DAILY TEXT, From today  Saturday September 2, 2023,  This means eternal life: that they come to know you, the only true God, and whom you sent, Jesus Christ (John 17:3).

Let's Examine the Scriptures Every Day 2023

Saturday September 2

This means eternal life: that they come to know you, the only true God, and the one you sent, Jesus Christ (John 17:3).

We look for those who have “the right attitude to obtain eternal life” (Acts 13:48). In order for them to become disciples, we need to help them 1) understand, 2) accept, and 3) apply the things they are learning from the Bible (Col. 2:6, 7; 1 Thess. 2:13). Everyone in the congregation can help students by showing love and welcoming them when they attend meetings (John 13:35). The teacher may also have to spend considerable time and energy helping the student break down “strongly entrenched” beliefs or practices (2 Cor. 10:4, 5). Helping someone make all of these changes until they are finally eligible to be baptized may take many months, but it is certainly worth it. w21.07 3 par. 6.

LOVE MOTIVATES US TO MAKE DISCIPLES

Why do we participate in the work of preaching and making disciples?

Why do we participate in the work of preaching and making disciples? First, because we love Jehovah. 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.

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 way 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's our case, let's 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).

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