Seminary
Assess Your Learning 9

Assess Your Learning 9

1 Corinthians 8–16 and 2 Corinthians

Young man studying scriptures

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

Helping students assess their learning. Give students opportunities to assess their learning. One way is to invite them to reflect on goals they have set to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. As students reflect, they will recognize where they need to improve and where they have improved. Encourage students to invite the Spirit’s help so they can feel hope and know how they can continue to learn.

Student preparation: Invite students to review ways they have tried to apply principles they learned from 1 Corinthians 8–16 and 2 Corinthians.

Possible Learning Activities

This lesson is intended to help students assess goals they have set, their ability to explain teachings in the New Testament, or how their attitudes, desires, and ability to live the gospel are changing. The class’s study of 1 Corinthians 8–16 and 2 Corinthians may have emphasized truths other than those in the following activities. If so, the activities could be adapted to include those truths.

In this lesson you will have the opportunity to assess your learning and how you have applied the principles taught in 1 Corinthians 8–16 and 2 Corinthians. Assessing your learning can help you analyze how studying the scriptures is helping you become more like the Savior.

Evaluate your goals

Consider starting class by challenging students to guess how many printed pages of scripture are in the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price combined. After students guess, invite them to add up the true page counts to see whose guess was closest.

Guess how many printed pages of scripture are in the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price combined.

  • Why do you think the Lord has given us so many pages of scripture?

  • How can you show gratitude for His word?

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained why the Lord has provided so many of His words in the scriptures. Read the following statement or watch “The Blessings of Scripture” (3:03), available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

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Portrait of Elder D. Todd Christofferson. Photographed in March 2020.

Consider the magnitude of our blessing to have … such a quantity of holy writ. And not only that, but every man, woman, and child may possess and study his or her own personal copy of these sacred texts, most in his or her own language. … Surely with this blessing the Lord is telling us that our need for constant recourse to the scriptures is greater than in any previous time. May we feast continuously on the words of Christ that will tell us all things we should do (see 2 Nephi 32:3).

(D. Todd Christofferson, “The Blessing of Scripture,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 35)

  • Why do you think our need for turning “to the scriptures is greater [now] than in any previous time”?

  • What personal needs do the scriptures meet in your life, or what needs could they meet?

Take a minute to reflect on your personal scripture study. Counsel with Heavenly Father about how your scripture study is meeting your needs and if you need to make any adjustments. Perhaps you need to be more consistent in your daily scripture study or increase the depth of understanding you gain from your studies. Write down any adjustments you feel you should make. Consider asking your family, your seminary teacher, or a Church leader to help you with your scripture study goals.

Rely on the Savior and seek His help

Jesus forgiving and healing a man.

When Paul wrote to the Saints in Corinth, he focused on the ways Jesus Christ blesses and helps us. Some examples include helping us escape temptation (see 1 Corinthians 10:13), helping us develop charity (see 1 Corinthians 13), raising us from death through the Resurrection (see 1 Corinthians 15), inviting us to be reconciled to Him (see 2 Corinthians 5:16–21; 7:1–10), and strengthening us to faithfully endure challenges (see 2 Corinthians 11–12).

Take a few moments to review scripture passages you have marked or notes you have made in 1 Corinthians 8–16 and 2 Corinthians that have helped you learn about or rely on the Savior.

Prepare a 3 to 5-minute message about how Jesus Christ helps you. Include the following:

  • one or more scripture passages from 1 Corinthians 8–16 or 2 Corinthians that were meaningful to you

  • an explanation of what those passages teach about how the Savior helps and strengthens you

  • an experience from your life or an example in the scriptures of Jesus Christ helping in the way taught in those passages

  • how you might invite others to receive the Savior’s help and strength

Consider inviting a few volunteers to share their message with the class. Alternatively, students could share with a partner. Encourage students to share their message at home or in Church.

Family history and temple work and the Resurrection

Temple Family History

Activity A: Participate in family history and temple work

If the lesson on 1 Corinthians 15:29 was not taught or if students were not invited to create a plan to be more involved in family history and temple work, consider skipping activity A.

If it appears that students do not know how to use FamilySearch.org or the FamilySearch app, consider giving them class time to explore. They could look for a deceased ancestor they personally knew or one they could talk about. Help students reflect on what the Savior’s Resurrection might mean to the ancestors they find.

Previously, you may have studied 1 Corinthians 15:29. Think about how the Savior’s Resurrection affects your ancestors. Watch this video as you reflect.

2:14

As you studied 1 Corinthians 15:29, you may have created a plan to participate in family history and temple work. If you did, take a moment to review your plan and reflect on the actions you took to implement that plan. If you did not, consider coming up with a plan now of how you can help your ancestors enjoy all the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Consider displaying the following instructions so students can see them while they ponder and write. After sufficient time, invite willing students to share their thoughts.

Report on your plan.

If you made a plan, share what went well and what obstacles you faced. Are there any adjustments you feel Heavenly Father would want you to make? How will those adjustments help you?

If you did not make a plan, share what you would like to do and why. How do you think your plan will affect you and others as you implement it?

Answer one of the following questions:

  • How does your participation in family history and temple work demonstrate your hope for the Resurrection?

  • How has participating in family history and temple work helped you feel closer to Heavenly Father and become more like Jesus Christ?

Activity B: Explain the doctrine of the Savior’s Atonement

Help students assess their ability to explain the doctrine of the Savior’s Atonement by discussing some of the following questions. Invite the Holy Ghost to guide this discussion.

  • Why is the Savior’s Resurrection an essential part of His Atonement?

  • What have you studied in 1 Corinthians 8–16 or 2 Corinthians about the Resurrection that has helped you?

  • What choices do you think would be different in our lives if we did not believe in a literal Resurrection?

  • Why are you grateful that Jesus Christ offers us power over death? How can you show that gratitude?