AWAKE!

Question: Reports of teen depression seem to be increasing at an alarming rate. What do you think can be done about the problem?

Offer: This magazine offers some suggestions on how teens can deal with depression and how their parents can help.

TEACH THE TRUTH

Question: What makes for a happy marriage?

Scripture: Eph 5:33

Truth: Marriages flourish when they are built on love and respect.

THE ORIGIN OF LIFE​—FIVE QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING (lf)

Question: When it comes to important questions such as how life began, what would you say we should base our belief on?

Scripture: Heb 11:1, ftn.

Offer: As the footnote in that verse indicates, we’re wise to base our beliefs on “convincing evidence.” This brochure considers five key questions about the origin of life and what reliable evidence reveals.

BUILD YOUR OWN PRESENTATION

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

• Song 89 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Obedience to Jehovah Leads to Blessings”: (10 min.)

  • Isa 48:17​—True worship is based on obedience to divine instruction (ip-2 131 ¶18)

  • Isa 48:18​—Jehovah loves us and wants us to enjoy life (ip-2 131 ¶19)

  • Isa 48:19​—Obedience leads to eternal blessings (ip-2 132 ¶20-21)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Isa 49:6​—How is the Messiah “a light of nations,” even though his earthly ministry was limited to the Israelites? (w07 1/15 9 ¶8)

  • Isa 50:1​—Why did Jehovah ask the Israelites: “Where is the divorce certificate of your mother?” (it-1 643 ¶4-5)

  • 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 51:12-23

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. During February, publishers may offer either Was Life Created? or The Origin of Life​—Five Questions Worth Asking, depending on the response of the householder. (See the box “The Origin of Life​—Five Questions Worth Asking.”)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 135

• Local Needs: (7 min.) As an option, discuss the lessons learned from the Yearbook. (yb16 144-145)

• Become Jehovah’s Friend​—Obey Jehovah: (8 min.) Discussion. Start by playing the video Become Jehovah’s Friend​—Obey Jehovah. Then consider the following questions: What is the most important reason why we should obey Jehovah? (Pr 27:11) What are some ways that children must obey Jehovah? What are some ways that adults must obey Jehovah?

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) kr chap. 8 ¶1-7 and the box “Good News in More Than 670 Tongues”

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

• Song 68 and Prayer

48:17

• Jehovah lovingly shows us ‘the way we should walk’ in order to enjoy life. We benefit ourselves by obeying him

“Peace . . . like a river”

48:18

• Jehovah promises peace that is as abundant and ongoing as a river

“Righteousness like the waves of the sea”

• Our deeds of righteousness can be as innumerable as the waves of the sea

• Song 20 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Christ Suffered for Us”: (10 min.)

  • Isa 53:3-5​—He was despised, and he was crushed for our errors (w09 1/15 26 ¶3-5)

  • Isa 53:7, 8​—He willingly sacrificed his life for us (w09 1/15 27 ¶10)

  • Isa 53:11, 12​—We can have a righteous standing because he remained faithful until death (w09 1/15 28 ¶13)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Isa 54:1​—Who is the “barren woman” mentioned in this prophecy, and who are her “sons”? (w06 3/15 11 ¶2)

  • Isa 57:15​—In what sense does Jehovah “reside” with those who are “crushed” and “lowly”? (w05 10/15 26 ¶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 57:1-11

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

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

• Return Visit: (4 min. or less) lf 30-31​—Lay the groundwork for the next visit.

• Bible Study: (6 min. or less) bh 14-15 ¶16-17​—If available, have a father study with his minor son or daughter.

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 5

• “Help Your Children to Develop Unshakable Faith in the Creator”: (15 min.) Discussion. Play the video What Your Peers Say​—Belief in God.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) kr chap. 8 ¶8-13 and the chart “World Records for Publications”

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

• Song 24 and Prayer

“He was despised and was avoided by men . . . We considered him as plagued, stricken by God and afflicted”

53:3-5

• Jesus was despised and charged with blasphemy. Some believed that God was punishing him, as if plaguing him with a loathsome disease

  

“It was Jehovah’s will to crush him, . . . and through him the delight of Jehovah will have success”

53:10

• Jehovah no doubt suffered when he saw his Son put to death. But he delighted to see Jesus’ absolute faithfulness. Jesus’ death provided an answer to Satan’s challenge regarding the loyalty of God’s servants and brought benefits to repentant humans. It thus helped to accomplish “Jehovah’s will”

Creation declares Jehovah’s glory. (Ps 19:1-4; 139:14) However, the Devil’s world promotes God-dishonoring theories about the origin of life. (Ro 1:18-25) How can you prevent such ideas from taking root in the mind and heart of your children? Help them from an early age to develop faith that Jehovah exists and cares about them personally. (2Co 10:4, 5; Eph 6:16) Draw out their deepest thoughts about what they are taught at school, and use the many tools available to reach their heart.​—Pr 20:5; Jas 1:19.

WATCH THE VIDEO WHAT YOUR PEERS SAY​—BELIEF IN GOD, AND THEN CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• What is a common myth about belief in God?

• What is taught in your school?

• What convinces you that Jehovah exists?

• How might you help someone to reason that God created all things?

• Song 57 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Proclaim the Year of Jehovah’s Goodwill”: (10 min.)

  • Isa 61:1, 2​—Jesus was anointed “to proclaim the year of Jehovah’s goodwill” (ip-2 322 ¶4)

  • Isa 61:3, 4​—Jehovah provides “big trees of righteousness” to support his work (ip-2 326-327 ¶13-15)

  • Isa 61:5, 6​—“Foreigners” cooperate with “the priests of Jehovah” in the greatest witnessing campaign of all time (w12 12/15 25 ¶5-6)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Isa 60:17​—What are some ways that Jehovah has fulfilled this promise in the last days? (w15 7/15 9-10 ¶14-17)

  • Isa 61:8, 9​—What is the “everlasting covenant,” and who are the “offspring”? (w07 1/15 11 ¶5)

  • 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 62:1-12

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call: (2 min. or less) g17.1 cover

• Return Visit: (4 min. or less) g17.1 cover

• Bible Study: (6 min. or less) bh 16 ¶19​—If available, have a mother study with her minor daughter.

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 66

• Use Videos in Your Ministry: (6 min.) Talk. Play the video What Is God’s Kingdom? Encourage all to use the video in connection with the literature offer for March and April on an initial call or on a return visit.

• “Make Wise Use of Bible Literature”: (9 min.) Discussion. Play the video Distributing Bible Literature in Congo.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) kr chap. 8 ¶14-18 and the boxes “Speeding Up Bible Translation” and “How Real Is the Kingdom to You?”

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

• Song 96 and Prayer

“The year of Jehovah’s goodwill” is not a literal year

61:1, 2

• It is a time period during which Jehovah gives meek ones the opportunity to respond to his proclamation of freedom

• In the first century, the year of goodwill started when Jesus began his ministry in 29 C.E. and lasted until “the day of vengeance” of Jehovah when Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 C.E.

• In our day, the year of goodwill began with Jesus’ enthronement in heaven in 1914 and will conclude with the great tribulation

Jehovah blesses his people with “big trees of righteousness”

61:3, 4

• The tallest trees in the world usually grow together in forests, where individual trees support one another

• Large root systems may be intertwined, anchoring the trees and providing resistance to storms

• Tall trees provide protective shade for saplings, and leaves that fall from the trees enrich the soil beneath

All members of the worldwide Christian congregation benefit from the support and protection of the “big trees of righteousness,” the anointed remnant

Jesus taught: “You received free, give free.” (Mt 10:8) We adhere to that clear direction by not charging people for a copy of the Bible or our Bible-based literature. (2Co 2:17) Nevertheless, these publications contain precious truths from God’s Word. Great effort and expense are involved in printing literature and shipping it to congregations around the world. Therefore, we should take only what we need.

Use discernment when giving literature to others, even at public witnessing locations. (Mt 7:6) Instead of simply handing out literature to passersby, make an effort to converse with them to determine their interest. Can you answer yes to at least one of the questions in the accompanying box? If you are unable to determine someone’s interest, it is best to give him a tract. Of course, if he asks for a magazine or another publication, we will gladly give him a copy.​—Pr 3:27, 28.

• Song 145 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “New Heavens and a New Earth Will Cause Great Rejoicing”: (10 min.)

  • Isa 65:17​—“The former things will not be called to mind” (ip-2 383 ¶23)

  • Isa 65:18, 19​—There will be great rejoicing (ip-2 384 ¶25)

  • Isa 65:21-23​—Life will be satisfying, and people will feel secure (w12 9/15 9 ¶4-5)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Isa 63:5​—How does God’s wrath support him? (w07 1/15 11 ¶6)

  • Isa 64:8​—How does Jehovah exercise his authority as our Potter? (w13 6/15 25 ¶3-5)

  • 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 63:1-10

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call: (2 min. or less) Eph 5:33​—Teach the Truth.

• Return Visit: (4 min. or less) 1Ti 5:8; Tit 2:4, 5​—Teach the Truth.

• Talk: (6 min. or less) Isa 66:23; w06 11/1 30-31 ¶14-17​—Theme: Meeting Together—​A Permanent Feature of Our Worship

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 142

• “Rejoice in Your Hope” (Isa 65:17, 18; Ro 12:12): (15 min.) Discussion. Play the video Rejoice in the Hope.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) kr chap. 9 ¶1-9 and the chart “Worldwide Increase”

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

• Song 80 and Prayer

God’s promise of restoration recorded in Isaiah chapter 65 is so certain that Jehovah speaks of it as if it were already being fulfilled.

Jehovah creates new heavens and a new earth, where the former things are not called to mind

65:17

What are the new heavens?

• A new government that will bring about righteous conditions on earth

• It was established in 1914 when Christ was enthroned as King of God’s Kingdom

What is the new earth?

• A society of people from all nationalities, languages, and races who gladly submit to the rulership of the new heavenly government

How will the former things not be called to mind?

• The causes of hurtful memories​—physical, mental, and emotional suffering—​will no longer exist

• Faithful humans will enjoy life to the full and will treasure the pleasant memories of each passing day

  

Hope is like an anchor. (Heb 6:19) It helps us to avoid spiritual shipwreck when we face stormy seas. (1Ti 1:18, 19) Stormy seas may include personal disappointments, material loss, prolonged illness, the death of a loved one, or any other threat to our integrity.

Faith and hope enable us to see clearly the promised reward. (2Co 4:16-18; Heb 11:13, 26, 27) So whether our hope is heavenly or earthly, we must regularly nourish it by meditating on the promises recorded in God’s Word. Then, when we are distressed by trials, it will be easier to maintain our joy.​—1Pe 1:6, 7.

WATCH THE VIDEO REJOICE IN THE HOPE, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• Why is Moses a good example to imitate?

• What responsibility rests on family heads?

• What subjects might you consider for Family Worship projects?

• How can hope help you to face trials with confidence?

• What do you look forward to?