August 7–13

Romans 1–6

“The Power of God unto Salvation”

Prayerfully read Romans 1–6 with your class members in mind. This will help you be sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit as you prepare to teach.

Invite Sharing

Consider giving class members a few minutes to search Romans 1–6 for a verse that the Holy Ghost helped them better understand. Then they could share the verse they chose with someone sitting nearby.

Teach the Doctrine

Romans 1:16–17

“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.”

• Many people have had experiences in which they were ridiculed for their beliefs. To help class members when they have such experiences, you could invite them to read Romans 1:16–17 and think of instances from the book of Acts where Paul showed he was not ashamed of the gospel. Perhaps class members could also share reasons they feel unashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Or they could share experiences in which they or others showed that they were not ashamed of the gospel.

  

  We can be unashamed to share our testimonies of the gospel.

Romans 2:28–29

True discipleship is found in our inward commitment, not just in our actions.

• How do we evaluate our own discipleship? Paul’s counsel to the Romans can help us remember to focus more on “the heart [and] the spirit” (Romans 2:29) than on outward actions. To help your class understand Paul’s counsel, you could write the text from Romans 2:28–29 on the board. Replace the word Jew with Latter-day Saint and the word circumcision with the covenant. What does this change add to our understanding of Paul’s teachings? You could also discuss examples of things we do as Church members that are more meaningful and powerful when done “of the heart, in the spirit” (Romans 2:29).

Romans 3–6

“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

• How can you help class members understand Paul’s teachings about faith, works, and grace? Consider sharing the following two scenarios to help them understand that we should not see our good works as a way to prove our worthiness, nor should we see Christ’s grace as a reason to excuse our mistakes and sins. Class members could search for truths in Romans 3:20–31; 5:1–2; 6:1–2, 21–23 that could help Gloria and Justin. What other truths in “Additional Resources” could help class members understand the importance of both righteous works and the grace of Christ?

  Scenario 1

  A friend named Gloria feels overwhelmed in her efforts to be a faithful disciple. She works hard to do everything she feels she should do, but she often worries that her efforts fall short. “Am I good enough?” she wonders. “Will the Lord accept me?”

  Scenario 2

  A friend named Justin doesn’t worry too much about making righteous choices. He believes in Jesus Christ, he attends his church meetings, and he is a loving father and a good neighbor. However, he has chosen not to live the standards that would qualify him for a temple recommend. When family and friends try to encourage him to prepare for the temple, he responds, “I’m a good person. I have faith in Christ. He already paid the price for my sins, and I don’t think He’s going to keep me out of the celestial kingdom over such minor issues.”

Additional Resources

Faith, grace, and works.

Scenario 1

• Ether 12:27

• Moroni 10:32–33

• J. Devn Cornish, “Am I Good Enough? Will I Make It?,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 32–34

• President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught: “Salvation cannot be bought with the currency of obedience; it is purchased by the blood of the Son of God. … Grace is a gift of God, and our desire to be obedient to each of God’s commandments is the reaching out of our mortal hand to receive this sacred gift from our Heavenly Father” (“The Gift of Grace,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 109–10).

Scenario 2

• James 2:17–26

• Helaman 12:23–24

• D. Todd Christofferson, “Abide in My Love,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 48–51

• President Uchtdorf taught: “If grace is a gift of God, why then is obedience to God’s commandments so important? Why bother with God’s commandments—or repentance, for that matter? … Our obedience to God’s commandments comes as a natural outgrowth of our endless love and gratitude for the goodness of God. This form of genuine love and gratitude will miraculously merge our works with God’s grace” (“The Gift of Grace,” 109).

Improving Our Teaching

Your call is inspired. As a teacher, you have been called by the Lord to bless His children. The Lord wants you to succeed, so as you live worthy of His help, He will give you the revelation you seek. (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 5.)