Study of the Book of the congregation, Week of August 28 to September 3, 2023, Lesson 55, Point 5, summary, review and "Resolve this", Answers.

Study of the Book of the congregation, 28-August-3-September-2023, Lesson 55, Point 5, Answers.

Congregation Bible study (30 min.): lff lesson 55 point 5, summary, review, and “Aim for this.”

5. Siblings can push themselves to have more responsibilities

The Bible encourages Christian men to strive to grow spiritually so that they can be as supportive of the congregation as possible. To meet a brother who made it, watch the VIDEO. Then talk about the following:

VIDEO: Brethren, Strive for Spiritual Progress (5:23)

What things did Ryan do to grow spiritually and help more in the congregation?

Ryan realized that just as he made an effort to take care of himself physically by exercising, he also had to make an effort to take care of his spirituality and do more in his Ministry. He was aware that he had a hard time starting conversations with strangers in the preaching work, since he had no Bible students, did not make return visits, forgot to turn in his service report, and did not prepare well for meetings, because he had a hard time commenting. So the first thing he did was recognize these weaknesses and then he accepted and put into practice the advice of his group superintendent and applied it in order to improve.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Ryan meditated on the text of 1 Timothy 3:1 and understood that to be an overseer, he must first meet the requirements to be a ministerial servant. The example of the Apostle Paul also helped him greatly. He understood that he could strengthen the brothers with his talks if he prepared well, and that he could help the older brothers and take an interest in the orphans in the congregation and also participate more fully and enthusiastically in the preaching work.

Applying the advice was very beneficial for Ryan. He now makes return visits, the Brothers congratulate us on his good presentations, he has many friends in the congregation, he wants to give Bible studies. Fortunately he understood that he had been so distracted with the things he wanted to do, that he had lost sight of what he could do for others.

Ryan's effort to progress spiritually has paid off. He now makes excellent return visits, he wants to have Bible studies, he prepares to comment in the meetings and even give speeches. He also helps clean up the Kingdom Hall and supports the older brothers. He is now a man with a spiritual inclination and that has made him very happy.

If he concentrated on being a man with a spiritual inclination and for this he began by enthusiastically participating in the ministry, making more friends within the congregation, supporting brothers in need.

And here he took into account some brothers and they became friends with them. He was interested in the older brothers in the children when they gave him some assignment, a biblical discourse, so he prepared himself very well.

If something fundamental was the change in his priorities, he stopped thinking only about the goals that he wanted, what he liked, but really put into work the power to progress spiritually.

He also began to reconsider not running out of the meeting because he had to go to the movies, putting his spiritual interests first, but he stayed in the congregation longer and lived with the brothers, as we were seeing, he participated with pleasure in cleaning and that It was very important to him because he also valued the advice that the brothers gave him to progress and Paul's example was what crowned his interest in progress, so to speak. 

The Bible says what requirements must be fulfilled by the brothers who want to be ministerial servants and elders. Read 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and discuss the following:

What is expected of the brothers who want to be ministerial servants and elders?

They are expected to strive to develop spiritual qualities and to meet the requirements. They must be brothers who wear themselves out in service, who take the lead in preaching, who maintain the urgency of the work of the Kingdom in the congregation and at home with their good example. They must be considerate, trustworthy persons, have irreproachable conduct inside and outside the congregation, have moderate habits, good judgment, be orderly, hospitable, and be qualified to teach.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

You are also expected to be a reasonable person, free from vices, leading a simple life and free from materialism. You must be humble, you must have a clear language and conscience. If he is a married man, then he is expected to have his wife his children in subjection and know how to lead his family and he is not a newly baptized brother.

First, he says that he has to be a good family man who knows how to lead his family, who knows how to guide his children so that he can guide the congregation correctly, he also says that he has to be married to only one woman and that the woman has to be sensible and faithful.

Yes, the requirements that we read seem to be quite high, but it is what Jehovah expects from someone who is going to lead his organization, however, as someone who is looking for that position says here, a person must meet them to a reasonable degree because we are imperfect, we can make mistakes, but there shouldn't be many serious flaws, for example, maybe in reality something that should be fulfilled is not to be drunk or violent, to be reasonable, then there are things that maybe one has to work on because in reality Jehovah wants people who have an excellent quality so that they can lead the congregation as he likes.

Yes, it is mentioned here how it is that if you are seeking to serve Jehovah more, you have to be moderate in your habits, have good judgment, be orderly and be able to teach.

Yes, the texts also mentioned that he must enjoy a good reputation and that he must strive to progress spiritually so that he demonstrates his ability first and then later to receive his assignment. 

What is expected of their families? (See verses 4 and 11.)

According to 1 Timothy 3:4,11, the families of those who wish to be ministerial servants, elders, or overseers are expected to be exemplary and respected inside and outside the congregation. Children must be believers, they must be modest, humble and be subject to their parents. Wives should not be slanderers, but sober and faithful in all things.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

If in verse 4 he mentions that this man must do well with his family and that he have his children subject to him with all seriousness, in other words, his family must also be a servant of Jehovah, they must also be progressing spiritually.

Yes, verse 11 talks about that they should be serious and moderate in habits but the final part says faithful in all things so together with her husband she makes a team and although her husband takes the stewardship in the congregation his wife is a great support so that he can serve like this. 

If the brothers do their best to meet these requirements, what effect does this have on the congregation?

It will have a very positive effect, since with your example you can inspire other brothers to set these spiritual goals and want to strive to achieve them, thereby strengthening the congregation.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

It has a very positive effect because it is clear to the congregation that the biblical requirements, although those who truly love Jehovah and are willing to do what he asks of them are high, can strive to achieve them, then it becomes evident in front of the congregation that these Faithful men put biblical advice into practice in every aspect of their lives, which allows the congregation to imitate them.

And it is that in the end, brother, we understand that these privileges are to serve both the elders and the ministerial heavens, the effect that it is going to have on the congregation is that it is going to be a congregation that is going to be spiritually strong, it is a congregation that is going to have I trust the brothers with a congregation that will have communication with them and that in any situation they will know that they will be able to count on these men because they have demonstrated it in their actions.

ILLUSTRATION

A younger brother pushing an older brother's wheelchair as they go from house to house preaching.

WHAT SOME ASK: “How do Jehovah's Witnesses get money for all their activities?”

What would you answer ?

Jehovah's Witnesses honor Jehovah with "His valuable things." Therefore, it is an honor to use our money to support the congregation and to support the worldwide work of preaching the good news of the Kingdom. From there, what do we make voluntary donations to carry out all our activities.

We do it by voluntary donations and we do not do it as obligated but we set aside what we earn to serve Jehovah.

In case the person who asks was more curious, he would refer him to the article that comes in discover something else that comes how the work of Jehovah's Witnesses is financed and the information comes in more detail. 

SUMMARY

Jehovah highly values ​​the sacrifices we make to support the congregation with our time, energy, and material resources.

Review

How can we support the congregation with our time and energy?

We can do this by giving practical help to older brothers and sick brothers in the congregation. We can make ourselves available to take them to meetings, do the shopping for them at the Market, or support us with household chores. We can also support the cleaning and maintenance of the Kingdom hall and those who meet the requirements can support by being ministerial servants, elders or overseers.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

If we voluntarily offer to help clean and maintain the room or support older siblings or those who are sick, we do all of this out of love for God and for our siblings.

If there is also another way and that is greatly appreciated, it is when our brothers make themselves available to receive more assignments in the congregation or if there is any territory in need, because they have the heart to go and move and support other congregations.

Exactly in the case of the baptized, several goals can be set, among them preaching much more, supporting construction works is serving in Bethel and there is a great diversity of fields where they can propose, above all in this year of service, to work hard for Jehovah.

How can we support the congregation with our material resources?

We can do this with our voluntary donations and other material resources to help with congregation expenses, build and maintain our meeting places, support Kingdom work, and contribute to relief efforts.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

We did learn in Proverbs 3:9, honor Jehovah with your valuable things, we can do this through our donations, since we know that these are for worldwide preaching and also for brothers who suffer a catastrophe.

And it is very important that we always keep this in mind that we do not forget to put money in the box because sometimes to leave quickly or something, maybe we can forget but always keep it in mind because we know that the congregation needs it because it has expenses.

In what ways would you like to support the congregation?

Well, since I still feel young and healthy, in the repairs of the salon, cleaning the bathrooms with my strength, I would also like to support more donations as well.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Personally, I would like to support the congregation in the following way: For example, by actively participating in the meetings and activities of the congregation, and also by volunteering to help the elderly or sick siblings in the congregation, either by visiting them providing company or helping them with practical tasks at home.

Also a way that I would like to continue supporting my group where I meet with the group superintendent in the preaching in the cleaning also feel like a family then always be aware of the well-being of each of the members of the group where I belong.

Since we have a very large congregation and I want to continue making an effort to get to know the brothers better since, as we have seen, we want to take care of ourselves and support each other in the face of difficulties, but in order to do that we have to spend more time and get to know each other well.

Also when we see that one of our brothers is missing, we can communicate with them to find out how they are.