Your Service Meetings

WEEK STARTING FEBRUARY 10

10 min: Song 5. Introduction, text and comments.

3 min: Accounts report.

18 min: “Do Your Utmost.” Question-and-answer discussion. Demonstrate how a subscription can be obtained using an expired-subscription slip. If time permits, experiences resulting from expired-subscription-slip calls.

17 min: “Serving with a Spirit of Willingness.” Panel discussion.

12 min: Concluding comments. Branch Letter and field service report of congregation for January. Song 6.

WEEK STARTING FEBRUARY 17

12 min: Song 3. Introduction, text and comments, and Theocratic News.

10 min: Question Box, also items from Announcements.

13 min: Interview some who have shared in temporary pioneer service. Get comments on variety of benefits they or their family have received and the added blessings resulting from additional field service.

13 min: “Presenting the Good News-Using the Bible.” Question-and-answer coverage. As time allows, audience can relate experiences and comments they have heard relating to our use of the Bible. (Paragraph 4.) Demonstrate use of single scripture. (Paragraph 5.)

12 min: “If Your Address Changes.” Concluding comments. Song 4.

WEEK STARTING FEBRUARY 24

15 min: Song 29. Introduction, text and comments. Family discussion of text after meal is concluded, developing into analysis of who in the family may be in position to temporary pioneer during April with the cooperation of other family members. Can discuss actual examples in congregation or use material in yb68, p. 76, and yb71, pp. 92, 93.

20 min: Talk on “Harmonizing Our Employment with ‘Love of Neighbor.’”

15 min: Preaching the Good News in Troubled Times.

We can learn much from the experiences of our brothers who have carried on their ministry under difficult conditions. To receive full benefit, however we must ask ourselves: ‘What would I do?’

Invite audience to comment on the following points; have individuals prepared to relate selected experiences. (1) What commission in connection with the good news have we been given? (Mark 13:10; Matt. 28:18-20) (2) Why is the house-to-house method of preaching so effective in fulfilling this commission? (“or” p. 114) (3) In some places Jehovah’s witnesses have been banned; it could happen here too. Would you still have the responsibility to preach even if it might result in arrest and imprisonment? (Acts 5:27-29; 8:1, 4; Rev. 1:9; yb74 p. 132) (4) How could we carry on house-to-house preaching if our ministry were banned? (yb74 pp. 141, 155, 156) (5) In what other ways might we make contact with persons to whom to witness? (John 4:6-15; yb74 pp. 55, 141, 186, par. 4) (6) How could we carry on the preaching work if no literature were available to offer? (yb74 p. 20; yb70 p. 312) (Could we do as our brothers and sisters in Singapore are now doing? Now is the time to improve our ability to use the Bible in our field ministry by doing so each week.​—Heb. 4:12) (7) How might caution be displayed in making return calls where interest is shown? (w72 p. 138)

10 min: Concluding comments. Report on subscription work to date and experiences in obtaining subscriptions. Song 28.

WEEK STARTING MARCH 3

10 min: Song 37. Introduction, text and comments.

17 min: “The Christian View of Courtship” and “Keeping Courtship Honorable.” Talk by experienced elder, based on articles in January 1, 1974, “Watchtower.”

18 min: Worshiping the God of Peace. Audience discussion based on “Aid” book, pages 1279-1281. Chairman to direct discussion to highlight what is most appropriate to local needs and circumstances. Some might be assigned to epitomize scriptures, but allow all to express selves freely as time allows.

While world makes strenuous efforts to achieve peace in our generation, world does not and cannot find genuine peace, “peace” in the Biblical sense. What is this peace? How is it obtained in our own personal life and in association with others?

(1) Besides referring to state of being free from war, what other ideas are associated with “peace” in the Biblical sense? (“Aid.” p. 1279, pars. 9, 10) Give examples of such usage.​—Luke 7:50; 2:29; Deut. 23:6.

(2) Who is the Source of peace? (“Aid,” p. 1280, par. 1; Num. 6:26; Ps. 4:6-8) How important is righteousness to the possession of peace?​—Ps. 85:10; Isa. 32:17.

(3) What is the “peace of God that excels all thought”? (Phil. 4:6, 7) How do we individually obtain it? How does it influence our lives? (“Aid,” p. 1280, par. 5) How does Jesus Christ impart peace to us?​—Col. 3:15.

(4) Use Scripture texts to emphasize the importance of preserving peace in the congregation, among ourselves as Christians.​—2 Tim. 2:22; Heb. 12:14; Rom. 14:13.

(5) How do elders and ministerial servants show they are ‘pursuing peace’ in dealing with one another and with all in the congregation?​—Rom. 12:10; Gal. 6:1, 2; 5:22, 23.

(6) How does our work of Kingdom-preaching and disciple-making contribute to our identification as true worshipers of the God of peace?​—Eph. 6:15; Col. 1:20-25.

Chairman may make brief, motivating conclusion.

15 min: Concluding comments. Encourage all who can to make plans to serve as temporary pioneers during April. Ones who are making such plans could be interviewed. Include points from “How to Succeed in the Pioneer Service,” June 1, 1971, “Watchtower,” pages 334-339. Song 38.