Congregation Book Study, Week of October 16-22, 2023, Section 4, Review, Answers.

Congregation Book Study, October 16-22, 2023, Section 4, Review, Answers.

Congregation Bible study (30 mins.): lff section 4 review.

Discuss the following questions with your teacher:

A father praying with his wife and little daughter.

Read Proverbs 13:20.

Why is it important that you choose your friends well?

According to what we saw in lesson 48 and according to the advice of Proverbs 13:20, we must choose our friends well, because the people we surround ourselves with can have a significant impact on us, in terms of our well-being. and personal development. Choosing wise and positive friendships can contribute to our growth and happiness, while associating with negative or foolish people can have detrimental effects on us.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The influence of friends on our lives can be significant. Those friends who share our values ​​and beliefs can have a positive impact on us. And if they have a close relationship with Jehovah and serve God, they can be a source of spiritual support and motivation to remain faithful to our beliefs and principles.

When we have friends who share our faith and seek to live according to Biblical principles, we can encourage each other to grow spiritually, study the Bible together, participate in worship activities, and provide support for each other emotionally and in times of difficulty.

However, if our friends do not share our beliefs or engage in behaviors that are not aligned with our values, their influence can be detrimental. They might tempt us to stray from our beliefs, give in to negative behaviors, or neglect our relationship with God.

Therefore, it is essential to choose our friendships carefully and ensure that they are aligned with our spiritual values ​​and goals. The Bible advises us on the importance of having companies that are edifying and that help us remain firm in our faith.

What advice from the Bible can help you if you are…

…husband or wife?

For the husband we have the advice of Ephesians 5:25, which mentions that "Continue to love your wives." This means that the husband who loves his wife treats her with affection, both in private and in public. Additionally, he strives to meet her physical and emotional needs as Jehovah advises in his Bible in Timothy 5:8. Her husband takes the initiative to satisfy her spiritual needs.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The Bible gives several pieces of advice to the husband. In Ephesians 5:25, he is urged to love his wife. This means treating her with affection both in private and in public, protecting her and doing everything possible to meet her physical and emotional needs. Additionally, the husband is expected to take the lead in meeting his wife's spiritual needs, such as praying and reading the Bible together. In summary, the Bible advises a husband to love and care for his wife in all aspects of life. 

As for the wife, the advice that can help her is that of Ephesians 5:33, which tells her that she must have deep respect for her husband. In this regard, the wife strives to support her husband in decisions, addressing him with respect and deep affection, even if you do not share their beliefs.

The Bible advises the wife to have deep respect for her husband. To achieve this, it is suggested that the wife think about the good qualities of her husband and the effort he makes to care for her and her children. She is also encouraged to show respect by supporting her husband's decisions, addressing him lovingly and speaking well of him, even if he does not share her beliefs.

…father or son?

Making children appropriate advice is from Colossians 3:20, which says to be obedient to your parents. This means that as a child you must obey and respect your parents, if you apply this advice it will make them and Jehovah very happy too, in fact, they have a good model to follow which is our Lord Jesus who, although he was perfect, obeyed and He respected his parents, who were imperfect.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Jehovah advises parents to spend quality time with their children, and to always be ready to protect them. In addition, they must educate us according to the principles of the and this is made clear in Ephesians 6:4.

The advice for children is to be obedient to their parents, since by doing this they will also be very happy and make Jehovah very happy. And a good example of this is undoubtedly Jesus.

What way of speaking does Jehovah like? And what speech does he disapprove of?

Jehovah likes our way of speaking to be edifying, Jehovah has given us this gift of the ability to speak and therefore expects us to use it in a positive way. For example, in his word the Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 that we continue to love one another and build each other up. And we can use this gift with someone who needs encouragement through our words, since we can say good things to them or even mention a biblical text that could encourage them, without the way we say things also influencing them. So we can talk calmly and be kind. 

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

And the way of speaking that Jehovah disapproves of is the one where they use corrupt words as mentioned in Ephesians 4:29, this includes that we should not use dirty language and say cruel and humiliating things with the intention of going to others. Just as we also have to avoid gossip and slander, since none of that pleases Jehovah.

Jehovah likes us to use our speech to encourage and edify others with our words. For example, if someone is discouraged we can let them know how much we appreciate them and make them notice the good things we see in this person.

Furthermore, we are advised to think before speaking and try to imagine what effect what we are going to say will have on others.

What biblical principles will help you choose your clothes and grooming wisely?

The principles that should influence our way of grooming are the following: Our clothing must be appropriate or dignified, we must groom ourselves modestly, which means avoiding provocative styles. Furthermore, we must show good judgment when following any fashion, and above all our appearance should always reflect devotion to God.

We have principles like 1 Timothy 2:9,10, which advises that we should choose appropriate clothing and groom ourselves with modesty and good judgment. This means that our clothing must be appropriate or dignified, as well as our hairstyles. Through our personal grooming we want to show that we respect the God we worship, so we avoid styles that are provocative or sexy, or that draw too much attention to ourselves. So let's take whatever becomes fashionable. In this way we convey to others that we worship the true God.

What should you keep in mind so that your entertainment pleases Jehovah?

Whatever we do in our free time, from reading a book, playing video games or watching a movie, whatever our preference, we have to make sure that what we choose pleases the Lord, as we read in Ephesians 5:10 . It is important to take this into account and be clear about it, because many of the entertainment that people enjoy have to do with things that Jehovah hates, such as violence, sexual immorality, or the occult. Therefore we want to avoid all types of entertainment that offends Jehovah.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

When choosing our training, we must take into account whether what we choose pleases the Lord, that is, it is important to ensure that our entertainment activities are aligned with the principles and values ​​that Jehovah approves. This means avoiding entertainment that involves violence, sexual immorality, or the occult, since these are things that Jehovah hates.

It is also beneficial to surround ourselves with friends who love Jehovah, since they can positively influence us in our choice of entertainment.

Read Matthew 24:45-47.

Who is “the faithful and prudent slave”?

Since Jehovah has always used some man or group of men to lead his people, after the death of Jesus, it was the apostles and elders of Jerusalem who led the congregation, and today Jehovah has appointed a small group of elders , the governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses, to provide spiritual nourishment and preaching direction. This group is the faithful and prudent slave whom his master, Jesus, put in charge of those responsibilities.

In our time, the faithful and prudent slave is made up of some anointed Christian brothers, and these are in charge of giving spiritual food and directing the preaching within Jehovah's Organization.

How can you support the congregation with your time, energy, and material resources?

We can all support the congregation. For example, we can offer to take a sibling who is sick or elderly to the meeting, or we could do other practical things for them, such as going to the supermarket or helping them with the housework, and we can also offer to help with cleaning and maintenance of the Kingdom Hall, we volunteer because we love Jehovah and our brothers.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Men can also strive to meet the Biblical requirements to be ministerial servants and eventually elders, just as we can all participate more in preaching by being pioneers or collaborators in the construction of places of worship, and another way to support them is by moving to another area To support a congregation that needs some kind of help.

We can support the care and service of older or sick siblings who demonstrate such a spirit of compassion and community. Helping with practical tasks that may be difficult for them shows a genuine willingness to serve and make life easier for others.

We can also volunteer to perform tasks such as cleaning and maintaining the Kingdom Hall, which is a practical way to contribute to the well-being and functioning of the congregation.

Another way to support is to set goals. For example, those who meet biblical requirements may be appointed as ministerial servants or, over time, as elders in the congregation. These privileges involve serving in various capacities, such as assisting in teaching and preaching, and caring for the brothers in a spiritual sense.

Some witnesses help build Kingdom Halls or worship facilities. This service also requires our time and energy as well as effort, as they leave their comfort zone to help brothers from other congregations.

Read Psalm 133:1.

What things can you do to contribute to the unity of the congregation?

It is important that we follow the advice of 1 Peter 1:22 which says to love one another intensely from the heart. This means that instead of focusing on the flaws of others, we should focus on their good qualities. This also implies that we must overcome prejudices, forgive generously and make peace when disagreements arise.

We can contribute to the unity of the congregation by loving others intensely from the heart, noticing the good qualities of others instead of focusing on their defects, trying to get to know people of another background and culture better, and removing any prejudices that we could have in our hearts.

How does Jehovah help us if we commit a serious sin?

If we commit a serious sin, Jehovah advises us to call the elders of the congregation. These men have been appointed by holy spirit and are qualified to help restore our friendship with Jehovah, so they will give us good advice and the encouragement we need to not sin again. The elders may limit our participation in some congregation activities. for a while, until we regain spiritual health .

Jehovah helps us through the elders, providing spiritual support and Bible-based counsel. When we commit a serious sin, Jehovah encourages us to call on the elders of the congregation for help and to restore our friendship with God.

Read 1 Chronicles 28:9 and the note.

When others oppose pure worship or leave the truth, how can you demonstrate that you are “completely dedicated” to Jehovah?

One way to demonstrate that we are completely dedicated to Jehovah is by being determined to be loyal to God above all else. This implies that we must stop associating with those who no longer want to continue being Jehovah's Witnesses.

When someone close to us decides to stop being a Jehovah's Witness, it can be a challenge to our loyalty. This person may try to test our faith and put us in a difficult situation, asking us to choose between continuing to serve Jehovah or maintaining our relationship with them. However, we must be firm in our loyalty to God above any human relationship.

Do you need to make some changes to show that you are loyal to Jehovah and have nothing to do with false religions?

Yes, we must make changes in our lives, and it is best to do so in a way that will be following the advice of Revelation 18:24, which urges us to leave Babylon the great.

We must ensure that none of our activities, jobs or Affiliations are related to false religions. 

How can you prepare for the chase?

We have to strengthen our trust in Jehovah from now on. And that implies that from now on we must make an effort to set aside time daily to pray and read his word, and attend congregation meetings. This prepares us to bravely face any type of persecution, even if those who oppose it are people close to us such as our family. In fact, preaching teaches us to trust in Jehovah and overcome fear of human beings.

We can prepare for persecution by strengthening our trust in Jehovah through prayer, reading his word, and attending Congregation Meetings. These practices will give us the necessary strength to bravely face any type of persecution, even if it comes from our own family.

In addition, preaching regularly helps us trust in Jehovah and overcome fear of humans, and if we gain courage now, we will be well prepared to continue preaching even if the government tries to stop our work.

What have you thought about doing to continue growing spiritually?

We can stay very busy preaching and look for other ways to do more for our God, such as studying God's word and attending congregation meetings, as well as praying and studying the Bible every day.

We must continue studying the word of God and attend congregation meetings. Additionally, we must look for ways to become more like Jehovah and make the necessary changes to make him happy. This way we can continue growing spiritually and maintaining a strong friendship with Jehovah.