Mission Callings
Skill Practice 2: Use the Scriptures in Your Teaching

Skill Practice 2

Use the Scriptures in Your Teaching

elders teaching

The scriptures contain God’s words and can have a powerful effect on those who read them. Using the scriptures in our teaching is an effective way to help others come unto Jesus Christ.

Discussion leader: Strive to be brief in the “Define” and “Demonstrate” sections so learners have plenty of time for practice.

Define

Discussion leader: To introduce the topic for this skill practice, invite learners to locate chapter 10 of Preach My Gospel (2023) and find the heading “Use the Scriptures” on page 182. Then share the following instructions:

Read the first paragraph and bulleted list in “Use the Scriptures” (Preach My Gospel, 182). Look for reasons why it is important to use the scriptures as we teach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

  • What did you learn?

Discussion leader: Explain that the following steps can help us use the scriptures effectively in our teaching. Display these steps so learners can refer to them throughout the practice activity.

  • Introduce the scripture (including background and context).

  • Read the passage (help explain its meaning and define difficult words).

  • Apply the scriptures.

Discussion leader: Each of the three steps is listed as a heading in chapter 10 of Preach My Gospel (page 183). Study these sections of Preach My Gospel together to help learners understand how they can use the scriptures effectively in their teaching. Focus on how following these principles will help the people they teach come closer to the Savior.

Demonstrate

Discussion leader: Refer the class to the “Personal or Companion Study” box on page 184 of Preach My Gospel. Choose one of the scripture passages from the activity and use it to demonstrate the steps you have been learning about.

Practice

Discussion leader: Share the following instructions. Give class members time to prepare individually and then practice with a partner.

Complete the “Personal or Companion Study” activity found at the end of the “Use the Scriptures” section of chapter 10 (Preach My Gospel, 184).

Discussion leader: When learners have finished, invite them to practice introducing the scripture they chose with a partner. After class members have finished practicing, you could assign each person to work with another partner and invite them to practice again.

Apply

Discussion leader: Share an invitation like the following to help learners apply this skill:

During the next week, look for an opportunity to follow the steps you have learned for using scriptures effectively. You could do this in family scripture study, home evening, with a friend, in a church setting, or as part of your efforts to minister to others.