Old Testament Lesson 12 for Sunday March 28th

“Fruitful in the Land of My Affliction”

Genesis 40–45

To download audio podcast of this week’s lesson click on the title of this post or subscribe on the left.

The important questions to be able to answer after you finish reading the scriptures for this lesson are:

How does the world teach us to treat someone who has wronged us?  What does the Lord tell us to do?

How did Joseph’s trials in Egypt become a blessing to him, his family and all of Egypt?  What experiences have you had in which events that first appeared negative became a blessing?  

Reading:

Genesis 40(text/audio) and 41(text/audio): In prison, Joseph correctly interprets the dreams of Pharaoh’s servants. He then interprets Pharaoh’s dreams about cattle and corn. Joseph is made ruler over all Egypt under Pharaoh and prepares the people for the

coming famine.

Genesis 42(text/audio), 43(text/audio), 44(text/audio) and 45(text/audio): Jacob twice sends his sons to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph makes himself known to his brothers and forgives them, and they rejoice together.

Things to think about:

How have you been blessed when you dealt kindly with others that have mistreated you?  How can we become more forgiving?

Related readings and material:

“Joseph’s Brothers” or “Reconciliation,” parts 3 and 4 of the Joseph and His Brothers videocassette (53152)

W. Jeffrey Marsh, “‘Remember How Merciful the Lord Hath Been’,” Ensign, Apr 2000, 18

Old Testament Lesson 11 for Sunday March 21st

“How Can I Do This Great Wickedness?”

Genesis 34; 37–39

To download audio podcast of this weeks lesson click on the title of this post.


The important questions to be able to answer after you finish reading the scriptures for this lesson are:

What did Joseph do when Potiphar’s wife tried to tempt him to sin?

 How can we follow Joseph’s example when we are tempted?

3.      
What can we learn from Joseph about turning a bad experience or circumstance into good ones?

Reading:

Genesis 34  (Text; Audio) and  Genesis 38 (Text; Audio)  - The sin of immorality has negative consequences on Jacob’s family—Dinah, his daughter, Reuben, his eldest son and Judah, another of his sons.

2.      Genesis 37 (Text; Audio) - Joseph, eleventh son of Jacob, is hated by his brothers and sold into slavery.

3.      Genesis 39 (Text; Audio) - Joseph prospers as a slave but is accused of immorality and sent to prison. The keeper of the prison gives Joseph responsibility over the other prisoners.

Things to think about:

Do we interact with the world in a way that we could follow Joseph’s example and turn a bad experience or circumstance into good one?  Is there something that we need to change in our own attitudes to help use do this.  Wouldn’t we be happier if would could do this?

Related readings and material:

The Dreamer” or “Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dream,” parts 1 and 2 of the Joseph and His Brothers videocassette (53152).

2.       The pictures Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers (62525; Gospel Art Picture Kit 109) and Joseph Resists Potiphar’s Wife (62548; Gospel Art Picture Kit 110).

3.      
L. Tom Perry, “Becoming Men in Whom the Spirit of God Is,” Ensign, May 2002, 39

4.     
  Neal A. Maxwell, “The Stern but Sweet Commandment,” Tambuli, Apr 1981, 38

5.      
Vaughn J. Featherstone, “The King’s Son,” New Era, Nov 1975, 35

Old Testament Lesson 10 for Sunday March 14th

Birthright Blessings; Marriage in the Covenant
Genesis 24-29


To download audio podcast of this weeks lesson click on the title of this post.


The important questions to be able to answer after you finish reading the scriptures for this lesson are:

1.      What was Esau’s error?

2.      How might some of us make errors similar to Esau’s?

3.      What did we learn about Jacob through his efforts to marry in the covenant?

Reading:

1.      Genesis 24 (Text; Audio)

Abraham emphasizes the importance of marriage in the covenant

(eternal marriage) through the selection of a worthy wife for Isaac.

2.      Genesis 25  (Text; Audio)

Rebekah receives a revelation concerning her unborn

twin sons. When these sons are grown, Esau sells his birthright

to Jacob.

3.      Genesis 26 (Text; Audio)

Isaac and his descendants are promised the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant. Esau marries out of the covenant and brings sadness to his parents

4.      Genesis 27 (Text; Audio)

Isaac blesses Jacob to rule over peoples and nations

5.      Genesis 28 (Text; Audio)

Isaac pronounces on Jacob the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant and sends him away to find a worthy wife

6.      Genesis 29 (Text; Audio)

Jacob marries Leah and Rachel in the covenant.

Things to think about:

1. What are things that our children and youth can do now to prepare to be married in the temple?

2. What are the things that a couple can do after they are married in the temple to make their marriage truly eternal?

Related reading:

Temples—The Gates to Heaven - Ensign, Mar. 1971

Jacob: Keeper of Covenants – Ensign, March 1998

Nurturing Marriage - Ensign 1 May 2006

 Jacob and Esau - Ensign, Jan 2002, 42

Old Testament Lesson 9 – For Sunday March 7th 2010

“God Will Provide Himself a Lamb”

Abraham 1; Genesis 15–17; 21–22

To download audio podcast of this weeks lesson either click on the title of this post or subscribe using the button on the left. 

As Sunday School President for the New Bloomfield Ward in the Harrisburg, PA Stake I am starting this blog for two reasons. The first is that it will help me better study for class so that I can better participate. The second is to help others. The audio that I will also be posting to this blog I have been putting together for myself for awhile. While I like to read the scriptures each week for the lesson I have found that listening to it a few times during my commute each week helps me better process and remember what I read. I am sharing the audio so that others can benefit from it also. If you have any suggestions or comments you can leave them here on the blog or email me at ldssundayschoolnbw@gmail.com.

Now to this week’s lesson. The purpose of this lesson is to help us better understand Heavenly Father’s sacrifice in offering his Son as we learn about Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac.

Before I read to scriptures assigned for the lesson each week I like to look at the questions asked in the Class Member Study Guide. The reason I do this is to give my reading a focus

The important questions asked for this lesson are:

1. How did Abraham and Isaac respond to the command of God to sacrifice Isaac? (Genesis 22: 2-10)

2. What can we learn about faith and obedience from the examples of Abraham and Isaac?

3. Since this story is told as similitude of our Heavenly Fathers willingness to sacrifice his Only Begotten son, What are some of the similarities between Heavenly Father’s and Abraham’s experiences? What is the greatest difference?

While I read I do two things that I find helps me better process what I am reading. First at least every ten versus I stop and summarize to myself what I just read. This helps me better remember what I have read (There is actually educational research that shows that summarization is a very powerful memory tool). Second I take notes about what happens to answer the questions.

After I finish reading I like to read the brief summarization that is in the Class Study Guide. I do this to make sure that I did not miss anything that was important. If I do not remember something I will go back and reread. I sometimes also like to fill more details. Next I will go back to the important questions and answer each one. Usually I do this verbally to myself, but you may find it helpful to write down your answers. I’ve been contemplating starting a study journal to keep all my notes, answers and thoughts about the lesson in. Since we revisit that same curriculum every four years it may be interesting to use as a study aid the next time.

A quick summary of the reading:

This lesson takes us through three times in Abraham’s life.

First we read in Abraham 1:1, 5-20 about Abraham as a young man. In these scriptures he is persecuted by the false priests of the Pharaoh. They try to sacrifice him but he is saved.

Second we read in Genesis 15-17;21 about promises made to Abraham and about the birth of two of his sons.

In Chapter 15:1-6 Abraham is promised seed.

In Chapter 16:1-16 After Sarah gives Hagar to Abraham as a wife, Hager gives birth to Ishmael.

In Chapter 17: 1-22 God promises that Abraham would be the father of many nations and the birth of Isaac is announced.

In Chapter 21: 1-12 Sarah gives birth to Isaac

Third in Genesis 22 we learn about God commanding Abraham to sacrifice Isaac and about how Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son, but was provided with a ram to be sacrificed instead.

I have not filled in my answers to the important questions here because I feel it is important for each of us to do that on our own. I haven’t completely thought out what I would like this blog to grow into, but I would like to have a discussion with others about what we are studying and study techniques that work for you. We can do that here in the comments section for now.

I am going to be using twitter during the week to post study suggestions and hints. If you use this service you can follow at NBWSundaySchool or view them on the side panel.