To be centered on Christ............

I have an insight that I'd love to share regarding Christ's indelibe role in the lessons in Chapter 3. The objective in this lesson is to learn the lessons from chapter 3 and see how doctrine taught by the spirit will meet the needs of the investigator.
 Without Christ, the doctrine would be hollow. It all stems from His Atonement and His core doctrine, the Doctrine of Christ. Christ is the true meeter of needs, so to say that doctrine taught by the spirit meets needs is to say that to teach true doctrine by the spirit is to teach Christ. I believe this is more than explicitly mentioning His name and Atonement in every other sentence. Rather, it's an attitude, a feeeling, a recognition. It's to have the conviction that regardless of what we teach, it is intended to draw us and others to Him. I love this. I love the the doctrine wholeheartedly because it is my access to my Savior!

Needs-Doctrines-Invitations

Investigator have needs. We have doctrines, principles, and commandments. But that is not enough, we have to invite people to act on doctrine to make changes or to repent and come unto Christ.

Needs-Doctrine-Invitations

Identify the needs of the investigators

What are the needs of our investigator?
Why does out investigator have this need?

Discern what doctrines, principle, or commandments from chapter 3 can meet the needs

What doctrine from chapter 3 of PMG can meet those needs?
Why will this doctrine meet the needs of our investigator?

Make the connection to know which invitation to use, to help overcome needs

What invitations will help our investigators overcome their needs?
Why will this invitation hep our investigator overcome their needs?

This is a simple process I go through in my own life to understand how I can change. I have also used this in coaching missionary study, and have seen awesome results.

Using the BOM to Teach Doctrine

One of the three outcomes of a missionary's stay in the MTC is knowing the message. When missionaries understand the scriptures, they are more likely to understand the doctrine and then in turn teach the doctrine. YEAH! Doctrine meets needs! I have found a miraculous key to help the missionaries understand and feel more comfortable with the doctrine. That key is using the Book of Mormon to discover doctrine. (ps. I slightly stole this from Lisanne, but there are a million ways to make it your own)

There are a number of Book of Mormon reading activities, as well as Coaching Missionary Studies that can be used to help the missionaries understand doctrine simply. One idea for teaching is as follows:

1. You can prepare several passages for the missionaries to pick (ex. PMG, 104 has suggestions)  or have the missionaries choose a chapter from the BOM on their own, (as a companionship, individuals or larger groups) that teaches the doctrines of the Plan of Salvation.
2. If in a companionship, choose a specific investigator and decide how to teach it:
       a. verse by verse teaching the doctrine as the chapter is read
       b. pick individual verses and skip around in the chapter
3. Read through the chapter to identify verses that teach specific doctrines
4. Prepare specific questions and invitations for the specific investigator

Basically, it can be a Book of Mormon reading on a chapter on the Plan of Salvation or it can be a Coaching Missionary Study that expands doctrinal knowledge and how doctrine meets the needs of the investigator.

I have seen this process work miracles with the missionaries and also with the investigators in PI. Teaching with the scriptures is powerful and underused. Let's use God's word together!

Oh The Things Missionaries Say...

Need I say more? This is for you to be more effective so that missionaries teach true doctrine...not just about kolob and stuff.