●○○ INITIAL CALL

○●○ FIRST RETURN VISIT

○○● SECOND RETURN VISIT

Question: How do we know that God understands us?

Scripture: Ps 139:1, 2, 4

Link: How can God’s care benefit us?

• Song 16 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “A Priest Forever in the Manner of Melchizedek”: (10 min.)

  • Heb 7:1, 2​—King-priest Melchizedek met Abraham and blessed him (it-2 366)

  • Heb 7:3​—Melchizedek was “without genealogy” and “remains a priest for all time” (it-2 367 ¶4)

  • Heb 7:17​—Jesus is “a priest forever in the manner of Melchizedek” (it-2 366)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Heb 8:3​—What was the difference between gifts and sacrifices offered under the Mosaic Law? (w00 8/15 14 ¶11)

  • Heb 8:13​—How did the Law covenant become “obsolete” in Jeremiah’s day? (it-1 523 ¶5)

  • 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) Heb 7:1-17 (th study 5)

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Apply Yourself to Reading and Teaching: (10 min.) Discussion. Play the video Appropriate Use of Visual Aids, and then discuss study 9 of the Teaching brochure.

• Talk: (5 min. or less) it-1 524 ¶3-5​—Theme: What is the new covenant? (th study 7)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 124

• Organizational Accomplishments: (15 min.) Play the Organizational Accomplishments video for September. Encourage all to visit world headquarters or their local branch office if possible.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 82

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

• Song 83 and Prayer

7:1-3, 17

How was Melchizedek a prophetic type of Jesus?

• 7:1​—King and priest

• 7:3, 22-25​—No record of predecessors or successors

• 7:5, 6, 14-17​—Priest by appointment, not by fleshly descent

How is Christ’s priesthood superior to the Aaronic priesthood? (it-1 1113 ¶4-5)

• Song 10 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “A Shadow of the Good Things to Come”: (10 min.)

  • Heb 9:12-14​—Christ’s blood is superior to the blood of goats and bulls (it-1 862 ¶1)

  • Heb 9:24-26​—Christ presented the value of his sacrifice to God once for all time (cf 183 ¶4)

  • Heb 10:1-4​—The Law foreshadowed something better (it-2 602-603)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Heb 9:16, 17​—What do these verses mean? (w92 3/1 31 ¶4-6)

  • Heb 10:5-7​—When did Jesus say these words, and what is their significance? (it-1 249-250)

  • 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) Heb 9:1-14 (th study 5)

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. Respond to an objection common in your territory. (th study 2)

• Initial Call: (3 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation. Then leave a jw.org contact card. (th study 11)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 89

• Do We Appreciate Our Meetings? (Ps 27:11): (12 min.) Play the video. Then discuss the following questions:

  • What services of our High Priest, Jesus, benefit us?

  • What are three ways we can show our appreciation?

• Pay Attention at the Meetings: (3 min.) Play the video. Then ask children to comment on why they should pay attention at meetings.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 83

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

• Song 108 and Prayer

9:12-14, 24-26; 10:1-4

The tabernacle foreshadowed the arrangement that God set up for the atonement of mankind’s sins through the ransom. Match the following four aspects of the tabernacle with what they pictured.

• Song 119 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “The Importance of Faith”: (10 min.)

  • Heb 11:1​—Faith defined (w16.10 27 ¶6)

  • Heb 11:6​—Faith is necessary to please God (w13 11/1 11 ¶2-5)

  • Heb 11:33-38​—Faith enabled God’s servants in the past to meet difficult challenges (w16.10 23 ¶10-11)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Heb 11:4​—On what was Abel’s faith based? (it-1 804 ¶5)

  • Heb 11:5​—How was Enoch’s faith rewarded? (wp17.1 12-13)

  • 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) Heb 11:1-16 (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 3)

• First Return Visit: (5 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation. Give the householder a meeting invitation and introduce (but do not play) the video What Happens at a Kingdom Hall? (th study 11)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 3

• “What Will You Do in the Year of Drought?”: (15 min.) Discussion. Play the video.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 84

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

• Song 54 and Prayer

11:1, 6, 33-38

How can strong faith help you in the following situations?

• 

  You receive a challenging theocratic assignment.​—Heb 11:8-10

• 

  You lose a loved one in death.​—Heb 11:17-19

• 

  The secular authorities place restrictions on your worship.​—Heb 11:23-26

Faith and trust are closely related. For example, strong faith in Jehovah helps us to trust that he will protect and care for us. (Ps 23:1, 4; 78:22) As we get closer to the end of this system of things, we can expect Satan’s attacks to increase. (Re 12:12) What will help us?

WATCH THE VIDEO WHAT WILL YOU DO IN THE YEAR OF DROUGHT? AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. How are we like the “tree” mentioned at Jeremiah 17:8?

2. What is one form of “heat”?

3. How is the “tree” affected, and why?

4. What does Satan want to destroy?

5. In what way are we like experienced fliers?

6. Why should we continue to trust the faithful and discreet slave, and how will our trust be tested?

7. Why should we continue to trust Bible principles despite ridicule from the world?

• Song 88 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Discipline​—Evidence of Jehovah’s Love”: (10 min.)

  • Heb 12:5​—Do not give up when disciplined (w12 3/15 29 ¶18)

  • Heb 12:6, 7​—Jehovah disciplines those whom he loves (w12 7/1 21 ¶3)

  • Heb 12:11​—Although sometimes painful, discipline trains us (w18.03 32 ¶18)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Heb 12:1​—How does the example of “a great cloud of witnesses” encourage us? (w11 9/15 17-18 ¶11)

  • Heb 13:9​—What does this verse mean? (w89 12/15 22 ¶10)

  • 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) Heb 12:1-17 (th study 11)

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) lvs 39-40 ¶19 (th study 6)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 115

• Enduring Despite . . . Our Own Imperfections: (5 min.) Play the video. Then discuss the following questions:

  • What struggle has Brother Cázares had since his baptism?

  • In what ways has he been disciplined?

• Local Needs: (10 min.)

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 85

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

• Song 74 and Prayer

12:5-7, 11

Discipline refers to chastisement, correction, instruction, and education. Just as a loving father disciplines his children, Jehovah disciplines us. We receive discipline by means of . . .

• Bible reading, personal study, meeting attendance, and meditation

• Counsel or correction from a fellow believer

• The consequences of our mistakes

• Judicial reproof or disfellowshipping

• Trials or persecution that Jehovah allows.​—w15 9/15 21 ¶13; it-1 629

• Song 122 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (3 min. or less)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “The Way to Sin and Death”: (10 min.)

  • [Play the video Introduction to James.]

  • Jas 1:14​—Improper thoughts can easily stimulate improper desires (g17.4 14)

  • Jas 1:15​—Improper desires can often lead to sin and death (g17.4 14)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

  • Jas 1:17​—Why is Jehovah called “the Father of the celestial lights”? (it-2 253-254)

  • Jas 2:8​—What is “the royal [or, “kingly,” ftn.] law”? (it-2 222 ¶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) Jas 2:10-26 (th study 5)

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Third Return Visit: (3 min. or less) Choose your own scripture. Invite the householder to the meeting. (th study 3)

• Third Return Visit: (4 min. or less) Choose your own scripture. Offer a study publication. (th study 12)

• Bible Study: (5 min. or less) bhs 30 ¶4-5 (th study 13)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 45

• “Continue Considering These Things”: (8 min.) Discussion. Play the video Avoid What Erodes Loyalty​—Improper Entertainment.

• Parents​—Prepare Your Teen to Avoid Sexting: (7 min.) Talk by an elder based on the November 2013 Awake! pages 4-5.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 86 ¶1-7

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

• Song 130 and Prayer

1:14, 15

When improper thoughts enter your mind, do this:

• Make a conscious effort to focus on something else.​—Php 4:8

• Reflect on the hurtful consequences of giving in to temptation.​—De 32:29

• Pray.​—Mt 26:41

When you have improper thoughts, what upbuilding things could you think about instead?

What things? Philippians 4:8 says to consider things that are true, of serious concern, righteous, chaste, lovable, well-spoken-of, virtuous, and praiseworthy. Of course, Christians are not restricted to thinking only on Scriptural topics. However, the meditation of our heart should be pleasing to Jehovah. It should not weaken our resolve to be faithful to him.​—Ps 19:14.

We have a challenge to avoid unwholesome thoughts. We must contend not only with our own imperfect flesh but also with Satan, “the god of this system of things.” (2Co 4:4) Because he controls the world’s mass media, much of the content on television, the radio, the Internet, and in print is debased. If we are not selective in what we fill our mind with, our thinking will be corrupted, and eventually our conduct will be affected.​—Jas 1:14, 15.

WATCH THE VIDEO AVOID WHAT ERODES LOYALTY​—IMPROPER ENTERTAINMENT, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• 

  What was the brother viewing on his phone, and how did it affect him?

• 

  How was he helped by Galatians 6:7, 8 and Psalm 119:37?