Good Shepherd, Lamb of God
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Before Reading
Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:
- What are the roles of Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd and the Lamb of God?
- How does Elder Gong describe the relationship between the Shepherd and the sheep?
- What is the significance of the Atonement in our lives?
- How can we apply the teachings of Jesus Christ in our daily lives?
- What is the role of the Shepherd in gathering and ministering to God's children?
Topics
Understanding Christ as the Good Shepherd
Elder Gong discusses the role of Jesus Christ as our Good Shepherd who calls us by name, seeks and gathers us, and teaches us how to minister in love. As we seek to follow Christ, we receive inspiration to do good, love God, and serve Him. The Good Shepherd also seeks and gathers us into His one fold, reaching out to each one of us, regardless of our circumstances.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Our Good Shepherd calls us in His voice and His name. He seeks and gathers us. He teaches us how to minister in love.
- What does it mean to you that Christ is our Good Shepherd?
- How has Christ sought and gathered you in your life?
- What does it mean to minister in love as Christ does?
- How can you better heed the call of the Good Shepherd in your daily life?
- How can you help gather others as Christ, our Good Shepherd, does?
- In what ways can you minister in love to those around you?
Recognizing Christ as the Lamb of God
Elder Gong explains the role of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God, whose divine mission was foreordained and celebrated by apostles and prophets. His atonement, infinite and eternal, is central to God's plan of happiness. The Lamb of God knows when we feel alone or afraid, and He assures us that He carries us next to His heart.
Jesus Christ is our perfect Good Shepherd. Because He has laid down His life for us and is now gloriously resurrected, Jesus Christ is also the perfect Lamb of God.
The sacrificial Lamb of God was foreshadowed from the beginning.
As Lamb of God, Jesus’s divine mission was foreordained and rejoiced in by apostles and prophets.
- What does it mean to you that Christ is the Lamb of God?
- How does the Atonement of Jesus Christ affect your life?
- Why is it important to understand Christ's divine mission as the Lamb of God?
- How can you draw strength from Christ's role as the Lamb of God in your daily life?
- What steps can you take to better understand and appreciate the Atonement of Jesus Christ?
- How can you share your understanding of Christ as the Lamb of God with others?
Embracing the Call to Minister in Love
Elder Gong highlights the call of Jesus Christ for His followers to minister in love. He emphasizes the importance of feeding His lambs and sheep, and warns against those who scatter or cause the sheep to go astray. He encourages us to exercise our individual moral agency with faith, looking to our Savior with gratitude for His atoning sacrifice.
When our Lord asks if we love Him, as He did with Simon Peter, our Savior implores: "Feed my lambs. … Feed my sheep. … Feed my sheep."
Our Good Shepherd rejoices when we exercise individual moral agency with intention and faith.
As Christ freely dedicated His will to the will of the Father, so we reverently take upon us His name.
- What does it mean to you to minister in love as Christ does?
- How can you feed Christ's lambs and sheep in your own life?
- Why is it important to exercise our individual moral agency with intention and faith?
- How can you better minister in love to those around you?
- What steps can you take to feed Christ's lambs and sheep in your own life?
- How can you exercise your individual moral agency with greater intention and faith?
