Assess Your Learning 10

Galatians–2 Thessalonians

This lesson is intended to help you evaluate the goals you have set and the personal growth you have experienced during your study of the New Testament. 

Valuing students’ contributions. Each learner has the capacity to contribute to the learning of others. Help students understand that as they participate in class, they can have a positive impact on other students. Encourage students to sincerely listen when their peers are speaking and to respond to each other’s comments. Each student brings a unique perspective to the class that can bless other students.

Student preparation: Invite students to think about the goals they set as they studied Galatians through 2 Thessalonians. Have them come prepared to share progress they made and obstacles they encountered as they have worked to achieve those goals.

Possible Learning Activities

Your spiritual progress

This lesson is intended to allow students to assess goals they have set, their ability to explain teachings in the New Testament, and how their attitudes, desires, and ability to live the gospel are changing. The class’s study of Galatians–2 Thessalonians may have emphasized truths other than those in the following activities. If so, the activities could be adapted to include those truths.

Think of an ability, talent, or characteristic you are developing that requires regular and consistent effort.

• What motivates you to spend the time and effort necessary to improve?

• As you work hard to progress, what do you expect to happen that helps you know your efforts are worthwhile?

We have many opportunities during our time on earth to work toward becoming more like the Savior, which prepares us to return to live with Him and our Heavenly Father. It can be helpful to periodically evaluate our progress and make any needed adjustments.

The purpose of this lesson is to give you opportunities to evaluate your spiritual progress. You will have the opportunity to assess what you have learned so far from the New Testament and to assess your progress related to goals you may have set because of what you have learned.

Take a moment to think about your recent study of the New Testament and the actions you have taken because of what you have been learning. You might want to review what you have written in your journal or what you have marked in your scriptures recently to identify the goals you have set and the impressions you have received.

Students could record their thoughts in their journals. When students have had sufficient time, invite them to share what they wrote. The following questions could help students know what to share.

• What have you learned from the New Testament that has helped you come closer to Jesus Christ?

• What have you learned about Him from the New Testament that has stood out to you?

If students share significant learning experiences that are different from those listed below, take time to help them to assess what they have learned and how they have grown because of their experiences. Otherwise, use one or all of the following activities.

Activity A: Explaining the Great Apostasy and the Restoration

Look at these two pictures, and think about what it means to restore something.

• Why would something need to be restored?

• How could these images be compared to the Apostasy and the Restoration?

To review the connection between the Apostasy and the Restoration, complete the following activity:

Imagine that the missionaries are teaching one of your friends in your home. They ask you to teach part of the next lesson on the Apostasy and the Restoration. You know that your friend is familiar with the Bible, so it seems like a good idea to use some verses from the New Testament during the lesson.

Using Acts 3:21; Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 2:19–22; and 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3 (or other verses of your choice), write what you might say during the lesson to help your friend understand why the Savior would need to restore His gospel to the earth.

Students could be invited to share their responses in pairs, in small groups, or as a class.

Activity B: Increasing your love for Jesus Christ and your desire to serve Him

If students wrote a letter to their future selves in the lesson “Philippians 3,” consider using the following activity to help them assess their love for God.

In the lesson “Philippians 3,” you were given the opportunity to write a letter to your future self in which you identified sacrifices you could make that would help you come to know Jesus Christ better and prepare for eternal life.

If you took this opportunity, refer to the letter you wrote. Compare your current feelings about Jesus Christ or your desires to serve Him with the feelings and desires you had when you wrote that letter. If there is anything you want to add to the letter based on your recent experiences, feel free to do so now.

Consider inviting volunteers to share any insights or thoughts they had as they reviewed their letters. The following questions might help students reflect and share their thoughts.

• As you reviewed your letter, did you notice any change about your love for Jesus Christ? If so, why do you think it changed?

• What recent experiences have increased your love for God and your willingness to serve Him?

• What do you feel are some of the next steps you could take to help you increase your love for God?

Activity C: Putting on the whole armor of God

• What do you remember about the armor of God? What do you remember about the meaning of each piece? If you need help, refer to Ephesians 6:14–18 for the answers.

Consider drawing this image on the board and inviting students to come up and add the spiritual meaning for each piece of the armor.

• How would you summarize what it means to “put on the whole armour of God”? (Ephesians 6:11).

Draw a stick figure in your journal.

• What efforts are you making to put on the armor of God?

Draw a piece or pieces of armor that represent those efforts.

• Have you experienced any results from your efforts? If so, what have you experienced? If not, what results do you think could come by continuing your efforts?