Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families New Testament Lesson #1

Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families

New Testament Lesson #1

Introduction

As I said in Sunday School today, the Bishop suggested that I keep this blog going, not as an aid for Sunday School per se, since I will not be teaching Sunday School any more, but more as a virtual study group. To that end, my comments will be shorter than usual (mercifully I hear you say), and probably more introspective, but you are all encouraged to add your thoughts so that we might all learn from and be edified by each other in preparation for further discussion in our families and at Church on the first and third Sundays of the month.

Firstly, I really appreciated Sister Lauren LeDoux’s comment about needing to record what she was feeling as she studied the scriptures. This is how she learns. Although I am doing this, she has inspired me to also write physically in the manual—it takes a lot more effort for me to write legibly than to type. That should give me more time to collect my thoughts and to solidify them. I really want, as the manual says, to “become more deeply converted to His gospel, . . . understand the scriptures and find in them the spiritual strength [I] need.”

Forgiveness

At a most basic level, if we are seen as unforgiving, our fellow human beings are not likely to forgive us, let alone God. Usually, what gets in the way of my forgiving someone is pride. And of course pride is something the Lord was completely devoid of. So maybe the key to being able to forgive is humility? What do you think?

The example of Jesus on the cross forgiving those who were crucifying him (Luke 23:33–34) helps me realize that we can never completely know someone else’s motivation. Jesus did and He still forgave them. I have to develop a greater sense of empathy. How can I do this?

That’s all I am going to do today since I plan on working in the manual throughout the week—being retired I have that luxury. But I should like to hear your thoughts as you study these formational scriptures and the helps contained in the manual.