AWAKE!

Question: Most people want to have good health. What do you think we can do to protect ourselves from getting sick?

Scripture: Pr 22:3

Offer: This issue of Awake! discusses steps that we can take to be shrewd and reduce the risk of disease.

TEACH THE TRUTH

Question: Is our suffering caused by God or by other factors?

Scripture: Job 34:10

Truth: God is never the cause of our suffering. Rather, suffering comes from the Devil, from humans who make bad choices, and sometimes from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. When we suffer, God is there to support us. He really cares about us.

WHY STUDY THE BIBLE? (Video)

Question: Do you think that God controls the world? [Allow for response.] What the Bible says may surprise you. This brief video explains. [Play the video.]

Offer: Chapter 11 of this book discusses why God has allowed suffering and what he intends to do about it. [Offer the Bible Teach or Teach Us book.]

BUILD YOUR OWN PRESENTATION

Use the format in the preceding examples to create your own field service presentation.

• Song 107 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Let Us Go Up to the Mountain of Jehovah”: (10 min.)

  • [Play the video Introduction to Isaiah.]

  • Isa 2:2, 3​—“The mountain of the house of Jehovah” represents pure worship (ip-1 38-41 ¶6-11; 44-45 ¶20-21)

  • Isa 2:4​—Worshippers of Jehovah do not learn war anymore (ip-1 46-47 ¶24-25)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Isa 1:8, 9​—How was the daughter of Zion “left like a shelter in a vineyard”? (w06 12/1 8 ¶5)

  • Isa 1:18​—What is meant by Jehovah’s words: “Let us set matters straight between us”? (w06 12/1 9 ¶1; it-2 761 ¶3)

  • What does this week’s Bible reading teach me about Jehovah?

  • What points from this week’s Bible reading can I use in the field ministry?

• Bible Reading: (4 min. or less) Isa 5:1-13

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Prepare This Month’s Presentations: (15 min.) Discussion based on “Sample Presentations.” Play each presentation video, and then discuss the highlights. Encourage publishers to build their own presentation.

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 139

• Local Needs: (7 min.) As an option, discuss the lessons learned from the Yearbook. (yb16 32 ¶3–34 ¶1)

• “Improving Our Skills in the Ministry​—Reaching the Heart With ‘Keep Yourselves in God’s Love’”: (8 min.) Discussion. Encourage those who have the Bible Study student assignments this month to apply the points found on pages 261-262 of the Ministry School book.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) kr chap. 5 ¶1-9

• Review Followed by Preview of Next Week (3 min.)

• Song 154 and Prayer

  Reminder: Play the new song through once before singing.

2:2, 3

2:4

WHY IMPORTANT: People must learn Jehovah’s standards and conform to them in order to worship him acceptably. (Isa 2:3, 4) The “God’s Love” book, our second study publication, helps Bible students to discern how godly principles relate to daily life. (Heb 5:14) We must try to reach the heart when we teach them so that they may have the proper motivation to make changes.​—Ro 6:17.

HOW TO DO IT:

• Prepare well, keeping the needs of your student in mind. Formulate viewpoint questions that will help you to draw out his thoughts and feelings about the material.​—Pr 20:5; be 259

• Use the boxes throughout the book to help your student see the value of applying Bible principles

• Help your student to reason on matters of conscience, but do not make decisions for him.​—Ga 6:5

• Tactfully determine if your student needs help to apply certain Bible principles. Kindly encourage him to make changes based on his love for Jehovah.​—Pr 27:11; Joh 14:31

• Song 116 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “The Messiah Fulfilled Prophecy”: (10 min.)

  • Isa 9:1, 2​—His public ministry in Galilee was foretold (w11 8/15 10 ¶13; ip-1 124-126 ¶13-17)

  • Isa 9:6​—He would have many different roles (w14 2/15 12 ¶18; w07 5/15 6)

  • Isa 9:7​—His rulership will bring true peace and justice (ip-1 132 ¶28-29)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Isa 7:3, 4​—Why did Jehovah extend salvation to wicked King Ahaz? (w06 12/1 9 ¶4)

  • Isa 8:1-4​—How was this prophecy fulfilled? (it-1 1219; ip-1 111-112 ¶23-24)

  • What does this week’s Bible reading teach me about Jehovah?

  • What points from this week’s Bible reading can I use in the field ministry?

• Bible Reading: (4 min. or less) Isa 7:1-17

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call: (2 min. or less) g16.6 cover

• Return Visit: (4 min. or less) g16.6 cover

• Bible Study: (6 min. or less) lv 34 ¶18​—Show how to reach the heart.

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 10

• “Here I Am! Send Me!” (Isa 6:8): (15 min.) Discussion. Play the video Moving to Serve Where the Need Is Greater.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) kr chap. 5 ¶10-17 and the box “A Great Sigh of Relief”

• Review Followed by Preview of Next Week (3 min.)

• Song 150 and Prayer

  Reminder: Play the new song through once before singing.

Centuries before Jesus was born, Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would preach “in the region of the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.” Jesus fulfilled this prophecy as he traveled throughout Galilee preaching and teaching the good news.​—Isa 9:1, 2.

• 

  Performed his first miracle​—Joh 2:1-11 (Cana)

• 

  Chose his apostles​—Mr 3:13, 14 (near Capernaum)

• 

  Gave the Sermon on the Mount​—Mt 5:1–7:27 (near Capernaum)

• 

  Resurrected a widow’s only son​—Lu 7:11-17 (Nain)

• 

  Appeared to some 500 disciples after his resurrection​—1Co 15:6 (Galilee)

Isaiah’s willing spirit is worthy of imitation. He showed faith and immediately responded to a need, although not knowing all the details. (Isa 6:8) Can you adjust your circumstances in order to serve where there is a greater need for Kingdom proclaimers? (Ps 110:3) Of course, it is necessary to “calculate the expense” of such a move. (Lu 14:27, 28) Be willing, however, to make sacrifices for the sake of the preaching work. (Mt 8:20; Mr 10:28-30) As highlighted in the video Moving to Serve Where the Need Is Greater, the blessings we receive in Jehovah’s service far surpass any sacrifices we make.

AFTER WATCHING THE VIDEO, ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• What personal sacrifices did members of the Williams family make in order to serve in Ecuador?

• What factors did they consider when choosing where to serve?

• What blessings did they receive?

• Where can you find more information about serving where the need is greater?

DURING YOUR NEXT FAMILY WORSHIP, DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• How can we expand our ministry as a family? (km 8/11 4-6)

• If we are unable to serve where the need is greater, in what ways can we help our local congregation? (w16.03 23-25)

• Song 143 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “The Knowledge of Jehovah Will Fill the Earth”: (10 min.)

  • Isa 11:3-5​—Righteousness will prevail forever (ip-1 160-161 ¶9-11)

  • Isa 11:6-8​—Peace will exist between humans and animals (w12 9/15 9-10 ¶8-9)

  • Isa 11:9​—All mankind will learn Jehovah’s ways (w16.06 8 ¶9; w13 6/1 7)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Isa 11:1, 10​—How can Jesus Christ be “the root of Jesse” as well as a twig that grew “out of the stump of Jesse”? (w06 12/1 9 ¶6)

  • Isa 13:17​—In what sense did the Medes regard silver as nothing and take no delight in gold? (w06 12/1 10 ¶10)

  • What does this week’s Bible reading teach me about Jehovah?

  • What points from this week’s Bible reading can I use in the field ministry?

• Bible Reading: (4 min. or less) Isa 13:17–14:8

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call: (2 min. or less) Job 34:10​—Teach the Truth.

• Return Visit: (4 min. or less) Ec 8:9; 1Jo 5:19​—Teach the Truth.

• Bible Study: (6 min. or less) lv 54 ¶9​—Show how to reach the heart.

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 24

• “Divine Education Conquers Prejudice”: (15 min.) Discussion. Play the video Johny and Gideon: Once Enemies, Now Brothers.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) kr chap. 5 ¶18-25 and the box “How Real Is the Kingdom to You?”

• Review Followed by Preview of Next Week (3 min.)

• Song 151 and Prayer

  Reminder: Play the new song through once before singing.

11:6-9

How this prophecy applied to the Israelites

• Neither on the way home from their exile in Babylon nor in their restored land did the Israelites need to fear wild beasts or beastlike men.​—Ezr 8:21, 22

How this prophecy applies to our day

• Knowledge of Jehovah has changed personalities. Formerly violent people have become peaceable. Knowledge of God has created a global spiritual paradise

How this prophecy will be fulfilled in the future

• The whole earth will be transformed into a secure, peaceful paradise, according to God’s original purpose. No creature, whether human or animal, will pose any threat

Paul was changed by the knowledge of God

• As a Pharisee, he displayed beastlike traits.​—1Ti 1:13

• Accurate knowledge transformed his personality.​—Col 3:8-10

Jehovah is not partial. (Ac 10:34, 35) He accepts people “out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues.” (Re 7:9) Thus, there is no place in the Christian congregation for prejudice or favoritism. (Jas 2:1-4) Thanks to divine education, we enjoy a spiritual paradise in which we have seen the transformation of human personalities. (Isa 11:6-9) As we work diligently to root out of our heart any traces of prejudice, we prove ourselves imitators of God.​—Eph 5:1, 2.

WATCH THE VIDEO JOHNY AND GIDEON: ONCE ENEMIES, NOW BROTHERS. THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• Why is divine education superior to human efforts in eliminating discrimination and prejudice?

• What impresses you about our international brotherhood?

• How is Jehovah glorified when we maintain Christian unity?

• Song 123 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Abuse of Power Leads to Loss of Authority”: (10 min.)

  • Isa 22:15, 16​—Shebna used his authority in a selfish way (ip-1 238 ¶16-17)

  • Isa 22:17-22​—Jehovah replaced Shebna with Eliakim (ip-1 238-239 ¶17-18)

  • Isa 22:23-25​—Shebna’s experience teaches us valuable lessons (w07 1/15 8 ¶6; ip-1 240-241 ¶19-20)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Isa 21:1​—What region was called “the wilderness of the sea,” and why? (w06 12/1 11 ¶2)

  • Isa 23:17, 18​—How did Tyre’s material profit become “holy to Jehovah”? (ip-1 253-254 ¶22-24)

  • What does this week’s Bible reading teach me about Jehovah?

  • What points from this week’s Bible reading can I use in the field ministry?

• Bible Reading: (4 min. or less) Isa 17:1-14

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call: (2 min. or less) bh​—Use the video Why Study the Bible? to introduce the book. (Note: Do not play the video during the demonstration.)

• Return Visit: (4 min. or less) bh​—Start a doorstep Bible study, and lay the groundwork for the next visit.

• Bible Study: (6 min. or less) lv 150-151 ¶10-11​—Show how to reach the heart.

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 44

• Will You “Keep on the Watch”?: (8 min.) Talk by an elder based on the March 15, 2015, Watchtower, pages 12-16. Encourage all to keep on the watch, just as did Isaiah’s visionary watchman and the five virgins of Jesus’ illustration.​—Isa 21:8; Mt 25:1-13.

• Organizational Accomplishments: (7 min.) Play the Organizational Accomplishments video for December.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) kr chap. 6 ¶1-7 and “Section 2​—Kingdom Preaching—​Spreading the Good News Worldwide”

• Review Followed by Preview of Next Week (3 min.)

• Song 141 and Prayer

Shebna was the steward “in charge of the house,” likely the house of King Hezekiah. His position was second only to the king, and much was expected of him.

22:15, 16

• Shebna should have cared for the needs of Jehovah’s people

• He selfishly pursued glory for himself

22:20-22

• Jehovah replaced Shebna with Eliakim

• Eliakim was given “the key of the house of David,” which symbolized power and authority

Consider: How could Shebna have used his authority to help others?