Study of the Book of the congregation, Week of February 12 to 18, 2024, Chapter 5, paragraphs 16 to 22 and box on page. 42, “We must obey God as ruler”, Answers.

Study of the Congregation Book, February 12-18, 2024, Chapter 5, paragraphs 16 to 22 and box on page. 42, “We must obey God as ruler”, Answers.

Congregation Bible study (30 mins.) bt chap. 5 paras. 16-22 and box on page. 42.

16. How did the apostles demonstrate that they were determined to give a complete testimony? How do we follow the apostles' preaching method today?

The apostles demonstrated their determination to give a complete testimony by continuing daily to declare the good news about Jesus Christ in the temple and from house to house, without any fear as mentioned in Acts 5:42.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

This distributive approach to preaching, going from house to house, allowed them to reach a wide spectrum of people, offering them the opportunity to hear the good news. This method of house-to-house preaching was an effective way to give a complete testimony, and it is an example we follow today.

Today, we follow the apostles' method of preaching by visiting every home in our territory, offering everyone the opportunity to hear the good news and giving a full testimony. Like the apostles, Jehovah's Witnesses continue with courage and determination to share the message of the Kingdom both in public places and from house to house.

The paragraph mentions that Jehovah's Witnesses follow the preaching method of the apostles, and that they are known to visit every home in their territory to share the message of the Kingdom. The idea is to give a complete testimony and offer everyone the opportunity to hear the good news according to the faith of Jehovah's Witnesses. The paragraph also highlights how Jehovah has blessed this form of preaching, as millions of people have accepted the Kingdom message, many of them doing so for the first time when a witness knocked on their door during house-to-house preaching.

17-19. What problem arose, and how did the apostles solve it?

In the young congregation, divisions arose among the brothers due to a sensitive problem: the Hebrew-speaking widows were receiving the "daily distribution of food," while the Greek-speaking widows were being overlooked, which generated favoritism and injustice. Faced with this situation, the apostles, aware that they had to prioritize the teaching of the Word of God, asked the disciples to choose seven men full of spirit and wisdom to take charge of this necessary task of distributing food and attending to the needs of the people. widows, thus allowing the apostles to focus on their main work of teaching and preaching.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

And this solution demonstrated the wisdom and organization of the congregation in resolving internal conflicts and effectively distributing responsibilities for the benefit of all members.

The problem that arose was discrimination in the distribution of food between Hebrew and Greek speaking widows. The apostles solved this problem by appointing seven men full of spirit and wisdom to take charge of the task, ensuring that it was fair and just.

20. How do we follow the apostles' model in making appointments today?

Today, Jehovah's people follow the same system as the apostles in appointing brothers to carry out responsibilities in the congregation. Brothers recommended to be elders or ministerial servants must demonstrate in their lives the qualities of the fruit of the holy spirit and meet the established biblical requirements.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Under the direction of the Governing Body, those who meet these requirements are appointed to fill specific roles in the congregation, following the example of selection and appointment of the seven men filled with spirit and wisdom in the early congregation. This appointment process seeks to ensure that appointees are qualified to carry out their responsibilities effectively and in harmony with biblical principles.

Today the model of the Apostles is followed when making appointments in the congregation. And we say this because the brothers recommended to be elders and ministerial servants must demonstrate in their lives the wisdom that comes from God and manifest the qualities of the fruit of the holy spirit, as established in the Bible in first Timothy 3:1-9, 12, 13.

These biblical requirements are considered divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit. Under the direction of the Governing Body, men who meet these requirements are appointed to various responsibilities in the congregation. Elders focus on shepherding and teaching, while Ministerial Servants assist in various practical tasks. All those appointed must fulfill the Divine obligation to preach, thus balancing their responsibilities in the congregation and the organization and preaching.

21, 22. How do we know that Jehovah was blessing the young congregation?

Jehovah's blessing upon the young congregation was evident in the continued progress and growth of the work. According to Acts 6:7, “the word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem. And a large group of priests began to accept the faith. This significant growth and the acceptance of the faith by a wide spectrum of people, including priests, indicated that the preaching and teaching work was being blessed by Jehovah.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Despite the Sanhedrin's prohibition, the disciples continued to preach and teach every day “in the temple and from house to house” (Acts 5:42). But what exactly does “from house to house” mean?

The young congregation experienced Jehovah’s blessing as they overcame persecution and resolved internal problems. Evidence of divine blessing was reflected in the constant growth of the congregation, as described in Acts 6:7, where the word of God spread and the number of disciples increased significantly in Jerusalem. this continued progress and the positive reports from elsewhere recorded in various passages in Acts. 

And these reports encouraged the congregation, just as reports on the progress of the work in other countries are not encouraged today.

ANSWERS BASED ON THE BOX ON PAGE 42.

The expression "From house to house" is translated from the Greek Kat Oikon, which has a distributive meaning, indicating that preaching is done house to house. And that is why, in this way, Jehovah's Witnesses have followed this biblical mandate to preach from house to house.

Despite the prohibition of the Sanhedrin, the disciples continued to preach and teach in the temple and also from house to house. This suggests that preaching was carried out persistently and widely, encompassing different social contexts. 

The use of the expression regarding the extent and scope of preaching was not limited only to the public realm of the temple, but was also addressed to people's homes, indicating a more personalized and direct approach in the communication of the message that we carry to this day. 

Paul mentions this practice when addressing Christian Superintendents, highlighting the importance of teaching publicly but also in an individualized and close way, to reach those who have not yet accepted the Christian message.

The reference to house-to-house preaching implies that his goal was to reach those who were not yet believers, giving them a complete testimony of the need to repent, turn to God, and have faith in Jesus Christ. 

In summary, the practice of house-to-house preaching in the biblical context implies a broad and personalized outreach to people, aimed at both believers and non-believers, with the objective of communicating the Christian message in a comprehensive way and reaching those who They have not yet accepted faith in Jesus Christ.