Sister Jean B. Bingham (Apr. 18): "Ministering as the Savior Does"

Note:  The activity here could be used with Elder Holland's talk and vice versa as they both deal with the same issues.  In fact, depending on the instruction given to you, these two talks could be used in tandem during a lesson using any of the activities outlined in their respective blog posts.

The Activity:

1. BEFORE CLASS:  Ask each class member to review the talk and choose one sentence from it that they find particularly powerful or important and to bring this quote with them to class on Sunday.
2. BEFORE CLASS:  Type up and post around the room signs such as the following:  "Blessings for us individually,"  "Blessings for us as a ward,"  "Why minister," "How to minister," and "Other."
3. Give each class member an index card or post-it note as they enter the classroom and ask them to write their quote on it.
4. Direct the class members attention to the signs around the room and to decide which heading their chosen quote best fits in.
5. Have the class members move to sit near that sign.
6. Have these new smaller groups discus their chosen quotes and how they are connected.
7. After a few minutes, ask the class members to leave their quotes where they are sitting (put on the sign they chose, if you have used post its) and to move to the next poster with its set of quotes.
8. Groups discuss the new heading and the quotes that are there.
9. You can repeat step 7 and 8 as much as you feel is appropriate and beneficial.
10. Come back together as a class and discuss what was learned.  Ask questions such as:
1. What quote, besides your own, struck you as the most powerful?
2. What insights did you have about ministering?
3. How do you see this new approach as being different from our old approach?
4. What blessings do you feel this could have for our ward/class/quorum?
11. OPTIONAL:  You might give class members a few minutes to ponder the family(ies) they have been assigned to minister to and identify ways to minister to them.

Using the Activity:

This is an activity that is based, first and foremost, in the individual insights/feelings of the class members.  Beginning here is a powerful step in reaching the class members where they are.  We are all at different levels of understanding and conversion.  If we aim to high it can be confusing and frustrating to class members; if we aim to low, it can be boring for class members.  In either case, they tend to tune out.  And if they are not listening to us, they are not likely to receive the inspiration and promptings that are most important things to receive in any class.  Therefore, starting with the things that jump out to the class members is a valuable way to make sure that we are addressing those needs and impressions that the class members have now. 

Also, by pushing them to consider multiple topics, it will help the class members, hopefully, to consider ministering in a more robust way.  Also, the final (optional) step is simply an effort to encourage the class members to apply what they have been discussing, thinking about and feeling in an atmosphere that is filled with the Holy Spirit.  That way they can receive immediate guidance on how to be the type of minister that they need to be.

As always, thank you for coming to my blog and I hope that the idea here has helped spark your own inspiration about how best to teach with power and authority.  God bless you.