Our kingdom ministry

NOVEMBER 2011

WEEK STARTING NOVEMBER 14

Song 49 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

bt chap. 12 ^14-20 (25 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Ecclesiastes 1-6 (10 min.) No. 1: Ecclesiastes 6:1-12 (4 min. or less) No. 2: What Does the Increase in Lawlessness Indicate?—rs p. 237 fl1-2 (5 min.)

No. 3: Why True Christians Heed the Counsel at Romans 12:19 (5 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 127

5 min: Announcements.

15 min: Do You Find Joy in “the Privilege of Kindly Giving”? Talk by an elder based on the November 15, 2011, Watchtower, pages 22-23.

15 min: “Seeds Must Be Watered in Order to Grow.” Questions and answers. After considering paragraph 3, have a soliloquy of a publisher preparing for a return visit. He reviews his record regarding the individual and considers how to answer the question the publisher raised on the last call and how to start a study in the Bible Teach book. Briefly review page 85, paragraph 3, of the Organized book regarding what constitutes a return visit.

Song 98 and Prayer

Seeds Must Be Watered in Order

to Grow

¹ Seeds planted in a garden must be watered in order to grow. The same is true with regard to seeds of truth that are planted in the hearts of people in our territory. (1 Cor. 3:6) We must make return visits and water these figurative seeds using God’s Word ifwe want them to take root, grow, and flourish.

• 1. What must be watered in order for it to grow?

• ² Raise a Question: When you prepare your presentation, why not also prepare an interest-arousing question that you could answer on the return visit? Raise it at the conclusion of the initial conversation, and make definite arrangements to return. Many find it beneficial to choose something from the Bible Teach book that will allow them to demonstrate a Bible study.

• ³ Make a Record: As soon as you leave the initial call, take the time to make a record. Write down the person’s name and address. It is also good to note the date and time you spoke to him, what you talked about, and what literature you placed, if any. Did he say he belonged to a certain religion? Does he have a family? Did he mention his interests and concerns? Such information will help you tailor future conversations. Also write down when you agreed to return and the question you will answer.

• ⁴ Persevere: Satan will not rest in his efforts to ‘take away the word’ planted in a person’s heart. (Mark 4:14, 15) Therefore, do not give up if you have difficulty finding the interested person at home again. Could you send a letter or leave a note in the door? One pioneer started a doorstep study with a woman but was unable to find her at home again, so she sent a letter. When the sister eventually found her at home, the woman expressed how deeply touched she was by the personal interest shown to her. As we water seeds of truth, we can experience the joy that comes from seeing them sprout, grow to maturity, and “bear fruit thirtyfold and sixty and a hundred.”—Mark 4:20.

• 2. How can we lay the groundwork for the next visit?

• 3. What information can be included when recording interest?

• 4. When it comes to following up interest, why should we persevere?

WEEK STARTING NOVEMBER 21

Song 53 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

bt chap. 13 fl1-7, boxes on pp. 100, 103 (25 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Ecclesiastes 7-12 (10 min.) No. 1: Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:11 (4 min. or less)

No. 2: Love Is Not Jealous—1 Cor. 13:4

(5 min.)

No. 3: How Does the Sign of the Last Days

Affect True Christians?—rs p. 238 V2-3 (5 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 83

10 min: Announcements. Question Box. Talk.

15 min: Persecuted for a Witness. (Luke 21:12, 13) Discussion based on the 2011 Yearbook, page 153, paragraph 1; page 179, paragraphs 1-2; and page 203, paragraph 2, to the end of page 204. Invite audience to comment on the lessons learned.

10 min: The Literature Offer for December. Discussion. Consider features of the literature being offered, and have one or two presentations demonstrated.

Song 35 and Prayer

QUESTION BOX

■ Who should fill out coupons and Internet requests?

Our publications often contain coupons that can be filled out and sent to the branch office to request literature or a visit from Jehovah’s Witnesses. In addition, our Web site www.watch-tower.org can be used to request a Bible study. These provisions are helping many to learn the truth. However, problems have resulted when publishers have used these tools to make arrangements for their relatives or others to receive spiritual assistance.

Some who have been sent unsolicited literature from the branch office have complained, feeling that our organization is harassing them and has them on some sort of mailing list. Publishers who have received a notice to call on someone who did not personally request a visit have found themselves in an awkward position when the individual expressed irritation. Therefore, requests made on our Web site or by means of coupons should come from interested ones themselves and not from publishers in behalf of others. When such requests are identified as being sent in behalf of someone else, they are generally not processed.

How, then, can we assist a relative or an acquaintance spiritually? If you would like him to receive literature, why not send it directly to him as a gift? If he has expressed interest and wishes to be visited by Witnesses but you do not know how to contact the elders in the local congregation, you should submit a Please Follow Up (S-43) form to your congregation secretary, who will review it and forward it to the branch office. However, if the interested one is confined to a prison, a jail, a substanceabuse facility, or a state hospital, you should not contact the branch office in his behalf. Rather, you could encourage him to contact the brothers who visit the facility or to write personally to the branch office.

WEEK STARTING NOVEMBER 28

Song 26 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

bt chap. 13 ^8-16, box on p. 105 (25 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: The Song of Solomon 1-8 (10 min.)

No. 1: Song of Solomon 1:1-17

(4 min. or less)

No. 2: Why Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Say That the Last Days Began in 1914?—rs p. 239 fl2-p. 240 fl1 (5 min.)

No. 3: How Can We Earn the Respect of Others? (5 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 118

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

15 min: “The Most Important Quality of a Good Teacher.” Questions and answers. Invite audience to relate how love demonstrated by their Bible teacher helped them to make spiritual progress.

10 min: Ideas for Offering the Magazines in December. Discussion. Take one to two minutes to point out a few of the articles that may have appeal in your territory. Next, using the cover series of The Watchtower, invite the audience to give suggestions on an interestarousing question to ask, and then invite suggestions on a scripture to read. Do the same for the cover series of Awake! and, if time allows, for one other article from either magazine. Demonstrate how each issue may be offered.

Song 63 and Prayer

The Most Important Quality of a Good Teacher

¹ What is it that enables someone to be a good Bible teacher? Secular education? Experience? Natural ability? Actually, it is the

• 1. What is the most important quality of a good teacher?

same quality that is the Law’s fulfillment, that identifies Jesus’ disciples, and that is the most dominant and appealing of Jehovah’s cardinal attributes. (John 13:35; Gal. 5:14; 1 John 4:8) It is love. Good teachers demonstrate love.

• ² Love People: The Great Teacher, Jesus, showed love for people, and this motivated them to listen to him. (Luke 5:12, 13; John 13:1; 15:13) If we care about people, we will witness at every opportunity. Obstacles such as persecution and apathy will not deter us. We will show sincere personal interest in those to whom we preach, and we will tailor our approach to meet their concerns. We will be willing to take time not only when we are with each Bible student but also when we are preparing for each study beforehand.

• ³ Love Bible Truths: Jesus also loved Bible truths and viewed them as treasures. (Matt. 13:52) If we love the truth, we will speak with enthusiasm, and this can stimulate excitement in our listeners. Such love will help us to focus on the valuable information we are imparting rather than on our personal limitations, and we may then be less nervous in the ministry.

• ⁴ Cultivate Love: How can we cultivate love for people? By reflecting on the love that Jehovah and his Son have shown and the dire spiritual condition of people in our territory. (Mark 6:34; 1 John 4:10, 11) Our love for Bible truths will deepen through regular personal study and meditation. Love is an aspect of the fruitage of the spirit. (Gal. 5:22) So we can petition Jehovah for holy spirit and ask him to help us grow in love. (Luke 11:13; 1 John 5:14) Regardless of our secular education, experience in the truth, or natural abilities, we can be an effective Bible teacher by demonstrating love.

• 2. Why is it vital for us to have love for people? 3. How will love for Bible truths help us in the ministry?

4. How can we cultivate love?

WEEK STARTING DECEMBER 5

Song 29 and Prayer

Q Congregation Bible Study:

bt chap. 13 ^17-24 (25 min.)

Q Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Isaiah 1-5 (10 min.)

No. 1: Isaiah 3:16-4:6 (4 min. or less)

No. 2: Why Must We Maintain Our Sense of Urgency? (5 min.)

No. 3: Will Anyone Be Alive on Earth After the End of the Present World System?—rs p. 240 fl2-5 (5 min.)

Q Service Meeting:

Song 111

5 min: Announcements.

10 min: If Someone Asks You Why You Don’t Celebrate Christmas. Discussion based on the Reasoning book, page 176 to page 179, paragraph 2. Have one brief demonstration.

10 min: Local needs.

10 min: Be Prepared for the Ministry. Discussion based on the following questions. (1) How do you prepare for (a) house-to-house witnessing? (b) return visits? (c) informal witnessing? (2) Why should we prepare every time we conduct a Bible study? (3) What do you do to help your Bible student to prepare his lesson? (4) How does preparation help you to enjoy the ministry more? (5) Why is Jehovah pleased when we prepare for the ministry?

Song 101 and Prayer

Announcements

■ Literature offer for November: The Bible—What Is Its Message? December: The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived. If there are children in the household, offer Learn From the Great Teacher or My Book of Bible Stories. January: What Does the Bible Really Teach? Endeavor to start Bible studies on the initial call. If householders already have the book and do not accept the offer of a Bible study, publishers may offer an older magazine or any brochure that addresses the person’s interest. February: Is There a Creator Who Cares About You?, The Bible—God’s Word or Man’s?, or The Secret of Family Happiness.

■ Donations for the worldwide work that are sent directly to the branch office should be made payable to “Watchtower.” The branch office’s financial address is Watchtower, c/o Treasurer’s Office, 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483.

Sample Presentations

To Start Bible Studies on the First Saturday in December

“I’m sure you will agree that everyone needs friends. What quality do you value most in a friend? [Allow for response.] Notice what this says about why we should select our friends carefully.” Hand the householder a copy of the December 1 issue of The Watchtower, and read and discuss together the material under the first subheading on page 16. Read at least one of the scriptures. Offer the magazines, and arrange to return and consider the answer to the next question.

WA4HT06E7® December 1

Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom

“Have you ever wondered why there have been so many natural disasters lately? [Allow for response.] Interestingly, the Bible foretold a time that would be marked by disasters. [Read Matthew 24:7, 8.] This magazine answers these questions: Why are we seeing so many natural disasters today? Are they punishment from God? What reasons are there to believe that God will soon end all natural disasters.”

!"#$ December

Read 2 Timothy 3:16. Then say: “Some agree that the Bible was inspired by God, while others do not. What do you think? [Allow for response.] Although opinions vary on that question, it is generally agreed that no other book has been the object of so many efforts to destroy it. This magazine describes some of the efforts to destroy the Bible and suppress the reading of it down through the centuries. It also explains why it has survived.”

Field Service Highlights

When comparing June 2011 with the same month the previous year, there was an increase in Bible studies of 5.7 percent in the United States, 4.3 percent in Bermuda, and 4.2 percent in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Similarly, during the same time period, there was an increase in publishers of 2.5 percent in the United States, 6.5 percent in Bermuda, and 15.1 percent in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Indeed, Jehovah’s servants are busy fulfilling Jesus’ commission to teach and make disciples!—Matt. 28:19, 20.

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