Our Christian Life and Ministry. February 3 through February 9 [Press play below to hear the Meeting Workbook]
[Press play below to hear Psalms 144 through 146]
[Click to read Bible chapters]|[Psalm 144 through 146] Psalm 144. Of David. 1 May Jehovah, my Rock, be praised, Who trains my hands for battle, My fingers for warfare. 2 He is my loyal love and my stronghold, My secure refuge and my rescuer, My shield and the One in whom I have taken shelter, The One subduing peoples under me. 3 O Jehovah, what is man that you should notice him, The son of mortal man that you should pay attention to him? 4 Man resembles a mere breath; His days are like a passing shadow. 5 O Jehovah, lower your heavens and descend; Touch the mountains and make them smoke. 6 Make lightning flash and scatter the enemy; Shoot your arrows and throw them into confusion. 7 Stretch out your hands from above; Rescue me and save me from the surging waters, From the hand of the foreigners, 8 Whose mouths speak lies And who raise their right hand to swear to what is false. 9 O God, I will sing to you a new song. I will sing praises to you, accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument, 10 To the One who gives victory to kings, The One rescuing his servant David from the deadly sword. 11 Rescue me and save me from the hand of the foreigners, Whose mouths speak lies And who raise their right hand to swear to what is false. 12 Then our sons will be like young plants that grow up quickly, Our daughters like corner pillars carved for a palace. 13 Our storehouses will overflow with every kind of produce; Our flocks in our fields will multiply by the thousands, by the tens of thousands. 14 Our cattle, heavy with young, will suffer no mishap or miscarriage; There will be no cry of distress in our public squares. 15 Happy is the people for whom it is this way! Happy is the people whose God is Jehovah! Psalm 145. A praise of David. 1 I will exalt you, O my God the King, I will praise your name forever and ever. 2 All day long I will praise you; I will praise your name forever and ever. 3 Jehovah is great and most worthy of praise; His greatness is unsearchable. 4 Generation after generation will praise your works; They will tell about your mighty acts. 5 Of the glorious splendor of your majesty they will speak And on your wonderful works I will meditate. 6 They will speak about your awe-inspiring deeds, And I will declare your greatness. 7 They will bubble over as they recall your abundant goodness, And they will shout joyfully because of your righteousness. 8 Jehovah is compassionate and merciful, Slow to anger and great in loyal love. 9 Jehovah is good to all, And his mercy is evident in all his works. 10 All your works will glorify you, O Jehovah, And your loyal ones will praise you. 11 They will proclaim the glory of your kingship And speak about your mightiness, 12 To make known to men your mighty acts And the glorious splendor of your kingship. 13 Your kingship is an eternal kingship, And your dominion endures throughout all generations. 14 Jehovah supports all who are falling And raises up all who are bowed down. 15 All eyes look hopefully to you; You give them their food in its season. 16 You open your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 Jehovah is righteous in all his ways And loyal in all that he does. 18 Jehovah is near to all those calling on him, To all who call on him in truth. 19 He satisfies the desire of those who fear him; He hears their cry for help, and he rescues them. 20 Jehovah guards all those who love him, But all the wicked he will annihilate. 21 My mouth will declare the praise of Jehovah; Let every living thing praise his holy name forever and ever. Psalm 146. Praise Jah! Let my whole being praise Jehovah. 2 I will praise Jehovah all my life. I will sing praises to my God as long as I live. 3 Do not put your trust in princes Nor in a son of man, who cannot bring salvation. 4 His spirit goes out, he returns to the ground; On that very day his thoughts perish. 5 Happy is the one who has the God of Jacob as his helper, Whose hope is in Jehovah his God, 6 The Maker of heaven and earth, Of the sea, and of all that is in them, The One who always remains faithful, 7 The One securing justice for those defrauded, The One giving bread to the hungry. Jehovah is releasing the prisoners. 8 Jehovah is opening the eyes of the blind; Jehovah is raising up those bowed down; Jehovah loves the righteous. 9 Jehovah is protecting the foreign residents; He sustains the fatherless child and the widow, But he thwarts the plans of the wicked. 10 Jehovah will be King forever, Your God, O Zion, for generation after generation. Praise Jah! [End of Bible chapters] [Click to close]
Song 145 God’s Promise of Paradise. Based on Luke 23.43
1. A paradise our God has promised,
By means of Christ’s Millennial Reign,
When he’ll blot out all sin and error,
Removing death and tears and pain.
A paradise, the earth will be.
With eyes of faith, this we can see.
This promise Christ will soon fulfill,
For he delights to do God’s will.
2. Soon here on earth, as God has purposed,
His Son will cause the dead to rise.
Then it will be as Jesus promised.
‘You’ll be with me in Paradise.’
A paradise, the earth will be.
With eyes of faith, this we can see.
This promise Christ will soon fulfill,
For he delights to do God’s will.
3. The Paradise, our Lord has promised,
And he is now our reigning King.
We daily thank our loving Father,
And from our hearts, his praises sing.
A paradise, the earth will be.
With eyes of faith, this we can see.
This promise Christ will soon fulfill,
For he delights to do God’s will.
[End of Song. Press Play below to play this song with Audio Description]
Treasures From God’s Word 1. “Happy Is the People Whose God Is Jehovah!” (10 minutes)
Jehovah blesses those who rely on him
[Inserted scripture] Psalm 144.11 through 15: Rescue me and save me from the hand of the foreigners, Whose mouths speak lies And who raise their right hand to swear to what is false. 12 Then our sons will be like young plants that grow up quickly, Our daughters like corner pillars carved for a palace. 13 Our storehouses will overflow with every kind of produce; Our flocks in our fields will multiply by the thousands, by the tens of thousands. 14 Our cattle, heavy with young, will suffer no mishap or miscarriage; There will be no cry of distress in our public squares. 15 Happy is the people for whom it is this way! Happy is the people whose God is Jehovah! [End of inserted scripture]
[Reference material Watchtower 2018.04 page 32 paragraphs 3 and 4] 2. The revised wording fits in well with the rest of the psalm. The use of “then” in verse 12 means that the blessings that follow in verses 12 to 14 are understood as applying to the righteous, those who ask to be ‘rescued and saved’ from the wicked (verse 11). This adjustment is also reflected in verse 15, where the two occurrences of the word “happy” are now in parallel in a positive or complementary way. As a result, in both instances such happiness applies to the same people, those “whose God is Jehovah!” Keep in mind, too, that the original Hebrew text had no punctuation, such as quotation marks. Hence, translators must determine the correct sense, taking into account the Hebrew poetic style, the context, and the related Bible passages.
3. The revised wording harmonizes with other Bible passages that promise divine blessings for God’s faithful people. As a result of the adjusted rendering of the term asher, the psalm now reflects David’s well-founded hope that after God delivered the nation of Israel from its enemies, He would bless the people with happiness and prosperity.
[Quotation] Leviticus 26.9 and 10: “‘I will direct my favor to you and make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will keep my covenant with you. 10 While you are still eating the old produce of the preceding year, you will need to clear out the old to make way for the new. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Deuteronomy 7.13: He will love you and bless you and multiply you. Yes, he will bless you with many children and with the produce of your soil, your grain, your new wine, your oil, the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks, in the land that he swore to your forefathers to give to you. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Psalm 128.1 through 6: Happy is everyone who fears Jehovah, Who walks in His ways. 2 You will eat what your hands worked hard to produce. You will be happy and will enjoy prosperity. 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; Your sons will be like shoots of an olive tree around your table. 4 Look! That is how the man who fears Jehovah Will be blessed. 5 Jehovah will bless you from Zion. May you see Jerusalem prosper all the days of your life 6 And see the sons of your sons. May there be peace upon Israel. [End Quotation]
For example, Deuteronomy 28.4 states: “Blessed will be your children and the fruit of your ground and the offspring of your livestock, your young cattle and sheep.” Indeed, during the reign of David’s son Solomon, the nation enjoyed unprecedented peace and prosperity. What is more, aspects of Solomon’s reign point forward to the rule of the Messiah.
[Quotation] 1 Kings 4.20 and 21: Judah and Israel were as numerous as the grains of sand by the sea; they were eating and drinking and rejoicing. 21 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines and to the boundary of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Psalm 72.1 through 20: O God, give your judgments to the king, And endow the son of the king with your righteousness. 2 May he plead the cause of your people with righteousness, And of your lowly ones with justice. 3 May the mountains bring peace to the people, And may the hills bring righteousness. 4 Let him defend the lowly among the people, Let him save the sons of the poor, And let him crush the defrauder. 5 They will fear you as long as there is a sun And as long as the moon remains, For generation after generation. 6 He will be like the rain that falls on the mown grass, Like showers of rain that water the earth. 7 In his days the righteous will flourish, And peace will abound until the moon is no more. 8 He will have subjects from sea to sea And from the River to the ends of the earth. 9 The desert dwellers will bow down before him, And his enemies will lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will pay tribute. The kings of Sheba and of Seba will present gifts. 11 All the kings will bow down before him, And all the nations will serve him. 12 For he will rescue the poor who cry for help, Also the lowly one and whoever has no helper. 13 He will have pity on the lowly and the poor, And the lives of the poor he will save. 14 From oppression and from violence he will rescue them, And their blood will be precious in his eyes. 15 May he live and be given the gold of Sheba. May prayers be said for him continually, And may he be blessed all day long. 16 There will be an abundance of grain on the earth; On the top of the mountains it will overflow. His fruit will flourish as in Lebanon, And in the cities people will blossom like the vegetation of the earth. 17 May his name endure forever, And may it prosper as long as the sun. May people obtain a blessing for themselves by means of him; May all nations pronounce him happy. 18 May Jehovah God be praised, Israel’s God, Who alone does wonderful things. 19 May his glorious name be praised forever, And may his glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen. 20 This completes the prayers of David, the son of Jesse. [End Quotation] [End of reference material]
We rejoice in our hope
[Inserted scripture] Psalm 146.5: Happy is the one who has the God of Jacob as his helper, Whose hope is in Jehovah his God, [End of inserted scripture]
[Reference material Watchtower 2022.10 page 28 paragraphs 16 and 17] Our hope of everlasting life is a precious gift from God. We look forward to a wonderful future, one that we can be certain will happen. It acts as our anchor, stabilizing us so that we can endure trials, withstand persecution, and even face death. It acts as our helmet, protecting our thinking so that we can reject what is wrong and cling to what is right. Our Bible-based hope draws us closer to God and reveals the depth of his love for us. We benefit greatly as we keep our hope bright and strong.
17. “Rejoice in the hope,” encouraged the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans.
[Quotation] Romans 12.12: Rejoice in the hope. Endure under tribulation. Persevere in prayer. [End Quotation]
Paul could rejoice because he was sure that if he remained faithful, he would gain everlasting life in heaven. We too can rejoice in our hope because we are certain that Jehovah will keep his promises. As the psalmist wrote, “happy is the one ... whose hope is in Jehovah his God, ... the One who always remains faithful.”
[Quotation] Psalm 146.5 and 6: Happy is the one who has the God of Jacob as his helper, Whose hope is in Jehovah his God, 6 The Maker of heaven and earth, Of the sea, and of all that is in them, The One who always remains faithful, [End Quotation] [End of reference material]
Those whose God is Jehovah will be happy forever
[Inserted scripture] Psalm 146.10: Jehovah will be King forever, Your God, O Zion, for generation after generation. Praise Jah! [End of inserted scripture]
[Reference material Watchtower 2018.01 page 26 paragraphs 19 and 20] 19. After some 6,000 years of human misery, Satan’s world is coming to its end. The earth is filled with those who have an inordinate love of self, money, and pleasures. They are people who are eager for what they can get, people who place their own wishes at the center of their life. Such people can never be truly happy. Instead, it is as the psalmist wrote: “Happy is the one who has the God of Jacob as his helper, whose hope is in Jehovah his God.” (Psalm 146.5)
20. The love of God flourishes among Jehovah’s people, and our ranks are growing every year. This is evidence that God’s Kingdom reigns and will soon bring to earth unimaginable blessings. True and lasting joy comes from doing God’s will, from knowing that we are pleasing the Supreme One. And those who love Jehovah will be joyful forever! In the next article, we will consider some of the qualities that result from selfish love and see how these contrast with the qualities found in Jehovah’s servants. [End of reference material]
[Image Alt:] A collage of happy brothers and sisters of various ages and backgrounds. Caption: When we serve Jehovah faithfully, we can be happy even though we have problems
2. Spiritual Gems (10 minutes)
Psalm 145.15 and 16. How should these verses affect the way we treat animals?
[Inserted scripture] Psalm 145.15 and 16: All eyes look hopefully to you; You give them their food in its season. 16 You open your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. [End of inserted scripture]
[Reference material Insight volume 1 page 111 paragraph 9] The Bible inculcates just and merciful treatment of the lower creatures. Indeed, Jehovah represents himself as the Loving Provider for their lives and well-being.
[Quotation] Proverbs 12.10: The righteous one takes care of his domestic animals, But even the mercy of the wicked is cruel. [End Quotation]
The Mosaic Law enjoined proper care of domestic animals. When found straying, domestic animals were to be returned safely to their owner; when crushed under a burden, they were to be relieved.
[Quotation] Exodus 23.4 and 5: “If you come upon your enemy’s bull or his donkey straying, you must return it to him. 5 If you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has fallen under its load, you must not ignore it and leave. You must help him release the animal. [End Quotation]
They were to be worked humanely.
[Quotation] Deuteronomy 22.10: “You must not plow with a bull and a donkey together. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Deuteronomy 25.4: “You must not muzzle a bull when it is threshing out grain. [End Quotation]
They, as well as man, were to benefit from the Sabbath rests.
[Quotation] Exodus 20.10: but the seventh day is a sabbath to Jehovah your God. You must not do any work, neither you nor your son nor your daughter nor your slave man nor your slave girl nor your domestic animal nor your foreign resident who is inside your settlements. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Exodus 23.12: “Six days you are to do your work; but on the seventh day, you are to cease from your labor, in order that your bull and your donkey may rest and the son of your slave girl and the foreign resident may refresh themselves. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Deuteronomy 5.14: but the seventh day is a sabbath to Jehovah your God. You must not do any work, neither you nor your son nor your daughter nor your slave man nor your slave girl nor your bull nor your donkey nor any of your domestic animals nor your foreign resident who is inside your cities, in order that your slave man and your slave girl may rest the same as you. [End Quotation]
Dangerous animals were to be controlled or destroyed.
[Quotation] Genesis 9.5: Besides that, I will demand an accounting for your lifeblood. I will demand an accounting from every living creature; and from each man I will demand an accounting for the life of his brother. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Exodus 21.28 and 29: “If a bull gores a man or a woman and that one dies, the bull must be stoned to death and its meat is not to be eaten; but the owner of the bull is free from punishment. 29 But if a bull was in the habit of goring and its owner had been warned but he would not keep it under guard and it killed a man or a woman, the bull is to be stoned and its owner is also to be put to death. [End Quotation]
Crossbreeding of different sorts was forbidden.
[Quotation] Leviticus 19.19: “‘You should keep my statutes: You must not interbreed two sorts of your domestic animals. You must not sow your field with two sorts of seed, and you must not wear a garment made with two sorts of thread mixed together. [End Quotation] [End of reference material]
What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share?
3. Bible Reading (4 minutes) Psalm 144.1 through 15 (Apply Yourself to Reading and Teaching study 11) [Press play below to hear the Bible reading]
Psalm 144.1 through 15: May Jehovah, my Rock, be praised, Who trains my hands for battle, My fingers for warfare. He is my loyal love and my stronghold, My secure refuge and my rescuer, My shield and the One in whom I have taken shelter, The One subduing peoples under me. O Jehovah, what is man that you should notice him, The son of mortal man that you should pay attention to him? Man resembles a mere breath; His days are like a passing shadow. O Jehovah, lower your heavens and descend; Touch the mountains and make them smoke. Make lightning flash and scatter the enemy; Shoot your arrows and throw them into confusion. Stretch out your hands from above; Rescue me and save me from the surging waters, From the hand of the foreigners, Whose mouths speak lies And who raise their right hand to swear to what is false. O God, I will sing to you a new song. I will sing praises to you, accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument, To the One who gives victory to kings, The One rescuing his servant David from the deadly sword. Rescue me and save me from the hand of the foreigners, Whose mouths speak lies And who raise their right hand to swear to what is false. Then our sons will be like young plants that grow up quickly, Our daughters like corner pillars carved for a palace. Our storehouses will overflow with every kind of produce; Our flocks in our fields will multiply by the thousands, by the tens of thousands. Our cattle, heavy with young, will suffer no mishap or miscarriage; There will be no cry of distress in our public squares. Happy is the people for whom it is this way! Happy is the people whose God is Jehovah! [End of scripture]
[Reference Material] Apply yourself to reading and teaching. Study 11. Enthusiasm.
[Quotation] Romans 12.11: Be industrious, not lazy. Be aglow with the spirit. Slave for Jehovah. [End Quotation]
Summary: Stimulate and motivate your listeners by speaking with zeal.
[Press play below for Video: Study 11. Enthusiasm. (5:04)]
[Click for Transcript]|[Study 11 Enthusiasm]
(Text: Apply Yourself to Reading and Teaching: 11 Enthusiasm. Romans 12.11. Summary: Stimulate and motivate your listeners by speaking with zeal.)
Presenter: What fills you with enthusiasm? Do you enjoy talking about tasty food? Or do you speak with enthusiasm about the playful antics of your little niece or nephew? Reasons for enthusiasm vary from person to person. But why might a speaker who loves Jehovah and who believes what he’s saying lack enthusiasm when speaking? It’s not enough just to prepare what to say.
(Text: How to do it: Get your heart involved. Think about your listeners. Breathe life into your delivery)
We must get our heart involved, think about our listeners, and breathe life into our delivery. This is important both in the congregation and in the ministry. As you watch the following example, consider the question, ‘Does this sister need more enthusiasm for her subject or less?’
(At a door a sister speaks with a woman)
Sister: The coming Paradise will be wonderful. Notice just one of the prophecies in the Bible regarding the abundant blessings God has promised. It’s here at Isaiah 65.21 and 22: They will build houses and live in them, and they will plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. They will not build for someone else to inhabit, nor will they plant for others to eat.
Presenter: So how did she do? When we speak about the blessings of the new earth under God’s Kingdom, we should brim with enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is contagious. Let’s watch another example.
(At a door the sister speaks with a woman)
Sister: The coming Paradise will be wonderful! Notice just one of the prophecies in the Bible regarding the abundant blessings God has promised. It’s here at Isaiah 65.21 and 22: They will build houses and live in them, and they will plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. They will not build for someone else to inhabit, nor will they plant for others to eat. For the days of my people will be like the days of a tree, and the work of their hands my chosen ones will enjoy to the full.
Presenter: Well done! Our sister spoke from the heart and breathed life into her material. It was evident in her tone of voice and facial expression. Of course, we need to be balanced. We could tire our listeners if we project a high level of enthusiasm throughout our presentation. To illustrate this, watch this brother giving a talk at the Kingdom Hall.
(A brother presents a talk. Silhouette of audience)
Brother: What prophetic events can we expect in the near future? First, there will be a pronouncement of “peace and security.” Then, the great tribulation will begin when the nations turn on Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion. However, in harmony with the words of Matthew 24.22, the attack will be cut short “on account of the chosen ones.” What will happen next? Gog of Magog, a coalition of nations, will attack God’s people.
Presenter: What do you think? The speaker was clearly enthusiastic, a bit too enthusiastic about the devastating events to come. Also, our listeners will be distracted if we use the same gesture repeatedly.
(Text: Make gestures meaningful. Express enthusiasm when: teaching main points; Motivating your listeners to take action.)
So, we should try to make our gestures meaningful and show enthusiasm primarily when teaching main points and when motivating our listeners to action. Let’s give our brother another chance.
(The brother presents a talk. Silhouette of audience)
Brother: What prophetic events can we expect in the near future? First, there will be a pronouncement of “peace and security.” Then, the great tribulation will begin when the nations turn on Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion. However, in harmony with the words of Matthew 24.22, the attack will be cut short “on account of the chosen ones.” What will happen next? Gog of Magog, a coalition of nations, will attack God’s people. But Jehovah will rescue his servants during Armageddon, “the war of the great day of God the Almighty.” So, what must we do now?
Presenter: Romans 12.11 commands us to “be aglow with the spirit.” By putting enthusiasm into our delivery, we’ll stimulate and motivate our listeners to action.
(Text: Apply Yourself to Reading and Teaching: 11 Enthusiasm. Romans 12.11)
(Logo: Black capital letters JW.ORG inside a white box. Copyright 2019 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania) [Click to close]
How to Do It: Get your heart involved. As you prepare to deliver your presentation, think deeply about the importance of your message. Get to know your material so well that you can express yourself from the heart.
Think about your listeners. Meditate on how the information you will read or teach will benefit others. Consider ways to present that information in a way that will deepen your listeners’ appreciation for it.
Breathe life into your delivery. Speak with zeal. Use natural gestures and sincere facial expressions to reflect your feelings.
Tip: Take care not to distract your listeners by using the same gesture repeatedly as a mannerism. Make your gestures meaningful. Express enthusiasm primarily when teaching main points and motivating your listeners to take action. Do not tire your listeners by projecting a high level of enthusiasm throughout your presentation. [End of Reference Material]
Apply Yourself to the Field Ministry 4. Starting a Conversation (4 minutes)
House to House. The person tells you that he is a university student. (Love People Make Disciples lesson 1 point 5)
[Reference Material Love People Make Disciples lesson Interest in Others] Imitate Jesus. Listen. a. Don’t talk too much. b. Encourage the other person to express himself. When appropriate, ask questions. [End of Reference material]
5. Following Up (4 minutes)
Informal Witnessing. Feature a video from the Teaching Toolbox. (Love People Make Disciples lesson 7 point 4)
[Reference Material Love People Make Disciples lesson Perseverance] Imitate Paul. Make an appointment. At the end of each conversation, try to confirm a specific time when you can speak with the person again. Be sure to keep the appointment. [End of Reference material]
6. Talk (4 minutes)
Love People Make Disciples appendix A point 7. Theme: A Wife Should Deeply Respect Her Husband. (Apply Yourself to Reading and Teaching study 1)
[Reference Material Love People Make Disciples Appendix A, point 7] A wife should deeply respect her husband.
[Quotation] Ephesians 5.33: Nevertheless, each one of you must love his wife as he does himself; on the other hand, the wife should have deep respect for her husband. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Colossians 3.18: You wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as it is becoming in the Lord. [End Quotation] [End of reference material]
[Reference Material] Apply yourself to reading and teaching. Study 1. Effective Introduction.
[Quotation] Acts 17.22: Paul now stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens, I see that in all things you seem to be more given to the fear of the deities than others are. [End quotation]
Summary: Your introduction should arouse interest, identify your subject, and show why your listeners should be interested in it.
[Press play below for Video: Study 1. Effective Introduction. (4:18)]
[Click for Transcript]|[Study 1. Effective Introduction]
(Text: Apply Yourself to Reading and Teaching: 1 Effective Introduction. Acts 17.22. Summary: Your introduction should arouse interest, identify your subject, and show why the subject is important to your listeners)
Presenter: You’re at the Kingdom Hall about to give a public talk. Will the audience listen to what you have to say? Much depends on how you introduce your subject. An effective introduction arouses interest, identifies your subject, and shows why the subject is important to your listeners. Let’s give our brother an opportunity to introduce his subject.
(A Brother presents a talk. Silhouette of audience)
Brother: As the meeting chairman mentioned, we’re going to talk about death and what it means to you and me. Let’s read a scripture at Ecclesiastes 9:5.
Presenter: So, what do you think?
(Text: Review: Identify his subject? Arouse interest? Show why the subject is important?)
Did the speaker identify his subject? Yes. Did he arouse interest? Not so much. Did he show why the subject is important? No. So how might he approach the subject differently? Let’s watch.
(The brother presents a talk. Silhouette of audience)
Brother: Throughout all of human history, not one person has escaped death. The lives of some people are cut short suddenly by unexpected events or illness. Have you ever lost a loved one in death? If so, you know how painful that is. Yet how can something that causes so much pain be a normal, natural part of life? The Bible is the key to understanding why we die, where we go when we die, and how death will be reversed. Let’s consider each of those points.
Presenter: You can apply this principle to any subject when giving a talk. But how can you effectively introduce a subject in the ministry? Remember, of course, that in most cases you’re a complete stranger to the householder.
(Text: In the ministry: Try not to startle the person. Identify yourself. Observe the activities or surroundings. Ask a question or comment on those things)
Try not to startle the person. Identify yourself early in the conversation. To determine what a person might be interested in, observe his activities or surroundings. You might begin by asking a question or making a brief comment about those things. Let’s consider one example.
(In a garden, two sisters speak with a woman)
Jill: Hi, my name is Jill. I’m here to talk about God’s purpose for the future. The Bible says here
Woman: Sorry, but I don’t have time to talk.
Presenter: Was the introduction effective? The householder didn’t want to continue the conversation, so apparently the introduction didn’t arouse interest. How might the publisher have handled the situation better?
(In a garden, two sisters speak with a woman)
Jill: Good morning. You have a beautiful garden. It must take a lot of work.
Woman: It sure does!
Jill: Well, your work is certainly paying off.
Woman: Thank you.
Jill: By the way, my name is Jill, and this is Tammy.
Woman: I’m Emily.
Jill: Emily, you work so hard to care for the garden you planted. Do you think that God cares the same way about this planet that he created?
(Text: Take into account the interests of the householder)
Because the publisher took into account the interests of the householder, she increased the chances of starting a conversation and sharing the Kingdom message. This can also be done in urban areas where people expect you to get right to the point.
(Text: Include a thought-provoking question)
In such settings, try to include a thought-provoking statement or question in your introduction. Effective introductions are the first step toward productive conversations and presentations of the good news.
(Text: Apply Yourself to Reading and Teaching: 1 Effective Introduction. Acts 17.22)
(Logo: Black capital letters JW.ORG inside a white box. Copyright 2018 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania) [Click to close]
How to Do It: Arouse interest. Select a question, statement, real-life experience, or news item that will be of interest to your listeners.
Tip: In advance, give careful thought to the interests and concerns of your listeners and adapt your introduction accordingly.
Identify your subject. Make sure that your introduction makes the subject and purpose of your presentation clear to your listeners.
Show why the subject is important. Adapt what you say to the practical needs of your listeners. They should clearly understand how the subject can help them personally.
Tip: While preparing a discourse, ask yourself, ‘What situations are brothers and sisters in my congregation facing?’ Then tailor your introduction to their needs.
[Box] In the Ministry. To determine what a person might be interested in, observe his or her activities or surroundings. Begin a conversation by asking a question or making a brief comment about those things. [End of Box] [End of Reference Material]
Living as Christians - Song 59 Praise Jah With Me. Based on Psalm 146.2
1. Praise Jah with me;
Come! Let us sing!
He gives us life, breath, and ev’ry good thing.
Each day and night,
His name we bless,
Praising his love and his almightiness.
We sing his praise, and his name we confess.
2. Praise Jah with me;
He satisfies.
He hears our prayers as our needs he supplies.
His mighty arm
Strengthens the weak;
His holy spirit sustains all the meek.
His name we praise; Of his power we speak.
3. Praise Jah with me;
Our God is just.
He brings us comfort, in him we can trust.
Wrongs he will right;
Hearts he will heal.
Rich Kingdom blessings all mankind will feel.
Come let us praise him with joy and with zeal!
[End of Song. Press Play below to play this song with Audio Description]
7. Jehovah Wants You to Be Happy (10 minutes)
Discussion. Jehovah is the happy God.
[Quotation] 1 Timothy 1.11: according to the glorious good news of the happy God, with which I was entrusted. [End Quotation]
He has given us many wonderful gifts that show us how much he loves us and wants us to be happy.
[Quotation] Ecclesiastes 3.12 and 13: I have concluded that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good during their life, 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and find enjoyment for all his hard work. It is the gift of God. [End Quotation]
Consider two of these gifts, food and sound.
Play the video Creation Proves That Jehovah Wants Us to Rejoice. Delicious Food and Delightful Sounds. Then ask the audience:
How do the gifts of food and sound convince you that Jehovah wants you to be happy?
[Press play below for Video: Creation Proves That Jehovah Wants Us to Rejoice. Delicious Food and Delightful Sounds. (0:??)]
[Click for Transcript]|[Creation Proves That Jehovah Wants Us to Rejoice. Delicious Food and Delightful Sounds]
[A family eat their meal outside]
Our tongue can detect five basic tastes. They are sweet,
[A cute, blonde toddlers eats pink ice cream]
salty,
[Golden french fries covered in salt]
sour,
[A baby tastes a lemon and makes a face]
bitter,
[A small boy eats broccoli]
and a rich, savory taste called umami.
[Aray of fresh mushrooms]
But we enjoy not just five flavors but possibly over 100,000.
[A variety of international dishes]
How? As we chew, we also smell our food. Chewing releases aromas that pass up into our nose through the back of our throat. Taste and smell then combine to make the flavors we enjoy.
[Scenes of happy people of different cultures eating delicious meals with friends and family]
Our taste buds develop before we’re born.
[A pregnant woman eats fruit]
As an unborn baby swallows amniotic fluid, it may taste what its mother eats
[Toddlers eating fruit]
and is more likely to enjoy the same foods she does. We don’t just eat to survive. We love to eat! It makes us happy.
[Scenes of joyful families cooking, eating and laughing together]
And the Bible says why: “That everyone should eat and drink “and find enjoyment for all his hard work. It is the gift of God.”
[Ecclesiastes 3:13]
Our world is full of sounds.
[A cascading waterfall, an elephant parade]
Some are natural.
[Seagulls fly above crashing waves]
Others we create.
[A woman plays piano]
We can hear music before we’re born
[A baby plays a tambourine]
and can develop a love of music as we grow.
[Little boys plays trumpet and flute]
We can compose music, be moved by it, and replay it in our minds. Musical instruments typically combine a sound generator, which produces tones with a resonator, such as wood or metal, which adds volume. The design resembles our own vocal organs. But few instruments compare to the beauty of the human voice. Our hearing complements the voice.
[Convention speakers on stage]
We can listen to things that draw us closer to God
[Audience listens attentively]
and use the voice he gave us to praise him with joy.
[and sing]
“Praise Jah, for Jehovah is good. Sing praises to his name, for it is pleasant.
[Psalm 135:3]
(Logo inside a White box. Black capital letters JW.ORG. Copyright 2020 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania) [Click to close]
Read Psalm 32.8. Then ask the audience: How does knowing that Jehovah wants you to be happy motivate you to listen to the direction he provides in the Bible and through his organization?
[Read scripture] Psalm 32.8: “I will give you insight and instruct you in the way you should go. I will give you advice with my eye upon you. [End of Read scripture]
[Image Alt:] Friends sitting around a campfire. One of them is playing the guitar.
8. Local Needs (5 minutes)
9. Congregation Bible Study (30 minutes)
“Bearing Thorough Witness” About God’s Kingdom, chapter 22 paragraphs 1 through 6 [Press play below for the audio of the Congregation Bible Study]
Chapter 22. “Let the Will of Jehovah Take Place" Determined to do God’s will, Paul goes to Jerusalem Based on Acts 21.1 through 17
Question 1 through 4. Why is Paul going to Jerusalem, and what awaits him there?
1. The parting at Miletus is an emotional one. How difficult it is for Paul and Luke to tear themselves away from the Ephesian elders, whom they have come to love! The two missionaries stand on the deck of the boat. Their baggage is packed with supplies needed for the journey. They are also carrying the funds collected for needy Christians in Judea and are eager to see the delivery of this gift through to its completion.
2. A gentle breeze fills the sails, and the ship leaves the clamor of the quay. The two men, along with their seven traveling companions, gaze at their sad-faced brothers on the shore.
[Quotation] Acts 20.4: He was accompanied by Sopater the son of Pyrrhus of Beroea, Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, Gaius of Derbe, Timothy and, from the province of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Acts 20.14 and 15: So when he caught up with us in Assos, we took him aboard and went to Mitylene. 15 And sailing away from there the next day, we arrived off Chios, but the day after that, we touched at Samos, and on the following day, we arrived at Miletus. [End Quotation]
The travelers keep waving farewell until their friends fade into the distance.
3. For about three years, Paul has worked closely with the elders in Ephesus. But now, directed by holy spirit, he is on his way to Jerusalem. To some extent, he knows what awaits him. Earlier, he told those elders: “Bound in the spirit, I am traveling to Jerusalem, although not knowing what will happen to me there, except that from city to city the holy spirit repeatedly bears witness to me, saying that imprisonment and tribulations are waiting for me.” (Acts 20.22 and 23) Despite the danger, Paul feels “bound in the spirit”, both obligated and willing to follow the spirit’s direction to go to Jerusalem. He values his life, but the doing of God’s will is the most important thing to him.
4. Is that how you feel? When we dedicate ourselves to Jehovah, we solemnly promise to make the doing of his will the most important thing in our life. We can benefit by considering the faithful example of the apostle Paul.
Passing “the Island of Cyprus” (Acts 21.1 through 3)
[Click to read scripture]|[Acts 21.1 through 3] After tearing ourselves away from them and putting out to sea, we ran with a straight course and came to Cos, on the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 When we found a ship that was crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and sailed away. 3 After coming in sight of the island of Cyprus, we left it behind on the left side and sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo. [End of scripture] [Click to close]
Question 5. By what course did Paul and his companions travel to Tyre?
5. The boat that Paul and his companions boarded “ran with a straight course.” That is, it sailed before the wind, without tacking, and under fair winds until they reached Cos later that same day.
[Quotation] Acts 21.1: After tearing ourselves away from them and putting out to sea, we ran with a straight course and came to Cos, on the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. [End Quotation]
It seems that the boat anchored there overnight before sailing on to Rhodes and Patara. At Patara, on the southern coast of Asia Minor, the brothers boarded a large cargo ship, which carried them directly to Tyre, in Phoenicia. On the way, they passed “the island of Cyprus ... on the left [port] side.”
[Quotation] Acts 21.3: After coming in sight of the island of Cyprus, we left it behind on the left side and sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo. [End Quotation]
Why did Luke, the writer of Acts, mention that detail?
Two parts: Question 6a. Why might the sight of Cyprus have been encouraging to Paul?
Question 6b. As you reflect on how Jehovah has blessed and helped you, what conclusion do you reach?
6. Perhaps Paul pointed out the island and told of his experiences there. On his first missionary journey about nine years earlier, Paul, along with Barnabas and John Mark, had encountered the sorcerer Elymas, who opposed their preaching.
[Quotation] Acts 13.4 through 12: So these men, sent out by the holy spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed away to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived in Salamis, they began proclaiming the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as an attendant. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they met up with a Jewish man named Bar-Jesus, who was a sorcerer and a false prophet. 7 He was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. Calling Barnabas and Saul to him, this man was eager to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is how his name is translated) began opposing them, trying to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, also called Paul, becoming filled with holy spirit, looked at him intently 10 and said: “O man full of every sort of fraud and every sort of villainy, you son of the Devil, you enemy of everything righteous, will you not quit distorting the right ways of Jehovah? 11 Look! Jehovah’s hand is upon you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sunlight for a time.” Instantly a thick mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around trying to find someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul, on seeing what had happened, became a believer, for he was astounded at the teaching of Jehovah. [End Quotation]
Seeing that island and reflecting on what had occurred there may have encouraged Paul and strengthened him for what lay ahead. We too can profit by reflecting on how God has blessed us and helped us to endure trials. Such reflection may help us to echo the words of David, who wrote: “Many are the hardships of the righteous one, but Jehovah rescues him from them all.” (Psalm 34.19).
Song 85 Welcome One Another. Based on Romans 15.7
1. Welcome to all who gather here this day
To hear God’s Word and to learn his way.
Life-giving truth he offers to us all;
With thankfulness of heart, we respond to his call.
2. Thanks to our God for brothers such as these,
Who welcome us and who seek to please.
May we keep holding men of that sort dear,
And now we welcome others who meet with us here.
3. God’s invitation reaches all mankind,
That all sincere ones the truth may find.
God by his Son has drawn us to His side.
So welcome one another with hearts opened wide.
[End of Song. Press Play below to play this song with Audio Description]
