July 17–23

Acts 10–15

“The Word of God Grew and Multiplied”

Prayerfully studying Acts 10–15 before reading this outline will help you receive impressions from the Lord. The ideas below are only suggestions.

Invite Sharing

Invite class members to share with someone sitting nearby something the Spirit taught them as they read Acts 10–15. Invite a few to share their insights with the whole class.

Teach the Doctrine

Acts 10; 11:1–18; 15:1–25

Heavenly Father teaches us line upon line through revelation.

• Some class members might have misconceptions about the process of receiving revelation. It may help them to discuss how revelation came to Peter and how they can move forward, “doubting nothing” (Acts 10:20), when revelation seems incomplete or unclear. Consider drawing a line on the board and writing at one end of the line The gospel is to be preached to the Gentiles. As a class, review Acts 10 and 11:1–18, and then add points on the line that show how the Lord revealed to Peter step by step that the time had come to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. For instance, you might start with a point labeled “Cornelius saw a vision” (Acts 10:1–6) or even start with the Savior’s command to His disciples to “teach all nations” in Matthew 28:19. What can we learn about revelation from Peter’s experience? What do Nephi’s teachings about revelation in 2 Nephi 28:30 and the teachings from Elder David A. Bednar in “Additional Resources” add to our understanding?

  

  Personal revelation often comes over time through persistent effort.

• You might study instances in the scriptures in which the Lord taught people line upon line. In addition to Peter’s experience in Acts 10, class members could review the experiences of Nephi (1 Nephi 18:1–3); Alma (Alma 7:8; 16:20); and Mormon (3 Nephi 28:17, 36–40). What other examples can class members think of in which people received spiritual guidance “here a little and there a little”? (2 Nephi 28:30). Why might the Lord sometimes choose to reveal things in this way rather than giving us answers all at once? (see Doctrine and Covenants 50:40; 98:12).

• Sometimes members have questions or concerns about changes in the policies and programs in the Church. It might help them to discuss how the revelation to begin preaching the gospel to the Gentiles (see Acts 10) replaced the Lord’s earlier instructions to His disciples (see Matthew 10:1, 5–6). You could show the video “The Jerusalem Conference” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). How might class members respond to someone in Peter’s day who disagreed with Peter’s direction because it contradicted earlier practices? How can the revelation in Acts 10 help us heed the Lord’s continuing revelation through His prophet?

Acts 10:9–48

“God is no respecter of persons.”

• Would your class members benefit from a discussion about what it means to be “no respecter of persons”? You might start by inviting the class to read scriptures that teach that God is not a respecter of persons, such as Romans 2:1–11; 1 Nephi 17:34–40; 2 Nephi 26:32–33; Alma 5:33; Moroni 8:12; and Doctrine and Covenants 1:34–35. Ask class members to write possible definitions of “no respecter of persons,” based on what they read, and then share what they wrote. How do the events and principles in Acts 10:34–48 show that God is no respecter of persons? How can the righteous be “accepted” and “favored” by God even though He is not a respecter of persons? (see Acts 10:34–35; 1 Nephi 17:35).

  You may need to help class members understand that being “no respecter of persons” does not mean that God blesses everyone equally regardless of our actions. He wants all of His children to accept His gospel, but the fulness of the blessings of the gospel are reserved for those who make and keep covenants with Him.

Additional Resources

Receiving revelation line upon line.

Elder David A. Bednar taught: “Many of us typically assume we will receive an answer or a prompting to our earnest prayers and pleadings. And we also frequently expect that such an answer or a prompting will come immediately and all at once. Thus, we tend to believe the Lord will give us a big answer quickly and all at one time. However, the pattern repeatedly described in the scriptures suggests we receive ‘line upon line, precept upon precept,’ or in other words, many small answers over a period of time. Recognizing and understanding this pattern is an important key to obtaining inspiration and help from the Holy Ghost” (“Line upon Line, Precept upon Precept,” New Era, Sept. 2010, 3–4).

Improving Our Teaching

Start with the scriptures. Before turning to supplementary resources, diligently study ancient and modern scriptures. Prayerfully studying God’s word will allow the Spirit to help you draw upon what you have studied as you teach. (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 12.)