Watchtower Study, Week of November 11-17, 2024, “Do the Word,” Underlined Answers.

Watchtower Study, November 11-17, 2024, “Do the Word,” Underlined Answers.

Yellow: Direct Response

Light Yellow: Additional Answer

Celeste:  Extra Points

“Do what the word says, and do not just hear it” (JAMES 1:22).

1, 2. Why are Jehovah's servants happy? (James 1:22-25)

JEHOVAH and his beloved Son want us to be happy. The writer of Psalm 119:2 said: “Blessed are those who heed his reminders, who seek him with their whole heart.” And Jesus also said: “Blessed are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice!” —Luke 11:28 .

2 Jehovah’s servants are happy. Why? We have many reasons for feeling this way, and one important reason is that we read God’s Word regularly and strive to put into practice what we learn. (Read James 1:22-25.)

3. What benefits do we get from putting the Word of God into practice?

3 What benefits do we gain from “doing the word”? On the one hand, we please Jehovah, and knowing that makes us happy . (Eccl. 12:13) On the other hand, following the advice of God’s Word helps us to get along better with our family members and to be better friends with our brothers in the congregation. You have probably already seen this for yourself. In addition, we are spared many of the problems suffered by those who do not obey Jehovah’s standards. Just as King David said in a song after mentioning Jehovah’s law, orders, and judgments: “There is a great reward for those who obey them.”—Ps. 19:7-11

4. Why is it not always easy to put God’s Word into practice?

4 Still, it is not always easy to put God's Word into practice. Even though we are very busy, we need to make time to read and study the Bible so that we can understand what Jehovah wants us to do. So in this article, we will review some suggestions that can help us read the Bible every day. We will also see what will help us think about what we read and look for ways to put what we learn into practice.

MAKE TIME TO READ THE WORD OF GOD

5. What responsibilities keep us very busy?

5 Most of Jehovah’s servants are very busy people. We spend a lot of time taking care of various Bible responsibilities. For example, most of us have to work to support ourselves and our families . —1 Tim. 5:8. Many brothers and sisters care for sick or elderly family members. And we all have to make time for our own health. Then there are the responsibilities of the congregation. One very important one is to participate fully in the preaching work. With so much to do, you may wonder, “How can I set aside time to read the Bible regularly, meditate on what I read, and apply it?”

6. What can you do to avoid neglecting Bible reading? (See also image.)

6 Reading the Bible is one of the “most important” things for Christians, so we should make sure to do it. (Philippians 1:10) The book of Psalms begins by saying that the happy man “delights in the law of the Lord; he reads his law day and night and meditates on it.” (Psalm 1:1, 2) Clearly, we need to set aside time to read the Bible.  But when is the best time of day to read the Bible? It depends on each person. But the point is to choose a time that allows us to be consistent. A brother named Victor says, “I like to read the Bible in the morning. I don’t love getting up early, but I do recognize that first thing in the morning there are fewer distractions. My mind is fresh and I can concentrate better.” Do you see yourself in what Victor says? Ask yourself, “When is the best time for me to read the Bible?”

ILLUSTRATION

A sister reads the Bible while her little daughter is sleeping in the next room. What time of day allows you to read the Bible regularly? (See paragraph 6.)

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU READ

7, 8. Explain with an example what we should avoid when reading the Bible.

7 Once we know when we are going to read the Bible, we must also be careful not to fall into the trap of reading it without really absorbing anything. In our daily lives we read so many things that we have probably read something more than once and then not remembered much of it. How sad it would be if that happened to us with our Bible reading! Perhaps we have a goal of reading a certain number of chapters of the Bible each day. It is very good to set goals and strive to meet them (1 Cor. 9:26). However, reading the Bible is only the first step. It is a good start, but if we want to get the most benefit from it we have to do something more.

8 Consider the following example. Rain is essential for plants. But if too much rain falls in a short period of time, the soil can become saturated. In that case, more rain does no good. It is better for rain to fall slowly, so that the soil has time to absorb it and the plants can grow. Likewise, we should avoid reading the Bible so quickly that we fail to absorb what we read and then remember and apply it. (James 1:24)

ILLUSTRATION

A brother reads the Bible. Series of images: 1. The rain falls hard and floods the soil in which plants grow. As a result, the plants are damaged. 2. The rain falls slowly, and the soil in which plants grow absorbs it. As a result, the plants grow strong and healthy. Just as plants need time to absorb the rain and benefit from it, we need time to think about what we read in the Bible and put it into practice. (See paragraph 8.)

9. What should we do if we have the habit of reading the Bible in a hurry?

 9 Suppose you’re reading the Bible and find yourself rushing. What can you do? Try slowing down and reading at a pace that allows you to meditate on what you’re reading or have just read. If the idea of ​​meditating seems complicated, don’t panic. Simply put, meditating is simply thinking about what you’re reading. You could 1) lengthen your study period to include time for meditation, or 2) read fewer verses and spend the rest of the time thinking about what you’ve read. Victor, mentioned in paragraph 6, says, “I try not to read too many verses—maybe a chapter. Because I do my reading early in the morning, I have all day to continue thinking about what I’ve read.” The most important thing is not how much you read but reading at a pace that allows you to get the most out of what you read. (Ps. 119:97; see the box “Questions to Help You Meditate”).

Questions to help you meditate

To get the most out of reading the Bible, as we read we can ask ourselves one or more of the following questions:

What does this passage teach me about Jehovah?

What relationship does it have with the central theme of the Bible?

What can I realistically do to apply it in my life?

How can I use it to help others?

10. Explain with an example how you can apply what you read in the Bible (1 Thessalonians 5:17, 18).

10 No matter when you do your Bible reading and how much time you spend reading it, be sure to look for ways to apply what you read. As you read a portion of God’s Word, ask yourself, “How can I apply this information today or in the near future?” For example, imagine that you have read 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 18 (read it). Then stop for a moment and think about your prayers. Do they go deep? How often do you pray? What are the things you are thankful for? Perhaps you can think of three specific things to thank Jehovah for. If you spend a little time meditating on these things—even just a few minutes—you will not only be hearing God’s Word, but you will also be beginning to put it into practice . And if you do this every day with what you read in the Bible, over time you will become a better servant of Jehovah. But what if you find that there are many things you need to improve on?

SET REASONABLE GOALS

11. Why might you sometimes feel discouraged when reading the Bible? Give an example.

11 As you read the Bible, you may sometimes feel discouraged if you realize that you need to work on many things. Imagine this situation. One day you read some verses that say it is wrong to show favoritism (James 2:1-8). Because you see that you can improve the way you treat others, you decide to make some changes. That’s great! Then, the next day, you read a passage that highlights the importance of controlling your tongue (James 3:1-12). You realize that you have sometimes said negative or unkind things, so you resolve to be more positive and encouraging. On the third day, your reading talks about not being friends with the world (James 4:4-12). You come to the conclusion that you should be more careful about the movies you watch and the music you listen to. On the fourth day, you may feel discouraged thinking about all the changes you need to make.

12. Why should you not be discouraged if you read the Bible and find that you need to make changes? (See also footnote.)

12 Don’t be discouraged if you find that you need to make a few changes. This actually shows that you are reading the Bible with a right attitude and with humility, and that you are trying to be honest with yourself. a Remember, too, that putting on “the new personality” is an ongoing process (Col. 3:10). What will help you continue to put God’s Word into practice?

13. What suggestion might be helpful to you? (See also the images.)

13 One thing that will help you is to be modest and not try to apply everything you learn from your reading at once (Prov. 11:2). Here's a suggestion: Make a list of the things you need to improve, pick one or two to focus on first, and leave the rest for later. Where might you start?

ILLUSTRATION

Picture Series: 1. A sister writes a note while doing her personal study. 2. She posts the note on her bulletin board. The note reads, “This week, kindness, Proverbs 15:1.” Rather than trying to apply everything you learn in your Bible reading at once, it is better to be modest and focus on one or two points. (See paragraphs 13 and 14.)

14. What goals can you focus on first?

14 You might first focus on the goal that is easiest for you to achieve or the one that needs the most improvement. Once you know where you want to start, look for information in our publications, perhaps using the Watch Tower Publications Index or the Study Guide for Jehovah’s Witnesses. Pray to Jehovah, asking him to give you “both the desire and the strength to act.” —Phil. 2:13. Then put what you have learned into practice. Seeing the progress you are making will likely motivate you to pursue another goal. In fact, the changes you make will likely help you improve on the next items on your list.

LET THE WORD OF GOD WORK IN YOU

15. What difference is there between Jehovah’s servants and many who read the Bible? (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

15 Some people say they have read the Bible dozens of times. But do they really believe in it and have allowed its teachings to change their lives? Sadly, most do not. How different we are as Jehovah’s servants! Like first-century Christians, we accept the Bible “as it really is, as the word of God.” And so we strive to demonstrate that it works in our lives . —Read 1 Thessalonians 2:13.

16. What will help us put God’s Word into practice?

16 It is not always easy to read and apply God’s Word. We may not find time to read it. We may tend to read it so quickly that we take almost nothing away. Or we may become discouraged by the changes we need to make. Whatever obstacle you face, Jehovah will help you overcome it. Accept his help—don’t just hear God’s Word and forget about it. Instead, apply it. The more you read the Bible and apply it in your life, the happier you will be.—James 1:25.

WHAT WILL HELP US ACHIEVE NEXT?

Set aside time to read the Bible.

What will help us set aside time to read the Bible is to understand its importance, to be aware that it is not a suggestion, it is imperative that we do it.

Set aside time in your schedule, respect that time, and don't let anything else interfere with your reading time.

Meditate or think about what we read.

Try to slow down and read at a pace that allows you to meditate on what you are reading. If you find meditation difficult, you can try the following: Extend your study period to include time for meditation, read fewer verses, and spend the rest of the time thinking about what you read. Quantity does not equal quality.

Apply what we read.

Rather than trying to apply all of what you learn in your Bible reading at once, it is better to be modest and settle on one or two points. It is a gradual, not immediate, process of putting on the new personality and taking off the old.