Come, Follow Me – 2023 (New Testament)

Four messages from John 1: 1. Jesus created the world. 2. Jesus is the light of the world. 3. He is full of grace, and He helps us grow “grace for grace.” 4. He is the Lamb of God.

Three reasons why baptism was an appropriate way for the Savior to begin His ministry: 1. Baptism is an inherently humble and submissive action. 2. Baptism is a public declaration of belief. 3. Baptism by immersion symbolizes our total commitment to God.

We can overcome temptation by following the Savior’s example: studying the word of God, fasting, and spending time alone. We can follow His example of service by contributing to the health and freedom—physical, emotional, and spiritual—of others.

Some of Jesus’ most profound teachings had an audience of one. He taught Nicodemus that we must be born again and that His coming demonstrated God’s love. He taught the Samaritan woman that He provides living water and that we must worship with our heart.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches that apparent signs of weakness can actually be sources of strength. He urges us to light the world. He also shows us how to internalize the law rather than merely comply with it.

The second part of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6) focuses on prioritizing heavenly rewards. The third part (Matthew 7) provides guidelines for judging wisely. Jesus also provided an example of a good prayer, called the Lord’s Prayer.

Jesus healed many people during His earthly ministry to demonstrate that He can heal us all. He saw sinners as people to be healed, not to be condemned. Just as He calmed the storm, we need to learn to be still and trust Him.

1. Apostles are messengers sent from Christ. The way we receive them reflects the way we would receive Him. 2. We are healed and saved by His grace as we exercise faith in Him. 3. Believing does not require naïveté. It requires a positive focus and hope.

Christ’s burden is light. When we focus on the heart of the gospel, we treat others with mercy and avoid overburdening them. We serve others without giving up on them. We recognize signs without demanding them. And we prioritize reality over appearances.

A parable compares something familiar with something intangible. Some of Jesus’ parables compare farming with spiritual growth. Many of His parables teach the meaning of the kingdom of heaven. Parables require effort from us. We must have “ears to hear.”

From the miracle at Bethesda, we learn that we must be willing to be healed. From the miracle of the Loaves and the Fishes, we learn that Jesus can nourish our souls. From the miracle of walking on the water, we learn to trust Him and not be afraid.

Elder Gary E. Stevenson suggested that we put as much effort into our celebration of Easter as we do Christmas. Here are some ideas to help you commemorate each day of Holy Week from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.

A key is a good symbol for the Savior’s power. It represents a unique ability to open and close doors that others can’t. Keys can also be transferred and loaned. Jesus gave keys to Peter, indicating that He shares His power with people on earth.

We can learn a lot from Jesus’ answers to the following questions: 1. Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2. How oft shall I forgive my brother? 3. Who is my neighbour? 4. Does thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?

Jesus is the Lord Omnipotent, the Light and the Life of the world, and our Advocate and Redeemer. Yet during His mortal life, many people rejected Him and accused Him of having a devil. But He modeled patient leadership, calling Himself the Good Shepherd.

Jesus loves every one of God’s children and wants us to find joy. That message is expressed in at least three ways in this week’s reading: through parables, through miracles, and through His increasingly specific prophecies of His Atonement.

Jesus challenges our assumptions. For example: 1. What we lack may be to give something up. 2. Our next phase of maturity may be to become like a child. 3. The best leaders act like servants. 4. We must pray repeatedly for things God already knows we need

Jesus recognizes our efforts to draw close to Him, and He warns us against sanctimoniousness. His love for us is enduring, and because of Him, we can reclaim even blessings we have unwisely rejected in the past.

Jesus not only prophesied of troubled times preceding His return, He gave advice to those who would live during those times: 1. “Be not troubled.” 2. “Stand in the holy place.” 3. “Watch and pray.”

I’ve learned the following principles from the Last Supper: 1. A defining characteristic of disciples of Christ is that they love and serve one another. 2. God knows us far better than we know ourselves. 3. The sacrament helps us to “always remember Him.”

At the end of the Savior’s life, He had some final messages for HIs disciples, and for us: 1. “I have loved you.” 2. “Peace I leave with you.” 3. My Father will send you a Comforter to be with you. 4. I want you to be one, as my Father and I are one.

Here are some lessons I have learned from Jesus’s words and actions in the garden of Gethsemane: 1. We must be willing to say, “Not my will, but thine be done.” 2. We must be willing drink bitter cups when necessary. 3. We should watch and pray always.

The Savior demonstrated extraordinary poise as He appeared before Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate, and Herod. As He hung on the cross, He spoke words of kindness and mercy. The cross itself provides powerful imagery symbolizing His love and His ability to save us

Four lessons from the resurrected Savior: 1. Mary Magdalene: Stand in holy places. 2. Road to Emmaus: The scriptures provide context. 3. Thomas: We are blessed when we believe without seeing. 4. Peter: We show our love for Jesus by caring for one another.

Lessons from the apostles: 1. Leadership is not about the leader. 2. The Holy Ghost helps us communicate clearly. 3. Jesus is our intermediary with the Father. 4. All things will be restored. 5. Jesus is our cornerstone. 6. We can find joy in serving Him.

Stephen and Abinadi: We can have courage and peace in Jesus even when we are persecuted. Philip and the sons of Mosiah: The Spirit can help us know where to go. Saul and Alma: Jesus can help us see where we are going wrong and put us on a better path.

1. God loves all of His children (Acts 10-11). 2. When God delivers us, we ought to be grateful for it (Acts 12). 3. God directs and sustains His missionaries (Acts 13-14). 4. Church leaders can overcome differences of opinion as they seek for unity.

Here are some lessons from Paul’s second and third missions: 1. God can help us know what we should and shouldn’t do. 2. We can miss serious messages if we are not serious. 3. We make better decisions when we consider the consequences of our actions.

I’ve learned the following lessons from the later portion of Paul’s life: 1. A witness must be fearless. 2. We benefit from prophets only to the degree that we listen. 3. We can do the Lord’s work even under difficult circumstances.

Here are some principles Paul teaches in the first six chapters of his epistle to the Romans: 1. The just shall live by faith. 2. There is none righteous. 3. Tribulation worketh patience. 4. We need to walk in newness of life.

Here are some teachings from Romans 7-16: 1. All things work together for good when we love God. 2. God has given us each individualized gifts and callings. 3. We should not seek revenge. 4. As disciples of Christ, we rejoice and weep with others.

To overcome differences and build unity: 1. Don’t be “puffed up.” 2. Remember that we are all followers of Jesus Christ. 3. Remember how little we know compared with God.

Spiritual Gifts: We need to appreciate one another’s gifts because they are often complementary. Charity: Paul’s description can help us evaluate our development of this essential Christlike attribute.

1. Worship requires order. We need to organize ourselves to commune with God. 2. The doctrine of the resurrection is foundational. The sting of death is swallowed up in Christ. 3. Disciples of Jesus have hope. They believe that an “effectual door” exists.

Four lessons from the first half of 2 Corinthians: 1. We need to open our heart so God can teach us. 2. Disciples of Christ seek reconciliation with others. 3. The time to repent is now. 4. Godly sorrow motivates repentance.

1. God wants us to be generous and happy. 2. We can be clever and thoughtful in sharing the gospel without being deceitful or manipulative. 3. The Savior lovingly shows us the ways we need to improve, and He helps us turn those weaknesses into strengths.

Simplify your life! That’s Paul’s core message to the Galatians. Don’t constrain your discipleship with unnecessary rules and expectations. Live by faith. Follow the Spirit. Strive for unity. Love others. Don’t throw away the freedom God has given you!

Lessons from the Epistle to the Ephesians: 1. Participation in the church is vital for our spiritual growth. 2. Parents should teach their children with love and gentleness. 3. Jesus gained power over all things by descending beneath all things.

Lessons from Philippians and Colossians: 1. Disciples of Jesus Christ feel compassion for others deeply and intensely. 2. God saves us by empowering us. 3. Jesus submitted His body to the will of His spirit. 4. We should seek after all good things.

Lessons from the 1 & 2 Thessalonians: 1. We can teach with both the word and the power of the gospel. 2. We should render all the gratitude we can, even though it’s not enough. 3. Be prayerful, humble, responsive to promptings, joyful, and grateful.

Paul expressed love for Timothy and Titus, calling them his “sons.” He taught them that church leaders must be self-disciplined and loving, that we should not suppress our righteous feelings, and that Jesus is our personal Mediator with the Father.

Lessons from Hebrews: 1. Jesus can succor us because of His mortal experiences. 2. Prophets lead us to Jesus Christ. 3. We will find God’s grace if we seek it. 4. God’s word can inspire us to productive action. 5. God’s blessings usually come gradually.

Lessons from the second half of Hebrews: 1. Jesus can help us purge our “dead works.” 2. It’s important to stay true to our convictions. 3. We receive some blessings only after we exercise faith. 4. When we do what is right, we are not alone.

1. When you commit to something, follow through. 2. God is the source of all good gifts. 3. We must be mindful of widows and orphans. 4. Disciples of Christ are “easy to be entreated.” 5. If you overcome lust, you can resist temptation. 6. Prayers matter.

Peter invited us to be holy. We do this by building on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ. That work continues after we die, in the spirit world. Peter said we should prepare to live in a new earth, because this one will pass away.

Lessons from the epistles of John and Jude: 1. We see God more clearly as we become more like Him. 2. We are changed through the atonement of Jesus Christ, symbolized by His blood. 3. God gives us responsibilities to help us grow. 4. Jesus is our advocate

1. Jesus supports us from the beginning to the end. 2. The love of God provides incomparable joy. 3. God’s blessings are reliable and permanent. 4. God can enlighten and empower us. 5. The gospel is for everyone, and we should help everyone feel welcome.

Principles from the book of Revelation: 1. “Washed white”—The Savior can purify us. 2. “Another angel”—God can restore all things. 3. “War in heaven”—We lived before we were born. 4. “Babylon is fallen”—Cultural influences can distort our perception.

The symbols of Christmas can inspire us to emulate the Savior. In particular, the star, the tree, the inn at Bethlehem, the shepherds, the wise men, and gifts can all remind us of God’s love and inspire us to serve His children better.

1. We can be called and chosen. 2. Don’t get attached to temporary things. 3. We are motivated to serve by seeing others’ service. 4. Keeping a written record changes us. 5. Following God accelerates our resurrection. 6. God will share His power with us.