Suggested Lesson Development

Attention Activity

As appropriate, use the following activity or one of your own to begin the lesson.

Draw a road on the chalkboard, and draw a car or another vehicle on the road. Then share the following experience related by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin:

“While traveling along a mountainous road one evening through a driving rainstorm punctuated with frequent claps of thunder and flashes of lightning, Sister Wirthlin and I could barely see the road, either in front of us or to the right and the left. I watched the white lines on that road more intently than ever before. Staying within the lines kept us from going onto the shoulder and into the deep canyon on the one side and helped us avoid a head-on collision on the other. To wander over either line could have been very dangerous. Then I thought, ‘Would a right-thinking person deviate to the left or the right of a traffic lane if he knew the result would be fatal? If he valued his mortal life, certainly he would stay between these lines.’

“That experience traveling on this mountain road is so like life. If we stay within the lines that God has marked, he will protect us, and we can arrive safely at our destination” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1990, 80; or Ensign, Nov. 1990, 64).

Explain that at the time Paul wrote his first epistle to the Saints in Corinth, some of them had begun to stray outside the lines of the gospel. This lesson will discuss Paul’s exhortations for the Saints to repent of three of the ways they had begun to stray. Draw three lines on the chalkboard that show the vehicle going off the road. At the end of the first line write Contention and disunity. At the end of the second line write Relying on the wisdom of the world. At the end of the third line write Immorality.

Scripture Discussion and Application

As you teach the following scripture passages, discuss how Paul’s counsel applies to our day and how we can apply his teachings in our own lives.

1. Avoid contention and be unified.

Read and discuss 1 Corinthians 1:10–13; 3:1–11.

2. Rely on the Spirit rather than the wisdom of the world.

Discuss 1 Corinthians 1:17–31; 2:1–16. Invite class members to read selected verses.

3. Be morally clean.

Read and discuss selected verses from 1 Corinthians 3:16–17; 5; 6:9–20.

Conclusion

Testify that, like Paul, the apostles and prophets of our day continue to teach us what we should do to stay within the boundaries the Lord has set. You may want to briefly discuss a recent conference address in which the prophet or one of the apostles spoke on a topic Paul dealt with in his letter to the Corinthians, such as avoiding contention, relying on the Spirit, or staying morally clean. As appropriate, share how you have been blessed as you have applied counsel from Paul or one of the latter-day apostles or prophets.