WEEK STARTING DECEMBER 21
http://www.watchtower.org/e/bible/index.htm
Song 73
Congregation Bible Study:
lv chap. 14¶10-14, box on pp.164-165, app. pp. 222-223
Theocratic Ministry School:
Bible reading: Joshua 9-11
No.1: Joshua 9:1-15
No. 2: How We Can Tell Armageddon Is Near Or chap. 47)
No. 3: God’s Peaceful New World—You Can Live There (lr chap. 48)
Service Meeting:
Song 4
5 min: Announcements. [Please include the announcement that during the week of January 4, everyone should bring their January 2010 Our Kingdom Ministry to the Service Meeting. During this meeting the convention article in the insert will be considered along with the reading of the 2010 district convention assignment letter.’
15 min: Prepare to Offer The Watchtower and Awake! Present a demonstration showing how a group overseer shares his presentation with a young publisher and explains why he selected it and which question and scriptures he will use. The young publisher explains that he had a presentation in mind but needs help refining it. Using the article he had in mind, they develop a question and select the scriptures he will use.
THE WATCHTOWER January 1
ANNOUNCING JEHOVAH’S KINGDOM
“There are conflicting religious opinions regarding the use of alcoholic beverages. How do you think God feels about a person’s drinking alcohol? [Allow for response.] Although the Bible reports that Jesus once miraculously turned water to wine, it also says this. [Read Proverbs 23:20a.] This magazine shows the Bible’s balanced viewpoint.”
Awake! January
“In these difficult times, many people feel overworked and stressed out. Have you felt that way? [Allow for response.] Notice this reasonable advice. [Read Ecclesiastes 4:6.] This magazine discusses how we can balance work, family, and relaxation. It also gives suggestions for those looking for a job.”
Watchtower (Public) — January 1, 2010
Table of Contents
“Just One More Drink”
What Is God’s View of Alcohol?
Keeping Alcohol in Its Place
Did You Know?
Draw Close to God—A Fulfiller of Promises
Why Did God Wage War Against the Canaanites?
The Life and Times of First-Century Christians—Where They Lived
Can the Dead Help the Living?
Will the Earth Come to an End?
Imitate Their Faith—He Was Loyal in the Face of Tests
Our Readers Ask . . .
For Young People—A Man of Humility and Courage
Awake! — January 2010
Table of Contents
Are You Stressed Out?
Cultivate a Balanced View of Work
Live a Simple, Balanced Life
The Bible’s Viewpoint—What Is Judgment Day?
Watching the World
Can Mealtime Strengthen Your Family Values?
Cultivating Orchids—How Patience Pays Off
The Golden Age of Queen Elizabeth I—Myth or Reality?
Come See an African Market
Was It Designed? Bone—A Marvel of Strength
Young People Ask . . . Why Don’t Boys Like Me?
‘Arresting the Drift Toward Selfishness’
“Stop Being Anxious”
Do You Want to Be God’s Friend?
15 min: “‘Impart Your Soul’ to Your Students.” Question-and-answer discussion. After considering paragraph 2, interview a publisher regarding practical ways he endeavors to show personal interest in his students. What has been the result? Also interview a publisher who benefited from personal interest shown by the one conducting his Bible study.
Impart Your Soul’ to Your Students
1 In order to help a Bible student to the point of dedication, more is required than simply conducting a regular Bible study with him. The apostle Paul compared his relationship with those he taught to that of a nursing mother cherishing her children. We too are pleased to impart “our own souls” in order to help our students to grow spiritually. —1 Thess. 2:7-9.
1. What is required to help a Bible student?
2 Take a Personal Interest: As a Bible student applies what he learns, his conscience will prompt him to discontinue close association with those who do not conform to Bible principles. (1 Pet. 4:4) His family may disown him. (Matt. 10:34-36) We can help fill the emotional void by demonstrating warm personal interest. One experienced missionary recommends: “Do not rush away from the study after it is over. If appropriate, stay and talk for a while.” Be alert to offer your student practical help. For example, could you telephone or visit him when he is sick? Can you sit with your student at meetings and help with the children, if fitting?
2. Why should we demonstrate personal interest, and how may that be done?
3 Help From the Congregation: If you are working in the ministry near your student’s home, why not visit briefly to introduce your service companions? When appropriate, from time to time invite different publishers, including elders, to accompany you on the study. Also, soon after you establish a study, encourage your Bible student to attend meetings at the Kingdom Hall. This will enable him to enjoy upbuilding association with members of the congregation who may become his spiritual family.—Mark 10: 29, 30; Heb. 10:24, 25.
3. How can we help our student receive encouragement from the congregation?
4 A parent who tirelessly assists his children spiritually is overjoyed when they take a stand for Jehovah and walk in the truth. (3 John 4) We can experience similar joy as we impart our souls to help our Bible students.
4. How may our diligence be rewarded?
Song 66
Monday, December 21, 2009
THEOCRATIC MINISTRY SCHOOL for the week of 21dec09
Dec. 21 Bible reading: Joshua 9-11
No. 1: Joshua 9:1-15
No. 2: How We Can Tell Armageddon Is Near (lr chap. 47)
No. 3: God’s Peaceful New World—You Can Live There (lr chap. 48)
TALK # 2
*** lr chap. 47 pp. 244-249 How We Can Tell Armageddon Is Near ***Chapter 47
How We Can Tell Armageddon Is Near
YOU know what a sign is, don’t you?— In Chapter 46 we read about the sign God gave that he would never again destroy the world by a flood. Also, the apostles asked for a sign so that they could know when Jesus had returned and when the end of the world, or system of things, was near.—Matthew 24:3.
Since Jesus would be invisible in heaven, a sign that people could see was needed to show that he had begun ruling. So Jesus told about things his disciples should watch for here on earth. When these things happened, it would mean that he had returned and had begun ruling in heaven as King.
To teach his disciples the importance of keeping on the watch, Jesus told them: “Note the fig tree and all the other trees: When they are already in the bud, by observing it you know for yourselves that now the summer is near.” You know how to tell when summer is near. And you can tell when Armageddon is near when you see the things happening that Jesus spoke about.—Luke 21:29, 30.
On this page and the following one, we are going to look at pictures of things that Jesus said would be part of the sign that the Kingdom of God is near. When all these things occur, God’s Kingdom with Christ as Ruler will crush all other governments, as we read in Chapter 46.
So look carefully at the pictures on the two pages before this one, and we will talk about them. At Matthew 24:6-14 and Luke 21:9-11, you can read about what you see in these pictures. Also, notice the small number on each picture. The same number is found at the beginning of the paragraph that describes that picture. Now let’s see if the many parts of the sign that Jesus gave are being fulfilled today.
(1) Jesus said: “You are going to hear of wars and reports of wars; . . . nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.” Have you heard reports about wars?— The first world war was fought from 1914 to 1918, and then there was World War II, from 1939 to 1945. Never before had there been world wars! Now there are wars all over the world. It seems that every day on TV, on the radio, and in the newspaper, we hear or read about wars.
(2) Jesus also said: “There will be food shortages . . . in one place after another.” As you may know, not everyone has enough food to eat. Every day thousands of people die because they do not have enough food.
(3) Jesus added: ‘In one place after another there will be pestilences.’ Do you know what a pestilence is?— It is a sickness, or disease, that kills many people. One great pestilence called the Spanish flu killed about 20 million people within just a year or so. In our day more people than that will probably die from AIDS. And there are cancer, heart disease, and other sicknesses that kill many thousands of people every year.
(4) Jesus gave another part of the sign, saying: “There will be . . . earthquakes in one place after another.” Do you know what an earthquake is?— Earthquakes make the ground shake under your feet. Houses fall down, and people often get killed. Since the year 1914, there have been many earthquakes every year. Have you heard about earthquakes?—
(5) Jesus said that another part of the sign would be ‘more and more badness.’ That is why there is so much stealing and violence. People everywhere are afraid that someone might try to break into their homes. Never before has there been as much crime and violence in all parts of the world as there is now.
(6) Jesus gave a very important part of the sign when he said: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) If you believe “this good news,” then you should talk about it to others. In that way you can share in fulfilling this part of the sign.
Some people may say that the things Jesus foretold have always happened. But never before have such things all happened in so many parts of the world and at the same time. So do you understand what the sign means?— It means that when we see all these things happening, this wicked world will soon be replaced by God’s new world.
When Jesus gave this sign, he also spoke of a special season of the year. He said: “Keep praying that your flight may not occur in wintertime.” (Matthew 24:20) What do you think he meant by that?—
Well, if a person has to escape some disaster during the winter, when the weather makes it very hard or even dangerous to travel, what could happen?— If he escaped at all, it would be with great difficulty. Wouldn’t it be sad for someone to die in a winter storm just because he was too busy doing other things to start his journey earlier?—
Do you see the point Jesus was making by talking about not waiting until wintertime to flee?— He was telling us that since we know that Armageddon is near, we do not want to delay in taking action to prove we love God by serving him. If we delay, it may be too late for us. So we would be just like those at the time of the great Flood who heard Noah but did not get inside the ark.
Next, let’s talk about what it will be like when the great war of Armageddon is over. We will learn what God has in store for all of us who love and serve him now.
The following are other scriptures showing that Armageddon is near: 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and 2 Peter 3:3, 4.
[Pictures on page 244-246]
What lesson was Jesus teaching when he talked about the fig tree?
[Picture on page 249]
When Jesus spoke of trying to escape during wintertime, what lesson was he teaching?
TALK #3
*** lr chap. 48 pp. 250-256 God’s Peaceful New World—You Can Live There ***
Chapter 48
God’s Peaceful New World—You Can Live There
GOD put Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Even though they became disobedient and died, God has made it possible for their children, including us today, to live forever in Paradise. The Bible promises: “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will [live] forever upon it.”—Psalm 37:29.
The Bible tells about a “new heavens” and “a new earth.” (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13) The present “heavens” are made up of today’s human governments, but Jesus Christ and those who rule with him in heaven will make up the “new heavens.” How wonderful it will be when this new heavens, which is God’s righteous government of peace, rules the entire earth!
What, then, is the “new earth”?— The new earth will be good people who love Jehovah. You see, when the Bible speaks of “the earth,” it sometimes means the people who live on the earth, not the land itself. (Genesis 11:1; Psalm 66:4; 96:1) So the people who make up the new earth will live right here on this earth.
The present world of wicked people will then be gone. Remember, the Flood of Noah’s day wiped out a wicked world of people. And, as we have learned, this present wicked world will be destroyed at Armageddon. Let’s see now what it will be like to live in God’s new world after Armageddon.
Do you want to live forever in Paradise in God’s peaceful new world?— No doctor can make us live forever. There is no pill that will keep us from dying. The only way we can live forever is by drawing close to God. And the Great Teacher tells us how to do that.
Let’s get our Bibles and open them to John chapter 17, verse 3. Here we find these words of the Great Teacher: “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.”
So, what did Jesus say we need to do to live forever?— First, we must take in knowledge of our heavenly Father, Jehovah, and also of his Son, who gave his life for us. This means that we need to study the Bible. This book, Learn From the Great Teacher, is helping us to do that.
But how will learning about Jehovah help us to live forever?— Well, just as we need food every day, we need to learn about Jehovah every day. The Bible says: ‘Man must live, not on bread alone, but on all the words that come from Jehovah’s mouth.’—Matthew 4:4.
We also need to take in knowledge of Jesus Christ because God sent his Son to take away our sin. The Bible says: “There is no salvation in anyone else.” And the Bible also says: “He that exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life.” (Acts 4:12; John 3:36) Now, what does it mean to ‘exercise faith’ in Jesus?— It means that we really believe in Jesus and know that we cannot live forever without him. Do we believe that?— If we do, we will continue to learn from the Great Teacher every day, and we will do what he says.
One fine way to learn from the Great Teacher is to read this book over and over and to look at and think about all the pictures. See if you can answer the questions found with these pictures. Also, read the book with your mother or father. If your parents are not with you, read it with other grown-ups and with other children. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could help others to learn from the Great Teacher what they need to do to live forever in God’s new world?—
The Bible tells us: “The world is passing away.” But then the Bible explains how we can live forever in God’s new world. It says: “He that does the will of God remains forever.” (1 John 2:17) So how can we live forever in God’s new world?— Yes, by taking in knowledge of Jehovah and his dear Son, Jesus. But we also have to do, or practice, what we learn. May your study of this book help you to do these things.
[Box/Picture on page 251]
As you read Isaiah 11:6-9 and Isaiah 65:25, you learn about animals living in peace. Look at these pictures. See the lamb, the little goat, the leopard, the calf, the big lion, and the children with them. Can you name the other animals here that the Bible talks about?— Look at that boy playing with the cobra! No one living in the new world needs to be afraid. (Hosea 2:18) What do you think about that?—
[Box/Pictures on page 252, 253]
Now, see the peace among people of all kinds. They all love one another, as Jesus said his followers would. (John 13:34, 35) Weapons of war are being made into tools to take care of the earth. The Bible tells about the wonderful peace and security that people will enjoy in God’s new world. We can read about this in such scriptures as Psalm 72:7; Isaiah 2:4; 32:16-18; and Ezekiel 34:25.
See the people on this page. They are caring for the earth, making it a beautiful place. Look at the nice house they are building and all the good fruits and vegetables shown here. People are at peace with the earth, so it has become a paradise like the garden of Eden. We can read about these wonderful things at Psalm 67:6; 72:16; Isaiah 25:6; 65:21-24; and Ezekiel 36:35.
[Box/Picture on page 254]
As you see here, everybody is healthy and happy. People can jump high like a deer. Nobody is lame, blind, or sick. And see those people who have been raised from the dead! The Bible tells about these things at Isaiah 25:8; 33:24; 35:5, 6; Acts 24:15; and Revelation 21:3, 4.
No. 1: Joshua 9:1-15
No. 2: How We Can Tell Armageddon Is Near (lr chap. 47)
No. 3: God’s Peaceful New World—You Can Live There (lr chap. 48)
TALK # 2
*** lr chap. 47 pp. 244-249 How We Can Tell Armageddon Is Near ***Chapter 47
How We Can Tell Armageddon Is Near
YOU know what a sign is, don’t you?— In Chapter 46 we read about the sign God gave that he would never again destroy the world by a flood. Also, the apostles asked for a sign so that they could know when Jesus had returned and when the end of the world, or system of things, was near.—Matthew 24:3.
Since Jesus would be invisible in heaven, a sign that people could see was needed to show that he had begun ruling. So Jesus told about things his disciples should watch for here on earth. When these things happened, it would mean that he had returned and had begun ruling in heaven as King.
To teach his disciples the importance of keeping on the watch, Jesus told them: “Note the fig tree and all the other trees: When they are already in the bud, by observing it you know for yourselves that now the summer is near.” You know how to tell when summer is near. And you can tell when Armageddon is near when you see the things happening that Jesus spoke about.—Luke 21:29, 30.
On this page and the following one, we are going to look at pictures of things that Jesus said would be part of the sign that the Kingdom of God is near. When all these things occur, God’s Kingdom with Christ as Ruler will crush all other governments, as we read in Chapter 46.
So look carefully at the pictures on the two pages before this one, and we will talk about them. At Matthew 24:6-14 and Luke 21:9-11, you can read about what you see in these pictures. Also, notice the small number on each picture. The same number is found at the beginning of the paragraph that describes that picture. Now let’s see if the many parts of the sign that Jesus gave are being fulfilled today.
(1) Jesus said: “You are going to hear of wars and reports of wars; . . . nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.” Have you heard reports about wars?— The first world war was fought from 1914 to 1918, and then there was World War II, from 1939 to 1945. Never before had there been world wars! Now there are wars all over the world. It seems that every day on TV, on the radio, and in the newspaper, we hear or read about wars.
(2) Jesus also said: “There will be food shortages . . . in one place after another.” As you may know, not everyone has enough food to eat. Every day thousands of people die because they do not have enough food.
(3) Jesus added: ‘In one place after another there will be pestilences.’ Do you know what a pestilence is?— It is a sickness, or disease, that kills many people. One great pestilence called the Spanish flu killed about 20 million people within just a year or so. In our day more people than that will probably die from AIDS. And there are cancer, heart disease, and other sicknesses that kill many thousands of people every year.
(4) Jesus gave another part of the sign, saying: “There will be . . . earthquakes in one place after another.” Do you know what an earthquake is?— Earthquakes make the ground shake under your feet. Houses fall down, and people often get killed. Since the year 1914, there have been many earthquakes every year. Have you heard about earthquakes?—
(5) Jesus said that another part of the sign would be ‘more and more badness.’ That is why there is so much stealing and violence. People everywhere are afraid that someone might try to break into their homes. Never before has there been as much crime and violence in all parts of the world as there is now.
(6) Jesus gave a very important part of the sign when he said: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) If you believe “this good news,” then you should talk about it to others. In that way you can share in fulfilling this part of the sign.
Some people may say that the things Jesus foretold have always happened. But never before have such things all happened in so many parts of the world and at the same time. So do you understand what the sign means?— It means that when we see all these things happening, this wicked world will soon be replaced by God’s new world.
When Jesus gave this sign, he also spoke of a special season of the year. He said: “Keep praying that your flight may not occur in wintertime.” (Matthew 24:20) What do you think he meant by that?—
Well, if a person has to escape some disaster during the winter, when the weather makes it very hard or even dangerous to travel, what could happen?— If he escaped at all, it would be with great difficulty. Wouldn’t it be sad for someone to die in a winter storm just because he was too busy doing other things to start his journey earlier?—
Do you see the point Jesus was making by talking about not waiting until wintertime to flee?— He was telling us that since we know that Armageddon is near, we do not want to delay in taking action to prove we love God by serving him. If we delay, it may be too late for us. So we would be just like those at the time of the great Flood who heard Noah but did not get inside the ark.
Next, let’s talk about what it will be like when the great war of Armageddon is over. We will learn what God has in store for all of us who love and serve him now.
The following are other scriptures showing that Armageddon is near: 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and 2 Peter 3:3, 4.
[Pictures on page 244-246]
What lesson was Jesus teaching when he talked about the fig tree?
[Picture on page 249]
When Jesus spoke of trying to escape during wintertime, what lesson was he teaching?
TALK #3
*** lr chap. 48 pp. 250-256 God’s Peaceful New World—You Can Live There ***
Chapter 48
God’s Peaceful New World—You Can Live There
GOD put Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Even though they became disobedient and died, God has made it possible for their children, including us today, to live forever in Paradise. The Bible promises: “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will [live] forever upon it.”—Psalm 37:29.
The Bible tells about a “new heavens” and “a new earth.” (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13) The present “heavens” are made up of today’s human governments, but Jesus Christ and those who rule with him in heaven will make up the “new heavens.” How wonderful it will be when this new heavens, which is God’s righteous government of peace, rules the entire earth!
What, then, is the “new earth”?— The new earth will be good people who love Jehovah. You see, when the Bible speaks of “the earth,” it sometimes means the people who live on the earth, not the land itself. (Genesis 11:1; Psalm 66:4; 96:1) So the people who make up the new earth will live right here on this earth.
The present world of wicked people will then be gone. Remember, the Flood of Noah’s day wiped out a wicked world of people. And, as we have learned, this present wicked world will be destroyed at Armageddon. Let’s see now what it will be like to live in God’s new world after Armageddon.
Do you want to live forever in Paradise in God’s peaceful new world?— No doctor can make us live forever. There is no pill that will keep us from dying. The only way we can live forever is by drawing close to God. And the Great Teacher tells us how to do that.
Let’s get our Bibles and open them to John chapter 17, verse 3. Here we find these words of the Great Teacher: “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.”
So, what did Jesus say we need to do to live forever?— First, we must take in knowledge of our heavenly Father, Jehovah, and also of his Son, who gave his life for us. This means that we need to study the Bible. This book, Learn From the Great Teacher, is helping us to do that.
But how will learning about Jehovah help us to live forever?— Well, just as we need food every day, we need to learn about Jehovah every day. The Bible says: ‘Man must live, not on bread alone, but on all the words that come from Jehovah’s mouth.’—Matthew 4:4.
We also need to take in knowledge of Jesus Christ because God sent his Son to take away our sin. The Bible says: “There is no salvation in anyone else.” And the Bible also says: “He that exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life.” (Acts 4:12; John 3:36) Now, what does it mean to ‘exercise faith’ in Jesus?— It means that we really believe in Jesus and know that we cannot live forever without him. Do we believe that?— If we do, we will continue to learn from the Great Teacher every day, and we will do what he says.
One fine way to learn from the Great Teacher is to read this book over and over and to look at and think about all the pictures. See if you can answer the questions found with these pictures. Also, read the book with your mother or father. If your parents are not with you, read it with other grown-ups and with other children. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could help others to learn from the Great Teacher what they need to do to live forever in God’s new world?—
The Bible tells us: “The world is passing away.” But then the Bible explains how we can live forever in God’s new world. It says: “He that does the will of God remains forever.” (1 John 2:17) So how can we live forever in God’s new world?— Yes, by taking in knowledge of Jehovah and his dear Son, Jesus. But we also have to do, or practice, what we learn. May your study of this book help you to do these things.
[Box/Picture on page 251]
As you read Isaiah 11:6-9 and Isaiah 65:25, you learn about animals living in peace. Look at these pictures. See the lamb, the little goat, the leopard, the calf, the big lion, and the children with them. Can you name the other animals here that the Bible talks about?— Look at that boy playing with the cobra! No one living in the new world needs to be afraid. (Hosea 2:18) What do you think about that?—
[Box/Pictures on page 252, 253]
Now, see the peace among people of all kinds. They all love one another, as Jesus said his followers would. (John 13:34, 35) Weapons of war are being made into tools to take care of the earth. The Bible tells about the wonderful peace and security that people will enjoy in God’s new world. We can read about this in such scriptures as Psalm 72:7; Isaiah 2:4; 32:16-18; and Ezekiel 34:25.
See the people on this page. They are caring for the earth, making it a beautiful place. Look at the nice house they are building and all the good fruits and vegetables shown here. People are at peace with the earth, so it has become a paradise like the garden of Eden. We can read about these wonderful things at Psalm 67:6; 72:16; Isaiah 25:6; 65:21-24; and Ezekiel 36:35.
[Box/Picture on page 254]
As you see here, everybody is healthy and happy. People can jump high like a deer. Nobody is lame, blind, or sick. And see those people who have been raised from the dead! The Bible tells about these things at Isaiah 25:8; 33:24; 35:5, 6; Acts 24:15; and Revelation 21:3, 4.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
CONGREGATION BIBLE STUDY FOR THE WEEK OF 21dec09
http://www.watchtower.org/e/bible/index.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/e/bible/index.htm
*** lv chap. 14 pp. 165-168 Be Honest in All Things ***
HONESTY IN THE CONGREGATION
10 Associating with fellow Christians affords us many opportunities to develop honesty. As we learned in Chapter 12, we need to be careful in the way we use the gift of speech, particularly among our spiritual brothers and sisters. Casual talk can so easily turn into harmful gossip, even slander! If we repeat a story of uncertain origin, we may be helping to spread a lie, so it is much better to keep our lips in check. (Proverbs 10:19) On the other hand, we may know something to be true, but that does not mean that it is worth saying. For example, the matter may be none of our business, or it may be unkind to speak about it. (1 Thessalonians 4:11) Some people excuse rudeness by calling it honesty, but our words should always be gracious and kind.—Colossians 4:6.
11 It is particularly important that we be honest with those taking the lead in the congregation. Some who become involved in serious wrongdoing compound the problem by trying to cover up their sin and lying to congregation elders when asked about it. Such ones even begin to lead a double life, pretending to serve Jehovah while pursuing a course of serious sin. In effect, such a course turns a person’s whole life into a lie. (Psalm 12:2) Others tell the elders part of the truth while concealing essential facts. (Acts 5:1-11) Such dishonesty often stems from believing in lies that Satan promotes.—See the box “Satanic Lies Regarding Serious Sins,” on pages 164-5.
12 It is also important to be honest with Jehovah’s organization when we answer questions in writing. For example, when we report our activity in the ministry, we are careful not to falsify the facts. Similarly, when we fill out an application for some privilege of service, we should never misrepresent the real state of our health or any other aspect of our record.—Proverbs 6:16-19.
13 Our honesty with fellow believers also extends to matters of business. At times, Christian brothers and sisters may engage in business dealings together. They should be careful to keep such matters separate from the worship they carry out together at the Kingdom Hall or in the ministry. The business relationship may be that of an employer and an employee. If we employ brothers or sisters, we would be careful to treat them honestly, paying them in a timely way, in the amount agreed upon, and with the benefits arranged for or required by law. (1 Timothy 5:18; James 5:1-4) Conversely, if we are employed by a brother or a sister, we give the full amount of work for our wages. (2 Thessalonians 3:10) We do not expect preferential treatment because of our spiritual relationship, as if our employer owes us time off, benefits, or other advantages not accorded to other employees.—Ephesians 6:5-8.
14 What if our business involves some kind of joint venture, perhaps an investment or a loan? The Bible provides an important and useful principle: Put everything down in writing! For example, when Jeremiah bought a plot of land, he had a document made out in duplicate, duly witnessed, and safely stored for future reference. (Jeremiah 32:9-12; see also Genesis 23:16-20.) When doing business with fellow believers, putting all the details into a carefully prepared, signed, and witnessed document does not imply distrust. Rather, it helps to prevent misunderstandings, disappointments, and even divisive disagreements from arising. Any Christians doing business together should keep in mind that no business venture is ever worth endangering the unity and peace of the congregation.—1 Corinthians 6:1-8.
*** lv pp. 222-223 Resolving Disputes in Business Matters ***
Resolving Disputes in Business Matters
As recorded at 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, the apostle Paul discussed lawsuits between fellow believers. He expressed dismay that some Christians in Corinth would “dare to go to court before unrighteous men.” (Verse 1) Paul gave strong reasons why Christians should not sue one another in secular courts but rather settle disputes within the congregation setting. Let us consider some of the reasons for this inspired counsel and then touch on a few situations not necessarily covered by this directive.
If we have a business dispute with a fellow believer, we would first of all seek to handle matters Jehovah’s way, not our own. (Proverbs 14:12) As Jesus showed, it is best to settle a disagreement quickly before it escalates into a major issue. (Matthew 5:23-26) Sadly, though, some Christians become overly contentious, even taking disputes into secular courts. Paul said: “It means altogether a defeat for you that you are having lawsuits with one another.” Why? A key reason is that such proceedings may well reflect poorly on the good name of the congregation and the God we worship. We therefore take to heart Paul’s question: “Why do you not rather let yourselves be wronged?”—Verse 7.
Paul also reasoned that God has given the congregation a fine arrangement for settling many disputes. The elders are Christian men made wise by their knowledge of Scriptural truths, and Paul says that they are “able to judge between . . . brothers” when it comes to “matters of this life.” (Verses 3-5) Jesus showed that disputes involving serious wrongs, such as slander and fraud, should be settled according to a three-step process: first, endeavoring to settle the matter privately between those involved; second, if the initial step fails, bringing along a witness or two; and third, if the preceding step fails, taking the matter to the congregation as represented by the elders.—Matthew 18:15-17.
Of course, Christian elders are not necessarily lawyers or businessmen and do not need to act as such. They do not set the terms for settling business disputes between brothers. Rather, they seek to help all parties involved to apply the Scriptures and agree on an amicable resolution. In complex cases, they may wish to consult with the circuit overseer or the branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses. However, there are situations that lie outside the realm covered by Paul’s counsel. What are some of these?
In some cases, a lawsuit may be a simple formality or a legal necessity in pursuing unselfish and peaceful ends. For instance, a lawsuit may be the only mechanism available in getting a divorce decree, acquiring custody of a child, determining alimony payments, obtaining insurance compensation, being listed among creditors in a bankruptcy proceeding, and probating wills. There are also cases in which a brother might feel compelled to countersue in order to protect himself in a lawsuit.
If such lawsuits are pursued without a spirit of contention, they may not violate the spirit of Paul’s inspired counsel. Nonetheless, a Christian’s priority should be the sanctification of Jehovah’s name and the peace and unity of the congregation. Christ’s followers are marked first and foremost by their love, and “love . . . does not look for its own interests.”—1 Corinthians 13:4, 5; John 13:34, 35.
[Footnotes]
In rare instances, one Christian might commit a serious crime against another—such as rape, assault, murder, or major theft. In such cases, it would not be unchristian to report the matter to the authorities, even though doing so might result in a court case or a criminal trial.
For further information, please see The Watchtower, March 15, 1997, pages 17-22, and October 15, 1991, pages 25-8.
*** lv chap. 14 pp. 164-165 Be Honest in All Things ***[Box on page 164, 165]
SATANIC LIES REGARDING SERIOUS SINS
When it comes to serious sins, there are some dangerous lies that Satan would love for you to believe. Happily, Christians are not ignorant of the Devil’s “crafty acts.” (Ephesians 6:11, footnote) Consider three of such lies.
“Sins can be hidden.” In truth, Jehovah sees everything that we do. “All things are naked and openly exposed to the eyes of him with whom we have an accounting.” (Hebrews 4:13) Since Jehovah knows the facts and since we have an accounting with him, why add to our guilt by attempting to hide a serious sin from his human servants?—See also 2 Samuel 12:12.
“The elders cannot be trusted, so don’t tell them anything.” Wicked King Ahab addressed Elijah this way: “O enemy of mine.” (1 Kings 21:20) As Jehovah’s prophet in Israel, Elijah could have helped Ahab gain forgiveness. In the Christian congregation, Jesus provides the elders as “gifts in men.” (Ephesians 4:8) Though imperfect, the elders are “keeping watch over [our] souls,” that is, looking out for our spiritual health and welfare. (Hebrews 13:17) They are not the enemy; they are Jehovah’s means of helping us.
“You protect a friend by helping him to conceal his sins.” The truth is, we would do a sinner great harm by helping to conceal his sins. Serious sins are signs of real spiritual illness; concealing them is like hiding serious symptoms from a qualified doctor. (James 5:14, 15) The sinner may fear the possibility of discipline; but discipline is an expression of Jehovah’s love, and it may well save the sinner’s life. (Proverbs 3:12; 4:13) Furthermore, the persistent sinner likely presents a real danger to others in the congregation. Would you want to assist in the spread of his wrong attitudes that led him into sin? (Leviticus 5:1; 1 Timothy 5:22) By all means, then, make sure that the erring one brings the matter to the attention of the congregation elders.
http://www.watchtower.org/e/bible/index.htm
*** lv chap. 14 pp. 165-168 Be Honest in All Things ***
HONESTY IN THE CONGREGATION
10 Associating with fellow Christians affords us many opportunities to develop honesty. As we learned in Chapter 12, we need to be careful in the way we use the gift of speech, particularly among our spiritual brothers and sisters. Casual talk can so easily turn into harmful gossip, even slander! If we repeat a story of uncertain origin, we may be helping to spread a lie, so it is much better to keep our lips in check. (Proverbs 10:19) On the other hand, we may know something to be true, but that does not mean that it is worth saying. For example, the matter may be none of our business, or it may be unkind to speak about it. (1 Thessalonians 4:11) Some people excuse rudeness by calling it honesty, but our words should always be gracious and kind.—Colossians 4:6.
11 It is particularly important that we be honest with those taking the lead in the congregation. Some who become involved in serious wrongdoing compound the problem by trying to cover up their sin and lying to congregation elders when asked about it. Such ones even begin to lead a double life, pretending to serve Jehovah while pursuing a course of serious sin. In effect, such a course turns a person’s whole life into a lie. (Psalm 12:2) Others tell the elders part of the truth while concealing essential facts. (Acts 5:1-11) Such dishonesty often stems from believing in lies that Satan promotes.—See the box “Satanic Lies Regarding Serious Sins,” on pages 164-5.
12 It is also important to be honest with Jehovah’s organization when we answer questions in writing. For example, when we report our activity in the ministry, we are careful not to falsify the facts. Similarly, when we fill out an application for some privilege of service, we should never misrepresent the real state of our health or any other aspect of our record.—Proverbs 6:16-19.
13 Our honesty with fellow believers also extends to matters of business. At times, Christian brothers and sisters may engage in business dealings together. They should be careful to keep such matters separate from the worship they carry out together at the Kingdom Hall or in the ministry. The business relationship may be that of an employer and an employee. If we employ brothers or sisters, we would be careful to treat them honestly, paying them in a timely way, in the amount agreed upon, and with the benefits arranged for or required by law. (1 Timothy 5:18; James 5:1-4) Conversely, if we are employed by a brother or a sister, we give the full amount of work for our wages. (2 Thessalonians 3:10) We do not expect preferential treatment because of our spiritual relationship, as if our employer owes us time off, benefits, or other advantages not accorded to other employees.—Ephesians 6:5-8.
14 What if our business involves some kind of joint venture, perhaps an investment or a loan? The Bible provides an important and useful principle: Put everything down in writing! For example, when Jeremiah bought a plot of land, he had a document made out in duplicate, duly witnessed, and safely stored for future reference. (Jeremiah 32:9-12; see also Genesis 23:16-20.) When doing business with fellow believers, putting all the details into a carefully prepared, signed, and witnessed document does not imply distrust. Rather, it helps to prevent misunderstandings, disappointments, and even divisive disagreements from arising. Any Christians doing business together should keep in mind that no business venture is ever worth endangering the unity and peace of the congregation.—1 Corinthians 6:1-8.
*** lv pp. 222-223 Resolving Disputes in Business Matters ***
Resolving Disputes in Business Matters
As recorded at 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, the apostle Paul discussed lawsuits between fellow believers. He expressed dismay that some Christians in Corinth would “dare to go to court before unrighteous men.” (Verse 1) Paul gave strong reasons why Christians should not sue one another in secular courts but rather settle disputes within the congregation setting. Let us consider some of the reasons for this inspired counsel and then touch on a few situations not necessarily covered by this directive.
If we have a business dispute with a fellow believer, we would first of all seek to handle matters Jehovah’s way, not our own. (Proverbs 14:12) As Jesus showed, it is best to settle a disagreement quickly before it escalates into a major issue. (Matthew 5:23-26) Sadly, though, some Christians become overly contentious, even taking disputes into secular courts. Paul said: “It means altogether a defeat for you that you are having lawsuits with one another.” Why? A key reason is that such proceedings may well reflect poorly on the good name of the congregation and the God we worship. We therefore take to heart Paul’s question: “Why do you not rather let yourselves be wronged?”—Verse 7.
Paul also reasoned that God has given the congregation a fine arrangement for settling many disputes. The elders are Christian men made wise by their knowledge of Scriptural truths, and Paul says that they are “able to judge between . . . brothers” when it comes to “matters of this life.” (Verses 3-5) Jesus showed that disputes involving serious wrongs, such as slander and fraud, should be settled according to a three-step process: first, endeavoring to settle the matter privately between those involved; second, if the initial step fails, bringing along a witness or two; and third, if the preceding step fails, taking the matter to the congregation as represented by the elders.—Matthew 18:15-17.
Of course, Christian elders are not necessarily lawyers or businessmen and do not need to act as such. They do not set the terms for settling business disputes between brothers. Rather, they seek to help all parties involved to apply the Scriptures and agree on an amicable resolution. In complex cases, they may wish to consult with the circuit overseer or the branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses. However, there are situations that lie outside the realm covered by Paul’s counsel. What are some of these?
In some cases, a lawsuit may be a simple formality or a legal necessity in pursuing unselfish and peaceful ends. For instance, a lawsuit may be the only mechanism available in getting a divorce decree, acquiring custody of a child, determining alimony payments, obtaining insurance compensation, being listed among creditors in a bankruptcy proceeding, and probating wills. There are also cases in which a brother might feel compelled to countersue in order to protect himself in a lawsuit.
If such lawsuits are pursued without a spirit of contention, they may not violate the spirit of Paul’s inspired counsel. Nonetheless, a Christian’s priority should be the sanctification of Jehovah’s name and the peace and unity of the congregation. Christ’s followers are marked first and foremost by their love, and “love . . . does not look for its own interests.”—1 Corinthians 13:4, 5; John 13:34, 35.
[Footnotes]
In rare instances, one Christian might commit a serious crime against another—such as rape, assault, murder, or major theft. In such cases, it would not be unchristian to report the matter to the authorities, even though doing so might result in a court case or a criminal trial.
For further information, please see The Watchtower, March 15, 1997, pages 17-22, and October 15, 1991, pages 25-8.
*** lv chap. 14 pp. 164-165 Be Honest in All Things ***[Box on page 164, 165]
SATANIC LIES REGARDING SERIOUS SINS
When it comes to serious sins, there are some dangerous lies that Satan would love for you to believe. Happily, Christians are not ignorant of the Devil’s “crafty acts.” (Ephesians 6:11, footnote) Consider three of such lies.
“Sins can be hidden.” In truth, Jehovah sees everything that we do. “All things are naked and openly exposed to the eyes of him with whom we have an accounting.” (Hebrews 4:13) Since Jehovah knows the facts and since we have an accounting with him, why add to our guilt by attempting to hide a serious sin from his human servants?—See also 2 Samuel 12:12.
“The elders cannot be trusted, so don’t tell them anything.” Wicked King Ahab addressed Elijah this way: “O enemy of mine.” (1 Kings 21:20) As Jehovah’s prophet in Israel, Elijah could have helped Ahab gain forgiveness. In the Christian congregation, Jesus provides the elders as “gifts in men.” (Ephesians 4:8) Though imperfect, the elders are “keeping watch over [our] souls,” that is, looking out for our spiritual health and welfare. (Hebrews 13:17) They are not the enemy; they are Jehovah’s means of helping us.
“You protect a friend by helping him to conceal his sins.” The truth is, we would do a sinner great harm by helping to conceal his sins. Serious sins are signs of real spiritual illness; concealing them is like hiding serious symptoms from a qualified doctor. (James 5:14, 15) The sinner may fear the possibility of discipline; but discipline is an expression of Jehovah’s love, and it may well save the sinner’s life. (Proverbs 3:12; 4:13) Furthermore, the persistent sinner likely presents a real danger to others in the congregation. Would you want to assist in the spread of his wrong attitudes that led him into sin? (Leviticus 5:1; 1 Timothy 5:22) By all means, then, make sure that the erring one brings the matter to the attention of the congregation elders.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
SERVICE MEETING for the week of 14december09
Service Meeting:
Song 161
5 min: Announcements.
15 min: Why Am I Afraid to Share My Faith? Talk based on the July 2009 Awake! pages 24-27. Include a demonstration showing parents using Family Worship evening to prepare their child to answer questions at school. They do research and discuss one of the questions on page 25, then they have a practice session during which the child answers the question.
“Our teacher asked the class what we thought about evolution. I knew this was a perfect chance to share my faith. But I completely froze and said nothing. Afterward, I felt really bad.”—Jasmine.
YOUNG PEOPLE ASK
“There have been some great opportunities to talk about my beliefs at school. But I let them pass.”—Kaleb.*
Why am I afraid to share my faith?
IF YOU are a Christian youth, perhaps you can relate to the experiences of Kaleb and Jasmine. Like them, you may love the Bible-based truths you have learned and want to share them with others. Still, you might dread the thought of speaking up. But you can develop more courage. How? Take the following steps as you prepare for each school year:
1. Define your fears. When you think about sharing your faith, it’s easy to imagine the worst-case scenario! Sometimes, though, you can reduce your fears simply by putting them into words.
Complete the following sentence.
■ If I talk about my beliefs at school, this is what might happen:
If it’s any comfort, your fears may be a lot like those of other Christian youths. For instance, 14-year-old Christopher admits, “I’m afraid kids will make fun of me and tell everyone I’m weird.” And Kaleb, quoted at the outset, says, “I was worried someone would ask a question and I wouldn’t know the answer.”
2. Accept the challenge. Are your fears completely unfounded? Not necessarily. “Some kids pretended they were interested in my beliefs,” says Ashley. “But later they turned my words against me and teased me in front of others.” Nicole, 17, had this experience: “A boy compared a verse in his Bible with the same verse in mine, and the wording was different. He said that my Bible had been changed. I was stunned! I didn’t know what to say.”*
* Bible translations use different wording. However, some are more faithful to the original languages in which the Bible was written.
Situations like these can seem pretty scary! But instead of running away, accept such challenges as a normal part of your life as a Christian. (2 Timothy 3:12) “Jesus said his followers would be persecuted,” says 13-yearold Matthew, “so we can’t expect everyone to like us or our beliefs.”—John 15:20.
3. Think of the benefits. Can any good come out of a seemingly bad experience? Amber, 21, thinks so. “It’s hard to explain your faith to people who don’t respect the Bible,” she says, “but it helps you to understand your own position better.”—Romans 12:2.
Look again at the scenario you described at Step 1. Think of at least two good things that could come out of that situation, and write them below.
1
2
Hint: How might making known your faith lead to less peer pressure? How will your doing so affect your self-confidence? Your feelings for Jehovah God? His feelings for you?—Proverbs 23 :15 .
4. Be prepared. “The heart of the righteous one meditates so as to answer,” says Proverbs 15:28. Besides meditating on what you’ll say, try to anticipate questions others may ask. Research those topics, and plan out answers you feel comfortable giving.—See the chart “Plan Your Response,” on page 25.
5. Get started. Once you’re ready to talk about your beliefs, how should you start? You have options. In a sense, sharing your faith is like swimming: Some people ease their way into the water; others jump right in. Likewise, you could start the conversation on a nonreligious subject and gradually test the waters, so to speak. But if you find yourself worrying too much about what might go wrong, your best option may be to ‘jump right in.’ (Luke 12:11, 12) “Thinking about sharing my faith was always harder than actually doing it,” says 17-year-old Andrew. “Once a conversation was started, it was much easier than I thought it would be!”*
* See the box “Conversation Starters,” on page 26.
6. Be sensible. Just as you wouldn’t dive into shallow waters, be careful not to jump into pointless arguments. Remember, there’s a time to speak and a time to keep quiet. (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7) At times, even Jesus refused to answer questions. (Matthew 26:62, 63) And remember this principle: “Sensible people will see trouble coming and avoid it, but an unthinking person will walk right into it and regret it later.”—Proverbs 22:3, Today’s English Version.
So if you sense an argument coming on, don’t “walk right into it.” Instead, give a brief and discreet reply. For example, if a classmate taunts, ‘Why don’t you smoke cigarettes?’ you could simply say, ‘Because I’m not into body pollution!’ Depending on the response, you can decide whether or not to explain your beliefs further.
The above steps can help you to be “always ready to make a defense” of your faith. ( 1 Peter 3:15) Of course, being ready doesn’t mean that you’ll never feel nervous. But Alana, 18, observes: “When you explain your beliefs despite being scared, it makes you feel as if you’ve accomplished something—you’ve overcome your fear and taken the risk that it might not go well. And if it does go well, you’ll feel even better! You’ll be glad you had the courage to speak up.”
WHAT YOUR PEERS SAY
“I’ve had some kids laugh at me for expressing my faith. But usually they leave me alone once they realize that their teasing doesn’t bother me.”—Francesca, Luxembourg.
“If you don’t tell people that you’re a Christian, you can lose touch with who you are and start acting like everyone else. You can’t let yourself be a follower; you have to remain your own person.”—Samantha, United States.
“When I was younger, I didn’t want to be different from other kids. But then I began to appreciate how my faith contributes to a better quality of life. That realization boosted my confidence—it made me feel proud of what I believe. “—Jason, New Zealand.
Sharing your faith is like swimming. You can choose to start slowly—or just take the plunge!
WHAT YOUR PEERS SAY
CONVERSATION STARTERS
■ “What are your plans for the summer?” [After response, mention your spiritual plans, such as attending a convention or expanding your ministry.]
■ Mention a news item, and then ask: “Did you hear about that? What do you think of it?”
■ “Do you think that the world’s financial situation [or another problem] is likely to improve? [Allow for response.] Why do you feel that way?”
■ “Do you belong to a religion?”
■ “Where do you see yourself five years from now?” [After response, share your spiritual goals.]
TO THINK ABOUT
■ Could these be the thoughts of someone at your school?
‘I know you’re one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. You might think I’m going to ridicule you, but really I respect you. How do you remain so calm amid all the problems in the world? I’m scared. Will there be another war soon? Will my parents divorce? Will I make it through school today without getting shot or stabbed? I’ve got so many questions, but you seem to have life all figured out. Is that because of your religion? I’d like to discuss it, but I’m afraid to bring up the subject. Will you please start the conversation?’
plan your response
Suggestion Discuss this chart with your parents and friends. Complete the chart Then see if you can think of other questions your classmates may ask
SEQUENCE
question-- QT
answer ANS
next question- NQ
research RS
answer ANS
MORALS
What’s your stand on homosexuality?
I don’t hate homosexuals, but I can’t approve of their conduct.
Isn’t that viewpoint prejudiced? 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10;
Questions Young People Ask—Answers That Work,
Volume 2, chapter 28.
No, because I’m against all forms of immorality,homosexual or otherwise.
DATING
Why don’t you date?
I’ve decided not to get into a relationship until I’m older.
Is it because of your religion?
Song of Solomon 8:4;
Young People Ask, Volume 2, chapter 1.
Yes. We date only with a view to marriage, and I know I’m not
ready for that yet!
neutrality
Why don’t you salute the flag?
I respect the land I live in, but I don’t worship it.
So you wouldn’t fight for your country?
Isaiah 2:4; John 13:35;
What Does the Bible Really Teach? pages 148- 151.*
No, and millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses
in other lands wouldn’t fight against this country either.
Blood
Why won’t you accept blood transfusions?
I accept safe transfusions —the kind that don’t carry
the risk of AIDS. But the Bible says to abstain from
blood, so that’s where I draw the line.
But what if you were going to die?
Wouldn’t God forgive you?
Acts 5:28, 29; Hebrews 11:6;
Bible Teach book, pages 129-131.
.
Choices
So-and-so is a member of your religion, and he did such-and-such.
Why can’t you? We’re taught God’s requirements, but we’re
not brainwashed! We all have to make our own choices.
Isn’t that a double standard?
creation
Why don’t you believe in evolution?
Why should I believe in evolution?
Scientists don’t even agree on it, and they’re supposed to be the experts!
15 min: “Preach With Urgency!” Question and-answer discussion. When considering paragraph 4, interview a zealous Kingdom publisher and ask the following questions: What steps have you taken to avoid being weighed down by unnecessary things of the world? In what ways have you benefited from preaching with urgency
Preach With Urgency!
1 “Preach the word, be at it urgently.” (2 Tim. 4:2) Why is Paul’s exhortation so important in our day? How can these words impact our lives and those of others?
1. What exhortation of Paul demands attention in our day?
2 Lives Are Involved: Millions of people around the world have yet to hear the good news that can lead to their salvation. (Rom. 10:13-15; 1 Tim. 4:16) Many honest hearted ones are being found in territory frequently worked. If we call on a different day or at another time of day, we may find a different person. Such diligent searching will leave us with a clean conscience and free of bloodguilt.—Acts 20:26.
2. Why do we diligently search for those who have not heard the good news?
3 In spite of facing violent opposition, first-century Christians ‘filled Jerusalem with their teaching.’ (Acts 5:28) Are we equally determined to “give a thorough witness”? (Acts 10:42) When in the ministry, do we make wise use of time? If we are waiting as others make a return visit, do we take the initiative to speak with passersby?
3. How can we make wise use of our time in the ministry?
4 Increases Our Alertness: With the end of this system of things near at hand, we must stay alert, keeping on the watch. (1 Thess. 5:1-6) When we regularly speak about our Kingdom hope, we avoid becoming weighed down by this system of things. (Luke 21:34-36) In turn, as we keep the day of Jehovah “close in mind,” we are moved to increase our share in the lifesaving preaching work.-2 Pet. 3:11, 12.
4. How does preaching with urgency help us to keep on the watch?
5 When we preach with urgency, we reflect Jehovah’s view of life: “He does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9; Ezek. 33:11) May we be resolved to contact as many as possible in our territory, all to Jehovah’s praise!—Ps. 109:30.
5. How does respect for life motivate us in the ministry?
Song 92
Song 161
5 min: Announcements.
15 min: Why Am I Afraid to Share My Faith? Talk based on the July 2009 Awake! pages 24-27. Include a demonstration showing parents using Family Worship evening to prepare their child to answer questions at school. They do research and discuss one of the questions on page 25, then they have a practice session during which the child answers the question.
“Our teacher asked the class what we thought about evolution. I knew this was a perfect chance to share my faith. But I completely froze and said nothing. Afterward, I felt really bad.”—Jasmine.
YOUNG PEOPLE ASK
“There have been some great opportunities to talk about my beliefs at school. But I let them pass.”—Kaleb.*
Why am I afraid to share my faith?
IF YOU are a Christian youth, perhaps you can relate to the experiences of Kaleb and Jasmine. Like them, you may love the Bible-based truths you have learned and want to share them with others. Still, you might dread the thought of speaking up. But you can develop more courage. How? Take the following steps as you prepare for each school year:
1. Define your fears. When you think about sharing your faith, it’s easy to imagine the worst-case scenario! Sometimes, though, you can reduce your fears simply by putting them into words.
Complete the following sentence.
■ If I talk about my beliefs at school, this is what might happen:
If it’s any comfort, your fears may be a lot like those of other Christian youths. For instance, 14-year-old Christopher admits, “I’m afraid kids will make fun of me and tell everyone I’m weird.” And Kaleb, quoted at the outset, says, “I was worried someone would ask a question and I wouldn’t know the answer.”
2. Accept the challenge. Are your fears completely unfounded? Not necessarily. “Some kids pretended they were interested in my beliefs,” says Ashley. “But later they turned my words against me and teased me in front of others.” Nicole, 17, had this experience: “A boy compared a verse in his Bible with the same verse in mine, and the wording was different. He said that my Bible had been changed. I was stunned! I didn’t know what to say.”*
* Bible translations use different wording. However, some are more faithful to the original languages in which the Bible was written.
Situations like these can seem pretty scary! But instead of running away, accept such challenges as a normal part of your life as a Christian. (2 Timothy 3:12) “Jesus said his followers would be persecuted,” says 13-yearold Matthew, “so we can’t expect everyone to like us or our beliefs.”—John 15:20.
3. Think of the benefits. Can any good come out of a seemingly bad experience? Amber, 21, thinks so. “It’s hard to explain your faith to people who don’t respect the Bible,” she says, “but it helps you to understand your own position better.”—Romans 12:2.
Look again at the scenario you described at Step 1. Think of at least two good things that could come out of that situation, and write them below.
1
2
Hint: How might making known your faith lead to less peer pressure? How will your doing so affect your self-confidence? Your feelings for Jehovah God? His feelings for you?—Proverbs 23 :15 .
4. Be prepared. “The heart of the righteous one meditates so as to answer,” says Proverbs 15:28. Besides meditating on what you’ll say, try to anticipate questions others may ask. Research those topics, and plan out answers you feel comfortable giving.—See the chart “Plan Your Response,” on page 25.
5. Get started. Once you’re ready to talk about your beliefs, how should you start? You have options. In a sense, sharing your faith is like swimming: Some people ease their way into the water; others jump right in. Likewise, you could start the conversation on a nonreligious subject and gradually test the waters, so to speak. But if you find yourself worrying too much about what might go wrong, your best option may be to ‘jump right in.’ (Luke 12:11, 12) “Thinking about sharing my faith was always harder than actually doing it,” says 17-year-old Andrew. “Once a conversation was started, it was much easier than I thought it would be!”*
* See the box “Conversation Starters,” on page 26.
6. Be sensible. Just as you wouldn’t dive into shallow waters, be careful not to jump into pointless arguments. Remember, there’s a time to speak and a time to keep quiet. (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7) At times, even Jesus refused to answer questions. (Matthew 26:62, 63) And remember this principle: “Sensible people will see trouble coming and avoid it, but an unthinking person will walk right into it and regret it later.”—Proverbs 22:3, Today’s English Version.
So if you sense an argument coming on, don’t “walk right into it.” Instead, give a brief and discreet reply. For example, if a classmate taunts, ‘Why don’t you smoke cigarettes?’ you could simply say, ‘Because I’m not into body pollution!’ Depending on the response, you can decide whether or not to explain your beliefs further.
The above steps can help you to be “always ready to make a defense” of your faith. ( 1 Peter 3:15) Of course, being ready doesn’t mean that you’ll never feel nervous. But Alana, 18, observes: “When you explain your beliefs despite being scared, it makes you feel as if you’ve accomplished something—you’ve overcome your fear and taken the risk that it might not go well. And if it does go well, you’ll feel even better! You’ll be glad you had the courage to speak up.”
WHAT YOUR PEERS SAY
“I’ve had some kids laugh at me for expressing my faith. But usually they leave me alone once they realize that their teasing doesn’t bother me.”—Francesca, Luxembourg.
“If you don’t tell people that you’re a Christian, you can lose touch with who you are and start acting like everyone else. You can’t let yourself be a follower; you have to remain your own person.”—Samantha, United States.
“When I was younger, I didn’t want to be different from other kids. But then I began to appreciate how my faith contributes to a better quality of life. That realization boosted my confidence—it made me feel proud of what I believe. “—Jason, New Zealand.
Sharing your faith is like swimming. You can choose to start slowly—or just take the plunge!
WHAT YOUR PEERS SAY
CONVERSATION STARTERS
■ “What are your plans for the summer?” [After response, mention your spiritual plans, such as attending a convention or expanding your ministry.]
■ Mention a news item, and then ask: “Did you hear about that? What do you think of it?”
■ “Do you think that the world’s financial situation [or another problem] is likely to improve? [Allow for response.] Why do you feel that way?”
■ “Do you belong to a religion?”
■ “Where do you see yourself five years from now?” [After response, share your spiritual goals.]
TO THINK ABOUT
■ Could these be the thoughts of someone at your school?
‘I know you’re one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. You might think I’m going to ridicule you, but really I respect you. How do you remain so calm amid all the problems in the world? I’m scared. Will there be another war soon? Will my parents divorce? Will I make it through school today without getting shot or stabbed? I’ve got so many questions, but you seem to have life all figured out. Is that because of your religion? I’d like to discuss it, but I’m afraid to bring up the subject. Will you please start the conversation?’
plan your response
Suggestion Discuss this chart with your parents and friends. Complete the chart Then see if you can think of other questions your classmates may ask
SEQUENCE
question-- QT
answer ANS
next question- NQ
research RS
answer ANS
MORALS
What’s your stand on homosexuality?
I don’t hate homosexuals, but I can’t approve of their conduct.
Isn’t that viewpoint prejudiced? 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10;
Questions Young People Ask—Answers That Work,
Volume 2, chapter 28.
No, because I’m against all forms of immorality,homosexual or otherwise.
DATING
Why don’t you date?
I’ve decided not to get into a relationship until I’m older.
Is it because of your religion?
Song of Solomon 8:4;
Young People Ask, Volume 2, chapter 1.
Yes. We date only with a view to marriage, and I know I’m not
ready for that yet!
neutrality
Why don’t you salute the flag?
I respect the land I live in, but I don’t worship it.
So you wouldn’t fight for your country?
Isaiah 2:4; John 13:35;
What Does the Bible Really Teach? pages 148- 151.*
No, and millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses
in other lands wouldn’t fight against this country either.
Blood
Why won’t you accept blood transfusions?
I accept safe transfusions —the kind that don’t carry
the risk of AIDS. But the Bible says to abstain from
blood, so that’s where I draw the line.
But what if you were going to die?
Wouldn’t God forgive you?
Acts 5:28, 29; Hebrews 11:6;
Bible Teach book, pages 129-131.
.
Choices
So-and-so is a member of your religion, and he did such-and-such.
Why can’t you? We’re taught God’s requirements, but we’re
not brainwashed! We all have to make our own choices.
Isn’t that a double standard?
creation
Why don’t you believe in evolution?
Why should I believe in evolution?
Scientists don’t even agree on it, and they’re supposed to be the experts!
15 min: “Preach With Urgency!” Question and-answer discussion. When considering paragraph 4, interview a zealous Kingdom publisher and ask the following questions: What steps have you taken to avoid being weighed down by unnecessary things of the world? In what ways have you benefited from preaching with urgency
Preach With Urgency!
1 “Preach the word, be at it urgently.” (2 Tim. 4:2) Why is Paul’s exhortation so important in our day? How can these words impact our lives and those of others?
1. What exhortation of Paul demands attention in our day?
2 Lives Are Involved: Millions of people around the world have yet to hear the good news that can lead to their salvation. (Rom. 10:13-15; 1 Tim. 4:16) Many honest hearted ones are being found in territory frequently worked. If we call on a different day or at another time of day, we may find a different person. Such diligent searching will leave us with a clean conscience and free of bloodguilt.—Acts 20:26.
2. Why do we diligently search for those who have not heard the good news?
3 In spite of facing violent opposition, first-century Christians ‘filled Jerusalem with their teaching.’ (Acts 5:28) Are we equally determined to “give a thorough witness”? (Acts 10:42) When in the ministry, do we make wise use of time? If we are waiting as others make a return visit, do we take the initiative to speak with passersby?
3. How can we make wise use of our time in the ministry?
4 Increases Our Alertness: With the end of this system of things near at hand, we must stay alert, keeping on the watch. (1 Thess. 5:1-6) When we regularly speak about our Kingdom hope, we avoid becoming weighed down by this system of things. (Luke 21:34-36) In turn, as we keep the day of Jehovah “close in mind,” we are moved to increase our share in the lifesaving preaching work.-2 Pet. 3:11, 12.
4. How does preaching with urgency help us to keep on the watch?
5 When we preach with urgency, we reflect Jehovah’s view of life: “He does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9; Ezek. 33:11) May we be resolved to contact as many as possible in our territory, all to Jehovah’s praise!—Ps. 109:30.
5. How does respect for life motivate us in the ministry?
Song 92
CBS FOR THE WEEK OF 14december2009
Chapter 14 Be Honest in All Things
“We wish to conduct ourselves honestly in all things.”—HEBREWS 13:18.
1
“Keep Yourselves in God’s Love” Page Week of December 14, 2009
A MOTHER and her little boy leave a store together. Suddenly, the child stops, a look of shock on his face. In his hand he is holding a small toy that he picked up in the store. He forgot to put it back or to ask his mother if she would buy it. He cries out to her, distressed. She reassures him and takes him back into the store so that he can return the item and apologize. As he does so, the mother’s heart swells with joy and pride. Why?
2 Few things delight parents more than seeing that their children are learning the importance of honesty. And so it is with our heavenly Father, “the God of truth.” (Psalm 31:5) As he watches us grow to spiritual maturity, he is pleased to see us striving to be honest. Because we want to please him and remain in his love, we echo the sentiments expressed by the apostle Paul: “We wish to conduct ourselves honestly in all things.” (Hebrews 13:18) Let us focus on four main areas of life in which we may at times find it a special challenge to be honest. Then we will consider some of the blessings that come as a result.
1, 2. Why is Jehovah pleased when he sees our efforts to be honest? Illustrate.
(Psalm 31:5) Into your hand I entrust my spirit. You have redeemed me, O Jehovah the God of truth.
(Hebrews 13:18) Carry on prayer for us, for we trust we have an honest conscience, as we wish to conduct ourselves honestly in all things.
HONESTY WITH OURSELVES
3 Our first challenge is to learn to be honest with ourselves. It is very easy for us as imperfect humans to succumb to self-deception. For instance, Jesus told the Christians in Laodicea that they had fooled themselves into thinking that they were rich when, in fact, they were “poor and blind and naked” spiritually—a truly pitiable state. (Revelation 3:17) Their self-deception only made their situation more dangerous.
4 You may recall, too, that the disciple James warned: “If any man seems to himself to be a formal worshiper and yet does not bridle his tongue, but goes on deceiving his own heart, this man’s form of worship is futile.” (James 1:26) If we were to reason that we could misuse our tongue and still worship Jehovah acceptably, we would succeed only in deceiving our own heart. Our worship of Jehovah would be futile, an utter waste. What can keep us from such a sad course?
5 In that same passage, James likens the truth of God’s word to a mirror. He advises us to peer into God’s perfect law and make adjustments accordingly. (James 1:23-25) The Bible can help us to be honest with ourselves and to see what we need to do to improve. (Lamentations 3:40; Haggai 1:5) We may also pray to Jehovah and ask him to examine us, helping us to see and to address any serious flaws. (Psalm 139:23, 24) Dishonesty is an insidious weakness, and we need to view it as our heavenly Father does. Proverbs 3:32 says: “The devious person is a detestable thing to Jehovah, but His intimacy is with the upright ones.” Jehovah can help us to feel as he does and to see ourselves as he sees us. Remember that Paul said: “We wish to conduct ourselves honestly.” We cannot be perfect now, but we sincerely desire and earnestly seek to be honest.
3-5. (a) How does God’s Word warn us about the dangers of self-deception? (b) What will help us to be honest with ourselves?
(Revelation 3:17) Because you say: “I am rich and have acquired riches and do not need anything at all,” but you do not know you are miserable and pitiable and poor and blind and naked,
(James 1:26) If any man seems to himself to be a formal worshiper and yet does not bridle his tongue, but goes on deceiving his own heart, this man’s form of worship is futile.
(James 1:23-25) For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, this one is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself, and off he goes and immediately forgets what sort of man he is. 25 But he who peers into the perfect law that belongs to freedom and who persists in [it], this [man], because he has become, not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, will be happy in his doing [it].
(Lamentations 3:40) Do let us search out our ways and explore them, and do let us return clear to Jehovah.
(Haggai 1:5) And now this is what Jehovah of armies has said, ‘Set YOUR heart upon YOUR ways.
(Psalm 139:23-24) Search through me, O God, and know my heart. Examine me, and know my disquieting thoughts, 24 And see whether there is in me any painful way, And lead me in the way of time indefinite.
(Proverbs 3:32) For the devious person is a detestable thing to Jehovah, but His intimacy is with the upright ones.
HONESTY IN THE FAMILY
6 Honesty should be a hallmark of the Christian family. Husband and wife, then, must be open and honest with each other. There is no room in a Christian marriage for such hurtful, unclean practices as flirting with those outside the marriage, cultivating clandestine relationships via the Internet, or using pornography in any form. Some married Christians have taken up such wrong conduct while concealing it from an innocent mate. Doing so is dishonest. Notice the words of faithful King David: “I have not sat with men of untruth; and with those who hide what they are I do not come in.” (Psalm 26:4) If you are married, never engage in conduct that might tempt you to hide what you are from your mate!
6. Why do marriage mates need to be honest with each other, and what dangers do they thus avoid?
(Psalm 26:4) I have not sat with men of untruth; And with those who hide what they are I do not come in.
7 In teaching their children the value of honesty, parents are wise to make use of Bible examples. On the negative side, there are such accounts as that of Achan, who stole and attempted to cover his theft; Gehazi, who lied for the sake of financial gain; and Judas, who stole and lied spitefully to harm Jesus.—Joshua 6:17-19; 7:11-25; 2 Kings 5:14-16, 20-27; Matthew 26:14, 15; John 12:6.
8 On the positive side, there are such accounts as that of Jacob, who urged his sons to return money they found in their bags because he felt that it might have been put there by mistake; that of Jephthah and his daughter, who honored her father’s vow at great personal sacrifice; and that of Jesus, who bravely identified himself before a vicious mob in order to fulfill prophecy and protect his friends. (Genesis 43:12; Judges 11:30-40; John 18:3-11) This partial list may give parents a taste of the riches found in God’s Word that can help them teach their children to love and value honesty.
7, 8. What Bible examples can help children to learn the value of honesty?
(Joshua 6:17-19) And the city must become a thing devoted to destruction; it with everything that is in it belongs to Jehovah. Only Ra′hab the prostitute may keep on living, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers whom we sent out. 18 As for YOU people, only keep away from the thing devoted to destruction, for fear YOU may get a desire and YOU do take some of the thing devoted to destruction and do constitute the camp of Israel a thing devoted to destruction and bring ostracism upon it. 19 But all the silver and the gold and the articles of copper and iron are something holy to Jehovah. Into the treasure of Jehovah it should go.”
(Joshua 7:11-25) Israel has sinned, and they have also overstepped my covenant that I laid as a command upon them; and they have also taken some of the thing devoted to destruction and have also stolen and also kept it secret and have also put it among their own articles. 12 And the sons of Israel will not be able to rise up against their enemies. The back is what they will turn before their enemies, because they have become a thing devoted to destruction. I shall not prove to be with YOU again unless YOU annihilate the thing devoted to destruction out of YOUR midst. 13 Get up! Sanctify the people, and you must say, ‘Sanctify yourselves tomorrow, for this is what Jehovah the God of Israel has said: “A thing devoted to destruction is in your midst, O Israel. You will not be able to rise up against your enemies until YOU people have removed the thing devoted to destruction from YOUR midst. 14 And YOU must present yourselves in the morning, tribe by tribe, and it must occur that the tribe that Jehovah will pick will come near, family by family, and the family that Jehovah will pick will come near, household by household, and the household that Jehovah will pick will come near, able-bodied man by able-bodied man. 15 And it must occur that the one picked with the thing devoted to destruction will be burned with fire, he and all that belongs to him, because he has overstepped the covenant of Jehovah and because he has committed a disgraceful folly in Israel.”’” 16 Then Joshua rose early in the morning and had Israel come near, tribe by tribe of it, and the tribe of Judah got to be picked. 17 Next he had the families of Judah come near and picked the family of the Ze′rah·ites, after which he had the family of the Ze′rah·ites come near, able-bodied man by able-bodied man, and Zab′di got to be picked. 18 Finally he had his household come near, able-bodied man by able-bodied man, and A′chan the son of Car′mi, the son of Zab′di, the son of Ze′rah, of the tribe of Judah, got to be picked. 19 Then Joshua said to A′chan: “My son, render, please, glory to Jehovah the God of Israel and make confession to him, and tell me, please, What have you done? Do not hide it from me.” 20 At this A′chan answered Joshua and said: “For a fact I—I have sinned against Jehovah the God of Israel, and this way and that way I have done. 21 When I got to see among the spoil an official garment from Shi′nar, a good-looking one, and two hundred shekels of silver and one gold bar, fifty shekels being its weight, then I wanted them, and I took them; and, look! they are hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent with the money underneath it.” 22 At once Joshua sent messengers, and they went running to the tent, and, look! it was hidden in his tent with the money underneath it. 23 So they took them from the midst of the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the sons of Israel and poured them out before Jehovah. 24 Joshua, and all Israel with him, now took A′chan the son of Ze′rah and the silver and the official garment and the bar of gold and his sons and his daughters and his bull and his ass and his flock and his tent and everything that was his and they brought them up to the low plain of A′chor. 25 Then Joshua said: “Why have you brought ostracism upon us? Jehovah will bring ostracism upon you on this day.” With that all Israel went pelting him with stones, after which they burned them with fire. Thus they stoned them with stones.
(2 Kings 5:14-16) At that he went down and began to plunge into the Jordan seven times according to the word of the man of the [true] God; after which his flesh came back like the flesh of a little boy and he became clean. 15 Then he went back to the man of the [true] God, he with all his camp, and came and stood before him and said: “Here, now, I certainly know that there is no God anywhere in the earth but in Israel. And now accept, please, a blessing gift from your servant.” 16 However, he said: “As Jehovah before whom I do stand is living, I will not accept it.” And he began to urge him to accept it, but he kept refusing.
(2 Kings 5:20-27) Then Ge·ha′zi the attendant of E·li′sha the man of the [true] God said: “Here my master has spared Na′a·man this Syrian by not accepting from his hand what he brought. As Jehovah is living, I will run after him and take something from him.” 21 And Ge·ha′zi went chasing after Na′a·man. When Na′a·man saw someone running after him, he at once got down from his chariot to meet him and then said: “Is all well?” 22 To this he said: “All is well. My master himself has sent me, saying, ‘Look! Just now there have come to me two young men from the mountainous region of E′phra·im from the sons of the prophets. Do give them, please, a talent of silver and two changes of garments.’” 23 At that Na′a·man said: “Go on, take two talents.” And he kept urging him and finally bound up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and gave them to two of his attendants, that they might carry them before him. 24 When he came to O′phel, he immediately took them from their hand and deposited them in the house and sent the men away. So off they went. 25 And he himself came in and then stood by his master. E·li′sha now said to him: “Where [did you come] from, Ge·ha′zi?” But he said: “Your servant did not go anywhere at all.” 26 At that he said to him: “Did not my heart itself go along just as the man turned [to get down] off his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to accept silver or to accept garments or olive groves or vineyards or sheep or cattle or menservants or maidservants? 27 So the leprosy of Na′a·man will stick to you and your offspring to time indefinite.” Immediately he went out from before him, a leper white as snow.
(Matthew 26:14-15) Then one of the twelve, the one called Judas Is·car′i·ot, went to the chief priests 15 and said: “What will YOU give me to betray him to YOU?” They stipulated to him thirty silver pieces.
(John 12:6) He said this, though, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief and had the money box and used to carry off the monies put in it.
(Genesis 43:12) Also, take double the money in YOUR hand; and the money that was returned in the mouth of YOUR bags YOU will take back in YOUR hand. Maybe it was a mistake.
(Judges 11:30-40) Then Jeph′thah made a vow to Jehovah and said: “If you without fail give the sons of Am′mon into my hand, 31 it must also occur that the one coming out, who comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Am′mon, must also become Jehovah’s, and I must offer that one up as a burnt offering.” 32 So Jeph′thah passed along to the sons of Am′mon to fight against them, and Jehovah proceeded to give them into his hand. 33 And he went striking them from A·ro′er all the way to Min′nith—twenty cities—and as far as A′bel-ker′a·mim with a very great slaughter. Thus the sons of Am′mon were subdued before the sons of Israel. 34 Finally Jeph′thah came to Miz′pah to his home, and, look! his daughter coming out to meet him with tambourine playing and dancing! Now she was absolutely the only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 And it came about that when he caught sight of her, he began to rip his garments and to say: “Alas, my daughter! You have indeed made me bend down, and you yourself have become the one I was ostracizing. And I—I have opened my mouth to Jehovah, and I am unable to turn back.” 36 But she said to him: “My father, if you have opened your mouth to Jehovah, do to me according to what has gone forth from your mouth, since Jehovah has executed acts of vengeance for you upon your enemies, the sons of Am′mon.” 37 And she went on to say to her father: “Let this thing be done to me: Let me alone for two months, and let me go, and I will descend upon the mountains, and let me weep over my virginity, I and my girl companions.” 38 At this he said: “Go!” So he sent her away for two months; and she kept going, she with her girl companions, and weeping over her virginity upon the mountains. 39 And it came about at the end of two months that she made her return to her father, after which he carried out his vow that he had made toward her. As for her, she never had relations with a man. And it came to be a regulation in Israel: 40 From year to year the daughters of Israel would go to give commendation to the daughter of Jeph′thah the Gil′e·ad·ite, four days in the year.
(John 18:3-11) Therefore Judas took the soldier band and officers of the chief priests and of the Pharisees and came there with torches and lamps and weapons. 4 Jesus, therefore, knowing all the things coming upon him, went forth and said to them: “Whom are YOU looking for?” 5 They answered him: “Jesus the Naz·a·rene′.” He said to them: “I am [he].” Now Judas, his betrayer, was also standing with them. 6 However, when he said to them: “I am [he],” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Therefore he asked them again: “Whom are YOU looking for?” They said: “Jesus the Naz·a·rene′.” 8 Jesus answered: “I told YOU I am [he]. If, therefore, it is I YOU are looking for, let these go”; 9 in order that the word might be fulfilled which he said: “Of those whom you have given me I have not lost a single one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, as he had a sword, drew it and struck the slave of the high priest and cut his right ear off. The name of the slave was Malchus. 11 Jesus, however, said to Peter: “Put the sword into [its] sheath. The cup that the Father has given me, should I not by all means drink it?”
9 Such teaching places an important obligation on parents. The apostle Paul asked: “Do you, however, the one teaching someone else, not teach yourself? You, the one preaching ‘Do not steal,’ do you steal?” (Romans 2:21) Some parents confuse their children by teaching about honesty while acting dishonestly themselves. They may justify petty theft and deceptive words with such excuses as “Oh, they expect people to take these things” or “That was just a little white lie, a fib.” In reality, stealing is stealing, regardless of the value of the item stolen, and lying is lying, regardless of the subject matter or the scope of the untruth. (Luke 16:10) Children are quick to detect hypocrisy and may be seriously damaged by it. (Ephesians 6:4) However, when they learn honesty from their parents’ examples, they may well grow up to glorify Jehovah in this dishonest world.—Proverbs 22:6.
9. What should parents avoid if they want to set an example of honesty for their children, and why is such an example important?
Paragraph 9
(Romans 2:21) do you, however, the one teaching someone else, not teach yourself? You, the one preaching “Do not steal,” do you steal?
(Luke 16:10) The person faithful in what is least is faithful also in much, and the person unrighteous in what is least is unrighteous also in much.
(Ephesians 6:4) And YOU, fathers, do not be irritating YOUR children, but go on bringing them up in the discipline and mental-regulating of Jehovah.
(Proverbs 22:6) Train up a boy according to the way for him; even when he grows old he will not turn aside from it.
“We wish to conduct ourselves honestly in all things.”—HEBREWS 13:18.
1
“Keep Yourselves in God’s Love” Page Week of December 14, 2009
A MOTHER and her little boy leave a store together. Suddenly, the child stops, a look of shock on his face. In his hand he is holding a small toy that he picked up in the store. He forgot to put it back or to ask his mother if she would buy it. He cries out to her, distressed. She reassures him and takes him back into the store so that he can return the item and apologize. As he does so, the mother’s heart swells with joy and pride. Why?
2 Few things delight parents more than seeing that their children are learning the importance of honesty. And so it is with our heavenly Father, “the God of truth.” (Psalm 31:5) As he watches us grow to spiritual maturity, he is pleased to see us striving to be honest. Because we want to please him and remain in his love, we echo the sentiments expressed by the apostle Paul: “We wish to conduct ourselves honestly in all things.” (Hebrews 13:18) Let us focus on four main areas of life in which we may at times find it a special challenge to be honest. Then we will consider some of the blessings that come as a result.
1, 2. Why is Jehovah pleased when he sees our efforts to be honest? Illustrate.
(Psalm 31:5) Into your hand I entrust my spirit. You have redeemed me, O Jehovah the God of truth.
(Hebrews 13:18) Carry on prayer for us, for we trust we have an honest conscience, as we wish to conduct ourselves honestly in all things.
HONESTY WITH OURSELVES
3 Our first challenge is to learn to be honest with ourselves. It is very easy for us as imperfect humans to succumb to self-deception. For instance, Jesus told the Christians in Laodicea that they had fooled themselves into thinking that they were rich when, in fact, they were “poor and blind and naked” spiritually—a truly pitiable state. (Revelation 3:17) Their self-deception only made their situation more dangerous.
4 You may recall, too, that the disciple James warned: “If any man seems to himself to be a formal worshiper and yet does not bridle his tongue, but goes on deceiving his own heart, this man’s form of worship is futile.” (James 1:26) If we were to reason that we could misuse our tongue and still worship Jehovah acceptably, we would succeed only in deceiving our own heart. Our worship of Jehovah would be futile, an utter waste. What can keep us from such a sad course?
5 In that same passage, James likens the truth of God’s word to a mirror. He advises us to peer into God’s perfect law and make adjustments accordingly. (James 1:23-25) The Bible can help us to be honest with ourselves and to see what we need to do to improve. (Lamentations 3:40; Haggai 1:5) We may also pray to Jehovah and ask him to examine us, helping us to see and to address any serious flaws. (Psalm 139:23, 24) Dishonesty is an insidious weakness, and we need to view it as our heavenly Father does. Proverbs 3:32 says: “The devious person is a detestable thing to Jehovah, but His intimacy is with the upright ones.” Jehovah can help us to feel as he does and to see ourselves as he sees us. Remember that Paul said: “We wish to conduct ourselves honestly.” We cannot be perfect now, but we sincerely desire and earnestly seek to be honest.
3-5. (a) How does God’s Word warn us about the dangers of self-deception? (b) What will help us to be honest with ourselves?
(Revelation 3:17) Because you say: “I am rich and have acquired riches and do not need anything at all,” but you do not know you are miserable and pitiable and poor and blind and naked,
(James 1:26) If any man seems to himself to be a formal worshiper and yet does not bridle his tongue, but goes on deceiving his own heart, this man’s form of worship is futile.
(James 1:23-25) For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, this one is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself, and off he goes and immediately forgets what sort of man he is. 25 But he who peers into the perfect law that belongs to freedom and who persists in [it], this [man], because he has become, not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, will be happy in his doing [it].
(Lamentations 3:40) Do let us search out our ways and explore them, and do let us return clear to Jehovah.
(Haggai 1:5) And now this is what Jehovah of armies has said, ‘Set YOUR heart upon YOUR ways.
(Psalm 139:23-24) Search through me, O God, and know my heart. Examine me, and know my disquieting thoughts, 24 And see whether there is in me any painful way, And lead me in the way of time indefinite.
(Proverbs 3:32) For the devious person is a detestable thing to Jehovah, but His intimacy is with the upright ones.
HONESTY IN THE FAMILY
6 Honesty should be a hallmark of the Christian family. Husband and wife, then, must be open and honest with each other. There is no room in a Christian marriage for such hurtful, unclean practices as flirting with those outside the marriage, cultivating clandestine relationships via the Internet, or using pornography in any form. Some married Christians have taken up such wrong conduct while concealing it from an innocent mate. Doing so is dishonest. Notice the words of faithful King David: “I have not sat with men of untruth; and with those who hide what they are I do not come in.” (Psalm 26:4) If you are married, never engage in conduct that might tempt you to hide what you are from your mate!
6. Why do marriage mates need to be honest with each other, and what dangers do they thus avoid?
(Psalm 26:4) I have not sat with men of untruth; And with those who hide what they are I do not come in.
7 In teaching their children the value of honesty, parents are wise to make use of Bible examples. On the negative side, there are such accounts as that of Achan, who stole and attempted to cover his theft; Gehazi, who lied for the sake of financial gain; and Judas, who stole and lied spitefully to harm Jesus.—Joshua 6:17-19; 7:11-25; 2 Kings 5:14-16, 20-27; Matthew 26:14, 15; John 12:6.
8 On the positive side, there are such accounts as that of Jacob, who urged his sons to return money they found in their bags because he felt that it might have been put there by mistake; that of Jephthah and his daughter, who honored her father’s vow at great personal sacrifice; and that of Jesus, who bravely identified himself before a vicious mob in order to fulfill prophecy and protect his friends. (Genesis 43:12; Judges 11:30-40; John 18:3-11) This partial list may give parents a taste of the riches found in God’s Word that can help them teach their children to love and value honesty.
7, 8. What Bible examples can help children to learn the value of honesty?
(Joshua 6:17-19) And the city must become a thing devoted to destruction; it with everything that is in it belongs to Jehovah. Only Ra′hab the prostitute may keep on living, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers whom we sent out. 18 As for YOU people, only keep away from the thing devoted to destruction, for fear YOU may get a desire and YOU do take some of the thing devoted to destruction and do constitute the camp of Israel a thing devoted to destruction and bring ostracism upon it. 19 But all the silver and the gold and the articles of copper and iron are something holy to Jehovah. Into the treasure of Jehovah it should go.”
(Joshua 7:11-25) Israel has sinned, and they have also overstepped my covenant that I laid as a command upon them; and they have also taken some of the thing devoted to destruction and have also stolen and also kept it secret and have also put it among their own articles. 12 And the sons of Israel will not be able to rise up against their enemies. The back is what they will turn before their enemies, because they have become a thing devoted to destruction. I shall not prove to be with YOU again unless YOU annihilate the thing devoted to destruction out of YOUR midst. 13 Get up! Sanctify the people, and you must say, ‘Sanctify yourselves tomorrow, for this is what Jehovah the God of Israel has said: “A thing devoted to destruction is in your midst, O Israel. You will not be able to rise up against your enemies until YOU people have removed the thing devoted to destruction from YOUR midst. 14 And YOU must present yourselves in the morning, tribe by tribe, and it must occur that the tribe that Jehovah will pick will come near, family by family, and the family that Jehovah will pick will come near, household by household, and the household that Jehovah will pick will come near, able-bodied man by able-bodied man. 15 And it must occur that the one picked with the thing devoted to destruction will be burned with fire, he and all that belongs to him, because he has overstepped the covenant of Jehovah and because he has committed a disgraceful folly in Israel.”’” 16 Then Joshua rose early in the morning and had Israel come near, tribe by tribe of it, and the tribe of Judah got to be picked. 17 Next he had the families of Judah come near and picked the family of the Ze′rah·ites, after which he had the family of the Ze′rah·ites come near, able-bodied man by able-bodied man, and Zab′di got to be picked. 18 Finally he had his household come near, able-bodied man by able-bodied man, and A′chan the son of Car′mi, the son of Zab′di, the son of Ze′rah, of the tribe of Judah, got to be picked. 19 Then Joshua said to A′chan: “My son, render, please, glory to Jehovah the God of Israel and make confession to him, and tell me, please, What have you done? Do not hide it from me.” 20 At this A′chan answered Joshua and said: “For a fact I—I have sinned against Jehovah the God of Israel, and this way and that way I have done. 21 When I got to see among the spoil an official garment from Shi′nar, a good-looking one, and two hundred shekels of silver and one gold bar, fifty shekels being its weight, then I wanted them, and I took them; and, look! they are hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent with the money underneath it.” 22 At once Joshua sent messengers, and they went running to the tent, and, look! it was hidden in his tent with the money underneath it. 23 So they took them from the midst of the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the sons of Israel and poured them out before Jehovah. 24 Joshua, and all Israel with him, now took A′chan the son of Ze′rah and the silver and the official garment and the bar of gold and his sons and his daughters and his bull and his ass and his flock and his tent and everything that was his and they brought them up to the low plain of A′chor. 25 Then Joshua said: “Why have you brought ostracism upon us? Jehovah will bring ostracism upon you on this day.” With that all Israel went pelting him with stones, after which they burned them with fire. Thus they stoned them with stones.
(2 Kings 5:14-16) At that he went down and began to plunge into the Jordan seven times according to the word of the man of the [true] God; after which his flesh came back like the flesh of a little boy and he became clean. 15 Then he went back to the man of the [true] God, he with all his camp, and came and stood before him and said: “Here, now, I certainly know that there is no God anywhere in the earth but in Israel. And now accept, please, a blessing gift from your servant.” 16 However, he said: “As Jehovah before whom I do stand is living, I will not accept it.” And he began to urge him to accept it, but he kept refusing.
(2 Kings 5:20-27) Then Ge·ha′zi the attendant of E·li′sha the man of the [true] God said: “Here my master has spared Na′a·man this Syrian by not accepting from his hand what he brought. As Jehovah is living, I will run after him and take something from him.” 21 And Ge·ha′zi went chasing after Na′a·man. When Na′a·man saw someone running after him, he at once got down from his chariot to meet him and then said: “Is all well?” 22 To this he said: “All is well. My master himself has sent me, saying, ‘Look! Just now there have come to me two young men from the mountainous region of E′phra·im from the sons of the prophets. Do give them, please, a talent of silver and two changes of garments.’” 23 At that Na′a·man said: “Go on, take two talents.” And he kept urging him and finally bound up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and gave them to two of his attendants, that they might carry them before him. 24 When he came to O′phel, he immediately took them from their hand and deposited them in the house and sent the men away. So off they went. 25 And he himself came in and then stood by his master. E·li′sha now said to him: “Where [did you come] from, Ge·ha′zi?” But he said: “Your servant did not go anywhere at all.” 26 At that he said to him: “Did not my heart itself go along just as the man turned [to get down] off his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to accept silver or to accept garments or olive groves or vineyards or sheep or cattle or menservants or maidservants? 27 So the leprosy of Na′a·man will stick to you and your offspring to time indefinite.” Immediately he went out from before him, a leper white as snow.
(Matthew 26:14-15) Then one of the twelve, the one called Judas Is·car′i·ot, went to the chief priests 15 and said: “What will YOU give me to betray him to YOU?” They stipulated to him thirty silver pieces.
(John 12:6) He said this, though, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief and had the money box and used to carry off the monies put in it.
(Genesis 43:12) Also, take double the money in YOUR hand; and the money that was returned in the mouth of YOUR bags YOU will take back in YOUR hand. Maybe it was a mistake.
(Judges 11:30-40) Then Jeph′thah made a vow to Jehovah and said: “If you without fail give the sons of Am′mon into my hand, 31 it must also occur that the one coming out, who comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Am′mon, must also become Jehovah’s, and I must offer that one up as a burnt offering.” 32 So Jeph′thah passed along to the sons of Am′mon to fight against them, and Jehovah proceeded to give them into his hand. 33 And he went striking them from A·ro′er all the way to Min′nith—twenty cities—and as far as A′bel-ker′a·mim with a very great slaughter. Thus the sons of Am′mon were subdued before the sons of Israel. 34 Finally Jeph′thah came to Miz′pah to his home, and, look! his daughter coming out to meet him with tambourine playing and dancing! Now she was absolutely the only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 And it came about that when he caught sight of her, he began to rip his garments and to say: “Alas, my daughter! You have indeed made me bend down, and you yourself have become the one I was ostracizing. And I—I have opened my mouth to Jehovah, and I am unable to turn back.” 36 But she said to him: “My father, if you have opened your mouth to Jehovah, do to me according to what has gone forth from your mouth, since Jehovah has executed acts of vengeance for you upon your enemies, the sons of Am′mon.” 37 And she went on to say to her father: “Let this thing be done to me: Let me alone for two months, and let me go, and I will descend upon the mountains, and let me weep over my virginity, I and my girl companions.” 38 At this he said: “Go!” So he sent her away for two months; and she kept going, she with her girl companions, and weeping over her virginity upon the mountains. 39 And it came about at the end of two months that she made her return to her father, after which he carried out his vow that he had made toward her. As for her, she never had relations with a man. And it came to be a regulation in Israel: 40 From year to year the daughters of Israel would go to give commendation to the daughter of Jeph′thah the Gil′e·ad·ite, four days in the year.
(John 18:3-11) Therefore Judas took the soldier band and officers of the chief priests and of the Pharisees and came there with torches and lamps and weapons. 4 Jesus, therefore, knowing all the things coming upon him, went forth and said to them: “Whom are YOU looking for?” 5 They answered him: “Jesus the Naz·a·rene′.” He said to them: “I am [he].” Now Judas, his betrayer, was also standing with them. 6 However, when he said to them: “I am [he],” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Therefore he asked them again: “Whom are YOU looking for?” They said: “Jesus the Naz·a·rene′.” 8 Jesus answered: “I told YOU I am [he]. If, therefore, it is I YOU are looking for, let these go”; 9 in order that the word might be fulfilled which he said: “Of those whom you have given me I have not lost a single one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, as he had a sword, drew it and struck the slave of the high priest and cut his right ear off. The name of the slave was Malchus. 11 Jesus, however, said to Peter: “Put the sword into [its] sheath. The cup that the Father has given me, should I not by all means drink it?”
9 Such teaching places an important obligation on parents. The apostle Paul asked: “Do you, however, the one teaching someone else, not teach yourself? You, the one preaching ‘Do not steal,’ do you steal?” (Romans 2:21) Some parents confuse their children by teaching about honesty while acting dishonestly themselves. They may justify petty theft and deceptive words with such excuses as “Oh, they expect people to take these things” or “That was just a little white lie, a fib.” In reality, stealing is stealing, regardless of the value of the item stolen, and lying is lying, regardless of the subject matter or the scope of the untruth. (Luke 16:10) Children are quick to detect hypocrisy and may be seriously damaged by it. (Ephesians 6:4) However, when they learn honesty from their parents’ examples, they may well grow up to glorify Jehovah in this dishonest world.—Proverbs 22:6.
9. What should parents avoid if they want to set an example of honesty for their children, and why is such an example important?
Paragraph 9
(Romans 2:21) do you, however, the one teaching someone else, not teach yourself? You, the one preaching “Do not steal,” do you steal?
(Luke 16:10) The person faithful in what is least is faithful also in much, and the person unrighteous in what is least is unrighteous also in much.
(Ephesians 6:4) And YOU, fathers, do not be irritating YOUR children, but go on bringing them up in the discipline and mental-regulating of Jehovah.
(Proverbs 22:6) Train up a boy according to the way for him; even when he grows old he will not turn aside from it.
TMS for the week of 14december2009
Theocratic Ministry School:
Bible reading: Joshua 6-8 http://www.watchtower.org/e/bible/index.htm
No.1: Joshua 8:1-17
No. 2: Water Destroys a World—Will It Happen Again? (lr chap. 46)
*** lr chap. 46 pp. 238-243 Water Destroys a World—Will It Happen Again? ***
Water Destroys a World—Will It Happen Again?
HAVE you ever heard anyone talk about the end of the world?— Today many do talk about it. Some people think the world will end in a war in which men use nuclear bombs. Do you think God will let people destroy our beautiful earth and our lovely heavens and its shining stars?—
As we have learned, the Bible tells about the end of the world. “The world is passing away,” the Bible says. (1 John 2:17) Do you think the end of the world will mean the end of the earth?— No, the Bible says that God made the earth “to be inhabited,” yes, for people to live on it and to enjoy it. (Isaiah 45:18) Psalm 37:29 says: “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” For this reason the Bible also says that the earth will last forever.—Psalm 104:5; Ecclesiastes 1:4.
So if the end of the world does not mean the end of the earth, what does it mean?— We can find out if we look carefully at what happened in the days of Noah. The Bible explains: “The world of that time suffered destruction when it was deluged [or, flooded] with water.”—2 Peter 3:6.
Did anybody live through the end of the world during that Deluge, or great Flood, in Noah’s day?— The Bible says that God “kept Noah, a preacher of righteousness, safe with seven others when he brought a deluge upon a world of ungodly people.”—2 Peter 2:5.
So, then, what was the world that ended? Was it the earth, or was it the bad people?— The Bible says that it was the “world of ungodly people.” And notice, Noah is called “a preacher.” What do you think he was preaching about?— Noah was warning people about the end of “the world of that time.”
When Jesus spoke about the great Flood, he told his disciples about what the people had been doing just before the end came. This is what he said to them: “In those days before the flood, [people were] eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away.” Then Jesus said that people would be acting just like that before this world ends.—Matthew 24:37-39.
Jesus’ words show us that we can learn lessons from what the people were doing before the Flood. From reading Chapter 10 of this book, do you remember what those people did?— Some men were bullies and did violent things. But many others, Jesus said, just did not listen when God sent Noah to preach to them.
So the day came when Jehovah told Noah that He was going to destroy the bad people by a flood. The water would cover the whole earth, even the mountains. Jehovah told Noah to build a big ark. It was like a big, long box, or chest, as you can see if you turn back to the picture on page 238.
God told Noah to build the ark big enough to hold him and his family and many of the animals safe inside of it. Noah and his family worked very hard. They cut down large trees, and using the wood they began putting the ark together. This took many, many years because the ark was so large.
Do you remember what else Noah was doing during all the years that he was building the ark?— He was preaching, warning the people about the coming Flood. Did any of them listen? None of them did except Noah’s family. The rest were just too busy doing other things. Do you remember what Jesus said they were doing?— They were busy eating and drinking and getting married. They did not think that they were so bad, and they did not take time to listen to Noah. So let’s see what happened to them.
After Noah and his family went inside the ark, Jehovah shut the door. People outside still did not believe that the Flood would come. But all of a sudden, water began to fall from the sky! It was not just a regular rain. It was a downpour! Soon the water was like big rivers, making a lot of noise. It pushed over big trees and rolled big stones as if they were little pebbles. And what about the people outside the ark?— Jesus says: “The flood came and swept them all away.” All the people outside the ark died. Why?— As Jesus said, “they took no note.” They did not listen!—Matthew 24:39; Genesis 6:5-7.
Now, remember, Jesus said that what happened to those people is a lesson for us today. What lesson can we learn?— Well, people were destroyed not only because they were bad but because many were just too busy to take the time to learn about God and about what he was going to do. We need to be careful that we are not like them, don’t we?—
Do you think that God will again destroy the world by a flood?— No, God promised that he wouldn’t. He said: “My rainbow I do give in the cloud, and it must serve as a sign.” Jehovah said that the rainbow would be a sign that “no more will the waters become a deluge to bring all flesh to ruin.”—Genesis 9:11-17.
So we can be sure that God will never again destroy the world by a flood. Yet, as we have seen, the Bible does tell about the end of the world. When God brings the destruction of this world, whom will he keep alive?— Will it be people who were so interested in other things that they never wanted to learn about God? Will it be those who were always too busy to study the Bible? What do you think?—
We want to be among those whom God will keep alive, don’t we?— Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our family could be like Noah’s so that God would save all of us?— If we are to survive the end of the world, we need to understand how God will destroy it and bring about his righteous new world. Let’s see how he does this.
The Bible gives us the answer at Daniel chapter 2, verse 44. This scripture is speaking about our own day when it says: “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom [or, government] that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite.”
Do you understand that?— The Bible says that God’s government is going to destroy all earthly governments. Why?— Because they don’t obey the One whom God has made King. And who is that?— Yes, Jesus Christ!
Jehovah God has the right to decide what kind of government should rule, and he has chosen his Son, Jesus, to be King. Soon God’s Ruler, Jesus Christ, will take the lead in destroying all the governments of this world. The Bible, at Revelation chapter 19, verses 11 to 16, describes him as he does so, even as this picture shows. In the Bible, God’s war to destroy all the governments of the world is called Har–Magedon, or Armageddon.
Now, God says that his Kingdom will destroy the governments of men. But does he tell us to do that?— No, in the Bible, Armageddon is called “the war of the great day of God the Almighty.” (Revelation 16:14, 16) Yes, Armageddon is God’s war, and he uses Jesus Christ to lead the heavenly armies in the fight. Is the war of Armageddon near? Let’s see how we can find out.
Let’s read together about when God gets rid of all the wicked and saves those who serve him, at Proverbs 2:21, 22; Isaiah 26:20, 21; Jeremiah 25:31-33; and Matthew 24:21, 22
No. 3: Why Is Ecclesiastes 7:21, 22 Practical Counsel?
*** g01 10/22 pp. 14-15 What’s Wrong With Getting Even? ***
Consider the Bible’s words at Ecclesiastes 7:21, 22: “Do not give your heart to all the words that people may speak, that you may not hear your servant calling down evil upon you. For your own heart well knows even many times that you, even you, have called down evil upon others.” Yes, it is unpleasant to have people say bad things about you. But the Bible acknowledges that it is a fact of life. Is it not true that you have probably said things about others that would better have been left unsaid? So why should you overreact when someone says something unkind about you? Oftentimes, the best way to handle teasing is simply to ignore it.
Along the same lines, it is unwise to overreact when you feel that you have been mistreated. A teenager named David recalls what took place when he played basketball with some fellow Christians. “Someone from the other team hit me with the ball,” says David. Quickly concluding that this was a malicious act, David retaliated, throwing the ball back at the other player. “I was real mad,” admits David. But before matters deteriorated further, David prayed to Jehovah. He said to himself, ‘What am I doing, wanting to fight a Christian brother?’ Later, they apologized to each other.
In such situations it is good to remember the example of Jesus Christ. “When he was being reviled, he did not go reviling in return. When he was suffering, he did not go threatening.” (1 Peter 2:23) Yes, when under stress, instead of reacting, pray to God and ask him to help you to maintain self-control. He will generously “give holy spirit to those asking him.” (Luke 11:13) Instead of retaliating when someone has offended you, perhaps the thing to do is approach that person and talk about it. (Matthew 5:23, 24) Or if you are the victim of some ongoing form of serious harassment, perhaps from a school bully, do not seek an ugly confrontation. Instead, you need to take practical steps to protect yourself.
Bible reading: Joshua 6-8 http://www.watchtower.org/e/bible/index.htm
No.1: Joshua 8:1-17
No. 2: Water Destroys a World—Will It Happen Again? (lr chap. 46)
*** lr chap. 46 pp. 238-243 Water Destroys a World—Will It Happen Again? ***
Water Destroys a World—Will It Happen Again?
HAVE you ever heard anyone talk about the end of the world?— Today many do talk about it. Some people think the world will end in a war in which men use nuclear bombs. Do you think God will let people destroy our beautiful earth and our lovely heavens and its shining stars?—
As we have learned, the Bible tells about the end of the world. “The world is passing away,” the Bible says. (1 John 2:17) Do you think the end of the world will mean the end of the earth?— No, the Bible says that God made the earth “to be inhabited,” yes, for people to live on it and to enjoy it. (Isaiah 45:18) Psalm 37:29 says: “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” For this reason the Bible also says that the earth will last forever.—Psalm 104:5; Ecclesiastes 1:4.
So if the end of the world does not mean the end of the earth, what does it mean?— We can find out if we look carefully at what happened in the days of Noah. The Bible explains: “The world of that time suffered destruction when it was deluged [or, flooded] with water.”—2 Peter 3:6.
Did anybody live through the end of the world during that Deluge, or great Flood, in Noah’s day?— The Bible says that God “kept Noah, a preacher of righteousness, safe with seven others when he brought a deluge upon a world of ungodly people.”—2 Peter 2:5.
So, then, what was the world that ended? Was it the earth, or was it the bad people?— The Bible says that it was the “world of ungodly people.” And notice, Noah is called “a preacher.” What do you think he was preaching about?— Noah was warning people about the end of “the world of that time.”
When Jesus spoke about the great Flood, he told his disciples about what the people had been doing just before the end came. This is what he said to them: “In those days before the flood, [people were] eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away.” Then Jesus said that people would be acting just like that before this world ends.—Matthew 24:37-39.
Jesus’ words show us that we can learn lessons from what the people were doing before the Flood. From reading Chapter 10 of this book, do you remember what those people did?— Some men were bullies and did violent things. But many others, Jesus said, just did not listen when God sent Noah to preach to them.
So the day came when Jehovah told Noah that He was going to destroy the bad people by a flood. The water would cover the whole earth, even the mountains. Jehovah told Noah to build a big ark. It was like a big, long box, or chest, as you can see if you turn back to the picture on page 238.
God told Noah to build the ark big enough to hold him and his family and many of the animals safe inside of it. Noah and his family worked very hard. They cut down large trees, and using the wood they began putting the ark together. This took many, many years because the ark was so large.
Do you remember what else Noah was doing during all the years that he was building the ark?— He was preaching, warning the people about the coming Flood. Did any of them listen? None of them did except Noah’s family. The rest were just too busy doing other things. Do you remember what Jesus said they were doing?— They were busy eating and drinking and getting married. They did not think that they were so bad, and they did not take time to listen to Noah. So let’s see what happened to them.
After Noah and his family went inside the ark, Jehovah shut the door. People outside still did not believe that the Flood would come. But all of a sudden, water began to fall from the sky! It was not just a regular rain. It was a downpour! Soon the water was like big rivers, making a lot of noise. It pushed over big trees and rolled big stones as if they were little pebbles. And what about the people outside the ark?— Jesus says: “The flood came and swept them all away.” All the people outside the ark died. Why?— As Jesus said, “they took no note.” They did not listen!—Matthew 24:39; Genesis 6:5-7.
Now, remember, Jesus said that what happened to those people is a lesson for us today. What lesson can we learn?— Well, people were destroyed not only because they were bad but because many were just too busy to take the time to learn about God and about what he was going to do. We need to be careful that we are not like them, don’t we?—
Do you think that God will again destroy the world by a flood?— No, God promised that he wouldn’t. He said: “My rainbow I do give in the cloud, and it must serve as a sign.” Jehovah said that the rainbow would be a sign that “no more will the waters become a deluge to bring all flesh to ruin.”—Genesis 9:11-17.
So we can be sure that God will never again destroy the world by a flood. Yet, as we have seen, the Bible does tell about the end of the world. When God brings the destruction of this world, whom will he keep alive?— Will it be people who were so interested in other things that they never wanted to learn about God? Will it be those who were always too busy to study the Bible? What do you think?—
We want to be among those whom God will keep alive, don’t we?— Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our family could be like Noah’s so that God would save all of us?— If we are to survive the end of the world, we need to understand how God will destroy it and bring about his righteous new world. Let’s see how he does this.
The Bible gives us the answer at Daniel chapter 2, verse 44. This scripture is speaking about our own day when it says: “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom [or, government] that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite.”
Do you understand that?— The Bible says that God’s government is going to destroy all earthly governments. Why?— Because they don’t obey the One whom God has made King. And who is that?— Yes, Jesus Christ!
Jehovah God has the right to decide what kind of government should rule, and he has chosen his Son, Jesus, to be King. Soon God’s Ruler, Jesus Christ, will take the lead in destroying all the governments of this world. The Bible, at Revelation chapter 19, verses 11 to 16, describes him as he does so, even as this picture shows. In the Bible, God’s war to destroy all the governments of the world is called Har–Magedon, or Armageddon.
Now, God says that his Kingdom will destroy the governments of men. But does he tell us to do that?— No, in the Bible, Armageddon is called “the war of the great day of God the Almighty.” (Revelation 16:14, 16) Yes, Armageddon is God’s war, and he uses Jesus Christ to lead the heavenly armies in the fight. Is the war of Armageddon near? Let’s see how we can find out.
Let’s read together about when God gets rid of all the wicked and saves those who serve him, at Proverbs 2:21, 22; Isaiah 26:20, 21; Jeremiah 25:31-33; and Matthew 24:21, 22
No. 3: Why Is Ecclesiastes 7:21, 22 Practical Counsel?
*** g01 10/22 pp. 14-15 What’s Wrong With Getting Even? ***
Consider the Bible’s words at Ecclesiastes 7:21, 22: “Do not give your heart to all the words that people may speak, that you may not hear your servant calling down evil upon you. For your own heart well knows even many times that you, even you, have called down evil upon others.” Yes, it is unpleasant to have people say bad things about you. But the Bible acknowledges that it is a fact of life. Is it not true that you have probably said things about others that would better have been left unsaid? So why should you overreact when someone says something unkind about you? Oftentimes, the best way to handle teasing is simply to ignore it.
Along the same lines, it is unwise to overreact when you feel that you have been mistreated. A teenager named David recalls what took place when he played basketball with some fellow Christians. “Someone from the other team hit me with the ball,” says David. Quickly concluding that this was a malicious act, David retaliated, throwing the ball back at the other player. “I was real mad,” admits David. But before matters deteriorated further, David prayed to Jehovah. He said to himself, ‘What am I doing, wanting to fight a Christian brother?’ Later, they apologized to each other.
In such situations it is good to remember the example of Jesus Christ. “When he was being reviled, he did not go reviling in return. When he was suffering, he did not go threatening.” (1 Peter 2:23) Yes, when under stress, instead of reacting, pray to God and ask him to help you to maintain self-control. He will generously “give holy spirit to those asking him.” (Luke 11:13) Instead of retaliating when someone has offended you, perhaps the thing to do is approach that person and talk about it. (Matthew 5:23, 24) Or if you are the victim of some ongoing form of serious harassment, perhaps from a school bully, do not seek an ugly confrontation. Instead, you need to take practical steps to protect yourself.
EXERT YOURSELF VIGOROUSLY
Our Lord Jesus Christ paid a price for our redemption from "sin and death". His perfect life he sacrificed for us to enjoy life again as originally designed by Jehovah God; HOW ABOUT US, WHAT DO WE SACRIFICE FOR OUR OWN SALVATION AND OTHERS THAT DESERVE TO BE SAVED?
(Acts 13:48) . . .When those of the nations heard this, they began to rejoice and to glorify the word of Jehovah, and all those who were rightly disposed for everlasting life became believers. . .
WE ALL NEED TO HEED THIS ADVISE:
(Luke 13:24) . . .Exert yourselves vigorously to get in through the narrow door, because many, I tell YOU, will seek to get in but will not be able. . .
Please contribute for the preparation of our Weekly Meetings: Congregation Bible Study (CBS),Theocratic Ministry School (TMS), Service Meeting (SM)
(Acts 13:48) . . .When those of the nations heard this, they began to rejoice and to glorify the word of Jehovah, and all those who were rightly disposed for everlasting life became believers. . .
WE ALL NEED TO HEED THIS ADVISE:
(Luke 13:24) . . .Exert yourselves vigorously to get in through the narrow door, because many, I tell YOU, will seek to get in but will not be able. . .
Please contribute for the preparation of our Weekly Meetings: Congregation Bible Study (CBS),Theocratic Ministry School (TMS), Service Meeting (SM)
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