July
Our Christian Life and Ministry—Meeting Workbook, July-August 2025
p. 1
Our Christian Life and Ministry—Meeting Workbook, July-August 2025
© 2025 Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Cover picture: Jesus at the synagogue in Nazareth, amazing the people with his gracious words
JULY 7-13
pp. 2–3
JULY 7-13
PROVERBS 21
Song 98 and Prayer | Opening Comments (1 min.)
1. Wise Principles for a Happy Marriage
(10 min.)
Do not marry hastily (Pr 21:5; w03 10/15 4 ¶5)
Manifest humility when there are disagreements (Pr 21:2, 4; g 7/08 7 ¶2)
Treat each other with patience and kindness (Pr 21:19; w06 9/15 28 ¶13)
2. Spiritual Gems
(10 min.)
Pr 21:31—How does this verse add meaning to the prophecy found at Revelation 6:2? (w05 1/15 17 ¶9)
What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share?
3. Bible Reading
(4 min.) Pr 21:1-18 (th study 5)
4. Starting a Conversation
(3 min.) HOUSE TO HOUSE. (lmd lesson 3 point 3)
5. Following Up
(4 min.) INFORMAL WITNESSING. (lmd lesson 7 point 3)
6. Explaining Your Beliefs
(5 min.) Demonstration. ijwfq article 54—Theme: How Do Jehovah’s Witnesses View Divorce? (lmd lesson 4 point 3)
Song 132
7. Show Respect in Your Marriage
(15 min.) Discussion.
When you marry, you vow before Jehovah to love and respect your mate. Therefore, how you treat your husband or wife affects your relationship with Jehovah.—Pr 20:25; 1Pe 3:7.
Play the VIDEO For a Happy Marriage: Show Respect. Then ask the audience:
Why is it important to show respect to your mate?
What changes may we need to make in order to be more respectful?
What are some Bible principles that will help us?
What are some specific ways to show respect to our mate?
What about our mate should we focus on, and why?
8. Congregation Bible Study
(30 min.) bt chap. 28 ¶16-22
Concluding Comments (3 min.) | and Prayer
JULY 14-20
pp. 4–5
JULY 14-20
PROVERBS 22
Song 79 and Prayer | Opening Comments (1 min.)
1. Wise Principles for Raising Children
(10 min.)
Prepare your children for life’s challenges (Pr 22:3; w20.10 27 ¶7)
Begin training them from birth (Pr 22:6; w19.12 26 ¶17-19)
Discipline them in a loving way (Pr 22:15; w06 4/1 9 ¶4)
2. Spiritual Gems
(10 min.)
Pr 22:29—How can we apply this proverb to congregation activities, and what are the benefits? (w21.08 22 ¶11)
What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share?
3. Bible Reading
(4 min.) Pr 22:1-19 (th study 10)
4. Starting a Conversation
(3 min.) HOUSE TO HOUSE. (lmd lesson 5 point 4)
5. Starting a Conversation
(4 min.) INFORMAL WITNESSING. Show the person how to find information on jw.org that is helpful to parents. (lmd lesson 1 point 4)
6. Talk
(5 min.) ijwyp article 100—Theme: I Broke a Family Rule—What Now? (th study 20)
Song 134
7. Be Patient, but Not Permissive
(15 min.) Discussion.
Raising children requires much patience. Parents must give their children regular attention and unhurried time. (De 6:6, 7) In order to know what is in their children’s hearts, parents must draw them out and then really listen to what they say. (Pr 20:5) Parents may also have to repeat their instruction many times before their children understand and apply it.
Patient parents, however, are not permissive. Jehovah has given them the authority to set boundaries and then to give needed discipline when their children disobey.—Pr 6:20; 23:13.
Read Ephesians 4:31. Then ask the audience:
Why should parents not discipline their children in anger?
Read Galatians 6:7. Then ask the audience:
Why is it important for parents to teach their children that actions have consequences?
Play the VIDEO DRAMATIZATION ‘With Patience, Put Up With One Another in Love’—Your Children. Then ask the audience:
What lessons did you learn from the video?
8. Congregation Bible Study
(30 min.) lfb “A Letter From the Governing Body,” intro to section 1, and lesson 1
Concluding Comments (3 min.) | and Prayer
JULY 21-27
pp. 6–7
JULY 21-27
PROVERBS 23
Song 97 and Prayer | Opening Comments (1 min.)
1. Wise Principles for the Use of Alcohol
(10 min.)
If you choose to drink alcohol, do not drink too much (Pr 23:20, 21; w04 12/1 19 ¶5-6)
Keep in mind the bad effects of drunkenness (Pr 23:29, 30, 33-35; it-1 656)
Do not be fooled by alcohol’s harmless appearance (Pr 23:31, 32)
2. Spiritual Gems
(10 min.)
Pr 23:21—What is the difference between gluttony and obesity? (w04 11/1 31 ¶2)
What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share?
3. Bible Reading
(4 min.) Pr 23:1-24 (th study 5)
4. Starting a Conversation
(2 min.) PUBLIC WITNESSING. (lmd lesson 3 point 5)
5. Following Up
(5 min.) HOUSE TO HOUSE. Demonstrate a Bible study. (lmd lesson 9 point 5)
6. Making Disciples
(5 min.) Encourage your student who is struggling to break free from an unscriptural habit. (lmd lesson 12 point 4)
Song 35
7. Should I Serve Alcohol or Not?
(8 min.) Discussion.
Should hosts serve alcohol at a social gathering, such as a wedding reception? This is a personal decision, but one that should be made carefully after balancing a number of Bible principles and considering the circumstances.
Play the VIDEO Should I Serve Alcohol? Then ask the audience:
How can the following Bible principles help hosts decide whether they will serve alcohol or not?
Joh 2:9—Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding feast.
1Co 6:10—“Drunkards . . . will not inherit God’s Kingdom.”
1Co 10:31, 32—“Whether you are eating or drinking . . . , do all things for God’s glory. Keep from becoming causes for stumbling.”
What are some circumstances that should be considered?
In order to make good decisions, why must we use our “power of reason” to balance various Bible principles?—Ro 12:1; Ec 7:16-18
8. Local Needs
(7 min.)
9. Congregation Bible Study
(30 min.) lfb lesson 2, intro to section 2, and lesson 3
Concluding Comments (3 min.) | and Prayer
JULY 28–AUGUST 3
pp. 8–9
JULY 28–AUGUST 3
PROVERBS 24
Song 38 and Prayer | Opening Comments (1 min.)
1. Strengthen Yourself for Adversities
(10 min.)
Gain knowledge and wisdom (Pr 24:5; it-2 610 ¶8)
Maintain your spiritual routine, even when you are discouraged (Pr 24:10; w09 12/15 18 ¶12-13)
Spiritual strength helps us to recover from adversities (Pr 24:16; w20.12 15)
2. Spiritual Gems
(10 min.)
Pr 24:27—What point is being made in this proverb? (w09 10/15 12)
What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share?
3. Bible Reading
(4 min.) Pr 24:1-20 (th study 11)
4. Starting a Conversation
(2 min.) INFORMAL WITNESSING. The conversation concludes before you can give a witness. (lmd lesson 2 point 4)
5. Starting a Conversation
(3 min.) HOUSE TO HOUSE. (lmd lesson 3 point 4)
6. Starting a Conversation
(3 min.) PUBLIC WITNESSING. Tell the person about our Bible study program, and give him a Bible course contact card. (lmd lesson 4 point 3)
7. Talk
(3 min.) lmd appendix A point 11—Theme: God Communicates With Us. (th study 6)
Song 99
8. Help One Another During Adversities
(15 min.) Discussion.
A disease outbreak, a natural disaster, civil unrest, war, or persecution can strike suddenly. When adversities occur, the affected Christians pull together to help and encourage one another. However, even if we are not affected directly, we feel the pain of our fellow Christians and do our best to assist them.—1Co 12:25, 26.
Read 1 Kings 13:6 and James 5:16b. Then ask the audience:
Why are the prayers of God’s servants in behalf of others powerful?
Read Mark 12:42-44 and 2 Corinthians 8:1-4. Then ask the audience:
Even if we are of little means and don’t have much to donate to the worldwide work to help needy brothers, why should we not hold back?
Play the VIDEO Strengthening the Brothers Under Ban. Then ask the audience:
What loving sacrifices did brothers make to help fellow Christians living where our work was banned in Eastern Europe?
While under ban, how did the brothers obey the command to meet together and encourage one another?—Heb 10:24, 25
9. Congregation Bible Study
(30 min.) lfb lessons 4-5
Concluding Comments (3 min.) | and Prayer
AUGUST 4-10
p. 10
AUGUST 4-10
PROVERBS 25
Song 154 and Prayer | Opening Comments (1 min.)
Jesus at the synagogue in Nazareth, amazing the people with his gracious words
1. Wise Principles for Our Speech
(10 min.)
Choose the right time to speak (Pr 25:11; w15 12/15 19 ¶6-7)
Speak graciously (Pr 25:15; w15 12/15 21 ¶15-16; see picture)
Speak words that refresh (Pr 25:25; w95 4/1 17 ¶8)
2. Spiritual Gems
(10 min.)
3. Bible Reading
(4 min.) Pr 25:1-17 (th study 10)
4. Starting a Conversation
(3 min.) INFORMAL WITNESSING. Start a conversation with someone who looks sad. (lmd lesson 3 point 3)
5. Following Up
(4 min.) HOUSE TO HOUSE. The person tells you that he has strong religious beliefs. (lmd lesson 8 point 4)
6. Talk
(5 min.) ijwyp article 23—Theme: What if People Are Gossiping About Me? (th study 13)
Song 123
7. Local Needs
(15 min.)
8. Congregation Bible Study
(30 min.) lfb lesson 6, intro to section 3, and lesson 7
Concluding Comments (3 min.) | and Prayer
AUGUST 11-17
pp. 11–16
AUGUST 11-17
PROVERBS 26
Song 88 and Prayer | Opening Comments (1 min.)
1. Stay Away From “Someone Stupid”
(10 min.)
“Someone stupid” rarely deserves honor (Pr 26:1; it-2 729 ¶6)
“Stupid people” often need strong discipline (Pr 26:3; w87 10/1 19 ¶12)
“Someone stupid” is unreliable (Pr 26:6; it-2 191 ¶4)
DEFINITION: In the Bible, the term “someone stupid” describes a person who rejects reason and follows a morally insensible course.
2. Spiritual Gems
(10 min.)
Pr 26:4, 5—Why are these two proverbs not contradictory? (it-1 846)
What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share?
3. Bible Reading
(4 min.) Pr 26:1-20 (th study 5)
4. Starting a Conversation
(3 min.) HOUSE TO HOUSE. Use a tract to start a conversation. (lmd lesson 1 point 5)
5. Following Up
(4 min.) HOUSE TO HOUSE. Continue the discussion of the tract you left on a previous visit. (lmd lesson 7 point 4)
6. Making Disciples
(5 min.) Help your student prepare to witness to a relative. (lmd lesson 11 point 5)
Song 94
7. Become “Wise for Salvation” Through Personal Study
(15 min.) Discussion.
The apostle Paul reminded Timothy of the value of the holy writings that he learned from infancy. These writings were able to make Timothy “wise for salvation.” (2Ti 3:15) Because Bible truths are so valuable, it is important for each Christian to schedule time for Bible reading and study. But what if we do not enjoy study?
Read 1 Peter 2:2. Then ask the audience:
Is it possible for us to learn to enjoy Bible study?
What can we do to “form a longing” for God’s Word?—w18.03 29 ¶6
How can electronic tools from the organization help us to make Bible study more rewarding?
Play the VIDEO Organizational Accomplishments—Tips for Using JW Library. Then ask the audience:
How have you benefited from JW Library®?
What features have you enjoyed using?
What features do you want to learn and start using?
8. Congregation Bible Study
(30 min.) lfb lessons 8-9
Concluding Comments (3 min.) | and Prayer
AUGUST 18-24
pp. 12–13
AUGUST 18-24
PROVERBS 27
Song 102 and Prayer | Opening Comments (1 min.)
1. How We Benefit From True Friends
(10 min.)
True friends will courageously give us needed counsel (Pr 27:5, 6; w19.09 5 ¶12)
True friends may be in a better position to help us than relatives (Pr 27:10; it-2 491 ¶3)
True friends are a good influence on us (Pr 27:17; w23.09 10 ¶7)
2. Spiritual Gems
(10 min.)
Pr 27:21—In what way does praise test us? (w06 9/15 19 ¶12)
What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share?
3. Bible Reading
(4 min.) Pr 27:1-17 (th study 5)
4. Starting a Conversation
(3 min.) HOUSE TO HOUSE. The person belongs to a non-Christian religion. (lmd lesson 6 point 5)
5. Following Up
(4 min.) INFORMAL WITNESSING. Feature a video from the Teaching Toolbox. (lmd lesson 8 point 3)
6. Talk
(5 min.) ijwyp article 75—Theme: What if My Friend Hurts Me? (th study 14)
Song 109
7. “A Brother Who Is Born for Times of Distress”
(15 min.) Discussion.
Jehovah has provided a worldwide Christian brotherhood wherein we can find loving friends. Although we may be friendly with many in the congregation, how many of them are our close friends? Strong friendships are built on understanding, trust, heart-to-heart communication, shared experiences, and unselfish actions. Therefore, building and maintaining friendships takes time and effort.
Read Proverbs 17:17. Then ask the audience:
Why is it wise to build close friendships now before the great tribulation begins?
Read 2 Corinthians 6:12, 13. Then ask the audience:
How can applying these verses help us to make friends?
Play the VIDEO DRAMATIZATION “There Is an Appointed Time for Everything”—Building Friendships Takes Time. Then ask the audience:
What did you learn about friendships from this dramatization?
You can begin planting the seed of friendship with a smile or a friendly greeting and then water it by showing personal interest. Be patient and let it grow as you spend time together. The result may be a friendship that lasts for an eternity.
8. Congregation Bible Study
(30 min.) lfb lessons 10-11
Concluding Comments (3 min.) | and Prayer
AUGUST 25-31
pp. 14–15
AUGUST 25-31
PROVERBS 28
Song 150 and Prayer | Opening Comments (1 min.)
1. Contrasts Between a Wicked Person and a Righteous Person
(10 min.)
A wicked person is fearful; a righteous person is confident (Pr 28:1; w93 5/15 26 ¶2)
A wicked person cannot judge matters correctly; a righteous person is able to make better decisions (Pr 28:5; it-2 1139 ¶3)
A wicked person who is rich has less genuine worth than a righteous person who is poor (Pr 28:6; it-1 1211 ¶4)
2. Spiritual Gems
(10 min.)
Pr 28:14—What warning does this proverb contain? (w01 12/1 11 ¶3)
What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share?
3. Bible Reading
(4 min.) Pr 28:1-17 (th study 10)
4. Starting a Conversation
(3 min.) HOUSE TO HOUSE. Discuss an end to war and violence. (lmd lesson 5 point 5)
5. Starting a Conversation
(3 min.) HOUSE TO HOUSE. Discuss an end to war and violence. (lmd lesson 5 point 4)
6. Starting a Conversation
(2 min.) PUBLIC WITNESSING. Discuss an end to war and violence. (lmd lesson 1 point 4)
7. Starting a Conversation
(3 min.) INFORMAL WITNESSING. Discuss an end to war and violence. (lmd lesson 2 point 4)
Song 112
8. Do You Hate Violence?
(6 min.) Discussion.
Violence originated with Satan the Devil, whom Jesus called “a murderer.” (Joh 8:44) After angels joined Satan in his rebellion, violence became so pervasive that the earth was ruined in the sight of God. (Ge 6:11) As we near the end of Satan’s violent world, many people are fierce and without self-control.—2Ti 3:1, 3.
Read Psalm 11:5. Then ask the audience:
How does Jehovah feel about those who love violence, and why?
How is the world’s fascination with violence reflected in popular sports and entertainment?
Read Proverbs 22:24, 25. Then ask the audience:
How could our choice of entertainment and the people with whom we socialize influence our attitude toward violence?
How might our choice of entertainment demonstrate that we love violence?
9. Special Campaign in September
(9 min.)
Talk by the service overseer. Stimulate enthusiasm for the campaign, and outline local arrangements.
Play the VIDEO Peace at Last! (2022 Convention Song).
10. Congregation Bible Study
(30 min.) lfb lessons 12-13