"S" for Sacrifice

GAK 244 Christ and the Rich Young Ruler

(You will need to spend some time with your family making some cookies beforehand... and don't eat any!!)

Song: I Stand All Amazed (Hymns pg. 193)

Scripture Story: "A rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked what he should do to have eternal life. Jesus told the man that he must obey the commandments. When the rich young man said that he had been obedient to the laws of God, Jesus said the man needed to do one more thing. He needed to sell all he had, give to the poor, and follow Jesus. The rich young man was very sad. He did not want to do what Jesus told him to do. He loved his riches more than he loved God." (Summary GAK 244 Matthew 19:16-24; Mark 10:17-25; Luke 18:18-25)

Question: How was this young man different from Christ? What did Jesus sacrifice for us?

Scripture: Alma 34:13-14 ''Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away. And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal."

Demonstration: "To sacrifice is to give up something valuable or precious, often with the intent of accomplishing a greater purpose or goal." (Gospel Topics) Set out the plate of cookies you baked. Offer your family the choice to eat the cookies or sacrifice their portion to a neighbor. Will this make your neighbors happy?

Quote: " Sacrifice is a demonstration of pure love. The degree of our love for the Lord, for the gospel, and for our fellowman can be measured by what we are willing to sacrifice for them. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ manifested the supreme example of this love. His life and ministry established a pattern for us to follow. His divine mission was culminated in a supreme act of love as He allowed His life to be sacrificed for us. Having power over life and death, He chose to submit himself to pain, ridicule, and suffering, and offered His life as a ransom for our sins. Because of His love, He suffered both body and spirit to a degree beyond our comprehension and took upon Himself our sins if we repent. Through His personal sacrifice, He provided a way for us to have our sins forgiven and, through Him, to find our way back into the presence of our Heavenly Father.

The sacrifice he requires of us is “a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (3 Ne. 9:20) that can lead us to repentance. When we consider His example, the demands made upon our time or means are slight in comparison. We should, therefore, give gladly and count it as a blessing and an opportunity." (M. Russell Ballard, “The Blessings of Sacrifice,” Ensign, May 1992, 75)

Bear Testimony