Today the students passed off 1 Samuel 16:7. We then played a scripture mastery game which involved basketballs, dice and a chalk board - working on reinforcing the scripture mastery verses which we've already mastered.
Thanks to all who showed up today.
Next week we will focus on the entire book of Leviticus.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
December 6, 2007
Today we had the chance to review some of the Exodus story - focusing on the occasions during which Moses spoke with the Lord at the mountain. As we began class, the students answered the following questions in their journals - What do I want to get out of Seminary today? We discussed whether or not it is possible for me to meet each one of their needs each day in seminary. Some students said they talk to their parents about most of their problems, but the students all concurred that they don't generally talk with their parents about things they are praying about and praying for. Based on this we discussed how a teacher can't possibly meet each students needs. We discussed however, that Heavenly Father knows what each of our personal needs are, and through the Holy Ghost, we can have our prayers answered, and our personal needs can be fulfilled if we really listen to the Holy Ghost while in Seminary, or Church, or as we read etc.
Based on this, we then did a role play. 2 students volunteered to be our missionaries, and stepped outside the room to knock on the door. I answered the door, and they asked to share a message. They did a great job sharing their message, but I had a couple of questions (as an investigator). Based on Exodus 33:20, and John 1:18, no man can see God and live - that's what my pastor told me, and I just don't understand how Joseph Smith could see God and live, since God doesn't change, and that's what the scriptures say.
The students tried their best to come up with some answers... I then asked the students to spend some time looking in their topical guide under Jesus Christ, appearances of, ante and post mortal. As they did, I asked them to write down in their journals anything that impressed them, as well as any people who they found references to having seen Heavenly Father.
We got back into our role play with some new volunteers and started up where we'd stopped. The students could name several people who had seen the Lord, but we still struggled to find a good answer. Finally, we looked at the JST, and found that only a righteous person can see the Lord still live. We discussed how this really changes our understanding of the aforementioned scriptures, and really opens up our understandings. We ran out of time, but I had planned to ask the students to then record in their journals what they really DID get out of seminary this morning.
Tomorrow we will be doing a scripture chase - I recently found some really fun new ideas for them - I'm excited to try them out!
We will be covering Leviticus 1-7 on Monday during seminary, and we will finish the entire book of Leviticus next week. From here on out (for several weeks at least) we will be FLYING through the upcoming books - doing a minimum of a book a week, so the daily reading and keeping up is pretty important.
Based on this, we then did a role play. 2 students volunteered to be our missionaries, and stepped outside the room to knock on the door. I answered the door, and they asked to share a message. They did a great job sharing their message, but I had a couple of questions (as an investigator). Based on Exodus 33:20, and John 1:18, no man can see God and live - that's what my pastor told me, and I just don't understand how Joseph Smith could see God and live, since God doesn't change, and that's what the scriptures say.
The students tried their best to come up with some answers... I then asked the students to spend some time looking in their topical guide under Jesus Christ, appearances of, ante and post mortal. As they did, I asked them to write down in their journals anything that impressed them, as well as any people who they found references to having seen Heavenly Father.
We got back into our role play with some new volunteers and started up where we'd stopped. The students could name several people who had seen the Lord, but we still struggled to find a good answer. Finally, we looked at the JST, and found that only a righteous person can see the Lord still live. We discussed how this really changes our understanding of the aforementioned scriptures, and really opens up our understandings. We ran out of time, but I had planned to ask the students to then record in their journals what they really DID get out of seminary this morning.
Tomorrow we will be doing a scripture chase - I recently found some really fun new ideas for them - I'm excited to try them out!
We will be covering Leviticus 1-7 on Monday during seminary, and we will finish the entire book of Leviticus next week. From here on out (for several weeks at least) we will be FLYING through the upcoming books - doing a minimum of a book a week, so the daily reading and keeping up is pretty important.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Happy Chanukkah! December 5, 2007
Today we celebrated Chanukkah. As yesterday we discussed the worship of idols, and as today celebrates certain points in Jewish history, we took some time to discuss this history. We discussed how Antiochus entered the temple and sacrificed swine,and erected an statue of Zeus and forced them to sacrifice and worship their idols. We discussed how the Maccabees led a rebel group, and finally as they went to re-dedicate the temple, they couldn't find enough oil for the candles - (menorahs). They decided to go on with the dedication anyways, and miraculously, the oil burned for 8 days - hence the 8 candles in the menorah.
As a class we made the traditional Latkes - potato pancakes. Since Chanukkah is generally a day of games and fun as the celebration, we used today for our auction. While the latkes cooked, the students used the gerahs which they've been earing for attendance throughout the year so far and purchased and competed for the items which interested them.
Tomorrow we will focus on Exodus 33-40, finishing the book of Exodus.
As a class we made the traditional Latkes - potato pancakes. Since Chanukkah is generally a day of games and fun as the celebration, we used today for our auction. While the latkes cooked, the students used the gerahs which they've been earing for attendance throughout the year so far and purchased and competed for the items which interested them.
Tomorrow we will focus on Exodus 33-40, finishing the book of Exodus.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Who's on the Lord's Side? - December 4, 2007
Today we focused on Exodus chapter 32. We looked at what the Lord has said about Idolatry in DC 1:16, and then we read some scriptures in Deuteronomy regarding why the Lord commanded the Israelites to slay all of the inhabitants of the cities they came to - and saw that it was always due to idolatry. Going back into Exodus 34 and 32, we read the story of the golden calf, and we discussed Christs' relationship to the church as the Bridegroom. Within this context, we looked at Ex. 34 and read some verses about Israel going 'a whoring' after these other Gods.
We read some excerpts from a talk by Spencer W. Kimball regarding following other Gods, and discussed it in our lives. Two things I really liked from this talk were 1. He pointed out that most of the reasons people turn to other gods is due to the effort of the exercise of faith required. Many people don't have the patience or the faith, and so they turn to carnal false gods instead. The second thing that really impressed me was his discussion of wealth and the gods we pursue. He talked about a young man giving up going on a mission because he really loved his car. In the end, the car is just a composite of steel and rubber, which gave maybe some momentary satisfaction, but only the allusion of going somewhere. Whereas on a mission, he would have been exercising the blessings and promises given through the oath and covenant of the priesthood - which include the power to create worlds, move seas and mountains and more importantly - ALL that the Father hath. Pretty amazing to think that we are so short sighted and focus so much on the here and now and don't have the patience to exercise our faith so that we can receive the things to come.
We used some game show methods within this lesson - thanks to all who showed up and participated.
The assigned reading is Exodus 33 - 40.
Tomorrow we will finish up some final discussion of todays lesson as well as celebrate Hanukkah with some latkes and discuss the historical importance of this holiday to the Jewish people. We will also hold our first gerah auction tomorrow.
We read some excerpts from a talk by Spencer W. Kimball regarding following other Gods, and discussed it in our lives. Two things I really liked from this talk were 1. He pointed out that most of the reasons people turn to other gods is due to the effort of the exercise of faith required. Many people don't have the patience or the faith, and so they turn to carnal false gods instead. The second thing that really impressed me was his discussion of wealth and the gods we pursue. He talked about a young man giving up going on a mission because he really loved his car. In the end, the car is just a composite of steel and rubber, which gave maybe some momentary satisfaction, but only the allusion of going somewhere. Whereas on a mission, he would have been exercising the blessings and promises given through the oath and covenant of the priesthood - which include the power to create worlds, move seas and mountains and more importantly - ALL that the Father hath. Pretty amazing to think that we are so short sighted and focus so much on the here and now and don't have the patience to exercise our faith so that we can receive the things to come.
We used some game show methods within this lesson - thanks to all who showed up and participated.
The assigned reading is Exodus 33 - 40.
Tomorrow we will finish up some final discussion of todays lesson as well as celebrate Hanukkah with some latkes and discuss the historical importance of this holiday to the Jewish people. We will also hold our first gerah auction tomorrow.
Monday, December 3, 2007
What are you wearing?? December 3, 2007
Today we focused on Exodus 28, 29 and 31. We really spent most of our focus discussing appropriate clothing. In these chapters we read about the clothing which the Lord asked Aaron and the priests to wear. It was VERY SPECIFIC and very detailed. Every minute part seemed to be exact and addressed. We looked at some pictures and discussed what a person says by the way they dress. We discussed the counsel which the Lord has given us today - especially the youth about how to dress. We read from the Strength of Youth pamphlet the clothing guidelines and discussed why certain students wouldn't wear their soccer clothing, dance clothing or wrestling outfits to church or to a formal dinner.
Finally, we divided the class up into boys and girls, and had a panel discussion.
The guys asked girls questions about how long they take to get ready, how many outfits they go through trying to find the right one etc. The girls discussed what they like regarding boys' modesty.
The girls asked boys questions about how boys' thoughts are influenced by modest or immodest dress. The boys talked about their preferences that girls would be modest - because it helps them to better honor their priesthood and keep their thoughts clean.
It was a great discussion, and I think that both groups were surprised at some of the responses they got from the other group.
We will be focusing on Exodus 32 tomorrow, and the scripture mastery for this week is 1 Samuel 16:7.
Finally, we divided the class up into boys and girls, and had a panel discussion.
The guys asked girls questions about how long they take to get ready, how many outfits they go through trying to find the right one etc. The girls discussed what they like regarding boys' modesty.
The girls asked boys questions about how boys' thoughts are influenced by modest or immodest dress. The boys talked about their preferences that girls would be modest - because it helps them to better honor their priesthood and keep their thoughts clean.
It was a great discussion, and I think that both groups were surprised at some of the responses they got from the other group.
We will be focusing on Exodus 32 tomorrow, and the scripture mastery for this week is 1 Samuel 16:7.
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