February 13 - 19 | Matthew 5; Luke 6 | “Blessed Are Ye” - Episode 8

Episode 8

February 13 - 19 | Matthew 5; Luke 6 | “Blessed Are Ye”

You remind me of the Pharisees

Bank account in heaven

Praise and pain

#OldTestament2022 #comefollowme #comefollowme2022 #TalkofHim #FindHim

Happy Valentine’s Day! Join hosts Ganel-Lyn Condie and John Fossum on this New Testament episode of Talk of Him as we explore these important themes, topics, and questions from Matthew 5 and Luke 6:

- Follow-up: Seeing ourselves as the Pharisees

- What does Jesus mean when He says we need to be MORE righteous than the Pharisees?

- The trap of merit-based theology

- Gratitude: How being grateful is an act of faith that opens the windows of heaven

—

Invitation:

If our obedience doesn’t “earn” us anything, then what is the purpose of commandments, and what are the blessings and benefits of following them? Try to find time this week to have a meaningful conversation with someone about these questions.

—

Quotes & Links:

Link to FIND HIM New Testament Study Guide:

https://www.seagullbook.com/find-him-new-testament-come-follow-me-guidebook.html

“The commandments . . . are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account” (Dallin H. Oaks, “The Challenge to Become,” Ensign, May 2000). 

“Salvation cannot be bought with the currency of obedience” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Gift of Grace,” Ensign, May 2015).

“We come to see obedience . . . as a liberating path to our divine destiny. . . . Eventually, the priceless, eternal spirit of the heavenly being within us is revealed, and a radiance of goodness becomes our nature” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “He Will Place You On His Shoulders and Carry You Home,” Ensign, May 2016).

“Gratitude is an Act of Faith. Being grateful in our circumstances is an act of faith in God. It requires that we trust God and hope for things we may not see but which are true. True gratitude is an expression of hope and testimony. It comes from acknowledging that we do not always understand the trials of life but trusting that one day we will.” [2014–A:70, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Grateful in Any Circumstances]

“In any circumstance, our sense of gratitude is nourished by the many and sacred truths we do know: that our Father has given His children the great plan of happiness; that through the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ, we can live forever with our loved ones; that in the end, we will have glorious, perfect, and immortal bodies, unburdened by sickness or disability; and that our tears of sadness and loss will be replaced with an abundance of happiness and joy, “good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.” [2014–A:70, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Grateful in Any Circumstances]

—

Talk of Him is presented by Seagull Book and hosted by Ganel-Lyn Condie and John Fossum.