November

Schedule for Week of November 11

WEEK STARTING NOVEMBER 11

Song 119 and Prayer

□ Congregation Bible Study:

jl Lessons 5-7 (30 min.)

□ Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Hebrews 1-8 (10 min.)

No. 1: Hebrews 4:1-16 (4 min. or less)

No. 2: How Can We Show That We Have “the Wisdom From Above”?​—Jas. 3:17, 18 (5 min.)

No. 3: Is Loving One’s Fellowman What Really Counts?​—rs p. 327 ¶4 (5 min.)

□ Service Meeting:

Song 73

10 min: How We Can Help to Meet the Needs of Others. Talk by an elder based on the November 15, 2013, Watchtower, pages 8-9.

10 min: How to Overcome Nervousness When Preaching. Discussion based on the following questions: (1) How can prayer help us if we are nervous at the door? (2) Why does good preparation help us to be less nervous? (3) What can help us be less nervous when working with the circuit overseer? (4) Why does nervousness decrease the more we share in the ministry? (5) What has helped you to overcome nervousness?

10 min: “Take as a Pattern the Prophets​—Hosea.” Questions and answers.

Song 113 and Prayer

Take as a Pattern the Prophets​—Hosea

1. What question may you have asked yourself?

¹ ‘What sacrifices am I willing to make for Jehovah?’ Perhaps you have asked yourself that question when meditating on his abundant goodness and mercy. (Ps. 103:2-4; 116:12) Hosea willingly did what Jehovah commanded him to do, even though it required personal sacrifice. How can we imitate Hosea?

2. How can we imitate Hosea’s fine example of persevering in the preaching work?

² Preach in Troublesome Season: Hosea’s message was directed primarily toward the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel, where true worship had nearly been stamped out. King Jeroboam II did what was bad in Jehovah’s eyes and perpetuated the calf worship initiated by Jeroboam I. (2 Ki. 14:23, 24) The succeeding kings continued the spiritual decline of the ten-tribe kingdom until it was finally destroyed in 740 B.C.E. Yet, in spite of the prevailing false worship, Hosea faithfully served as a prophet for at least 59 years. Are we similarly determined to preach year after year, even when facing apathy or opposition?​—2 Tim. 4:2.

3. How did Hosea’s life illustrate Jehovah’s mercy?

³ Focus on Jehovah’s Mercy: Jehovah instructed Hosea to marry “a wife of fornication.” (Hos. 1:2) Although his wife, Gomer, bore him a son, she apparently later gave birth to two illegitimate children. Hosea’s willingness to forgive his wife illustrated Jehovah’s great mercy toward wayward Israel when they repented. (Hos. 3:1; Rom. 9:22-26) Are we willing to put aside personal preference in order to make known Jehovah’s mercy to people of all sorts?​—1 Cor. 9:19-23.

4. What are some sacrifices that we might make for Jehovah?

⁴ Some servants of Jehovah have sacrificed lucrative careers in order to devote more time to the ministry. Others have remained single or childless to pursue Kingdom interests. When reflecting on the life of Hosea, we may think to ourselves, ‘I could never do what he did.’ However, as we grow in appreciation for Jehovah’s undeserved kindness and rely upon his holy spirit for strength, we may be used by him in ways we never thought possible, just as Hosea was.​—Matt. 19:26; Phil. 2:13.

Schedule for Week of November 18

WEEK STARTING NOVEMBER 18

Song 20 and Prayer

□ Congregation Bible Study:

jl Lessons 8-10 (30 min.)

□ Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: Hebrews 9-13 (10 min.)

No. 1: Hebrews 10:19-39 (4 min. or less)

No. 2: Is Having a Personal Relationship With God the Really Important Thing?​—rs p. 327 ¶5–p. 328 ¶1 (5 min.)

No. 3: Ways in Which We Can Comfort Others​—Rom. 15:4; 2 Cor. 1:3, 4 (5 min.)

□ Service Meeting:

Song 10

10 min: Question Box. Discussion. Afterward, inform the congregation of the local progress being made in the campaign for Kingdom News No. 38.

10 min: “I Am Here Because . . .” Discussion. Afterward, mention the literature offer for December and have one or two demonstrations using the suggestions from the article.

10 min: Jehovah Listens to the Prayers of His Servants. (1 John 3:22) Discussion based on the 2013 Yearbook, page 91, paragraphs 2-3, and pages 108-109. Invite audience to comment on the lessons learned.

Song 56 and Prayer

Question Box

◼ Should a female publisher wear a head covering if she is accompanied by a male publisher at a doorstep Bible study?

When a female publisher conducts a regular, scheduled Bible study and a male Kingdom publisher is present, she should wear a head covering. (1 Cor. 11:3-10) The July 15, 2002, issue of The Watchtower, page 27, explains: “This is a prearranged session of teaching where the one conducting the study actually presides. Under these circumstances, a study becomes an extension of the congregation. If a baptized female Witness conducts such a study with a baptized male Witness present, she would rightly wear a head covering.” This is true whether the study is conducted in a home, at the doorstep, or in some other setting.

On the other hand, if a doorstep Bible study has not yet been established, a sister would not need to wear a head covering in the presence of a male Kingdom publisher, even if the purpose of the return visit is to demonstrate a Bible study or to consider material in one of the recommended study publications. Since doorstep studies are often established gradually, through a series of progressive return visits, publishers will need to consider the circumstances and be reasonable in determining at what point a head covering should be used.

“I Am Here Because . . .”

When householders open their door and see us standing there, they may wonder who we are and why we are there. What could we say in our introduction to put their mind at ease? After giving the customary greeting, some publishers use the word “because” to explain. For example, they may say: “We are visiting because many neighbors are concerned about crime. Do you think . . .” or “I am here because I give Bible lessons free of charge.” If in the very beginning the householder is told why you are there, he may be more inclined to listen to what you have to say.

Schedule for Week of November 25

WEEK STARTING NOVEMBER 25

Song 122 and Prayer

□ Congregation Bible Study:

jl Lessons 11-13 (30 min.)

□ Theocratic Ministry School:

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

No. 1: James 1:22–2:13 (4 min. or less)

No. 2: How Love Overcomes Fear​—1 John 4:16-18 (5 min.)

No. 3: Why Just Reading the Bible Is Not Sufficient​—rs p. 328 ¶2-3 (5 min.)

□ Service Meeting:

Song 95

10 min: Ideas for Offering the Magazines in December. Discussion. Take 30 to 60 seconds to relate why the magazines will have appeal in your territory. Then, using the cover subject of The Watchtower, invite the audience to give suggestions on an interest-arousing question to ask. Next, invite suggestions on a scripture to read. Do the same for Awake! and, if time allows, for one other article from either magazine. Demonstrate how each issue may be offered.

10 min: How Should You Answer? Talk based on the Ministry School book, page 69, paragraphs 1-5. Include a demonstration of a publisher answering a Bible student who has to make a personal decision. The student asks, “What would you do in my situation?”

10 min: “A Helpful Series for Our Ministry.” Questions and answers. Using a portion of a recent article from the series “A Conversation With a Neighbor,” briefly demonstrate the suggestion in paragraph 3.

Song 45 and Prayer

A Helpful Series for Our Ministry

1. The series “A Conversation With a Neighbor” has what twofold objective?

¹ From time to time, the public edition of The Watchtower features the series “A Conversation With a Neighbor.” This series has a twofold objective​—to present Bible teachings in an appealing way and to show us how we might reason tactfully on certain subjects. (1 Pet. 3:15) How can we make good use of these articles?

2. How can we use this series of articles in our ministry?

² Use Them in the Ministry: You might save extra copies of issues of The Watchtower that include an article from this series. When a householder, interested person, or Bible student asks a question or raises an objection that has been addressed in one of these articles, give him a copy of that article and offer to discuss it. If you do not have a printed copy of the magazine that featured the article, perhaps you can download it from jw.org.

3. How might we discuss one of the articles with a householder?

³ How might you discuss one of these articles with someone? Some have invited the person to read aloud the words of the neighbor, while they read the words of the Witness. This third-person approach can be effective because it allows the individual to examine our beliefs in a way that does not make him feel uneasy.​—Deut. 32:2.

4. How can we use the articles in this series to train ourselves?

⁴ Train Yourself and Others: As you read through these articles, take note of the scriptures, illustrations, and lines of reasoning. Notice the tone of the material. Then try a similar approach in your ministry. (Prov. 1:5; 9:9) One sister observed, “Reading these articles is like learning from a ‘perfect’ pioneer partner​—one who always knows just the right thing to say!”

5. How can we help our Bible students prepare for the ministry?

⁵ You can also use these scripted examples to help your Bible students prepare for the ministry. Read the information together, allowing the student to play the role of the publisher. In this way, Bible students can practice expressing their beliefs in a tactful manner. (Col. 4:6) Truly, these articles are one of the many ways that Jehovah helps us “fully accomplish” our ministry.​—2 Tim. 4:5.

Schedule for Week of December 2

WEEK STARTING DECEMBER 2

Song 123 and Prayer

□ Congregation Bible Study:

jl Lessons 14-16 (30 min.)

□ Theocratic Ministry School:

Bible reading: 1 Peter 1-5–2 Peter 1-3 (10 min.)

No. 1: 1 Peter 2:18–3:7 (4 min. or less)

No. 2: The Right Religion Is Bible-Based and Makes Known God’s Name​—rs p. 328 ¶4-5 (5 min.)

No. 3: Why We Are Sure That Jesus Is the Messiah​—Luke 24:44; Gal. 4:4 (5 min.)

□ Service Meeting:

Song 116

5 min: Start a Bible Study on the First Saturday. Talk. Encourage all to share in starting Bible studies on the first Saturday in December. Briefly demonstrate how this may be done by using the back cover of The Watchtower.

15 min: Have You Tried It? Discussion. By means of a talk, briefly review information from these recent articles in Our Kingdom Ministry: “Our Official Web Site​—Designed to Benefit Us and Others” (km 12/12), “Use Videos in Your Teaching,” and “Who Would Be Interested in This?” (km 5/13). Invite audience to comment on how they have benefited from applying the suggestions in these articles.

10 min: Local needs.

Song 12 and Prayer

Announcements

◼ November: Special campaign distribution of Kingdom News No. 38. If the congregation works all of its territory or places its entire supply of Kingdom News, publishers should offer What Does the Bible Really Teach? or Would You Like to Know the Truth? December: What Does the Bible Really Teach? or Would You Like to Know the Truth? January and February: Feature one of the following 32-page brochures: Good News From God!, Listen to God, or Listen to God and Live Forever.

Sample Presentations

To start Bible studies on the first Saturday in December

“Many people are looking for Jesus to return. If Jesus came back, what is one thing you would like him to do?” Allow for response. Show the back of the December 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 return to discuss the next question.

The Watchtower December 1

“Life is so busy these days that it can be a challenge to think about God. Do you think it’s important to have God in our life? [Allow for response.] In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that we need spiritual values to be truly happy. [Read Matthew 5:3.] This magazine outlines three reasons why we need God.”

Awake! December

“Most of us form opinions based on what we hear or read in the news media. Do you think that the news we receive is accurate and truthful? [Allow for response.] The Bible recommends caution when it comes to trusting what we hear. [Read Job 12:11.] This magazine gives some tips to help us test out the words we hear and read.”

Field Service Highlights

As of May 2013, there were 223 sign-language congregations and 58 groups in the 11 geographic locations cared for by the United States branch office. These are in 12 sign-language circuits. On average, 5,915 Bible studies are conducted each month in the sign-language field. Additionally, 15 sign-language congregations in Canada receive regular visits from a U.S. traveling overseer fluent in ASL. Certainly, these efforts are a fine expression of silent praise to Jehovah God.​—Ps. 113:1.