AWAKE!

Question: How can we be balanced in our use of time?

Scripture: Ec 4:6

Offer: This issue of Awake! provides practical suggestions regarding priorities.

TEACH THE TRUTH

Question: Why are we here?

Scripture: Ps 37:29

Truth: God created humans to live forever on the earth.

GOOD NEWS FROM GOD!

Question: Where do you think we can turn to for good news? [Show the video Would You Like Good News?]

Scripture: Isa 52:7

Offer: This brochure offers “good news of something better” because it contains a message from the Bible.

BUILD YOUR OWN PRESENTATION

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

• Song 136 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Jehovah Rewarded a Pagan Nation”: (10 min.)

  • Eze 29:18​—King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon obtained no reward for his difficult conquest of Tyre (it-2 1136 ¶4)

  • Eze 29:19​—King Nebuchadnezzar received Egypt as spoil in place of Tyre (it-1 698 ¶5)

  • Eze 29:20​—Jehovah rewarded the Babylonians because they had acted in his behalf (g86 11/8 27 ¶4-5)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Eze 28:12-19​—How did the course taken by Tyre’s rulers resemble that of Satan? (it-2 604 ¶4-5)

  • Eze 30:13, 14​—How was this prophecy fulfilled? (w03 7/1 32 ¶1-3)

  • What has this week’s Bible reading taught you about Jehovah?

  • What other spiritual gems have you discovered in this week’s Bible reading?

• Bible Reading: (4 min. or less) Eze 29:1-12

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 include current events in their presentations and to make good use of the video Would You Like Good News? when offering the Good News brochure.

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 120

• Local Needs: (5 min.) As an option, discuss the lessons learned from the Yearbook. (yb17 35-36 and box on page 35)

• “Cultivate Godly Qualities​—Humility”: (10 min.) Discussion. Play the video Avoid What Erodes Loyalty​—Pride.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) kr “Section 5​—Kingdom Education—​Training Servants of the King,” chap. 16 ¶1-5, boxes “Family Worship” and “Annual Gatherings That Unite God’s People”

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

• Song 93 and Prayer

29:18-20

If Jehovah rewarded a pagan nation for a service, how much more so will he show appreciation for the work of his loyal servants!

BABYLONIAN ACTION

Siege of Tyre

MY ACTIONS

What kind of spiritual warfare do I wage?

BABYLONIAN SACRIFICES

• 

  The costly siege of Tyre lasted 13 years

• 

  Babylonian soldiers suffered physically

• 

  The Babylonians received no wages

MY SACRIFICES

What sacrifices have I made in service to Jehovah?

HOW JEHOVAH REWARDED BABYLON

Jehovah gave Egypt as spoil

MY REWARDS FROM JEHOVAH

How does Jehovah reward me?

WHY IMPORTANT:

• Humility leads to a close relationship with Jehovah.​—Ps 138:6

• Humility promotes good relationships with others.​—Php 2:3, 4

• Pride is destructive.​—Pr 16:18; Eze 28:17

HOW TO DO IT:

• Ask for counsel and apply it.​—Ps 141:5; Pr 19:20

• Readily perform menial tasks for others.​—Mt 20:25-27

• Do not allow skills or privileges to inflate your ego.​—Ro 12:3

WATCH THE VIDEO AVOID WHAT ERODES LOYALTY​—PRIDE, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• What does our response to counsel reveal about our attitude?

• How does prayer help us to cultivate humility?

• What are some ways to demonstrate humility?

• Song 60 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “The Watchman’s Heavy Responsibility”: (10 min.)

  • Eze 33:7​—Jehovah appointed Ezekiel as a watchman (it-2 1172 ¶2)

  • Eze 33:8, 9​—The watchman avoided bloodguilt by sounding the warning (w88 1/1 28 ¶13)

  • Eze 33:11, 14-16​—Jehovah will preserve alive those who heed the warning (w12 3/15 15 ¶3)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Eze 33:32, 33​—Why should we persist in preaching despite apathy? (w91 3/15 17 ¶16-17)

  • Eze 34:23​—How has this verse been fulfilled? (w07 4/1 26 ¶3)

  • What has this week’s Bible reading taught you about Jehovah?

  • What other spiritual gems have you discovered in this week’s Bible reading?

• Bible Reading: (4 min. or less) Eze 32:1-16

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call: (2 min. or less) g17.4 cover​—Lay the groundwork for a return visit.

• Return Visit: (4 min. or less) g17.4 cover​—Invite the person to our meetings.

• Bible Study: (6 min. or less) fg lesson 2 ¶9-10​—Show how to reach the heart.

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 47

• “Cultivate Godly Qualities​—Courage”: (15 min.) Discussion. Play the video Avoid What Erodes Loyalty​—Fear of Man.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) kr chap. 16 ¶6-17

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

• Song 86 and Prayer

Literal watchmen were often stationed on the city walls and towers to warn of approaching danger. Jehovah appointed Ezekiel as a figurative “watchman to the house of Israel.”

• 

  33:7

  Ezekiel warned Israel that execution would come upon them if they did not turn away from their bad ways

  What message from Jehovah do we proclaim today?

• 

  33:9, 14-16

  By sounding the warning, Ezekiel could save his life and the lives of others

  What should motivate us to proclaim the urgent message that Jehovah has entrusted to us?

WHY IMPORTANT:

• Preaching requires courage.​—Ac 5:27-29, 41, 42

• The great tribulation will test our courage.​—Mt 24:15-21

• Fear of man leads to tragedy.​—Jer 38:17-20; 39:4-7

HOW TO DO IT:

• Meditate on Jehovah’s saving acts.​—Ex 14:13

• Pray for courage and boldness. ​—Ac 4:29, 31

• Put your trust in Jehovah.​—Ps 118:6

WATCH THE VIDEO AVOID WHAT ERODES LOYALTY​—FEAR OF MAN, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• Why is courage essential in our ministry?

• What contrast do we find at Proverbs 29:25?

• Why must we develop godly courage now?

• Song 149 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Gog of Magog Will Soon Be Destroyed”: (10 min.)

  • Eze 38:2​—The name Gog of Magog refers to a coalition of nations (w15 5/15 29-30)

  • Eze 38:14-16​—Gog of Magog will attack Jehovah’s people (w12 9/15 5-6 ¶8-9)

  • Eze 38:21-23​—Jehovah God will magnify and sanctify himself by destroying Gog of Magog (w14 11/15 27 ¶16)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Eze 36:20, 21​—What is a primary reason why we must maintain fine conduct? (w02 6/15 20 ¶12)

  • Eze 36:33-36​—How have these words been fulfilled in modern times? (w88 9/15 24 ¶11)

  • What has this week’s Bible reading taught you about Jehovah?

  • What other spiritual gems have you discovered in this week’s Bible reading?

• Bible Reading: (4 min. or less) Eze 35:1-15

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call: (2 min. or less) Ps 37:29​—Teach the Truth.

• Return Visit: (4 min. or less) Ge 1:28; Isa 55:11​—Teach the Truth.

• Talk: (6 min. or less) w16.07 31-32​—Theme: What Is the Meaning of the Joining Together of the Two Sticks?

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 119

• “Cultivate Godly Qualities​—Faith”: (15 min.) Discussion. Play the video Pursue What Builds Loyalty​—Faith.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) kr chap. 16 ¶18-24, box “The Singing of the Truth,” review box “How Real Is the Kingdom to You?”

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

• Song 87 and Prayer

The Bible describes the events that will occur before and after the destruction of Gog of Magog.

• 

  Re 17:16-18

  The destruction of what will begin the great tribulation?

• 

  Eze 38:2, 11, 15

  Who will attack Jehovah’s people?

• 

  Re 16:16

  Jehovah will destroy Gog of Magog in which war?

• 

  Re 20:4

  How long will Christ reign?

How can I prepare spiritually for the attack of Gog of Magog?

WHY IMPORTANT:

• Faith is needed to please God well.​—Heb 11:6

• Faith in God’s promises helps us to endure trials.​—1Pe 1:6, 7

• Lack of faith can lead to sin.​—Heb 3:12, 13

HOW TO DO IT:

• Pray for more faith.​—Lu 11:9, 13; Ga 5:22

• Read God’s Word and meditate on it.​—Ro 10:17; 1Ti 4:15

• Regularly associate with people of faith.​—Ro 1:11, 12

WATCH THE VIDEO PURSUE WHAT BUILDS LOYALTY​—FAITH, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• What is “faith without hypocrisy”? (1Ti 1:5)

• To build strong faith, what negative influences must we avoid?

• Why will faith be necessary during the great tribulation? (Heb 10:39)

• Song 24 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Ezekiel’s Temple Vision and You”: (10 min.)

  • Eze 40:2​—Jehovah’s worship is elevated high above any other form of worship (w99 3/1 11 ¶16)

  • Eze 40:3, 5​—Jehovah will certainly fulfill his purpose concerning pure worship (w07 8/1 10 ¶2)

  • Eze 40:10, 14, 16​—We must live by Jehovah’s lofty and upright standards in order to worship him acceptably (w07 8/1 11 ¶4)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Eze 39:7​—When humans blame God for injustice, how are they profaning his name? (w12 9/1 21 ¶2)

  • Eze 39:9​—After Armageddon, what will be done with the war equipment that the nations will leave behind? (w89 8/15 14 ¶20)

  • What has this week’s Bible reading taught you about Jehovah?

  • What other spiritual gems have you discovered in this week’s Bible reading?

• Bible Reading: (4 min. or less) Eze 40:32-47

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call: (2 min. or less) fg lesson 1 ¶1​—Begin by introducing (but do not play) the video Would You Like Good News? Offer the brochure.

• Return Visit: (4 min. or less) fg lesson 1 ¶2​—Lay the groundwork for the next visit.

• Bible Study: (6 min. or less) fg lesson 1 ¶3-4

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 53

• “When Can I Next Serve as an Auxiliary Pioneer?”: (15 min.) Discussion. Play the video With Jehovah, I Can Do Almost Anything.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) kr chap. 17 ¶1-9

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

• Song 67 and Prayer

40:10, 14, 16

• 

  The guard chambers and lofty pillars remind us that Jehovah has high standards for pure worship

• 

  Ask yourself, ‘In what ways can I uphold Jehovah’s lofty and upright standards?’

Ezekiel’s temple vision reveals that Jehovah’s people would make voluntary offerings. How can we personally share in making sacrifices of praise?​—Heb 13:15, 16.

One excellent way is to serve as an auxiliary pioneer. The 2018 service year contains several months that have five Saturdays or five Sundays. This is especially helpful to those who work full-time secularly and participate in the ministry mostly on the weekends. Additionally, publishers may choose either a 30- or a 50-hour requirement during the months of March and April and during the month of the circuit overseer’s visit.

What if our circumstances do not permit us to share in the auxiliary pioneer service? We can certainly strive to improve the quality of our ministry and perhaps increase the quantity as well. Whatever our circumstances, may love for Jehovah impel us to offer him our best during the 2018 service year!​—Ho 14:2.

WATCH THE VIDEO WITH JEHOVAH, I CAN DO ALMOST ANYTHING, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• What motivates Sabina to do more in Jehovah’s service?

• How does Sabina’s example encourage you?

• During the 2018 service year, which month(s) can you serve as an auxiliary pioneer?