Our Kingdom Ministry

• ¹ Whether you were baptized recently or decades ago, you likely remember that milestone in your life. Our baptism is not the end but, rattier, the beginning of a lifetime of dedicated service that can last forever. (1 John 2:17) What is involved in living up to our dedication?

• ² Follow Christ’s Example: Upon being baptized, Jesus “commenced his work,” declaring “the good news of the kingdom of God.” (Luke 3:23; 4:43) Similarly, upon symbolizing our dedication to Jehovah by baptism, we became ordained ministers of the good news. While much time and effort may be required to obtain the material necessities of life, our vocation, or chief work, is the Christian ministry. (Matt. 6:33) Rather than striving to attain wealth or prestige, those dedicated to God seek to ‘glorify their ministry,’ as did the apostle Paul. (Rom. 11:13) Do you cherish your privilege of serving Jehovah and make the most of it?

• ³ As in the case of Jesus, we must “oppose the Devil.” (Jas. 4:7) Satan tempted Jesus following His baptism, and he similarly targets dedicated servants of Jehovah today. (Luke 4:113) Being surrounded by Satan’s world, we must exercise self-discipline, avoiding anything that could contaminate our mind or corrupt our heart. (Prov. 4:23; Matt. 5:29, 30) Christians are admonished that they “cannot be partaking of ‘the table of Jehovah’ and the table of demons.” (1 Cor. 10:21) This requires that we guard against unwholesome entertainment, bad associations, and dangers on the Internet. It also calls for our shunning apostate material. Being alert to these and other tactics of Satan will help us to live up to our dedication.

• ⁴ Use God’s Provisions: In order to help us live up to our dedication, Jehovah has provided assistance by means of his Word and the Christian congregation. Make Bible reading and prayer to Jehovah part of your daily routine. (Josh. 1:8; 1 Thess. 5:17) Take delight in congregation meetings. (Ps. 122:1) Associate with those who fear Jehovah and keep his orders.—Ps. 119:63.

• ⁵ With divine support, you can live up to your dedication to Jehovah and have the joy of serving him forever.—Ps. 22:26, 27; Phil. 4:13.

  A Work That Calls for Humility

  
  

• ¹ God’s Word admonishes us to be “humble in mind, not paying back injury for injury . . . but, to the contrary, bestowing a blessing.” (1 Pet. 3:8, 9) That counsel certainly applies in the preaching work. Indeed, the Christian ministry can be a test of our humility.

• ² Humility is a quality that helps us to endure unpleasant situations. When preaching, we approach strangers uninvited, knowing that some will respond in an unkind manner. To keep preaching in the face of such treatment takes humility. In one particularly difficult territory, two pioneer sisters went from door to door every day for two years without getting anyone to answer! However, they persevered, and today there are two congregations in that area.

• ³ Handling Rudeness: Humility will help us to imitate Jesus when others are unkind or impolite. (1 Pet. 2:21-23) At one home a sister met with verbal abuse, first by the wife and then by the husband, who ordered her off the property. The sister simply smiled and said that she hoped to talk to them at another time. This so impressed the couple that they listened to the next Witness who called and accepted an invitation to attend a meeting at the Kingdom Hall. The sister who had initially been rebuffed was there to greet them and to give them a further witness. We too may soften un-receptive ones by displaying “a mild temper and deep respect.” —1 Pet. 3:15; Prov. 25:15.

• ⁴ Avoid Arrogance: Our knowledge of the Bible provides no basis for looking down on people or referring to them in disparaging terms. (John 7:49) Rather, God’s Word counsels us “to speak injuriously of no one.” (Titus 3:2) When we are lowly in heart, as Jesus was, we refresh others. (Matt. 11: 28, 29) A humble approach adds appeal to our message.

• ⁵ Yes, humility helps us to persevere in difficult territory. It can soften unreceptive ones, and it attracts others to the Kingdom message. Above all, it pleases Jehovah, who “gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones.”—1 Pet. 5:5.

  Service Meeting Schedule

  Week Starting January 13 Language.”* After considering

  
  

Song 69

io min: Local announcements. Selected Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry. Using suggestions on page 4, have two separate demonstrations of how to feature the January 15 Watchtower and the January 22 Awake! In each case, both magazines should be offered as a set, even though only one is featured.

15 min: Won Without a Word. Talk and audience discussion. Fine Christian conduct is a powerful witness. It has moved some unbelieving mates to become worshipers of Jehovah. (1 Pet. 3:1, 2) Relate experiences found in the January 1, 1999, Watchtower, page 4; the October 1,1995, Watchtower, pages 10-11; and the 1995 Yearbook, page 46. Arrange in advance for two or three to comment on the positive results they have observed from following the Bible’s counsel in this area.

20 min: “Living Up to Our Dedication.”* After considering paragraph 3, briefly interview a young adult or a teenager who is baptized. What challenges has he faced since getting baptized? What helped him to meet those challenges? How has he benefited from dedicating his life to Jehovah?

Song 22 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting January 20

Song 44

8 min: Local announcements. Accounts report.

15 mln: Are You Examining the Scriptures Daily? Talk and audience discussion. Encourage all to make good use of Examining the Scriptures Daily—2003. Discuss comments from the foreword, pages 3-4. Offer suggestions on how families can discuss the text together. To show the benefits of considering the text each day, discuss two or three examples of the text and comments that are coming up in the next month. Include a short demonstration of a husband and wife considering today’s text and comments together.

22 min: “Teach Others the Pure paragraph 6, have a capable publisher demonstrate how to start a doorstep Bible study when making a return visit, using one of the presentations in the January 2002 Our Kingdom Ministry insert, page 4. Include a consideration of one paragraph in the Require brochure. Have publisher conclude by raising a question on the next paragraph and arranging to answer it on the next visit. Encourage all to consider whether any of those they call on might be willing to study the Bible in this manner.

Song 68 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting January 27

Song 92

IO min: Local announcements. Remind publishers to turn in field service reports. Using suggestions on page 4, have two separate demonstrations of how to feature the February 1 Watchtower and the February 8 Awake! In each case, have the publisher conclude by handing the tract Would You Like to Know More About the Bible? to the householder—to one who does not accept the magazines and to one who does. Briefly explain how we can follow up magazine placements when we leave the tract.—See the November 2001 Our Kingdom Ministry, p. 4, par. 10.

15 min: Local needs.

20 min: Help Others Draw Close to Jehovah. Talk and audience discussion. We will offer the new book during February. Discuss note to readers on page 3, and highlight some of the book’s features. Each of the four sections focuses on one of Jehovah’s cardinal attributes. A chapter showing how Jesus displayed that quality and a chapter discussing how we can do so are included. There are 17 full-page illustrations of Biblical scenes. The “Questions for Meditation” help us reflect on other important aspects of a subject. Review the box “Presentations for Draw Close to Jehovah,” and have a capable publisher demonstrate one of the presentations.

Song 124 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting February 3

Song 9

15 min: Local announcements. Review Question Box. Encourage publishers to use the Please Follow Up (S-43) form when they meet people who speak another language, as explained in the letter to all congregations dated October 15, 1998. Generally, the form should be used for this purpose even if the individual does not show interest in the Kingdom message.

12 min: Imitate Their Faith. Interview an elder who has humbly and faithfully served Jehovah for many years. (Heb. 13:7) How did he learn the truth? What obstacles did he have to overcome in taking his stand? What spiritual provisions or encouragement helped him to progress? What did he do to reach out in the congregation? (1 Tim. 3:1) What has helped him to balance congregation responsibilities with secular and family obligations? (1 Tim. 5:8) How does he feel about the privilege of assisting others in the congregation?

18 min: “A Work That Calls for Humility.”* When discussing paragraph 3, invite audience to offer suggestions on how to respond if someone in the territory tries to ridicule us or is rude, argumentative, or angry. When discussing paragraph 4, include comments on Insight, Volume 1, page 1160, paragraph 3.

Song 133 and concluding prayer.

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

October Service Report Av. Av. Av. Av.

Number of:             Hrs. Mags. R.V. Bi.St.

Sp'l Pios.     131 122.7 114.4 56.6

Pios     91,101  68.0  46.4 21.4

Aux Pios. 23,902  50.3  37.8 13.6

Pubs. 857,406   9.2 8.2 3.5 0.3

TOTAL 972,540          Baptized: 2,628

© 2003 Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. All rights reserved. Our Kingdom Ministry (ISSN 1067-7259) is published monthly by Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses; W. 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 Red Mills Road, Wallkill, NY 12589-3299.                         Printed in U.S.A.

Announcements

■ Literature offer for January: Any 192-page book published prior to 1988 may be offered. Branches that do not have older 192-page books may offer Mankind’s Search for God. February: The new book Draw Close to Jehovah will be featured. Branches that do not yet have this publication may use the Creation book or the Revelation Climax book as an alternative offer. March: Feature the Knowledge book, with an effort to start home Bible studies. April and May: Feature individual copies of both The Watchtower and Awake! When making return visits on interested people, concentrate on placing Worship the Only True God.

Question Box

■ When is it appropriate to form a foreign-language group?

When a congregation’s territory includes a sizable foreign-language population, the elders should do what they can to organize the preaching work in that language, (km 7/02 p. 1; km 2/98 pp. 3-4) It may be that the foreign-language community is widely scattered throughout the territories of two or more neighboring congregations. In such a case, the circuit over-seer(s) will provide needed direction, thus helping the congregations involved to cooperate in the preaching activity. Periodically, a public talk or Watchtower Study may be arranged to determine the extent of support for the meetings in the foreign language.

A foreign-language group can be formed when the following requirements are met: (1) There are publishers or interested ones who best understand the good news in the foreign language. (2) A qualified elder or ministerial servant is available to take the lead and conduct at least one weekly meeting. (3) A body of elders is willing to sponsor the group. When these requirements Every effort should be made to start a home Bible study, especially if some individuals have already studied the Knowledge book and the Require brochure.

■ Starting in February, and no later than March 2, the new public talk for circuit overseers will be “Deliverance From a World of Darkness.”

■ Congregations should make convenient arrangements to observe the Memorial this year on Wednesday, April 16, after sundown. Although the talk may start earlier, the passing of the emblems should not begin until after sundown. Check with local sources to determine when sundown occurs in your area. Where a number of congregations normally use the same Kingdom Hall, perhaps one or more congregations can obtain the

have been met, the elders should inform the branch office so that the group can be formally recognized and further instructions can be given.

Most groups begin by holding the Congregation Book Study on a weekly basis. Later, the elders may approve of adding other meetings, such as the Public Meeting and the Watchtower Study. Assignments No. 2, 3, and 4 on the Theocratic Ministry School may be presented in an auxiliary classroom if a qualified elder or ministerial servant conversant in the language can serve as the counselor. However, the group will join the congregation for the speechquality talk, instruction talk, Bible highlights, and Service Meeting. Meetings for field service may also be arranged for the group.

All in the group work closely under the oversight of the body of elders. The elders should provide balanced direction and show initiative in caring for the needs of the group. When the circuit overseer visits the sponsoring congregation, he will also arrange to work with the group in order to build it up spiritually. With Jehovah’s blessing, the foreign-language group may in time become a congregation. use of another facility for that evening. Where possible, we would suggest a minimum of 40 minutes between the programs so that all may benefit fully from the occasion. Consideration should also be given to traffic conditions and parking, including the dropping off and picking up of passengers. The body of elders should decide what arrangements would be best locally.

■ As of this issue, the list of new publications available will no longer appear in Our Kingdom Ministry. The “Announcement to All Congregations” with this information will continue to be mailed to all congregations each month. As a reminder, once the “Announcement to All Congregations” is received, an announcement should be made at the next Service Meeting regarding the items that may be of interest to your congregation. The announcement may then be posted on the information board. After that, the literature servant should retain it in his file.

■ For those who wish to make donations to the worldwide work electronically, a set of instructions is available to explain this arrangement. For further information, call or write to Watch Tower, Office of the Secretary and Treasurer, 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York 11201-2483, (718) 560-5000.

Presentations for Draw Close to Jehovah

■ With Bible in hand, say: “Many people who believe in God would like to feel closer to him. Did you know that God invites us to draw close to him? [Read James 4:8.] This publication is designed to help people use their own Bible to draw close to God.” Read paragraph 1 on page 16. ■ With Bible in hand, say: “Today injustice abounds. It is just as described here. [Read Ecclesiastes 8: 9b.] Many wonder if God even cares. [Read the first two sentences of paragraph 4 on page 119.] This chapter explains why God has permitted injustice for a time.”

Teach Others the Pure Language

• ¹ Despite coming from many ‘nations, tribes, peoples and tongues,’ Jehovah’s Witnesses are a united people, a true international brotherhood. (Rev. 7:9) In today’s divided world, that is remarkable. How is it possible? Because we have been given “the change to a pure language.”—Zeph. 3:9.

• ² Marvelous Effects: What is this pure language? It is the proper understanding of the truth found in God’s Word regarding Jehovah and his purposes, particularly the truth about God’s Kingdom. As foretold by Jesus, this truth is being dispensed by means of a visible earthly channel, “the faithful and discreet slave,” with the result that people “out of all the languages of the nations” are embracing true worship. —Matt. 24:45; Zech. 8:23.

• ³ As people learn the pure language, they are moved to conform their lives to Jehovah’s standards. They learn to be “fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought.” (1 Cor. 1:10) Divine teaching also produces in them upright conduct and wholesome, truthful speech, especially with regard to telling others the good news. (Titus 2:7, 8; Heb. 13:15) These marvelous changes honor Jehovah.

• ⁴ For example, a man who was contacted with the good news had many questions, all of which were answered from the Bible. Moved by what he heard, he began studying twice a week and attending meetings. He was surprised by the warm welcome he received at the Kingdom Hall, since many in attendance were of a different race. Within a short time, he and his wife made changes in their lives and got baptized. Since then he has helped some 40 others to serve Jehovah, including numerous family members. Despite suffering from a disability, he recently began serving as a pioneer.

• ⁵ Teaching Others: World events are causing many honest people to reexamine their thinking and their lives. Like Jesus, we should desire to help them. Effective return visits and Bible studies are a key to helping sincere ones to learn the pure language.

• ⁶ An approach that has proved to be effective with busy people is to conduct a brief Bible study right on their doorstep. (km 5/02 p. 1) Have you tried this? When you are preparing to make a return visit, select from the January 2002 Our Kingdom Ministry insert a presentation that fits the householder. Many of the presentations in this insert are designed to lead directly into a discussion of the Require brochure or the Knowledge book. Practice the presentation so that you can move smoothly from the introduction to a discussion of one of the paragraphs. Select one or two scriptures from the paragraph to read and discuss, and formulate a question with which to conclude. That will help lead into the paragraph you plan to cover on the next visit.

• ⁷ Jehovah’s people are experiencing many blessings as a result of learning the pure language. May we diligently help others to join us in ‘calling upon the name of Jehovah’ and in ‘serving him shoulder to shoulder.’—Zeph. 3:9.

-Watchtower Jan. is

Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom

“In view of all the bloodshed that has occurred, do you think that evil has conquered good? [Allow for response.] Notice what the Bible says about God. [Read Psalm 83:18b.] Since God is the Most High over the earth, can evil really win? [Allow for response.] This issue of The Watchtower gives a satisfying answer to that question.”

Awake! Jan. 22

“As never before, our security is being threatened. A growing concern is something called identity theft. Have you heard of that? [Allow for response.] The Bible promises that one day this earth will be free from all threats to our security. [Read Isaiah 11:9.] This magazine explains how this will be accomplished.”

"Watchtower Feb. i

Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom

“Many people today worry about unemployment, and others are under tremendous pressure at work. Do you think it is possible to feel happy and secure at work? [Allow for response. Then read Isaiah 65:21-23.] This issue of The Watchtower discusses a time when all will have work that is rewarding.”

Awake! Feb. 8

“This issue of Awake! reports on a tragic reality of our times—child prostitution. This deplorable form of child abuse is something that the Bible promises will soon end. [Read Proverbs 2: 21,22.] This magazine shows what is behind such exploitation of children as well as how it will be stopped.”

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