●○○ INITIAL CALL

○●○ FIRST RETURN VISIT

○○● SECOND RETURN VISIT

Question: What will life be like when God resurrects our dead loved ones?

Scripture: Isa 32:18

Link: How will God bring peace to the earth?

• Song 128 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “We Do Not Give Up”: (10 min.)

  • 2Co 4:16​—Jehovah renews us “from day to day” (w04 8/15 25 ¶16-17)

  • 2Co 4:17​—Present suffering is “momentary and light” (it-1 724-725)

  • 2Co 4:18​—We should focus on future Kingdom blessings

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • 2Co 4:7​—What is “this treasure in earthen vessels”? (w12 2/1 28-29)

  • 2Co 6:13​—How can we obey the admonition to “open [our] hearts wide”? (w09 11/15 21 ¶7)

  • 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) 2Co 4:1-15 (th study 12)

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Apply Yourself to Reading and Teaching: (10 min.) Discussion. Play the video Accurate Reading, and then discuss study 5 of the Teaching brochure.

• Talk: (5 min. or less) w04 7/1 30-31​—Theme: Should a Baptized Christian Pursue a Courtship With a Publisher Who Is Not Baptized? (th study 7)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 143

• Doing the Very Best I Can: (8 min.) Play the video. Then ask the audience the following questions: How did Brother Foster give his all to Jehovah when he was young and strong? How did his circumstances change? How is he giving Jehovah his all in his changed circumstances? What lessons have you learned from his experience?

• Local Needs: (7 min.)

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 65

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

• Song 65 and Prayer

4:16-18

Imagine two families living in the same dilapidated apartment building. One family is understandably in despair. Strangely, the other family is happy. Why? The second family will soon move to a beautiful new home.

Although “all creation keeps on groaning together and being in pain together until now,” God’s servants have a hope that sustains them. (Ro 8:22) We know that our present troubles, even those that have plagued us for decades, are “momentary and light” when compared to an eternity in God’s new world. Focusing on future Kingdom blessings will help us have a measure of joy and not give up.

• Song 109 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Our Relief Ministry”: (10 min.)

  • 2Co 8:1-3​—Macedonians contributed “beyond their means” to help their Judean brothers (w98 11/1 25 ¶1; kr 209 ¶1)

  • 2Co 8:4​—Helping needy Christians is part of our “relief ministry” (kr 209-210 ¶4-6)

  • 2Co 9:7​—“God loves a cheerful giver” (kr 196 ¶10)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • 2Co 9:15​—What is God’s “indescribable free gift”? (w16.01 12 ¶2)

  • 2Co 10:17​—What does it mean to “boast in Jehovah”? (g99 7/8 20-21)

  • 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) 2Co 7:1-12 (th study 12)

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 1)

• Initial Call: (3 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation. Overcome a common objection. (th study 2)

• Initial Call: (3 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation. Overcome a common objection. (th study 4)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 17

• “How Our Relief Ministry Has Benefited Christians in the Caribbean”: (15 min.) Discussion. Play the video Love in Action​—Relief Work in the Islands.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 66

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

• Song 94 and Prayer

8:1-4; 9:7

Christians have a twofold ministry​—“the ministry of the reconciliation,” or our preaching and teaching work, and “the relief ministry” in behalf of fellow believers. (2Co 5:18-20; 8:4) Therefore, helping needy Christians is part of our sacred service. By having a share, we

• provide well for the needs of our brothers and sisters.​—2Co 9:12a

• help afflicted ones get back into their spiritual routine, which includes zealously sharing in the preaching work as an expression of their thanks to Jehovah.​—2Co 9:12b

• bring glory to Jehovah. (2Co 9:13) Relief work gives a witness to all, including those who have a negative view of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Today, just as in the first century, we have the privilege of demonstrating love to fellow Christians who have experienced disasters. (Joh 13:34, 35) Watch the video Love in Action​—Relief Work in the Islands to see how Christians have responded to the needs of their brothers and sisters living in the Caribbean, and then answer the following questions:

• How were our brothers in the Caribbean affected by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria?

• How has Jehovah helped our brothers in the Caribbean by means of fellow Christians?

• How were the victims of the hurricanes affected by the outpouring of love shown by their brothers?

• How many brothers and sisters have participated in disaster relief in the Caribbean?

• How may all of us have a share in relief work?

• How did this video make you feel about being part of this loving organization?

• Song 3 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Paul’s ‘Thorn in the Flesh’”: (10 min.)

  • 2Co 12:7​—Paul dealt with a nagging problem that was like an irritating thorn (w08 6/15 3-4)

  • 2Co 12:8, 9​—Jehovah chose not to grant Paul’s supplications to remove the thorn (w06 12/15 24 ¶17-18)

  • 2Co 12:10​—Paul was able to fulfill his assignment by relying on God’s holy spirit (w18.01 9 ¶8-9)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • 2Co 12:2-4​—To what do “the third heaven” and “paradise” likely refer? (w18.12 8 ¶10-12)

  • 2Co 13:12​—What evidently was “a holy kiss”? (it-2 177)

  • 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) 2Co 11:1-15 (th study 5)

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 2)

• First Return Visit: (4 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation, and introduce the Teach Us book. (th study 4)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 38

• “You Can Succeed Despite Your ‘Thorn in the Flesh’!”: (15 min.) Discussion. Play the video “The Eyes of the Blind Will Be Opened.” Inform the audience that literature for the blind or visually impaired is available in 47 languages in braille as well as other formats. Publishers should speak with the literature servant to request such literature. Encourage all to be attentive to the needs of any in the congregation or territory who are visually impaired.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 67

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

• Song 78 and Prayer

12:7-10

In the Bible, thorns are often used in a figurative sense. They may describe people who are troublesome and cause injury or things that pose problems. (Nu 33:55; Pr 22:5; Eze 28:24) When Paul wrote about his “thorn in the flesh,” he may have been referring to false apostles and others who challenged his apostleship and work. How do the scriptures below indicate another possibility for Paul’s “thorn in the flesh”?

• 

  Ac 23:1-5

• Ga 4:14, 15

• Ga 6:11

What is your “thorn in the flesh”?

How can you rely on Jehovah to help you endure?

During these critical last days, thorny problems afflict all of God’s servants. (2Ti 3:1) How can we rely on Jehovah and successfully cope with these problems? Watch the video “The Eyes of the Blind Will Be Opened” to find out what Talita Alnashi and her parents have done, and then answer the following questions:

• What is Talita’s “thorn in the flesh”?

• What Bible promises have helped Talita and her parents maintain a positive attitude?

• How did Talita’s parents demonstrate their reliance on Jehovah soon after her operation?

• How have Talita’s parents made good use of theocratic resources to instill love for God in Talita’s heart?

• How has Talita shown that she is growing spiritually despite her “thorn in the flesh”?

• How has Talita’s example encouraged you?

• Song 106 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “I Resisted Him Face-to-Face”: (10 min.)

  • [Play the video Introduction to Galatians.]

  • Ga 2:11-13​—When Jewish Christians visited Peter, fear of man caused him to withdraw from his Gentile brothers (w17.04 27 ¶16)

  • Ga 2:14​—Paul corrected Peter (w13 3/15 5 ¶12)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Ga 2:20​—How should you view the ransom, and why? (w14 9/15 16 ¶20-21)

  • Ga 3:1​—Why did Paul call the Galatians “senseless”? (it-1 880)

  • 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) Ga 2:11-21 (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 2)

• Bible Study: (5 min. or less) bhs 202-203 ¶18-19 (th study 6)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 92

• “How All Can Share in Caring for Our Places of Worship”: (15 min.) Discussion by an elder. After playing the video Caring for Our Places of Worship and considering the questions, briefly interview the congregation’s representative on the operating committee by asking the following questions. (If your congregation does not have a representative, interview the coordinator of the body of elders. If your congregation is the only one that meets in the Kingdom Hall, interview the maintenance coordinator.) How are we doing in keeping up with our regular maintenance schedule? Are we working safely? What maintenance work has been accomplished recently, and what is planned for the future? If someone has maintenance skills or would like to learn by assisting those with skills, what should he or she do? How can all of us, regardless of our circumstances, share in caring for the Kingdom Hall?

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 68

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

• Song 72 and Prayer

2:11-14

How does this account teach the following lessons?

• We must be courageous.​—w18.03 31-32 ¶16

• Fear of man is a snare.​—it-2 587 ¶3

• Jehovah’s people, including those taking the lead, are not perfect.​—w10 6/15 17-18 ¶12

• We must continue to root out prejudice.​—w18.08 9 ¶5

Our Kingdom Halls are more than just buildings; they are places of worship dedicated to Jehovah. How can each of us share in caring for the Kingdom Hall?

WATCH THE VIDEO CARING FOR OUR PLACES OF WORSHIP, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. What purposes do meeting places serve?

2. Why should we keep the Kingdom Hall clean and well-maintained?

3. How has participating in the maintenance program benefited you?

4. Why is safety important, and what examples of safety did you observe in the video?

5. How can we honor Jehovah by our donations?

HOW DO I PLAN TO SHARE?