Our kingdom ministry

OCTOBER 2009

WEEK STARTING OCTOBER 12

Song 110

□ Congregation Bible Study:

/vchap. 11 1(10-19

• □ Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Deuteronomy 4-6 No. 1: Deuteronomy 4:15-28 No. 2: Remembering Jehovah and His Son (/rchap. 37)

No. 3: When Can It Be Said That Less Is Better? (Prov. 15:16)

• □ Service Meeting:

Song 13

5 min: Announcements.

10 min: Conducting Home Bible Studies. Talk based on information from Organized book, page 98, paragraph 1, to page 99, paragraph 1. Invite publishers to comment briefly on the joy they have experienced in teaching someone the truth.

10 min: The Offer for October. Have two demonstrations. One should raise a question that may be answered on the return visit. The other should demonstrate how to offer a Bible study on the first visit. A brief audience discussion may follow each demonstration, highlighting what was learned.

10 min: "Are You Ready for Informal Witnessing?" Question-and-answer discussion.

Song 48

Are You Ready for Informal Witnessing?

• ¹ Informal witnessing can be very effective. The Bible contains numerous examples of informal witnessing with good results. (John 4: 7-15) What might we do to prepare for this type of witnessing?

• ² Dress and Grooming: Proper attention to our dress and grooming at all times will allow

• 1. What example shows that informal witnessing can be effective?

• 2. How can our dress and grooming complement our readiness to give a witness? us to share our faith freely with others. (1 Tim. 2:9,10) If we feel uncomfortable about our appearance, we will likely hold back from giving a witness. In contrast, our neat, clean appearance may in itself arouse curiosity. For example, while traveling, a well-dressed Witness couple were seated next to a Muslim man. Noticing their appearance, the man asked if they were Christians. This led to a three-hour Bible discussion.

• ³ Starting Conversations: When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at Jacob's fountain, he began the conversation by simply requesting that she give him a drink. Similarly, we may be able to start a conversation by making a brief statement or by asking a simple question. Although we may at times be hesitant, by depending on Jehovah's assistance, we may 'muster up boldness' to start a conversation. —1 Thess. 2:2.

• ⁴ Creating Opportunities: Many publishers have found ways to witness informally. Review your circumstances, and think about the people you are likely to meet on a daily basis. Carry with you appropriate literature and a small Bible. Be observant, and take an interest in people around you. When you have given thought to opportunities that you may encounter during the day, you will likely be ready to give a fine witness.—Phil. 1:12-14; 1 Pet. 3:15.

• ⁵ We have two good reasons for taking advantage of opportunities to witness informally—love for God and love for neighbor. (Matt. 22:37-39) In view of the urgency of the preaching work, informal witnessing cannot be left merely to chance. We should be ready to take advantage of every appropriate opportunity to share the Kingdom good news with others while there is yet time.—Rom. 10:13,14; 2 Tim. 4:2.

• 3. Following Jesus' example, how have you started a conversation?

• 4. How can we get ready to witness informally?

• 5. Why should informal witnessing not be left to chance?

□ Congregation Bible Study:

/vchap. 111J20-22, box on p. 131

□ Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Deuteronomy 7-10 No. 1: Deuteronomy 9:1 -14

No. 2: Why We Should Love |esus (/rchap. 38) No. 3: To How Many Does the Bible Hold Out Hope of Heavenly Life? (rs p. 166 V3-4)

□ Service Meeting:

Song 44

5 min: Announcements.

15 min: Research Can Enhance Understanding. Talk based on material from page 33 to the subheading on page 34 of the Ministry School book. Discuss the material from the standpoint of publishers encouraging Bible students by showing them how to do research to fortify their faith and to prepare for the ministry. Present a demonstration showing how a publisher can help a Bible student to understand the value of research.

15 min: "Telephone Witnessing Can Be Effective." Question-and-answer discussion. Have two publishers each demonstrate a presentation using the offer for the month.

Song 75

Telephone Witnessing Can Be Effective

¹ Why might we consider using telephone witnessing in our ministry? Because it is another means of helping others to obtain accurate knowledge for gaining salvation. (2 Pet. 3:9) Although our primary method of declaring the good news of God's Kingdom is house-to-house preaching, we willingly take advantage of other methods to reach those who may not be found at home.—Matt. 24:14; Luke 10: 1-7; Rev. 14:6.

• 1. Why might telephone witnessing be considered an important part of our ministry?

• ² How It Is Organized: As with field service arrangements for house-to-house work, telephone witnessing territory is also provided for the publishers. It may be done alone or with a small group of perhaps two or three. The place that is used should be conducive to the task at hand. Many find it advantageous to sit at a table and have in front of them items that they normally use when preaching from house to house.

• ³ How to Witness by Telephone: When witnessing over the telephone, our presentation should be conversational. Some who are just beginning may read a presentation to the householder but in a conversational manner. Introductions found in the Reasoning book, Our Kingdom Ministry, and the tract Would You Like to Know the Truth? can be helpful in this regard. When developing your own presentation, identify a theme, develop a question, and be ready to share a few scriptures that provide the answer. Generally you would offer the same publications that are being offered from house to house. Consider the following reminders: Relax and speak slowly. Be courteous, patient, and friendly, as this can be perceived over the phone. Listen as the householder gives his thoughts, then acknowledge and express appreciation for his comments. Be careful not to mention the donation arrangement, as this could be misinterpreted as a form of telephone solicitation.

• ⁴ The person you talk to on the telephone may be a shut-in or a person whose work schedule makes it difficult to reach him in the house-to-house ministry. There are others who live in gated communities or in apartments with restricted entrance. Therefore, in an effort to accomplish our ministry more fully and thoroughly, consider using the effective method of telephone witnessing.

• 2. How is telephone witnessing organized?

• 3. What should we keep in mind when witnessing over the phone?

• 4. What may telephone witnessing enable us to do with our assigned territory?

  © 2009 Christian Congregation of |ehovah's Witnesses. All rights reserved. Our Kingdom MiniUry (ISSN 1067-7259) is published monthly by Christian Congregation of |ehovah's Witnesses; C. I. Woody, 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 Red Mills Road, Wallkill, NY 12589-3299. Printed in U.S.A.

  
  

• □ Congregation Bible Study:

/vapp. pp. 219-221

• □ Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Deuteronomy 11-13 Theocratic Ministry School Review

• □ Service Meeting:

• Song 67

5 min: Announcements.

10 mln: Prepare to Offer The Watchtower and Awake! Talk. Review the contents of the current magazines, and highlight which articles may be of interest in the local territory. Include one demonstration in which a parent helps a child to prepare for the ministry. The parent and child select an article, develop a question, and choose a scripture to use. The child then demonstrates his presentation, mentioning the donation arrangement.

10 min: What Does the Bible Really Teach? Audience discussion. Ask audience to relate which chapters in the book they have been able to use most effectively in the local territory. When introducing the book, which question, picture, or scripture have they used? Have one presentation demonstrated.

10 min: Question Box. Audience discussion. Read and discuss the scriptures in the box.

Song 70

Theocratic Ministry School Review

The following questions will be considered at the Theocratic Ministry School during the week beginning October 26, 2009.

• 1. Since Jehovah told Balaam to go with Ba-lak's men, why did Jehovah get angry with Balaam when he went with them? (Num. 22:20-22) [w04 8/1 p. 27 par. 2]

• 2. How does Phinehas' 'toleration of no rivalry' toward Jehovah help us reflect on our dedication to God? (Num. 25:11) [w95 3/1 p. 16 par. 13]

• 3. Why was Joshua selected as Moses' successor? (Num. 27:15-19) [w02 12/1 p. 12 par. 1]

• 4. How might Numbers 31:27 be of encouragement to Christians today? [w05 3/15 p. 24]

QUESTION BOX

■ What should you do if directed to stop preaching?

In some instances, the police have approached publishers who were sharing in some form of the ministry, informed them that they were violating the law, and directed them to stop. You should promptly and politely leave the territory if directed to do so. (Matt. 5:41; Phil. 4:5) Do not try to resolve matters on your own by getting involved in a discussion about our legal rights. If it is possible, tactfully obtain the badge number of the police officer and the number of his precinct. Thereafter, promptly inform the elders, who will then contact the branch office about the incident. Similarly, if you are asked to leave an apartment building or complex by the superintendent or any other apartment representative, you should comply immediately and inform the elders. A mild and humble manner of dealing with those in authority can do much to prevent unnecessary difficulties. -Prov. 15:1; Rom. 12:18.

• 5. In what ways did the arrangement of cities of refuge benefit the people in Israel? (Num. 35:11, 12) [w95 11/15 p. 14 par. 17]

• 6. Why is discretion an important Christian quality, and what results therefrom? (Deut. 1:13) [w03 1/15 30; wOO 10/1 p. 32 pars. 1-3]

• 7. In what ways did the Mosaic Law express God's righteousness? (Deut. 4:8) [w02 6/1 p. 14 par. 8-p. 15 pars. 9-10]

• 8. Explain the right way and the wrong way to put Jehovah to the test, in harmony with Deuteronomy 6:16-18. [w04 9/15 p. 27 par. 1]

• 9. How had the Israelites' needs been filled by Jehovah's utterances, and how can those utterances nourish us today? (Deut. 8:3) [w99 8/15 pp. 25-26]

• 10. How does Deuteronomy 12:16, 24 affect our view of medical procedures involving the use of one's own blood? [wOO 10/15 p. 30 par. 7]

WEEK STARTING NOVEMBER 2

Song 115

• □ Congregation Bible Study:

/vchap. 12 UI-8

• □ Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Deuteronomy 14-18

No. 1: Deuteronomy 15:1-15

No. 2: What Does the Fear of God Encompass?

No. 3: God Remembers His Son

(/rchap. 39)

• □ Service Meeting:

Song 1

5 min: Announcements.

10 min: Starting Bible Studies. Audience discussion. Ask selected publishers to relate experiences starting Bible studies on the day designated for this special activity. Announce when the next day is scheduled for offering Bible studies, and have one or two brief demonstrations showing how to do it.

10 min: Local needs.

10 min: Witness by Letter. Audience discussion based on the Ministry School book, pages 71-73.

Song 9

Announcements

■ Literature offer for October: The Watchtower and Awake! magazines. Where interest is shown, present and discuss the tract Would You Like to Know the Truth? If householders already have the tract, endeavor to start a Bible study. November: What Does the Bible Really Teach? If householders already have the book, publishers may offer any 192-page book published prior to 1992. December: The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived. If there are children in the household, offer Learn From the Great Teacher. January: What Does the Bible Really Teach? If householders already have the book, publishers may offer any 192-page book published prior to 1992.

■ The yearly Theocratic Ministry School Schedule will no longer be provided as an insert in Our Kingdom Ministry. Instead, each congregation will receive the yearly schedule, and one copy of the schedule should be posted on the information board at the Kingdom Hall. Another copy will be retained by the school overseer for his use in making assignments. Publishers will continue to receive their personal copy of Our Kingdom Ministr)' each month, and it will show the schedule for the weekly Congregation Bible Study, the Theocratic Ministry School, and the Service Meeting.

■ Starting the weekof March 1,2010, the book “Come Be My Follower" will be considered at the Congregation Bible Study. Congregations needing a supply of these books should request them on their next literature request.

Field Service Highlights

We were pleased to see a sizable increase in the number of Bible studies conducted in the United States during June. The total of 657,043 Bible studies conducted is an increase of 46,403 over the same month last year. The figure of 650,000 Bible studies has been surpassed every month this year.

What to Say About the Magazines

"•Watchtower October i

ANNOUNCING JBHOVAH't KINGDOM

"Many today have lost faith in a Creator. Why do you think that is? [Allow for response.] These verses give one possible reason. [Read Habakkuk 1:2, 3.] This article helps resolve some common questions about God that have caused people to lack faith in him." Feature the article that begins on page 11.

Awake! October

"Would you agree that families face numerous challenges today? [Allow for response.] Many are not aware of the practical advice found in the Bible. Here's an example. [Read a scripture found in the magazine.] This special issue of Awake! shows how Bible principles can help families successfully cope with various situations."

"•Watchtower November 1

ANNOUNCING JtMOV AHN KINGDOM

"Do you think that everything taught in the churches is from the Bible? [Allow for response.] The Bible warns us to be careful that we are not deceived by falsehoods. [Read Co-lossians 2:8.] This magazine exposes six traditional teachings that conflict with God's Word."

Awake! November

"Devices such as the cell phone and the computer have become a normal part of life. Do you think the use of technology saves time or wastes it? [Allow for response.] Most would agree with this encouragement to use time wisely. [Read Ephesians 5:15, 16.] This magazine discusses how we can use technology in a balanced and considerate way."

4