Watchtower Study, Let's set spiritual goals that we can achieve, Week June 27 to July 3, 2022, Comments and Practical Responses.

Watchtower Study, Set Spiritual Goals We Can Achieve, June 27-July 3, 2022, Comments and Responses.

1. What spiritual goals can we set for ourselves?

True Christians set spiritual goals, such as developing Christian qualities, gaining new skills, and finding ways to do things 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.

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

Paul encouraged Timothy to continue to progress spiritually, to develop Christian qualities such as love, faith, and chastity. And, on the other, to improve his skills when reading in public, advising and teaching. In this article, we'll look at Timothy's example and see how setting reasonable goals helps us grow spiritually.

WE DEVELOP CHRISTIAN QUALITIES

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

Because he had outstanding Christian qualities, he was humble, loyal, hard-working and trustworthy. He treated the brothers with affection and sincerely cared for them. If we develop the qualities that Jehovah likes, we will endear him to him, and he will use us more in the congregation.

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.

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

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.

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

Let's start looking for information about the quality we want to work on, read about biblical characters, think about Jesus, if we make an effort, we will be able to improve this aspect of our personality.

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 goal we can set for ourselves 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.

ILLUSTRATION:

Image series: 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?

Talk to the elders of the congregation and perhaps the circuit overseer for suggestions, if they encourage us to improve in speaking or teaching, we could ask them what specific area they think we should work on.

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

Suppose we want to be better teachers. We can study in depth the brochure Let's Be Better Readers and Teachers, ask another brother with more experience to listen to us and tell us how to improve. If we prepare the assignments in time, we will be better teachers and others will see that we are hardworking and reliable.

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, circuit assemblies, and regional 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.

FIND WAYS TO DO THINGS FOR OTHERS

12. How have others helped you?

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. All these brothers experience that happiness by helping us. And we too will feel very happy if we do the same. If we have a goal to serve Jehovah more in these or other ways, how can we reach it?

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

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

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

Because we can't control everything that happens around us, 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. But his enemies forced him to flee the city, he adapted to the circumstances and later sent Timothy there to strengthen the faith of the brothers.

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

Perhaps we have set a goal for ourselves in our service to Jehovah, but suddenly circumstances change and we are no longer able to achieve it. A health problem forced Ted and Hiedi to leave Bethel. But because they loved Jehovah so much, they quickly looked for other ways to serve him. First they were regular pioneers, then they were appointed special pioneers, and Ted was trained to be a substitute circuit overseer. But then the age limit for being a circuit overseer changed, and Ted and Hiedi realized that they could no longer have that assignment. 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.”

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

We cannot control everything that happens in our lives. So it is important to remember that what makes us valuable to Jehovah is not the assignments we have received. It also doesn't help us to look at the assignments that some have and we don't, the best thing we can do is keep looking for ways to serve Jehovah and help others.

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. Let's set ourselves goals now that will help us achieve larger long-term goals.

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

Beverley is 75 years old and due to a health problem, she did not walk well. But she really wanted to participate in the Memorial campaign. What she did? He set specific goals for himself, and when he achieved them she was very happy. His effort motivated others to do more in the ministry.

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'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. Let's look for ways to do more things for our brothers.

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

Develop a Christian quality.

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. 

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. 

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.