APRIL 1-7
PSALMS 23-25
Song 4 and Prayer | Opening Comments (1 min.)
1. “Jehovah Is My Shepherd”
(10 min.)
Jehovah leads and protects us (Ps 23:1-4;w22.01 1:5-6)
Jehovah feeds us (Ps 23:5; w11 5/1 31 ¶5)
Jehovah cares for his servants just as an attentive shepherd cares for his sheep.
ASK YOURSELF, ‘How has Jehovah cared for me personally?’
2. Spiritual Gems
(10 min.)
Ps 23:3—What are “the paths of righteousness,” and what will prevent us from deviating from them? (w11 2/15 24 ¶1-3)
What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share?
3. Bible Reading
(4 min.) Mark 11:15-23 (th study 5)
4. Starting a Conversation
(3 min.) INFORMAL WITNESSING. Share an encouraging Bible verse with a person who tells you that they are concerned about the environment. (lmd 2:5)
5. Following Up
(4 min.) HOUSE TO HOUSE. Demonstrate a Bible study to someone who accepted the Enjoy Life Forever! brochure. (lmd 9:3)
6. Making Disciples
Song 54
7. We Reject the Voice of Strangers
(15 min.) Discussion.
Literal sheep know the voice of their shepherd and follow him. On the other hand, they flee from a stranger whose voice they do not know. (Joh 10:5) Similarly, we listen to the voice of our loving and reliable spiritual Shepherds, Jehovah and Jesus. (Ps 23:1; Joh 10:11) But we reject the voice of strangers who try to weaken our faith by means of “counterfeit words.”—2Pe 2:1, 3.
Genesis chapter three describes the first time the voice of a stranger was heard on earth. Satan approached Eve in a misleading way that hid his true identity. Pretending to be her friend, he twisted Jehovah’s words and motives. Sadly, Eve listened, which led to untold suffering for herself and her family.
Today Satan tries to sow doubts about Jehovah and his organization by spreading negative reports, half-truths, and outright lies. When we hear the voice of a stranger, we should flee! Listening, even briefly out of curiosity, is dangerous. How many words did Satan need to mislead Eve during their brief conversation? (Ge 3:1, 4, 5) What, though, if someone we know—someone who loves us and has good intentions—wants to share negative information about Jehovah’s organization?
Play the VIDEO Reject “the Voice of Strangers.” Then ask the audience:
What did you learn from the way that Jade handled the situation involving her unbelieving mother?
8. Congregation Bible Study
(30 min.) w19.03 12:14-20, Review