Our kingdom ministry

MAY2011

WEEK STARTING MAY 9

Song 58 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

bt chap. 3 fl12-18 (25 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Psalms 1-10 (10 min.)

No. 1: Psalm 7:1-17 (4 min. or less)

No. 2: If Someone Says: “I Have Accepted Jesus as My Personal Savior”—rs p. 220 fl1 (5 min.)

No. 3: Why Jesus Corrected a Man for Calling Him “Good Teacher”—Mark 10:17, 18 (5 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 4

5 min: Announcements.

10 min: We Must Obey God as Ruler Rather Than Men. (Acts 5:29) Discussion based on the 2011 Yearbook, page 219, paragraph 4, to page 221, paragraph 2. After discussing each experience, invite audience to comment on the lessons learned.

10 min: Can You Auxiliary Pioneer During the Summer? Discussion. Briefly review pages 112-113 in the Organized book, outlining the requirements. Invite those who have used vacation from work or school to auxiliary pioneer to comment on the blessings they enjoyed.

10 min: “Let Your Light Shine.” Questions and answers. Invite audience to relate personal experiences where exemplary conduct opened the way to give a witness.

Song 93 and Prayer

“Let Your Light Shine”

¹ From dawn till dusk, the beauty of visible light brings praise to Jehovah God. Yet, it was another kind of light that Jesus invited his disciples to possess—“the light of life.” (John 8:12) Possessing this spiritual enlightenment is a special privilege that includes serious responsibilities. Jesus instructed: “Let your light shine before men,”

• 1. What do we have the privilege to share? thereby benefiting others. (Matt. 5:16) Amid today’s deep spiritual darkness, this light must be shared, and the need has never been greater! How can we, like Christ, let our light shine?

• ² By Preaching: Jesus used his time, energy, and resources to make the light of truth known to people in their homes, in public squares, on the mountaintops—wherever they could be found. He recognized the lasting value of providing true spiritual enlightenment. (John 12:46) To reach even more people, Jesus prepared his disciples to be “the light of the world.” (Matt. 5:14) They let their light shine by doing good to their neighbors and by sharing spiritual truths.

• ³ God’s people take seriously the responsibility to “go on walking as children of light,” and they preach wherever people can be found. (Eph. 5:8) Simply reading the Bible or other Christian publications in public view during a work or school break can open the way for a Scriptural discussion. In this way, one young sister started a Bible study and placed books with 12 of her classmates!

• ⁴ By Fine Works: Letting our light shine also involves our daily conduct. (Eph. 5:9) At work, at school, and in other public areas, Christian conduct stands out and creates opportunities to share Bible truths. (1 Pet. 2: 12) For example, the good behavior of one five-year-old boy moved his teacher to call his parents. She said, “Never have I seen a child with such a strong sense of morality!” Yes, our ministry and fine conduct attract people to “the light of life” and bring praise to our God.

• 2. How did Jesus show the importance of sharing spiritual light?

• 3. How can we demonstrate genuine appreciation for the light of truth?

• 4. Why does ‘letting our light shine’ include exemplary conduct?

WEEK STARTING MAY 16

Song 96 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

bt chap. 4 ^1-4, box on p. 30 (25 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Psalms 11-18 (10 min.) No. 1: Psalm 17:1-15 (4 min. or less) No. 2: How We Show That We Worship Jehovah Alone—Rom. 6:16, 17 (5 min.) No. 3: Are the Natural Jews Today God’s Chosen People?—rs p. 220 ^2-p. 221 ^4 (5 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 127

5 min: Announcements.

10 min: Use Questions to Teach Effective-ly—Part 1. Discussion based on the Ministry School book, page 236 to page 237, paragraph 2. Briefly demonstrate one or two points from the material.

10 min: Methods of Preaching the Good News—Making Return Visits. Talk based on the Organized book, page 97, paragraphs 1-3. Include a brief demonstration of an elder making a return visit on someone who accepted the offer for the current month.

10 min: “Could You Share in the Ministry on Sundays?” Questions and answers.

Song 115 and Prayer

Could You Share in the Ministry on Sundays?

¹ It was the Sabbath, a day when most Jews in Philippi rested. Paul and his companions were visiting the city during one of their missionary tours. No one would have criticized them for taking a well-deserved rest from their ministry on that day too. They, however, knew that Jews gathered outside the city to pray, so they took advan-

• 1. What can we learn from the actions of Paul and his companions in Philippi? tage of the opportunity to preach to them. How happy Paul and his companions must have been when Lydia listened and her entire household got baptized! (Acts 16:13-15) Since many today rest on Sunday, why not use part of this day to preach to them?

• ² The Battle for Sunday Preaching: During 1927, Jehovah’s people were encouraged to spend a portion of every Sunday in the ministry. This resulted in immediate opposition. Many were arrested in the United States for violating Sunday Sabbath laws, disturbing the peace, and selling without a license. But Jehovah’s people did not give up. In the 1930’s, they organized “divisional campaigns,” whereby publishers from surrounding congregations would converge to cover a territory. On occasions when publishers were arrested, there were so many of them that the authorities were overwhelmed. Do you truly appreciate the sacrifices those brothers made so that we can preach on Sunday without harassment?

• ³ An Excellent Day to Preach: Many people are home from work on Sunday. They are usually more relaxed. Some churchgoers may be more inclined to talk about God on this day. If we have our meeting on Sunday, we are already dressed as we would be for the ministry, so why not plan field service activity before or after the meeting? If needed, prepare a light meal to take with you.

• ⁴ If we use a portion of Sunday for the ministry, we will still have time to get the rest that we need. And our rest will be accompanied with the satisfaction that results from engaging in sacred service. (Prov. 19: 23) We may even experience the joy of finding someone like Lydia!

• 2. What challenges have Jehovah’s people overcome in order to preach on Sunday without harassment?

• 3. What makes Sunday a good day to share in the ministry?

• 4. What joy can we experience if we spend a portion of Sunday in the ministry?

  © 2011 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 Patterson, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Our Kingdom Ministry, 1000 Red Mills Road, Wallkill, NY 12589-3299.           Printed in Canada

  
  

WEEK STARTING MAY 23

Song 39 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

bt chap. 4, box on p. 33 (25 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Psalms 19-25 (10 min.) No. 1: Psalm 23:1-24:10 (4 min. or less)

No. 2: Will All the Jews Be Converted to Faith in Christ?—rs p. 222 fl1-2 (5 min.) No. 3: How and When Will Romans 8:21 Be Fulfilled? (5 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 78

10 min: Announcements. “How to Use the Please Follow Up (S-43) Form.” Discussion.

10 min: Three Aspects of Effective Introductions. Talk based on the Reasoning book, page 9, paragraph 1. After considering the material, have two demonstrations showing how the offer for June may be introduced.

15 min: Have You Tried It? Discussion. By means of a talk, briefly review information from these recent articles in Our Kingdom Ministry: “Use It on Every Occasion” and “A New Series for Starting Bible Studies” (km 12/10) as well as “Help for Families” (km 1/11). Invite audience to comment on how they have tried to apply the suggestions in these articles and how they have benefited.

Song 56 and Prayer

WEEK STARTING MAY 30

Song 33 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

bt chap. 4 ^5-12 (25 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Psalms 26-33 (10 min.)

No. 1: Psalm 31:9-24 (4 min. or less)

No. 2: Bible Examples of Genuine Humility (5 min.)

No. 3: Must Jews Put Faith in Jesus to Be Saved?—rs p. 222 ^3-p. 223 fl1 (5 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 38

10 min: Announcements. Using the sample presentation on page 4, demonstrate how a study may be started on the first Saturday in June. Encourage all to have a share.

15 min: How to Do Research. Discussion based on the Ministry School book, pages 33-38. Include a brief soliloquy of a publisher using research tools to find the answer to a question raised by someone in the ministry.

10 min: Prepare to Offer the Magazines in June. Discussion. Take one or two minutes to review some of the contents of the magazines. Then choose two or three articles, and invite audience to suggest questions and scriptures that could be used in a presentation. Demonstrate how each issue may be offered.

Song 113 and Prayer

How to Use the Please Follow Up (S-43) Form

This form should be filled out when you find an interested person who does not live in your territory or who speaks a foreign language. Though in the past we used it when meeting people who speak a foreign language whether they demonstrated interest or not, we now use it only when the person demonstrates interest. The only exception is if the person is deaf. If we meet someone who is deaf, regardless of whether he demonstrates interest, we should fill out an S-43 form.

What should we do with the form after it is filled out? We should give it to the congregation secretary. If he knows which congregation to send it to, he may simply forward it to the elders of that congregation so that they can arrange to care for the interest. If he cannot determine the congregation, he will forward the form to the branch office.

If the interested person speaks a foreign language and lives in your territory, you may continue calling on him to cultivate the interest until he is contacted by a publisher from the appropriate foreign-language congregation.—See the November 2009 Our Kingdom Ministry, page 4.

WEEK STARTING JUNE 6

Song 68 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

bt chap. 4 ^13-20, box on p. 34 (25 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Psalms 34-37 (10 min.)

No. 1: Psalm 35:1-18 (4 min. or less)

No. 2: Are the Events Taking Place in Israel Today in Fulfillment of Bible Prophecy?—rs p. 223 fl2-p. 224 fl2 (5 min.)

No. 3: What Can We Learn From Luke 12:13-15, 21? (5 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 126

5 min: Announcements.

10 min: Use Questions to Teach Effective-ly—Part 2. Discussion based on the Ministry School book, page 237, paragraph 3, to page 238, paragraph 5. Briefly demonstrate one or two points from the material.

10 min: Local needs.

10 min: What Did We Accomplish? Discussion by the service overseer. Commend the congregation for its activity during the Memorial season, and outline what was accomplished. Invite audience to relate experiences enjoyed while auxiliary pioneering during March, April, and May.

Song 83 and Prayer

Any 32-page brochures that are in stock except How Can Blood Save Your Life?, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Education, Jehovah’s Witnesses —Who Are They? What Do They Believe?, and The Origin of Life—Five Questions Worth Asking. ■ Since July has five full weekends, it would be an excellent month to auxiliary pioneer.

Sample Presentations

To Start Bible Studies on the First Saturday in June

“All of us have family or friends who have died. Do you have the hope of seeing them again? [Allow for response.] Notice this comforting thought.” Read and discuss the material under the first subheading on page 16 of the June 1 issue of The Watchtower and one of the cited scriptures. Offer the magazines, and arrange to return to consider the answer to the next question.

WATCHTO6ER June 1

Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom *

“Many of us struggle to make ends meet, and some people don’t even have life’s necessities. Do you think we will ever see the time when no one is poor? [Allow for response. Then read Psalm 9:18.] This magazine points out the cause of poverty and what the Bible says about the real solution to this problem.”

Announcements

■ Literature offer for May: The Watchtower and Awake! magazines. Where interest is shown, present the tract Would You Like to Know the Truth? and endeavor to start a Bible study. When making return visits on those who attended the Memorial or other theocratic events but who are not actively associating with the congregation, concentrate on starting studies using the Bible Teach book. June: What Does the Bible Really Teach? Endeavor to start Bible studies on the initial call. If householders already have the book, congregations that have a stock of Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life and Worship the Only True God may offer either of these books. Otherwise, offer any older field publications on hand in the congregation. July: Was Life Created? August:

!"#$ June

“Terrorism has become a global problem. What do you think is the cause? [Allow for response.] These words from the Bible give us hope. [Read Psalm 72:7, 14.] This magazine explains some of the reasons for terrorism and shows what the Bible says about how and when terrorism will end.”

Field Service Highlights

In the month of December 2010, the Turks and Caicos Islands reported new all-time peaks of 278 publishers and 37 regular pioneers. Also, when compared with the same month last year, the United States saw increases of 2.7 percent in total publishers, 6.8 percent in regular pioneers, and 4.5 percent in auxiliary pioneers. Bermuda also had increases of 2.5 percent in total publishers and 40 percent in auxiliary pioneers. Truly, a great shout of praise ascends to our heavenly Father.—Ps. 95:1.

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