Our Kingdom Ml —

• ¹ The apostle Paul was glad to “be completely spent” for the sake of fulfilling his Christian ministry. (2 Cor. 12:15) Similarly today, many Christians work diligently as pioneers. Others with heavy family responsibilities make room in their busy schedule to share in the ministry each week. Some with serious health problems use their limited energy to promote Kingdom interests. How encouraging it is to see Jehovah's people, regardless of age or circumstances, expend themselves in Jehovah’s service!

• ² Love of Neighbor: Doing all we can to serve Jehovah, demonstrating love for God and for neighbor, gives us a clean conscience. Because Paul imparted his soul in sharing the good news, he could happily say: “I call you to witness this very day that I am clean from the blood of all men.” (Acts 20:24, 26; 1 Thess. 2:8) Sharing in the ministry to the extent our circumstances allow will prevent us from becoming bloodguilty. -- Ezek. 3:18-21.

'^{1 2 3} Working hard to help others brings us happiness. (Acts 20:35) One brother said: “When evening comes, and I return home after a day in Jehovah’s service, I feel tired, it is true. But I am happy, and I thank Jehovah for having given me a joy that no one can take away.”

• ⁴ Love of God: The most important reason for expending ourselves in Jehovah’s service is that it pleases our heavenly Father. Love of God moves us to observe his commands, which include preaching and making disciples. (1 John 5:3) Even when people are apathetic or opposed, we joyfully continue to work hard for Jehovah.

• ⁵ Now is no time to let up. We are living during the harvest. (Matt. 9:37) A farmer usually works long hours during a harvest because he has limited time to gather the crops before they begin to spoil. The time allowed for the spiritual harvest work also is limited. Keeping in mind the time that we are living in, may we all continue to exert ourselves vigorously in the ministry.—Luke 13:24; 1 Cor. 7:29-31.

  Keep On “Bearing Much Fruit”

  
  

we manifest the fruitage of the spirit. Do you work at cultivating the fruitage of God’s spirit by regularly studying and meditating on God’s Word? (Phil. 1: 9-11) Do not hesitate to pray for holy spirit, which can produce qualities that glorify Jehovah and that promote continued spiritual progress.—Luke 11:13; John 13:35.

• ³ Cultivating the fruitage of the spirit will also help us to be more zealous ministers. For example, love and faith move us to make room in our busy schedule to share regularly in the ministry. Qualities such as peace, long-suffering, kindness, mildness, and self-control help us to react properly to opposers. Joy enables us to find satisfaction in the ministry even when people are unresponsive.

• ⁴ Kingdom Fruitage: We also want to bear Kingdom fruitage. That includes offering “a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which make public declaration to [Jehovah’s] name.” (Heb. 13:15) We do this by zealously and steadfastly proclaiming the good news. Are you endeavoring to bear more Kingdom fruitage by improving your personal ministry?

• ⁵ Jesus indicated that his faithful followers would bear different amounts of fruit. (Matt. 13:23) Therefore, we should not compare ourselves with others but give to Jehovah our best. (Gal. 6:4) An honest self-examination of our personal circumstances in the light of God’s Word will help us to continue glorifying Jehovah by “bearing much fruit.”—John 15:8.

  Service Meeting Schedule

  
  

Week Starting June 11

Song 153

10 min: Local announcements. Using the suggestions on page 4 or other presentations appropriate for your territory, demonstrate how to offer the June 15 Watchtower and the June Awake!

15 min: Completely Equipped as Teachers of God’s Word. Talk based on the February 15, 2002, Watchtower, pages 24-8. Some Christians hesitate to offer to study the Bible with interested ones because they do not feel qualified to conduct a study. However, Jehovah qualifies us as ministers by means of his Word, his holy spirit, and his organization. Our aim is not just to place literature. We should endeavor to teach people. (Matt. 28:19, 20) Encourage publishers to be Bible-study conscious.

20 min: Do All Things for God’s Glory. Talk and audience discussion based on Organised to Do Jehovah’s Will, chapter 13. Song 144 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting June 18

Song 217

10 min: Local announcements. Selected Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry.

15 min: Do You Remember? Audience discussion based on the April 15, 2007, Watchtower, page 19. 20 min: “We Are Glad to Expend Ourselves in Jehovah’s Service!”* Invite audience to comment on the cited scriptures as time permits.

Song 82 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting June 25

Song 15

10 min: Local announcements. Read accounts report and donation acknowledgments. Using the suggestions on page 4 or other presentations appropriate for your territory, demonstrate how to offer the July 1 Watchtower and the July Awake!

15 min: Local needs.

20 min: “Can You Enter ‘a Large Door That Leads to Activity’?”* Briefly interview one or two regular pioneers. What adjustments did they make in order to regular pioneer? What blessings have they enjoyed?

Song 138 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting July 2

Song 208

10 min: Local announcements. Remind publishers to turn in field service reports for June. Mention the literature offer for July, and have a presentation demonstrated.

15 min: Informal Witnessing—An Important Method of Preaching the Good News. Audience discussion based on Organized to Do Jehovah’s Will, pages 101-2. Suggest some practical ways to witness informally. Invite audience to relate positive experiences they have had when witnessing informally.

20 min: “Keep On ‘Bearing Much Fruit.’ ”* When considering paragraph 4, include comments on the box “How to ‘Bear Fruit With Endurance,’” in the February 1, 2003, Watchtower, page 21.

Song 69 and concluding prayer.

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

Announcements

■ Literature offer for June: 7s There a Creator Who Cares About You? As an alternative offer, you may use The Secret of Family Happiness. July: Keep on the Watch! Where genuine interest is shown, offer the Bible Teach book, making a diligent effort to start Bible studies. August: Worship the Only True God. If a Bible study is started, it is recommended that the Bible Teach book be studied before the Worship God book. September: What Does the Bible Really Teach? Make a special effort to start Bible studies on the initial call. When householders already have this publication, show how they can benefit from it by briefly demonstrating a Bible study.

■ The presiding overseer or someone designated by him should audit the congregation’s accounts for the months of March, April, and May. When this has been done, an announcement should be made to the congregation after the next accounts report is read.—See Instructions for Congregation Accounting (S-27).

■ The branch facilities in Brooklyn, Patterson, and Wallkill, New York, will be closed on the following dates: September 8, 2007 (Gilead graduation); October 6, 2007 (annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania); March 8, 2008 (Gilead graduation); and May 9-10, 2008 (spring cleaning). There will be no arrangements for tours or for congregations to pick up literature on those dates.

■ It is recommended that applications for regular pioneer service be submitted to the branch office at least 30 days before the requested start date. The congregation secretary should review the forms to make sure that they are complete. If applicants cannot recall the exact date of their baptism, they should estimate the date and keep a record of it. The secretary should note this date on the Congregation’s Publisher Record (S-21) card.

THEOCRATIC MINISTRY SCHOOL REVIEW

The following questions will be considered at the Theocratic Ministry School during the week beginning June 25, 2007. The school overseer will conduct a 30-minute review based on material covered in assignments for the weeks of May 7 through June 25, 2007. [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. When speaking, what can we do to ease tension in order to improve our voice quality? [be p. 185 pars. 1-3]

• 2. How can we “become all things to people of all sorts” in our ministry? (1 Cor. 9:20-23) [be p. 186 pars. 2-4]

• 3. How can we imitate Jehovah’s example of listening to others? (Gen. 18:23-33; 1 Ki. 22:19-22) [be p. 187 pars. 1-2, 5]

• 4. In what practical ways can we help others to make spiritual progress? [be p. 187 par. 6-p. 188 par. 3]

• 5. Why should we be concerned about showing respect for others? [be p. 190 par. 3, box]

ASSIGNMENT NO. 1

• 6. Why must we endeavor to reach the hearts of those whom we teach? [be p. 59 par. 1]

• 7. What impact does our example have on those whom we teach? [be p. 61 par. 1]

• 8. How can we improve our conversation skills in the home? [be p. 62 par. 3]

• 9. What example of courageous zeal do we find in the prophet Jeremiah? [si p. 129 par. 36]

• 10. What confidence does Lamentations express, yet why is it beneficial in showing the severity of God’s judgments of the wicked? [si p. 132 par. 13]

WEEKLY BIBLE READING

• 11. In harmony with Jeremiah’s experience as described at Jeremiah 37:21, what assurance can we have?

• 12. Why might Baruch have said that Jehovah had ‘added grief to his pain,’ causing him to ‘grow weary,’ and what was Baruch’s initial response to the problem? (Jer. 45:1-5)

• 13. When did Babylon cease to be inhabited, becoming “a desolate waste in her entirety”? (Jer. 50:13)

• 14. What principle regarding prayer is made clear at Lamentations 3:8, 9, 42-45?

• 15. What is pictured by the chariot described in Ezekiel chapter 1?

Can You Enter “a Large Door That Leads to Activity”?

• ¹ When “a large door that leads to activity” was opened to the apostle Paul, he eagerly took advantage of the opportunity to promote Kingdom interests despite many opposers. (1 Cor. 16:9) Today some 642,-000 Kingdom publishers around the world have entered a large door of activity by becoming regular pioneers.

• ² Circumstances Change: Although present personal circumstances may limit our activity, circumstances change. Therefore, it is good for us to evaluate our own situation from time to time and not wait for the ideal circumstances. (Eccl. 11:4) Are you a youth about to graduate from high school? Are you a parent whose children will soon begin attending school? Are you nearing retirement from your secular employment? Such changes may free up time and thus allow you to enter the regular pioneer service. A sister who had previously experienced health difficulties decided to enroll as a pioneer at the age of 89. Why? Since she had not been in the hospital in over a year, she felt that her health would allow her to pioneer.

• ³ In Paul’s case, he originally intended to visit his brothers in Corinth. Yet, he adjusted his plans for the sake of the good news. Many who are regular pioneering today had to make a number of adjustments in order to pioneer. Some have simplified their life to the point where part-time employment is

• 1. What “large door that leads to activity” is open to us?

• 2. Why is it good to evaluate our situation from time to time?

• 3. How have some made adjustments so as to regular pioneer? all that is needed to care for their reduced living expenses. They have found delight in their privilege of service. (1 Tim. 6: 6-8) Some married couples have made changes that allow them to get by on just one income, thus opening the way for the wife to pioneer.

• ⁴ Do not be quick to dismiss the idea of pioneering for fear that you cannot meet the hour requirement. Just a little over two hours a day is needed. If you are unsure that you can do it, try auxiliary pioneering for a month or two but with a personal goal of 70 hours. This will allow you to taste the joys of pioneering. (Ps. 34:8) Talk to those who are currently pioneering. They may have overcome challenges similar to yours. (Prov. 15: 22) Ask Jehovah to bless your efforts to expand your ministry. —1 John 5:14.

• ⁵ A Worthwhile Pursuit: Serving as a regular pioneer brings many blessings. It allows you to experience the greater happiness that comes with increased giving. (Acts 20:35) Pioneering will sharpen your ability to handle God’s Word of truth aright. (2 Tim. 2:15) It will provide increased opportunities to see Jehovah’s hand at work in your behalf. (Acts 11:21; Phil. 4:11-13) Pioneering will also help you to develop spiritual qualities, such as endurance, and will enable you to draw closer to Jehovah. (Jas. 4:8) Can you enter this large door of activity and become a regular pioneer?

• 4. What can we do if we are unsure that we can meet the hour requirement?

• 5. Why is regular pioneering a worthwhile pursuit?

™ Watchtower® June 15

ANNOUNCING JEHOVAH'S KINGDOM

“Have you noticed that many today are choosing their own standards of right and wrong? [Allow for response.] Here is an example of the timeless direction found in the Bible. [Read a scripture from the box on pages 6-7.] This magazine explains how we are benefited by embracing the Bible’s moral values.”

Awake! June

“We all need money to survive. Do you think it is possible to be too concerned about making money? [Allow for response.] Notice what this says about the results of pursuing riches. [Read 1 Timothy 6:10.] This magazine gives some practical suggestions on how to simplify one’s life and get by on less money.”

"Watchtower® July 1

Announcing jehovaht: Kingdom

“Have you ever wondered why people are mistreated because they are of a different race or nationality or because they speak a different language? [Allow for response.] Notice the reason given here. [Read 1 John 4: 20.] This magazine answers the question, Is ethnic harmony possible?”

Awake! July

“Unlike animals that act on instinct, humans have the ability to choose the standards by which they will live. Where do you think we can go for reliable guidance? [Allow for response. Then read Psalm 119:105.] This magazine explains the superiority of the guidance found in the Bible.”

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Using symbolic terms, Jesus represented himself as the true vine, his Father as the Cultivator, and his spirit-anointed followers as productive branches of the vine. In describing the work of the symbolic Cultivator, Jesus emphasized the importance of remaining strongly attached to the vine. (John 15: 1-4) The lesson is that everyone having a close personal relationship with Jehovah must be like a fruitful branch of the “true vine,” Jesus Christ. We must keep on producing abundantly both “the fruitage of the spirit” and Kingdom fruitage. —Gal. 5:22, 23; Matt. 24:14; 28: 19, 20.

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Fruitage of the Spirit: Our

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spiritual progress can be measured largely by the extent that

? 2007 Cnristian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. All rights reserved. Our Kingdom Ministry (ISSN 1067-7259) is published monthly by Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses: IM L. Van De Wall. President: W. H. Nonkes, Secretary-Treasurer: 2821 Route 22, Patterson, NY 12563-2237. Periodicals Postage Paid at Brooklyn. NY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Our Kingdom Ministry, 1000 Bed Mills Hoad. Wallkill, NY 12589-3299.                         Printed in U.S.A.