Sharing the Gospel
missionary work

Fifth-Sunday Lesson Ideas

Fifth-Sunday lessons provide great opportunities to help members recognize the joy and blessings that come from sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

One goal of a fifth-Sunday lesson could be to help each member share the gospel of Jesus Christ in natural ways by living the principles of “love, share, and invite.”

The following ideas and resources may assist you in your efforts. Listen to the Spirit as you prepare. Teach in a way that encourages your ward or branch members, especially the youth, to participate in the discussion.

Foundational Love, Share, and Invite Principles

  • Consider discussing some of the foundational principles and scriptures listed below as part of the lesson.

  • Sharing our love of the Savior and the gospel can bring joy to us, to the Lord, and to others. It also brings the Spirit and God’s power more greatly into our lives (see John 15:4–5; Mosiah 18:10), protects us from temptation (see 3 Nephi 18:24–25), and brings healing and forgiveness of sins (see Doctrine and Covenants 4:4; 62:3).

  • What does it mean to love, share, and invite? Share ideas and consider the following:

    • Many who join the Church are positively influenced by observing the lives of everyday members. As we are open about being followers of Jesus Christ and part of His restored gospel, we are sharing the gospel.

    • We can share the gospel as an extension of our everyday life and invite people to come and see, come and serve, and come and belong in genuine ways.

    • Some may feel a lack of opportunity to share the gospel. Encouraging members to interact with more people as part of their daily routine is an easy way to help increase opportunities to share the gospel and build lasting connections.

    • The Savior invited us to “come and see” (see John 1:37–39) and to do the same with others, especially as we meet together as members of the Church (see 3 Nephi 18:22, 25).

  • Loving, sharing, and inviting are not a Church program. Elder Gary E. Stevenson reminds us that “these three things are merely an extension of who we already are as disciples of Jesus Christ.” How is living “love, share, and invite” a way to emulate and follow Christ?

  • “Any effort to live the principles of love, share, and invite is positive, whether or not a person meets with the missionaries or joins the Church” (Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ [2023], 168).

Sharing the Gospel Resources

These resources can help you understand ways to help Church members share the gospel by acting upon the principles of “love, share, and invite.”

Fifth-Sunday Sample Lesson Outlines

In addition to discussing the foundational principles, below are sample outlines you might consider using when teaching a fifth-Sunday lesson on the principles of love, share, and invite. Fifth-Sunday lessons are designed to be covered in a single 50-minute classroom setting. The samples provide ideas and resources to help you get started.

Outline 1: Simple Ways to Love, Share, and Invite (Youth)

Outline 2: Love, Share, and Invite through Ward Activities

Outline 3: Inviting Friends, Family, and Neighbors to Church

Simple Ways to Love, Share, and Invite (Youth) (50 minutes)

This sample outline is designed to help the youth discover ways to share the gospel in everyday settings as the Savior did. It is intended to provide sample ideas and examples.

Objective

The objective of this lesson is to help learners understand simple ways they can live and share the gospel more openly in their everyday lives.

Introduction (3 minutes)

You may choose to start the meeting by showing this video: Simple Ways to Love, Share, and Invite (2:45). Download the video to your device and test it before class if you plan to use it. Before they watch, invite the class to think of what they consider to be missionary work. Lead a discussion using some of the following questions:

  • Did the examples in the video align with what you think it means to do missionary work? Why or why not?

  • What surprised you most about the examples?

  • What new ideas came to your mind that you might be able to do this week?

Sharing the Gospel through Daily Interactions (8 minutes)

Consider discussing what Preach My Gospel says about youth sharing the gospel: “Youth are especially gifted at loving their friends, sharing what is in their heart, and inviting them to activities” (Preach My Gospel, chapter 9, 168). Ask about experiences the class has had sharing the gospel in a simple or natural way that they would feel comfortable sharing.

Regardless of what is shared, validate the response and discuss how sharing the gospel can be simple and that everyone can be successful doing it. Here are some possible follow-up questions to consider:

  • How did the conversation feel? Did you feel the Spirit?

  • How does sharing the gospel bring us closer to Jesus Christ?

  • What would you do or say differently if you could have a do over?

  • How can we involve others in our Christ-centered lives in everyday ways?

  • What are some talents you have that can help you share the gospel? (Here are some to help move the conversation along: music, dance, patience, kindness, teaching, leadership, and so forth.)

Practice Activity (10 minutes)

Have a volunteer read Mark 16:15: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Let the class know that these were the resurrected Savior’s words to His Apostles, but He has given us the same charge today (see Doctrine and Covenants 30:5) to share the gospel with all by loving, sharing, and inviting.

With these scripture verses in mind, lead an 8- to 10-minute role-play activity. As an example, have someone volunteer to role-play with you. Show how easy it can be to love, share, and invite using one of the following scenarios (or one you’ve come up with on your own):

  • A friend asks what you’re doing that night, and you realize you have a youth service activity.

  • A classmate sees you reading the Book of Mormon on your phone and asks what you’re reading.

  • Your soccer coach asks how your weekend was, and it so happens that you helped teach the lesson at church the previous day.

  • A coworker invites you to hang out on Sunday, and you’ve been wanting to invite them to come to church with you.

Divide the class into some smaller groups (2–3 people). Encourage them to brainstorm moments that they might have in their everyday life at school, work, church activities, or other situations where they could apply the principles of loving, sharing, and inviting.

  • Invite each person in the group to practice what they might say if given one of the opportunities they discussed. If they can’t think of any, suggest one of the scenarios listed above.

  • Encourage them to work together to come up with ideas of how they can love, share, and invite in normal and natural ways.

  • Invite each member of the group to try (but don’t force anyone who may feel uncomfortable).

  • Give them opportunities to repeat the exercise to improve and to try a variety of scenarios.

After the activity, invite the class to learn from each other with questions such as these:

  • Was practicing sharing the gospel easier or harder than you expected? Why?

  • What went well?

  • What was difficult?

You might highlight the idea that simply living the gospel more openly and focusing on the people around us are easy ways to help others want to learn more. People are influenced when they see how we treat each other, our families, and those in our communities.

Reflection Activity (10 minutes)

Explain to the youth that many of us, young and older, tend to overthink when it comes to sharing the gospel. Jesus taught about loving our neighbor. Your conversations don’t have to result in baptism, bringing someone to church, or even teaching a gospel principle.

Have the class think about the past week. Consider having them look at their messages and calendars to remind themselves of the events of the previous days. Invite them to consider the following questions:

  • What were some of the interactions you had with close friends or family?

  • What interactions did you have with people you didn’t know as well?

  • What positive moments did you have loving, sharing, and inviting? What made them positive? What made them seem natural?

  • What were some opportunities where you could have loved, shared, and invited even more?

  • For the people you interacted with, how many do you think know that you’re a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Were there ways to increase that visibility in an everyday conversation?

Have someone read the following quote: “Help members understand that any effort to live the principles of love, share, and invite is positive, whether or not a person meets with the missionaries or joins the Church" (Preach My Gospel, chapter 9, 168).

Invite them to set a goal for how they might love, share, and invite more moving forward. They may want to look at their calendars to see if any future opportunities come to mind.

What if I Get Rejected? (5 Minutes)

Explain that it is a very real fear to be rejected or teased because of religious beliefs, but it doesn’t make the gospel less true or important. The best thing to remember in any uncomfortable situation is to not get defensive or argumentative. Rejections are part of life; even the Savior faced rejection. Have someone volunteer to read John 1:11: “[Jesus] came unto his own, and his own received him not.” What can we do in situations where someone rejects us or even mocks us?

Here are some possible suggestions to add:

  • Use the rejection as a chance to grow and deepen your faith.

  • Realize it may take time for people to process and accept your invitation or help. Continue to pray for them and for guidance.

  • Don’t be discouraged from sharing the gospel with other people.

Conclusion (3 minutes)

Watch this video of Elder Mark A. Bragg sharing his conversion and how members applied the principles of love, share, and invite. Allow for comments if time allows.

1:56

Plan to Act and Promise Blessings (5 minutes)

Ask, “Based on what you’ve learned today, what is one thing you feel inspired to do?” Invite them to write it down in their notes, set a reminder, or write it on paper along with a time and date when they’ll do it.

Testify of and share some of the promised blessings that come from sharing the gospel. Here are some of the blessings listed in Preach My Gospel, chapter 9:

Love, Share, and Invite through Ward Activities (50 Minutes)

This lesson will help members to invite friends to ward activities. It is intended to provide sample ideas and examples.

Objective

The objective of this lesson is to introduce learners to the new Activity Sharing tool and help them identify simple ways they can invite others to Church activities.

Foundational Love, Share, Invite Principles

At the beginning of this article there are principles you can begin this lesson with. You could also use this optional kickoff video: Ward Websites: A New Tool for Sharing the Gospel—Love, Share, Invite (2:40). Download the video to your device and test it before class if you plan to use it. As you watch this video, consider simple ways we can invite others to join with us at church activities.

Find Your Ward Web Page (10 Minutes)

Lead a discussion using some of the following questions:

  • How does sharing the gospel bring us closer to Jesus Christ?

  • What is the connection between sharing the gospel and honoring our covenants?

Ask if any of them knew a ward web page existed.

Use this video to help members learn how to navigate to the ward web page: “Find Ward Web Page” located on this website.

Navigate to the website and share your screen, if possible, to highlight the following:

  • The list of available activities

  • The RSVP function for each activity

  • How to share the activities easily with others

If most of the class can open the website on their own device, invite them to review upcoming activities and consider if they know anyone they might consider inviting to an upcoming activity. Encourage but don’t pressure them to act on their promptings.

Inviting Friends and Neighbors to Activities (8 minutes)

The Savior simply said, “Come and see” (John 1:39). He didn’t feel the need to explain everything in the moment; He wanted them to follow Him and experience and feel what His gospel was about. This is the approach we should consider when inviting people to activities or meetings.

Have the class brainstorm on the board what existing ward activities and meetings they can publish on the ward web page and invite people to attend (for example, baptisms, neighborhood parties, and so on).

Here are some additional events that may not have been mentioned: ward game night, Sunday Primary program, talent show, block party, service project, self-reliance course, and others.

Practice Activity (12 minutes)

Lead a 10- to 12-minute role-play activity. As an example, have someone volunteer to role-play with you. Using an upcoming activity from the ward web page (or make up an activity if there isn’t one scheduled), demonstrate how easy it can be to love, share, and invite. Here are some examples of scenarios you might demonstrate and have them practice:

  • You and your neighbor both arrive home at the same time, and you’ve been meaning to invite them to the ward summer party that’s happening on Saturday. Be sure to mention how you’ll send them a link with the information (the ward web page “Share” link).

  • Craft a message you might send via text or social media inviting a friend to an upcoming service day. Demonstrate what you might write and how you would include the link to the ward web page right in the message. Encourage the person to RSVP if interested.

  • You run into a family with small children at the store. They mention trying to make Easter plans, so you invite them to an upcoming Easter activity and offer to send them a link with more information.

Divide the class into some smaller groups (2–3 people). Encourage them to practice any of the example scenarios or to come up with scenarios of their own.

  • Encourage them to work together to come up with ideas of how they can love, share, and invite in normal and natural ways.

  • Invite each member of the group to try (but don’t force anyone who may feel uncomfortable).

  • Give them opportunities to repeat the exercise to improve and to try a variety of scenarios.

After the activity, invite the class to share best practices and learn from each other with questions such as these:

  • Was practicing sharing the gospel easier or harder than you expected? Why?

  • What went well while you were practicing?

  • What was difficult?

Remind the class there are resources such as the full-time missionaries, siblings who may have served missions, the ward mission leader, and others they could talk to if they have questions about how to best share the gospel with a friend.

Important Things to Consider for Ward Activities (10 minutes)

Read or display this quote from Elder Gerrit W. Gong: “Ward social and service activities … could knit us together with even greater belonging and unity. … Enjoyable gospel activities also [allow us to] invite neighbors and friends” (Gerrit W. Gong, “Love is Spoken Here,” Liahona, Nov. 2023, 112).

Also read this quote: “When our invitations are based on a person’s needs and interests, he or she is more likely to accept those invitations. Often, inviting simply means including our family, friends, and neighbors in what we are already doing” (General Handbook, 23.1.3).

Explain that you want the people you invite to feel as comfortable as possible. This may be their first experience ever with the Church, or this may be the first time they are coming back after 20 years. They may be new or returning members, so it’s important to consider all these factors when inviting.

Brainstorm with the class how the ward can create an environment where it is easier to love, share, and invite? Write the answers on the board. As they come up with answers, ask these follow-up questions:

  • How can you be more inclusive and not exclusive when you are:

    • Talking about the Church? (Use “women’s group” instead of “Relief Society,” “Sunday worship service” instead of “sacrament meeting”).

    • Planning activities? (If it doesn’t get brought up by the class, point out that even the way we name our activities can be inclusive instead of exclusive, such as calling it a community picnic rather than a ward picnic.

    • Participating in the activity?

The most important thing about these activities is to help friends and neighbors from the community feel that they “are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19).

Conclusion (3 minutes)

Watch this video of Church leaders and members sharing how invitations to activities helped them in their conversion. Allow for comments if time allows.

2:20

Plan to Act and Promise Blessings (5 minutes)

Ask, “Based on what you’ve learned today, what is one thing you feel inspired to do?” Invite them to write it down in their notes, set a reminder, or write it on paper along with a time and date when they’ll do it.

Testify of and share some of the promised blessings that come from sharing the gospel. Here are some of the blessings listed in Preach My Gospel, chapter 9:

Inviting Friends, Family, and Neighbors to Worship with Us (50 minutes)

This lesson will help members discover ways to invite friends, family, and neighbors to church. It is intended to provide sample ideas and examples.

Objective

The objective of this lesson is to help learners understand the importance of being willing to invite someone to Church and how to do so in a normal way, according to the interest level of the person being invited.

Inviting People to Church (10 minutes)

Watch the video “Church Leaders Share Their First Invitation to Church | Love, Share, Invite” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Have the learners look for the impact that the invitation to Church had on the leaders in the video.

Lead a discussion using some of the following questions:

  • What impressed you about the impact that an invitation to Church had on these leaders?

  • What did you find interesting about the invitations?

  • How were they different than you might have imagined those invitations to be? How were they similar?

  • What did the Spirit teach you about the power of inviting?

  • Where were these people at in their journey to learn more when they were invited?

Have a volunteer read 3 Nephi 18:22, 25: “Ye shall meet together oft; and … suffer them that they may come unto you and forbid them not. … I have commanded … that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world.” Let the class know that these were the resurrected Savior’s words to His people in the Americas and to us.

Share a personal story of inviting someone to church, or ask the class if they have invited friends to attend church with them. Have them share their experience if they are comfortable. You might also consider sharing these videos: “Love, Share, and Invite: Sister Tracy Y. Browning’s Story”; “Love, Share, and Invite: Elder Hugo E. Martinez’s Story.”

2:1
2:20

Practice Activity (12 minutes)

With these verses and videos in mind, lead a 10- to 12-minute role-play activity. As an example, have someone volunteer to role-play with you. Demonstrate how easy it can be to include invitations to come to Church in everyday conversations. Remember, the goal is not to pressure someone into coming to church but rather to extend a loving, natural invitation when appropriate. Use one of the following scenarios, and remember to connect it to an invitation to come to church.

  • A coworker notices that you seem to prioritize time with your family and mentions it to you. You have been looking for an opportunity to share why family is so important to you and your faith.

  • A family moves in across the street, and you get the chance to meet them while they’re unloading boxes. They mention being interested in getting to know the community better.

  • While on an airplane, someone notices you are reading the Book of Mormon and asks you what it is about.

  • You’re talking with a neighbor who mentions that they used to go to their church but haven’t been recently. You’re assigned to give a talk in sacrament meeting next week.

Divide the class into some smaller groups (2–3 people). For wards or branches using Activity Sharing, the ward web page can be an easy way to share the time and location of our Sunday services. The web page can be found by logging in to the My Home section of the Church’s home page and clicking the link next to your ward’s name.

  • Invite one of the people in each group to practice what they might say if given one of the opportunities they discussed. If they can’t think of any, suggest one of the scenarios listed above.

  • Encourage them to work together to come up with ideas for how they can love, share, and invite in normal and natural ways.

  • Invite each member of the group to try (but don’t force anyone who may feel uncomfortable).

  • Give them opportunities to repeat the exercise to improve and to try a variety of scenarios.

After the activity, invite the class to share best practices and learn from each other with questions such as these:

  • Was practicing sharing the gospel easier or harder than you expected? Why?

  • What went well while you were practicing?

  • What was difficult?

Remind them that when we focus on others and try to emulate the Savior, sharing the gospel will come more naturally.

Reassure the class that some of us have fears and doubts at times. Consider reading Ether 12:27. Help them understand that by putting our faith in Christ, we can turn weaknesses into strengths.

Thought Activity (15 Minutes)

Lead a brainstorm with the class regarding how to help someone have a positive experience when being invited and attending church for the first time. Consider the following questions for each of the following situations.

Inviting Someone to Church

As a class, brainstorm answers to the following:

  • What might be some opportunities to easily invite someone to church? How do we do so in a normal and natural way?

  • What are things that I should consider beforehand?

    • When discussing, remember that not everyone has had a positive experience with organized church. Sometimes there are sensitive issues to be aware of that may shape their perception of church, such as mental disorders, sins, divorce, legal issues, or feeling judged.

      • You might share the following quote: “When our invitations are based on a person’s needs and interests, he or she is more likely to accept those invitations” (General Handbook, 23.1.3).

  • What if they decline my invitation? Possible answers:

    • Remind yourself that success is in the invitation.

    • Realize it may take time for people to process and accept your invitation or help. Continue to pray for them and for guidance.

    • Don’t be discouraged from sharing the gospel with other people.

  • If helpful, you may consider showing this video highlighting some people’s first experience at church: “What to Expect at Church.”

Preparing for Them to Attend

  • What things could we do beforehand to help someone have a positive experience when they come to church for the first time? (Ideas could include giving them a church tour, discussing what to expect, and so forth.) You might consider watching this video and identifying other ways to help someone have a positive experience at church.

  • What are some things you might tell them to help them understand what to expect? (Ideas could include start time, where to sit, who will meet them, how to dress, what the hymns are, who will be speaking, how long church is, how donations work, what the sacrament represents, and so forth.)

  • How might you get other members of the ward involved?

Attending with Them

  • What should you do while at church to make it a positive experience for them?

Conclusion (3 minutes)

Watch this video of Elder Takashi Wada sharing how an invitation to attend church helped him in his conversion. Allow for comments if time allows.

2:27

Plan to Act and Promise Blessings (5 minutes)

Ask, “Based on what you’ve learned today, what is one thing you feel inspired to do?” Invite them to write it down in their notes, set a reminder, or write it on paper along with a time and date when they’ll do it.

Testify of and share some of the promised blessings that come from sharing the gospel. Here are some of the blessings listed in Preach My Gospel, chapter 9: