●○○ INITIAL CALL

Question: Who was Jesus?

Scripture: Mt 16:16

Link: Why did Jesus die?

○●○ FIRST RETURN VISIT

Question: Why did Jesus die?

Scripture: Mt 20:28

Link: How can we show our appreciation for Jesus’ ransom sacrifice?

○○● SECOND RETURN VISIT

Question: How can we show our appreciation for Jesus’ ransom sacrifice?

Scripture: Joh 17:3

Link: What happens at meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses?

MEMORIAL INVITATION CAMPAIGN (March 14–April 7):

“We’re here to invite you to a special event that will be attended by millions of people. It’s the anniversary of Jesus’ death.” Hand the person an invitation. “This invitation shows the time and location of the event in our area. We also invite you to a special talk the weekend before.”

Link When Interest Is Shown: Why did Jesus die?

• Song 89 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (1 min.)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “God Put Abraham to the Test”: (10 min.)

  • Ge 22:1, 2​—God told Abraham to offer up his precious son Isaac (w12 1/1 23 ¶4-6)

  • Ge 22:9-12​—Jehovah prevented Abraham from killing Isaac

  • Ge 22:15-18​—Jehovah promised to bless Abraham for his obedience (w12 10/15 23 ¶6)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (10 min.)

  • Ge 22:5​—On what basis could Abraham tell his servants that he and Isaac would return to them even though he thought that Isaac was to be sacrificed? (w16.02 11 ¶13)

  • Ge 22:12​—How does this scripture indicate that Jehovah uses his foreknowledge selectively? (it-1 853 ¶5-6)

  • What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share regarding Jehovah God, the field ministry, or something else?

• Bible Reading: (4 min. or less) Ge 22:1-18 (th study 2)

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Apply Yourself to Reading and Teaching: (10 min.) Discussion. Play the video Expressed With Conviction, and then discuss study 15 of the Teaching brochure.

• Talk: (5 min. or less) it-1 604 ¶5​—Theme: How Could Abraham Be Declared Righteous Before the Death of Christ? (th study 7)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 4

• Protected by Obedience: (15 min.) Watch the video Annual Meeting 2017​—Talks and 2018 Yeartext—​Excerpt.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 106

• Concluding Comments (3 min. or less)

• Song 16 and Prayer

22:1, 2, 9-12, 15-18

The pain that Abraham suffered as he prepared to sacrifice Isaac helps us to imagine Jehovah’s pain when He offered His Son, Jesus Christ, as the ransom. (Joh 3:16) How do Jehovah’s words in verse 2 reflect his own tender feelings?

How does Jehovah’s love motivate you?​—1Co 6:20; 1Jo 4:11

• Song 132 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (1 min.)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “A Wife for Isaac”: (10 min.)

  • Ge 24:2-4​—Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac among those who worshipped Jehovah (wp16.3 14 ¶3)

  • Ge 24:11-15​—Abraham’s servant met Rebekah at a well (wp16.3 14 ¶4)

  • Ge 24:58, 67​—Rebekah agreed to marry Isaac (wp16.3 14 ¶6-7)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (10 min.)

  • Ge 24:19, 20​—What lessons can we learn from Rebekah’s actions in these verses? (wp16.3 12-13)

  • Ge 24:65​—Why did Rebekah cover her head, and what lesson does this teach? (wp16.3 15 ¶3)

  • What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share regarding Jehovah God, the field ministry, or something else?

• Bible Reading: (4 min. or less) Ge 24:1-21 (th study 2)

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Initial Call Video: (4 min.) Discussion. Play the video, and then ask the audience the following questions: How did the publisher make good use of questions? How did the publisher respond to the householder’s reply about the identity of Jesus?

• 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 12)

• Memorial Invitation: (3 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation. The householder shows interest. Introduce and discuss (but do not play) the video Remember Jesus’ Death. (th study 11)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 25

• Memorial Campaign to Begin Saturday, March 14: (8 min.) Discussion. Give everyone in the audience a copy of the invitation, and review it. Play and discuss the sample presentation video. Outline local arrangements for covering the territory.

• “Whom Will I Invite?”: (7 min.) Discussion.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 107

• Concluding Comments (3 min. or less)

• Song 9 and Prayer

24:2-4, 11-15, 58, 67

Abraham’s servant sought Jehovah’s direction when choosing a wife for Isaac. (Ge 24:42-44) We too should seek Jehovah’s direction before making major decisions. How?

• Pray

• Consult God’s Word and Christian publications

• Seek help from spiritually mature Christians

Each year we make a special effort to invite people in the territory to join us in observing the Memorial. Most of them are strangers to us. We should also invite people whom we know. People who receive an invitation from an acquaintance are often more likely to attend. (yb08 11 ¶3; 14 ¶1) Who are some individuals whom you could invite?

• Relatives

• Workmates or schoolmates

• Neighbors

• Return visits and past and present Bible students

In addition, the elders will invite those who are inactive. What if an acquaintance does not live in your area? You can find out the time and location of the Memorial where he lives by clicking the ABOUT US tab at the top of the jw.org home page and selecting “Memorial.” As you prepare for this year’s observance, think about those you can invite, and then extend a personal invitation.

• Song 18 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (1 min.)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Esau Sells His Birthright”: (10 min.)

  • Ge 25:27, 28​—Twins Esau and Jacob differed in temperament and in their choice of activities (it-1 1242)

  • Ge 25:29, 30​—Esau allowed hunger and exhaustion to control him

  • Ge 25:31-34​—Ungrateful Esau rashly sold his birthright to Jacob for a meal (w19.02 16 ¶11; it-1 835)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (10 min.)

  • Ge 25:31-34​—Why does this account not prove that the line leading to the Messiah was tied to the right of firstborn? (Heb 12:16; w17.12 15 ¶5-7)

  • Ge 26:7​—Why did Isaac not tell the whole truth in this instance? (it-2 245 ¶6)

  • What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share regarding Jehovah God, the field ministry, or something else?

• Bible Reading: (4 min. or less) Ge 26:1-18 (th study 5)

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• First Return Visit Video: (5 min.) Discussion. Play the video, and then ask the audience the following questions: How can we avoid embarrassing a householder if he does not know the answer to a question? How did the publisher reason effectively on Matthew 20:28?

• First Return Visit: (4 min. or less) Use the sample conversation. (th study 3)

• First Return Visit: (4 min. or less) Begin with the sample conversation. Then offer the Teach Us book. (th study 15)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 78

• Use Videos When Studying Good News From God! With People: (15 min.) Discussion. Play the videos What Is the Condition of the Dead? and Why Does God Allow Suffering? After each video is played, ask the following questions: How can you use this video when studying the Good News brochure? (mwb19.03 7) What points from the video have you found helpful in your teaching? Remind all that the digital version of the Good News brochure includes links to videos.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 108

• Concluding Comments (3 min. or less)

• Song 107 and Prayer

25:27-34

Esau did “not appreciate sacred things.” (Heb 12:16) As a result, he sold his birthright. He also married two pagan women.​—Ge 26:34, 35.

ASK YOURSELF: ‘How can I show greater appreciation for the following sacred things?’

• My relationship with Jehovah

• Holy spirit

• Bearing the holy name, Jehovah

• The field ministry

• Christian meetings

• Marriage

• Song 10 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (1 min.)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Jacob Obtains His Rightful Blessing”: (10 min.)

  • Ge 27:6-10​—Rebekah helped Jacob to obtain his rightful blessing (w04 4/15 11 ¶4-5)

  • Ge 27:18, 19​—Jacob presented himself to his father as Esau (w07 10/1 31 ¶2-3)

  • Ge 27:27-29​—Isaac gave Jacob the firstborn’s blessing (it-1 341 ¶6)

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (10 min.)

  • Ge 27:46–28:2​—What lessons can married couples learn from this account? (w06 4/15 6 ¶3-4)

  • Ge 28:12, 13​—What was the significance of Jacob’s dream involving “a stairway”? (w04 1/15 28 ¶6)

  • What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share regarding Jehovah God, the field ministry, or something else?

• Bible Reading: (4 min. or less) Ge 27:1-23 (th study 2)

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Second Return Visit Video: (5 min.) Discussion. Play the video, and then ask the audience the following questions: How did the publisher show that he was listening to the householder express himself? How did the publisher make good use of the Teaching Toolbox?

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

• Bible Study: (5 min. or less) jl lesson 17 (th study 11)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 34

• Local Needs: (15 min.)

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 109

• Concluding Comments (3 min. or less)

• Song 28 and Prayer

27:6-10, 18, 19, 27-29

Isaac’s blessing of Jacob was prophetic.

• 

  27:28​—Jehovah gave Jacob’s descendants a fertile land “flowing with milk and honey.”​—De 26:15

• 27:29​—The Israelites (Jacob’s descendants) became stronger than the Edomites (Esau’s descendants).​—Ge 25:23; 2Sa 8:14

• 27:29​—For their hatred against the Israelites, the Edomites were cursed and eventually destroyed as a nation.​—Eze 25:12-14

• Song 93 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (1 min.)

TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD

• “Jacob Marries”: (10 min.)

  • Ge 29:18-20​—Jacob agreed to serve Laban for seven years to marry Rachel (w03 10/15 29 ¶6)

  • Ge 29:21-26​—Laban tricked Jacob and gave him Leah instead (w07 10/1 8-9; it-2 341 ¶3)

  • Ge 29:27, 28​—Jacob made the best of a difficult situation

• Digging for Spiritual Gems: (10 min.)

  • Ge 30:3​—Why did Rachel consider children born to Jacob and Bilhah as her own? (it-1 50)

  • Ge 30:14, 15​—Why may Rachel have relinquished an opportunity to conceive in exchange for some mandrakes? (w04 1/15 28 ¶7)

  • What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share regarding Jehovah God, the field ministry, or something else?

• Bible Reading: (4 min. or less) Ge 30:1-21 (th study 2)

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY

• Apply Yourself to Reading and Teaching: (10 min.) Discussion. Play the video Upbuilding and Positive, and then discuss study 16 of the Teaching brochure.

• Bible Study: (5 min. or less) bhs 59 ¶21-22 (th study 18)

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS

• Song 57

• “Improving Our Skills in the Ministry​—Witnessing to the Blind”: (10 min.) Discussion by the service overseer. Ask the following questions: Why is it important to give attention to the needs of the blind? Where can we locate blind people? How should we approach them? What tools are available to assist blind ones to progress spiritually?

• Organizational Accomplishments: (5 min.) Play the Organizational Accomplishments video for March.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 110

• Concluding Comments (3 min. or less)

• Song 30 and Prayer

29:18-28

Jacob did not know in advance the trials that he would face as a result of marriage. Rachel and Leah became rivals. (Ge 29:32; 30:1, 8) Despite trials, however, Jacob saw that Jehovah was with him. (Ge 30:29, 30, 43) Ultimately, his offspring became the nation of Israel.​—Ru 4:11.

In our day, those who choose to marry will face challenges. (1Co 7:28) Nevertheless, they can have a successful marriage and a measure of happiness by relying on Jehovah and applying Bible principles.​—Pr 3:5, 6; Eph 5:33.

WHY IMPORTANT: Many who are blind do not feel comfortable talking to strangers. Therefore, it takes skill to give such ones a witness. Jehovah shows loving concern for the blind. (Le 19:14) We can imitate his example by taking the initiative to help the blind spiritually.

HOW TO DO IT:

• “Search out” the blind. (Mt 10:11) Do you know someone who has a blind family member? Does your territory have schools, nursing homes, or other facilities that would like publications designed for the blind?

• Show personal interest. Your genuine friendliness and sincere interest will help put a blind person at ease. Try to start a conversation on a subject of local interest

• Provide spiritual help. To assist those who are visually impaired, the organization has produced literature in various formats. Ask the individual how he prefers to learn. The service overseer should confirm that the literature servant fills requests for literature in a blind person’s preferred format