Watchtower Study, How to Help Our Non-Witness Family Members, Week of April 6-12, 2026, Comments and Answers.

Watchtower Study, How to Help Our Non-Witness Family Members, April 6-12, 2026, Comments and Answers.

“Let us not neglect to do what is right” (GAL. 6:9).

1, 2. Why might our relationship with our family members be affected when we learn the truth?

Our relationships with family members can be strained when we learn the truth. Perhaps upon learning it, we feel the urge to share it with them, but they don't respond as we expected. Or, in our enthusiasm, we tell them the truth tactlessly, which offends them.

3. What will we see in this article?

In this article we will look at four ideas to help you rebuild relationships with your family members, or get along with them without giving up your Christian principles:

First, how compassion motivates us to show love and patience to our family members, even if they do not wish to accept the truth.

Second, how should we react if we are spoken to or treated negatively?

Third, how being patient and not losing hope that they will come to serve Jehovah can benefit them.

And fourth, how can we show them that we love them?

Compassion motivates us to help them

4. How did Jesus treat those who were not interested in his message?

Jesus was very patient and did not give up on those who were not interested in his message. He compared himself to a vineyard worker who would do everything in his power to make a fig tree bear fruit. He spent a lot of time helping the Jews cultivate their faith because he understood their situation and felt compassion for them.

5. Why did Jesus feel compassion for the Jews?

Jesus felt compassion for the Jews because he saw that they were “like sheep without a shepherd” and that the religious leaders had not helped them cultivate true faith in God. This led him, just before his death, to weep over Jerusalem, because he knew that their lack of faith would cause most of its inhabitants to lose their lives.

6. Why should we be patient with our non-Witness family members? (Galatians 6:9).

Because the empathy and compassion that Jesus showed inspire us to be patient and to provide spiritual support to our non-Witness family members. Furthermore, we know that it takes time for people to overcome certain prejudices and come to have faith in Jehovah.

Furthermore, we can say that many of us, at some point, were among those who “had no hope and were without God in the world.” However, someone showed us patience and helped us spiritually, and in the same way, we want to do the same for our families.

IF THEY SPEAK TO US OR TREAT US IN A NEGATIVE WAY

7. Why might it be that Jesus' half-brothers did not demonstrate faith in him?

It's possible that Jesus' half-brothers didn't demonstrate faith in him because they were influenced by the thinking of some Jews who refused to follow him. Some of them were afraid of being rejected by their community, and others, who had known Jesus since childhood, found it difficult to believe he was the Messiah.

8. What might lead our family members to speak to us or treat us negatively?

Our family members may speak to us or treat us negatively if, like Jesus, we were so busy with our ministry that we sometimes didn't even have time to eat, and our relatives thought we had become fanatics. Similarly, our family members may think we take our religion too seriously.

9. What can help our family members change their opinion about Jehovah’s Witnesses? (1 Peter 3:1, 2; see also the pictures.)

Letting our conduct speak for itself can help our family members change their opinion about Jehovah's Witnesses. If we treat them with kindness and compassion, it is likely that their way of thinking about Jehovah's Witnesses will change.

For example, a non-Witness husband might feel annoyed because his wife attends meetings or goes out preaching. To avoid this, the wife could make some adjustments to her schedule of spiritual activities so she can spend more time with her husband. She could go out preaching when he is not home or is busy. In that way, she could change how her husband views Jehovah's Witnesses.

ILLUSTRATION

Series of images: 1. A sister prepares a bag of food and a thermos of coffee for her husband, who is not a Witness, to take to work. 2. Later, the sister is preaching from house to house with another sister and shows a woman a Bible verse on her phone.

If we treat our spouse with kindness and gentleness, perhaps he or she will change their opinion about Jehovah's Witnesses. (See paragraph 9.)

10. How can we imitate Jesus' example when we are criticized?

We can imitate Jesus' example when we don't feel compelled to respond every time we are criticized. For example, when Jesus was accused of eating and drinking too much, he didn't become defensive, but instead encouraged people to look at his actions and draw their own conclusions.

Jesus demonstrated by his example that he lived a balanced life. Similarly, we don't need to defend ourselves against everything our family members say about Jehovah's Witnesses. It's better to show them through our actions that we live a happy and balanced life, and let them draw their own conclusions.

LET US BE PATIENT AND NOT LOSE HOPE

11. How did Jesus treat his brothers?

Jesus treated his brothers with great patience. It is very likely that when he performed his first miracle, they were in Cana, and yet they did not believe in him. Despite this, Jesus did not break off contact with them. In fact, about three years later, he appears in another account speaking kindly to them, as John 7:5-8 shows.

12. What helps us not to lose hope that some family members will take Jehovah's side?

What we have learned about Jehovah’s mercy helps us not to lose hope that some of our relatives will take his side. We now know that even after the great tribulation begins, people may still have the opportunity to take Jehovah’s side. In this way, when false religion is destroyed, our relatives may remember that we told them this would happen and decide to serve Jehovah.

Furthermore, if we do our best to help them when they are going through difficulties and they see that our love and kindness are sincere, they may show a greater willingness to learn about Jehovah.

LET'S SHOW THEM THAT WE LOVE THEM

13. Although we are busy serving Jehovah, what do we not want to do?

Although we are busy serving Jehovah, we do not want to give our family members the impression that we don't have time for them or that we no longer love them. On the contrary, we should do for them everything we would like them to do for us, as Matthew 7:12 tells us.

14, 15. What is one way to show our non-Witness family members that we love them? Give an example.

One way to show our non-Witness family members that we love them is by staying in touch, frequently telling them how we're doing, and showing them affection and interest. For example, if we're on vacation, we could send them a message with some nice photos. Writing them a loving message or giving them a small gift could also help improve our relationship with them.

For example, Anna, a sister from Armenia, says that when she became a Witness, her family was very worried and feared that their relationship with her would be affected and that she was jeopardizing their future. Anna would visit her family, tell them about her life, and invite them to her home to meet her friends. This helped them see that she was happy and put their minds at ease.

16. How did Jesus show his concern for his brother James? (See also the footnote.)

Jesus showed his affection for his brother James by appearing to him personally after his resurrection. In this way, he showed James that he was important to him, and this reunion likely convinced James that Jesus was the Messiah.

17. How can we apply what Romans 12:15 says? (See also the image.)

We can apply what Romans 12:15 says by showing our family members that we are there for them during the important moments in their lives, both good and bad. For example, if a relative has a baby, we can congratulate them and give them a gift to share in their joy. Or, if they lose a loved one, we can comfort them with kind words, send them a card, or offer our help. We can also write, call, and visit our family members regularly, especially when they are going through difficult times.

ILLUSTRATION

The sister in the previous pictures is taking a selfie with her husband and mother-in-law, who are not Jehovah's Witnesses. Her mother-in-law is in a wheelchair.

If we stand by our family members when they need us most, perhaps they will change their attitude toward us and our religion. (See paragraph 17.)

18. How can we imitate the disciple Andrew?

We can imitate the disciple Andrew by introducing our family members to the brothers and sisters in the congregation, occasionally inviting a relative to the Kingdom Hall or to a meal with our friends. In this way, they will see that we Witnesses are kind, decent, and ordinary people.

19. How should we treat our family members even if they do not fully understand some of our beliefs? (1 Peter 3:15).

We should treat our family members with kindness and respect, even if they don't fully understand some of our beliefs. For example, even if we don't participate with them in certain holidays or traditions, we can show our affection by visiting them, sharing meals, or giving them gifts on other occasions.

LET'S NOT GIVE UP

20. Why is it so encouraging to think about the example of Santiago?

It is very encouraging to consider the example of James because, although he did not follow Jesus during his ministry, he later became a faithful disciple. Furthermore, he learned from Jesus’ teachings and, under divine inspiration, wrote a letter with lessons similar to those in the Sermon on the Mount. This shows us that, in time, people can change and take their stand for Jehovah.

21. Why should we not give up on our non-Witness family members?

We must not give up on our non-Witness family members because, even if they don't change their attitude at first, every time we treat them with kindness, we are imitating the mercy of Jehovah and Jesus. In time, our expressions of love could motivate them to change how they view us, and perhaps they will remember the teachings we shared with them. If we continue to strive to help them, one day we may have the joy of seeing them accept the truth and worship Jehovah along with us.

WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?

How does compassion motivate us to help our non-Witness family members?

Compassion motivates us to help our non-Witness family members because, by imitating Jesus' patience and love, it impels us to strive to support them spiritually, even if at first they show no interest in our beliefs.

It reminds us that, just like us before, they may take time to overcome prejudice and develop faith in Jehovah. This empathy encourages us to treat them with patience and to keep doing what is right, trusting that our actions can help them in time.

Why should we be patient and not lose hope?

We must be patient and not lose hope because, just as Jesus was patient with his brothers even though at first they did not believe in him, we must also continue to show love and kindness to our family members.

Furthermore, Jehovah’s mercy teaches us that even after the great tribulation, people can have the opportunity to take his side. Our patience and sincere love can motivate them to learn about Jehovah and, in time, perhaps decide to serve him.

How can we show our non-Witness family members that we love them?

Maintaining contact with them:By frequently telling them how we are doing, sending them photos, affectionate messages or small gifts, so that they see that we think about them and care about them.

Showing them that they are important to us:We can show interest in our family members by being there for them in important moments, both good and difficult.

Pintroducing them to the brothers of the congregation:We can occasionally invite a family member to meet the brothers and sisters in the congregation, either at the Kingdom Hall or at a meal, so that they can see that we Witnesses are decent, normal people.

Treating them with kindness and respect:Even if we stop participating in certain traditions and festivities, we can visit them, share meals, or give them gifts on other occasions; in this way, we sincerely show that we love them and that they matter to us.