Our Kingdom Ministry

For United States of America

km-E Us 12/98 Vol. 41, No. 12

of

g

the

Week Starting December 7

Song 186

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

15 mln: “We Must Call Again and Again." Questions and answers. Briefly comment on Ezekiel 3:17-19, emphasizing our responsibility to keep sounding the warning message.

20 mln: “Offering the New World Translation " N brother discusses the article With two or three capable publishers. Include a few pertinent points from the “All Scripture" book, pages 327-31. Demonstrate how the offer for December might be presented and how the donation arrangement can be mentioned.

Song 176 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting December 14

Song 206

10 min: Local announcements. Accounts report. Offer suggestions on how to respond tactfully to worldly holiday greetings. If the congregation has copies of the Greatest Man or Great Teacher books In stock, show how they can be used to good advantage in the ministry during the Christmas holidays. Outline special field service arrangements for December 25 and January 1.

15 mln: "Overseers Taking the Lead —The Watchtower Study Conductor.” A talk by the Watchtower Study conductor. He explains his responsibilities and how all in attendance can help make the study lively. Informative, and spiritually upbuilding.—See Our Ministry, page 67.

20 min: “They Can See That We Are Different." Questions and answers. Brieily review each characteristic that makes us unique. Point out how this information can be used in directing interested ones to the organization and in showing them how the truth produces Christian qualities in those who live by it.

Song 146 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting December 21

Song 163

8 min: Local announcements. If your congregation will change meeting times for the new year, give kind encouragement urging all to maintain regular attendance with the congregation at its new times. Remind publishers to inform Bible students and other interested ones of any changes. Encourage all publishers to save their personal copies of Our Kingdom Ministry, especially the inserts. Likely we will be referring to them in the future. Remind all to bring the January 1999 Our Kingdom Ministry insert to next week's Service Meeting.

12 min: Local needs.

25 mln: “Build Your Life Around Jehovah’s Service.” Questions and answers. Interview an unmarried person and a family head who have been successful in maintaining a consistent, regular schedule in the field ministry each week. Have them tell what personal organization is needed in order to give priority to spiritual Interests. Song 119 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting December 28

Song 178

10 mln: Local announcements. Remind all to turn in field service reports for December. Show older books published before 1985 that are available for the January literature offer. Encourage publishers to pick up some for distribution this weekend.

10 mln: “Benefit From the 1999 Theocratic Ministry School Program." A talk by the Theocratic Ministry School overseer. Have some publishers tell about the benefits they have derived from keeping up with the “Supplemental Bible-Reading Schedule" each week. Encourage all to read God’s Word daily.

25 min: Prepare to Attend the 1999 District Convention. Secretary handles question-and-answer coverage of convention information in January 1999 Our Kingdom Ministry insert. First, read December 15, 1998, convention assignment letter. Then, after considering paragraph 3 of article, read opening and closing paragraphs of Recommended Lodging List. Emphasize the Scriptural principles for following the Society’s direction in rooming matters. Commend the brothers for cooperating with the Society’s arrangement.

Song 195 and concluding prayer.

■ Literature offer for December: Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life with the New World Translation. January: Any 192-page book published prior to 1985 that the congregation may have in stock. Congregations that do not have a supply of such books may offer True Peace and Security—How Can You Find It? or You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth. February: The Secret of Family Happiness. March: Knowledge Thal Leads to Everlasting Life. A special effort will be made to start home Bible studies.

■ Since the Gilead graduation will be held on Saturday. March 13, 1999, no tours will be conducted that day at the Society’s facilities at Brooklyn, Patterson, and Wallkill, New York. Any who have planned to visit on that Saturday should reschedule their visit to another convenient time. No congregation literature requests will be processed for shipment or for pickup that day.

(Continued on p. 7, col. I)

Congregation Book Study

Schedule for congregation studies in the brochure What Is the Purpose of Life—How Can You Find It?

December 7: p. 23. pat 6 to p. 26. pat 10

December 14: p. 27. pat 11 to p. 30. pat 27

Schedule for congregation studies in the brochure Does God Really Care About Us?

December 21: p. 3. par 1 to p. 8. pat 21

December 28: p. 8. pat 22 to p. 12, pat 15

© 1998 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. All rights reserved. Our Kingdom Ministry (ISSN 1067-7259) Is published monthly by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society ol New tbrk, Inc., and International Bible Students Association. 25 Columbia Heights. Brooklyn. NY 11201-2483. Periodicals Postage Paid at Brooklyn. NY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Our Kingdom Ministry, c/o Watchtower. 25 Columbia Heights. Brooklyn. NY 11201-2483                      Printed In U SA

Build Your Life Around Jehovah’s Service

• ¹ Jesus likened his hearers to two kinds of builders. One built his way of life on the rockmass of obedience to Christ and was able to withstand the storms of opposition and tribulation. The other built on the sand of selfish disobedience and was unable to stand when pressure came. (Matt. 7:24-27) Living in this conclusion of the system of things, we experience many storms of adversity. On the horizon the dark clouds of the great tribulation are gathering rapidly. Will we endure to the end with our faith intact? (Matt. 24:3,13, 21) Much depends on how we are building our lives now. Thus, it is urgent to ask ourselves, ‘Am I solidly building my Christian life around obedient service to God?’

• ² What does it mean to build our lives around Jehovah’s service? It means making Jehovah the very center of our lives. It involves focusing on the Kingdom as our main concern. It entails obeying God in all the activities of our daily lives. It requires pouring our heart into our personal, family, and congregational study of the Bible and into our field ministry, making these our priorities. (Eccl. 12:13; Matt. 6:33) Such an obedient course results in a rock-solid faith, which will not collapse in the face of any storms of adversity that may strike.

• ³ It is a pleasure to see millions of people confidently building their lives and their hopes for the future around service to God, even a§ Jesus did. (John 4:34) They adhere to a consistent schedule of theocratic activities and enjoy rich blessings as a result. One mother explained how she and her husband successfully reared their two sons to serve Jehovah: “We filled our lives with the truth—going to all the conventions, preparing for and attending the meetings, and making field service a regular part of our lives.” Her husband added: “The truth is not part of our life, it is our life. Everything else revolves around it.” Have you likewise set Jehovah’s service as the top priority in your family?

  “The truth is not part of our lite, it/sour life.

  Everything else revolves around it.”

  
  

• ⁴ Devise a Workable Weekly Schedule: Jehovah’S organization helps us to follow a good spiritual routine by arranging five meetings a week. Christians who are building their lives around the worship of Jehovah arrange their secular and family affairs in such a way as to attend all these vital meetings. They do not allow matters of lesser importance to interfere with their regular attendance.—Phil. 1:10; Heb. 10:25.

• ⁵ Mature Christians recognize that just as it is important to have regular meals at certain times each day, so it is vital to make a definite schedule for personal and family study, including preparation for the meetings. (Matt. 4:4) Could you set aside at least a 15- or 20-minute period each day for personal study? The key is not to let other things encroach on the time set aside for study. Make it a useful habit. This may require rising earlier each morning than you do now. The 17,000 members of the worldwide Bethel family rise early in the morning to have a discussion of the day’s text. Of course, rising early requires going to bed at a reasonable hour at night in order to begin the next day fit and rested.

• ⁶ If you are a family head, take the initiative to plan and organize your family’s schedule of theocratic activity. Some families read the Bible, the Yearbook, or another publication together as they relax after the evening meal. Many parents who have seen their children grow up to be spiritually strong Christians say that one factor contributing to their success was the family tradition of setting aside an evening each week during which they enjoyed a spiritual good time together. One such father said: “I feel that the spiritual development of our children was due in large part to our regular Wednesday night family study, begun some 30 years ago.” All three of his children were baptized at an early age, and later all three entered the full-time ministry. In addition to the family study, field service presentations or parts on the meeting can be rehearsed and other wholesome activities can be enjoyed together.

• ⁷ In your weekly schedule, have you ‘bought out time’ for Kingdom preaching? (Col. 4:5) Most of us lead busy lives, having family and congregational responsibilities to care for. If we do not make definite arrangements to share in the preaching and teaching work each week, it will be very easy for other things to crowd out this vital activity. The owner of a large cattle ranch said: “Around 1944 I realized that the only way I would get in service was to schedule a certain day for it. To this day I still take oft a day during the week for service.” One Christian elder finds that having a definite schedule for witnessing enables him to average 15 hours a month in the preaching activity. If he has any secular business on Saturday, he schedules it after his morning field service. Can you and your family schedule at least one day every week for field service, making this part of your spiritual way of life? —Phil. 3:16.

• ⁸ Scrutinize Your Routine of Lifo:There are things that work against building our lives around Jehovah’s service. Unforeseen circumstances may disturb our carefully planned schedule of study, meetings, and service. And our Adversary, Satan, will do all he can to “cut across our path” and thwart our plans. (1 Thess. 2:18; Eph. 6:12, 13) Do not permit these obstacles to discourage you, so that you give up. Make whatever adjustments are needed to carry out your scheduled theocratic activity. Determination and persistence are necessary to accomplish what is really worthwhile.

• ⁹ We must not allow worldly influences and the downward pull of our imperfect flesh to introduce nonspiritual activities that could begin to consume more and more of our time and attention. Self-scrutiny is needed, using such questions as: ‘Has my life course gradually become unbalanced or out of focus, as it were? Have I begun to build my life around things in this world that are passing away? (1 John 2:15-17) How much time do I spend on personal pursuits, pleasure travel, sports activities, or other entertainment—including watching television or surfing the Internet— as compared with time spent on spiritual activities?’

• ¹⁰ If you sense that your life has become cluttered with more and more unessential activities, what is to be done? Just as Paul prayed that his brothers would be “readjusted,” or “brought into proper alignment,” why not supplicate Jehovah for help to become centered once again on his service? (2 Cor. 13:9, 11, ftn.) Then be determined to live up to your resolve and make the needed adjustments. (1 Cor. 9:26, 27) Jehovah will help you to avoid turning to the right or to the left of obedient service to him.—Compare Isaiah 30:20, 21.

• ¹¹ Stay Busy in God's Joyful Service: Millions desperately pursue happiness only to discover that as the end of life nears, the material things they eagerly sought after have not brought them lasting happiness. It has been “a striving after wind.” (Eccl. 2:11) On the other hand, when we keep our lives centered on Jehovah, ‘placing him in front of us constantly,’ we experience deep satisfaction. (Ps. 16:8, 11) This is so because Jehovah is the very reason for our existence. (Rev. 4:11) Without him, the Grand Purposer, life has no meaning. Serving Jehovah fills our lives with worthwhile, purposeful activity that benefits us as well as others in a lasting way, yes, in an everlasting way.

• ¹² It is important not to become complacent and lose our sense of urgency regarding the fast-approaching end of Satan’s world. Our day-to-day living is influenced by our view of the future. The people in Noah’s day, who did not believe that there would be a global deluge, “took no note,” centering their daily lives on personal pursuits—eating, drinking, and marrying—until the flood “swept them all away.” (Matt. 24:37-39) Today, those who center their lives on this world will see their prospects for the future disintegrate before them in the greatest destruction that man has ever experienced, “the day of Jehovah.”—2 Pet. 3:10-12.

• ¹³ Keep on, then, building your life around the living God, Jehovah, and the doing of his will. There is no investment that you could make in this life that has such a trustworthy Backer as Jehovah. He cannot lie—he will be true to his promises. (Titus 1:2) He cannot die —nothing laid up with Jehovah is lost. (Hab. 1:12; 2 Tim. 1:12) The life of obedience and faith that we are building now is only the beginning of a life that will last eternally in the joyful service of our happy God!—1 Tim. 1:11; 6:19.

THEOCRATIC MINISTRY SCHOOL REVIEW

Closed-book review on material covered in Theocratic Ministry School assignments for the weeks of September 7 to December 21,1998. Use a separate sheet of paper to write down answers to as many of the questions as you can in the time allotted.

[Note: During the written review, only the Bible may be used to answer any question. References that follow the questions are for your personal research. Page and paragraph numbers may not appear on all references to The Watchtower.}

Answer each of the following statements True or False:

• 1. At 2 Timothy 1:6, “the gift” refers to the ability to speak in different languages that had been given to Timothy through the operation of God’s holy spirit. [Weekly Bible reading; see w85 5/1 p. 16 par. 15.]

• 2. A mature Christian ‘trains his perceptive powers to distinguish both right and wrong’ by making a habit of using whatever knowledge of God’s Word he has. (Heb. 5:14) [Weekly Bible reading; see w85 6/15 p. 9 par. 7.]

• 3. Although Jehovah’s Witnesses may be registered with governments as a religious association, the authorization to carry on true worship obviously does not originate with any man or any human government. |jv p. 696 par. 1]

• 4. James the Bible writer is the same person as James the spokesman for “the apostles and the older men” at the time of the decision on circumcision. (Acts 15:6,13; Jas. 1:1) [si p. 248 pars. 2-3]

• 5. Although 1 Peter 5:13 states that Peter was in Babylon when he wrote his first letter, evidence indicates that the name Babylon is a cryptic reference to Rom,e. [si p. 251 par. 4]

• 6. The expression “antichrist is coming” at 1 John 2:18 refers to one individual. [Weekly Bible reading; see rs p. 32 par. 3.]

• 7. The breach that developed as a result of Paul’s feelings toward Mark, mentioned at Acts 15:36-41, was never healed, [it-2 p. 320 par. 4]

• 8. The book of Revelation is placed last in the Bible because it was the last book written by the apostle John, [si p. 263 par. 1]

• 9. Revelation 13:11-15 accurately portrays how the Anglo-American World Power became chief sponsor and life-giver both to the League of Nations and to its successor, the United Nations. [Weekly Bible reading; see w8812/15 p. 19 par. 3.]

• 10. The command to love one another, stated at John 13:34, was “a new commandment” because it was more recent than the Mosaic Law. [?v p. 711 par. 3]

Answer the following questions:

• 11. What does it mean that an overseer must not be a “smiter”? (Titus 1:7) [Weekly Bible reading; see w90 9/1 p. 27 par. 21.]

• 12. How do we know that both Lois and Eunice taught Timothy from the Scriptures? [it-2 p. 262 par. 9]

• 13. What did Jesus mean when he said, “Sacrifice and offering you did not want”? (Heb. 10:5) [Weekly Bible reading; see w96 7/1 p. 14 par. 3.]

• 14. How can Christians ‘conquer the world’? (1 John 5:3, 4) [si p. 258 par. 12]

• 15. What does Peter’s expression ‘keeping close in mind the day of Jehovah’ involve? (2 Pet. 3:12) [Weekly Bible reading; see w97 9/1 p. 19 par. 2.]

• 16. What is included in cleanness of spirit, and how does this help to protect one’s family? (2 Cor. 7:1) [fy p. 46 par. 14]

• 17. In harmony with Revelation 1:7, how will those who pierced Jesus see him “coming with the clouds”? [Weekly Bible reading; see w93 5/1 p. 22 par. 7.]

• 18. How do watchful Christians ‘pay attention to themselves and keep awake’? (Luke 21:34, 36) [?v p. 714 par. 4]

• 19. How do those who make up the one true Christian organization today arrive at the correct understanding of God’s Word? [jv p. 708 par. 3]

• 20. What Scriptural requirements have to be met by the one true Christian organization in the last days? [jv p. 706 par. 3]

Provide the word(s) or phrase needed to complete each of the following statements:

• 21. A husband and a wife must be

to each other, keeping in mind that is more important than external appearance, [fy p. 26 review box]

• 22. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews shows that the various features of the

formed a pattern made by God pointing forward to greater things to come, all culminating in, the fulfillment of the Law. [si p. 247 par. 23]

• 23. At 2 Peter 1:5-8, the apostle Peter recommends to build up godly qualities that will prevent us from being either or[si p. 255

par. 9]

• 24. When husbands and wives communicate with each other, the and

the are very important. [fy

• p. 36 par. 21]

• 25. Mary the mother of Jesus was of the tribe of  and a descendant of David; through her, Jesus held the right to “the throne of David

his father.” (Luke 1:32) [it-2 p. 346 par. 4]

Select the correct answer in each of the following statements:

• 26. During Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, (Onesiphorus; Onesimus; Onan), a runaway slave from the household of (Philip; Festus; Philemon), was among those who listened to his preaching, [si p. 241 par. 2]

• 27. (Love; Respect; Hospitality) is defined as “giving consideration to others, honoring them.” [fy p. 30 par. 7]

• 28. At Luke 14:28, Jesus is speaking about (planning ahead; not wasting money; avoiding the borrowing of funds), [fy p. 40 par. 4]

• 29. The “lordship” mentioned at Jude 8 refers to (Jesus’ position; Jehovah’s sovereignty; God-given authority in the Christian congregation), [si p. 263 par. 9]

• 30. At Revelation 11:11, “the three and a half days,” when the anointed remnant appeared as dead corpses in the eyes of their enemies, refers to (three and a half years; a short period of time; three and a half months). [Weekly Bible reading; see re p. 167 par. 21.]

Match the following scriptures to the statements listed below:

Prov. 8:30; Matt. 19:13-15; Heb. 2:1; Jas. 4: 15; 1 Pet. 3:4

• 31. In order to counteract the influence of the constant propaganda that we are exposed to from this world, we should “pay more than the usual attention” to God’s Word through good study habits and a good Bible-reading schedule. [Weekly Bible reading; see w98 1/1 p. 7 par. 9.]

• 32. Whenever we make plans for the future, we should prayerfully consider how they fit in with God’s purpose. [Weekly Bible reading; see w97 11/15 p. 21 pars. 10-11.]

• 33. “The quiet and mild spirit” of a Christian wife and mother not only pleases her husband but more important pleases God. [Weekly Bible reading; see w89 5/15 p. 19 par. 12.]

• 34. Following Jehovah’s example, a good father should endeavor to cultivate a warm, loving relationship with his child right from the beginning of the child’s life, [fy p. 54 par. 7]

• 35. Since Jesus was not partial in blessing young children, one should not view male children as superior to female children. [fy p. 52 par. 4]

Announcements (Continued)

■ Congregations should begin requesting bound volumes of The Watchtower and Awake! for 1998 with their December literature request. The bound volumes will be available in Chinese, Croatian, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, and Spanish. Until the bound volumes are available and shipments are made, these will appear as "Pending” on congregation packing lists. Bound volumes are special-request items.

• ■ The presiding overseer or someone designated by him should audit the congregation’s accounts on December 1 or as soon as possible thereafter. When this has been done, make announcement to the congre gation after the next accounts report is read.

• ■ The Memorial for the year 2000 will be on Wednesday. April 19, after sundown. This advance notice is given so that brothers may make necessary reservations or contracts for available halls when there are several congregations using the Kingdom Hall and other facilities must be found. The elders should have an agreement with the management ensuring that there will be no disturbances from other activities in the building so that the Memorial observance can proceed in a peaceful and orderly manner. Because of the importance of the occasion, in assigning a Memorial speaker, the body of elders should select one of the more qualified elders instead of simply taking turns or using the same brother every year. An exception will be made if there is a capable elder of the anointed who can give the talk.

■ A brochure entitled The Guidance of God—Our Way to Paradise is being prepared for release shortly. This brochure is designed to appeal to expatriate Muslims who live in an environment where they may feel free to study the Bible. The brochure is being made available in more than 20 languages. At this time you may submit requests for the English edition only. Other language editions will be announced as they become available. ■ With five fUU weekends, the month of January is a good time for many to auxiliary pioneer.

• ■ New Publications Available: Beginning with the January-March 1999 Issue, Awake! will be printed in Tigrinya and Vietnamese as quarterly editions.

• ■ New Audiocasseltes Available: Beginning with the January 8, 1999, issue, Awake! on audiocassette will be available in Spanish.

  Benefit From the 1999 Theocratic Ministry School Program

  
  

• ¹ Jesus was the Master Teacher. People were “astounded at his way of teaching.” (Mark 1:22) Although none of us can' speak and teach as well as Jesus did, we can endeavor to imitate him. (Acts 4:13) To that end, our participation in the Theocratic Ministry School program will help us to keep on improving our speaking and teaching skills.

• ² In 1999, Assignment No. 1 will be based mainly on articles from the 1997 Watchtower and Awake! magazines. Our understanding of spiritual matters will be greatly enhanced if we read this information in advance and then hear it on the school program. Those assigned to give these instruction talks should make practical application of the material, presenting it in an interesting and lively manner. Assignment No. 3 will be based on the Family Happiness book, and Assignment No. 4, on a Bible character, although the source material may alternate for these assignments. The school overseer should give careful consideration to the material before assigning the parts. All students assigned to deliver material from the Family Happiness book should be exemplary in their own family life.

• ³ Apply Counsel, and Prepare Well: Everyone can make further improvement in the art of speaking and teaching. (1 Tim. 4:13) Hence, we should seek counsel and never view it as something to be avoided. (Prov. 12:15; 19:20) Presenting the truth effectively at the meetings and in the field ministry requires more than just relating facts or reading scriptures in a perfunctory way. We need to reach hearts and motivate those who listen to us. We can do this by speaking the truth convincingly from our heart. (Compare Acts 2: 37.) The counsel we receive in the school will help us to accomplish this.

• ⁴ As soon as you receive an assignment, think about the speech qualities that you are to work on as explained in the School Guidebook. Consider what you need to do to apply previous counsel that you received. Meditate on your theme, the setting you wifi use if one is called for, and how you will apply the scriptures found in your assigned material. Ponder over how best to use the information to teach and to motivate.—1 Tim. 4: 15, 16.

• ⁵ If you are apprehensive about enrolling in the school, pray about it and then discuss your feelings with the school overseer. Everyone can benefit by taking full advantage of the program that will be presented in the Theocratic Ministry School in 1999.

Offering the New World Translation

• ¹ “The New World [Translation] is well worth acquiring. It is lively and lifelike, and makes the reader think and study. It is not the work of Higher Critics, but of scholars who honour God and His Word.” So stated a noted Hebrew and Greek commentator. We agree. How can we help others to have the same appreciation for the New World Translation when we offer it along with the Knowledge book in December?

• ² Some people may respond, “I already have a Bible. I don’t need another one.” Our challenge is to help them see that the New World Translation is not just another Bible. It is a literal translation in today’s language that accurately captures the sense of the original text. One aspect of its superiority can be demonstrated by comparing the renderings of such words as “shambles” (King James Version) with “meat market” (New World Translation) at 1 Corinthians 10:25.

• ³ However, few people read the Bible, much less understand its principles for everyday life. They need to know that God’s Word can influence their lives for good and that following its counsel on honesty, morality, and family life can help them to cope with today’s problems. How might this be accomplished?

• ⁴ A Suggested Presentation: “Would you agree that with today’s moral values changing so rapidly and with the uncertainty that exists about our future, we need a reliable guide in life? [Allow for response.] Although it is the oldest of books, the Bible gives practical counsel for modern living and happy family life.” Then turn to chapter 2 in the Knowledge book, and read paragraph 10 and the first sentence of paragraph 11, including 2 Timothy 3:16,17. If interest is shown, place the Knowledge book, explain our free home Bible study program, and offer the New World Translation. If you feel that it would be better to start the study in the Require brochure, you may do so. You will find additional suitable introductions on pages 9-15 in the Reasoning book.

• ⁵ Let us reflect our appreciation for the superb New World Translation. We can do this by zealously offering it in December.

Overseers Taking the Lead

—The Watchtower Study Conductor

• ¹ The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom is the primary provision of “the faithful and discreet slave” for dispensing spiritual food to us “at the proper time.” (Matt. 24:45) The elder who conducts the Watchtower Study has a vital responsibility as a capable teacher who sets a fine example in Christian living.—Rom. 12:7; Jas. 3:1.

• ² To teach effectively, the Watchtower Study conductor must put real effort into preparing each week. He does so prayerfully and carefully. His keen interest in the congregation is reflected in a genuine endeavor to reach our hearts with the material being studied. He concentrates on the main points of the lesson and helps us to see how they relate to the theme of the article.

• ² Thorough preparation on his part involves looking up the scriptures in advance so as to know how they apply. He keeps God’s Word to the fore by encouraging the congregation to make good use of the Bible during the study. When an important point is' not covered in comments from the congregation or when the application of a key scripture is overlooked, he asks a specific additional question to draw out the information. In this way, he helps us to arrive at correct conclusions and to know how to apply what we learn in our lives.

• ⁴ The Watchtower Study conductor progressively strives to improve his own teaching ability. He does not comment excessively but encourages us to comment—in our own words, briefly, and to the point. He may occasionally remind us that the first one to comment on a paragraph should give a brief, direct answer to the printed question. Additional comments from the audience may draw attention to scripture application, supporting arguments, or practical application of the material. By promoting personal and family preparation, the Watchtower Study conductor works to stimulate everyone’s desire to participate.

• ⁵ As “persons taught by Jehovah,” we appreciate “gifts in men,” such as Watchtower Study conductors, who “work hard in . . . teaching.”—Isa. 54: 13; Eph. 4:8, 11; 1 Tim. 5:17.

8