Our kingdom ministry

FEBRUARY 2013

WEEK STARTING FEBRUARY 11

Song 106 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

jr chap. 5 ^7-12 (30 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Matthew 26-28 (10 min.) No. 1: Matthew 27:24-44 (4 min. or less) No. 2: How Does God’s Patience Lead to Salvation?—2 Pet. 3:9, 15 (5 min.)

No. 3: If Someone Says, ‘You Put Too Much Emphasis on Prophecy’—rs p. 298 fl1-2 (5 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 31

10 min: What Do We Learn? Discussion. Have Matthew 6:19-21 and Luke 16:13 read. Consider how these accounts can help us in our ministry.

20 min: “Will You Auxiliary Pioneer?” Questions and answers by the service overseer. After considering paragraph 2, briefly interview two publishers who plan to auxiliary pioneer during March, one who works full-time and one who has limitations because of poor health. What adjustments do they plan to make in order to pioneer? After considering paragraph 3, have a demonstration of a married couple or a family with children taking time during their Family Worship evening to make specific arrangements to expand their ministry.

Song 122 and Prayer

Will You Auxiliary Pioneer?

¹ The Memorial season is a good time to expand our ministry. It is a time when we reflect on Jehovah’s great love in providing his Son as a ransom. (John 3:16) This causes appreciation to well up in our heart, deepening our desire to tell others about Jehovah and what he is doing for mankind. (Isa. 12:4, 5; Luke 6:

1. Why is the Memorial season a good time to expand our ministry?

45) It is also a time when we enjoy a special campaign to invite acquaintances and people in the territory to attend the Memorial with us. Afterward, we endeavor to further the interest of those who attended. Will you expand your ministry by auxiliary pioneering during March, April, or May?

• ² Make March a Special Month: March will be an especially good month to auxiliary pioneer. Those who apply can choose an hour requirement of either 30 hours or 50 hours. If the visit of the circuit overseer falls during March, auxiliary pioneers may attend the entire meeting that he has with the regular and special pioneers. The campaign to extend invitations to the Memorial, which will be held on Tuesday, March 26, 2013, has been lengthened from previous years and will begin on March 1. Additionally, March has five full weekends. So why not seriously consider if you can join in making this the most special month of the year?

• ³ Plan Now: Now is the time to review your schedule and see what adjustments are needed in order for you to pioneer. Family cooperation will be important, so take time during your Family Worship evening to discuss your family’s goals and make a schedule. (Prov. 15: 22) If you are not able to auxiliary pioneer, do not be discouraged. Could you adjust your schedule to stay out longer on the days you do go out? Could you go in the ministry an additional day during the week?

• ⁴ As we increase our activity during March, April, and May, we will increase the joy and satisfaction that we receive from serving Jehovah and giving to others. (John 4:34; Acts 20:35) More important, our self-sacrificing efforts will bring joy to Jehovah.—Prov. 27:11.

• 2. What makes March an especially good month to auxiliary pioneer?

• 3. How can we make plans to increase our ministry?

• 4. What benefits will result from increasing our activity during March, April, and May?

WEEK STARTING FEBRUARY 18

Song 52 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

jr chap. 5 ^13-18 (30 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Mark 1-4 (10 min.)

No. 1: Mark 2:18-3:6 (4 min. or less)

No. 2: On What Is the Teaching of Purgatory Based?—rs p. 299 fl1-6 (5 min.)

No. 3: How Are We to Understand Paul’s Advice Recorded at 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 ?

(5 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 92

15 min: Preach the Word in Troublesome Season. (2 Tim. 4:2) Discussion based on the 2012 Yearbook, page 72, paragraphs 1-2; page 110; page 156, paragraph 1, to page 157, paragraph 1; and page 179, paragraph 3. Invite audience to comment on the lessons learned.

15 min: “Campaign to Advertise the Memorial Begins March 1.” Questions and answers. Distribute a copy of the invitation to each one in the audience, and discuss its contents. When considering paragraph 2, invite the service overseer to outline local arrangements for covering the territory. When considering paragraph 3, use the sample presentation to demonstrate how the invitation might be offered.

Song 8 and Prayer

Campaign to Advertise the Memorial Begins March 1

¹ On Friday, March 1, we will begin our annual campaign to invite others to attend the Memorial with us. The Memorial will be on March 26, which means that the campaign will be a little longer than in past years. This will give more people

• 1. When will we begin to advertise the Memorial, and why is the campaign longer this year? an opportunity to receive an invitation, especially if they happen to live in an area where the congregation has a large amount of territory.

• ² Getting Organized: The elders will give direction on how the territory will be covered, including whether the invitations should be left at not-at-homes. If invitations remain after finishing the house-to-house territories, they may be distributed through public witnessing. The service overseer will make sure that a supply of labeled invitations is placed on the literature or magazine counter for the publishers to take, but the invitations will not be put out all at once. We should take only the amount that we will need for one week at a time.

• ³ What Will We Say? It is best to be brief, as this will allow us to reach as many people as possible. Page 4 has a sample presentation that we can tailor to our territory. Of course, we do not need to rush away if the householder is friendly or has questions. When sharing in the distribution on the weekends, we should also offer the magazines when appropriate. On March 2, we will focus on distributing invitations rather than on starting Bible studies.

• ⁴ We hope that many will join us for the Memorial. The talk will explain who Jesus really is. (1 Cor. 11:26) It will outline how his death helps us. (Rom. 6:23) And it will highlight why it is important that we remember him. (John 17:3) May we have a zealous share in the campaign!

• 2. What are the arrangements for obtaining copies of invitations and covering the territory?

• 3. What should we keep in mind when offering the invitation?

• 4. Why should we have a zealous share in the campaign?

  © 2013 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 FEBRUARY 25

Song 120 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

jr chap. 6 fl1-6 (30 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Mark 5-8 (10 min.)

Theocratic Ministry School Review (20 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 135

5 min: “Must You Stop?” Discussion.

10 min: The Message We Must Proclaim —“Bearing Witness to Jesus.” Enthusiastic talk based on the Ministry School book, from the subheading on page 275 to the end of page 278.

15 min: Jehovah Strengthens Us to Preach. (Phil. 4:13) Interview two or three publishers who have a zealous share in the ministry despite health problems. What challenges do they face? What helps them to avoid prolonged discouragement? How has the congregation given them practical assistance? How have they benefited from having a regular share in the ministry? Song 42 and Prayer

Must You Stop?

When sharing in field service, some publishers customarily stop at a certain time, perhaps at noon. Of course, the circumstances of some may require that they end their field ministry at a specific time. But do you discontinue your preaching simply because others in the group do or because it is the custom in your area to stop at a certain time? Could you extend your ministry for a few more minutes and engage in some form of public witnessing, such as street witnessing? Can you make a return visit or two on the way home? Think of how much good you will accomplish if you find just one interested person at home again or if you place just one more set of magazines with a passerby! If we do not have to stop, staying out a few minutes longer is a simple way to increase our “sacrifice of praise.”—Heb. 13:15.

Theocratic Ministry School Review

The following questions will be considered at the Theocratic Ministry School during the week beginning February 25, 2013. The date when each point is scheduled for discussion is included so that research can be done when preparing for the school each week.

• 1. Why did Jesus say that “those who mourn” would be happy? (Matt. 5:4) [Jan. 7, w09 2/15 p. 6 par. 6]

• 2. In the model prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, what did he mean when he said: “Do not bring us into temptation”? (Matt. 6:13) [ Jan. 7, w04 2/1 p. 16 par. 13]

• 3. Why did Jesus say that his disciples would not complete their circuit of preaching “until the Son of man arrives”? (Matt. 10:23) [Jan. 14, w10 9/15 p. 10 par. 12; w87 8/1p.8par.6]

• 4. What two things does Jesus’ illustration of the mustard grain highlight? (Matt.

13:31, 32) [Jan. 21, w08 7/15 pp. 17-18 pars. 3-8]

• 5. What lesson was Jesus teaching when he said: “Unless you turn around and become as young children, you will by no means enter into the kingdom of the heavens”? (Matt. 18:3) [ Jan. 28, w07 2/1 pp. 9-10 pars. 3-4]

• 6. What is the meaning of Jesus’ words “you yourself said it”? (Matt. 26:63, 64) [Feb. 11, w11 6/1 p. 18]

• 7. Why is Jesus called “Lord even of the sabbath”? (Mark 2:28) [Feb. 18, w08 2/15 p. 28 par. 7]

• 8. Why did Jesus respond as he did regarding his mother and his brothers, and what does this teach us? (Mark 3:31-35) [Feb. 18, w08 2/15 p. 29 par. 5]

• 9. As recorded at Mark 8:22-25, why may Jesus have restored the blind man’s sight in two steps, and what can we learn from this? [Feb. 25, w00 2/15 p. 17 par. 7]

• 10. What do we learn from the way Jesus reacted to Peter’s rebuke at Mark 8:3234? [Feb. 25, w08 2/15 p. 29 par. 6]

WEEK STARTING MARCH 4

Song 62 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

jr chap. 6 ^7-12, box on p. 73 (30 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Mark 9-12 (10 min.)

No. 1: Mark 11:19-12:11 (4 min. or less)

No. 2: Is Further Punishment for Sin Exacted After One’s Death?—rs p. 300 ^2-6 (5 min.) No. 3: Why Making a Personal Dedication to God Leads to Happiness—Acts 20:35 (5 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 7

10 min: Ideas for Offering the Magazines in March. Discussion. Invite comments on the following questions: During the weekends that we are distributing the invitation, what factors will determine whether you will also offer the magazines? What could you say to make the transition from the invitation to the magazines? Although the sample presentations include a question and a scripture, how might you shorten your presentation? Demonstrate how each issue may be offered along with the invitation.

10 min: Benefit from Examining the Scriptures Daily—2013. Discussion. Briefly consider the yeartext found on pages 3-4 and “How to Use This Booklet,” on page 5. Then invite audience to relate when they have set aside time to consider the text and how they have benefited. Conclude by encouraging all to consider the text each day.

10 min: Local needs.

Song 119 and Prayer

Announcements

■ Literature offer for February: Feature one of the following 32-page brochures: Does God Really Care About Us?, When Someone You Love Dies, or You Can Be God’s Friend! When making return visits, introduce the Bible Teach book or if more appropriate to the person’s needs, one of the brochures Listen to God or Listen to God and Live Forever, and try to start a Bible study. March and April: The Watchtower and Awake! magazines. When making return visits, introduce the Bible Teach book or if more appropriate to the person’s needs, one of the brochures Listen to God or Listen to God and Live Forever, and try to start a Bible study. May: Feature one of the following tracts: Enjoy Family Life, Who Really Rules the World?, Why You Can Trust the Bible, or Would You Like to Know the Truth? If there is interest, demonstrate a Bible study using the Bible Teach book or one of the brochures Listen to God or Listen to God and Live Forever.

■Anew Memorial talk outline has been prepared and should be used by all Memorial speakers beginning in 2013. This year, the talk has a title, namely: “Appreciate What Christ Has Done for You!”

• ■ The special public talk for the 2013 Memorial season will be entitled “Does Death End It All?”

• ■ Since March has five full weekends, it would be an excellent month to auxiliary pioneer.

Sample Presentations

For the Memorial Invitation Campaign

“We’re here to give your family this invitation to an important annual observance being held worldwide on March 26. That date is the anniversary of Jesus’ death. A free Bible talk will be given that explains how his death helps us. The invitation shows the address and time of the meeting being held in our community.”

WA4HT06E7® March 1

Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom

“Some have asked this question, ‘How do we know for sure that Jesus was resurrected?’ Have you ever wondered about that? [Allow for response.] Notice why the answer is important. [Read 1 Corinthians 15: 14.] This magazine explains how we know that the resurrection wasn’t a hoax.”

!"#$ March

“Would you agree that this is not an easy time to raise a family? [Allow for response.] Many parents have found good advice in the Bible. For example, this verse has helped fathers to look for opportunities to commend their children and build their self-confidence. [Read Colossians 3:21.] This article outlines five basic principles to help fathers.”

Field Service Highlights

We are happy to report three new all-time peaks during the month of August! The total number of publishers increased to 523 in Bermuda, 332 in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and 1,203,642 in the United States. Also, when compared with the same month during the previous year, the number of regular pioneers increased by 10.4 percent in the Bahamas, 4.6 percent in Bermuda, 36.1 percent in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and 5 percent in the United States. Clearly, Jehovah’s people are “zealous for fine works.”—Titus 2:14.

4