Our kingdom ministry

FEBRUARY 2014

WEEK STARTING FEBRUARY 10

Song 57 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

cl chap. 2 V21 -24, box on p. 24 (30 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Genesis 25-28 (10 min.) No. 1: Genesis 25:19-34 (4 min. or less) No.2: Those Resurrected to Rule With Christ Will Be Like Him—rs p. 335 V4-p. 336 V2 (5 min.)

No. 3: Abhorrent Thing—Jehovah’s View of Idolatry and Disobedience—it-1 p. 17 (5 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 94

15 min: What Do We Learn? Discussion. Have John 4:6-26 read. Consider how this account can help us in our ministry.

15 min: “Improving Our Skills in the Ministry—Making a Record of the Interest.” Discussion. When considering each bulleted point under “How to Do It,” invite comments on why the suggestions are beneficial.

Song 98 and Prayer

Improving Our Skills in the Ministry —Making a Record of the Interest

“Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching.” (1 Tim. 4:16) This inspired counsel from the apostle Paul to Timothy indicates that, whether we are new or experienced, we should endeavor to make progress. To help us do that, a new series entitled “Improving Our Skills in the Ministry” will appear in Our Kingdom Ministry. Each article will discuss an important skill and provide some suggestions on how to develop it. During the month, all are encouraged to give that skill special attention. After the month concludes, a Service Meeting part will give us an opportunity to comment on how we benefited from concentrating on that skill. This month we are encouraged to work on making a record of the interest.

Why Important: To fulfill our commission, we must do more than preach. We must return to those who show interest and teach them, watering the seeds of truth that we have planted. (Matt. 28:19, 20; 1 Cor. 3: 6-9) This requires finding the person again, talking about his concerns, and building on our previous conversation. Therefore, when we find interest, it is necessary to make a record of it.

How to Do It:

• • Make sure that you have tools in your witnessing case for recording interest. Keep your records neat, well-organized, and up-to-date. Make a record as soon as you finish the call.

• • Write down information about the householder. What is his name and contact information, such as his address, phone number, or e-mail address? What did you observe about him and his family that may be significant?

• • Write down the details of your conversation. What scriptures did you read? What did he say about his beliefs? What literature did you leave? Record the time, the day of the week, and the date of the visit.

• • Write down what you plan to do next time. What did you promise to discuss? When did you say you would return?

• • Update your record each time you return. No harm is done if you write down more information than you need.

Try This During the Month:

• • When making a record, tell those with whom you are working what you are writing down.

WEEK STARTING FEBRUARY 17

Song 15 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

cl chap. 3 ^1-10 (30 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Genesis 29-31 (10 min.) No. 1: Genesis 29:21-35 (4 min. or less) No. 2: What the Resurrection Will Mean for Mankind in General—rs p. 336 ^3-p. 337 fl3 (5 min.)

No. 3: Abiathar—An Act of Disloyalty Can Nullify Years of Faithful Service—it-1 pp. 18-19 (5 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 92

• 10 min: Preach With Warmth. Discussion based on the Ministry School book, page 118, paragraph 1, to page 119, paragraph 5.

5 min: Are You Using jw.org in Your Ministry? Discussion. Invite audience to relate good experiences they have had using jw.org in the ministry. Encourage the audience to publicize jw.org at every appropriate opportunity.

15 min: “Make This Memorial Season a Joyful One!” Questions and answers. Invite those planning to auxiliary pioneer despite health challenges or a full schedule to relate the adjustments they will make in order to expand their ministry. When considering paragraph 3, invite the service overseer to outline local arrangements for meetings for field service during March, April, and May.

Song 8 and Prayer

Make This Memorial Season a Joyful One!

• ¹ Would you like to increase your joy during March, April, and May? One way to do that is to expand your ministry and, if possible, auxiliary pioneer. How will this add to your joy?

• ² Increase Your Joy: Jehovah created us with the capacity to experience joy and satis-

• 1. What is one way to increase our joy during this Memorial season?

• 2. How will expanding our ministry result in increased joy?

faction from worshipping him as we fulfill our inborn spiritual need. (Matt. 5:3) He also designed us in such a way that we can gain happiness from giving to others. (Acts 20:35) The ministry allows us to do both—to worship God and to help people. It stands to reason that having an increased share in the ministry results in even greater joy. In addition, the more we preach, the more skillful we may become. As we gain skill, we build our confidence and minimize our nervousness. We will have more opportunities to give a witness and to start Bible studies. All of this makes the ministry more enjoyable.

• ³ March and April will be especially good months to auxiliary pioneer because we can choose either a 30- or a 50-hour requirement. In addition, beginning Saturday, March 22, and continuing until the Memorial on Monday, April 14, we will participate in an enjoyable campaign to invite others to attend the Memorial. Congregations will be abuzz with excitement, as many will be working “shoulder to shoulder” to cover as much of the territory as possible in the allotted time.—Zeph. 3:9.

• ⁴ Prepare Now: If you have not already done so, take time to review your schedule and see what adjustments you can make to expand your ministry during one or more months. Make it a matter of prayer. (Jas. 1:5) Talk about it with your family and others in the congregation. (Prov. 15:22) You may find that despite health challenges or a full work schedule, you too can experience the joy that comes from auxiliary pioneering.

• ⁵ Jehovah wants his servants to be joyful. (Ps. 32:11) By exerting ourselves to expand our ministry this Memorial season, not only will it increase our joy but it will also bring joy to our heavenly Father.—Prov. 23:24; 27:11.

• 3. Why will March and April be especially good months to auxiliary pioneer?

• 4. If we want to auxiliary pioneer, what should we do?

• 5. What will result if we expand our ministry this Memorial season?

  © 2014 Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 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 24

Song 101 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

cl chap. 3 ^11-18 (30 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Genesis 32-35 (10 min.)

Theocratic Ministry School Review (20 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 96

5 min: Start a Bible Study on the First Saturday. Talk. Outline local arrangements for field service on the first Saturday in March. Demonstrate the sample presentation on page 4.

15 min: The Importance of Persistence. Discussion based on the 2013 Yearbook, page 45, paragraph 1, to page 46, paragraph 1; and pages 136-137. Invite audience to comment on the lessons learned.

10 min: “Memorial Invitation Campaign Starts March 22.” Talk by the service overseer. Distribute a copy of the invitation, and discuss its contents. Review applicable points from the letter of instruction sent to the elders, and outline local arrangements for covering the territory.

Song 109 and Prayer

Memorial Invitation Campaign Starts March 22

This year our campaign to invite others to attend the Memorial begins on Saturday, March 22. All are encouraged to have a full share. On the weekends we will also offer the current magazines when appropriate. On the first Saturday in April, we will focus on distributing invitations rather than on starting Bible studies. However, if we encounter someone who shows special interest, we may still try to start a Bible study. The service overseer can determine whether distributing invitations through public witnessing will help the congregation to reach more people in its territory. Make a list now of relatives, workmates, schoolmates, return visits, and other acquaintances whom you wish to invite, and give them an invitation when the campaign begins. We hope that many will join us as we commemorate the two greatest expressions of love.—John 3:16; 15:13.

Theocratic Ministry School Review

The following questions will be considered at the Theocratic Ministry School during the week beginning February 24, 2014.

• 1. What did Satan get Eve to focus on, and what did Eve show by eating from the forbidden tree? (Gen. 3:6) [Jan. 6, w11 5/15 pp. 16-17 par. 5]

• 2. How may Abel have developed his strong faith, and in what did it result? (Gen. 4:4, 5; Heb. 11:4) [Jan. 6, w13 1/1 p. 12 par. 3; p. 14 pars. 4-5]

• 3. How can parents protect their children from admiring worldly “mighty ones” and “men of fame”? (Gen. 6:4) [Jan. 13, w13 4/1 p. 13 par. 2]

• 4. What can we learn from the account about Lot and his wife, as recorded at Genesis 19:14-17, and 26? [Jan. 27, w03 1/1 pp. 16-17 par. 20]

• 5. How did Abraham demonstrate his faith both in the resurrection and in Jehovah’s promise that an offspring would be through Isaac? (Gen. 22:1-18) [Feb. 3, w09 2/1 p. 18 par. 4]

• 6. What important truths can we learn from the prophecy recorded at Genesis 25:23, which states that “the older will serve the younger”? [Feb. 10, w03 10/15 p. 29 par. 2]

• 7. What was the significance of Jacob’s dream involving what some translations call a ladder? (Gen. 28:12, 13) [Feb. 10, w04 1/15 p. 28 par. 6]

• 8. Why was Laban so anxious to retrieve the stolen teraphim? (Gen. 31:30-35) [Feb. 17, it-2 p. 186 par. 2]

• 9. What do we learn from the angel’s response to Jacob at Genesis 32:29? [Feb. 24, w13 8/1 p. 10]

• 10. What is one way to avoid consequences like those that befell Dinah? (Gen. 34: 1, 2) [Feb. 24, w01 8/1 pp. 20-21]

WEEK STARTING MARCH 3

Song 112 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

cl chap. 3 ^19-21, box on p. 34 (30 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Genesis 36-39 (10 min.) No. 1: Genesis 37:1-17 (4 min. or less)

No. 2: Why Resurrected Ones Will Not Be Condemned for Their Past Deeds—rs p. 338 fl1 (5 min.)

No. 3: Abigail—Display Qualities That Honor Jehovah—it-1 pp. 20-21, Abigail No. 1 (5 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 117

10 min: Offer the Magazines During March. Discussion. Start by demonstrating how the magazines may be offered using the sample presentations on this page. Then analyze each sample presentation from beginning to end. Conclude by inviting suggestions on how the magazines could be offered along with the Memorial invitation on the last two weekends of the month.

10 min: Local needs.

10 min: How Did We Do? Discussion. Invite publishers to comment on how they benefited by applying points from the article “Improving Our Skills in the Ministry—Making a Record of the Interest.” Ask the audience to relate good experiences.

Song 95 and Prayer

Announcements

■ Literature offer for February: Feature one of the following 32-page brochures: Good News From God!, Listen to God, or Listen to God and Live Forever. March and April: The Watchtower and Awake! magazines. May: What Does the Bible Really Teach? or one of the following tracts: How Do You View the Bible?, How Do You View the Future?, What Is the Key to Happy Family Life?, Who Really Controls the World?, or Will Suffering Ever End?

• ■ The special public talk for the 2014 Memorial season is entitled “Why Would a Loving God Permit Wickedness?”

• ■ When engaging in public witnessing using a table or a cart, publishers should not display Bibles. However, they may have Bibles available to offer to individuals who request one or who demonstrate sincere interest in the truth.

• ■ The branch facilities in Brooklyn, Patterson, and Wallkill, New York, will be closed for spring cleaning on Friday, May 9, 2014. There will be no arrangements for tours or for congregations to pick up literature on this day. Also, there will be no arrangement for tours on the day of the Memorial, Monday, April 14, 2014.

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

Sample Presentations

To Start Bible Studies on the First Saturday in March

“We’re visiting briefly because of something that will occur on April 14. That date is the anniversary of Jesus’ death. Some will commemorate the occasion because they feel that his death was important. Others are not sure of the significance of Jesus’ death. Do you think that Jesus’ death benefits you and me?” Allow for response. Show the back of the March 1 Watchtower, and consider together the material under the first question and at least one of the cited scriptures. Offer the magazines, and arrange to discuss the next question.

WA4HT06E7® March 1

Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom

“Many people wonder why God doesn’t act to end the injustice and suffering in the world. Do you think it’s because God doesn’t care or because he feels that it’s good for humans to suffer? [Allow for response. Then read John 3:16.] Although many quote this verse to show that God cares, they are not sure how the death of God’s son actually benefits them. This magazine explains how Jesus’ death makes possible the end of injustice and suffering on earth.”

!"#$ March

“We’re visiting briefly to try to clear up a misconception that many have about this Bible verse. [Read Genesis 1:1.] Some believe this, that the universe was created, while others do not. May I ask what your opinion is? [Allow for response.] Many have trouble believing in creation because religious leaders teach something that the Bible really doesn’t say. This magazine presents the Bible’s logical and credible explanation of the beginning of the universe.”

Field Service Highlights

We are thrilled to report two new peaks during the month of August 2013! In the United States there was a new peak of 1,219,931 publishers. This is an increase of 16,289 over the previous peak in August 2012. Additionally, the Bahamas reported a peak of 205 regular pioneers. These figures show that many are willingly making sacrifices for Jehovah. —Ps. 54:6.

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