Study of the Congregation Book, Week of January 22 to 28, 2024, Chapter 4, paragraphs 13 to 20, “They prayed together to God”, Responses.

Study of the Congregation Book, January 22-28, 2024, Chapter 4, paragraphs 13 to 20, “They prayed together to God”, Responses.

Congregation Bible study (30 mins.) bt chap. 4 paras. 13-20.

13, 14. If you face opposition, what should you do, and why?

We should ask Jehovah for strength, seek the support of the congregation, and tell our problems to the elders and other mature brothers, since the prayers of our brothers have a powerful effect and can help us overcome opposition.

It is also important to follow the example of Peter and John, who after being released from prison, met with the congregation and asked God to give them courage to continue preaching. It is also important to learn from the experience of Peter, who was overconfident and denied Jesus, but learned his lesson and relied on Jehovah to move forward.

15. Why should you not punish yourself if you stopped preaching for a time in the past?

Because even the apostles stopped preaching after the death of Jesus, but they did not take long to return to it, therefore, instead of allowing the mistakes of the past to overwhelm us, let us try to learn from them and use our experience to help others. .

16, 17. What does the prayer that Christ's disciples prayed in Jerusalem teach us?

The prayer that Christ's disciples prayed in Jerusalem teaches us that, instead of asking God to deliver them from the attacks of their enemies, we should ask Him to take into account the threats and give us the strength and courage to continue preaching. and serving him despite opposition.

For example, the disciples understood that the persecution they suffered was prophesied and that, no matter what the rulers said, God's will would be done on Earth. Therefore, we must keep in mind that opposition is part of our work and that, if we trust in Jehovah and ask for his help, he will give us the strength necessary to continue forward.

18. In what ways did the brothers of the Jerusalem congregation help each other?

The brothers of the Jerusalem congregation helped each other in a spiritual sense and, when necessary, in a material sense, since despite having very different origins, "they had one heart and soul", that is, they had the same shape of thinking and the same purpose.

And from Barnabas we learn the example of generosity and support for our brothers, since it stands out that he sold a piece of land and donated all the money to help the brothers who had come to Jerusalem from far away, allowing them to stay longer to learn and strengthen their faith. His act of generosity and material support to the community is an example for all of us to follow.

19. Why did Jehovah execute Ananias and Sapphira?

Jehovah executed Ananias and Sapphira because, despite selling property to make a donation, they tried to make the apostles believe that they were handing over all the money received, when in reality they kept part of the money and did not report it to anyone. His punishment was not for the amount of the donation, but for his evil motives and lying to God. Their act of hypocrisy and his interest in people's praise instead of God's approval led to them receiving severe punishment. This story serves as a warning about the importance of sincerity and integrity in our actions and motivations.

20. What do we learn about what we give to Jehovah?

We learn that what we give to Jehovah must be given voluntarily and with sincerity of heart. The story of Ananias and Sapphira teaches us that Jehovah values ​​sincerity and integrity in our actions and motivations in giving. It is emphasized that Jehovah is not concerned with the amount we give, but with the motive and attitude with which we do it. Therefore, we must give voluntarily, without interest or desire for recognition, and with authentic love for God and neighbor, following the example of Peter, John and Barnabas.