Apply Yourself to the Field Ministry for the Week of November 23-29, 2026

Starting a Conversation

Publisher: Good morning. You can put the bags down first; there’s no rush. If this isn’t a good time, I can come by another time.

Householder: There we go, I’ll put them inside. Tell me. I still have a few minutes before I start preparing the meal.

Publisher: I wanted to share a brief Bible thought that encourages me: God loves us. Although I realize that when someone is going through difficulties, it can be hard to feel that way.

Householder: That’s true. My mother is sick, and these groceries are for her. I believe in God, but I also think that he sends us trials. Maybe we’re supposed to learn something.

Publisher: I’m sorry about your mother. Between the groceries and preparing the meal, you have quite a lot to take care of. Does thinking of it as a trial help you cope?

Householder: Sometimes. My mother always says that we have to accept whatever God sends. I’ve heard that since I was little. But other days I get angry. I don’t understand what she could learn by going through so much pain.

Publisher: Of course, you want to find some meaning in it, but it hurts you to see her suffer. And talking about an illness is not the same as living with it every day in the case of someone we love.

Householder: Exactly. That’s why it doesn’t help me much when people tell me to have more faith. I do have faith; it’s just that I’m tired.

Publisher: I wouldn’t want to add to your burden. Jesus said something that shows God’s love by what he did, not just by a statement. May I read it to you?

Householder: Yes, read it. But don’t promise me that my mother will get well if we have enough faith.

Publisher: No, I’m not going to promise you that. This passage talks about what God did for us and the hope he offers us. Notice John 3:16.

Publisher: John 3:16 — “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. Jesus connected that gift, his own life, with God’s love. So we can be sure that we matter to him. His purpose is not for us to suffer forever, but for us to have everlasting life.

Householder: That sounds nice. But I still don’t understand why he allows my mother to be this way if he loves us so much.

Publisher: That’s an important question. What we just read does not by itself explain why he allows suffering. I don’t want to give you a hasty answer. But it does give us a starting point: God has proved that he loves us.

Householder: I would have to think about it. Are you one of Jehovah’s Witnesses?

Publisher: Yes. And if you would like, we can talk about that question another day, without keeping you now when you have to prepare the meal.

Householder: You can come by, although I can’t promise that I’ll be able to talk. It depends on how my mother is.

Publisher: We’ll keep that in mind. And we can take it little by little, without trying to resolve all your questions in one conversation.

Householder: There’s something I find hard to fit together. Caring for my mother has taught me to be patient. Couldn’t that be the reason for this trial?

Publisher: I understand why you think that. Learning something while going through a difficulty does not necessarily mean that God sent it to teach us. For example, you are showing a great deal of love by caring for your mother, but surely you would rather be able to express that love without seeing her sick.

Householder: Of course, I would rather she were well. I’d like to talk about that difference, but it will have to be when I have some quiet time.

Publisher: Of course. If this isn’t a good time, we can leave it for another occasion. I hope you both get some rest this afternoon.

Starting a Conversation

Publisher: Excuse me, did that dryer finish, or is it still running? I don’t really understand what the screen is showing.

Householder: It still has a few minutes left. When it finishes, a zero appears. It confused me too the first time; I kept waiting even though the clothes were already dry.

Publisher: Oh, thank you. Then I’ll wait. I’m used to hanging clothes out to dry, but with all this rain I can’t get them dry.

Householder: I come here for the sheets. My apartment is small. Although my sister keeps insisting on explaining how I could hang them up at home. I’ve already told her I don’t have room, but she keeps going back to the same thing.

Publisher: Of course, you’re the one who has to move around in that apartment. Sometimes we offer a solution without really listening to what the problem is.

Householder: Exactly. I don’t mind her giving me advice. What bothers me is that she explains things as if I hadn’t thought of anything. I’m sure she means well, but in the end it wears me out.

Publisher: I understand the difference. I also find it hard to listen to advice when it sounds like a scolding. And I admit that sometimes I’ve been too quick to give advice before letting the other person finish.

Householder: It happens to all of us. The worst is when someone thinks that because something works for him, it has to work for everyone else. Every home is different.

Publisher: Yes, asking questions first can change the conversation quite a bit. There’s a Bible principle I try to remember when I talk about my beliefs: It’s not enough to have something to say; how I treat the person listening also matters.

Householder: Religion is like that too. Some people start by speaking kindly, but if you don’t think as they do, they seem to stop wanting to listen. That’s why I prefer not to get into discussions.

Publisher: I don’t want to argue with you either. That very advice talks about showing respect when explaining what we believe. If you like, I can read you the sentence and you can tell me what you think.

Householder: Well, if it’s brief, yes. We still have some time here.

Publisher: It’s at 1 Peter 3:15. Notice what it says about how we should speak when someone asks us to explain our hope.

Publisher: 1 Peter 3:15 — But sanctify the Christ as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense before everyone who demands of you a reason for the hope you have, but doing so with a mild temper and deep respect. That reminds me that explaining my beliefs does not give me permission to treat anyone as if she knows less than I do. Respect should not disappear just because the other person disagrees.

Householder: I like the idea. But reading it is one thing and doing it is another. There will also be religious people who read that and then want to have the last word every time.

Publisher: Yes, reading it does not mean that we are already doing it well. It helps me examine how I speak. If I don’t let you explain your point of view, I wouldn’t be applying it.

Householder: What religion are you? Are you one of Jehovah’s Witnesses?

Publisher: Yes, I’m one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I enjoy talking about the Bible, but I understand that not everyone wants to. We can talk about something without having to reach the same conclusion.

Householder: I don’t usually read the Bible. I wouldn’t say I’m not interested at all, but when people give me a lot to read, I end up leaving it in a drawer.

Publisher: Then I wouldn’t want to burden you with reading. I have a brief tract; if you like, you can look it over before deciding whether to take it. And if you’re not interested, that’s perfectly fine.

Householder: Let’s see… Yes, it’s short. I can take it, but I can’t promise I’ll read it right away. I have several things to take care of this week.

Publisher: Of course, you don’t have to promise me anything. I’ll leave it with you, and you can decide when to look at it. And thank you for explaining the dryer to me; now I know when I can use it.

Publisher: With so many things to take care of, I understand that now may not be the right time. And when you look at it, if something isn’t clear, we can discuss it if we happen to meet here again.

Householder: That would help me. Sometimes I come across religious expressions I don’t understand, and I feel embarrassed to ask. It seems as if I should already know them.

Publisher: You don’t have to know them. I also have questions when I read. For example, if an expression is unfamiliar to you, you can point it out and we can look at it together another day. And if I don’t know how to explain it, I’d rather admit it and look for the answer than tell you just anything.

Householder: That would encourage me to ask questions. I’ll take it, then, although it may take me a while to look at it. I prefer to be honest and not commit to something I may not do later.

Householder: Look, the zero just appeared. I’m going to take out my sheets and leave the dryer free for you.

Public Talk

Some brothers and sisters fondly remember the years when they could spend much time preaching and handle assignments that are now difficult for them. They still love Jehovah, but their strength has changed. If that is your situation, perhaps you have wondered: “Is what I do still valuable?” The answer is an emphatic yes.

Our older brothers and sisters are a treasure to the congregation. Not only because of all they did in the past, but also because of what they continue to contribute. Their love for Jehovah, experience, and endurance encourage us. And although they may not always realize it themselves, their service is still very valuable to him.

To understand why, let us first think about what Jehovah expects of us. He does not ask us to retain the strength of our youth. What matters is the heart with which we serve him. Notice the command found at Deuteronomy 6:5.

Deuteronomy 6:5 — You must love Jehovah your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your strength.

Jehovah wants us to love him with all that we are and with the strength we have. This helps us not to compare ourselves with others or with ourselves when we were younger. Circumstances change, but our desire to give him our best can remain the same.

One of the images in the article shows a sister preaching from house to house when she was young. Then we see her, now older, witnessing by telephone beside a younger sister. Her way of participating has changed. But has the quality of what she offers Jehovah changed? No. She continues to give him her best.

What a reassuring thought: if you gave Jehovah your best before and you do so now, in that sense you are giving him the same. You do not have to measure your love by the amount of activity you carried out years ago. You can be happy to serve him according to your present circumstances.

In addition, there is something that the years have allowed you to accumulate: experience. David and Joshua were able to speak with conviction about how Jehovah had cared for his servants and fulfilled his promises. Their words carried weight because for many years they had proved that they could trust him.

Something similar is true of our older brothers and sisters. Perhaps you remember an occasion when you saw how Jehovah blessed his people. Or you may be able to explain how continuing to serve him faithfully has benefited you. Such experiences can strengthen someone who is still learning to trust Jehovah. Do not think that they are unimportant.

And the rest of us can do something simple: spend time listening to them. Instead of merely greeting them, we could ask what has helped them to keep going in their service to Jehovah. There is no need to turn the conversation into an interview. It is enough to show genuine interest and give them the opportunity to share their memories.

We are also encouraged to see them participate in the meetings as much as their circumstances allow. Connie, an 83-year-old sister mentioned in the article, explains that the affection she receives at the Kingdom Hall helps her not to become discouraged. She too tries to show love for the brothers and sisters and to continue participating in spiritual activities.

That encouragement is mutual. Older brothers and sisters receive affection, but they also give it. A conversation, a comment, or a small expression of interest can do much good. So we should not think only about the help they need; we also want to gratefully recognize all that they contribute to us.

The case of Simeon reminds us how Jehovah views his older servants. That man had his approval, and Jehovah granted him the honor of seeing the newborn Jesus and prophesying about him. What Jehovah valued was not his physical strength, but his faith and devotion.

You too can be sure that Jehovah values your faithfulness. He does not overlook the love you have shown over the years or the love you continue to show now. To strengthen that assurance, let us read the beautiful guarantee found at Hebrews 6:10.

Hebrews 6:10 — For God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name by ministering and continuing to minister to the holy ones.

Jehovah remembers both the service we have already rendered and the service we continue to render. To him, our works express love for his name. So even if a limitation forces us to slow down, that does not erase years of faithfulness or take away the value of what we can do today.

Rather than focusing on what you can no longer do, think about the opportunities you still have. Perhaps you can share in some aspect of the ministry for short periods. Or you can encourage a brother or sister by telephone, write a warm note, or share an experience that strengthens faith.

These are not insignificant things. An expression of love can have a profound effect, especially when it comes from someone who has served Jehovah for many years. And this is not about imposing new burdens on yourself, but about finding ways to continue giving joyfully what your circumstances allow.

Dear older brothers and sisters, you still have much to contribute. Jehovah values the best you can give him, your experience strengthens us, and your faithful service is not forgotten. Let us listen to you, learn from you, and show you our affection. You are a true treasure to the congregation.