START A CONVERSATION
Time: 4 minutes
Setting: Informal witnessing during a break at work.
Goal: Look for a natural way to tell the person that we are Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Lesson: Naturalness.
Scripture: Philippians 4:6, 7.
Person: Finally, it’s Friday. This week at work has felt endless. Do you have any plans for the weekend?
Publisher: Tomorrow morning I’m meeting some friends from the congregation. After that, if nothing comes up, I’ll try to get some rest.
Person: From the congregation? Do you go to a church?
Publisher: Yes, something like that. I’m one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Person: Oh, I didn’t know. So you’re one of those people who knock on doors.
Publisher: Yes, we do that too. But we speak with people in many different places, as long as they want to, of course.
Person: That must be difficult. I wouldn’t know how to start talking about religion with someone I don’t know.
Publisher: To be honest, I try not to start in a forced way. I usually talk about things that concern all of us. For example, you’ve told me several times that work has been causing you a lot of anxiety lately.
Person: Yes. Even after I leave here, I keep thinking about the problems. But I don’t think talking about religion will change the workload.
Publisher: You’re right about that. The Bible doesn’t make bills, deadlines, or problems disappear. However, it contains advice that can help us cope with them. One piece of advice has helped me. May I show it to you?
Person: Yes, of course.
Publisher: It’s found at Philippians 4:6, 7. It says: “Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God; and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus.”
Person: That sounds good, but it’s easy to say, “Do not be anxious.” Actually doing it is another matter.
Publisher: Absolutely. The verse isn’t saying that we can switch off anxiety as if we were pressing a button. Notice that it recommends making our petitions known to God. That involves telling him in detail what worries us and asking him for specific help.
Person: But does prayer really change the problem?
Publisher: The problem may not change immediately. What can change is how we feel and how we deal with it. The verse promises “the peace of God.” That calm can help us think more clearly and avoid feeling that we have to carry everything alone.
Person: Well, when I talk to someone about what I’m going through, at least I get it off my chest.
Publisher: Exactly. And for me, prayer is much more than getting something off my chest. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I’m convinced that God listens and cares about what we go through. The verse also mentions giving thanks. Remembering something good, even on a difficult day, prevents worry from occupying our entire mind.
Person: I don’t usually pray. I’m not even sure that God listens.
Publisher: I understand. I’m not trying to convince you of everything during this break either. This is the first time we’ve talked about it. But if you ever feel like it, I can show you why we believe that God listens to prayers and what the Bible says about how to speak to him.
Person: All right, we can continue talking another day. We’d better go now; the break is over.
Publisher: All right. Thank you for listening.
MAKE RETURN VISITS
Time: 4 minutes
Setting: House to house. The person is caring for her mother, who has serious health problems.
Goal: Use a truth from Appendix A of the brochure Love People—Make Disciples.
Selected truth: God sees our suffering and wants to help us.
Lesson: Empathy.
Scripture: Isaiah 41:10.
Publisher: Hello, Marta. I’m glad I found you. Last time, you told me that you were waiting for your mother’s test results. How is she?
Person: Not very well. They’ve ordered more tests, and we still don’t know exactly what’s wrong with her. We’ve been like this for weeks.
Publisher: I’m so sorry. The uncertainty must be exhausting. And how are you coping?
Person: Honestly, not well. I hardly sleep, and I have to take care of everything. What bothers me most is when someone tells me that “everything happens for a reason.”
Publisher: I understand. I wouldn’t say anything like that to you either. Hearing that phrase when you’re suffering can make you feel that the other person doesn’t understand the situation.
Person: Exactly. Besides, if God sees what’s happening, why doesn’t he do something?
Publisher: That’s a very reasonable question. After our conversation, I was thinking about you, and I remembered a Bible truth that I find very comforting: God sees our suffering and wants to help us.
Person: Well, it doesn’t seem as if he’s helping us very much.
Publisher: I understand why you see it that way. May I show you a scripture? It doesn’t promise that all problems will disappear right now, but it explains one way in which God can help us.
Person: All right.
Publisher: Notice what Isaiah 41:10 says: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be anxious, for I am your God. I will fortify you, yes, I will help you, I will really hold on to you with my right hand of righteousness.” Which expression stands out to you the most?
Person: “I will fortify you.” Because right now, that’s exactly what I’m lacking.
Publisher: It’s understandable that you feel that way. You’ve been caring for your mother and worrying about her for a long time. Being tired doesn’t mean that you don’t love her or that you’re doing anything wrong.
Person: Sometimes I feel guilty for thinking that I can’t take any more.
Publisher: You shouldn’t feel guilty. We all have limits. This verse shows that God doesn’t expect us to be strong on our own. He says: “I will help you.” He can give us strength through prayer, his Word, or even through people who offer us support at the right time.
Person: I ask him for help, but my mother is still sick.
Publisher: And that must hurt a great deal. I don’t want to minimize what you’re going through. The verse doesn’t promise an immediate cure. What it does assure us is that God can sustain you while you go through this situation. The Bible also explains that he will permanently eliminate sickness, but perhaps we can discuss that promise another time.
Person: Yes, I can’t talk for much longer today. I have to pick up some medicine.
Publisher: Of course, don’t worry. I don’t want to keep you. If it’s all right with you, I can stop by next week, and in a few minutes we can consider why God allows suffering if he really cares about us.
Person: All right. If I’m home, we can talk.
Publisher: Perfect. I sincerely hope that the next few days will be a little easier. Give my regards to your mother.
Person: Thank you for remembering.
EXPLAIN YOUR BELIEFS—DEMONSTRATION
Time: 4 minutes
Setting: A boy rehearses with his mother the presentation he will give in class.
Title: Was It Designed? A Cell’s Ability to Specialize.
Goal: Base the presentation on the article about a cell’s ability to specialize.
Lesson: Highlight the Practical Value.
Scripture: Psalm 139:14.
Publisher: Mom, can I rehearse my science presentation with you? You can pretend to be the teacher and, when I finish, tell me whether it’s easy to understand.
Person: Of course. Imagine that you’re already standing in front of the class. Start whenever you’re ready.
Publisher: We all began life as a single tiny cell called a zygote. However, by the time we are born, our body has hundreds of billions of specialized cells. There are more than 200 different types. Some form bones; others form blood, muscles, the brain, or the lungs. How does each cell know what it has to do?
Person: Wait. That’s a very good question, but explain in simple terms what it means for a cell to specialize.
Publisher: I could say that, at first, the cells are virtually identical and contain a copy of the same DNA. It’s as if they all had the same instruction book. However, each cell uses the part of those instructions that it needs to perform a specific function.
Person: Much better. Continue.
Publisher: One week after conception, the cells already begin to divide into two groups. Some will form the embryo, and others will form the placenta and the tissues that help it develop. By the third week, the embryo’s cells are organized into three layers.
Person: And why are those layers important?
Publisher: Because each one will produce different parts of the body. One layer will form, among other things, the brain, the nervous system, and the skin. Another will produce the blood, bones, kidneys, and muscles. And the third will form internal organs such as the lungs, the bladder, and part of the digestive system.
Person: That’s easy to understand. But listing body parts isn’t enough. What impresses you the most?
Publisher: The coordination. As the baby develops, some cells travel to other areas. Others group together, fold, or form tiny tubes. Then those tubes lengthen, branch out, and connect to create the network of blood vessels. Everything has to happen in the right place and at the right time.
Person: Someone in your class might say: “That’s simply the result of evolution.” How would you answer?
Publisher: I wouldn’t say that science forces everyone to reach the same conclusion. I would explain that these processes are facts that we can observe. Then each person has to consider which explanation seems most reasonable. In my case, so much information and coordination lead me to believe that life was designed.
Person: Very good. That way, you express your belief without attacking anyone who thinks differently. Are you going to mention the Bible?
Publisher: Yes. I would say: “This conclusion also agrees with what Psalm 139:14 says: ‘I praise you because in an awe-inspiring way I am wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know this very well.’”
Person: And what if the teacher asks you what practical value there is in knowing all of this?
Publisher: I could answer that it isn’t just a scientific curiosity. Knowing how extraordinary our development is helps us to value life, take better care of our body, and not take everything it does for granted. It can also help us to be humble because very complex processes take place inside us that we don’t even consciously control.
Person: Give an everyday example.
Publisher: For example, when we get a wound, different cells work to stop the bleeding and repair the tissue. We don’t have to tell each cell what to do. Understanding this can motivate us to avoid harmful habits and to care for the body we have.
Person: That application is very good. Now try a brief conclusion.
Publisher: “From the time we were a single cell until we became a baby, millions of processes had to be coordinated with tremendous precision. To me, a cell’s ability to specialize not only shows how wonderful life is; it also points to the existence of a Designer. Learning about this process can move us to value and take better care of our own life and the lives of others.”
Person: Perfect. The information is clear, you explain your belief respectfully, and you show why the subject is useful.
Publisher: Thanks, Mom. Now I’m going to rehearse it again while keeping track of the time.
Discover more from Comentarios para la Reunión TJ
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
