This blogpost features some resources for your personal study or if you are preparing a talk or lesson on Centering Your Life in Christ. Also included is a half-sheet activity page to complement the Come Follow Me (CFM) reading for June 23-29, which includes D&C 67-70. Click here for an index
and links to my CFM blogposts for other weeks.
NOTE: I am trying to decide whether it's worth the effort to
continue doing these CFM posts for the second half of the year, so if
you find these posts meaningful, PLEASE let me know. They're getting
challenging to keep up with and I need just a little feedback to know
whether they're worth my time. If you have constructive feedback on how
I can improve them, I welcome that as well. Thank you!
CENTERING YOUR LIFE IN CHRIST
Below you will find some ideas and resources that you can use in your personal study for preparing a talk or a lesson on Centering Your Life on Christ.
OBJECT LESSON IDEA:
Oreo Object Lesson (adapted from this website)
Materials Needed: Enough Oreos for everyone in your class, plus at least one extra.
1. Show your class some Oreos
2. Eat the filling of an Oreo.
3. Put the two chocolate cookies back together.
5. Let your class respond.
If they determine that the answer is "no," ASK: Why not? (she will probably say, because it has no filling/stuffing)
If she says "yes," ASK: How it is still an Oreo? (point out that there is no filling)
6. Based on your class’s reply, respond to their thoughts.
7. ASK: How is an Oreo that has no filling like a life without Jesus?
8. Respond based on your class’s response.
We can have good, strong values and things might look good from the outside, but we are missing the full sweetness of the Gospel if we don't make time for Christ in our lives every day. Just as an Oreo cookie isn’t an Oreo without the stuff in the middle, a person can't be their best selves without Jesus as the center!
9. READ: Proverbs 3:5-6 and THIS QUOTE AND DISCUSS WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAN AWAY FROM CHRIST:
“In English the word lean has a connotation of physically listing or moving to one side. When we physically lean toward one side or another, we move off center, we are out of balance, and we tip. When we spiritually lean to our own understanding, we lean away from our Savior. If we lean, we are not centered; we are not balanced; we are not focused on Christ.” Bonnie Cordon
10. CONCLUDE: Bear your testimony about how our lives are better with Christ. Christ gives us strength and we are missing out when we do not prioritize our relationship with him.
SCRIPTURES:
Mark 8:34 (deny yourself and follow Christ)
Philippians 4:13 (I can do ALL things through Christ)
2 Nephi 25:26 (we talk of Christ...)
Moroni 7:48 (true followers of Jesus strive to be like Him)
Proverbs 3:5-6 (trust in the Lord and LEAN NOT)
TALKS TO STUDY :
"A Life Centered on Jesus Christ" (Elder S. Mark Palmer, BYU Graduation Address, 2022)
"The Joy of Living a Christ-Centered Life" (Elder Richard J. Maynes, Oct 2015)
"Trust in the Lord and Lean Not" (Sister Bonnie Cordon, April 2017)
"Staying Centered On Christ when the World is Trying to Knock You Off Balance" (churchofjesuschrist.org, June 2018)
VIDEOS:
Temptation Fades as We Seek Christ in Every Thought: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fta0-zS1tFo&list=PL4E784EC0770935C0&index=14
Come Unto Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2d6l02H9vI&list=PL4E784EC0770935C0&index=33
PRINTABLE ACTIVITY SHEET:
These
activity sheets are designed to print double-sided and cut in half.
They're perfect for reviewing or introducing the content found in the
Come, Follow Me reading each week and would be great used in a classroom
or home setting. I have no children at home, nor do I have a calling
working with youth, so I copy these to be handed out with the sacrament
programs each week. Kids, teens, and adults enjoy them.
Here is the LINK to the printable activity page (in case it's not showing below)
QUOTES:
“My dear brothers and sisters, the joy we feel has little to do with
the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of
our lives.” Russell M. Nelson,
“In
English the word lean has a connotation of physically listing or moving
to one side. When we physically lean toward one side or another, we
move off center, we are out of balance, and we tip. When we spiritually
lean to our own understanding, we lean away from our Savior. If we lean,
we are not centered; we are not balanced; we are not focused on
Christ.” Bonnie Cordon
“Please
remember this one thing. If our lives and our faith are centered upon
Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently
wrong. On the other hand, if our lives are not centered on the Savior
and his teachings, no other success can ever be permanently right.” President Howard W. Hunter
"So what does a Christ-centered life look like? A Christ-centered life is
being faithful to covenants. It is loving and serving others. A
Christ-centered life rejoices in eternal family relationships. It
prioritizes “the riches of eternity” over the riches of the
world. A Christ-centered life humbly accepts that “to be learned is good
if [we] hearken unto the counsels of God.” A Christ-centered life is full of joy." Elder S. Mark Palmer
"I invite you to focus on that which is within your control, to center your faith and your life on Jesus Christ and His restored gospel, and, as needed, from time to time, to recenter your life on Him. I promise that doing so will lead to true and lasting joy." Elder S. Mark Palmer
"The
world in which we live is similar to the potter’s spinning wheel, and
the speed of that wheel is increasing. Like the clay on the potter’s
wheel, we must be centered as well. Our core, the center of our lives,
must be Jesus Christ and His gospel. Living a Christ-centered life means
we learn about Jesus Christ and His gospel and then we follow His
example and keep His commandments with exactness." Elder Richard J. Maynes
OTHER RESOURCES:
Teaching Ideas for Making the Christ the Center of Our Lives
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Be sure to come back every week for more Come, Follow Me resources!
Enjoy learning the gospel together!
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