Cover picture: Elisha telling his attendant: “There are more who are with us than those who are with them.”​—2Ki 6:16

• Song 55 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (1 min.)

• “There Are More With Us Than With Them”: (10 min.)

• Spiritual Gems: (10 min.)

  • 2Ki 5:15, 16​—Why did Elisha not accept Naaman’s gift, and what lesson can we learn? (w05 8/1 9 ¶2)

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

• Bible Reading: (4 min.) 2Ki 5:1-14 (th study 2)

• Initial Call Video: (5 min.) Discussion. Play the video Initial Call: Good News​—Ps 37:10, 11. Stop the video at each pause, and ask the audience the questions that appear in the video.

• Initial Call: (3 min.) Begin with the sample conversation topic. Respond to a common objection. (th study 12)

• Bible Study: (5 min.) lff lesson 08 intro and points 1-3 (th study 15)

• Song 37

• “Practice Giving”: (15 min.) Discussion by an elder. Play the video We Are Thankful for Your Practice of Giving. Commend the congregation for specific ways they practice giving.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) lff lesson 26

• Concluding Comments (3 min.)

• Song 30 and Prayer

Elisha and his attendant were surrounded by the enemy (2Ki 6:13, 14; it-1 716 ¶4)

Elisha remained calm and strengthened his attendant (2Ki 6:15-17; w13 8/15 30 ¶2; see cover picture)

Jehovah miraculously saved Elisha and his attendant (2Ki 6:18, 19; it-1 343 ¶1)

Our opposers are not stronger than Jehovah. If we could peer into the spirit realm and see how Jehovah is using the angels to protect his people, what do you imagine we would see?

Jesus indicated that generosity is contagious. (Lu 6:38) Your practice of giving motivates your brothers and sisters to be kind and generous.

Cheerful giving is part of our worship. Jehovah takes note of those who generously show favor to fellow Christians in need of assistance and promises to reward them.​—Pr 19:17.

WATCH THE VIDEO WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOUR PRACTICE OF GIVING, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• How have your donations been used to support your brothers and sisters?

• Why should we continue to practice giving, regardless of the size of our gifts?​—See also the jw.org article “Surplus Offsets a Deficiency.”

• Song 143 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (1 min.)

• “Jehovah Made the Unexpected Happen”: (10 min.)

• Spiritual Gems: (10 min.)

  • 2Ki 8:19​—How did Jehovah give “a lamp” to David and his sons? (it-2 195 ¶7)

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

• Bible Reading: (4 min.) 2Ki 7:1-11 (th study 2)

• Return Visit Video: (5 min.) Discussion. Play the video Return Visit: The Bible​—Re 21:3, 4. Stop the video at each pause, and ask the audience the questions that appear in the video.

• Return Visit: (4 min.) Begin with the sample conversation topic. Tell the person about our website, and leave a jw.org contact card. (th study 6)

• Return Visit: (4 min.) Begin with the sample conversation topic. Invite the person to a meeting, and introduce and discuss (but do not play) the video What Happens at a Kingdom Hall? (th study 11)

• Song 34

• Local Needs: (15 min.)

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) lff lesson 27

• Concluding Comments (3 min.)

• Song 18 and Prayer

During a severe famine, Jehovah said that food supplies would be abundant the next day (2Ki 7:1; it-1 716-717)

An Israelite official scoffed at Jehovah’s promise (2Ki 7:2)

Jehovah made the unexpected happen (2Ki 7:6, 7, 16-18)

Jehovah says that the destruction of this system will be sudden and unexpected. (1Th 5:2, 3) Why is it important for us to have faith in Jehovah’s word?

• Song 126 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (1 min.)

• “He Acted With Courage, Determination, and Zeal”: (10 min.)

• Spiritual Gems: (10 min.)

  • 2Ki 10:29, 31​—What can we learn from Jehu’s error? (w11 11/15 5 ¶6-7)

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

• Bible Reading: (4 min.) 2Ki 9:1-14 (th study 10)

• Initial Call: (3 min.) Begin with the sample conversation topic. Offer a publication from the Teaching Toolbox. (th study 1)

• Return Visit: (4 min.) Begin with the sample conversation topic. Tell the person about our free Bible course, and offer the Enjoy Life Forever! brochure. Introduce and discuss (but do not play) the video What Happens at a Bible Study? (th study 12)

• Talk: (5 min.) w13 5/15 8-9 ¶3-6​—Theme: Imitate the Zeal of Jehovah and Jesus. (th study 16)

• Song 64

• What Your Peers Say​—Procrastination: (5 min.) Discussion. Play the video. Then ask the audience: What may cause someone to procrastinate? Why are we happier when we do not procrastinate?

• “Help to Avoid Procrastination”: (10 min.) Discussion.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) lff lesson 28

• Concluding Comments (3 min.)

• Song 19 and Prayer

Jehovah gave Jehu a commission to eliminate the house of wicked King Ahab (2Ki 9:6, 7; w11 11/15 3 ¶2)

Jehu acted promptly to execute King Jehoram (Ahab’s son) and Queen Jezebel (Ahab’s widow) (2Ki 9:22-24, 30-33; w11 11/15 4 ¶2-3; see the chart “‘The Whole House of Ahab Will Perish’​—2Ki 9:8”)

Jehu completed his assignment, showing courage, determination, and zeal (2Ki 10:17; w11 11/15 5 ¶3-4)

ASK YOURSELF, ‘How can I imitate Jehu when fulfilling the commission at Matthew 28:19, 20?’

A procrastinator postpones what he could or should do right away. That certainly does not describe Jehu when Jehovah gave him the assignment to strike down the house of Ahab. (2Ki 9:6, 7, 16) Some people say: “Maybe I’ll get baptized in a couple of years.” “I hope to start a routine of daily Bible reading very soon.” “I’ll apply to pioneer once I get a better job.” The Scriptures can help us to avoid procrastination in areas of our worship.

How can the following verses motivate us to avoid procrastination?

• Ec 5:4

• Ec 11:4

• 1Co 7:29-31

• Jas 4:13, 14

• Song 59 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (1 min.)

• “An Ambitious, Wicked Woman Does Not Go Unpunished”: (10 min.)

• Spiritual Gems: (10 min.)

  • 2Ki 12:1​—Why is it significant that Jehovah preserved Jehoash alive? (it-1 1265-1266)

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

• Bible Reading: (4 min.) 2Ki 11:1-12 (th study 5)

• Initial Call: (3 min.) Begin with the sample conversation topic. Invite the person to a meeting, and introduce and discuss (but do not play) the video What Happens at a Kingdom Hall? (th study 4)

• Return Visit: (4 min.) Begin with the sample conversation topic. Tell the person about our free Bible course, and offer the Enjoy Life Forever! brochure. Introduce and discuss (but do not play) the video What Happens at a Bible Study? (th study 3)

• Bible Study: (5 min.) lff lesson 08 Dig Deeper introduction and point 4 (th study 6)

• Song 84

• “Why Should Christians Reach Out?”: (15 min.) Discussion. Play the video Why Reach Out? (1Ti 3:1)

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) lff lesson 29

• Concluding Comments (3 min.)

• Song 77 and Prayer

Athaliah murdered the royal offspring so that she could rule over Judah (2Ki 11:1; it-1 209; see the chart “‘The Whole House of Ahab Will Perish’​—2Ki 9:8”)

Jehosheba hid Jehoash, the heir to the throne (2Ki 11:2, 3)

High Priest Jehoiada installed Jehoash as king and executed wicked Athaliah, who was perhaps the last of Ahab’s house (2Ki 11:12-16; it-1 209)

FOR MEDITATION: How does this account illustrate the truthfulness of Proverbs 11:21 and Ecclesiastes 8:12, 13?

KINGDOM OF JUDAH

Jehoshaphat is king

c. 911 B.C.E.: Jehoram (son of Jehoshaphat; husband of Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel) becomes sole ruler

c. 906 B.C.E.: Ahaziah (grandson of Ahab and Jezebel) becomes king

c. 905 B.C.E.: Athaliah murders all the royal offspring and usurps the throne. Only her grandson Jehoash is saved and kept hidden from her by High Priest Jehoiada.​—2Ki 11:1-3

898 B.C.E.: Jehoash becomes king. Queen Athaliah is executed by High Priest Jehoiada.​—2Ki 11:4-16

KINGDOM OF ISRAEL

c. 920 B.C.E.: Ahaziah (son of Ahab and Jezebel) becomes king

c. 917 B.C.E.: Jehoram (son of Ahab and Jezebel) becomes king

c. 905 B.C.E.: Jehu executes King Jehoram of Israel and his brothers, Jehoram’s mother (Jezebel), and King Ahaziah of Judah and his brothers.​—2Ki 9:14–10:17

c. 904 B.C.E.: Jehu begins ruling as king

Brothers and sisters stretch forward to reach spiritual goals, such as pioneering, Bethel service, and Kingdom Hall construction. In addition, brothers reach out to be overseers. (1Ti 3:1) Does this mean that Christians should ambitiously strive for a certain office or status?

WATCH THE VIDEO WHY REACH OUT? (1TI 3:1), AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

How do the following scriptures help us discern three reasons to reach out?

• Mt 5:14-16

• 1Ti 4:15

• Heb 5:14–6:1

• Song 127 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (1 min.)

• “Wholehearted Effort Results in Abundant Blessings”: (10 min.)

• Spiritual Gems: (10 min.)

  • 2Ki 13:20, 21​—Does this miracle support the veneration of religious relics? (w05 8/1 11 ¶3)

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

• Bible Reading: (4 min.) 2Ki 13:20–14:7 (th study 10)

• Initial Call: (2 min.) Begin with the sample conversation topic. Offer the Enjoy Life Forever! brochure. (th study 1)

• Return Visit: (5 min.) Start a Bible study in lesson 01 of the Enjoy Life Forever! brochure. (th study 20)

• Talk: (5 min.) km 8/03 1​—Theme: Work That Refreshes. (th study 11)

• Song 30

• “Jehovah Remembers Our Hard Work”: (10 min.) Discussion. Play the video Jehovah Remembers.

• Local Needs: (5 min.)

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) lff lesson 30

• Concluding Comments (3 min.)

• Song 151 and Prayer

Elisha instructed King Jehoash to take a certain action to illustrate how Israel would defeat Syria (2Ki 13:15-18)

Because Jehoash was not wholehearted, his success was limited (2Ki 13:19; w10 4/15 26 ¶11)

Jehovah abundantly blesses his servants who seek him earnestly (Heb 11:6; w13 11/1 11 ¶5-6)

ASK YOURSELF, ‘How do I demonstrate wholehearted effort in such aspects of my worship as Bible reading, meeting attendance, and the field ministry?’

At times, we may feel that our hard work in behalf of others is unappreciated and quickly forgotten. What about our work for Jehovah? Our appreciative God never forgets our wholehearted efforts to serve him. Even when declining health limits what we can do, he will not abandon us.​—Heb 6:10.

WATCH THE VIDEO JEHOVAH REMEMBERS, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• How has Brother Hibshman worked hard for Jehovah in various avenues of service?

• How did Jehovah remember Brother Hibshman after his wife died and after he became limited because of advancing age?

• How has Brother Hibshman’s life of full-time service been a rich one?​—Pr 10:22

• Song 115 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (1 min.)

• “Jehovah’s Patience Has Limits”: (10 min.)

• Spiritual Gems: (10 min.)

  • 2Ki 17:29​—Who were “the Samaritans” mentioned in this verse, and to whom did this term come to refer? (it-2 847)

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

• Bible Reading: (4 min.) 2Ki 17:18-28 (th study 5)

• Initial Call: (3 min.) Begin with the sample conversation topic. Tell the person about our website, and leave a jw.org contact card. (th study 4)

• Return Visit: (4 min.) Begin with the sample conversation topic. Introduce and discuss (but do not play) the video Why Study the Bible? (th study 20)

• Bible Study: (5 min.) lff lesson 08 point 5 (th study 9)

• Song 3

• “Look to the End of This System of Things With Confidence”: (5 min.) Discussion.

• Organizational Accomplishments: (10 min.) Play the Organizational Accomplishments video for December.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) lff lesson 31

• Concluding Comments (3 min.)

• Song 74 and Prayer

Jehovah allowed Assyria to conquer Israel (2Ki 17:5, 6; it-2 908 ¶5)

Jehovah disciplined his people because they kept offending him (2Ki 17:9-12; it-1 414-415)

Jehovah was patient with Israel and warned them repeatedly (2Ki 17:13, 14)

Our loving heavenly Father is very patient with imperfect mankind. (2Pe 3:9) However, in order to accomplish his purpose, he will act to destroy the wicked very soon. How should this motivate us to listen to correction and to preach with urgency?

Very soon Jehovah’s patience with this world will end. False religion will be destroyed, a coalition of nations will attack God’s people, and Jehovah will execute the wicked at Armageddon. Christians look forward to these momentous events.

Of course, we do not know all the details about the great tribulation. For example, we do not know exactly when it will begin. We do not know what reasons the political powers will use to justify their attack on religion. We do not know how long the nations’ attack on God’s people will last or what it will include. We also do not know the precise means that Jehovah will use to destroy the wicked at Armageddon.

However, the Scriptures give us all the information we need in order to face the future with confidence and courage. For example, we know that we are living at the end of “the last days.” (2Ti 3:1) We know that the attack on religion will be “cut short” so that the true religion will not be destroyed. (Mt 24:22) We know that Jehovah will rescue his people. (2Pe 2:9) And we know that the One whom Jehovah has chosen to execute the wicked and preserve the great crowd through Armageddon is righteous and powerful.​—Re 19:11, 15, 16.

Future events will certainly cause people to become “faint out of fear.” However, by reading and meditating on Jehovah’s past saving acts and on what he has revealed about the future, we can “stand up straight and lift up [our] heads,” confident that our deliverance is near.​—Lu 21:26, 28.

• Song 148 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (1 min.)

• “How Our Opposers Try to Weaken Us”: (10 min.)

• Spiritual Gems: (10 min.)

  • 2Ki 19:37​—How does this verse illustrate the importance of carefully weighing the reliability of archaeological discoveries? (it-1 155 ¶4)

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

• Bible Reading: (4 min.) 2Ki 18:1-12 (th study 5)

• Initial Call: (3 min.) Begin with the sample conversation topic. Invite the person to a meeting, and introduce and discuss (but do not play) the video What Happens at a Kingdom Hall? (th study 1)

• Return Visit: (4 min.) Begin with the sample conversation topic. Tell the person about our free Bible course, and leave a Bible course contact card. (th study 2)

• Talk: (5 min.) w20.11 15 ¶14​—Theme: Pray for Those Persecuted—​How? (th study 14)

• Song 128

• “Rejoice When Being Persecuted”: (8 min.) Discussion. Play the video We Can Rejoice Despite Persecution.

• Local Needs: (7 min.)

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) lff lesson 32 points 1-4 and the chart “How the Tree Dream Relates to God’s Kingdom”

• Concluding Comments (3 min.)

• Song 22 and Prayer

Our opposers try to discourage us by lying about those taking the lead (2Ki 18:19-21; w05 8/1 11 ¶5)

They try to mislead us by misrepresenting Jehovah or the organization (2Ki 18:22, 25; w10 7/15 13 ¶3)

They try to tempt us by making false promises (2Ki 18:31, 32; w13 11/15 19 ¶14; yb74 177 ¶1)

ASK YOURSELF, ‘What steps can I take now to strengthen myself for persecution?’

Christians can expect to be persecuted. (Joh 15:20) Although persecution brings a measure of anxiety and sometimes pain, we can find joy when we endure it.​—Mt 5:10-12; 1Pe 2:19, 20.

WATCH THE VIDEO WE CAN REJOICE DESPITE PERSECUTION, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

What did you learn from Brother Bazhenov’s experience about the value of

• reading the Bible daily?

• receiving support from fellow Christians?a

• praying frequently?

• singing Kingdom songs?

• talking about our faith?

• Song 41 and Prayer

• Opening Comments (1 min.)

• “Prayer Moved Jehovah to Intervene”: (10 min.)

• Spiritual Gems: (10 min.)

  • 2Ki 21:13​—In what sense would Jehovah use a leveling tool to measure Jerusalem? (it-2 240 ¶1)

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

• Bible Reading: (4 min.) 2Ki 21:1-15 (th study 10)

• Initial Call: (3 min.) Begin with the sample conversation topic. Respond to a common objection. (th study 4)

• Return Visit: (4 min.) Begin with the sample conversation topic. Tell the person about our website, and leave a jw.org contact card. (th study 6)

• Bible Study: (5 min.) lff lesson 08 point 6 (th study 19)

• Song 47

• “Our Prayers Are Precious to Jehovah”: (15 min.) Discussion. Play the video I Am Devoted to Prayer.

• Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) lff lesson 32 points 5-6 and summary, review, and goal

• Concluding Comments (3 min.)

• Song 142 and Prayer

Jehovah told Hezekiah that he would not recover from his sickness (2Ki 20:1; ip-1 394 ¶23)

Faithful Hezekiah supplicated Jehovah (2Ki 20:2, 3; w17.03 21 ¶16)

Hezekiah’s prayers moved Jehovah to intervene (2Ki 20:4-6; g01 7/22 13 ¶4)

Our prayers may move Jehovah to do what he might not have done otherwise. How does this account motivate you to persist in prayer?

Acceptable prayers are like the sweet-smelling incense that was regularly burned before Jehovah at the temple. (Ps 141:2) When we express to our heavenly Father our love and appreciation for him, tell him our concerns and desires, and ask for his direction, we show that we value our friendship with him. Of course, Jehovah views brief public prayers at our meetings as an important part of our worship. However, how it must bring Jehovah pleasure when in our personal prayers we open our hearts and talk to him for extended periods of time!​—Pr 15:8.

WATCH THE VIDEO I AM DEVOTED TO PRAYER, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• What privileges has Brother Johnson enjoyed?

• How has Brother Johnson relied on Jehovah in prayer?

• What lessons did you learn from Brother Johnson’s experiences?

Initial Call

Question: Is an end to violence and war realistic?

Scripture: Ps 37:10, 11

Link: What Bible promise gives us hope?

FIND THIS SCRIPTURE IN THE TEACHING TOOLBOX:

• 

  T-31; T-34

Return Visit

Question: What Bible promise gives us hope?

Scripture: Re 21:3, 4

Link: How can we understand the Bible?

FIND THIS SCRIPTURE IN THE TEACHING TOOLBOX:

• 

  lffi lesson 02 point 2; g22.1 15