●○○ INITIAL CALL

○●○ FIRST RETURN VISIT

○○● SECOND RETURN VISIT

Question: Is the Bible’s advice practical?

Scripture: Pr 14:30

Link: Has the Bible accurately foretold the future?

• Song 88 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Keep Training Your Conscience”: (10 min.)

  • [Play the video Introduction to Romans.]

  • Ro 2:14, 15​—Every person has a conscience (lvs 18 ¶6)

  • Ro 2:15​—We must train our conscience for it to be a reliable guide (lvs 19-20 ¶8-9)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Ro 3:4​—How do we “let God be found true”? (w08 6/15 30 ¶5)

  • Ro 3:24, 25​—How could “the ransom paid by Christ Jesus” cover “the sins that occurred in the past”? (w08 6/15 29 ¶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) Ro 1:1-17 (th study 10)

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Apply Yourself to Reading and Teaching: (10 min.) Discussion. Play the video Conversational Manner, and then discuss study 2 of the Teaching brochure.

• Talk: (5 min. or less) w06 6/1 12-13​—Theme: Maintain a Realistic View of Your Limitations and Those of Others. (th study 7)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 6

• “Do You Perceive God’s Invisible Qualities?”: (15 min.) Discussion. Play the video The Wonders of Creation Reveal God’s Glory​—Light and Color.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 53

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

• Song 142 and Prayer

2:14, 15

Our conscience will serve us well if we

1. train it according to Bible principles

2. listen to it when it reminds us of those principles

3. pray for holy spirit to help us overcome the influence of our imperfect flesh.​—Ro 9:1

When you look at a colorful flower, a starry sky, or a thundering waterfall, do you see the handiwork of the Creator? The creation around us clearly reveals Jehovah’s invisible qualities. (Ro 1:20) By pausing to reflect on what we see with our eyes, we are able to perceive God’s power, love, wisdom, and justice, as well as his generosity.​—Ps 104:24.

What are some of Jehovah’s creative works that you notice each day? Even if you live in a city, you may see birds or trees. Observing intently Jehovah’s creation can help us to reduce anxiety, put our problems in proper perspective, and increase our faith in Jehovah’s ability to care for us throughout eternity. (Mt 6:25-32) If you have children, help them to perceive Jehovah’s matchless qualities. As we grow in appreciation for the creation around us, we will draw closer to the Creator.​—Ps 8:3, 4.

WATCH THE VIDEO THE WONDERS OF CREATION REVEAL GOD’S GLORY​—LIGHT AND COLOR, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• How do pigments enable us to see colors?

• What causes iridescence?

• Why do we see different colors in the sky?

• What striking colors in creation have you seen near your home?

• Why should we take time to observe intently the natural world?

• Song 20 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “God Recommends His Own Love to Us”: (10 min.)

  • Ro 5:8, 12​—Jehovah loved us “while we were yet sinners” (w11 6/15 12 ¶5)

  • Ro 5:13, 14​—Sin and death ruled as king (w11 6/15 12 ¶6)

  • Ro 5:18, 21​—Jehovah sent his Son so that we can receive life (w11 6/15 13 ¶9-10)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Ro 6:3-5​—What is meant by baptism “into Christ Jesus” and baptism “into his death”? (w08 6/15 29 ¶7)

  • Ro 6:7​—Why will resurrected ones not be judged on the basis of the sins they committed before they died? (w14 6/1 11 ¶1)

  • 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) Ro 4:1-15 (th study 10)

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

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

• Initial Call: (2 min. or less) Use the sample conversation. (th study 4)

• Initial Call: (3 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation. Overcome a common objection. (th study 6)

• Initial Call: (3 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation. Then introduce a publication from our Teaching Toolbox. (th study 9)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 107

• Local Needs: (15 min.)

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 54

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

• Song 97 and Prayer

5:8, 18, 21

Jehovah’s gift of the ransom addresses issues of universal importance, such as the vindication of his name and sovereignty. But the ransom also enables us to have a righteous standing before Jehovah now and offers the prospect of a happy future for all obedient mankind.

How can we show our gratitude for the gift of the ransom?

• 

  Dedication and baptism show that we have faith in the ransom and that we want to belong to Jehovah

• 

  Preaching the good news of God’s Kingdom shows that we imitate Jehovah’s far-reaching love for people.​—Mt 22:39; Joh 3:16

In what other ways can I show my gratitude to Jehovah for the gift of the ransom?

• Song 27 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Are You ‘Waiting With Eager Expectation’?”: (10 min.)

  • Ro 8:19​—“The sons of God” will soon be revealed (w12 7/15 11 ¶17)

  • Ro 8:20​—“The creation was subjected to futility . . . on the basis of hope” (w12 3/15 23 ¶11)

  • Ro 8:21​—The creation will “be set free from enslavement to corruption” (w12 3/15 23 ¶12)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Ro 8:6​—What is the difference between “setting the mind on the flesh” and “setting the mind on the spirit”? (w17.06 3)

  • Ro 8:26, 27​—How does Jehovah respond to “unuttered groanings”? (w09 11/15 7 ¶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) Ro 7:13-25 (th study 10)

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

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

• First Return Visit: (3 min. or less) Use the sample conversation. (th study 6)

• First Return Visit: (5 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation. Then introduce and discuss (but do not play) the video What Happens at a Bible Study? (th study 9)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 139

• “Keep Eagerly Waiting With Endurance”: (15 min.) Discussion. Play the video We Must “Run With Endurance”​—Be Confident of Gaining the Prize.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 55

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

• Song 124 and Prayer

8:19-21

• “The creation”: mankind with the earthly hope

• “The revealing of the sons of God”: when the anointed ones share with Christ in destroying Satan’s wicked system of things

• “The basis of hope”: Jehovah’s promise of deliverance through Jesus’ death and resurrection

• “Set free from enslavement to corruption”: the gradual deliverance from the effects of sin and death

How long have you been waiting for God’s Kingdom to come? Have you been enduring patiently despite hardship? (Ro 8:25) Some Christians face hatred, mistreatment, imprisonment, or even the threat of death. Many others cope with such trials as chronic illness or advancing age.

What will help us to wait eagerly in the face of any trial? We must feed our faith daily with Bible reading and meditation. We must focus on our hope. (2Co 4:16-18; Heb 12:2) We must supplicate Jehovah in prayer and beg him for the power of his holy spirit. (Lu 11:10, 13; Heb 5:7) Our loving Father can help us “endure fully with patience and joy.”​—Col 1:11.

WATCH THE VIDEO WE MUST “RUN WITH ENDURANCE”​—BE CONFIDENT OF GAINING THE PRIZE, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• 

  What “unexpected events” could arise in life? (Ec 9:11)

• 

  How does prayer help us when we face trials?

• 

  If we cannot do as much in Jehovah’s service as we once did, why should we focus on what we can still do?

• 

  What helps you to remain confident of gaining the prize?

• Song 25 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “The Illustration of the Olive Tree”: (10 min.)

  • Ro 11:16​—The cultivated olive tree represents the fulfillment of God’s purpose regarding the Abrahamic covenant (w11 5/15 23 ¶13)

  • Ro 11:17, 20, 21​—Anointed ones grafted onto the symbolic olive tree must continue to exercise faith (w11 5/15 24 ¶15)

  • Ro 11:25, 26​—The complete number of spiritual Israelites “will be saved” (w11 5/15 25 ¶19)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Ro 9:21-23​—Why should we yield to the molding of the Great Potter, Jehovah? (w13 6/15 25 ¶5)

  • Ro 10:2​—Why must we be certain that our worship is based on accurate knowledge? (it-1 1260 ¶2)

  • 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) Ro 10:1-15 (th study 10)

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

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

• Second Return Visit: (3 min. or less) Use the sample conversation. (th study 6)

• Bible Study: (5 min. or less) Begin with the second return visit sample conversation, and then start a Bible study using the Teach Us book. (th study 9)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 60

• “Improving Our Skills in the Ministry​—Discontinuing Unproductive Bible Studies”: (15 min.) Discussion. Play the video.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 56

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

• Song 36 and Prayer

11:16-26

What do the various features of the symbolic olive tree represent?

• The tree: the fulfillment of God’s purpose regarding the Abrahamic covenant

• The trunk: Jesus, the principal part of Abraham’s offspring

• The branches: the full number of the secondary part of Abraham’s offspring

• The “broken off” branches: natural Jews who rejected Jesus

• The “grafted in” branches: spirit-anointed Christians out of the nations

As foretold, Abraham’s offspring​—Jesus and the 144,000—​will bring blessings “to people of the nations.”​—Ro 11:12; Ge 22:18

What do I learn about Jehovah from the way he fulfilled his purpose regarding Abraham’s offspring?

WHY IMPORTANT: People must call on the name of Jehovah in order to be saved. (Ro 10:13, 14) Yet, not everyone who agrees to study the Bible wants to live by Jehovah’s standards. We make the best use of our precious time in the ministry by helping those who truly want to make changes to please Jehovah. If a Bible student does not make meaningful progress after a reasonable period of time, we wisely redirect our efforts to those whom Jehovah is drawing to him and his organization. (Joh 6:44) Of course, if at a future time the person gives evidence of being “rightly disposed for everlasting life,” we gladly resume his Bible study.​—Ac 13:48.

HOW TO DO IT:

• Commend the student for wanting to gain accurate knowledge.​—1Ti 2:4

• Emphasize the importance of applying what he has learned.​—Lu 6:46-49

• Kindly discuss Jesus’ illustration of the sower, and ask him to consider what may be holding him back.​—Mt 13:18-23

• Tactfully explain why you are discontinuing the study

• Let him know that you will call periodically to encourage him and that the study can resume in the future if he makes progress

WATCH THE VIDEO, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• What did you learn from the conversation that indicated that the student was not making spiritual progress?

• How did the publisher help the student appreciate that he needed to make changes?

• How did the publisher leave the door open for the study to resume in the future?