DAILY TEXT, Today Wednesday July 12, God is the one who, just as he pleases, fills you with energy giving you both the desire and the strength to act (Phil. 2:13).

Let's Examine the Scriptures Every Day 2021

Wednesday July 12

God is the one who, just as he pleases, fills them with energy giving them both the desire and the strength to act (Phil. 2:13).

When we do our best to obey the command to preach and make disciples, we show our love for God (1 John 5:3). Consider this: love for Jehovah has already moved us from house to house. Was it easy to obey that command? Maybe not. We must have felt nervous the first time we knocked on a door. But we did it because we knew that's what Jesus wants us to do. And now it may not be so hard for us to preach, but what about leading a Bible course? Maybe just thinking about it scares us. But if we ask Jehovah to help us control our nerves and give us courage to offer a Bible study, he can help us strengthen our desire to make disciples. w21.07 3 par. 7.

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

Second, we teach the truth because we love people. On a certain occasion, Jesus and his disciples were very tired after an intense day of preaching, so they looked for a place to rest. But a large crowd was waiting for them. Very moved, Jesus “began to teach them many things” (read Mark 6:34). Why did Jesus make such an effort? Because he put himself in the place of those people and he wanted to help them. He knew that they were suffering a lot and needed hope. Today, people also need hope, even if they look happy on the outside. They are like lost and helpless sheep, without a shepherd to guide them. The apostle Paul said that they are without God and have no hope (Eph. 2:12). They are on “the path that leads to destruction” (Matt. 7:13). When we think of the people of the territory and their pitiful spiritual state, love and compassion prompt us to help them. And the best thing we can do for them is to offer them a Bible course.

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

Perhaps we do not dare to offer a Bible course because we know that to direct it you have to dedicate a lot of time to it. If so, let's tell Jehovah how we feel and ask him to help us have the desire to find someone who wants to study the Bible (read Philippians 2:13). The apostle John assures us that God will answer prayers that are in accordance with his will (1 John 5:14, 15). So we can be sure that Jehovah will help us to have the desire to share in the disciple-making work.

Why perhaps we dare not lead a Bible course?

We know that it is very important to make disciples, but there are certain difficulties that may prevent us from doing everything we would like. Let's see some of them and how we can overcome them.

It seems to us that we cannot do more due to the circumstances. For example, some publishers are elderly or in poor health. If that is our case, let us think about one of the lessons that the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us: that Bible classes can be given over the phone or online. So maybe we can start and run a Bible course from the comfort of our home. And that's not all. Some people want to study the Bible, but cannot do it at the hours that the brothers normally preach. Could we offer to teach them when it suits them, perhaps early in the morning or late at night? Jesus taught Nicodemus at night because Nicodemus preferred it that way (John 3:1, 2).

If we feel that we are not qualified to teach, what three things will bolster our confidence?

It seems to us that we are not qualified to lead a Bible course. We may think that we lack knowledge or that we need to improve as teachers. In that case, let's think of three things that will bolster our confidence. First, Jehovah thinks that we are qualified to teach others (2 Cor. 3:5). Second, Jesus, who has "all authority in heaven and on earth," has commanded us to teach (Matt. 28:18). And third, we are not alone. Like Jesus, we can trust Jehovah to help us know what to say.—John 8:28; 12:49. In addition, we can talk to the preaching group overseer, a skilled pioneer, or an experienced publisher to help us start and run a Bible course. If we accompany them to one of their own, we can learn to be better teachers.

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