●○○ INITIAL CALL

○●○ FIRST RETURN VISIT

○○● SECOND RETURN VISIT

Question: What hope do we have for the dead?

Scripture: Ac 24:15

Link: Where will the resurrection take place?

• Song 35 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Do You Love Me More Than These?”: (10 min.)

  • Joh 21:1-3​—After Jesus’ death, Peter and other disciples went fishing

  • Joh 21:4-14​—The resurrected Jesus appeared to Peter and other disciples

  • Joh 21:15-19​—Jesus helped Peter understand his priority (“Jesus said to Simon Peter” and “do you love me more than these?” study notes on Joh 21:15, nwtsty; “a third time” study note on Joh 21:17, nwtsty)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Joh 20:17​—What is the meaning of Jesus’ words to Mary Magdalene? (“Stop clinging to me” study note on Joh 20:17, nwtsty)

  • Joh 20:28​—Why did Thomas call Jesus “my Lord and my God”? (“My Lord and my God!” study note on Joh 20:28, 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) Joh 20:1-18

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) bhs 79 ¶21-22​—Invite the person to the meeting.

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 37

• Local Needs: (15 min.)

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 42

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

• Song 45 and Prayer

21:1-19

In Bible times, successful fishermen were patient, hardworking, and willing to endure hardship in the pursuit of a worthwhile reward. (w12 8/1 18-20) Such qualities would serve Peter well as a fisher of men. However, Peter needed to decide what he would put first in his life​—a secular career that he enjoyed or the work of spiritually feeding Jesus’ followers.

What adjustments have you made in order to put Kingdom interests first?

• Song 104 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Holy Spirit Is Poured Out on the Christian Congregation”: (10 min.)

  • [Play the video Introduction to Acts.]

  • Ac 2:1-8, 14, 37, 38, 41​—After receiving holy spirit, Jesus’ disciples gave a witness that resulted in the baptism of about 3,000

  • Ac 2:42-47​—Jesus’ disciples showed great generosity and hospitality, allowing newly baptized ones visiting Jerusalem to lengthen their stay and have their faith strengthened (w86 12/1 29 ¶4-5, 7)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Ac 3:15​—Why is Jesus called “the Chief Agent of life”? (it-2 61 ¶1)

  • Ac 3:19​—How does this verse describe the way Jehovah forgives repentant wrongdoers? (cl 265 ¶14)

  • 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) Ac 2:1-21

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.

• Talk: (6 min. or less) it-1 129 ¶2-3​—Theme: Why Was Judas Replaced When the Apostles Who Died Faithful Were Not?

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 85

• “Cooperating to Preach in Multilingual Territory”: (15 min.) Discussion by the service overseer. Play and discuss the video. Outline local arrangements for working multilingual territory.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 43 ¶1-7

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

• Song 68 and Prayer

2:1-8, 14, 37, 38, 41-47

Many Jews who were present in Jerusalem during Pentecost 33 C.E. came from other nations. (Ac 2:9-11) Although they observed the Mosaic Law, they may have lived in a foreign land their entire life. (Jer 44:1) Therefore, some may have looked and talked more like the natives of their country than like the Jews. When 3,000 from this multinational crowd got baptized, the Christian congregation suddenly became much more diverse. Despite their different backgrounds, “they were in constant attendance in the temple with a united purpose.”​—Ac 2:46.

How can you show genuine interest in . . .

• people in your territory who are from other lands?

• brothers and sisters in your congregation who are from other lands?

People often respond more readily to the Kingdom message when they hear it spoken in their native language. Perhaps that is why at Pentecost 33 C.E., Jehovah arranged for “devout Jews from every nation under heaven” to hear the good news in their “own native language,” even though they likely spoke a common language, such as Hebrew or Greek. (Ac 2:5, 8) In multilingual areas today, congregations that hold meetings in different languages may have territory in the same neighborhoods. How can publishers in such congregations cooperate to give everyone a witness while avoiding unnecessary overlapping of efforts that may irritate householders?

• 

  Consult (Pr 15:22): Service overseers should consult together and work out a mutually acceptable system for spreading the good news. If their territory is limited, congregations that preach in other languages will likely want you to skip homes that are in their territory. However, if they are unable to cover all their territory regularly because it is scattered over a large area, they may prefer that you not skip any homes but inform them when someone in their territory shows interest. (od 93 ¶37) Or they may ask that your congregation help them to find people who speak the language of their congregation and whose addresses can be transferred to their territory. (km 7/12 5, box) Keep in mind that in some instances, more than one language may be spoken in the same home. Arrangements for covering the territory should comply with applicable data protection laws.

• 

  Cooperate (Eph 4:16): Carefully follow any direction you receive from your service overseer. Are you conducting a Bible study with someone whose preferred language is not the language of your congregation? The student would likely progress faster if you transferred the study to a nearby congregation or group that speaks his language.

• 

  Prepare (Pr 15:28; 16:1): If a householder in your territory speaks a different language, do your best to share the good news. You can prepare by anticipating the languages you may encounter and by downloading in advance Bible translations and videos onto your mobile device. You can also use the JW Language app to learn greetings in some languages.

• Song 73 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “They Kept Speaking God’s Word With Boldness”: (10 min.)

  • Ac 4:5-13​—Although “uneducated and ordinary,” Peter and John did not hold back from defending their faith before rulers and scribes (w08 9/1 15, box; w08 5/15 30 ¶6)

  • Ac 4:18-20​—Despite threats, Peter and John refused to stop preaching

  • Ac 4:23-31​—First-century Christians relied on Jehovah’s holy spirit for boldness (it-1 128 ¶3)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Ac 4:11​—In what way is Jesus “the chief cornerstone”? (it-1 514 ¶4)

  • Ac 5:1​—Why did Ananias and Sapphira sell some of their property? (w13 3/1 15 ¶4)

  • 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) Ac 5:27-42

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 tells you that he is not a Christian.

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

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 82

• “Worldwide Benefits of Cart Witnessing”: (15 min.) Discussion by the service overseer. Play the video. If the congregation does public witnessing locally using a table or cart, show the display to the audience. Outline local arrangements. If time allows, relate or reenact a good local experience. Explain how publishers can have a share.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 43 ¶8-18

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

• Song 64 and Prayer

4:5-13, 18-20, 23-31

What qualified the apostles to be teachers? What enabled them to speak with conviction and boldness? “They had been with Jesus,” the Great Teacher, and had learned from him. (Ac 4:13) What are some lessons that we can learn from Jesus that will help us to be effective ministers?

Match the following scriptures with the appropriate lesson.

According to Acts chapter 5, first-century Christians went to the temple, a public place where many people could be found, in order to share the good news. (Ac 5:19-21, 42) Today, we have seen good results from cart witnessing in public places.

WATCH THE VIDEO WORLDWIDE BENEFITS OF CART WITNESSING, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• 

  When and how did cart witnessing begin?

• What advantages does a mobile cart often have over a table?

• What can we learn from the experience of Mi Jung You?

• How does the experience of Jacob Salomé illustrate the value of cart witnessing?

• What does the experience of Annies and her husband teach us about how to witness effectively when using a cart?

• Song 124 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “The New Christian Congregation Is Tested”: (10 min.)

  • Ac 6:1​—Greek-speaking widows were apparently being discriminated against in the congregation (bt 41 ¶17)

  • Ac 6:2-7​—The apostles acted to resolve the problem (bt 42 ¶18)

  • Ac 7:58–8:1​—Great persecution arose against the congregation

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Ac 6:15​—In what sense was Stephen’s face “like an angel’s face”? (bt 45 ¶2)

  • Ac 8:26-30​—In what way are Christians today privileged to share in work like that done by Philip? (bt 58 ¶16)

  • 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) Ac 6:1-15

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Second Return Visit: (3 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation. Then invite the person to the meeting.

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

• Bible Study: (6 min. or less) lvs 38 ¶16-17

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 109

• “A Gift in Hand for Jehovah”: (15 min.) Discussion by an elder. Begin by playing the video ‘A Gift in Hand to Jehovah.’ Read the letter from the branch expressing appreciation for the donations received during the past service year. Consider how we benefit from making donations. Outline the local congregation’s monthly expenses. Discuss how we can donate and how these donations are used. Commend the congregation for its generous support.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 43 ¶19-29

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

• Song 67 and Prayer

6:1-7; 7:58–8:1

Newly baptized Greek-speaking widows who had lengthened their visit to Jerusalem were being discriminated against. Did this injustice stumble them, or did they patiently wait on Jehovah to correct matters?

After Stephen was stoned and intense persecution caused Christians in Jerusalem to scatter throughout Judea and Samaria, did they slow down in their ministry?

With Jehovah’s backing, the new Christian congregation endured and flourished.​—Ac 6:7; 8:4.

ASK YOURSELF, ‘How am I dealing with trials?’

How can we “come forward today with a gift in hand for Jehovah”? (1Ch 29:5, 9, 14) Below are various ways in which we can choose to make voluntary donations to support the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses, both locally and worldwide.

DONATIONS MADE ONLINE OR PLACED IN CONTRIBUTION BOXES SUPPORT:

• 

  THE WORLDWIDE WORK

  construction and operation of branch facilities and remote translation offices

  theocratic schools

  special full-time servants

  disaster relief

  printing, video production, and digital publishing

• 

  LOCAL CONGREGATION EXPENSES

  congregation expenses, such as utilities and basic maintenance of the Kingdom Hall

  any resolutions made by the congregation to send funds to the branch office for:

  • Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide

  • the Global Assistance Arrangement

  • other worldwide activities

CONVENTIONS AND ASSEMBLIES

Donations made to your regional convention are forwarded to the worldwide work. In turn, the expenses related to regional, special, and international conventions are paid from the worldwide work.

Donations made to a circuit are used to rent, operate, and maintain assembly venues and for other circuit-related expenses. A circuit may resolve to contribute excess funds to the worldwide work of Jehovah’s Witnesses.