AWAKE!

Offer: This issue of Awake! discusses an intriguing topic. [Hand the householder a copy.]

Question: Did you know that Jehovah’s Witnesses translate literature into over 750 languages?

Scripture: Re 14:6

AWAKE!

Question: Do you think that this principle could be of help when a married couple need to discuss a problem?

Scripture: Jas 1:19

Offer: [Point out the article that begins on page 10.] This article considers additional Bible principles along this line.

TRACTS

Question: Please note this question. [Read the multiple-choice question on the front of the tract.] What’s your opinion?

Scripture: [Listed on page 2 of the tract]

Offer: This tract explains what that scripture can mean for you.

BUILD YOUR OWN PRESENTATION

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

• Song 95 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Trust in Jehovah and Do Good”: (10 min.)

  • Ps 37:1, 2​—Maintain focus on serving Jehovah, not on the apparent success of wrongdoers (w03 12/1 9-10 ¶3-6)

  • Ps 37:3-6​—Trust in Jehovah, do good, and be blessed (w03 12/1 10-12 ¶7-15)

  • Ps 37:7-11​—Wait patiently on Jehovah to remove the wicked (w03 12/1 13 ¶16-20)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Ps 34:18​—How does Jehovah respond to those who are “brokenhearted” and “crushed in spirit”? (w11 6/1 19)

  • Ps 34:20​—How was this prophecy fulfilled in Jesus? (w13 12/15 21 ¶19)

  • 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) Ps 35:19–36:12

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

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

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 93

• “Improving Our Skills in the Ministry​—Using Videos to Teach”: (15 min.) Discussion. To illustrate the points under the subheading “How to Do It,” use the jw.org video Who Is the Author of the Bible? (Look under PUBLICATIONS > BOOKS & BROCHURES. Then locate the Good News brochure. The video is found under the lesson entitled “Is the Good News Really From God?”)

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) ia chap. 17 ¶1-13

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

• Song 61 and Prayer

“Do not be . . . envious of wrongdoers”

37:1, 2

• Do not allow the temporary success of wicked people to distract you from serving Jehovah. Keep your focus on spiritual blessings and goals

“Trust in Jehovah and do what is good”

37:3

• Trust that Jehovah will support you through any doubt or anxiety. He will help you stay faithful

• Keep busy by sharing the good news of God’s Kingdom

“Find exquisite delight in Jehovah”

37:4

• Schedule time to read God’s Word and meditate on it with the goal of getting to know Jehovah better

“Commit your way to Jehovah”

37:5, 6

• Have complete trust that Jehovah will help you handle any problem

• Maintain good conduct in the face of opposition, persecution, or misrepresentation

“Keep silent before Jehovah and wait expectantly for him”

37:7-9

• Avoid rash acts that can rob you of joy and spiritual security

“The meek will possess the earth”

37:10, 11

• Seek meekness, and humbly wait on Jehovah to remove all the injustice you experience

• Support fellow believers, and comfort the depressed with the promise of God’s new world, which is close at hand

WHY IMPORTANT:

Videos can touch the hearts of people by appealing to the senses of sight and hearing. This helps to hold attention and to make a lasting impression. Jehovah has set the best example of using visual aids to teach.​—Ac 10:9-16; Re 1:1.

The videos Does God Have a Name?, Who Is the Author of the Bible?, and How Can We Be Sure the Bible Is True? supplement lessons 2 and 3 of the Good News brochure. The videos Why Study the Bible?, What Happens at a Bible Study?, and What Happens at a Kingdom Hall? encourage individuals to study the Bible with us or to attend congregation meetings. Some of our feature-length videos may also be used to teach on Bible studies.​—km 5/13 3.

HOW TO DO IT:

• Download in advance the video you want to show the householder

• Prepare one or two questions that will be answered by the video

• Watch the video together

• Discuss the main points

TRY THIS:

• Turn to the back of one of our tracts, and direct attention to the code that links to the video Why Study the Bible?

• Show the video How Can We Be Sure the Bible Is True? and offer the Good News brochure, highlighting lesson 3

• Song 4 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Jehovah Sustains Those Who Are Ill”: (10 min.)

  • Ps 41:1, 2​—Happy are those who show consideration to lowly ones (w15 12/15 24 ¶7; w91 10/1 14 ¶6)

  • Ps 41:3​—Jehovah cares for upright ones who are sick (w08 9/15 5 ¶12-13)

  • Ps 41:12​—Hope for the future can help the sick to endure (w15 12/15 27 ¶18-19; w08 12/15 6 ¶15)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Ps 39:1, 2​—How must we guard our speech? (w09 5/15 4 ¶5; w06 5/15 20 ¶12)

  • Ps 41:9​—How did Jesus apply David’s situation to himself? (w11 8/15 13 ¶5; w08 9/15 5 ¶11)

  • 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) Ps 42:6–43:5

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call: (2 min. or less) g16.3 cover

• Return Visit: (4 min. or less) g16.3 cover

• Bible Study: (6 min. or less) fg lesson 2 ¶4-5​—Conclude by introducing the jw.org video Does God Have a Name?

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 128

• Keep Your Eyes on the Prize!: (15 min.) Discussion. Show the jw.org video Become Jehovah’s Friend​—Keep Your Eyes on the Prize! (Song 24). (Look under BIBLE TEACHINGS > CHILDREN.) Then discuss the corresponding activity “Compare: Life Now and in the Future,” using the following questions: What changes will occur in Paradise? What blessings do you look forward to? How can meditating on your hope help you to endure?​—2Co 4:18.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) ia chap. 17 ¶14-22 and the chapter review

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

• Song 36 and Prayer

Faithful servants can be confident of Jehovah’s support during any adversity

41:1-4

• David became very ill

• David showed consideration to lowly ones

• David did not expect a miraculous recovery, but he looked to Jehovah for comfort, wisdom, and support

• Jehovah viewed David as a man of integrity

• Song 67 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Jehovah Will Not Reject a Broken Heart”: (10 min.)

  • Ps 51:1-4​—David deeply regretted that he had sinned against Jehovah (w93 3/15 10-11 ¶9-13)

  • Ps 51:7-9​—David needed Jehovah’s forgiveness to regain his joy (w93 3/15 12-13 ¶18-20)

  • Ps 51:10-17​—David knew that Jehovah would forgive a truly repentant person (w15 6/15 14 ¶6; w93 3/15 14-17 ¶4-16)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Ps 45:4​—What is the greatest truth that must be defended? (w14 2/15 5 ¶11)

  • Ps 48:12, 13​—What obligation do these verses place on us? (w15 7/15 9 ¶13)

  • 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) Ps 49:10–50:6

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call: (2 min. or less) g16.3 10-11

• Return Visit: (4 min. or less) g16.3 10-11

• Bible Study: (6 min. or less) fg lesson 3 ¶1​—Conclude by introducing the jw.org video Who Is the Author of the Bible?

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 98

• “The Kingdom​—100 Years and Counting”: (15 min.) Questions and answers. Begin by playing the jw.org video The Kingdom​—100 Years and Counting up to the section “An Education in One Day.” (Look under PUBLICATIONS > VIDEOS.)

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) ia chap. 18 ¶1-13

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

• Song 109 and Prayer

Psalm 51 was written by David after the prophet Nathan called attention to David’s grave sin with Bath-sheba. David’s conscience struck him, and he humbly confessed.​—2Sa 12:1-14.

David had sinned but spiritual recovery was still possible

51:3, 4, 8-12, 17

• Before he repented and confessed, his conscience made him miserable

• He suffered such agony over God’s disapproval that he felt like a man whose bones were crushed

• He longed for forgiveness, spiritual recovery, and the joy that he had previously experienced

• He humbly begged Jehovah to help him develop a willingness to obey

• He was confident of Jehovah’s forgiveness

Those desiring to be citizens of God’s Kingdom should learn all they can about the Kingdom and what it has accomplished. Why? This will not only strengthen their faith that God’s Kingdom rules but also stir their hearts to tell others the good news of God’s Kingdom. (Ps 45:1; 49:3) As you watch the video The Kingdom​—100 Years and Counting, find answers to the following questions:

1. Why was the “Photo-Drama of Creation” a blessing to those who saw it?

2. How was radio used to reach people with the good news?

3. What other methods were used to preach the good news, and with what effect?

4. How has training for the ministry improved over the years?

5. What practical training was provided to students of Gilead School?

6. What role have conventions played in educating Jehovah’s people?

7. What proves to you that God’s Kingdom is ruling?

8. How do we show our support for God’s Kingdom?

• Song 38 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Throw Your Burden On Jehovah”: (10 min.)

  • Ps 55:2, 4, 5, 16-18​—David had moments of great anxiety in his life (w06 6/1 11 ¶3; w96 4/1 27 ¶2)

  • Ps 55:12-14​—David’s son and a trusted friend conspired against David (w96 4/1 30 ¶1)

  • Ps 55:22​—David expressed confidence in Jehovah’s help (w06 6/1 11 ¶4; w99 3/15 22-23)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Ps 56:8​—What does the expression “collect my tears in your skin bottle” mean? (w09 6/1 29 ¶1; w08 10/1 26 ¶3)

  • Ps 59:1, 2​—What does David’s experience teach us about prayer? (w08 3/15 14 ¶13)

  • 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) Ps 52:1–53:6

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call: (2 min. or less) Offer one of the tracts. Direct attention to the code on the back page.

• Return Visit: (4 min. or less) Demonstrate how to make a return visit on someone who accepted a tract.

• Bible Study: (6 min. or less) fg lesson 3 ¶2-3​—Conclude by introducing the jw.org video How Can We Be Sure the Bible Is True?

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 56

• Local needs: (7 min.)

• “God Is My Helper”: (8 min.) Discussion. Obtain as many comments as possible for the questions listed so that all may benefit from the personal expressions of their brothers and sisters. (Ro 1:12) Encourage publishers to use the Research Guide to find help from God’s Word when challenges arise.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) ia chap. 18 ¶14-21 and the chapter review

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

• Song 121 and Prayer

David experienced many devastating trials during his life. By the time Psalm 55 was composed, he had suffered such things as . . .

• 

  Insults

• 

  Persecution

• 

  Severe Guilt

• 

  Family Tragedy

• 

  Sickness

• 

  Betrayal

Even when his burdens seemed unbearable, David found a way to cope with them. For any who might feel the same way, David gives this inspired advice: “Throw your burden on Jehovah.”

How can we apply this verse today?

55:22

1. Turn to Jehovah in heartfelt prayer with any problem, anxiety, or concern

2. Seek guidance and support from Jehovah’s Word and organization

3. Do what you reasonably can to relieve the situation in harmony with Bible principles

Psalms 52-59 express David’s sentiments during several challenging periods of his life. Yet, he still trusted in Jehovah during those critical times. (Ps 54:4; 55:22) He also praised Jehovah for His word. (Ps 56:10) Are we developing the same kind of faith and trust in our God? Do we look to his Word for guidance when facing difficulties? (Pr 2:6) Which Bible verses helped you when you were . . .

• discouraged or depressed?

• ill?

• offended by others?

• persecuted?