July 2019 Come Follow Me and Ministering – Scripture Study
This month, the July 2019 Come Follow Me Ministering Printable talks about the importance of scripture study from “How does studying the scriptures daily make us more noble?” in the “Come, Follow Me” manual.
These ministering printables are a great way to help families incorporate the “Come, Follow Me” lessons into their own study. They are also perfect for Young Women’s, Relief Society or Sunday School.
Download July 2019 Come Follow Me Ministering Printable
I spotted these little cactus pencil holders at Dollar Tree and fell in love! Then I decided to break out the watercolors for the first time in years to paint the little cactus for the printable. I was so nervous! I haven’t tried to paint in so long. But once the jitters faded, I had a lot of fun. My kids have never really seen me paint. I am pretty rusty, but my little Ladybug was so complimentary. I may have to keep her around!
July 2019 Come Follow Me Ministering Printable
Shewing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ
During Paul’s ministry he met plenty of people who weren’t interested in his message. And then there were a few who wanted to listen, but only because they liked knowing about new things. I imagine it made them feel educated and well-rounded. But they didn’t have any intention of acting on what they learned. He also meet several people who weren’t super happy about his message at all. They did everything in their power to stir up trouble – assembling riots, spreading rumors, laying traps, and putting Paul in prison.
Daily Scripture Study
But some people heard the gospel, looked for answers, and were converted. What made these people different?
In Acts 17:11 we are told that these people “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
They were searching their scriptures daily! It is kind of cool to think that we have the same promises and blessings as the saints did during Paul’s time. And I love how the scriptures tie us to a larger story. I am not just some person living some random life. I am a daughter of God, bound by eternal promises. The same promises that applied back then.
The Impact of Scripture Study
So why does reading your scriptures have such an impact? Elder Bednar in a devotional explains it is because of three reasons. First, when we study the scriptures we uphold our end of the baptismal covenant to remember God. And when we uphold covenants, we form a partnership with God and we benefit from His grace. Second, the scriptures give us guidance and direction in our lives. Have you ever opened the scriptures and found an intimate answer to your prayers? Third, scripture study helps us prepare to receive personal revelation.
Quoting Elder Bruce R. McConkie, “May I suggest, based upon personal experience, that faith comes and revelations are received as a direct result of scripture study. Paul says “faith cometh by hearing.” … Those who study, ponder, and pray about the scriptures, seeking to understand their deep and hidden meanings, receive great outpourings of light and knowledge from the Holy Spirit.” (Bruce R. McConkie, from “Holy Writ Published Anew,” an address delivered at the Regional Representatives Seminar, April 2, 1982)
The Power of Conversion
Later in Acts we see this power of conversion in a man named Apollos. Apollos was “an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures.” (Acts 18:24) He had only known the baptism of John the Baptist, but was busy preaching what he knew when he was found by Aquila and Priscilla – a missionary couple. They caught him up to speed and soon he was convincing many Jews of the truth by “shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” Apollos was a tremendous help to the missionary efforts.
We don’t often think of scripture reading as a miracle, but it is. It takes something ordinary – words on a page – and uses them to change history and to change lives.
In my own life, I don’t know how I would parent without the scriptures. Being a parent is the hardest thing I have ever done. It is hard to care about and be responsible for people. I come up short all the time and it hurts. But when I make scripture reading a priority, great things happen. I am strengthened and am no longer working alone. It is crazy that something so small and simple does so much.
The Promise
Gordon B Hinckley has promised us, “Brothers and sisters, without reservation I promise you that if you will prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it, there will come into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord. There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to his commandments, and there will come a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.”
You would think with all these promises, scripture reading would be easy. But it isn’t. I have to constantly put forth the effort. So often I am like someone dying of thirst, but when offered water insist that I am too busy to take a drink. It is when we need the scriptures the most that we feel like we don’t have room for them. In those moments I know that if we put the important things first in our day, and stick to our scripture reading, that God will work out the rest for us. It is a miracle, but it works!
