Busy week? Me too. LDSLiving’s Sunday on Monday podcast is here to catch you up and get you ready for discussions with your family and at church on Sunday. Here’s a nugget of wisdom from this week’s Come, Follow Me study of 1 and 2 Peter.
We’ve spent considerable time this year in the New Testament talking about the missionary journeys of Paul, and when studying how to share the gospel, there are few better examples to read up on. But the ways and whats of teaching are only a piece of the pie when it comes to missionary work and true conversion. In Come, Follow Me this week, we learn about what Peter has to say about what kind of missionaries—and people—we should be. And as always, our ultimate example is Christ.
Christlike Attributes
Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service opens with an introduction: why we share the gospel and what are some of the most important doctrines to know and spread to the world. Later chapters focus on time management and people skills. But smack dab in the middle of the book is a whole chapter focused on you. How each of us can take on the name of Christ every day.
After all, 1 Peter 2:21 tells us, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps”
Christ is the perfect example, and learning about Him and the attributes He has can help us follow Him.
In his second letter, Peter talks about many of the same attributes listed in chapter six of Preach My Gospel. Peter says:
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Gaining a knowledge of Christ is the first step in trying to be more like Him. And Peter has actually outlined a step-by-step process for becoming more Christ-like. Each attribute builds on the last, and the development of each unique attribute supports what we should work on next. And if any of us can manage to master diligence, faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity (not to mention the attributes Preach My Gospel adds—hope, humility, and obedience), then I think that would make for a pretty good missionary. And a great representative of Christ each and every day.
It was fun to recognize these Christlike attributes from my missionary days in this section of Peter. Still, Peter wasn’t talking exclusively to missionaries, and Preach My Gospel isn’t supposed to be used that way either. Maybe take this week's modern manual and New Testament teachings crossover as a reminder to read up on Preach My Gospel and see how it can make you a better member missionary or simply a better disciple of Christ.
So that was my takeaway this week. To hear more takeaways from other Latter-day Saints on this block of scripture, join our study group on Facebook and Instagram.
Sunday on Monday is a Come, Follow Me podcast hosted by Tammy Uzelac Hall that is released every Monday to guide you through the scripture readings for the week. This week covers the book of 1 and 2 Peter, and our podcast guests were longtime favorites Abe Mills and Tyler Collet. You can listen to full episodes on Deseret Bookshelf Plus and find out more at ldsliving.com/sundayonmonday.
