Avoiding Temptation

Today we discussed how Satan tempted the Savior and how the Savior reacted. To help illustrate how Satan tempts us, we tried the object lesson suggested in the teacher's manual.

Do Oranges Float?
John Aguilar took our large, glass cookie jar and filled it with water. The class took a vote and 3 said the orange would float...the rest said it wouldn't. Here's what we found:

• With the peel: YES!

Nick Beidleman volunteered the peel the orange. Piece by piece, the peel came off....

• Without the peel: NO...IT SINKS!

So what?! Well the peel is likened unto things that "keep us afloat" spiritually.

• Scripture Study
• Prayer
• Family Home Evening
• Church Attendance
• Seminary Attendance
• Wholesome music
• Keeping the Commandments

When Satan tempts us, it's seldom with something so extreme as "GO STEAL THAT CAR" or "GO ROB THAT BANK". No, he "carefully" leads us down the path of sin. Piece by piece, bit by bit, he tries to pull our peel away. "Lie a little", "don't read your scriptures tonight", "don't pray, you're too tired" or "disobey your parents here and there" are temptations the devil uses to get us on the path to the bigger sins. And before you know it...your peel is gone and you're sinking.

Christ taught us to not even ENTERTAIN the thought of giving in to temptation. His response to Satan was "GET THEE HENCE". In essence, "I'll have nothing to do with you, go away NOW!".

It was a fun lesson. I hope the kids got a lot out of it.

Side note: Nick was instructed that the orange was not to be eaten as it was my breakfast. Nevertheless, he caved to temptation and ate the orange. Of course, I quickly forgave. After all, he doesn't know where John got the water it was floating in! :-)

Scripture Mastery Bingo

I found a great bingo card generator online that I used to create 60 unique bingo cards. Each card has 24 of the 25 New Testament scripture mastery references and a "Free Scripture Power" square.

Download my bingo cards here.

1. Distribute bingo cards (Game works great for teams of 2!)
   
2. Distribute Smarties (used for bingo pieces)
3. Pull scripture mastery cards or keyword/rhyme cards from bag
4. Read the card aloud and clear
   
5. No repeating and only 10 seconds between each scripture

If the kids can keep from eating the game, it's a lot of fun!

Salute with an Holy Kiss

Romans 16:16 says "Salute one another with an holy kiss." Since all I had were "Hershey's" kisses, we settled for those.

Here's what we learned about Hershey's Kisses this week:

• They're great for encouraging participation
• 9 pieces = 1 serving
• 1 serving has 200 calories (100 from fat)
• 1 piece has a little over 22 calories

See you guys tomorrow!

Week 1

A full week of introduction and background information was not enough time! This week we talked about the following:

• Monday: Introduction to the New Testament
• Tuesday: Scripture Study Helps (looked at chapter headings, footnotes, Bible Dictionary, Topical Guide, JST, etc.)
• Wednesday: Plan of Salvation
• Thursday: The time between the Old and New Testament
• Friday: Scripture Mastery!

Highlights:

• Seeing a few students "come alive" when looking at the different meanings of words (i.e. Hebrew or Greek meaning) and how these meanings change the verse (Tuesday).
• Joshua Cabrerra led the Plan of Salvation discussion...very cool!
• The cheesy "Sun Dial" video on Thursday got a lot of laughs
• Matthew 5:14 in under 15 seconds! Students played "Hot-Potato" with a bean bag. Each said a single word from Matthew 5:14 and passed the bean bag down the line. They're first attempt took them 60 seconds to complete the verse. A few tries later and they completed it in 14 seconds!
  
• Scripture Mastery Bingo! A couple teams didn't finish because they ate all of their bingo pieces (Smarties candy)

Next week: Matthew 1-5

Matthew 6:24

We had an interesting talk about Matthew 6:24 today. It's the second scripture mastery verse this year. We talked about "choosing" to serve Christ and it turned into a slightly deeper topic of "Masters".

As a class, we suggested that it isn't possible to serve two masters because in a very literal sense, there is save but one Master, Jesus Christ (using the word "Master" as used by Christ and His apostles). It becomes our responsibility to choose to exercise faith in serving our Master, Jesus Christ.

See Matthew 23:8,10

Tulsa Seminary Training

Training in Tulsa was great. I enjoyed watching another instructor teach a class. Brother Bills is an excellent teacher. When he teaches, I feel torn on how I should take notes. On the one hand, I can take notes on the topic he is teaching. On the other, I can take notes on HOW he is teaching the topic. Either way, I get writer's cramp!

I'm excited for seminary to start. I just need some ideas for scripture mastery games!

New Testament in 6 Weeks

After I received the call to teach seminary, a distinct feeling of inadequacy set in. Intimidated at the task that lay ahead, I set a goal to read the New Testament in its entirety before the school year started.

Condensed study of the scriptures is the way to go. I remember when President Hinckley challenged us to read the Book of Mormon. The challenge came in an article in the Ensign, a church publication. I had just finished reading the Book of Mormon in my personal study, but accepted the challenge nonetheless. The prophet's challenge came with a promise:

"Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will observe this simple program, regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God."

I felt the reality of these blessings personally and heard the testimonies of many who were similarly blessed.

As I read the New Testament this summer, I discovered that these blessings can be realized daily; not just as the result of obedience to a single challenge. Yes, the Prophet wanted us to read or reread the Book of Mormon; but in addition, he wanted us to get in the habit of reading more than a page...or even a chapter a day. When we immerse ourselves in scripture study accompanied with prayer, we align ourselves with our God and are hence prepared to receive personal revelation.

Here are a few things that stuck out to me as I studied this summer:

• Jesus Christ is the literal son of God, the Eternal Father (Matt. 3:17)
• The Godhead consists of 3 individuals with 1 purpose (Matt. 3:16-17, John 5:19, Acts 7:55)
• Jesus was baptized not to be cleansed, but to show us the way (Matt. 3:15)
• The apostles received the Priesthood authority from Christ (John 15:16)
• The Gift of the Holy Ghost is given by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority (priesthood). (Acts 7:17-18)
• The Priesthood comes from God (Hebrews 5:4)
• Faith in Christ is manifest through your words and deeds (James 2: 14, 17-18, 20, 22, 24, 26)

I have a stronger testimony of the Divinity of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I'm grateful that he Atoned for my sins. Repentance is a GOOD thing!

The Call

So I'm sitting at work having an average day when I get a call on my mobile:

Brother Bills: "Hi Brother Hufford, this is Brother Bills from the Stake Institute...has your Bishop talked to you about serving as a Seminary teacher?"

Me: "Uhhh....no...?"

But I could guess where things were going. When I got home I talked to Maren about it. She told me to ask the Bishop what "the angel" looked like, because surely a messenger would have been sent for this one!

I've never been more intimidated by a church calling than by this one. Long story short, I accepted the call and will be teaching the New Testament to high school aged kids this school year at 6:30 AM.