Seminary
1 Corinthians 8–13

1 Corinthians 8–13

Overview

As Paul continued his letter to the Corinthians, he taught that we must choose to separate ourselves from temptation. He explained that men and women are meant to work together and support one another as they follow the Lord. He taught that if all members would recognize and use the spiritual gifts they had received from the Lord, they could be like the many parts of a body working together in unison. He also wrote in detail about Christlike love, or charity, and why we should want to obtain it.

Prepare to Teach

The following information provides teachers with ideas of what may need to be prepared in advance for each lesson.

1 Corinthians 10

Lesson purpose: This lesson will help students rely on Jesus Christ to overcome temptation.

1 Corinthians 11

Lesson purpose: This lesson will help students better understand why men and women need each other in order to obtain the highest blessings in Heavenly Father’s plan.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to recall when they have seen men and women work together and support one another. Encourage them to think about how the different perspectives, abilities, and strengths of men and women positively influence marriage, family, community, and Church relationships.

Doctrinal Mastery: 1 Corinthians 11:11

Lesson purpose: This lesson will help students increase their mastery of 1 Corinthians 11:11 as they memorize the reference and key scripture phrase, explain the doctrine, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to a real-life situation.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to read section 3 in the article “Men and Women in the Work of the Lord,” by President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (New Era, Apr. 2014, 2–5), looking for truths we need to understand about God’s doctrine about men and women.

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider adapting the practice application according to misunderstandings or situations that students present relating to the roles of women and men in Heavenly Father’s plan. If students raise a variety of misunderstandings or situations, students could be organized into breakout rooms to discuss them.

1 Corinthians 12

Lesson purpose: This lesson is intended to help students recognize the spiritual gifts the Lord has given them to bless others and strengthen His Church.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to identify one or two spiritual gifts they have been given. They may want to ask family members or other trusted loved ones to help them do this. Ask students to ponder their gifts and how they are using them to bless others. 

  • Object lesson: A gift-wrapped package

  • Content to display: The statement by Elder Marvin J. Ashton on lesser-known spiritual gifts

  • Video: “With All Your Heart” (3:26)

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider inviting students to ask questions about spiritual gifts in the chat. Adapt the lesson as needed to address the questions they ask.

1 Corinthians 13

Lesson purpose: This lesson is intended to help students feel Jesus Christ’s pure love for them and to help them seek the gift of charity to feel that love for others.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to think about a family member, friend, or other individual they would like a better relationship with. Ask students to consider the effect that showing greater love toward this person could have on the relationship.

  • Video: “Charity Never Faileth” (3:32; watch from time code 0:56 to 1:55)

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider using breakout rooms to allow students to discuss aspects of charity and how the Savior demonstrated them.