We Found the Messiah: John 1 (Jan 21-27)
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Are you used to the new 20-minute lesson schedule yet? This week we’re teaching about John 1: We Found the Messiah. There are a few different focuses you could take on this lesson including the Creation, Plan of Salvation, Testimony, and Missionary Work.
Study Suggestions
John 1 (Lesson 60) in the New Testament Seminary Teacher Manual
John 1 (Lesson 21) in the New Testament Institute Teacher Manual
John, Son of Zebedee- Guide to the Scriptures
John 1- New Testament Teacher Resource Manual
“The Plan of Salvation” by Elder L. Tom Perry
“Bearers of Heavenly Light” by Elder Deiter F. Uchtdorf
“Valiant in the Testimony of Jesus” by Elder Quentin L. Cook
"Faith Is Not by Chance, but by Choice" by Elder Neil L. Andersen
"The Creation" by President Russell M. Nelson
Deseret Bookshelf PLUS Recommendations
These are great to listen together in the car on the way to school. My whole family loves listening to the youth speaker ones especially. Remember, as a Deseret Bookshelf PLUS member, you can access these eBooks or audio books anytime. Find out more about Deseret Bookshelf PLUS.
- "The Testimony of John the Beloved" by The 27th Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium
- "Our Father's Plan" by President Boyd K. Packer
- "TOFW: Experiencing Your Plan of Happiness" by Hank Smith
- "Building a 3D Testimony" by Andrew Horton
- "Filling Your Testimony Tank" by Brad Wilcox
- "Chips, Slasa and Testimony: Feed Your Faith, Find Your Joy" by Andrew Horton
- "Weed Your Brain, Grow Your Testimony" by John Bytheway
- "The Plan of Salvation: Understanding Our Divine Origin and Destiny" by Matthew B. Brown
- "Becoming a Fearless Missionary by Ryan Sharp
- "How to Be an Extra-Ordinary Missionary" by John Bytheway
Videos
Our Home (about 1 1/2 minutes)- The Earth was created for us to enjoy
Good Things to Share (about 2 1/2 minutes)- Showing how easy it is to share good things including the gospel
For the Beauty of the Earth (about 3 1/2 minutes)- The Choir at Temple Square sings in this music video
Our Heavenly Father's Plan (about 4 minutes)- Illustrated scripture story
Our Eternal Life (about 4 minutes)- We are eternal beings- answers the basic questions
Plan of Salvation- We're Still a Family (about 5 minutes)- A young man tells of his testimony of the plan even through his tragedy
We Can Find Happiness (about 6 1/2 minutes)- Stories of 3 people who found happiness through the God's Plan
The Plan of Salvation (about 11 minutes)- The plan is like a 3 act play (you could probably watch just clips of this one)
We Lived with God (4 minutes)- A scientist testifies of eternity
We Can Live with God Again (about 4 minutes)- Our future lives are determined by the way we live our lives now
Jesus Makes the Earth- A simple day by day video about 2 1/2 minutes long.
The Creation- Quotes from Elder Russell M. Nelson (Quorum of the 12 Apostles) about 5 minutes long.
Jesus Was God the Creator- Quotes from President Gordon B. Hinckley (former President and Prophet) About 1 1/2 minutes.
"Testimony" (about 19 minutes)- This is President Hinckley's General Conference talk. You could take excerpts from it to show your class.
"Increase Your Testimony" (about 5 minutes)- About how the Spirit can help strengthen your testimony.
"Special Witness" (about 7 1/2 minutes)- President Monson shares his testimony about the Book of Mormon, the Savior, and the prophet Joseph Smith.
Member Testimonies- This page has several clips of people's testimonies. This page has even more. You could do the same thing with your ward family or group- record a few people's testimonies and share them.
Be Valiant in Your Testimony- Quotes from President Benson about 2 minutes
We Believe in Christ: Personal Testimony(about 3 minutes)- Youth share their testimonies of the Savior.
He Lives: Testimonies of Jesus Christ (about 2 minutes)- Apostles bear their testimony of the living Christ
Dare to Stand Alone (about 4 1/2 minutes)- President Monson's story of courage
Teaching Ideas
These are my ideas based off the manual to help you facilitate discussion and teach specific points.
- Disucss how we lived in heave before coming to earth with my coloring sheet above. Bring in foil star stickers to decorate the universe!
- Discuss how Jesus Christ created the earth before He was born by using my Plan of Salvation chart. Discuss some other things Christ did using the chart then talk about what we might have done or will do as well.
If it is warm enough, go on a walk and point out more things that God created. You can even play a simple version of I spy- "I see something green" and basically anything they say that is actually green counts. If you have an older class, bring some gloves for everyone and bags to pick up trash as you go for a walk around the building.
Do a quick review of the creation. Give one of scripture posters to each person in your class and have them quickly draw what their scripture represents according to the creation of the world. Then see if they can put all their posters in order on the board. Talk about how Jesus Christ created these things before He was born on earth.
Want a creation game instead? Use my creation pictionary cards for a fun guessing game. Whoever guesses correctly, should also share how that part of the creation has blessed their lives and how they feel knowing that Jesus Christ made it for them to enjoy.
Use the viewer printables to do the recommended possible activity where you see a picture of Jesus. You can also use it to talk about the Plan of Salvation.
Bring objects that you carry around with you regularly or that you have prominently displayed in your home that help you spread the gospel without being high pressure. Example: I used to wear a Return with Honor ring that people would always ask me about. It was an easy way to spread a little bit of the gospel and sometimes it led to a longer conversation. What are some things your class has that can easily spark a conversation to share the gospel?
Have your class explain why they love the gospel and how it makes them feel. Write the key words and phrases on the board. Then ask, who do you know that would want these things too? Next, practice some ways you can easily share the gospel in an everyday conversation.
Print off my Missionary Card scenarios. Draw a simple game board layout on your white board or bring one from home. Pick a card, if it’s a positive thing, have them say how that is missionary work. If it is a negative thing, have them say how they could make a better choice or how that hurts missionary work. Then they can roll the dice to move.
Print the Come and See Poster (comes in three sizes). Cut slits to fit size of the viewer printable strip. Thread the strip through and discuss what you are seeing. Then find where else it says “Come and see” in the John 1. When can we say “come and see” to our friends and family? What do we want them to see? NOTE: the download image does not have a square on it, that’s simply to show where you might want to cut the slits.
- Looking for different types of handouts? LDS messages has weekly handout packets full of additional handouts and ideas. Be sure to tell them I sent you!
- Need more coloring pages and activities? The Red Headed Hostess has all kinds of activities including the above coloring pages, a maze, scripture page glue ins, and more.
Activity Pages
Many of these resources are from LDS.org, however, some may be from other helpful bloggers.
Plan of Salvation (God’s Plan for Me)
I Will Follow God's Plan- Match the scriptures to the steps (the suggested activity is great for classes)
Heavenly Father Loves Me, and He Has a Plan for Me- Making paper snowflakes activity
I Know God's Plan- These are fun! Make a viewer explaining God's plan
My Life is a Gift; My Life Has a Plan- Plan of Salvation cut outs- use for a visual or make it into a mobile.
On the Right Path- Read the scriptures and finish the road signs
Our Beautiful World: Part of the Plan- Find where you live and draw of picture of yourself
The Plan of Happiness- Booklet
He Sent His Son- (older classes) Mix everything up then decide if each event was before or after Christ's birth
The Greatest Gift- Great to do with the lesson- puzzle that covers a picture of the temple
My Plan to Follow His Plan- Includes goals to make each month to help follow God's plan (scroll down)
The Plan of Salvation Offers Me Peace- Put together this Plan of Salvation diagram- you could even make it into a file folder activity.
The Scriptures Teach of Heavenly Father's Plan- Match the scriptures to the pictures- if you have a younger class you can do this all together
When I Lived with Heavenly Father- Complete the picture
The Plan of Happiness- Booklet
A Path for Me- Glue these pictures on to make a path back to Heavenly Father
COLORING PAGES
I am My Heavenly Father's Child
I Will Follow Heavenly Father's Plan for Me
I am a Child of God, and He Has a Plan for Me
When I Lived with My Heavenly Father
Testimony
A Growing Testimony- Color a leaf for each sentence you agree with
Testimony Glove- Make this glove to practice your testimony
Gaining a Testimony- Solve the puzzle to figure out the best way to gain a testimony
How Can I Gain a Testimony- Color and match
I Have a Testimony of Jesus Christ- Build a stone wall of testimony
D.J.’s Testimony- Rebus story
COLORING PAGES
I Have a Testimony of Jesus Christ
Creation
Reverence for Creation- Ideas and a cut outs to color and create your own garden.
The Creation-Wordsearch
The Creation-Each Day a Gift- A summation of the creation with coordinating pictures to color. Can turn them into flannel board characters or use with magazine cut outs to make a collage.
The Creation- A different wordsearch
My Creation Book- Print and assemble this small booklet.
Creation Crossword- Scripture references given if need to look up the answers.
Heavenly Father's World- A puzzle and coloring activity
Our Beautiful World- Draw your picture in the middle as a reminder to be grateful for the world.
I Live in a Beautiful World- Circle the sense you use to enjoy the creations.
When I Lived With Heavenly Father- Finish the other half of the pictures to tell the story.
Gratitude for God's Creations- Look at the world through pioneer eyes with gratitude.
My Father in Heaven Loves Me- Ideas and a Creation decoration to make.
What Am I?- Close up pictures of God's creations to guess.
COLORING PAGES
"All Things Bright and Beautiful"- Pictures to color and go along with the song.
Jesus Christ Created the Earth..
Jesus Christ Created the Earth for Me
I'm Glad that I Live in this Beautiful World
Wonders (includes a poem)
Missionary Work
LDS Missionary: Called to Serve- Make these cute chocolate treats for your class as a reminder of what missionaries do (from My Computer is My Canvas)
LDS Doctrinal Flashcards- Practice being a missionaries with these flashcards from Red Headed Hostess.
At the Pageant- Help the Sister Missionaries find the people the are supposed to teach
Being Like a Missionary- Dress Tanner up to be like a missionary
Draw a Missionary- (older classes) Drawing instructions
Missionary Work- Ideas on how to be a missionary now or prepare to be one
Preparing for a Mission- Fill in the sentence and talk about things you can do now to be a better full-time missionary later
Help the Missionaries- Maze or do this one: Missionary Maze
Sister Missionaries- Dress up your own sister missionaries with these dress ups from Green Jell-o with Carrot. There is also an Elder version.
I Can Be a Missionary Now- Board game
I Can Choose to Be a Missionary Now- Practice answering the questions so you'll know what to say when a friend asks
I Will Prepare- Sign these cards saying you'll prepare for a mission or grab these super fun Future Missionary Pocket clips from LDS Bookstore.
Life of a Missionary- (older classes) Fill in the blanks to discover the answer to the puzzle
Making a New Friend- Find the hidden objects or color it or use this colored one: Welcome Home Elder
Mission Call- Find the hidden objects (this one has pictures of the items)
Matching Missionaries- Find the one that matches
Missionary Activity- Make this growing missionary
Missionary Appointment- Find the right door
Preaching Two by Two- Find the missionary's companion
Sharing the Book of Mormon Around the World- (older classes) Figure out who is going to which country
Missionary Quest- Find the right person
The Gospel Will Be Preached in All the World- Memory game
The Sons of Mosiah- Learn this fingerplay
We'll Bring the World His Truth- Find the differences
You Found Me, Bishop- Story from President Monson with activities after
Missionary Fun- Bright Idea poster
Young Men, I Admonish You to Prepare for Service as a Missionary...- Bright Idea poster
COLORING PAGES
Because I Know We Are All Children of God, I Will Share the Gospel with Others
I Can Prepare Now to Serve a Full-time Mission
Looking for more simple images to color? LDS.org has a Primary Symbols Index by Topic that comes in handy!
