multitude of people on riverbank and being baptized in river

Day of Pentecost, by Sidney King

July 3–9

Acts 1–5

“Ye Shall Be Witnesses unto Me”

If you read Acts 1–5 and seek the guidance of the Spirit, you will receive inspiration about what truths in the chapters will help your class members more fully rely on the Holy Ghost and be faithful witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Invite Sharing

There are many meaningful passages and principles in Acts 1–5. One great way to discover which are the most valuable and relevant to members of your class is to let them tell you what stood out to them in their study. How will you invite this kind of sharing? It could be as simple as giving them a few minutes to find and share a verse from Acts 1–5 in which they felt the voice of the Lord speaking to them.

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Teach the Doctrine

Acts 1:1–8; 2:37–39; 4:1–13, 31–33

Jesus Christ directs His Church through the Holy Ghost.

• Reading about the experiences of the Apostles can help your class members see how they can receive power and guidance from the Holy Ghost in their Church callings and assignments. One way to review the experiences in Acts 1–5 would be to write on the board The Holy Ghost helped the Apostles lead the Church by: and then invite class members to search Acts 1:1–8; 2:37–39; and 4:1–13, 31–33, looking for ways to finish the sentence. Class members could then share experiences in which the Holy Ghost helped them in these ways. Why did the Apostles need the Holy Ghost—and why do we need Him?

Acts 1:15–26

The Apostles of Jesus Christ are called by God through revelation.

• Consider inviting class members to explain how a business might go about choosing a replacement for an executive position. What qualifications might they look for? Ask class members to contrast this with how the Apostle Matthias was called (see Acts 1:15–26; see also 1 Samuel 16:1–13) and with President Gordon B. Hinckley’s words in “Additional Resources” describing how Apostles are called today. How does God’s method for choosing leaders affect our faith in the leaders He has called? Class members could share how they have gained a witness that today’s apostles and prophets are called by Him.

Acts 2:37–47

The Holy Ghost inspires us to act on what we learn.

• As class members study the scriptures at home and together in class each week, they may often feel “pricked in their heart” (Acts 2:37). You may feel inspired to help them go a step further by asking, “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Read Acts 2:37–47 together, inviting class members to search for things this group of 3,000 people did as a result of Peter’s invitation. Maybe they could also share ways they have acted on inspiration from their study of the word of God. Then you might reserve time at the end of class for each person to ask themselves the question “What shall I do?” and record their impressions.

Peter smiling and preaching with wounds on face

Despite being arrested and beaten, Peter boldly preached the gospel.

Acts 3; 4:1–21; 5:12–42

As we are filled with the Holy Ghost, we can share the gospel with boldness.

• Class members could review Acts 3; 4:1–21; 5:12–42, looking for examples of Peter testifying boldly. Or they could watch one of the following videos: “Peter Preaches and Is Arrested,” “Peter and John Are Judged,” or “Peter and John Continue Preaching the Gospel” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). What does it mean to speak “the word of God with boldness”? (Acts 4:31). How does the Holy Ghost help us share the gospel boldly? How is this kind of boldness different from being contentious? Class members might have experiences to share in which they, or someone they know, boldly defended or testified of the gospel.

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Additional Resources

The calling of a member of the Twelve.

Gordon B. Hinckley shared the following insights about the process of calling a new Apostle: “The procedure is peculiar to the Lord’s church. There is no seeking for office, no jockeying for position, no campaigning to promote one’s virtues. Contrast the Lord’s way with the way of the world. The Lord’s way is quiet, it is a way of peace, it is without fanfare or monetary costs. It is without egotism or vanity or ambition. Under the Lord’s plan, those who have responsibility to select officers are governed by one overriding question: ‘Whom would the Lord have?’ There is quiet and thoughtful deliberation. And there is much of prayer to receive the confirmation of the Holy Spirit that the choice is correct” (“God Is at the Helm,” Ensign, May 1994, 53).

Improving Our Teaching

Invite learners to act. The Holy Ghost often inspires us to act on what we are learning (see Acts 2:37). When this happened to the people Peter was teaching, he extended an invitation (see Acts 2:38). Consider how you can follow Peter’s example.