Our Kingdom Ministry

June 2005                         For United States of America km-E Us 6/05 Vol. 48, No. 6

• ¹ God’s Word exhorts us to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Heb. 12:1) Just as a runner needs endurance to compete successfully, so we need endurance to attain the prize of everlasting life. (Heb. 10: 36) How can the Christian ministry help us to endure faithfully to the end?—Matt. 24:13.

• ² Fortified Spiritually: Our proclaiming the Bible’s marvelous promise of a righteous new world helps keep our own hope bright. (1 Thess. 5:8) When we participate regularly in the field ministry, we have the opportunity to make known the truths that we have learned from the Bible. We have the opportunity to defend our faith, which in turn helps to fortify us spiritually.

• ³ In order to teach others effectively, we must clearly understand Bible truths ourselves. We have to do research and meditate on the material. The earnest effort that we put forth deepens our knowledge, strengthens our faith, and refreshes us spiritually. (Prov. 2: 3-5) Thus, as we seek to help others, we strengthen ourselves. —1 Tim. 4:15, 16.

• ⁴ Zealous participation in the ministry is a vital part of “the complete suit of armor from God,” which we need in order to stand firm against the Devil and the demons. (Eph. 6:10-13, 15) Our being busy in sacred service helps us to keep our mind focused on upbuilding things and to avoid becoming corrupted by Satan’s world. (Col. 3:2) As we teach others Jehovah’s ways, we are continually reminded of our own need to maintain holy conduct.—1 Pet. 2:12.

• ⁵ Empowered by God: Finally, our sharing in the evangelizing work teaches us to rely on Jehovah. (2 Cor. 4:1, 7) What a blessing that is! Our developing such trust equips us not only to accomplish our ministry but also to cope with whatever circumstances we may face in life. (Phil. 4:11-13) Indeed, learning to rely fully on Jehovah is the key to endurance. (Ps. 55:22) In many ways, preaching helps us to endure.

Conducting Progressive Bible Studies

• Part 10: Training Students in the House-to-House Ministry

• ¹ When the elders determine that a Bible student qualifies as an unbaptized publisher, he may begin to share with the congregation in the public preaching work. (See Organized to Do Jehovah’s Will, pp. 79-81.) How can we help the student to meet the challenge of preaching from house to house?

• ² Preparing Together: There is no substitute for good preparation. Show the student where he can find suggested presentations in Our Kingdom Ministry and the Reasoning book, and help him select a simple approach that is practical for the local territory. From the start, encourage him to feature the Bible in his ministry.—2 Tim. 4:2.

• ³ Practice sessions are very beneficial for a new publisher. As the student rehearses the presentation, show him how to handle tactfully the responses that are common in the territory. (Col. 4:6) Assure him that Christian ministers do not need to know the answer to every question that a householder might raise. Often it is best to handle such questions by offering to do research and to return to discuss the matter further. —Prov. 15:28.

• ⁴ Preaching Together: The first time the student shares in the house-to-house ministry, let him observe as you give the presentation that the two of you prepared together. Then get him involved. In some cases, it may be best to have the new publisher give only part of the presentation, such as reading and commenting on a scripture. Take into consideration the personality and abilities of the student. (Phil. 4:5) Be generous in giving commendation as you progressively train him in the various aspects of the preaching work.

• ⁵ It is important to help a new publisher establish a regular schedule for participating in the ministry, doing so weekly if possible. (Phil. 3:16) Make definite arrangements to work together in service, and encourage him to work with other zealous ones also. Their example and association will help him to develop skill and find joy in preaching from house to house.

  Service Meeting Schedule

  
  

Week Starting June 13

Song 198

10 min: Local announcements. Selected Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry. Use the suggestions on page 4 (if appropriate for your territory) to demonstrate how to offer the June 15 Watchtower and the June 22 Awake! Other realistic presentations may be used. In one of the presentations, demonstrate offering the magazines in some informal setting.

15 min: Help Others to Become Unbaptized Publishers. Talk and audience discussion by an elder based on Organized to Do Jehovah’s Will, pages 79-81. Discuss the arrangement for determining whether a Bible student meets the Scriptural requirements for sharing in field service with the congregation. Next week we will consider how we can train Bible students who qualify as unbaptized publishers to begin participating in the house-to-house ministry.

20 min: “Preaching Helps Us to Endure.”* Invite audience to comment on the cited scriptures as time permits.

Song 149 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting June 20

Song 206

10 min: Local announcements. Review key points from the July 2003 Our Kingdom Ministry, page 4. Explain how publishers can obtain literature in a foreign language. Discuss how this information applies to the local territory. Any request for foreign-language items should be made through the literature servant, even if it is for just a single item, so that the needed literature can be obtained without unnecessary delay.

15 min: God’s Word Exerts Power. (Heb. 4:12) Talk based on the November 15, 2003, Watchtower, page 11, paragraphs 13-17. Relate experiences showing how Bible instruction can move people to make changes in their way of life. (wOO 1/1 pp. 3-5) Encourage all to make good use of the Bible in all features of the ministry.

20 min: “Conducting Progressive Bible Studies—Part 10.”* Include a demonstration showing a practice session in progress. As the student rehearses a presentation, the conductor, who is playing the role of the householder, gives a common objection and, when the student is unsure of what to say, explains how it might be handled. In addition, arrange in advance for one or two to comment on the training they received when they began sharing in the house-to-house ministry.

Song 208 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting June 27

Song 113

10 min: Local announcements. Remind publishers to turn in Held service reports for June. Read accounts report and donation acknowledgments. Using the suggested presentations on page 4 (if appropriate for your territory), demonstrate how to present either the July 1 Watchtower or the July 8 Awake! Another realistic presentation may be used. After the demonstration, restate the opening comments that were used to arouse the householder’s interest.

15 min: Local needs.

20 min: Offering the Worship God book in July and August. Talk and audience discussion. Review the following points from “How to Use Sample Presentations,” found on page 8 of the January 2005 Our Kingdom Ministry: (1) We will usually be more effective if we put presentations in our own words. (2) We must use good judgment and adapt our presentations according to what is acceptable locally. (3) We need to take into account the background and thinking of the people in our territory. (4) We should carefully read the chapter that we plan to feature and look for points that may stir interest. (5) We are not limited to using only the approaches outlined in the sample presentations. Discuss presentations that can be used to offer the Worship God book. You may use the sample presentations that appear on page 5 of the January 2005 Our Kingdom Ministry insert, adapt those presentations according to the customs and thinking of people in the territory, or use other presentations that are effective. Demonstrate two or three presentations. Song 196 and concluding prayer.

Week Starting July 4

Song 70

10 min: Local announcements.

15 min: Are You Benefiting From a Family Schedule? Review the suggestions in the May 2005 Our Kingdom Ministry insert, and invite the audience to comment on the efforts they have made to apply the suggestions and on the benefits they have received from doing so.

20 min: “Witnessing Effectively in Public Places.”* Make application to the local territory. Remind publishers to use the Please Follow Up (S-43) form when appropriate. —See the February 2005 Our Kingdom Ministry, p. 6.

Song 120 and concluding prayer.

* Limit introductory comments to less than a minute, and follow with a question-and-answer discussion.

March Service Report

Av. Av. Av. Av.

Number of:              Hrs. Mags. R.V Bi.St.

Sp'IPlOS. 263 95.4 78.0 45.9 4.4

Pios. 93,870 67.2 43.3 22.2 2.0

Aux. Pios. 54,926 49.2 35.2 12.9 1.0

Pubs. 843,673 9.4 8.2 3.6 O.3

TOTAL 992,732 Baptized: 2,056

© 2005 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; W. L. Van De Wall, 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.

Announcements

■ Literature offer for June: Learn From the Great Teacher. If individuals say they have no children, offer the Family Happiness book or the Knowledge book and make an effort to start Bible studies. July and August: Worship the Only True God. If a Bible study is started, it is recommended that the Knowledge book and the Require brochure be studied before the Worship God book. September: Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life. Before requesting additional supplies from the branch office, congregations should use what is available locally and check if nearby congregations have a surplus on hand.

■ A copy of the book Organized to Do Jehovah’s Will should be included in the Kingdom Hall library. Further information on Kingdom Hall libraries can be found in the February 2003 Our Kingdom Ministry, page 5, and the April 1997 Our Kingdom Ministry Question Box.

■ The secretary should see that the Regional Building Committee is kept up-to-date on the status of all baptized publishers who have submitted Kingdom Hall Volunteer Worker Questionnaire (S-82) forms. When there are adjustments in a volunteer’s status, such as when one moves or is appointed as a ministerial servant or an elder, a new form should be filled out promptly and submitted. If a volunteer’s mailing address or telephone number changes or if he is no longer in good standing in the congregation, the elders should immediately inform the Regional Building Committee by letter. The completed S-82 forms in the congregation file should be made available for the circuit overseer’s review when he visits the congregation.

THEOCRATIC MINISTRY SCHOOL REVIEW

The following questions will be considered orally at the Theocratic Ministry School during the week beginning June 27, 2005. The school overseer will conduct a 30-minute review based on material covered in assignments for the weeks of May 2 through June 27, 2005. [Note: Where there are no references after the question, you will need to do your own research to find the answers.—See Ministry School, pp. 36-7.]

SPEECH QUALITIES

• 1. Why are similes and metaphors powerful teaching tools? (Gen. 22:17; Ps. 1:3; Jas. 3:6) [be p. 240 pars. 2-4, box]

• 2. Where can we find examples that teach valuable lessons, but what caution should we observe in this regard? [be p. 242 pars. 1-2]

• 3. What do we need to keep in mind when selecting illustrations that will be most effective? [be p. 244 pars. 1-2]

• 4. Why should we employ visual aids in our teaching, and how has Jehovah done so? [be p. 247 pars. 1-2, box]

• 5. How can we use visual aids in the field ministry? [be p. 248 par. 1-p. 249 par. 2]

ASSIGNMENT NO. 1

• 6. What direction is there in God’s Word concerning the education of children? [w03 3/15 p. 12 par. 2; p. 14 par. 3]

• 7. How did Jehovah show interest in David as a youth, and how did David show interest in Jehovah? [w03 4/15 p. 29 par. 4; p. 30 par. 3]

• 8. Why did Jehovah take note of Abel’s sacrifice, and of what does this assure us? (Gen. 4:4) [w03 5/1 p. 28 par. 4-p. 29 par. 1]

• 9. What is “the discipline of Jehovah” that Proverbs 3:11 admonishes us not to reject? [w03 10/1 p. 20 pars. 2-4]

• 10. What is the meaning of “self-sufficiency” as used at 1 Timothy 6:6-8? [w03 6/1 p. 9 pars. 1-2; p. 10 par. 1]

WEEKLY BIBLE READING

• 11. What did the uniting bond of love between Jonathan and David foreshadow? (2 Sam. 1: 26) [w89 1/1 p. 26 par. 13]

• 12. What can be learned from David’s first attempt to bring the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem? (2 Sam. 6:2-9)

• 13. After David and Bath-sheba sinned, why did their son have to die, since Deuteronomy 24:16 and Ezekiel 18:20 say that a son is not to die for his father’s error? (2 Sam. 12: 14; 22:31)

• 14. How do we know that Ziba’s claim about Mephibosheth was a lie? (2 Sam. 16:1-4)

• 15. Why was Mephibosheth’s reaction to his situation with Ziba a fine example for us? (2 Sam. 19:24-30)

Witnessing Effectively in Public Places

^ike Jesus’ early disciples, Christians today seek to share the good news with people wherever they can be found. (Acts 16:13; 17:17; 20:20, 21) As a result of their efforts to witness in public places, they are finding interest among people who might otherwise never have been contacted in the house-to-house ministry.

• ² Discernment is needed when witnessing publicly. Usually, it is best to work inconspicuously. For example, if too many publishers witness in the same area or visit the same businesses, some people may feel overwhelmed by our presence. This detracts from the dignity of our work and may limit our effectiveness. What can be done to prevent this from happening? Some congregations that have many areas for public witnessing have found it helpful to organize these into individual territories. (1 Cor. 14:40) In addition, we can contribute to good order by working only in our congregation’s assigned territory unless specific arrangements have been made through the Congregation Service Committee to assist another congregation.—See the November 1998 Our Kingdom Ministry, p. 6, pars. 18-19.

• ³ Approaching People: When Jesus spoke with a woman at a well, he started with a brief re-

• 1. In imitation of Christians in the first century, how are Christians today giving a witness in public places, and with what results?

• 2. Why is discernment needed when witnessing in public places, and how can we contribute to good order?

• 3. What approach have some found effective when witnessing in public places? mark and progressively expanded the conversation as her interest became manifest. (John 4: 7-26) This approach is also effective in certain settings today. Some publishers find that to get into the proper frame of mind for public witnessing, it is helpful to spend a few minutes greeting people and showing personal interest in them before presenting the Kingdom message. They comment on a topic of local interest, which often leads to a conversation. As others express their concerns, they listen carefully. Before long, they are sharing comfort from God’s Word.—Rom. 15:4.

• ⁴ Cultivating Interest: Each time we have a good discussion, we should try to make arrangements to cultivate the interest. How can we do this? As the discussion is coming to a close, you might take out your notebook and say: “I have enjoyed our conversation. Is there any way we can continue at another time?” Or say: “I would like you to read an article that I am sure will interest you. May I bring it to your home or office?” Some publishers simply ask: “At what number can you be reached?” This often elicits a favorable response.

• ⁵ Many people who were first contacted in public places have accepted Bible studies. Such studies can be conducted at the person’s home, at his place of employment, in an appropriate public setting, or by telephone. May we make it our aim to start Bible studies as we witness effectively in public places.

• 4. How can we cultivate the interest we find?

• 5. What aim should we have when witnessing publicly?

"•Watchtower June is

Announcing Jehovah'S Kingdom

“Most of us will spend much of our life working. Some view that as a blessing; others view it as a curse. What do you think? [Allow for response. Then read Ecclesiastes 2:24.] This magazine shows how the Bible can help us gain a balanced view of work. It also discusses how to deal with work-related stress.”

Awake! June 22

“Do you think our community would be a better place if everyone lived by these words? [Read Ephesians 4:28. Then allow for response.] This magazine discusses the high price each of us pays because of shoplifting. It also shows how shoplifting, and all other crimes, will soon be a thing of the past.”

"Watchtower July 1

Announcing Jehovah 's Kingdom

“All of us know of people who seem to be successful and yet still feel that something is missing in their life. What do you think they are looking for? [Allow for response. Then read Matthew 5:3.] This magazine discusses an important key to gaining inner peace—satisfying our spiritual need.”

Awake! July 8

“In today’s highly competitive job market, unemployment is a major problem. This magazine outlines five keys to finding a job. [Highlight the bold subheadings in the article “Five Keys to Finding a Job.”] It also gives practical suggestions on how to keep a job.” Read Proverbs 22:29, quoted on page 10.

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