Apply Yourself to the Field Ministry for the Week of January 11-17, 2027

Starting a Conversation

Publisher: How was your visit to the museum? In the end, were you able to get in without waiting too long?

Householder: Yes, I bought my ticket beforehand. Look at these photos. I went for the photography exhibit, but I ended up enjoying the room with religious artifacts. There were things I didn’t even know how to use.

Publisher: Did the explanations next to them help you, or did you leave with even more questions?

Householder: A little of both. I kept thinking that there are so many ideas about God that it seems as if everyone imagines him in his own way. I’m interested in history, but religions confuse me.

Publisher: Sure, seeing so many different representations can leave you with that impression. Is what confuses you that people believe such different things, or that it’s difficult to know what to base your beliefs on?

Householder: The second one. If someone tells me that God is a certain way, I think: How do they know? It’s not enough for me that it’s a very old tradition.

Publisher: That’s true; the fact that an idea is old doesn’t prove that it’s true. Your comment reminds me of a Bible account: Paul noticed some religious objects in Athens and spoke with the people about what he had seen.

Householder: And what did he tell them? Because starting by telling them they were wrong wouldn’t have helped much.

Publisher: Exactly. First he acknowledged their devotion and mentioned something specific he had observed. I have the account on my phone. May I read you two verses? They relate to that question about knowing God.

Householder: Sure, if it’s only two, we have time before we go back.

Publisher: Yes, they’re brief. Notice how he used the inscription on an altar to introduce the subject. It’s at Acts 17:22, 23. There’s a passage that fits this situation well. Would you like to read Acts 17:22-23?

Publisher: Acts 17:22-23 — Paul now stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens, I see that in all things you seem to be more given to the fear of the deities than others are. For instance, while passing along and carefully observing your objects of veneration, I found even an altar on which had been inscribed ‘To an Unknown God.’ Therefore, what you are unknowingly worshipping, this I am declaring to you. It strikes me that he did not present God as someone who had to remain unknown. He was telling them about him so that they could know him. That is the Bible’s idea I wanted to share with you: We can know God.

Householder: I understand the idea. But Paul’s saying that he knew God doesn’t prove that he was right.

Publisher: That’s true; these two verses don’t settle the whole issue. They show how he introduced the subject. To evaluate what he said, we would have to examine his explanation, not accept it simply because he spoke confidently.

Householder: I would do that. I like looking at the reasons, even if I don’t reach the same conclusion afterward.

Publisher: Of course. If you feel like it another day, we can continue reading what Paul explained to them and discuss it. You can tell me what you think.

Householder: Maybe during another break. Now let’s go in; it’s getting late.

Householder: I’d be interested, although I don’t know much about the Bible. Sometimes I find it difficult to understand an ancient text because I don’t know what was happening or whom it was addressed to.

Publisher: That makes a big difference. For example, a photo of an object in the museum lets you see what it looks like, but it may not explain what it was used for. With an account, too, it helps to look at the context: who is speaking, to whom, and why.

Householder: Yes, I’d rather read it that way, without taking one sentence out of context to justify an idea we already have.

Publisher: Then we can start by putting the conversation in context and afterward see how Paul develops his explanation. We’ll read it calmly and discuss any questions that come up for you.

Publisher: Let’s do that. And afterward you can show me the photos of the exhibit you went to see.

Following Up

Publisher: Did the dryer at the back work for you in the end? Last time you took your towels home still damp.

Householder: Yes, but today I chose another one, just in case. I already have plenty of clothes waiting at home. If I have to hang them out again, I’ll never finish.

Publisher: Well, hopefully everything comes out dry today. I kept thinking about what you asked me while we were folding clothes: How can a book written so long ago be useful to us now?

Householder: Yes, because when you mentioned studying the Bible, I thought you meant learning names and dates. I’m not saying that’s bad, but right now I need practical things, not more information to memorize.

Publisher: I understand the difference. A Bible course can start precisely with a question that interests you and help you see how the answer is useful. It is not simply a matter of accumulating facts. What would you consider practical help?

Householder: For example, not ending up arguing with my brother every time we organize something. Yesterday we divided up some tasks and ended up reproaching each other for things from last month. Although I don’t want to tell you the whole story either.

Publisher: You don’t need to tell me the details. That helps me understand your question better: You want to know whether what you learn could help you in real situations, like that one, and not remain merely theoretical.

Householder: Exactly. And it wouldn’t help me if someone told me that I always have to agree with him. Sometimes there are things I need to say, even if they upset him.

Publisher: Of course, leaving a problem unresolved is not the same as solving it. There is a passage that explains what the Bible is useful for and helps us assess what you could expect from a course. May I read it to you?

Householder: Yes, the machine still has a few minutes left.

Publisher: Notice that it speaks about learning, but also about correcting things and being prepared to act. I’ll read 2 Timothy 3:16, 17. There’s a passage that fits this situation well. Would you like to read 2 Timothy 3:16-17?

Publisher: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 — All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work. That’s why I told you it is not limited to learning stories. Its purpose includes helping us act properly and correct whatever needs correcting. That is the usefulness we would look for when studying one of your questions.

Householder: But it says that it comes from God. You’re convinced; I’m not so sure. Reading that a book is useful does not by itself prove that it will help me.

Publisher: That’s true; it doesn’t resolve all your doubts. I don’t expect you to be convinced just because we read a passage. We can examine what it teaches, understand its reasons, and see how it relates to something that concerns you.

Householder: That seems more reasonable to me. Although, regarding my brother, the problem is that I can try to speak properly and he may still answer me rudely.

Publisher: Yes, you can’t decide how he will respond. It would be unrealistic to promise you that. But we could look for what would help you decide how to respond, without assuming that all the blame is yours.

Householder: Because that impression would definitely put me off. Although I admit that yesterday I started with a reproach before he had said anything.

Publisher: Then you have already identified something specific that you would like to change. When the passage speaks about setting things straight, we can also think about examining our own way of acting, not merely finding something the other person should correct.

Householder: And what would looking at it in a course be like? Would I have to start with the whole history of the Bible before getting to that?

Publisher: We can start with your question. We would look for related Bible information, read the passages, and discuss how to apply them. You could say what you understand, what does not convince you, or what you find difficult to put into practice.

Householder: I could try it once. But I’d rather start with how to say something that bothers me without turning it into an argument.

Publisher: Then I’ll prepare that question. Would you like us to look at it when we happen to be here on Saturday? If you’re in a hurry that day, we can find another time.

Householder: Saturday works for me. We can look at it while we wait for the clothes, and afterward I’ll decide whether I want to continue.

Publisher: All right. We’ll start with that, and you can tell me what you think.

Explaining Your Beliefs

Publisher: Did they say whether the next practice will also finish later? I have to organize myself to come pick up the younger one.

Householder: Yes, everyone is leaving at this time this week. By the way, I wanted to ask you something. My sister and I were talking about religions, and yours came up. Is it true that when someone stops being one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, you no longer want anything to do with him?

Publisher: You can ask me, of course. Were you talking about someone who simply stops attending meetings, or someone who has been removed from the congregation? I ask because those are not the same situation.

Householder: Well, I couldn’t say. I thought they were the same: if someone no longer participates, he is out and the others stop associating with him. That seemed harsh to me.

Publisher: I understand that you’re concerned about how such a person is treated. If someone stops attending or preaching, we do not remove him from the congregation for that reason. On the contrary, we take the initiative to contact him, assure him that we love him, and try to help him draw close to God.

Householder: Then in what case is someone removed? Because we can all do something wrong. I wouldn’t want to belong to a place where one mistake meant losing my friends.

Publisher: Someone is not automatically removed for committing a serious sin. The elders, who care for the congregation spiritually, first try to help him change. He is removed if, despite repeated efforts to help him, he persists in that conduct and does not repent.

Householder: But that help can be given in many ways. If they sit him in front of several people to reproach him for what he has done, I don’t know how much that would help him.

Publisher: You’re right that the way it is done matters greatly. The Bible does not give them permission to humiliate him. Notice the attitude Paul asked of those who were to help someone who had taken a false step. I’ll read Galatians 6:1. There’s a passage that fits this situation well. Would you like to read Galatians 6:1?

Publisher: Galatians 6:1 — Brothers, even if a man takes a false step before he is aware of it, you who have spiritual qualifications try to readjust such a man in a spirit of mildness. But keep an eye on yourself, for fear you too may be tempted. That mildness is essential. In addition, the one helping must keep an eye on himself and not feel superior. The elders try to reach the person’s heart with love and kindness so that he recognizes his error and changes.

Householder: That sounds different from what I imagined. But my main question remains: If he is eventually removed, do you stop associating with him or not?

Publisher: Yes, we stop socializing with that person. I don’t want to evade that part of your question. The reason is found in an instruction Paul gave to the Christians in Corinth. Notice that it refers to someone who was considered a brother and practiced such conduct. It says at 1 Corinthians 5:11. There’s a passage that fits this situation well. Would you like to read 1 Corinthians 5:11?

Publisher: 1 Corinthians 5:11 — But now I am writing you to stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. That is why we no longer associate socially with him. This upholds God’s moral standards and protects the congregation from a harmful influence. It can also help the person realize that he needs to change.

Householder: I understand where you get that from, although I still think it must hurt terribly. And I find it difficult to see how you can stop associating with someone and say that you love him.

Publisher: I wouldn’t tell you that it doesn’t hurt. But stopping social association does not mean despising him or completely ignoring him. He is still welcome at our meetings, where those present can greet him. In addition, he can ask the elders for spiritual help. They will kindly guide him using the Bible.

Householder: What if he has a wife and children who are still Witnesses? They are not to blame for what he did. Does the relationship at home change too?

Publisher: Family ties remain. If he lives with his wife and young children, the normal relationship between them continues, and they continue treating one another with affection. Although they no longer worship God together, that does not eliminate their responsibilities or their family bonds.

Householder: I didn’t know about that distinction. And can he return to the congregation? I wonder whether, after something like that, the others would always look at him with suspicion.

Publisher: He can return if he abandons his wrong conduct and shows that he sincerely wants to follow Bible standards. And the Bible explains how to receive him. To answer your concern, I’ll read what Paul asked when a man in Corinth changed his conduct. It is at 2 Corinthians 2:6-8. There’s a passage that fits this situation well. Would you like to read 2 Corinthians 2:6-8?

Publisher: 2 Corinthians 2:6-8 — This rebuke given by the majority is sufficient for such a man; now you should instead kindly forgive and comfort him, so that he may not be overwhelmed by excessive sadness. I therefore exhort you to confirm your love for him. The instruction is to forgive him, comfort him, and assure him of our love. We should not treat him as if he could never leave what happened behind. We want to help him move forward and regain his friendship with Jehovah.

Householder: I can’t say that I see everything the same way you do. But I do see that I had mixed up different situations. Stopping attendance is not the same as continuing to practice something serious without wanting to change.

Publisher: Exactly. And in any of those situations, we strive to treat the person with love and respect. If you’re interested, another day we can look at the article that answers your question specifically and discuss what you still find difficult.

Householder: Yes, I’d rather read it calmly. Look, the kids are already coming out. When we see each other again, I’ll tell you what questions I still have.

More posts for this week

Week of January 11–17, 2027

Treasures Treasures From God’s Word for the Week of January 11-17, 2027 View post →

Gems Spiritual Gems for the Week of January 11-17, 2027 View post →

Living as Christians Living as Christians for the week of January 11-17, 2027 View post →

Book Study Congregation Bible Study for the Week of January 11-17, 2027 View post →

The Watchtower Watchtower Study for the Week of January 11-17, 2027 View post →