●○○ INITIAL CALL

○●○ FIRST RETURN VISIT

○○● SECOND RETURN VISIT

Question: What does the ransom accomplish?

Scripture: Ro 6:23

Link: How can we show our appreciation for the ransom?

• Song 76 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Whoever Wants to Become Great Among You Must Be Your Minister”: (10 min.)

  • Mt 20:3​—The proud scribes and Pharisees loved to be noticed and greeted “in the marketplace” (“The Marketplace” media on Mt 20:3, nwtsty)

  • Mt 20:20, 21​—Two apostles requested positions of honor and authority (“mother of the sons of Zebedee,” “one at your right hand and one at your left” study notes on Mt 20:20, 21, nwtsty)

  • Mt 20:25-28​—Jesus explained that his followers must be humble ministers (“minister,” “not to be ministered to, but to minister” study notes on Mt 20:26, 28, nwtsty)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Mt 21:9​—When the crowds shouted: “Save, we pray, the Son of David!” what did they mean? (“Save, we pray,” “Son of David” study notes on Mt 21:9, nwtsty)

  • Mt 21:18, 19​—Why did Jesus cause a fig tree to wither? (jy 244 ¶4-6)

  • 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) Mt 20:1-19

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call Video: (4 min.) Play and discuss the video.

• First Return Visit: (3 min. or less) Use the sample conversation.

• Bible Study: (6 min. or less) lv 36-37 ¶3-4

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 99

• Local Needs: (5 min.)

• Organizational Accomplishments: (10 min.) Play the Organizational Accomplishments video for March.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 11

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

• Song 53 and Prayer

20:28

The proud scribes and Pharisees wanted to impress others and desired prominence. (Mt 23:5-7) Jesus was different. “The Son of man came, not to be ministered to, but to minister.” (Mt 20:28) Do we focus our efforts primarily on aspects of worship that may bring us recognition and praise? Christlike greatness comes from serving the interests of others. Such work is often done behind the scenes​—observed only by Jehovah. (Mt 6:1-4) A humble minister will . . .

• share in cleaning and maintaining the Kingdom Hall

• take the initiative to help the elderly and others

• contribute financially to support Kingdom interests

• Song 30 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Obey the Two Greatest Commandments”: (10 min.)

  • Mt 22:36-38​—How do these verses explain what is involved in obeying the greatest and first commandment in the Law? (“heart,” “soul,” “mind” study notes on Mt 22:37, nwtsty)

  • Mt 22:39​—What is the second greatest commandment in the Law? (“The second,” “neighbor” study notes on Mt 22:39, nwtsty)

  • Mt 22:40​—The entire Hebrew Scriptures are based on love (“the whole Law . . . and the Prophets,” “hangs” study notes on Mt 22:40, nwtsty)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Mt 22:21​—What are “Caesar’s things,” and what are “God’s things”? (“Caesar’s things to Caesar,” “God’s things to God” study notes on Mt 22:21, nwtsty)

  • Mt 23:24​—What do Jesus’ words mean? (“who strain out the gnat but gulp down the camel” study note on Mt 23:24, nwtsty)

  • 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) Mt 22:1-22

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call: (2 min. or less) Use the sample conversation.

• First Return Visit Video: (5 min.) Play and discuss the video.

• Bible Study: (6 min. or less) bhs 199 ¶8-9​—Teacher encourages student to invite acquaintances to the Memorial.

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 96

• “Love for God and Neighbor​—How to Cultivate It”: (15 min.) Discussion. To illustrate the value of using our imagination to visualize Bible accounts, play the dramatic Bible reading Jehovah Is the Only True God​—Excerpt as the audience follows along at 1 Kings 18:17-46.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 12

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

• Song 52 and Prayer

22:36-39

Using Matthew 22:36-39, number in order of importance the following reasons for attending Christian meetings:

• To be encouraged

• To encourage our brothers

• To worship and demonstrate our love for Jehovah

Why should we try to go to our meetings even when we are tired and feel that we will receive little personal benefit from attending?

What are other ways in which we can demonstrate our obedience to the two greatest commandments?

Although the Mosaic Law is not binding on Christians, its two greatest commandments​—to love God and to love our neighbor—​still summarize what Jehovah requires of us. (Mt 22:37-39) Such love is not inherited. It must be cultivated. How? One important way is by means of daily Bible reading. When we consider the various facets of God’s personality as revealed in the Scriptures, we behold “the pleasantness of Jehovah.” (Ps 27:4) As a result, our love for him grows and our thinking becomes more like his. This motivates us to observe God’s commandments, including the command to demonstrate self-sacrificing love for others. (Joh 13:34, 35; 1Jo 5:3) Here are three suggestions to make Bible reading more enjoyable:

• Use your imagination, and engage your senses. Imagine that you are there. What would you see, hear, and smell? What may be the feelings of those involved?

  

• Vary your approach. Here are some options: Read aloud, or follow along while listening to an audio recording. Read about a particular Bible character or subject instead of reading chapters in order. For example, use Appendix A7 or B12 in the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures to read about Jesus. Read the entire chapter from which the daily text is taken. Read the Bible books in the order they were written.

  

• Read to understand. Reading even one chapter each day with understanding and meditating on it is far better than reading many chapters just for the sake of covering material. Consider the setting. Analyze the details. Make use of maps and marginal references. Research at least one point that you do not understand. If possible, spend about the same amount of time to meditate as you would to read.

  

• Song 126 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Remain Spiritually Awake During the Last Days”: (10 min.)

  • Mt 24:12​—Increased lawlessness will cause people’s love to grow cold (it-2 279 ¶6)

  • Mt 24:39​—Normal pursuits of life will become the chief concern of some and cause them to be distracted (w99 11/15 19 ¶5)

  • Mt 24:44​—The Master will come at an unexpected time (jy 259 ¶5)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Mt 24:8​—What may Jesus’ wording suggest? (“pangs of distress” study note on Mt 24:8, nwtsty)

  • Mt 24:20​—Why did Jesus say this? (“in wintertime,” “on the Sabbath day” study notes on Mt 24:20, nwtsty)

  • 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) Mt 24:1-22

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call: (2 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation. The person raises an objection that is common in your territory.

• First Return Visit: (3 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation. The person you spoke with before is not at home, but a relative comes to the door.

• Second Return Visit Video: (5 min.) Play and discuss the video.

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 57

• “Close to the End of This System of Things”: (15 min.) Discussion. Play the video.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 13

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

• Song 97 and Prayer

24:39

Most people today have allowed the normal pursuits of life to crowd out spiritual pursuits. How do spiritually awake Christians differ from the world in the way they view . . .

• 

  secular education?

• 

  recreation?

• 

  employment?

• 

  material things?

Watch the video Close to the End of This System of Things, and then answer the following questions regarding Matthew 24:34.

• What are “all these things”?

• How does Exodus 1:6 help us to understand the meaning of “generation”?

• To what particular generation was Jesus referring?

• What two groups make up “this generation”?

• How do Jesus’ words indicate that we are living deep in the time of the end?

• Song 143 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Keep on the Watch”: (10 min.)

  • Mt 25:1-6​—Five discreet and five foolish virgins went out to meet the bridegroom

  • Mt 25:7-10​—The foolish virgins were absent when the bridegroom arrived

  • Mt 25:11, 12​—Only the discreet virgins were admitted to the marriage feast

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Mt 25:31-33​—Explain the illustration of the sheep and the goats. (w15 3/15 27 ¶7)

  • Mt 25:40​—How can we express our friendship toward Christ’s brothers? (w09 10/15 16 ¶16-18)

  • 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) Mt 25:1-23

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Second Return Visit: (3 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation. Invite the person to the Memorial.

• Third Return Visit: (3 min. or less) Choose your own scripture, and offer a study publication.

• Talk: (6 min. or less) w15 3/15 27 ¶7-10​—Theme: How Does the Illustration of the Sheep and the Goats Emphasize the Preaching Work?

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 85

• “Improving Our Skills in the Ministry​—Teaching Our Students to Prepare”: (10 min.) Discussion. Afterward, play and discuss the video that shows a publisher teaching her Bible student how to prepare for the study. Invite those in the audience to relate other ways in which they have successfully helped their students to prepare for their Bible study.

• Welcome Our Guests: (5 min.) Talk based on the article in the March 2016 Life and Ministry Meeting Workbook. Relate some good experiences enjoyed during the 2017 Memorial season. Provide necessary reminders regarding parking, entering and exiting the building, and so forth for the upcoming Memorial on March 31.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 14

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

• Song 79 and Prayer

25:1-12

Although Jesus directed the parable of the ten virgins to his anointed followers, its basic message applies to all Christians. (w15 3/15 12-16) “Keep on the watch, therefore, because you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Mt 25:13) Can you explain Jesus’ parable?

• Bridegroom (vs. 1)​—Jesus

• Discreet, prepared virgins (vs. 2)​—Anointed Christians who are prepared to carry out their assignment faithfully and who shine as illuminators until the end (Php 2:15)

• The shout: “Here is the bridegroom!” (vs. 6)​—Evidence of Jesus’ presence

• Foolish virgins (vs. 8)​—Anointed Christians who go out to meet the Bridegroom but who do not remain watchful and do not maintain their integrity

• The discreet virgins refuse to share their oil (vs. 9)​—After the final sealing, it is too late for faithful anointed ones to help any who have turned unfaithful

• “The bridegroom came” (vs. 10)​—Jesus comes to render judgment near the end of the great tribulation

• The discreet virgins enter the marriage feast with the bridegroom, and the door is shut (vs. 10)​—Jesus gathers his faithful anointed ones to heaven, but the unfaithful ones lose their heavenly reward

WHY IMPORTANT: When they prepare, Bible students can more readily understand and remember what we are teaching them. The more they understand and remember, the faster they will make progress. Even after baptism, they will need to prepare for the meetings and the ministry in order to “keep on the watch.” (Mt 25:13) Therefore, knowing how to study and having a good study routine will benefit them throughout their life. Right from the start, we should help our students develop the habit of preparing for their Bible study.

HOW TO DO IT:

• 

  Be a good example. (Ro 2:21) Prepare for each study with the student in mind. (km 11/15 3) Let him see your underlined publication

• 

  Encourage him to prepare. Once the study is established, let him know that preparation is part of the Bible study arrangement, and explain the benefits. Give practical suggestions on how he can buy out time from his schedule to prepare. Some teachers allow the student to use the teacher’s underlined publication during a study session to help the student see the benefits. Commend him when he prepares

• Show him how to prepare. Early on, some teachers will use the entire study session to demonstrate to their student how to prepare for a lesson