Our Kingdom Ministry

October 2006                     For United States of America km-E Us 10/06 Vol. 49, No. 10

¹ How would you answer that question? Of course, all of us desire to put Kingdom interests first. (Matt. 6:33) But we might ask ourselves, ‘Do the choices I make show that I am?’ The Bible encourages us: “Keep proving what you yourselves are,” (2 Cor, 13:5) How can we prove to ourselves that we are putting the Kingdom first?

• ² Our Time: We could start by examining how we choose to spend our time. (Eph. 5:15, 16) How much time is spent each week socializing, watchingtelevision, surfing the Internet, or pursuing a hobby? If we write down how much time we spend on such things and compare that with the amount of time we spend in spiritual activities, we may be surprised. Do we spend long hours at work at the expense of sacred service just so that we can afford luxuries? How often do we sacrifice meetings or the ministry to take weekend trips for recreation?

• ³ Set Priorities: Most Of us do not have enough time to do everything we would like. So to put Kingdom interests first, we need to assess our priorities and then schedule time for “the more important things.” (Phil, 1:10) These include studying God’s Word, sharing in the ministry, caring for one’s family, and attending Christian meetings. (PS. 1:1, 2; Rom. 10:13, 14; 1 Tim. 5:8; Heb. 10:24, 25) Other activities, such as moderate exercise and wholesome recreation, are beneficial. (Mark 6:31; 1 Tim. 4:8) But these less important things must be kept in their place.

• ¹ One young brother sought to put Kingdom interests first by entering the full-time ministry rather than pursuing higher education in preparation for a secular career. He learned another language and moved to serve where the need was greater. He said: “I am having the time of my life here. The ministry is so refreshing! I just wish that every young person would do something like this and feel what I feel. There is nothing better than to serve Jehovah with all we have.” Yes, putting the Kingdom first brings us blessings, but more important, it pleases our heavenly Father, Jehovah.—Heb. 6:10.

  Help Others to Become Friends of God

  
  

• ¹ Today, people out of all nations are being taught Jehovah’s ways. (Isa. 2:2, 3) For such ones to “bear fruit with endurance,” however, they must come to love Jehovah. (Luke 8:15; Mark 12: 30) Without such love, they will not have the strength to resist unwholesome influences or the courage to do what is right. One way to help others develop a good relationship with Jehovah is to build in them appreciation for his qualities. Encourage them to give thoughtful consideration to the information in the book Draw Close to Jehovah.

• ² Your Example: Your personal actions can have a powerful effect on the hearts of Bible students. When they see that you treasure your friendship with Jehovah and see how it affects your life, they may be motivated to cultivate such a personal relationship themselves. (Luke 6: 40) Indeed, our example often has a greater influence on others than what we say.

• ³ A major means by which parents teach their children to love Jehovah is by their example. (Deut. 6:4-9) One couple desirous of raising their children in the truth asked successful parents for advice. “The common thread with everyone I spoke to was parental example,” said the husband. Thus, by their entire way of life, parents can give their children a living example of what it means to be “Jehovah’s friend.”—Jas. 2:23.

• ⁴ Heartfelt Prayer: You can also help others to cultivate friendship with Jehovah by teaching them to pray from the heart. You might direct them to Jesus’ model prayer, as well as to the many earnest prayers recorded in the Scriptures. (Matt. 6:9, 10) You can teach your children and Bible students how to pray by your own prayers. When they hear your heartfelt expressions, they sense your feelings toward Jehovah. Encourage them to “persevere in prayer” when they face trials. (Rom. 12:12) As they experience Jehovah’s help in times of need, they will come to trust him and love him as a true friend.—Ps. 34:8; Phil. 4:6, 7.

  Service Meeting Schedule

  
  

Week Starting October 9

Song 25

1O min: Local announcements. Selected Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry. Using the suggestions on page 8 or other presentations appropriate for your territory, demonstrate how to offer the October 15 Watchtower and the October Awake! along with Kingdom News No, 37. 15 min: “Help Others to Become Friends of God.”* Invite the audience to comment on how the example of others and heartfelt prayer helped them to progress to the point of baptism.

20 min: Prepare to Distribute Kingdom News No. 37. Talk and audience discussion. Review arrangements for the campaign, as discussed in the September Our Kingdom Ministry. Urge all to have a full share. Encourage those with progressive Bible studies to consider whether their students qualify to share in the campaign as unbaptized publishers. Parents can also consider if their children qualify. Briefly outline the requirements from pages 79-81 of Organised to Do Jehovah’s Will. Song 221 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting October 16

Song 84

10 min: Local announcements.

20 min: Benefiting From the Congregation Book Study. Talk and audience discussion based on Organised to Do Jehovah’s Will, from the subheading on page 69 to the first subheading on page 72.

is min: “What Do You Put First?”* Invite selected publishers to comment on how they have adjusted their schedule so as to put Kingdom interests first and on what blessings they have enjoyed as a result.

Song 172 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting October 23

Song 58

10 min: Local announcements. Read accounts report and donation acknowledgments. Using the suggestions on page 8 or other presentations appropriate for your territory, demonstrate how to offer the November 1 Watchtower and the November Awake! In one of the demonstrations, show how to handle the potential conversation stopper “Why do you people call so often?”—See Reasoning book, p. 20.

15 min: Local needs.

20 min: “Benefit Fully From Meetings for Field Service.”* When discussing paragraph 3, include comments on the September 2001 Our Kingdom Ministry Question Box, paragraph 4, regarding how matters should be handled on occasions when no qualified brothers are present to conduct the meeting.

Song 143 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting October 30

Song 207

IO min: Local announcements. Remind all to turn in field service reports and to include on the back the number of Kingdom News No. 37 that they placed.

15 min: How Can I Preach to My Schoolmates? Talk and audience discussion based on the March 22, 2002, issue of Awake! pages 1012. Invite audience to relate good experiences they have had when preaching to schoolmates.

20 min: Experiences Offering Kingdom News No. 37. Ask publishers to relate encouraging results they have enjoyed In distributing Kingdom News No. 37. Report on how much territory has been worked thus far and what will be needed to complete coverage by November 12. Demonstrate making a return visit using the Bible Teach book. Remind publishers to return any copies of the Kingdom News that they will not be able to distribute before the end of the campaign so that others may use them.

Song 136 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting November 6

Song 146

10 min: Local announcements. Using the suggestions on pages 3-4 of the January 2005 Our Kingdom Ministry or other presentations appropriate for your territory, demonstrate how to offer Learn. From the Great Teacher during the second half of November. As time permits, invite the audience to comment on good results achieved from using the publication in the field or with their own family.

15 min: Increase the Joy and Dignity of Your Wedding Day. A talk by an elder based on the October 15, 2006, issue of The Watchtower, pages 28-31.

20 min: Preaching the Word Brings Refreshment. Talk and audience discussion based on the January 15, 2002, issue of The Watchtower, pages 8-9. Invite the audience to comment on how the ministry brings them refreshment. One or two comments may be arranged in advance.

Song 8 and concluding prayer.

* Limit introductory comments to less than a minute, and follow with a question-and-answer discussion.

June Service Report

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Announcements

■ Literature offer for October 1-15: The Watchtower and Awake! magazines. Where interest is shown, offer the Keep on the Watch! brochure and seek to cultivate further interest in the Bible. October 16-November 12: Special campaign distribution of Kingdom News No. 37, “The End of False Religion Is Near!” November 13-30: Learn From the Great Teacher. If individuals say they have no children, offer the tract Would You Like to Know More About the Bible? December: The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived. As an alternative offer, you may use My Book of Bible Stories, The Bible—God’s Word or Man’s?, or You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth. January: The Knowledge book or any book published prior to 1991 that the congregation may have in stock. If you do not have any of these in stock, please check if nearby congregations have a surplus on hand that you can use. Congregations that do not have these books may offer the Keep on the Watch! brochure.

■ Since December has five full weekends, it would be an excellent month to auxiliary pioneer. ■ The insert in this issue of Our Kingdom Ministry is the “Theocratic Ministry School Schedule for 2007” and should be kept for reference throughout 2007.

■ The video program No Blood —Medicine Meets the Challenge will be considered at a Service Meeting in January. If needed, the DVD or videocassette should be requested through the congregation as soon as possible.

■ The special public talk for the 2007 Memorial season will be given on Sunday, April 15, 2007. The subject of the talk will be announced later. Those congregations having the visit of the circuit overseer or an assembly that weekend will have the special talk the following week. No congregation should have the special talk before April 15.

THEOCRATIC MINISTRY SCHOOL REVIEW

The following questions will be considered at the Theocratic Ministry School during the week beginning October 30, 2006. The school overseer will conduct a 30-minute review based on material covered in assignments for the weeks of September 4 through October 30, 2006. [Note: Where there are no references after the question, you will need to do your own research to find the answers.—See Ministry School, pp. 36-7.]

SPEECH QUALITIES

• 1. Why is poise important when speaking, and how can we reduce our anxiety? [be p. 135 par. 5-p. 137 par. 2, boxes]

• 2. When asked about our beliefs, why should we endeavor to use the Bible when replying? [be p. 143 pars. 1-3]

• 3. How can we become more proficient in using the Bible? [be p, 144, box]

• 4. Why is generous use of the Bible important when we teach in the ministry, and how can we encourage its use at congregation meetings? [be pp. 145-6, boxes]

• 5. What is our twofold objective when introducing a scripture? [be p. 147 par. 2]

ASSIGNMENT NO. 1

• 6. What living message is contained in Psalms? [si p. 104 par. 23]

• 7. When was Proverbs written and compiled? [si p. 107 par. 5]

• 8. What is a proverb, and why is the Hebrew title of the book fitting? [si p. 107 par. 6]

• 9. At Proverbs 2:1-5, what is implied by the encouragement to keep searching for knowledge, understanding, and discernment “as for silver, and as for hid treasures”? [be p. 38 par. 4]

• 10. How does the book of Proverbs itself make known its beneficial purpose? [si p. 109 par. 19]

WEEKLY BIBLE READING

• 11. How did David ‘soothe and quiet his soul like a weanling upon his mother,’ and how can we imitate him? (Ps. 131:1-3)

• 12. What comfort can be found in the inspired words of Psalm 139:7-12?

• 13. What are some examples of Jehovah’s greatness mentioned in Psalm 145 for which we can praise him in our prayers and in the public ministry? (Ps. 145:3)

• 14. In what way is the fear of Jehovah “the beginning of knowledge” and “the start of wisdom”? (Prov. 1:7; 9:10)

• 15. At Proverbs 7:1, 2, what is included in “my sayings” and “my commandments”?

Benefit Fully From Meetings for Field Service

¹ Effective meetings for field service provide real encouragement and practical instruction before we go in the ministry. They enable us to share in group witnessing so that we can work along with others for mutual support and training. (Prov. 27:17; Eccl. 4:9, 10) What can we do to benefit fully from these meetings?

³ The Conductor: Specific information to be considered at these meetings is not normally outlined in advance. Therefore, good preparation is needed if you will be conducting. Do not automatically plan to consider the daily text, though you may choose to include it in the discussion if it directly relates to the ministry. Think about what will provide practical help for those witnessing that day. For example, you may want to discuss or demonstrate a presentation. You might choose to review something from the Reasoning book, the Ministry School book, or a recent Service Meeting part. At other times, you might consider how to deal with a challenge that may arise in your territory, or you might discuss how to cultivate interest and start Bible studies, especially if many will be making return visits. Regardless of what is considered, be enthusiastic and positive.

³ Start the meeting on time, even if you know that some

• 1. How can meetings for field service help us?

• 2. What are some things the conductor might consider?

• 3. How long should the meeting last, and what should be accomplished during that time? will be late. Use good judgment in organizing the groups, and provide territory to those who need it. The length of the meeting should be no more than 10 to 15 minutes and shorter if it follows a congregation meeting. Before you end the meeting, all should know with whom and where they are going to work. The meeting should be concluded with prayer.

• ⁴ You Can Help: As with congregation meetings, we show respect for Jehovah and consideration for others by arriving on time. Participate in the discussion. You may let the conductor assign you to work with someone, or you may choose to make your own arrangements in advance of the meeting. If you prefer to make your own arrangements, endeavor to “widen out” by working with a variety of publishers, rather than working with close friends each time. (2 Cor. 6:11-13) Once the meeting has concluded, avoid changing the arrangements, and depart promptly for the territory.

• ⁵ The purpose of meetings for field service is the same as that of congregation meetings. They are arranged so that we can “consider one another to incite to love and fine works.” (Heb. 10:24, 25) If we strive to benefit from these meetings, we will be helped to carry out our ministry—a ‘fine work’ indeed!

• 4. What will help all to benefit fully from meetings for field service?

• 5. What is the purpose of meetings for field service?

"Watchtower® oct. is

Announcing Jehovah'S Kingdom

“Since God is in heaven, some conclude that it is impossible to get to know him. Have you ever felt that way? [Allow for response. Then read John 17:3.] This magazine explains how we can take in knowledge of God.”

Awake! Oct.

“Most of us have lost loved ones in death. Do you think there are things that we can do to help them even after they die? [Allow for response.] This article gives the Bible’s answer to that question. It also considers this comforting promise.” Read John 5:28, 29. Then feature the article that begins on page 10.

"Watchtower® Nov. i

ANNOUNCING JEHOVAH'S KINGDOM

“There are many conflicting opinions on child rearing today. Do you think that it is possible for parents to obtain reliable advice? [Allow for response. Then read Psalm 32:8.] This magazine presents practical instruction from the Bible on child rearing.”

Awake! Nov.

“Have you ever wondered why there is so much suffering if there is a loving, just, and powerful God? [Allow for response.] Notice what this scripture says about the cause of suffering. [Read 1 John 5:19.] This magazine explains from the Bible what God is doing to eliminate suffering.”

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