Being A Disciple of Christ

1. Being a disciple of Christ means a lot of things, it's not an easy task but it is the most rewarding. From the reading these were the main points I got of being a disciple:
-serve others
-give to your neighbor
-seek the kingdom of God, don't worry about worldly things
-strive to enter into the gate
-forsake all you have
-have prayer with Heavenly Father
-have faith
-read your scriptures

2. The one I would like to apply to my life more would be to seek the kingdom of God and not worry about worldly things. This one is hard because even though I love the gospel and Heavenly Father it's hard to put aside the natural man inside of me. Sometimes in life things come up and you know the best option but the worldly one is just so much easier. Not saying I'm making major bad decisions but just the everyday little things its hard to always remember to be seeking the kingdom of God and totally forgetting worldly things. I know that if I apply this then I will be much happier. Yes it may be hard sometimes but in the long run I will be happier and life will be easier because I will always have the spirit with me.

3. Ultimately to be a disciple of Christ we need to come unto Christ in everything. We need to lay aside the worldly things and realize everything that we have is because of him, we are forever indebted to him. Our bodies are his and to be a disciple we need to use them the way he would have us use them. We need to never give up, to give to others, to constantly be serving, being a disciple of Christ means to have joy.

The Savior Healed a Young Man

1. Jesus rebukes his disciples for not being able to heal the man, he tells them three things needed to heal, those were faith, prayer, and fasting.

2. 3 Nephi 18:20 - in this reference it talks about how prayer is needed for miracles to happen, we need to ask the Father and then believe that it will be given unto us.
D&C 50:29 - we have to be purified from sin before we ask for a miracle to happen.
D&C 42:48 - the last one is we have to have faith.

Walking on the Sea

1. The reaction of the Apostles when they first saw the Savior walking towards them was fear, they thought that it was a spirit and were afraid.
2. Peters first response was to say well if it is really you then let me walk on the water to you, that indicated that Peter had faith that all things were possible through Christ, that if it really was Christ then he would be able to walk on the water.
3. Peter began to sink because he got scared, he saw how bad the winds were and was fearful, fear and faith cannot live together.
4. As soon as Peter began to sink he cried unto the Lord to save him and then Jesus immediately put forth his hand to save Peter. He didn't let him wait it out, as soon as he cried out the Lord was there.
5. In this verse it says "if your eye be single to my glory" the principle I got from this verse was if we focus on the Lords will then we can do all things through him. When Peter first asked to walk on the water he had faith that through Christ anything is possible, he didn't have his own will in mind or his own fears. This can be applied in my own life to help me through my storms for comfort. That I know storms are going to come, and they're going to be scary but if my eye is single to his glory then I have no need to fear, I just need faith and he will help me through it. I know that if when I'm going through these storms if I reach out to God I will get through it and anything is possible, but if by chance I do let that fear creep in the second I reach up my hand and ask for help my Lord will immediately reach his hand down to save me.  

John the Baptist

1. John sent two disciples to find Jesus Christ, when they found him they asked, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" Jesus sent them back to John and told them to tell him what they saw and heard, the three things I would have told John the Baptist had it been me would have been:

1. The blind received their sight
2. The gospel is preached to the poor
3. The lame walked

2. John sent his two disciples to Christ not so he could know of a surety, he already knew, but he sent them so that they would know. His disciples were having a hard time letting go of John and clinging to Jesus so he sent them to him so they could see that he really was the Christ and he was the one they needed to cling to. 

3. In Matthew and Luke Christ is talking about John the Baptist and says, " Among those that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." Joseph Smith then talks about why John the Baptist was one of the greatest prophet he says 

1. He was entrusted to prepare the way for the Lord 
2. He was entrusted to baptize the Son of Man
3. He had the keys and all the power, he was the only one who had the proper authority in the affairs of the kingdom. 

4. John 3:30 says "He must increase, but I must decrease" John knows that his mission was to prepare the way for the Savior, he is not angry that he doesn't get the glory but instead is convincing his disciples of how much more importance Christ is than he. We could take this attitude in our lives by quitting the whole "I know best" attitude. By fully letting God's will take over, knowing that he has a plan and if we let him increase in our life and we decrease then we will be happier in the long run. If we can set aside worldly things to let him increase then our will will decrease and there will be more room for him in our life. 

Miracle's Are Evidence of Faith and God's Power

Reference	Miracles of the Lord	Who Demonstrate Faith
Matthew 8:1-4	Christ healed a leper	The leper
Matthew 8: 5-13	Christ healed the centurions servant.	The centurion
Matthew 8: 14-15	Christ healed Peters wifes mother who had a fever.	Peter’s wifes mother
Matthew 8: 16	Christ cast out the devils with his words and healed those that were sick.	Those that were sick and had spirits in them
Matthew 8: 23-27	Christ calmed the sea	The disciples in the boat
Matthew 8: 28-34	Christ cast evil spirits into the swine.	Two men possessed with devils.
Matthew 9: 20-22 Mark 5: 25-34	Christ healed the woman when she touched his garment	Woman with blood disease
Matthew 9: 27-31	Christ healed the blind men who could not see.	Two blind men
Mark 2: 1-12	Christ healed a man with palsy and forgave his sins.	The man with palsy

Knowing that God has this power strengthens my faith tremendously, I know that when I am sick if I have faith I can be healed. Of course, not always will God heal me like he in the Bible but through blessings I  can be healed. God will heal those who have faith and believe in him. 

We Must Be Born Again

John 3:1-8; Mosiah 5:7

• What is the difference between "seeing" the kingdom of God and "entering" the kingdom of God?
• In order to see the kingdom of God you have to be born again but if you want to enter the kingdom of God you have to be born of water and of the Spirit. Seeing the kingdom of God is like being almost there, you can see it and know its there but are stuck somewhere else, but to enter the kingdom of God you have to be able to inherit it. 
• What did Jesus Christ teach Nicodemus that he must do to enter the kingdom of God?
• He taught Nicodemus that he needs to be born of water and of the Spirit.
• What does it mean to be "born of water"? 
• Being born of water is being baptized. 
• Read Moses 6:59 and list ways that baptism is a symbol of rebirth. Read Romans 6:4 and list how baptism can be a symbol of death.
• Baptism can be a symbol of rebirth as a symbol of being born into the kingdom of heaven, you are sanctified of all sin, like a baby you are brand new. 
• It can be a symbol of death because we are buried with him by baptism like he was raised up after death we walk in our new life. 
• What does it mean to be "born of the Spirit"?
• Being born of the Spirit is to have the Spirit with you all the time. 
• What natural element does the Lord compare with the Spirit? Why is it an effective comparison? 
• The Lord compares the Spirit to the wind, it is a very effective comparison because it is everywhere yet you can't see it, only feel it.

Review John 3:14-17, 35-36

The Father loves all of his children, he loves the world so much that he sent his son Jesus Christ to save the world and so we could have eternal life. The father loves the son so much that he gave him power over all things, he put his trust and faith on the Son. The purpose of the Savior was to grant eternal life and that through him the world my be saved. Whosoever believes in Christ will have eternal life. 

The Premortal and Mortal Savior

John 1:1-14; 17:1-5

• The doctrinal connect between these two references is the work that Christ did through Heavenly Father for us. He is the light and through Christ we can receive eternal life.

• Premortal Jesus Christ: 
• The light and life of men
• He is the Word of God
• He created all things 
• John was sent to bear witness of him
• His light shineth in the darkness
• Mortal Jesus Christ:
• He came unto his own and they received him not
• To those who believed he gave power to become sons of God
• Full of grace and truth
• Power over all flesh 
• Glorified through God

• Christ- the annointed, a sacred title, identical to Messiah, expressive of our Lord's divine origin & Godship
• Messiah- identical to Christ
• Jehovah- means "Self-Existent One" or "The Eternal" in ancient Jewish practice it was not to be spoken for fear of incurring divine wrath.
• Immanuel - means God with us, a prophecy of Jesus' birth into mortality. 
• The Word - The Father declares him "the word of my power"