OUR KINGDOM Ml —

FEBRUARY 2009

WEEK STARTING FEBRUARY 9

Song 118

• □ Congregation Bible Study:

jd chap. 141J10-17

• □ Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Genesis 25-28

No. 1: Genesis 25:1-18

No. 2: The Great Teacher Served Other People (/rchap. 6)

No. 3: Why Human Efforts to Bring Relief Cannot Succeed (rs p. 153512—p. 1541J2)

• □ Service Meeting:

Song 211

5 min: Announcements.

8 min: New Congregation Handbill. Talk explaining features and use of the new handbill. It should be handed to all who show a measure of interest. Demonstrate how the handbill may be used from house to house and when making return visits.

10 min: Experiences Starting Bible Studies. Relate what was accomplished locally when Bible studies were offered on the selected weekend last month. Encourage all to share in offering Bible studies on this special day.

12 min: "Special Campaign to Advertise the Memorial!" Question-and-answer discussion. Distribute a copy of the memorial invitation to everyone in attendance and review its contents. Demonstrate how the invitation might be offered.

Song 87

Special Campaign to Advertise the Memorial!

¹ On Thursday, April 9, 2009, worshippers of Jehovah God worldwide will gather to reflect on his greatest act of love for mankind. (Rom. 5:6-8) We keenly anticipate having

1. What will Kingdom publishers be involved In worldwide starting March 21, 2009, and why? millions of interested ones present with us when we commemorate Jesus' death. A special invitation to the Memorial will be distributed earth wide starting March 21.

• ² Points to Keep in Mind: Use to the full the illustrations, the questions, and the cited scripture on the invitation. For example, you might refer to the cover picture and say: "I wanted to invite you to commemorate with us Jesus' death, which will be observed on Thursday, April 9, 2009." Then refer to the title of the invitation and subsequent questions. Be sure to emphasize that the householder is welcome to invite his family and any others he chooses to bring along.

• ³ If your congregation has a large territory, the elders may direct you to leave the invitations at not-at-homes. On the weekends, offer the magazines in addition to using the invitation. Make it your goal to invite your return visits, Bible students, relatives, schoolmates, workmates, neighbors, and other acquaintances. Last year, one sister invited 30 of her relatives, and then she periodically reminded them of the importance of the occasion. How happy she was that 25 attended, and 4 of them later accepted a Bible study!

• ⁴ Plan Now: Many publishers may be able to increase their activity during March and April. If you have children or Bible students making good progress, this may be an excellent time for them to become unbaptized publishers. Now is the time to begin making arrangements to have a full share in this campaign that advertises the commemoration of the two greatest expressions of love.—John 3:16; 15:13.

• 2. What points should you keep in mind when offering the invitation?

• 3. How might you follow up on an invitation made earlier in the campaign?

• 4. What plans must we make now, and why?

  For United States of America

  
  

  km09 02-E Us Vol. 52, No. 2

  
  

WEEK STARTING FEBRUARY 16

Song 98

□ Congregation Bible Study:

jd chap. 141J18-26

□ Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Genesis 29-31

No. 1: Genesis 29:1-20

No. 2: Why We Should "Stop Being Anxious" (Matt. 6:25)

No. 3: Obedience Protects You (/rchap. 7)

□ Service Meeting:

Song 172

5 min: Announcements.

15 min: "Do All Things for the Sake of the Good News." Question-and-answer discussion.

15 min: Can You Auxiliary Pioneer During This Memorial Season? Enthusiastic talk by the service overseer. Review qualifications for auxiliary pioneering. Highlight the joys and blessings of auxiliary pioneering. Outline local arrangements for additional meetings for field service during March, April, and May. Interview two or three publishers who auxiliary pioneered last year. What adjustments did they make in their schedule? What blessings did they enjoy? Encourage each family to consider how one or more members of the family might be able to auxiliary pioneer during the upcoming Memorial season.

Song 151

"Do All Things for the

Sake of the Good News"

¹ The apostle Paul felt a personal obligation to declare the good news to others. (1 Cor. 9:16, 19, 23) Similarly, our concern for the eternal welfare of people motivates

• 1. What is a Kingdom preacher willing to do for others, and why?

us to go out of our way to share the good news with them.

• ² Preach Where and When People Can Be Found: A good fisherman casts his line or net, not where and when it is convenient for him, but where and when the fish are most likely to be found. We too, as "fishers of men," may need to make some personal adjustments in order to find people in our territory and thereby enjoy more fully the privilege of gathering up "fish of every kind." (Matt. 4:19; 13:47) Can we use early evening hours to contact people at their homes or the early morning hours to do street witnessing? Paul's goal was "to bear thorough witness to the good news,” and he took advantage of appropriate opportunities to do so.—Acts 17:17; 20:20, 24.

• ³ Adapt Your Presentation to Meet the Need: Fishermen frequently adjust their methods in order to catch a particular type of fish. How can we present the Kingdom good news in an appealing manner to people in our territory? We must tactfully introduce a subject that is of concern to people in general and then listen carefully to their expressions regarding the matter. (Jas. 1:19) We might ask a viewpoint question to draw them out. (Prov. 20:5) In this way we will be able to adapt our presentation of the good news in a way that touches their lives personally. Paul became "all things to people of all sorts." (1 Cor. 9:22) Adaptability is a key to reaching the hearts of people.

• ⁴ What a joy it is to share with people the "good news of something better"! (Isa. 52:7) May we "do all things for the sake of the good news" in order to reach as many as possible.—1 Cor. 9:23.

• 2. When preaching, what adjustments are we willing to make, and why?

• 3, 4. While we are in the ministry, in what ways can we adapt, and with what results?

  © 2009 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; 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.

  
  

WEEK STARTING FEBRUARY 23

Song 22

□ Congregation Bible Study:

/vchap. 1fl 1-9, prologue

□ Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Genesis 32-35

Theocratic Ministry School Review

□ Service Meeting:

Song 1

5 min: Announcements. Call attention to the literature offer for March.

10 min: Prepareto Offer the March 1 Watchtower and the March Awake! After giving a brief overview of the magazines, ask the audience which articles may appeal to people in the territory and why. Invite the audience to relate a question that they would use to start a conversation, then a scripture that they would read before offering the magazines. Conclude by demonstrating how each magazine might be offered.

10 min: Local needs.

10 min: Are You Using Examining the Scriptures Daily? Talk and audience discussion based on the foreword of Examining the Scriptures Daily—2009. Discuss the value of taking time each day to review the Scripture text and comments. Invite audience to comment on their routine for considering the text and how they have benefited.

Song 160

Theocratic Ministry School Review

The following questions will be considered at the Theocratic Ministry School during the week beginning February 23, 2009. The school overseer will conduct a 20-minute review based on material covered in assignments for the weeks of January 5 through February 23, 2009.

• 1. How could God produce light on the first day if the luminaries were not made until the fourth day? (Gen. 1: 3, 16) [w04 1/1 p. 28 par. 5]

• 2. What is suggested by the fact that Jehovah did not tell Noah to subdue the earth as he had told perfect Adam? (Gen. 9:1) [it-2 p. 1095 par. 6]

• 3. On what date did the Abrahamic Covenant go into effect, and how long does it last? (Gen. 12:1-4) [w04 1/15 p. 26 par. 4; wOl 8/15 p. 17 par. 13]

• 4. What proves that Nimrod and those who followed his lead failed in their goal to make 'a celebrated name for themselves'? (Gen. 11:4) [w98 3/15 p. 25]

• 5. Since Lot is called a "righteous" man at 2 Peter 2:7, why might he have offered his daughters to the perverted mob? (Gen. 19:8) [w05 2/1 p. 26 pars. 15-16; w04 1/15 p. 27 par. 3]

• 6. Since godly husbands should care for their own, how could Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael into the wilderness? (Gen. 21:10-21; 1 Tim. 5:8) [w88 2/15 p. 31]

• 7. What lesson can we learn from Eliezer's effort to do things Jehovah's way in finding a wife for Isaac? (Gen. 24:14, 15, 17-19, 26, 27) [w97 1/1 p. 31 par. 2]

• 8. What was the meaning of Jacob's dream in which he saw angels 'ascending and descending on a ladder'? (Gen. 28:10-13) [w03 10/15 p. 29 par. 1; it-2 p. 189]

• 9. Why was Rachel so interested in obtaining the mandrakes of Leah's son? (Gen. 30:14, 15) [w04 1/15 p. 28 par. 7]

• 10. How is Jacob's example a good one in resolving personal disputes? (Gen. 33:3, 4) \g82 2/22 p. 19 pars. 8-10]

WEEK STARTING MARCH 2

Song 59

□ Congregation Bible Study:

/vchap. 1 H10-18, box on p. 13

• □ Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Genesis 36-39

No. 1: Genesis 39:1-16

No. 2: Others Are Higher Than We Are (/rchap. 8)

No. 3: God's Kingdom—The Only Answer to Mankind's Real Needs (rs p. 1541J3-p. 155 HI)

• □ Service Meeting:

Song 94

5 min: Announcements.

10 min: Making Known God's Name. Enthusiastic talk based on the Ministry School book, pages 273-274.

10 min: Answering Questions About Blood Transfusions. Talk and audience discussion based on the Reasoning book, pages 74-76. Invite a pioneer to demonstrate how he or she might use the Reasoning book to answer a householder's question regarding blood.

10 min: The Offer for March. Briefly review the contents of the publication being offered. Ask audience what question and scripture they plan to use to introduce the offer? Have one or two presentations demonstrated.

Song 96

Announcements

■ Literature offer for February: Offer one of the following, as available: Is There a Creator Who Cares About You?, The Bible—God's Word or Man’s?, or The Secret of Family Happiness. March: What Does the Bible Really Teach? Make a diligent effort to start Bible studies. April and May: The Watchtower and Awake! magazines. When making return visits on interested people, including those who attend the Memorial or other theocratic events but who are not actively associated with the congregation, concentrate on starting studies using the Bible Teach book.

■ The special public talk for the 2009 Memorial season will be entitled "Is There a True Religion From God's Standpoint?" See the related announcement in the September 2008 Our Kingdom Ministry.

■ In the islands of Micronesia, there is a special need for qualified elders to take the lead in the congregations. (Acts 16:9, 10) Elders, such as those who are retired from their secular employment, are encouraged to consider whether their circumstances allow them to move to one of these islands to assist. Any who may be in a position to do so should follow the steps outlined in the Organized book, pages 111-112, and write to the Guam branch office for further information. (Mal. 3:10; Luke 14:28) The address for the Guam branch office is Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 143 Jehovah Street, Barrigada, GU 96913.

Field Service Highlights

We are happy to report two new peaks in the United States in October! The total of 118,066 regular pioneers reporting is an increase of 1.983 over the previous peak of 116,083 set in September 2008. Also, the total of 637,913 Bible studies conducted is an increase of 9,214 over the previous peak of 628,699 set in May 2008.

What to Say About the Magazines

■'Watchtower. February i

"Do you think God listens to all prayers? [Allow for response.] Notice what Jesus said on the subject. [Read Matthew 6:7.] This interesting article gives the Bible's answer to four often-asked questions about prayer." Feature the article that begins on page 16.

Awake! February

"Many believe that our destiny in life has already been determined. What do you think? [Allow for response.] According to this verse, we have a choice. [Read Deuteronomy 30:19.] This article comments on what the Bible says about predestination." Feature the article that begins on page 12.

"Watchtower. March i

ANMOUMOKu Jiumuil KtNGIXiM

"Do you think that everything that happens in life has been decided in advance? [Allow for response.] Notice what the Bible says about this. [Read Ecclesiastes 9:11.] This magazine explains that, while God has predetermined a bright future for the earth, he allows each of us to choose our own course in life."

Awake! March

"Many today are suffering some anxiety over money, especially during these difficult economic times. Would you agree? [Allow for response.] Notice this balanced advice. [Read 1 Timothy 6:8, 10.] This magazine outlines some Bible principles to help us manage our finances in a way that brings peace of mind."

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