Our kingdom ministry

JULY 2015

MONTHLY THEME: ‘Go and make disciples.’—Matt. 28:19, 20.

WEEK STARTING JULY 13

Song 75 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

cl chap. 27 fl10-18 (30 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: 1 Kings 9-11 (8 min.)

No. 1: 1 Kings 9:24-10:3 (3 min. or less)

No. 2: Reduce Anxiety by Taking to Heart God’s Word—nwt p. 28 ^4-p. 29 ^2 (5 min.) No. 3: Cyrus—Theme: God’s Word Always Comes True—it-1 pp. 566-569 (5 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 17

10 min: Go and Make Disciples. Talk based on the monthly theme. Include points from “Come Be My Follower,” pages 87-89. Preview some of the Service Meeting parts, and discuss how they relate to the theme for the month.

10 min: They Were Alert to Start a Bible Study. Discussion based on the 2015 Yearbook, page 55, paragraph 1, to page 56, paragraph 1; and page 69, paragraphs 2-5. Invite audience to comment on the lessons learned.

10 min: “Maintain Focus on Making Disciples.” Questions and answers. Briefly interview one or two publishers who are effective at starting and conducting Bible studies. What joy have they received from aiding someone into the truth?

Song 16 and Prayer

Maintain Focus on Making Disciples

¹ The 2014 annual service report reflects the zeal of God’s people and their determination to preach the good news of the Kingdom. (Matt. 24:14) By means of the house-to-house work, special campaigns to distribute tracts and invitations, and our public witnessing initiatives, we are reaching more people with the Bible’s message than ever before. However, if

1. What is needed in order for people to be saved? individuals are to be saved, we must help them to become disciples of Jesus by studying the Bible with them.—1 Tim. 2:4.

• ² Be Bible-Study Conscious: When a person shows interest, do you endeavor to obtain his contact information and then call back promptly with the goal of starting a Bible study? When was the last time that you tried demonstrating a Bible study on the initial call? When did you last offer a Bible study to those on your magazine route? Have you shown the videos Why Study the Bible? and What Happens at a Bible Study? to workmates, schoolmates, neighbors, relatives, and other acquaintances? When using a literature display, do you endeavor to inform those who take a study publication that it comes with a free Bible study?

• ³ Help From Jehovah and Jesus: By beginning his command to “make disciples” with the word “go,” Jesus indicated that we need to exert effort and show initiative. However, he did not leave us on our own but promised to be with us. (Matt. 28:19, 20) In addition, Jehovah has given us his holy spirit as well as the tools and the training that we need to teach people the truth. (Zech. 4:6; 2 Cor. 4:7) We can pray for “both the desire and the power” to share in this important work.—Phil. 2:13.

• ⁴ Preaching the good news brings us much happiness. However, our joy is increased when we teach a person the truth and help him to join us on “the road leading off into life.” (Matt. 7:14; 1 Thess. 2:19, 20) More important, by maintaining our focus on making disciples, we please Jehovah who “does not desire anyone to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.”—2 Pet. 3:9.

• 2. Asking ourselves what questions will help us to be Bible-study conscious?

• 3. In order to teach the truth successfully, what is required?

• 4. Why should we maintain our focus on making disciples?

  For United States of America

  
  

  km15 07-E Us Vol. 58, No. 7

  
  

  WEEK STARTING JULY 20

  Song 73 and Prayer

  Q Congregation Bible Study:

  cl chap. 27 ^19-22, box on p. 279 (30 min.)

  Q Theocratic Ministry School:

  Bible reading: 1 Kings 12-14 (8 min.)

  No. 1: 1 Kings 12:21-30 (3 min. or less)

  No. 2: Daniel (No. 2)—Theme: Jehovah Blesses Whole-Souled Devotion—it-1 pp. 576-577 (5 min.)

  No. 3: How Can the Bible Help Husbands and Fathers?—nwt p. 30 fl1-2 (5 min.)

  Q Service Meeting:

  Song 89

  
  

  20 min: Use Illustrated Bible Stories to Help Your Children Become Disciples. Discussion based on the illustrated Bible story “God Sends Moses to Egypt.” (Go to jw.org, and look under BIBLE TEACHINGS > CHILDREN.) Project the story on a screen so that the audience can follow along. If possible, assign children to read the parts of each character. Afterward, with the parents’ approval, invite selected children to the stage for a group discussion of the questions in the box “What Do We Learn From This Story?” Conclude by encouraging parents to make use of this tool to help their children become disciples.

  10 min: Question Box. Discussion.

  Song 66 and Prayer

  
  

QUESTION BOX

■ Should publishers make extensive use of the Internet to witness to or to study with strangers living inanothercountry?

Some publishers have used the Internet to obtain Bible studies in lands where our work is restricted or where there are few publishers. In some cases, good results have been achieved. However, there are dangers when publishers participate in e-mail exchanges or chat room discussions with strangers. (See the July 2007 Our Kingdom Ministry, p. 3.) While the intent is to reach honesthearted ones with the Kingdom message, such discussions may lead a brother or a sister into contact with bad association, including apostates. (1 Cor. 1:19-25; Col. 2:8) Furthermore, in lands where the Kingdom work is restricted or under ban, correspondence might be monitored by the authorities. Such communication could endanger the local brothers and sisters. Therefore, publishers should not go online to seek out people from another country with whom to share the good news.

Unless directed otherwise by the local branch office, if we witness informally to a stranger who is visiting from another country, we should not try to cultivate his interest after he returns home. Instead, we can show him how he can use jw.org to obtain additional information or how he can contact the local branch office. We can also encourage him to visit a Kingdom Hall near his home. Of course, there are no Kingdom Halls in some countries. If he wishes to be visited by Witnesses from his area, we should fill out a Please Follow Up (S-43) form and give it to the secretary, who will forward it using jw.org. The branch office that oversees the work in the country where the interested person lives is familiar with the unique circumstances there and will be in the best position to provide spiritual help.—See the June 2014 Our Kingdom Ministry, p. 7, and the November 2011 Our Kingdom Ministry, p. 2.

If a person we are currently calling on moves to another country or if we are currently studying with a person in another land whom we know only through the Internet, we should follow the direction outlined above. However, we may continue to cultivate the interest until the person is contacted by the local publishers. Nevertheless, if he lives in a land where our work is restricted or banned, great caution should be used when Bible topics are discussed by letter, telephone, or electronic means.—Matt. 10:16.

WEEK STARTING JULY 27

Song 18 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

cl chap. 28 fl1-9 (30 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: 1 Kings 15-17 (8 min.) No. 1: 1 Kings 15:16-24 (3 min. or less)

No. 2: How Can the Bible Help Wives?—nwt p. 30 ^3-4 (5 min.)

No. 3: David—Theme: Youths, Prepare Now to Serve Jehovah Courageously—it-1 pp. 585591 (5 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 65

10 min: Are You Improving Your Skills in the Ministry? Discussion. Review the first paragraph in the February 2014 issue of Our Kingdom Ministry, which outlines the purpose of the “Improving Our Skills in the Ministry” series. Briefly review some of the past articles. Invite the audience to relate specific benefits they have received from this series. Encourage publishers to give special attention to the skill highlighted each month by applying the suggestions under the subheading “Try This During the Month.”

10 min: Use “An Introduction to God’s Word”—To Help Your Bible Student. Discussion. Consider how we can use the following features to help our Bible student make good useofthe Bible: (1) “Howto Find Bible Verses.” (2) Question 19: “What is contained in the various books of the Bible?” (3) Question 20: “How can you get the most out of your Bible reading?” Include a brief demonstration of a publisher discussing one of these features with his student at the end of a study session.

10 min: “Our Teaching Toolbox.” Questions and answers.

Song 125 and Prayer

Our Teaching Toolbox

¹ Craftsmen use a variety of tools. While some tools are occasionally needed for specialized tasks, other basic tools are used frequently. Experienced craftsmen always have these basic tools in their toolbox, and these are the ones that they are the most skillful at using. The Bible encourages each

• 1. How are Christian evangelizers like craftsmen?

Christian to apply himself in the ministry and to be “a workman with nothing to be ashamed of.” (2 Tim. 2:15) What is the most important tool in our toolbox? It is God’s Word—the principal tool we use to “make disciples.” (Matt. 28:19, 20) Therefore, we should endeavor to become skillful at “handling the word of the truth aright.” However, there are other frequently used tools in our teaching toolbox that all Christians should learn to use skillfully to teach people the truth.—Prov. 22:29.

• ² Our Basic Teaching Tools: Besides the Bible, what other tools should we use? The primary tool we have for teaching Bible truths is What Does the Bible Really Teach? After completing a study of this book with a student, we use “Keep Yourselves in God’s Love” to teach him to apply Bible principles in everyday life. Therefore, we should become proficient in using these two publications. Certain brochures should also be included in our teaching toolbox. Good News From God! is one of our main tools for starting Bible studies. If our territory has people who have limited reading ability or those who speak a language for which we have few or no publications, then we could also use Listen to God or Listen to God and Live Forever. A basic teaching tool for directing students to the organization is Who Are Doing Jehovah’s Will Today? Videos that are helpful in making disciples, such as Why Study the Bible?, What Happens at a Kingdom Hall?, and Does God Have a Name?, are tools that we should also learn to use well.

• ³ Future issues of Our Kingdom Ministry will help us become skilled in using the handful of basic publications in our teaching toolbox. As we endeavor to use these tools adeptly, we will be heeding the inspired counsel: “Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.”—1 Tim. 4:16.

• 2. What are our basic teaching tools?

• 3. What will future issues of Our Kingdom Ministry help us to do?

WEEK STARTING AUGUST 3

Song 63 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

cl chap. 28 ^10-17 (30 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: 1 Kings 18-20 (8 min.) No. 1: 1 Kings 18:30-40 (3 min. or less) No. 2: Deborah (No. 2)—Theme: Faithful Women Praise Jehovah—it-1 p. 600 (5 min.) No. 3: How Can the Bible Help Children?—nwt p. 31 fl1-2 (5 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 130

10 min: Offer the Magazines During August. Discussion. Start by having a demonstration of how the magazines may be offered, using the sample presentations provided. Then analyze each sample presentation from beginning to end.

10 min: Benefit From Examining the Scriptures Daily. Discussion. Begin with a five-minute talk based on the 2015 yeartext. Afterward, invite publishers to comment on when they set aside time to consider the text each day. Conclude by encouraging all to make good use of Examining the Scriptures Daily.

10 min: Local needs.

Song 26 and Prayer

Announcements

■ Literature offer for July and August: Good News From God!, Listen to God, or Listen to God and Live Forever. September and October: The Watchtower and Awake! magazines.

■ Groups of 20 or more planning to visit the United States branch office facilities at Brooklyn, Patterson, and Wallkill should first correspond with the Central Tour Desk at 100 Watchtower Drive, Patterson, NY 12563-9204, or at fax number (845) 306-0200. At least three weeks prior to visiting, please send information on the number coming and the dates and times for visiting each location. Lodging information may be obtained from the congregation secretary. Before your visit, please review the March 2008 Our Kingdom Ministry Question Box and the brochure Dress and Grooming for Visitors Touring Bethel.

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

Sample Presentations

“34hTO6E7® August 1

Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom

“We’re visiting briefly to help our neighbors cope with a common problem. One of the most difficult things we have to deal with is the death of a loved one. Wouldn’t you agree? [Allow for response.] Notice this encouraging promise from the Bible. [Read Revelation 21:3, 4.] The Bible gives us hope that one day our dead loved ones will come back to life. This magazine explains how this will happen.”

!"#$ August

“We are showing our neighbors an article that discusses the extraordinary amount of information contained in our cells. [Show the cover of Awake!] Many believe that life came about by evolution, while others feel that life was created. What is your opinion? [Allow for response.] This magazine highlights discoveries about the amazing complexity of cells, which has prompted some scientists to wonder if life had a Designer.”

Field Service Highlights

When comparing this January with the same month last year, there were increases in return visits of 8.7 percent in Bermuda, 4.7 percent in Jamaica, and 6.8 percent in the United States. These figures show that there is still much work to be done in helping others ‘come to know’ Jehovah.—John 17:3.

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