The Watchtower Study, “Article 18”, Week June 27 to July 3, 2022, Set spiritual goals that we can achieve, Answers.

The Watchtower Study, “Article 18,” June 27–July 3, 2022, Set Spiritual Goals We Can Achieve, Answers.

1. What spiritual goals can we set for ourselves?

Develop Christian qualities. Acquire new skills. Find ways to do things for others.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

For example, developing Christian qualities, acquiring new skills, and finding ways to do things for others. Important idea, spiritual goals are objectives that we strive to achieve in order to serve Jehovah more and make him happy.

We can set goals such as developing Christian qualities, gaining new skills, and finding ways to do more for others.

2. Why should we set spiritual goals for ourselves and strive to achieve them?

 Mainly because we want to please our loving Father. Jehovah. He is glad that we use our talents and abilities to the fullest in serving him. In addition, we want to continue progressing as Christians to be able to help our brothers more.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Basically because we want to please our loving Father Jehovah. He is very pleased that we are making full use of our talents and abilities to serve him. In addition, we want to continue growing as Christians to be able to help our brothers even more.

First of all because we want to please Jehovah, and he is very happy that we use our talents and abilities to the maximum in favor of his service, and also because we want to progress more so that we can better help our brothers.

3. What advice did Paul give Timothy? (1 Timothy 4:12-16).

I help him develop Christian qualities such as love, faith and chastity. And, on the other, to improve their skills when reading in public, advising and teaching.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Timothy was young when the apostle Paul wrote him the first letter bearing his name, but he already had experience as an elder. Even so, Paul encouraged him to continue progressing spiritually.

On the one hand, to develop Christian qualities such as love, faith and chastity. And, on the other, to improve their skills when reading in public, advising and teaching.

She told him that he should continue to progress spiritually, and encouraged him to develop good Christian qualities, such as faith and love, and also told him that he should improve his skills, such as public reading, counseling, and teaching.

WE DEVELOP CHRISTIAN QUALITIES

4. According to Philippians 2:19-22, why did Jehovah use Timothy so much?

From Paul's description of Timothy, we see that he was humble, loyal, hard-working, and trustworthy. He treated the brothers with affection and sincerely cared for them. Because of this, Pablo loved him very much and did not hesitate to entrust him with difficult assignments.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Because he had outstanding Christian qualities. From Paul's description of Timothy, we see that he was humble, loyal, hard-working, and trustworthy. He treated the brothers with affection and sincerely cared for them.

Because according to what was read, he had very outstanding qualities, since he was humble, loyal, hard-working and deeply interested in his brothers, he was also a very trustworthy person, that is why the apostle loved him like a son and commissioned him weight assignments.

5. a) How can we know in which aspects of our personality we need to improve? 

Let us pray to Jehovah to help us know in which aspects of our personality we need to improve. Let's select one in particular and focus on it.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Do we need to show more empathy or increase our desire to help others? Should we be more peaceful or more willing to forgive others? If in doubt, ask a trusted friend how he sees us.

What we must do is pray to Jehovah, so that he can help us identify which aspects of our personality we have to improve, and in the paragraph we are advised to focus on just one so as not to overwhelm ourselves, and improve little by little. 

b) What does the young sister in the picture do to show more empathy?

The sister read a biblical text and then I reflected, being very accommodating, she shows a lot of interest in the talk and above all she treats her with love.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Empathy is feeling what others feel, putting ourselves in their place and taking action, we see that she accompanies the older sister, carries her merchandise, and does it with a good attitude.

For example, she has thought of a quality that she wants to improve, and takes action, we see that she has probably made herself available to help an elderly sister with her shopping.

6. How can we reach the goal of developing a quality?

Let's start by looking for information about the quality we want to work on. For example, suppose we realize that we need to forgive more. It would be helpful to read about biblical figures who generously forgave others and those who did not, and to ponder their example. If it is difficult for us to forgive someone, let us make a list of all the good qualities that we see in that person and ask ourselves: “How do you see Jesus? Would he forgive her? A study project like this can help us change the way we think.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

After meditating on these examples, let us ask ourselves: “How do I see others? What qualities of them do I look at? If we find it difficult to forgive someone, let's make a list of all the good qualities we see in that person and ask ourselves, “How does Jesus see him? Would he forgive her? 

We can start looking for information on the quality in which we want to improve, for example, if we are aware that it is difficult for us to forgive, we could start reading about servants of God of the past who were generous in forgiving and also about those who did not forgive, a A clear example of being willing to forgive is Jesus, because he did not look at defects, but at what these people could become.

ILLUSTRATION:

Series of images: 1. A sister puts a card on a board on which she has written the word “empathy” and part of what Matthew 22:39 says. 2. The sister helps an older sister to carry the shopping bag.

Think of a quality you would like to improve on. (See paragraphs 5 and 6).

WE ACQUIRE SKILLS THAT ARE USEFUL

7. In what ways does Jehovah use those skilled in their work today? (Proverbs 22:29).

Another mere thing that we can put on is to acquire a new skill. Think, for example, of all the brothers who help build branch offices, Assembly halls, and Kingdom Halls. Many of them learned what they know because they worked with others who had more experience.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Many of them learned what they know because they worked with others who had more experience.

Many brothers worldwide, brothers and sisters, work voluntarily in the construction and maintenance of branch offices, assembly halls and kingdom halls.

Jehovah uses capable people for the advancement of the work, for example, there are brothers who collaborate in the construction of branches, assembly halls and kingdom halls, and as we see in the illustration both men and women are learning about the maintenance of the halls of the kingdom.

ILLUSTRATION:

Series of images: 1. A brother teaches two sisters how to change the fluorescent lamps in the Kingdom Hall. 2. The sisters change a lamp together.

Learn how to do maintenance work on your Kingdom Hall. (See paragraph 7). *

8. What will help us decide which skill we want to focus on?

Let's set a specific goal. Talk to the elders in the congregation and perhaps the circuit overseer for suggestions. For example, if they encourage us to get better at speaking or teaching, we might ask them what specific areas they think we should work on.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Set specific goals. Talk to the elders in the congregation and possibly the district supervisor for suggestions. For example, if they encourage us to improve the way we speak or teach, we can ask them what specific areas they think we should work on.

What we can do is talk to an elder in the congregation or even the circuit overseer for suggestions, and if they encourage us, perhaps, to improve in speaking or teaching, we should ask them in what specific aspect.

9. How can we reach the goal of acquiring a skill?

Let us strive to reach our goal. We can study in depth the booklet Let's Be Better Readers and Teachers. And, before presenting an assignment at the midweek meeting, we could ask another brother with more experience to listen to us and tell us where to improve. If we prepare the assignments in time, we will be better teachers and others will see that we are hardworking and reliable.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Suppose we want to be better teachers. And, before presenting an assignment at the midweek meeting, we could ask another brother with more experience to listen to us and tell us where to improve.

Well, striving to achieve these goals, for example, if we want to be better teachers, we could study in detail the booklet let us be better teachers, and before presenting an assignment in the midweek meeting, we could ask another brother with more experience to listen to us and say where we should improve.

10. Give an example of what we can do to develop a skill.

Let's look at the case of a brother named Garry, who had a hard time reading. He remembers that he felt very embarrassed when he had to read in meetings. But he didn't give up; he kept striving to improve. Thanks to the help of other brothers and publications, he now gives talks at meetings.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Let's not give up! Let's look at the case of a brother named Garry, who had a hard time reading. He remembers that he felt very embarrassed when he had to read in meetings. But he didn't give up; he kept striving to improve.

We have the case of this brother Garry, who had a hard time reading, but he did not give up but rather tried very hard to improve, and thanks to the help of other brothers and the publications, he is presently giving talks at the meeting and assemblies.

11. As in the case of Timothy, what will help us to be prepared to receive more responsibilities?

Like Timothy, if we become more skillful, we will be prepared to receive more responsibilities.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

If we become more skillful, available, responsible and reliable, we will be prepared to receive more responsibilities.

What will help us is to make ourselves more skilled every day, so when we receive more responsibilities we can fully fulfill them.

FIND WAYS TO DO THINGS FOR OTHERS

12. How have others helped you?

Going through a difficult time in our lives, how grateful we are that an elder takes time to listen and comfort us. And if we need help with a Bible course, how nice it is to have the support of a pioneer.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

For example, if we are hospitalized, how much encourages us to receive the visit of the brothers of the Liaison Committee with the Hospitals or the Group of Visits to Patients.

Well, personally, when I have been sick, I have counted on the help and visits of my brothers in the faith, and the pioneers with experience have also been of great help when they have accompanied me to lead Bible courses, because thanks to that I have been able to improve a lot in my way of teaching.

13. When we set ourselves a goal, what should we take into account?

We have to choose a clear and specific goal. We could write it down and even write what we are going to do to get it.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Let's not set goals that are too general. For example, we may think, “I would like to do more in the congregation.”

What we must do is choose a clear and specific goal, because if we set ourselves a very general goal, we may become overwhelmed by not knowing where to start and then it may even be difficult for us to see if we have achieved it or not.

14. Why do we have to be flexible when setting goals?

Because we cannot control everything that happens around us.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Because we cannot control everything that happens around us. For example, the apostle Paul had helped form the congregation in Thessalonica, and he probably had a goal of staying there for a while to support those new Christians.

Because we cannot control every circumstance that happens around us, and we have the case of the apostle Paul who helped form the congregation of Thessalonica, and probably had the goal of staying there for a while to support those new Christians, but his enemies forced him to flee the city, so he adapted to the circumstances and then sent Timothy there to strengthen the brothers.

15. Explain with an example what can happen to our goals if circumstances change.

We can learn from Paul's example and what happened to him in Thessalonica. Perhaps we have set a goal for ourselves in our service to Jehovah, but suddenly circumstances change and it is no longer possible for us to reach it.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Although they were a little discouraged at first, they knew that they could serve Jehovah in other ways. Ted says: “We have learned not to focus on just one way to do more for Jehovah.”

We have the case of a couple, a health problem forced them to leave Bethel, but they did not give up, so they immediately looked for other ways to serve him, they started as regular pioneers, then they were appointed special pioneers and the husband was trained to be substitute circuit overseer, but at that time the age limit for being a circuit overseer changed, and it is true that they were discouraged by it, but as the brother says they have learned not to focus only on one way to do more for Jehovah.

16. What lesson does Galatians 6:4 teach us?

The lesson we learn is that we cannot control everything that happens in our lives.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

We cannot control everything that happens in our lives. Nor does it help us to look at the assignments that some have and we do not. Hiedi says: "If we compare our life with that of others, we will lose our peace."

It teaches us that we should not compare ourselves with what others do, because if we do this the only thing we are going to achieve is to lose peace, also let us remember that what makes us valuable to Jehovah are not the assignments or privileges that we have in his organization .

17. What can we do if we want to receive more responsibilities?

By living a simple life and avoiding unnecessary debt, we can make ourselves available for more responsibility. 

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

All the experience you gain now can open the door to more assignments in the future. Regardless, resolve to do your best in your service to Jehovah.

What we can do is always be available to receive more responsibilities, we can also set ourselves a little smaller goals so that in the future we can achieve big goals, for example, if we want to be regular pioneers we can start serving a time as auxiliary pioneers.

18. What does Beverley's example teach us? (See also image).

It teaches us that their effort motivated others to do more in the ministry. It is clear that Jehovah highly values ​​everything older brothers do.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Due to a health problem, he was not walking well. But she really wanted to participate in the Memorial campaign.

It teaches us that there is no age limit to set goals and achieve them, because this 75-year-old sister did not walk well due to a health problem, but she wanted to participate in the commemoration campaign, so we see that she began to preach by telephone.

ILLUSTRATION:

Choose a specific goal that is within your reach. (See paragraph 18). 

19. What are some spiritual goals we can set for ourselves?

Let us develop qualities that please Jehovah. Let us acquire skills so that God and his organization can use us more. Let's look for ways to do more things for our brothers.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Let's set goals that we can achieve. Let us develop qualities that please Jehovah. Let's acquire skills so that God and his organization can use us more.

We can make it our goal to develop qualities that are pleasing to Jehovah, to gain skills to be of more use in Jehovah's organization, and we should also look for ways to do more for our brothers.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SET THESE GOALS AND REACH THEM?

Develop a Christian quality.

Let's set a specific goal. Let us pray to Jehovah to help us know in which aspects of our personality we need to improve. Let's select one in particular and focus on it. Let us strive to reach our goal. For example, suppose we realize that we need to forgive more. It would be helpful to read about biblical figures who generously forgave others and those who did not, and to ponder his example.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Let us strive to reach our goal. For example, suppose we realize that we need to forgive more. It would be helpful to read about biblical figures who generously forgave others and those who did not, and to ponder their example.

What we must do is pray to Jehovah, so that he can help us identify which aspects of our personality we have to improve, and in paragraph 5 we were advised to focus on just one so as not to overwhelm ourselves, and improve gradually. few.

Acquire a new skill.

Talk to the elders in the congregation and perhaps the circuit overseer for suggestions. Suppose we want to be better teachers. We can study in depth the booklet Let's Be Better Readers and Teachers. And, before presenting an assignment at the midweek meeting, we could ask another brother with more experience to listen to us and tell us where to improve.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Let's set a specific goal. What skill could we focus on? Talk to the elders in the congregation and perhaps the circuit overseer for suggestions. For example, if they encourage us to get better at speaking or teaching, we might ask them what specific area they think we should work on.

What we should do first is to identify which skill we want to focus on, and we can ask a mature brother for suggestions, and then strive to develop it.

Do more for the brothers.

Let's not set goals that are too general. For example, we may think, “I would like to do more in the congregation.” We must be flexible when setting goals. Why? Because we cannot control everything that happens around us. So it is important to remember that what makes us valuable to Jehovah is not the assignments we have received. Nor does it help us to look at the assignments that some have and we do not.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

We were advised that we should not set ourselves general goals, but rather specific ones, we can also be aware of our brothers and make ourselves available when they need help.

For example, if we are hospitalized, how much encourages us to receive the visit of the brothers of the Liaison Committee with the Hospitals or the Group of Visits to Patients. Or, going through a difficult time in our lives, how grateful we are that an elder takes time to listen and comfort us. And, if we need help with a Bible course, how nice it is to have the support of an experienced pioneer who will accompany us and give us suggestions for improvement. Jesus said, "There is more happiness in giving than in receiving."