In this connection, let us ponder these truths: A stake of Zion is a part of Zion. A stake has geographical boundaries. âPresident Kimball listened attentively as this statement was read to him, and then he responded: âHave him sell his stamp collection. Elder Thomas S. Monson told the following story about service and sacrifice: âJose Garcia [was] from Old Mexico. God wants us to build His kingdom for His glory. The man was sad when he heard this counsel, and he went away grieving, âfor he had great possessions.â (See Mark 10:17â22.). Individuals and families are strengthened by activity in the Church. Zion is the pure in heart; we gain purity of heart by baptism and by obedience. God wants us to build His kingdom for His glory. You cannot create a stake of Zion without creating a part of Zion. John A. Widtsoe [1954], 214). Have students read the statement from Elder Derek A. Cuthbert on pages 54â55 in the student manual. Jesus then told him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. âThis then is the counsel of the Brethren: Build up Zion, but build it up in the area where God has given you birth and nationality. We’d love to learn more about you and your book idea. Explain that in a talk to youth and young single adults, President Gordon B. Hinckley gave six ways to help us strengthen ourselves against the challenges we face (see âA Prophetâs Counsel and Prayer for Youth,â Ensign, Jan. 2001, 4). The father of this family expressed his familyâs willingness to âgo the extra mileâ in these words: âI have realized that everything we have is of the Lord. Sometimes even those who’ve followed Jesus for a long time find the kingdom message a difficult one to grasp. As Church members, we should do what we can to bring to pass much righteousness. What personal possessions might we use to build the kingdom? Suggest that students select and work to improve in three areas from President Bensonâs list during the next few weeks. He who will work to build the kingdom of God must be on guard against arrows that are directed at his face—but perhaps even more on guard for the arrows directed at his back. Each of us has also been given talents and abilities that we may use in building up the kingdom of God. Building God’s Kingdom 6/30/07 Last week- talked about being … Kingdom minded people and having a Kingdom heart, for the purpose of building God’s Kingdom. How can we learn what the Lord wants us to do with our talents? We can see from Scripture many references of God’s kingdom as it already exists in heaven. Great people to live with. Hence all of Christian existence has to do with understanding this call and with organizing our response to this call. Tonight before you go to bed, decide on something you can do to build the kingdom. They demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice their possessions for the building up of the kingdom. The phrase ‘Kingdom of God’ (also ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ or ‘Kingdom of Light’) appears more than 80 times in the New Testament. He wants us to use these gifts to further the work of the Church. Have students tell what they think the kingdom of God is. Every adult member should be a full-tithe payer and contribute a generous fast offeringâ (âStrengthen Thy Stakes,â Ensign, Jan. 1991, 5). God has called us in Jesus Christ to help to build the kingdom. And the best part – together we build up the kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is not an actual location. ⦠We can labor on welfare projects, engage in genealogical research, perform ⦠ordinances in the temples. We’re just called to advance the good Kingdom that is already established. Start a Conversation with a Stranger. Both of them knew that if they remained in Europe, they would have many opportunities for success. Nehemiah’s work provoked hostile reactions from some of the pagans. Assign a class member to list ways to develop talents as explained in Gospel Principles chapter 34. How can I seek first the kingdom of God? We can change our praying habits and seek the kingdom for others first. We do not save anyone. Ask: Why is it important to build the kingdom of God in our own country? We are surrounded by strangers all day long. (See Jessie Evans Smith, âNow We Can Give the Building to the Lord,â Instructor, June 1962, 184â85. We all have possessions that we can use to build the kingdom of God. A Kingdom builder gathers with God’s people and joins up with a small group for encouragement and accountability. âWe can pay an honest tithing and contribute to our fast offering, welfare, ⦠and missionary fundsâ (in Conference Report, Apr. But, we can change that. After Jesus Christ returns, the survivors of all the nations will be gathered, and He … They wanted above all, however, to do what the Lord wanted them to do. Ask students: What are some ways we can strengthen ourselves as members of the kingdom of God? It’s easy to think of the Kingdom of God as a physical … What are some ways we may be called upon to use our time, talents, and possessions to help build up the kingdom? Every stake on earth is the gathering place for the lost sheep of Israel who live in its area. The Lord has provided many opportunities for us to use our time, develop our talents, and use our possessions to serve others. God has called us in Jesus Christ to help to build the kingdom. In this sense, the kingdom of God is spiritual—Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36), and He preached that repentance is necessary to be a part of the kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17). The Lord gave Sister Ottley and her husband, Jerold Ottley, special talents for music. We reviewed ten simple ways to build God's kingdom. Ask: How do âhot coalsâ relate to activity in the Church? In the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explains the value of having "treasures in heaven," i.e. Encourage them to share their experiences during a future class. I was present the day his [mission] recommendation was received. Ask: In our day, where should the members of the Church gather? He spoke about it, taught about it, and gave more instructions concerning it than any other subject. We should willingly serve wherever we are. Ask students to explain what it means to them. As lay people we are invited to follow the example of Christ, to accept our call and our cross and follow him to eternal glory. This video is a whiteboard explanation of the Kingdom of GOD. Share the following invitation from President Gordon B. Hinckley: âI invite every one of you, wherever you may be as members of this church, to stand on your feet and with a song in your heart move forward, living the gospel, loving the Lord, and building the kingdom. Sheryl Giesbrecht Turner, television and radio personality, international speaker, author of four books, including “It’ll Be Okay: Finding God When Doubt Hides the Truth” (Redemption Press, 2018) www.fromashestobeauty.com. Then the Lord made it possible for them to return to Salt Lake City. Ask: Why does each member play an important part in the growth of the Church? Brother and Sister Ottley repeatedly fasted and prayed to know the will of the Lord. Each member of the Church has something to offer in building the kingdom of God. How can I seek first the kingdom of God? A short time later, Brother Ottley was called by the First Presidency of the Church to be the conductor of the Tabernacle Choir. Elder Bruce R. McConkie told us how we can build up the kingdom: âIt is our privilege to raise the warning voice to our neighbors and to go on missions and offer the truths of salvation to our Fatherâs other children everywhere. Discuss with your family the need to make sacrifices in order to build the kingdom. Listen to the prophetâs counsel (see D&C 1:38 [Scripture Mastery, D&C 1:37â38]). What does it mean to be a âleavening influenceâ? A Kingdom builder gathers with God’s people and joins up with a small group for encouragement and accountability. Take your Bible if you will and let’s look at the 6th chapter of Zechariah. In doing them, you will bless those around you even as God … Isaiah 11:11-16. We can invite them into the joy of God’s Kingdom … Funds from these are to be used for sustaining missionary work, building meetinghouses and temples, and contributing to other righteous expenditures to build the kingdom. Luke 12:47â48 (of him unto whom much is given, much is required), Alma 34:32 (today is the time to prepare to meet God), Doctrine and Covenants 65 (prepare the way of the Lord), Doctrine and Covenants 82:18â19 (work for the benefits of all), Read Gospel Principles chapter 34, âDeveloping Our Talents.â. As we serve, our ability to serve is increased. You may want to fast and pray to know how to use your time, talents, and possessions to build up the kingdom. How would you explain the kingdom of God to a 15-year-old? Let's face it. Elder Dale E. Miller explained: âBrothers and sisters, thrusting in our sickles to help build the Lordâs kingdom should be the prime focus of our lives. What is the best thing you have to devote to the Kingdom of God? When they were in Europe studying, the Ottleys realized that they had an especially important and difficult decision to make. The Ottleys understood that our time, talents, and possessions are really not ours at all, but the Lordâs. I’m going to share six this week and six next week. We have been given the responsibility to help build the kingdom of God. Sister Ottley became a member of the Tabernacle Choir, and Brother Ottley joined the Music Department at the University of Utah. We need to get into the position and posture of saying Yes to whatever God is asking. âAs we invest our time, talents, and means to build Zion, our hearts are purified, our wisdom increases, celestial habits begin to form, and the Holy Spirit prepares us to receive the presence of the Father and the Son. There are many ways you can help further the Gospel of Jesus and advance the Kingdom of God. To live our lives within the context of the eternal purposes of God and understand that we are called to be Kingdom Builders. He has but one possessionâa treasured stamp collectionâwhich he is willing to sell, if necessary, to help finance his mission.â. What can we do to be active in the Church and live up to our commitments to the Lord? That’s great, because together, all of us make up the kingdom. Hence all of Christian existence has to do with understanding this call and with organizing our response to this call. Build it up where he has given you citizenship, family, and friends. This is the second in a four part series on The Kingdom of God. It is supremely costly and extraordinarily dangerous. We are to do all that we do to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31) and to do everything we do “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). All of these are things you can find seconds to minutes to do today. Born in poverty but nurtured in faith, Jose prepared for a mission call. All of us are needed to lead, teach, support, and participate. We help build the kingdom of God by living righteously. God Reigns over All Things. By thrusting in our sickles, we reap a double portionâfor ourselves and for the kingdomâ (in Conference Report, Apr. Imagine the breakthrough we’d see in our prayer lives! In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul compares the body of Christ to a human body: Each of us is unique, but together we make the body complete. The greatest joy we can reap on this earth is to use them in building up the kingdom of God. There may be times when we will be asked to give more, and to make greater sacrifices to further the Lordâs work. The Ottleys desired to be obedient, but beyond that they yearned to serve the Lord in building His kingdom here on the earth. You can soil your record, defile your soul, trample underfoot virtue, honor, and goodness, and thus forfeit an exaltation in the kingdom of God. We aren’t called to build kingdoms. âAnd know this: God will bless that nation which so orders its affairs as to further his workâ (âCome: Let Israel Build Zion,â Ensign, May 1977, 118). When we pay our tithes and offerings, we are helping to build the kingdom. There appeared the statement: âBrother Garcia will serve at great sacrifice to his family, for he is the means of much of the family support. President Brigham Young gave this counsel: âIf you give anything for the building up of the Kingdom of God, give the best you have. Nehemiah’s work provoked hostile reactions from some of the pagans. We can’t extend God’s reign, but we can help people understand what it’s like to live under His reign. Ask: How do each of the attitudes and activities listed on the board strengthen the Church? By using our time, talents, and possessions freely and willingly, we can help spread the gospel and build the kingdom. (See Glenn V. Bird, âMiracle at San Fernando,â New Era, Jan. 1977, 28â29. Spirit Led Decision-Making (Romans 14:17) The Bible says that the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The Lord calls us to give to others. Most of these references occur in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.While the exact term is not found in the Old Testament, the existence of God’s Kingdom is expressed similarly in the Old Testament. âThe law of sacrifice is that we are willing to sacrifice all that we have for the truthâs sakeâ ⦠our houses, lands, and families: all things, even our very lives if need be. The kingdom is a huge theme in the Bible, and yet it can be difficult to define. Help students understand that in serving the Lord it is not where we serve but how. The gathering place for Chileans is in Chile; for Bolivians it is in Bolivia; for Koreans it is in Korea; and so it goes through all the length and breadth of the earth. (See âGermans Aid Idahoans,â Church News, 14 Aug. 1976, 10. Since God is the Creator of everything, He reigns over all things. Being actively engaged in the work of the kingdom, at any level, will bless our lives and provide growth in countless circumstances. Sister JoAnn Ottley related an experience in learning to build the kingdom of God. Ask students to identify specific areas in their life that they could change in order to live more righteously. Ask them to set some specific goals that will help them succeed. First of all, 1. The man answered that he had observed these commandments all of his life. We recommend that you follow Christ’s own instructions and “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).The first step toward being in that Kingdom is learning about repentance.We invite you to download our free booklet Change Your Life! ⦠Let us consider this, and no longer sit with hands folded, wasting time, for it is the duty of every man and of every woman to do all that is possible to promote the Kingdom of God on the earthâ (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. Assign class members to present any stories, scriptures, or quotations you wish. We’re just called to advance the good Kingdom that is already established. In return he has promised us eternal life in his Fatherâs kingdom. â¦. Everybody has influence. Zion is here in South America and the Saints who comprise this part of Zion are and should be a leavening influence for good in all these nations. When we pay our tithes and offerings, we are helping to build the kingdom. Learn to manage your time wisely so you may better serve the Lord. The Young Men and the Young Women of the district also contributed by working one day of their vacation to earn money to give to the flood victims. The Kingdom of God was the main message of Jesus Christ. We should willingly serve wherever … Yet it can be easy to overlook this prominent theme in the life of Jesus, and tempting to assume rather than investigate the importance of the kingdom for Jesus. They had spent their entire lifetimes studying and developing these gifts. List responses on the board. They knew that their chapel must be free of debt to be dedicated to the Lord, and in two days they raised a rather large sum of money (over $10,000) to clear the building of debt. Give advice, … âWe are confident that members of the Church throughout the world will be blessed as they heed this counsel and work to strengthen their local Church units and communitiesâ (âCounsel about Immigration,â Ensign, Mar. 1998, 37; or Ensign, May 1998, 29â30). Some sold land and others sold furniture and other personal possessions to raise the needed funds. âA Prophetâs Counsel and Prayer for Youth,â. ⦠Let us devote every qualification we are in possession of to the building up of Godâs kingdom, and you will accomplish the whole of itâ (Discourses of Brigham Young, 445). Now, this book, as we well know – and I’ll take a minute or two to review. We also demonstrate our willingness to be obedient, and we can bring joy to ourselves and others. Display visual 10-a, âJesus telling the rich young ruler what to do to inherit eternal life.â, 10-a, Jesus telling the rich young ruler what to do to inherit eternal life, The New Testament contains a story of a man who asked Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life. It is our task to build the city of God. In what ways can the Church be a leavening influence in a country? Have them write in the âNotes and Impressionsâ section of their student manuals what they plan to do to improve in each selected area. What does it mean to put the âthings of the kingdomâ first in our lives? This tells us that God has a plan to establish His kingdom on this earth as it already is in heaven. Read the following statement from Elder Bruce R. McConkie, who was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: âStakes of Zion are ⦠being organized at the ends of the earth. In order to aid the victims, the members of the German district held a special fast day in addition to the regular fast Sunday. There may be times when we will be asked to give more, and to make greater sacrifices to further the Lord’s work. But … âBut ⦠we must be able to live these laws to the full if we are called upon to do soâ (in Conference Report, Apr. These humble, faithful people, numbering 185, wanted President Smith to dedicate their chapel. In the Kingdom parables of the Bible (ones that often begin, “The kingdom of heaven is like …”), Jesus explained what the Kingdom will be like and what we must do to enter the Kingdom. Ask them to identify the blessings of service. The purpose of this lesson is to teach us ways to use our time, talents, and possessions to help build the kingdom of God. Perhaps we can feed or clothe someone in need, or give shelter to a homeless person. It is our task to build the city of God. A main concept in the Old Testament Christ’s own references to the kingdom of God were not new—the concept was a central, constant part of God’s revelation to Israel from the beginning. We help build the kingdom of God by living righteously. website, become involved in ministry, etc., you are building the Kingdom of God. Jesus told him to keep the commandments: not to commit adultery, kill, steal, or bear false witness, and to honor his father and mother. What does it mean that the Ottleysâ desire to be used by the Lord went beyond just being obedient? This tells us that God has a plan to establish His kingdom on this earth as it already is in heaven. ⦠It does seem to me to be part of the entire covenant of giving of our time, our talents, and our means to the work of the Lord [to leave of our own free choice some of our possessions for building up the kingdom of God].â (See Isaac M. Stewart, âI Have a Question,â Ensign, Aug. 1975, 23â24. Scattered Israel in every nation is called to gather to the fold of Christ, to the stakes of Zion, as such are established in their nations. â¦. 1975, 76; or Ensign, May 1975, 51). Sister Villafranca of Mexico, who lived far from a ward or branch, found a way to help build up the kingdom in her area. 2000, 79). He who will work to build the kingdom of God must be on guard against arrows that are directed at his face—but perhaps even more on guard for the arrows directed at his back. The key decisions pertaining to education, career, marriage, and the very use of our time, talent, and means should prayerfully hinge on how best we serve the Master, building His kingdom and becoming perfected in Him. Their answer came during a sacrament meeting at the close of a fasting period. He will help you discover what you can do to build the kingdom as you open your ears to hear the word of God and open your heart to understand and feel the desire to help. If we were truly honest, we more often pray for God’s kingdom to come into our own lives instead of someone else’s. A Kingdom builder operates in a different power that the rest of the world – the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit who offers guidance every step of the way. Repent of sins (see D&C 58:42â43 [Scripture Mastery]). Looking at these two aspects of the kingdom, we see that Jesus said, the kingdom is coming by God’s will in earth as it is in heaven. She offered her home in the city as a place for the elders to teach a class of investigators. He who will work to build the kingdom of God must be on guard against arrows that are directed at his face—but perhaps even more on guard for the arrows directed at his back. ), âWe have covenanted in the waters of baptism to love and serve him [the Lord], to keep his commandments, and to put first in our lives the things of his kingdom. Labor on welfare projects, engage in genealogical research, perform ⦠ordinances in the kingdom of.. 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