Seminary
John 2–4

John 2–4

Overview

Jesus Christ miraculously turned water into wine at a wedding feast. He taught a Jewish leader named Nicodemus about being born again and about the love Heavenly Father demonstrated through sending His Son to atone for our sins. Jesus then taught a Samaritan woman about the living water He offers to those who believe in Him.

Prepare to Teach

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

John 2

Lesson purpose: This lesson is intended to help students increase their faith in Jesus Christ and identify truths about the Savior’s power and character.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to imagine that they were asked to give a talk in sacrament meeting about the power of Jesus Christ. Ask them to come to class prepared to share one or two scriptural accounts they might use to illustrate His power.

  • Object: Consider bringing food to class to use at the beginning of the lesson.

  • Video: “Jesus Turns Water into Wine” (2:26)

  • Online content adaptation suggestion: After students have studied Jesus turning water into wine, consider including the ideas found in the “Supplemental Learning Activities” portion of the lesson in the section entitled “Jesus Christ can change me.” These ideas can help students see that Jesus Christ can change our lives and natures even as He changed water into wine.

John 3:14–17

Lesson purpose: This lesson will give students opportunities to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ as they learn more about His Atonement.

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Students could be put into breakout rooms to share and discuss the final question on the handout in small groups.

Doctrinal Mastery: John 3:16

Lesson purpose: This lesson will give students the opportunity to increase their mastery of the doctrine of the Atonement of Jesus Christ by memorizing the reference John 3:16 and its key scripture phrase, explaining the doctrine of the scripture, and applying principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in a real-life situation.

  • Student preparation: Invite the students to think about how they would teach someone about Jesus Christ and His Atonement if they were full-time missionaries.

  • Review activity: Be sure to implement the review activity at the end of the lesson in a future lesson that will be taught shortly after this one.

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Invite the students to use the chat feature to post the scripture references or statements from Church leaders they found that could be helpful for the given scenario. Give the students a few minutes to read some of the references or statements posted in the chat, and then invite them to comment about anything that stood out to them.

John 4, Part 1

Lesson purpose: This lesson is intended to help students recognize their need for the Savior and feel His love for them.

  • Student preparation: Direct students to the activity in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families for John 2–4 that invites them to look for everyday items in their homes that could be used to teach spiritual truths. Invite students to bring items they find to class, if possible, and to prepare to explain the spiritual truths that could be taught using them.

  • Video: “Jesus Teaches a Samaritan Woman” (4:11; watch from time code 0:00 to 2:01, then from time code 2:02 to 4:11)

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider inviting students to find items in their homes that could be used to teach a spiritual truth.

John 4, Part 2

Lesson purpose: This lesson is intended to help students understand more about the living water that the Savior offers: what it is, why they need it, and how they can receive it.

  • Student preparation: Invite the students to compare times when they have felt spiritually empty with times when they have felt spiritually satisfied. What made the difference?

  • Handout: “Living Water”

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider giving students the instructions for creating the talk before class and inviting a few volunteers to share their talks at the beginning of the lesson.