Lesson 5

Study and Teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Preach My Gospel, Chapter 3

The lessons missionaries use to teach the Savior’s gospel are found in chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel. “The lessons in this chapter contain the essential doctrine, principles, and commandments of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Preach My Gospel [2023], 25). As learners study and practice teaching from these lessons, they will be better prepared to share the Savior’s gospel with others.

Review and Follow Up

Discussion leader: Invite learners to think about their recent efforts to apply what they are learning in this class. You could invite them to share some of their efforts with a partner or together as a class.

Learning Activity Options

Discussion leader: Prayerfully select the learning option or options that would most benefit your class. Be sure to leave plenty of time for practice and application.

Option A: What do the Lord’s missionaries teach?

Study

Discussion leader: Remind class members of “Your Purpose” (Preach My Gospel, 1). Recite this together as a class. Explain that one important way for missionaries to accomplish this purpose is by teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to people they meet.

Point out that the lessons missionaries teach are found in chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel. Share the following instructions:

Read the first two paragraphs in chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel, including the bolded lesson titles, looking for what missionaries are instructed to teach.

Discussion leader: You could also study together some of the following verses: Doctrine and Covenants 19:31 33:10–11; 34:4–6; 42:12. Learners could discuss additional insights they gain about what the Lord wants His missionaries to teach.

Explain that in the following activity, participants will learn about the format and structure of the lessons in chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel. To begin, consider giving learners a quick overview of one of the lessons. You might display the lesson on a screen as you review it together. The following instructions can help you provide a quick overview:

Find “Lesson 1: The Message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ” (pages 30–45). Briefly look over the following sections in this lesson. Think about how these different parts of the lesson can help you effectively teach the Savior’s gospel.

People May Wonder
Suggestions for Teaching
What You Might Teach People in 15–25 Minutes
Questions You Might Ask People
Invitations You Might Extend
Doctrinal Foundation
Teaching Insights (found throughout the lesson)
Short to Medium Lesson Outline

Discussion leader: Invite learners to share what they found helpful from the lesson you reviewed together. If time permits, you might explain that “Lesson 4: Becoming Lifelong Disciples of Jesus Christ” is formatted differently than the first three lessons. You could also briefly review this lesson together.

Practice

Discussion leader: Give class members time to study one of the lessons from chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel in greater depth. Display the following instructions, and give learners around 10 minutes to complete them on their own:

Choose one of the lessons from chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel that you would like to study more. Here are some ideas of what you could do:

Read the lesson’s section headings. Then take time to study in greater depth one or more of the sections that interests you the most.
Read the “People May Wonder” box at the beginning of the lesson (lessons 1–3 only). Highlight the questions that you would most like to answer. Search for answers in the “Doctrinal Foundation” section.
Study a few of the summaries in the “Doctrinal Foundation” section. You could also study some of the verses in the “Scripture Study” boxes. Pay attention to what these resources teach you about Jesus Christ and His gospel.

Discussion leader: When class members have finished studying, divide them into partnerships or small groups. Invite each person to share what they focused on in the study activity and what they learned from their experience.

Set a goal

Discussion leader: Give class members time to reflect on what they have learned today and to set goals. You could display the following to help them:

Set a goal that relates to what you have studied. Use ideas like the following, or think of your own.

Create a plan for how you will study doctrine from the lessons in chapter 3 in your personal study.
Choose a summary from one of the “Doctrinal Foundation” sections that you want to study. Study the topic, and create a brief outline of what you learned. Use your outline to teach someone you know.

My goal

I will … (action you will take).
I will accomplish my goal by … (a simple plan).

Discussion leader: If learners have a group to share their goals with, give them time to share how they will support or remind each other before the next class.

Option B: How can the Lord’s missionaries teach His gospel effectively?

Study

Discussion leader: Invite class members to think about past opportunities they have had to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to others (for example, with their family or friends, at church, or in seminary or institute). You could ask one or two learners to share their experiences, including what went well and what they feel could have gone better.

Explain that the following study activity can help class members learn how to teach the Savior’s gospel more effectively. Learners could complete all four steps individually, or you could divide them into groups of four and assign each group member to study one.

Study the following sections from the introduction to chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel. Look for truths and guidelines that help you understand how missionaries can teach the Savior’s gospel effectively. Consider marking ideas you feel are most important.

“Teach from Your Heart as Guided by the Spirit” (page 26)
“Teach and Invite according to Individual Needs” (page 27)
The scripture passages under the heading “What are you directed to teach?” (in the “Scripture Study” box on page 27)
The scripture passages under the heading “Why is it important to study the doctrine in the lessons?” (in the “Scripture Study” box on page 27)

Discussion leader: Invite class members to share what they found in small groups or as a class.

Practice

Discussion leader: Give participants an opportunity to prepare and practice teaching simple summaries from one of the lessons in chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel. You could use the guidelines found in Lesson 6: “Practice Teaching” to help them prepare to do this. Encourage class members to incorporate the principles they learned about effective teaching as they create and share their summaries. If time allows, you could give learners multiple opportunities to teach the summary they prepared.

Set a goal

Discussion leader: Give class members time to reflect on what they have learned today and to set goals. You could display the following to help them:

Set a goal that relates to what you have studied. Use ideas like the following, or think of your own.

Practice teaching your summary to a family member or friend.
Share your summary, along with your testimony, on social media.
Study additional content from the lessons in chapter 3.

My goal

I will … (action you will take).
I will accomplish my goal by … (a simple plan).

Discussion leader: If learners have a group to share their goals with, give them time to share how they will support or remind each other before the next class.

Next Time

Discussion leader: If you plan on using lesson 6 to practice teaching during the next class, you could invite learners to study one of the lessons from chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel in preparation. If you are ready to study lesson 7 next time, consider inviting class members to study “The Invitation to Be Baptized and Confirmed” from chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel (pages 28–29) in preparation. You might also want to send them a reminder.