Our Kingdom Mu.. —.

July 2008                         For United States of America km08 07-E Us Vol. 51, No. 7

• ¹ “The great day of Jehovah is near. It is near, and there is a hurrying of it very much.” (Zeph. 1:14) Zephaniah and the other 11 so-called Minor Prophets lived with Jehovah’s day in mind. Considering their inspired writings at our Congregation Book Study as outlined in the book Live With Jehovah’s Day in Mind will help us to prepare for that fear-inspiring day. —Zeph. 2:2, 3.

• ² Unique Features: Rather than focusing on symbolic meanings or verse-by-verse explanations of these 12 prophetic books, the Jehovah’s Day book explains how these inspired writings apply to real-life situations that we face every day. It emphasizes why a sense of urgency should permeate all our decisions and actions. Matters of family life, relationships with fellow believers, entertainment choices, our ministry, and career decisions are brought into focus.

• ³ Section 1 of the book acquaints us with the 12 prophets and their writings. Who were they? What do we have in common with them? Section 2 focuses attention on Jehovah and his qualities. What insight into Jehovah and his personality do these prophets provide? Section 3 concentrates on our own conduct and dealings. How may we daily please God in practical ways? Section 4 explains how to live joyfully while keeping in expectation of Jehovah’s day.

• ⁴ Plan Now to Benefit: Resolve now to benefit fully from the study of the Jehovah’s Day book, which will begin the week of August 4, 2008! Aim to be present at the Congregation Book Study every week. Prepare each lesson carefully, looking up the scriptures to see how they relate to the material presented. Meditate on the information by asking yourself, ‘How can I apply this information at home, at school, at work, in my ministry, and in my dealings with my Christian brothers and sisters?’ Come to the book study prepared to comment so as to share in an interchange of encouragement.—Rom. 1:12.

• ⁵ May our consideration of the Jehovah’s Day book prepare us now, so that we may “hold up under” the “great and very fearinspiring” day of Jehovah. That day is indeed close at hand! —Joel 2:11.

  We Are Overturning Strongly Entrenched Things

  
  

• ¹ For centuries, using false teachings and deception, Satan has built barriers in the hearts and minds of many people. He has propagated such doctrines as the Trinity, the immortality of the soul, and hellfire. He promotes doubt about the existence of a Creator and skepticism about the authenticity of the Bible. Racism and nationalism are other formidable barriers to the light of truth. (2 Cor. 4:4) How can we overturn such strongly entrenched beliefs?—2 Cor. 10:4, 5.

• ² Emotions Involved: Long-held religious beliefs often involve a person’s deepest emotions. Some have held to erroneous beliefs since childhood. To help such ones, we need to speak in a way that demonstrates respect for their viewpoint.—1 Pet. 3:15.

• ³ We can dignify such individuals by allowing them to explain what they believe and why. (Jas. 1:19) Perhaps they hold to the belief that the soul is immortal because they have lost loved ones in death and long to see them again. Or they may celebrate holidays because they cherish the opportunities these afford to be with their family. Listening to their expressions will give us insight into their feelings and help us to respond in an effective manner. —Prov. 16:23.

• ⁴ Imitate Jesus: Jesus provided an excellent example for us when he responded to questions from a man versed in the Law. Jesus did not give direct answers, which the man may have rejected because of cherished beliefs. Instead, Jesus referred to the Scriptures, invited him to express his view, and helped him to reason by means of an illustration.—Luke 10:25-37.

• ⁵ Strongly held false religious beliefs are in no way equal to the truth of God’s Word. (Heb. 4:12) By patiently appealing to the heart, we may be able to help people to reject falsehood and embrace the truth that can set them free.—John 8:32.

  Service Meeting Schedule

  
  

Week Starting July 14

Song 126

10 min: Local announcements. 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: Do You Have “Freeness of Speech”? Talk based on the May 15, 2006, Watchtower, pages 13-16. Emphasize the importance of preaching with boldness.

20 min: “Live With Jehovah’s Day in Mind."* Point out unique features of the publication. Review the schedule for the book study and the instructions found on page 3 of this issue of Our Kingdom Ministry. Encourage all to be regular in attendance and have a full share in commenting. Briefly interview one or two publishers who are known for preparing well for the meetings, and ask them what motivates them to do so.

Song 147

Week Starting July 21

Song 95

10 min: Local announcements. Selected Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry. Remind audience to bring the August 1 Watchtower and the August Aivake! to the Service Meeting next week and to be prepared to discuss appropriate presentations for the local territory.

15 min: Local needs.

20 min: “Preparation—A Key to Effective Return Visits."* Include a four-minute soliloquy of a publisher preparing for his return visits. He reviews his records and determines that he needs to call on two individuals this weekend. Then, for each of the two, he considers what he discussed in the past, determines his objective, and prepares how to accomplish his objective. For one, he prepares to offer a Bible study. For the other, he prepares to cultivate the interest by using a suggestion from paragraph 5.

Song 189

Week Starting July 28

Song 6

10 min: Local announcements. Remind all to turn in field service reports for July. Read accounts report and donation acknowledgments. Mention the literature offer for August, and have one presentation demonstrated.

15 min: Maintaining Our Sense of Urgency. Enthusiastic talk based on the December 15,2006, Watchtower, pages 18-19, paragraphs 17-21.

20 min: Prepare to Offer the Current Magazines. Audience discussion. After giving a brief overview of the August Awake! and the August 1 Watchtower, ask the audience which articles may appeal to people in the territory and why. Invite audience to mention specific points in articles they plan to feature. What question could be asked to start a conversation? Which scripture in the article could then be read? Using one of the sample presentations from Our Kingdom Ministry or a presentation suggested by the audience, demonstrate how each magazine might be offered.

Song 106

Week Starting August 4

Song 222

1O min: Local announcements.

15 min: Are Your Children Prepared for Their Unique Territory? Talk and audience discussion. Outline some of the challenges Christian youths face at school. Explain how parents and their children may use the Watch Tower Publications Index to locate helpful information. Give some examples. (See main heading “Schools,” subheading “experiences.") Invite those in the audience who were raised in Christian households to comment on how their parents prepared them to face challenges and apply Bible principles at school. They may also mention school reports they prepared on subjects found in Awake! Have them explain how working their unique territory served as a protection.

20 min: “We Are Overturning Strongly Entrenched Things.”^: Invite audience to comment on how their Bible teacher patiently helped them to let go of strongly held false religious beliefs.

Song 83 * Limit introductory comments to less than a minute, and follow with a question-and-answer discussion.

March Service Report

We are pleased to report a new peak in the number of hours reported in the United States! The 22.662,367 hours spent in the ministry is an increase of 1,518,024 over the previous peak of 21,144.343 in April 2000.

Also, we are happy to report five new peaks in the Turks and Caicos Islands! The total of 192 publishers reporting is an increase of 6 over the previous peak of 186 in January 2008. The total of 31 auxiliary pioneers reporting is an increase of 12 over the previous peak of 19 in April 1992. The 5,400 hours spent in the ministry is an Increase of 1,519 over the previous peak of 3.881 in January 2008. Also, the total of 1,922 return visits is an increase of 64 over the previous peak of 1,858 in April of 1995. In addition, the total of 402 Bible studies is an increase of 25 over the previous peak of 377 in October 2007.

Announcements

■ Literature offer for July: Keep on the Watch! If the congregation does not have this brochure in stock, please check if nearby congregations have a surplus on hand that you can use. If that is not possible, offer another appropriate brochure that the congregation has in stock. August: Worship the Only True God. If the congregation does not have this book in stock, please check if nearby congregations have a surplus on hand that you can use. If that is not possible, offer an appropriate brochure that the congregation has in stock. If a Bible study is started, it is recommended that the Bible Teach book be studied. 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. October: The Watchtower and Awake! magazines. Where interest is shown, present and discuss the tract Would You Like to Know More About the Bible? with a view to starting a Bible study.

■ Since August has five full weekends, it would be an excellent month to auxiliary pioneer.

■ Starting in September, circuit overseers will give the public talk entitled “Walk in the Way of Integrity.”

■ The branch office does not fill individual publishers’ requests for literature. The presiding overseer should arrange for an announcement to be made each month before the congregation monthly request for literature is sent to the branch office, so that all interested in obtaining personal literature items may advise the brother handling literature. Please keep in mind which publications are special-request items. ■ The annual inventory of all literature on hand should be taken on or as close as possible to August 31,2008. This inventory is similar to the actual count taken monthly by the literature coordinator. The secretary of the coordinating congregation should supervise the inventory. He and the presiding overseer of the coordinating congregation should verify the quantities for accuracy. Please submit your inventory via the jw.org Web site no later than September 6. Additional information will be forthcoming.

■ The Bible Teach book should be used to start and conduct Bible studies rather than the Require brochure. The Require brochure may continue to be placed in the field ministry until supplies are depleted.

Live With Jehovah’s Day in Mind

Study schedule for the weeks of August 4, 2008, through February 16, 2009

Preparation—A Key to Effective Return Visits

• ¹ Jesus thoroughly prepared his disciples to be effective preachers of “the good news of the kingdom.” (Matt. 4:23; 9:35) The training took place in the confined area of Palestine. However, before ascending to heaven, Jesus made it known that the Christian ministry would be widely expanded so as to “make disciples of people of all the nations.”—Matt. 28:19, 20.

• ² That work would involve calling back on individuals who manifested interest in the good news of God’s Kingdom and teaching them to observe all the things that Christ commanded. To make such effective return visits, we need to be well prepared.

• ³ Plan Ahead: Some publishers endeavor to raise a question at the end of the initial call and then promise to return and discuss the answer. They have found that making reference to information in the Bible Teach book on the return visit has helped them lead right into a Bible study.

• ⁴ Having just one set of magazines for each month does not mean that we should wait until we receive the next month’s issues before calling back. It may be possible to stimulate

• 1. In what way was the early Christian ministry to be expanded?

• 2. What is involved in obeying Jesus’ command ‘to make disciples’? 3. Even on the initial call, how might you open the way for a return visit?

• 4. Why should we not delay making a return visit until we have new issues of the magazines? interest by discussing information featured in the magazine the person already has.

• ⁵ Have an Objective: Before going back, take a few minutes to review your records and to determine what you want to accomplish. For example, discuss a point from the publication you left previously. Or leave additional literature that relates to a prior conversation. If you raised a question the last time, your objective will surely include answering that question. When highlighting a scripture that establishes a point being made, endeavor to read directly from the Bible.

• ⁶ Our Goal: Of course, our goal is to start a Bible study. One brother offered a Bible study on a return visit, but the man refused. The brother returned with the latest magazines and said, “While we are here, we are answering one Bible question for people today.” After obtaining the man’s comments, the brother read a scripture and an applicable paragraph from a publication used for Bible studies. That led to a regular Bible study.

• ⁷ Taking the time to prepare for return visits is well worth the effort. Our joy will be increased, and we may have the privilege of assisting a “rightly disposed” one on the road to life—Acts 13:48.

• 5. Of what benefit is having an objective in mind?

• 6. What is our goal in making return visits?

• 7. How has being well prepared helped you to get a Bible study started?

'Watchtower- July i

“Do you think it is possible for mere humans to have a close relationship with Almighty God? [Allow for response. Then read Acts 17: 27.] This article discusses why we can be sure that God wants us to be close to him.” Feature the article that begins on page 10.

Awake! July

“Much of today’s entertainment reflects a growing interest in the occult. Do you think involvement in the occult is harmless? [Allow for response. Then read Deuteronomy 18:10-12.] This article shows what the Bible says about the dangers of spiritism.” Feature the article that begins on page 10.

"“Watchtower- Aug. i

“Serious environmental issues are causing many to be pessimistic about the future of the earth. How do you feel about it? [Allow for response. Then read Psalm 37:11.] This magazine highlights some Scriptural reasons for optimism.”

Awake! Aug.

“Many are convinced that global warming imperils life on our planet. How do you think this matter will be resolved? [Allow for response. Then read Isaiah 11:9.] This magazine explains why earth’s continued existence as a home for humans is not in doubt.”

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