Watchtower Study, Can We Participate in the Disciple-Making Work ?, Week of September 6-12, 2021, Comments and Practical Answers.

Watchtower Study, Can We Participate in the Disciple-Making Work ?, September 6-12, 2021, Comments and Responses

1. What has Jehovah done for each of us?

Jehovah has brought us to the truth. He has directly used the speech of some person, perhaps a parent, colleague from work or school, or a Witness who was preaching from house to house, to give us the message of good news, teach us the truth and thus be able to serve you.

2. What will we discuss in this article?

In this article we will discuss what prompts us to participate in the disciple-making work. We will also look at some suggestions on how we can overcome difficulties that may prevent us from leading a Bible course. But first we will see why we should not only preach the good news, but also teach.

JESUS ​​COMMANDED US TO PREACH AND TEACH

3. Why do we preach?

Why Jesus entrusted this work to his disciples. For example, he gave clear instruction on the message to be delivered, the reaction people would have, and how much the spread of the good news would cover. By giving all these instructions, it is emphasized how important it is: to participate and fulfill the preaching work.

4. According to Matthew 28: 18-20, what should we do in addition to preaching the Kingdom message?

We must teach people to obey everything that Jesus has commanded. And, importantly, Jesus indicated that this work would continue to this day, as these texts say "until the conclusion of the system," which means that we must continue to teach people about Jehovah and the truths of the Bible.

5. What comparison did Paul use in 1 Corinthians 3: 6-9 to show the relationship between preaching and teaching?

The apostle Paul compared the work of making disciples to the work of growing plants. We know that for a plant to grow it takes a whole process, for example, the soil is prepared, the seed is sown and the plants are cared for, but what makes it grow is the wonderful creative power of God. Similarly, Paul appropriately gave God all the credit for a person's spiritual growth, but he did not detract from it for a person's spiritual growth, but he did not downplay our work of planting and watering, which amounts to preaching and teach, Paul knew that the way we do our work affects the degree of growth that is achieved.

6. What does our work as teachers imply?

It implies that we have to help the student: 1) To understand, 2) Accept and 3) Apply the things they are learning from the Bible. This requires that we show love and interest to the students, it also takes us to dedicate a lot of time and energy to demolish reasoning, beliefs and traditions that they may have, until they make the changes and meet the biblical requirements and get to be baptized.

LOVE MOTIVATES US TO MAKE DISCIPLES

7. Why do we participate in the preaching and disciple-making work?

The reason is: because we love Jehovah. As 1 John 5: 3 says, "God's love is that we obey his commandments," and among those commands is preaching and making disciples. In fact, although it may not have been easy at first, our love for Jehovah prompts us to continue preaching, and this same love should motivate us to offer a Biblical course.

8. According to Mark 6:34, why else do we teach people the truth?

The second reason is: because we love people. As the story in Mark 6:34 says, Jesus was moved by the crowd of people and "He began to teach them many things". He knew that they were suffering and needed hope, so he helped them. In the same way, people today, even if they seem happy, also need hope, so it helped them. In the same way, people today, even if they seem happy, also need hope, because they are in a sorry spiritual state, so love and compassion impel us to help them.

9. According to Philippians 2:13, how can Jehovah help us?

This text says that Jehovah can “give us the desire and the strength to act,” so if we pray to him and ask him to help us have the desire to find someone who wants to study the Bible, we can be sure that he will answer us because This is according to his will, since he wants us to participate fully in the disciple-making work.

HOW WE CAN OVERCOME OTHER DIFFICULTIES

10, 11. Why perhaps we dare not lead a Bible course?

Perhaps it is due to certain difficulties or because we think that we cannot do more due to circumstances, such as: Old age or poor health. The truth is that one of the lessons that the pandemic has taught us is that Bible classes can be taught over the phone or online from the comfort of our home and adapt to the schedules that best suit or prefer people.

12. If we feel we are not qualified to teach, what three things will strengthen our confidence?

First, that Jehovah thinks that we are indeed qualified to teach others. Second, Jesus, who has "all authority in heaven and on earth," has commanded us to teach. And third, we are not alone. Like Jesus, we can trust Jehovah to help us know what to say.

13. Why should we be willing to adapt?

Admittedly, most of us find it difficult to adapt to change, but with the help of Jehovah and our brothers and sisters we can adapt to new teaching methods and tools. This requires that we prepare well because the new publication "Enjoy life" is focused on reading fewer paragraphs and talking more with people and using jw videos. The key is to "Make the most of the changes," so that we will enjoy and expand our Christian ministry more.

14. a) What should we remember if our territory is difficult? b) How does 1 Corinthians 3: 6, 7 encourage us?

a) We must remember that this world is unstable and people's circumstances can change from one day to the next, so those who did not show interest, at first in spiritual matters, later do. In fact, many of the people who always rejected our publications eventually accepted a Biblical course.

b) This text encourages us because it makes us see that Jehovah is the Owner of the harvest, so the development or growth of a person as a disciple of Jesus depends on him. For our part, our duty is to continue planting and watering, "To be humble ministers who work to make disciples of Jesus."

LET'S ENJOY THE JOY OF MAKING DISCIPLES

ILLUSTRATION:

Series of images: A man becomes a disciple. 1. The man is sitting at home after a tiring day at work. 2. A married couple preaches to him in the evening. 3. The brother who preached to him teaches him about the Bible. 4. The man is baptized. 5. The newly baptized brother preaches to another man. 6. Marriage, brother and man eat together in Paradise.

What effect can what we preach and teach have on a person's life? (See paragraphs 15-17). *

15. How does Jehovah feel when a person accepts a Bible course and applies what he is learning?

As Proverbs 23: 15,16 says "Jehovah's heart rejoices and his being is filled with joy." There is no doubt that Jehovah is happy to observe that despite the pandemic, many people dedicate their lives to him and are baptized and then they will continue teaching the Bible and making more disciples.

16. What goal could we set for ourselves?

We can set a goal of starting and leading at least one Bible course. This involves effort on our part because it means that we should offer Bible classes to the people we speak with, but make no doubt that if we do so, Jehovah will bless our efforts.

17. How will we feel if we manage to lead a Bible course?

If we can lead a Bible course, we will experience the joy of participating in this feature of service. There is no greater honor and happiness than teaching people to love and dedicate their lives to our Heavenly Father, Jehovah.

WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?

Why should we preach and teach the good news?

Because those of us who participate in "God's field" not only plant the seeds, but we water them. This means that we not only "preach," but also "teach" the things they are learning from the Bible, so that they become disciples of Jesus and dedicate their lives to Jehovah.

What drives us to make disciples?

What drives us is: 

1) The love we have for Jehovah, who asks us to make disciples. 

2) Love for people, who are in a sorry spiritual state and we want to help them.

How can we overcome difficulties that may prevent us from leading a Bible course?

We have learned that if the difficulty is:

1) Our advanced age or poor health, this is no longer an obstacle because we can teach the Bible by phone or online from the comfort of our home at the time that suits the student.

2) If our difficulty is that we do not feel capable of teaching, we should think that Jehovah does think that we are qualified, that Jesus has commanded us to teach and that Jehovah will help us to know what to say.

3) If changes are difficult for us, we must change our attitude and be willing to adapt to new teaching methods and tools.

4) If it seems to us that our territory is difficult, we must remember that this world is unstable and people's circumstances can change from one day to the next, so those who did not show interest, at first in spiritual matters, later if they do .