable to be disappointed with the results.

Gospel doctrine Lesson Three

Purpose: To

encourage class

members to

rejoice in the

birth of Christ and

to follow the

example he set in

his youth

Unto you is born

a Savior

When You Follow Star and Find a Stable

In the Bible we read the story of the wise men who followed the star. Here is my questionWhat happens when youve spent years following a star to find a king and you f ind a

stable instead? What happens when all of a sudden, after thinking that something grandand glorious would be at the other end, you end up in the backyard of a barn? And instead

of a king on a throne you f ind a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes? It is nothing like youanticipated. How do you react when you follow a star and find a stable? Can you imaginethe disappointment the Magi must have felt when they finally ended up in Bethlehem?

They were expecting a mansion or a royal court. They even stopped at King Herodspalace thinking that they had found the child that the star promised.. Everyone of us hashad times in life when weve followed a star. Everything looked so promising, but, in the end,we found ourselves in a stable. Here is what real wise men do when things dont turn out

exactly as expected:

1) Wise men of every age, when handed a difficult situation, dont panic. Instead, they learnto find God in the stable. This is part of developing a mature testimony. It is easy to seeGod in the good things. But, as we get older we have to start seeing him in the mundane

and disappointing things as well. Learn to f ind the Savior in the stable. Can you think of atime that you able to find the Savior in what was otherwise a very disappointing or

difficult time in your life?


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2) Wise men give their best when they arrive at a stable. They offer gold andfrankincense and myrrh. The temptation is to hold back and refuse to give

anything, much less the best. But when the wise men came to the stable, theydidnt withhold anything. They didnt look at each other and say, You know. This

kid aint worth it. He doesnt need gold. Lets go. They assessed the humblesituation and then gave their best. What can you do to ensure that you give your

best in difficult circumstances?

3) The wise men, after experiencing Jesus, abandoned their plans and changeddirection. They did not go back the way that they had come. They continued on in

a different direction. Let the stable experiences in your life change you.When you encounter Jesus, turn your life around and go the way that he

would have you go. Is there something in your life right now that you could turnaround with the help of your Savior?


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What were the circumstances of Jesus birth? (SeeLuke 2:7). How did these circumstances foreshadow

his mortal ministry and his atoning sacrifice? Inwhat ways do people today refuse to make room

for the Savior in their lives? What can we do tomake room for him in our lives?

What did Mary do after Jesus birth and thevisit of the shepherds? (See Luke 2:19). What

does this reveal about Mary? Why is itimportant to take time to cherish and ponder

sacred experiences?

The importance of pondering the sacred is simplythisif one does not ponder upon holy things, he will

lose them. Absent a feeling of reverence, he willgrow increasingly casual in attitude and lax in

conduct. He will drift from the moorings that hiscovenants with God could provide. On the otherhand, with a sense of the sacred, one grows in

understanding and truth. The Holy Spirit becomeshis frequent and then constant companion. More

and more he will stand in holy places and beentrusted with holy things. Just the opposite of

cynicism and despair, his end is eternal life.D. Todd Christopherson


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Scripture or Quote Heavenly ather Mary

JST John 1:14

Mosiah 3:7

John 10:18

D&C 93:3-4; 13

From His immortal Father,Jesus inherited the power

to live forever. From His

mortal mother He inheritedthe fate of physical death.These unique attributes

were essential for Hismission to atone for the sinsof all. Mankind. Thus Jesusthe Christ was born to die.He died that we might live.

That Child to be born of Mary was of right to be called the Son of the Highest. In Hisnature would be combined the powers of Godhood with the capacity and possibilities of

mortality. The Child Jesus was to inherit the physical, mental, and spiritual traits,tendencies, and powers that characterized His parentsone immortal and glorifiedGod,

the other humanwoman (Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed. [1916], 81).Read the following scriptures and quotes and then f ill in the table listing which attributes

Jesus inherited from His Father and which attributes He inherited from Mary.

Marys consecrated utterance, Beholdthe handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me

according to thy word (Luke 1:38), signaledher complete willingness to accept and to

fulfill her sacred role. Her faith,obedience, and humility set a standard for

all women(Virginia U. Jensen, Ripples, Ensign, Nov.

2000, 93).

How can you more fully submit to theFathers will?

new testament study guide gospel doctrine #3

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