Preach My Gospel Lesson Three

The following lesson plan has been prepared for the third missionary lesson in Chapter Three of Preach My Gospel.

It is entitled "The Gospel of Jesus Christ." Gospel means "good news." The gospel of Jesus Christ is our Heavenly Father's plan for our happiness and for our salvation.

The reason why we call it the gospel of Jesus Christ is because the Atonement of Jesus Christ is central to Heavenly Father's plan for us. In this plan, Heavenly Father would send His Son Jesus Christ to earth to show us how to live meaningful lives and how to return to live in His presence. Through the grace and mercy of the Savior, we can become clean from sin and live worthy enough to come live with Heavenly Father and Jesus.

To receive strength to live worthy and peace to enjoy our lives, we need to learn and follow the principles and ordinances of the gospel. A principle is an eternal truth based on doctrine that we can apply and an ordinance is a sacred act performed by Priesthood authority where we often covenant with the Lord to keep certain promises. However in the case of the Holy Ghost is is a gift. If we are worthy and continue to be worthy, the Holy Ghost will stay with us all the time. The first principles of the gospel are faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and repentance. The first ordinances of the gospel are baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost.

Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost represent an entry into the Lord's kingdom, but are not a destination. What is critical is what we do after these ordinances and this is called "enduring to the end."

Ask: Try to define the words in the preceding overview of Lesson 3 that are marked in bold.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

1. Through Christ We Can Be Cleansed From Sin. Heavenly Father sent His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, into the world. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whsoever believeth in him should not perios, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into teh world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:16, 17) King Benjamin gives additional clarification to this wonderful Biblical message just quoted. In Mosiah 3:17 he teaches "And moreover, I say unto you there there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Chirst, the Lord Omnipotent." So we see that only through the Savior's grace and mercy can we become clean form sin. Ours is the responsibility to accept the Savior, repent and obey.

Ask: What is the gospel of Jesus Christ and what does it mean for you personally?

2. Faith in Jesus Christ. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. " (Heb 11:1). We are to believe in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. He wants us to accept and follow His teachings. As we obey, we receive blessings. A great example of faith is the law of tithing. President Hinckley was quoted in the October 2007 General Conference in Sister Cook's talk as saying that 'tithing is something we pay with faith." The doctrine is eternal life, the priniciple is faith, the law is tithing - one example of how you teach the law of tithing using the doctrine, principles, and rules triangle from a previous FHE lesson on this blog. A great scripture to use in this lesson is the reminder from Ether 12:6 "And now, I Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."

Ask: What does it mean to have faith? How can faith give you strength? Please give another example of rule like we did for tithing on the doctrine, principles, rules triangle and apply it to faith?


3. Repentance. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ means that you will want to change your life to be better. Repentance means change. Missionaries are to preach nothing save it be faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and repentance. We do this to get people to change their lives. We all need to change. My favorite scripture in teaching repentance is found in 2 Corinthians 7: 9-11. Paul says "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nother. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of, but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what claring of yourselves, yea what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter."

Faith in Christ leads to repentance, we feel godly sorrow, we stop doing things that are wrong and continue doing things that are right, we confess our sins, and we receive forgiveness. Guilt and sorrow are then replaced by peace.

Ask: What does it mean to repent? Why does everyone need to repent?

4. Baptism, Our First Covenant. "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto theee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5). "Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38) in response to the question of the apostles in verse 37 "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" And in Ephesians 4:5 we are taught there is "one Lord, one faith, one baptism."

Ask: Why does everyone need to be baptized?

5. The Gift of the Holy Ghost. President Packer teaches us that you must not say baptism with out the Gift of the Holy Ghost for they go together. Baptism by immersion is followed then by the Gift of the Holy Ghost. The two are inseparable. Priesthood holders confer the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. The Holy Ghost teaches us, cleanses us, comforts us, and testifies of the truth. It warns us and directs us. "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26) "Behold, again I say unto you, that if ye will enter in by teh way and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show you all things what ye should do. Behold this is the doctrine of Christ." (2 Nephi 32:5)

Ask: What is the Holy Ghost? How can the Holy Ghost bless your life?

6. Endure to the End. We must continue on the path to return to our Heavenly Father's presence once we have been baptized and confirmed. To do this we must do our utmost to remain free of sin in order that we can keep the Holy Ghost with us. By faithfully following the gospel path of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, making and keeping covenants and receiving the Holy Ghost, we qualify for eternal life. Note how baptism is the example of making and keeping covenants. Remember the Sacrament prayers as we weekly renew our baptism covenants. "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward feasting upon the word of CHirst, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." (2 Nephi 31:20)

Ask: What does it mean to endure to the end?