THE WATCHTOWER

Question: Is death part of God’s will for us?

Scripture: Re 21:4

Offer: This issue of The Watchtower examines what the Bible says about life and death.

TEACH THE TRUTH

Question: Why is there so much suffering?

Scripture: 1Jo 5:19

Truth: Satan the Devil is the ruler of the world.

WHAT HAPPENS AT A BIBLE STUDY?

Offer: Jehovah’s Witnesses offer free Bible lessons that answer such questions as: Why is there so much suffering? How can my family be happy? This brief video explains how our Bible lessons are conducted. [Play the video What Happens at a Bible Study?] We can use this publication for our discussions. [Show one of our study publications, and if possible, demonstrate a Bible study.]

BUILD YOUR OWN PRESENTATION

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

• Song 36 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Do You Have a Heart of Flesh?”: (10 min.)

  • Eze 11:17, 18​—Jehovah promised a restoration of true worship (w07 7/1 11 ¶4)

  • Eze 11:19​—Jehovah can give us a heart that is sensitive to his guidance (w16.05 15 ¶9)

  • Eze 11:20​—Jehovah wants us to apply what we learn

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Eze 12:26-28​—What responsibility do these verses place on Jehovah’s servants? (w07 7/1 13 ¶8)

  • Eze 14:13, 14​—What lessons do we learn from the mention of these individuals? (w16.05 26 ¶13; w07 7/1 13 ¶9)

  • 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 12:1-10

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.

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 129

• Local Needs: (15 min.) As an option, discuss the lessons learned from the Yearbook. (yb17 41-43)

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) kr chap. 14 ¶15-23, review box “How Real Is the Kingdom to You?”

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

• Song 126 and Prayer

What is Jehovah’s guidance?

11:19

• Entertainment

• Dress & Grooming

• Love & Forgiveness

How can I follow God’s guidance more fully?

11:20

• Entertainment

• Dress & Grooming

• Love & Forgiveness

• Song 49 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Do You Keep Your Promises?”: (10 min.)

  • Eze 17:1-4​—Babylon replaced King Jehoiachin with Zedekiah (w07 7/1 12 ¶6)

  • Eze 17:7, 15​—Zedekiah broke his loyalty oath and sought military help from Egypt (w07 7/1 12 ¶6)

  • Eze 17:18, 19​—Jehovah expected Zedekiah to keep his word (w12 10/15 30 ¶11; w88 9/15 17 ¶8)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Eze 16:60​—What is the “permanent covenant,” and who are included in it? (w88 9/15 17 ¶7)

  • Eze 17:22, 23​—Who is the “tender shoot” that Jehovah said he would plant? (w07 7/1 12 ¶6)

  • 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 16:28-42

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call: (2 min. or less) wp17.4 cover​—Lay the groundwork for a return visit.

• Return Visit: (4 min. or less) wp17.4 cover​—Introduce and discuss (but do not play) the video Why Study the Bible?

• Bible Study: (6 min. or less) fg lesson 11 ¶1-2​—Invite the person to the meeting.

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 131

• Fulfill Your Marriage Vow Even When You Are Disappointed With Your Marriage: (10 min.) Talk by an elder based on the March 2014 Awake! pages 14-15.

• Become Jehovah’s Friend​—Be Truthful: (5 min.) Play the video Become Jehovah’s Friend​—Be Truthful. Afterward, invite selected young children to the stage, and ask them questions about the video.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) kr chap. 15 ¶1-8

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

• Song 73 and Prayer

17:18, 19

• 

  What oath did King Zedekiah break?

  What were the consequences of breaking his oath?

• 

  What promises and agreements have I made?

  What are some possible consequences of breaking my promises and agreements?

• Song 125 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “When Jehovah Forgives, Does He Forget?”: (10 min.)

  • Eze 18:19, 20​—Jehovah holds each person responsible for his own actions (w12 7/1 18 ¶2)

  • Eze 18:21, 22​—Jehovah is ready to forgive repentant ones and will never again hold their sins against them (w12 7/1 18 ¶3-7)

  • Eze 18:23, 32​—Jehovah destroys the wicked only as a last resort (w08 4/1 8 ¶4; w06 12/1 27 ¶11)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Eze 18:29​—Why did the Israelites develop a wrong viewpoint about Jehovah, and how can we avoid making the same mistake? (w13 8/15 11 ¶9)

  • Eze 20:49​—Why did the people think that Ezekiel was “speaking in riddles,” and what warning does this provide for us? (w07 7/1 14 ¶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 20:1-12

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call: (2 min. or less) 1Jo 5:19​—Teach the Truth. Lay the groundwork for a return visit.

• Return Visit: (4 min. or less) Ge 3:2-5​—Teach the Truth. Lay the groundwork for the next visit. (See mwb16.08 8 ¶2.)

• Talk: (6 min. or less) w16.05 32​—Theme: How Can the Congregation Express Its Joy When an Announcement Is Made That Someone Has Been Reinstated?

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 130

• “Do You Forgive Yourself?”: (10 min.) Discussion. Begin by playing the video Loyally Uphold Jehovah’s Judgments​—Be Forgiving.

• Young People Ask​—How Can I Deal With My Mistakes?: (5 min.) Discussion of the article “Young People Ask​—How Can I Deal With My Mistakes?” Begin by playing the audio recording of the section “What Would You Do?”

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) kr chap. 15 ¶9-17

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

• Song 33 and Prayer

18:21, 22

• When Jehovah forgives our sins, he will never hold those sins against us in the future.

The following Bible examples help us to trust in Jehovah’s forgiveness.

King David

• What was his wrongdoing?

• On what basis could he be forgiven?

• How did Jehovah show his forgiveness?

King Manasseh

• What was his wrongdoing?

• On what basis could he be forgiven?

• How did Jehovah show his forgiveness?

Apostle Peter

• What was his wrongdoing?

• On what basis could he be forgiven?

• How did Jehovah show his forgiveness?

How can I imitate Jehovah’s forgiveness?

It can be difficult to forgive ourselves for past mistakes that Jehovah has already forgiven. This matter was considered at the 2016 “Remain Loyal to Jehovah!” Regional Convention by means of a talk and a video. Use the JW Library app to watch the video again, and then answer the following questions:

• How long was Sonja disfellowshipped?

• What scripture did the elders share with Sonja, and how did it help her?

• How did the congregation treat Sonja when she was reinstated?

• What feelings did Sonja struggle with, and how did her father help her?

• Song 14 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “The Kingship Belongs to the One With the Legal Right”: (10 min.)

  • Eze 21:25​—The “wicked chieftain of Israel” was King Zedekiah (w07 7/1 13 ¶11)

  • Eze 21:26​—The line of Davidic kings ruling in Jerusalem would cease (w11 8/15 9 ¶6)

  • Eze 21:27​—The one who has the “legal right” is Jesus Christ (w14 10/15 10 ¶14)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Eze 21:3​—What is the “sword” that Jehovah brings forth out of its sheath? (w07 7/1 14 ¶1)

  • Eze 23:49​—What error is highlighted in chapter 23, and what lesson can we learn? (w07 7/1 14 ¶6)

  • 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 21:1-13

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call: (2 min. or less) fg​—Introduce and discuss (but do not play) the video What Happens at a Bible Study?

• Return Visit: (4 min. or less) bh​—Introduce and discuss (but do not play) the video What Happens at a Bible Study? when speaking to someone on your magazine route.

• Bible Study: (6 min. or less) bh 215 ¶3–216 ¶1

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 82

• “Good Doorstep Manners”: (15 min.) Discussion by the service overseer. Begin by playing the video that provides cautions about our doorstep manners.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) kr chap. 15 ¶18-28

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

• Song 34 and Prayer

Jesus had the “legal right” to kingly power in fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy.

• 

  Ge 49:10

  Which tribe did the Messiah come through?

• 

  2Sa 7:12, 16

  Whose kingdom would be secure forever?

• 

  Mt 1:16

  Matthew provided the legal genealogy through whom?

What do you learn about Jehovah from his decision to establish Jesus’ kingship legally?

Christians are “a theatrical spectacle to the world.” (1Co 4:9) Therefore, it should not surprise us that some householders watch us from a window or listen from behind the door. The home may even have a security camera and a microphone that allow the householder to observe, listen to, and record us. Here are some ways to show good manners when at the doorstep.​—2Co 6:3.

BY YOUR CONDUCT (Php 1:27):

• Respect the householder’s privacy by not peering into the home. Do not eat, drink, make phone calls, or send text messages while standing at the door

BY YOUR SPEECH (Eph 4:29):

• While at the doorstep, do not say anything that you would not want the householder to hear. Some publishers may even prefer to suspend conversation altogether so that they can collect their thoughts about what they want to say

What are some other ways that you can display good doorstep manners?

• Song 118 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “A Prophecy Against Tyre Strengthens Confidence in Jehovah’s Word”: (10 min.)

  • Eze 26:3, 4​—Over 250 years in advance, Jehovah foretold the destruction of Tyre (si 133 ¶4)

  • Eze 26:7-11​—Ezekiel named the first nation and its leader to besiege Tyre (ce 216 ¶3)

  • Eze 26:4, 12​—Ezekiel foretold that the walls, houses, and soil of Tyre would be thrown into the water (it-1 70)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Eze 24:6, 12​—What does the rust of the cooking pot represent? (w07 7/1 14 ¶2)

  • Eze 24:16, 17​—Why was Ezekiel to display no grief when his wife died? (w88 9/15 21 ¶24)

  • 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 25:1-11

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

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

• Return Visit: (4 min. or less) Any tract​—Introduce and discuss (but do not play) the video What Happens at a Bible Study?

• Bible Study: (6 min. or less) bh 23 ¶13-15​—Invite the person to the meeting.

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 139

• Faith in God’s Word Helps Us to Endure Trials: (15 min.) Discussion based on such scriptures as Isaiah 33:24; 65:21, 22; John 5:28, 29; and Revelation 21:4. Play the video Appreciating the Benefits of Kingdom Rule. Encourage all to imagine themselves in the new world, especially when discouraged by trials.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) kr chap. 15 ¶29-36, review box “How Real Is the Kingdom to You?”

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

• Song 134 and Prayer

The book of Ezekiel foretold specific details regarding Tyre’s destruction.

• 

  26:7-11

  Sometime after 607 B.C.E., who destroyed the mainland city of Tyre?

• 

  26:4, 12

  In 332 B.C.E., who used the ruins of the mainland city to build a causeway and destroyed the island city of Tyre?

What detailed prophecy are you looking forward to seeing fulfilled?