Our Kingdom Ministry

February 1999                     For United States of America km-E Us 2/99 Vol. 42, No. 2

• ¹ In his endeavor to reason with disobedient Israel, Jehovah asked: “Have you not come to know or have you not heard? Jehovah, the Creator of the extremities of the earth, is a God to time indefinite.” (Isa. 40:28) We know our Grand Creator, and we see his loving care for us. However, millions of people doubt his existence or have a concept of him that does not correspond to what is found in the Bible. How can we help them?

• ² The new book Is There a Creator Who Cares About You? is designed to help such people. It calls on thinking people to reason on the facts. The absorbing material and persuasive arguments in this book should captivate those who read it.

• ³ Become Familiar With the Creator Book: Have in mind a basic outline of its contents. Chapters 2 to 5 consider how the universe, life, and man came into existence and what is behind it all. Chapters 6 to 9 explore the Bible and its Author and, in particular, whether the Genesis record of creation is trustworthy. Chapter 10 gives a satisfying answer to one of the most perplexing questions that man asks: “If the Creator cares, why so much suffering?”

• ⁴ Try to Reason With Those Who Doubt: Pages 78-9 in the Creator book present a line of reasoning that you can use to help others reach the right conclusion about God. Ask them: “Did the universe have a beginning?” Most will agree that it did. If so, ask: “Was that beginning without any cause or was it caused?” Most recognize that it was caused. This leads to the final question: “Was the beginning of the universe caused by some thing eternal or by some One eternal?” This approach can lead many to see that there must be a Creator.

• ⁵ The Creator book is just what many people need. Share it with your relatives, workmates, schoolmates, and other acquaintances. Carry it with you in the ministry so that you can place it with those you meet who have doubts about God’s existence. The more familiar we get with this book, the stronger our love for our Creator will become, moving us to continue walking in accord with his lofty standards.—Eph. 5:1; Rev. 4:11.

  “Put On the New Personality”

  
  

• ¹ Christians appreciate knowing the truth! We have learned how to live in order to avoid the course of those in the world. Being "alienated from the life that belongs to God,” they “are in darkness mentally.” (Eph. 4:18) We have been taught to make our minds over from worldly thinking by stripping off the old personality and putting on the new.—Eph. 4:22-24.

• ² The old personality leads to a continuous downward course of moral degradation, resulting in defilement and death. Therefore, we call upon those who will listen to the Kingdom message to put away all wrath, anger, badness, abusive speech, and obscene talk. Those desiring God’s favor must put away the old personality decisively and completely—in the way they would strip off a dirty garment.—Col. 3:8, 9.

• ³ A New Force Actuating the Mind: Putting on the new personality involves being made new in the force actuating our minds. (Eph. 4:23) How does one make that force, or mental disposition, new so as to be inclined in the right direction? This is done by regularly and diligently studying God’s Word and meditating on what it means. Then, a new pattern of thinking develops, and the person sees things from the viewpoint of God and Christ. One’s life is transformed as he clothes himself with an array of Christlike qualities, including compassion, kindness, lowliness of mind, mildness, long-suffering, and love.—Col. 3: 10, 12-14.

• ⁴ By putting on the new personality, we set ourselves apart from the world. Our way of life makes us different. We speak truth and use wholesome speech to build others up. We control our anger, bitterness, screaming, abusiveness, and all badness and replace these with righteous, godly qualities. We go beyond what is usually required of us in being forgiving. All of this is done readily from the heart. —Eph. 4:25-32.

• ⁵ Never take off the new personality. We cannot serve Jehovah acceptably without it. Allow it to help draw people to the truth, and allow it to glorify Jehovah, the Creator of our wonderful new personality.—Eph. 4:24.

  Service Meetings for February

  
  

Week Starting February 1

Song 154

10 mln: Local announcements. Selected Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry. Remind all to turn in field service reports for January.

17 mln: “Offer the Family Happiness Book to People of All Ages.” Elder discusses the article with two or three capable publishers. Focus on the goal of helping others to realize that the secret of family happiness lies in following Bible counsel. (See Family Happiness, pages 9-12.) Demonstrate one of the suggested presentations. Show how to mention the donation arrangement and how to set up a return visit.

18 min: “Put On the New Personality.” A talk, analyzing Ephesians 4:20-24. (See March 1, 1993, Watchtower, pages 14-18, paragraphs 4-17.) Explain how we strip off the old personality and put on the new.

Song 4 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting February 8

Song 12

1O mln: Local announcements. Accounts report. ,

15 mln: Local needs.

20 min: “Our Grand Creator Cares About Us!” Questions and answers. Explain how the Creator book can be used to help those who doubt or deny God’s existence. Although the book is not for conducting Bible studies, it can serve as an effective tool in motivating people to examine all that the Bible says. (See Creator book, pages 189-91.) Invite publishers to share their personal expressions about the publication and to relate any experiences they have had in placing it with others. Song 173 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting February 15

Song 40

10 min: Local announcements. Theocratic News.

18 mln: How Are We Benefited By Enrollment in the Theocratic Ministry School? Audience discussion conducted by the school overseer. Training in public speaking is not the only purpose of the school. There are other ways in which we directly benefit. (See School Guidebook, pages 12-13.) We learn how to communicate better with other people. We are taught to speak with clarity, poise, and self-confidence. We become skilled In answering questions about our beliefs and in explaining our Bible-based decisions. Our knowledge of the Bible increases, helping us to be more effective in witnessing to others. We learn to acknowledge our shortcomings and to accept counsel, which results in our dealing more amicably with others. The overall training that the school provides helps us to remain “adequately qualified” as God’s ministers.—2 Cor. 3:5, 6.

17 min: “How Family Members Cooperate for a Full Share—In Bible Study." Discussion by a family group. They analyze how they are applying the suggestions about family Bible reading and study found in the May 15, 1996, Watchtower, pages 14-15, and the October 15, 1992, Watchtower, pages 16-17.

Song 57 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting February 22

Song 170

10 min: Local announcements.

15 min: Witnessing in Apartment Buildings. (If there are few apartment buildings in your territory, consider the article “Why Keep a Record of Not-at-Homes?” in the May 1995 Our Kingdom Ministry.) Discussion with two or three publishers. It is difficult to witness to people living in apartments where conversation is limited to what can be said through an intercom. Consider ways to create interest. In a friendly manner, introduce yourself as a neighbor; use the householder's name if it is shown on the directory; mention a timely subject that you want to discuss, or read an introduction directly from the Reasoning book, pages 9-15; and explain that you wish to deliver a tract, magazine, or brochure that answers an important question, and state what it is. Where contact is limited, write letters to the tenants or witness to them on the street as they come and go. Demonstrate a method used locally that has achieved good results with apartment dwellers.

20 mln: How to Find Joy in Disciple Making. A talk based on the February 15,1996, Watchtower, pages 19-22.

Song 91 and concluding prayer.

Theocratic news

■ Jehovah’s Witnesses were officially registered in Bulgaria on October 7, 1998. We share with the 946 publishers there in giving thanks to Jehovah for this development.

■ On October 12,1998, the government of Latvia granted registration to the first 2 of the 21 congregations in that country. ■ In spite of opposition, the brothers in France persevere in their Kingdom preaching. In November and December, a campaign to draw the country’s attention to the Bible was centered on a special distribution of the brochure A Book for All People. About 50 Bethel-ites have moved from France to Britain to help with printing and shipping operations at the branch, while the remaining 250 members of the France Bethel family and the brothers in the field continue to serve joyfully under normal conditions.

November Service Report

Announcements

■ Literature offer for February: The Secret of Family Happiness. March: Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life. A special effort will be made to start home Bible studies. April and May: Individual copies of The Watchtower and Awake! Have Require brochure available for Interested people, and endeavor to start home Bible studies.

■ Starting the week of March 22, 1999, the book The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived will be considered at the Congregation Book Study. This issue of Our Kingdom Ministry contains the complete study schedule. You may photocopy it and insert it in your personal copy of the book for handy reference. Direction on how the introduction of the book will be considered is explained in paragraph 5 of “Studying The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived" on page 1 of the September 1992 Our Kingdom Ministry.

■ The secretary and the service overseer should review the activity of all regular pioneers. If any are having difficulty meeting the hour requirement, the elders should arrange for assistance to be given. For suggestions, review Society’s annual S-201 letters dated October 1. See also paragraphs 12-20 of the August 1986 Our Kingdom Ministry insert.

■ On Saturday, May 15,1999, the Society’s facilities in Brooklyn, Patterson, and Wallkill, New York, will be closed for spring cleaning. There will be no arrangements for tours or for congregations to pick up literature on that day.

■ Groups of publishers who have made arrangements to share in working unassigned territory in coming months should plan to offer the Require brochure or the Knowledge book in their field service.

■ New Publications Available:

A Book for All People —Slovak How to Find the Road to Paradise (for Muslims)            —Russian

Spirits of the Dead—Can They Help You or Harm You? Do They Really Exist?         —East Armenian

Watch Tower Publications Index 1996 —French

When Someone You Love Dies

—East Armenian

■ Beginning with the January-March 1999 issue, Awake! will be published in Solomon Islands Pidgin as a quarterly edition.

■ Beginning with the January 1, 1999, issue, The Watchtower will be available in Umbundu as a monthly edition.

■ Beginning with the January 8, 1999, issue. Awake! will be available in Latvian as a semimonthly edition.

■ Beginning with the January 15, 1999, issue, The Watchtower will be available In Urdu as a semimonthly edition.

■ New Audiocassettes Available: Doing What Is Right in Jehovah’s Eyes

(Drama, single cassette)

—Portuguese

CONGREGATION BOOK STUDY

Schedule for congregation studies in the brochure What Happens to Us When We Die?

Offer the Family Happiness Book to People of All Ages

• ¹ An 11-year-old boy from California expressed his appreciation for the book The Secret of Family Happiness. He wrote: “I am grateful for it, and I encourage other families to read this book because it is great. It is . . . helping my family to And peace and happiness in our home.” This youngster’s experience should encourage us to offer the Family Happiness book to people of all ages. Here are a few suggestions that you may want to try in your ministry during February.

• ² When meeting a young person, you might say:

■ “Many in your age group are thinking about marriage. But where can you find reliable information on the subject? [Allow for response.] Young people often say that they are not sure if they are ready for marriage. Let me share with you what this handbook says about the subject.” Turn to page 14 in the Family Happiness book, and read paragraph 3. Then point out each subheading in the chapter. Offer the book, and arrange to return.

• ³ When speaking with a parent, you could say:

■ “We are sharing with parents some practical guidelines that really work for raising children. These have been compiled in this handbook The Secret of Family Happiness.” Turn to page 55. Read paragraph 10, followed by Deuteronomy 6:6, 7, in paragraph 11. Then point out the italicized sentences in paragraphs 12 to 16. Continue by saying: “This book has helped many to achieve greater success as parents. If you would like to read it, I will be pleased to give you this copy.”

• ⁴ When talking to an elderly person, you might say:

■ “After I read this brief comment, please tell me what you think.” Open the Family Happiness book to page 169, and read the first two sentences of paragraph 17. Then ask for a response. Depending on the reply, you might read further excerpts from the book before offering it.

• ⁵ When following up placements of the Family Happiness book, have in mind trying to start a Bible study. Lesson 8 in the Require brochure or chapter 15 in the Knowledge book may be an appropriate place to begin. In the process, let us endeavor to help people of all ages to build a happy Christian family life.

How Family Members Cooperate for a Full Share

—In Bible Study

¹ The truth adds real meaning and purpose to family life, but success in serving Jehovah does not come automatically. It takes time and effort to build a spiritually strong household. There is a great need for family members to work closely together in this endeavor. This first article in a three-part series will focus on how families can cooperate in developing good study habits.

• ² By Reading the Bible Every Day: Proverbs 24:5 states that “a man of knowledge is reinforcing power.” The knowledge gained from regularly reading God’s Word gives a person the inner strength needed to resist Satan’s assaults on his spirituality. (Ps. 1:1, 2) Do you read the Bible together daily as a family? The Theocratic Ministry School Schedule outlines a “Supplemental Bible-Reading Schedule” for each week of the year. Following it requires as little as ten minutes of a family’s time each day. Select a convenient time, such as at breakfast, after the evening meal, or before bedtime, to read the Bible and consider the day’s text from Examining the Scriptures. Make this a part of your family’s everyday routine.

• ³ By Studying Together Each Week: The family Bible study should be the highlight of a family’s week. Each member ought to support it by eagerly participating in the study. The family head will want to consider the family’s needs when selecting the study material and the day, time, and length of the study. Give the family study priority in the week’s schedule. Do not allow matters of lesser importance to interfere.—Phil. 1:10,11.

• ⁴ A father who often received business calls at his home would disconnect the telephone during the family study. If clients came to the house, they were invited to join in the study or wait until it was concluded. The father was determined that nothing would interfere with the family study. This made a profound impression on his children, and as for his business, it did well.

• ⁵ How pleasing it is when family members cooperate in spiritual activities! Faithfulness in our efforts to have a full share in family Bible study will bring Jehovah’s blessing.—Ps. 1:3.

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