Yellow: Direct Response
Light Yellow: Additional Response
Celeste: Additional Points
“Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry” (2 TIM. 4:11).
1, 2. What might have prevented Mark and Timothy from doing more in their service to Jehovah?
If you are a young man, you surely want to do more in your service to Jehovah and be more useful in the congregation. We are delighted to see so many young men eager to serve others (Ps. 110:3). But that isn't always easy. You may be hesitant to take the step of expanding your ministry for fear of the unknown. Or perhaps you've turned down a responsibility because you don't feel ready. Don't worry, you're not the first to feel this way.
2 Mark and Timothy faced similar situations, but they didn't let fear of the unknown or lack of experience stop them from serving others. Mark may have been living with his mother in a comfortable house when the apostle Paul and Barnabas invited him to join them on their first missionary journey. (Num. 12:12, 13, 25). But Mark was willing to leave his home to expand his ministry. He first went to Antioch and then traveled with Paul and Barnabas to other distant places. (Num. 13:1-5). Similarly, Timothy was probably living with his parents when Paul invited him to preach with him. Timothy may have thought he was too young and inexperienced to accept that invitation. (compare 1 Corinthians 16:10, 11 and 1 Timothy 4:12). But he chose to go with Paul, and he enjoyed many blessings (Acts 16:3-5).
3. a) How do we know that Mark and Timothy were very valuable to Paul? (2 Timothy 4:6, 9, 11; see also the images.) b) What questions will we explore in this article?
3 As young men, Mark and Timothy learned to handle many responsibilities in the congregation. They became so valuable to Paul that, when the apostle knew he had little time left to live, he wanted to have them by his side. (Read 2 Timothy 4:6, 9, 11.) What qualities of Mark and Timothy endeared them to Paul? How can young brothers follow their example? And what advice can Paul give them?
ILLUSTRATION
Series of images: 1. Mark prepares something to eat and drink for Paul and Barnabas. 2. Timothy reads a letter to a group of elders, who listen attentively.
Mark and Timothy won Paul's affection by taking on responsibilities while still young. (See paragraph 3.)
BE LIKE MARCOS BY BEING WILLING TO SERVE OTHERS
4, 5. How did Mark show his willingness to serve others?
4 According to one reference work, serving or ministering to others involves striving “with perseverance and diligence” to help them. That's what Mark did. When Paul refused to take him on his second missionary journey, Mark was probably hurt and disappointed. (Acts 15:37, 38) Did he become discouraged and stop serving his brothers? Of course not!
5 Mark went with his cousin Barnabas to serve elsewhere. About 11 years later, when Paul was under arrest in Rome, Mark was one of those who supported him. (Film. 23, 24). In fact, the apostle was so grateful for his help that he said that Mark was “a source of great comfort.” (Col. 4:10, 11).
6. How did spending time with mature Christians help Mark? (See note.)
6 Something that helped Mark a lot was spending time collaborating with mature Christians. After being with Paul in Rome, he joined the apostle Peter, who was in Babylon. They became such good friends that Peter called him "my son." (1 Ped. 5:13). While they were together, Peter probably told him many interesting details about Jesus' life and ministry, and Mark later wrote them down in his Gospel.
7. How did a young brother follow Mark's example? (See also the image.)
7 Mark remained very busy in his service to Jehovah and surrounded himself with mature Christians. How can you follow his example? If you have set a goal for some responsibility within the congregation and have not yet received it, be patient and continue to look for other ways to serve Jehovah and the brothers. Look at the example of Seung-woo, who is now an elder. When he was younger, he compared himself to other siblings his age. Seeing some of them being given responsibilities before him, he felt like he was being overlooked. Finally, he spoke about the matter with the elders, and one of them told him to strive to help others even if what he did sometimes went unnoticed. So, he decided to volunteer to help the older brothers and those who needed transportation to get to the meeting. Looking back on that time, he says, “I learned what it truly meant to serve others, and I realized that helping my fellow brothers in practical ways made me very happy.”
ILLUSTRATION
A young man drives an elderly brother to a congregation meeting.
Why is it good for young people to spend time with experienced Christians? (See paragraph 7.)
BE LIKE TIMOTHY BY SHOWING THAT YOU CARE FOR OTHERS
8. Why did Paul want Timothy to accompany him on his travels? (Philippians 2:19-22)
8 When Paul revisited places where he had been persecuted, he needed courageous brothers to accompany him. First, he chose Silas, who was an experienced Christian (Acts 15:22, 40). And then he also chose Timothy. Why did he want this young man to accompany him? On the one hand, because he had a good reputation (Acts 16:1, 2). And on the other, because Paul knew that Timothy genuinely cared about people. (read Philippians 2:19-22).
9. How did Timothy show that he genuinely cared for his brothers?
9 From the moment he began serving alongside Paul, Timothy demonstrated that he was more concerned about others than himself. For this reason, Paul could confidently allow him to remain in Berea to encourage the new disciples (Acts 17:13, 14). On this occasion, Timothy surely learned a lot from Silas, who also remained in that city. But later, Paul sent Timothy alone to Thessalonica to strengthen the congregation (1 Thess. 3:2, footnote). Over the next 15 years, Timothy grew to love his brothers so much that he sometimes even cried with those who cried. (Rom. 12:15; 2 Tim. 1:4) How can young brothers follow his example?
10. How did a brother learn to care more about other people?
10 A brother named Woo Jae learned to care more about other people. As a young man, he found it difficult to have conversations with the older brothers. So when he saw them at the Kingdom Hall, he would simply give them a brief greeting. To help him start conversations, an elder suggested he tell the brothers something he liked about them. He also advised him to think of things they might be interested in. Woo Jae listened. Now an old man, he says, “It’s easier for me to talk to people of all ages. I feel good because I understand other people’s problems better, and that allows me to give my siblings the help they need.”
11. How can young people learn to take a greater interest in the members of the congregation? (See also the image.)
11 Young man, you too can learn to show that you care about others. At meetings, talk to everyone, regardless of age. Ask them how they're doing and listen to their answers. Over time, this will help you see how you can help them. You may hear that an older couple needs help with the JW Library® app or that they don't have anyone to go out preaching with. Could you offer to help them with their electronic devices or preach with them? If you take the initiative and help others, you'll be a good example for the entire congregation.
ILLUSTRATION
A young man and an older man preach from house to house. The older man speaks to a man while the younger man holds a tablet with a video.
Young brothers can help the congregation in many ways. (See paragraph 11.)
PABLO'S ADVICE CAN HELP YOU
12. What can young people do to benefit from the advice Paul gave Timothy?
12 Paul loved Timothy like a son, and so he gave him advice to help him succeed in life and in his ministry (1 Tim. 1:18; 2 Tim. 4:5). What can you do to make his advice help you too? Read the two letters Paul wrote to Timothy as if they were addressed to you and see how you can apply that advice. Let's look at some examples.
13. What will help you have devotion to God?
13 “Train yourself with devotion to God as your goal” (1 Tim. 4:7b). Devotion to God involves being loyal to Jehovah and having a desire to do what pleases him. This isn't something we are born with; it must be cultivated. How did we achieve this? Paul said, “Train yourself.” In Greek, this word was often used to describe the hard training of athletes preparing for competition. Those athletes needed self-discipline. We too need it to develop habits that help us strengthen our friendship with Jehovah.
14. What is our goal when reading the Bible? Explain it with a practical exercise.
14 One of those habits is reading the Bible every day. Remember that in doing so your goal is to strengthen your friendship with Jehovah. Let's see how to do this with a practical exercise. Imagine you're reading the conversation Jesus had with a young, rich ruler (Mark 10:17-22). The young man believed Jesus was the Messiah, but he didn't have enough faith to become his disciple. Even so, the account says that Jesus cared for him. You might be surprised that Jesus spoke to him so kindly. Clearly, he wanted the young man to make a good decision. What can you learn about Jehovah? Since Jesus is a faithful reflection of his Father, this account teaches you that Jehovah himself felt love for the young man. (John 14:9) On the other hand, as you meditate on the young man in this account and your circumstances, you might ask yourself, “What can I do to draw closer to Jehovah and to do more for others?”
15. Why is it important for young people to strive to be a good example? (1 Timothy 4:12, 13)
15 “Be an example to the faithful” (read 1 Timothy 4:12, 13). Paul told Timothy that it was important for him to learn to read well and to be a good teacher. But he also advised him to demonstrate qualities such as love, faith, and chastity. Why? Because what we do is more powerful than what we say. Imagine you're assigned to give a talk on how to do more in preaching. You'll feel more comfortable speaking on this topic if you're giving your all in ministry. Your example will give your words more weight. (1 Tim. 3:13).
16. a) In what five ways can young brothers be exemplary? b) What can a young person do to be an example through his or her speech?
In 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul mentions five ways in which a young man can be an example. Why not explore these in your personal study? Let's say you want to improve on the first point, “your way of speaking.” Think of things you can say to encourage others. If you live at home with your parents, could you thank them more often for all they do for you? At gatherings, could you make an effort to provide feedback in your own words? And, at the end, could you tell a sibling what you liked about their appearance on the program? If you work hard to be an example through your speech, others will see your progress as a servant of God. (1 Tim. 4:15).
17. What things will help a young person achieve his spiritual goals? (2 Timothy 2:22)
17 “Flee from the desires of youth and pursue righteousness” (read 2 Timothy 2:22). Paul told Timothy to reject desires that could prevent him from achieving his spiritual goals and draw him away from Jehovah. You may find that there are things in your life that, while not bad, leave you with little time for spiritual pursuits. For example, think about how much time you spend exercising, browsing the internet, or playing video games. Could you use some of that time to do more for Jehovah and the brothers and sisters? Perhaps you could volunteer at your congregation to help with Kingdom Hall maintenance or to preach with the wagons. This will help you make friends who will encourage you to set spiritual goals and achieve them.
THE BLESSINGS OF SERVING OTHERS
18. Why can we say that Mark and Timothy had a happy and exciting life?
18 Mark and Timothy made sacrifices to serve others, and thanks to this they lived happy and exciting lives (Acts 20:35). Mark's ministry took him to different parts of the world. He also wrote a fascinating account of Jesus' life. For his part, Timothy helped Paul form congregations and encourage the brothers. It is clear that Jehovah was pleased with both Mark and Timothy for the sacrifices they had made to serve him.
19. Why is it important for young men to apply Paul’s advice, and what will be the result?
19 What do Paul's inspired letters to Timothy teach us? On the one hand, that the apostle loved his young friend very much. And on the other, that Jehovah also loves you and wants you to do well and be happy. That's why it's important to apply Paul's advice and cultivate a desire to serve the brothers and sisters more. If you do, you'll be able to enjoy a happy life now and "the life that truly is life" in the future. (1 Tim. 6:18, 19).
WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?
What have you learned from Mark's example?
Mark remained very busy in his service to Jehovah and surrounded himself with mature Christians. For example, if we have set a goal to assume a certain responsibility within the congregation and have not yet received it, we should be patient and continue to look for other ways to serve Jehovah and the brothers.
What does Timothy's example teach you about how you should treat others?
From the moment he began serving alongside Paul, Timothy showed that he was more concerned for others than for himself. This teaches us to show concern for others. At meetings, we should try to talk to everyone, regardless of age, ask them how they are, and listen to their answers. Over time, this will allow us to see how we can help them.
What advice can Paul give a young man to help him progress in his service to Jehovah?
Paul said, “Train yourself.” In Greek, this word was often used to describe the hard training of athletes preparing for competition. Those athletes needed self-discipline. We too need it to develop habits that help us strengthen our friendship with Jehovah. One of those habits is reading the Bible every day. We must remember that by doing so, our goal is to strengthen our friendship with Jehovah.
Paul told Timothy that it was important for him to learn to read well and to be a good teacher. But he also advised him to demonstrate qualities such as love, faith, and chastity.
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