Apply Yourself to the Field Ministry for the Week of March 1-7, 2027

Starting a Conversation

Publisher: Good morning. Is the paint still wet? I’ll stay over here so I don’t brush against it.

Householder: Yes, I just finished. Go ahead, but I can’t stay long.

Publisher: I’ll be brief. I wanted to offer you a Bible course. It helps people learn what the Bible says about everyday life—for example, how to speak when we have differences with someone.

Householder: Well, it also depends on the other person. If someone speaks rudely to me, I find it very hard to keep quiet.

Publisher: Yes, it’s difficult to respond well in the moment. It’s not a matter of keeping quiet. Notice this brief counsel at Colossians 4:6.

Publisher: Colossians 4:6 — Let your words always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should answer each person. We can express that something bothers us, but we need to be careful about how we say it. We can’t control the other person’s response, but we can control our own words. Would you be interested in learning what the course is like?

Householder: Not right now. I already have plenty of things to take care of, and I don’t want to make a commitment.

Publisher: I understand. I also wanted to leave you this invitation to the Memorial of Jesus’ death. You can look at it later, when you’re finished, and decide whether you would like to attend.

Householder: I’ll take the invitation. I’ll look at it, although I can’t promise I’ll go.

Publisher: Of course. Have a nice day.

Starting a Conversation

Publisher: Did you understand whether there’s class on Saturday? There’s a mark on the calendar, but I don’t see any explanation.

Householder: Yes, there is a class. I asked at the front desk because I wasn’t sure either. What changes is the time—it starts half an hour later.

Publisher: I’m glad I asked you. I’m writing down a few things to get organized. By the way, I wanted to invite you to a celebration that is very important to me—the Memorial of Jesus’ death.

Householder: Is it something related to your religion? We’ve never talked about that. I have my own beliefs, although lately I haven’t been going to church very often.

Publisher: Yes, I’m one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Since we see each other often, I wanted to give you the invitation personally. But you don’t have to explain to me how often you go to church. I wasn’t asking in order to judge your beliefs.

Householder: It’s just that sometimes these conversations end with one person being right and the other being wrong. And I don’t feel like arguing, especially while we’re waiting for the children.

Publisher: I don’t want us to end up arguing either. An invitation shouldn’t make you feel that you have to defend yourself. There is Bible counsel that reminds me how I should speak about what I believe. Notice what 1 Peter 3:15 says. This passage is very appropriate. Would you like us to read 1 Peter 3:15?

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 counsel asks me to explain my hope respectfully, not to prove that I know more than someone else. So if anything I say makes you uncomfortable or is unclear, you can tell me.

Householder: I think speaking respectfully is good. But it also matters how we react when the other person disagrees.

Publisher: Yes, that’s where it shows. It wouldn’t be respectful to listen to you only while you agree with me. You can look at the invitation and decide for yourself. Here it is, so you can check the details at your leisure.

Householder: I’ll take it, but I can’t promise I’ll go. First I have to see how we can arrange things at home. And do you study the Bible a lot?

Publisher: I try to study it regularly, and I still have a lot to learn. We also offer a Bible course. If you’re ever interested, we could see what it is like, starting with a question you have about the Bible.

Householder: A course? That already sounds like quite a commitment. Besides, I barely know the Bible; I’d probably get lost right away.

Publisher: We can start with something simple and stop to discuss anything that isn’t clear. I don’t expect you to know the answers beforehand. And seeing what it is like doesn’t mean you have to decide now whether you want to continue.

Householder: For now I’d rather look at the invitation. I’ll leave the course for later; I have too many things to take care of.

Publisher: I understand; with so many things to take care of, you don’t want to add another one. And thank you for telling me what you think. Sometimes we offer something with good intentions, but we need to listen to know what would be helpful to the other person.

Householder: I appreciate that. Out of curiosity, what if, during a conversation about the Bible, I asked you a question that you didn’t know how to answer either?

Publisher: I’d tell you that I don’t know. For example, if you asked me why a passage says something and I didn’t understand it well, I’d rather research it than give you an uncertain explanation.

Householder: That gives me confidence. Well, I’ll keep the invitation and read it calmly at home.

Publisher: Of course, we’ll leave the course aside. If a question comes up while you’re reading the invitation, we can talk another day. Look, they’re coming out now; I’m going to get the backpack—I left it by the entrance.

Starting a Conversation

Householder: May I stay here in the shade? I’m meeting a friend, but she hasn’t arrived yet. It’s too hot over there.

Publisher: Of course. You’re not in the way. There’s a little more shade on this side.

Householder: Thanks. And what information do you have? I always see the cart when I pass by, but I’ve never stopped before.

Publisher: Information about the Bible. We also explain what our Bible courses are like, and we’re inviting people to a special meeting—the Memorial of Jesus’ death.

Householder: Are you Jehovah’s Witnesses? I’m not a Christian. I’ve heard of Jesus, of course, but my family has other beliefs. I’m not sure I would understand that meeting.

Publisher: Yes, we are Jehovah’s Witnesses. Thank you for telling me; that way I won’t assume that you are familiar with the way we express things. To commemorate means to remember an important event. At this meeting, we remember Jesus’ death and explain why it is important to us.

Householder: But why remember his death and not just what he taught? That’s what I don’t understand.

Publisher: It’s true that his teachings are important. But Jesus also wanted his followers to remember what he was going to do for them by giving his life. The Bible preserves the account of that evening meal. May I read that part to you? It’s brief.

Householder: Yes, while I wait for my friend. I’ve never read that account.

Publisher: It’s at Luke 22:19, 20. Notice what Jesus asked them to do to remember him.

Publisher: Luke 22:19-20 — Also, he took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: “This means my body, which is to be given in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” Also, he did the same with the cup after they had the evening meal, saying: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf. That is where the Memorial comes from: Jesus asked that his followers remember him. The bread and the cup had meaning; they represented his body and his blood. We remember not only how he died, but that he gave his life for the benefit of others.

Householder: Now I understand the name better. Although the covenant part seems strange to me. There are many things there that I would need explained.

Publisher: Of course. A covenant is an agreement, but understanding that particular covenant requires more explanation. There’s no need to resolve everything at once. In a Bible course, we can stop to discuss words and ideas that are new to you.

Householder: And what would it be like? I would be starting from zero. Besides, asking questions doesn’t mean that I agree with everything.

Publisher: Of course. We can read part of the Bible, discuss what it means, and listen to your questions. We don’t expect you to already know about the subject. For example, we could begin with who Jesus was before discussing more difficult expressions.

Householder: That would make more sense to me. But for now I’d rather learn about the meeting; I don’t want to start a course.

Publisher: That’s fine. They are two different things; you don’t have to start a course to learn about the Memorial. If you’d like, I can show you when and where it will be held, and you can decide.

Householder: Yes, I’ll write it down. I’ll also mention it to my friend, although I still don’t know whether we’ll go.

Following Up

Householder: Hi. I’ve finished the call; now I can give you my attention. I remember you from the invitation you left me. I have it somewhere over there, beside the calendar, although I still don’t know whether I’ll be able to go.

Publisher: Yes, that’s me. If you have any questions about the invitation, we can discuss them. Do you have a few minutes to talk, or do you need to get back to work?

Householder: I have a little time. I need a break from the calls. I’ve spent all morning trying to explain a problem, and everyone keeps offering me a different solution without letting me finish.

Publisher: So they’re suggesting solutions without really understanding what happened?

Householder: Exactly. Sometimes the solution works for another case, but not mine. It happens outside work too. You say you’re worried, and immediately someone tells you what he would do.

Publisher: And perhaps you haven’t even been able to explain what is worrying you yet. Is that what bothers you most—that they assume they already understand?

Householder: Yes. Look, I accepted the invitation because I thought it would be interesting to learn what you do. But I have that reservation about religion: people telling me how I should live before knowing anything about me.

Publisher: I understand your reservation. Accepting an invitation doesn’t mean that you want to receive personal advice. I wouldn’t want this visit to turn into the same thing that happened to you this morning.

Householder: I’m not saying all advice is bad. Sometimes I need advice. But first I’d like to be able to explain things, even if in the end the other person doesn’t agree with me.

Publisher: That distinction you made is important: listening doesn’t require agreeing, but it does require understanding before responding. There’s a Bible proverb that deals specifically with that. Would you like me to read it?

Householder: Yes, read it. I’m interested in how it puts it.

Publisher: Notice what Proverbs 18:13 says about answering before listening. This passage is very appropriate. Would you like us to read Proverbs 18:13?

Publisher: Proverbs 18:13 — When anyone replies to a matter before he hears the facts, It is foolish and humiliating. This reminds me that even if I have good intentions, I can make a mistake by responding too quickly. In your case, before offering a suggestion, I would need to listen to what you still haven’t been allowed to explain.

Householder: It’s quite direct. Although reading it is one thing and doing it is another. I interrupt too. It happens with my brother: he starts telling me something, and I think I already know how it ends.

Publisher: Of course, knowing someone can make us think we already know what he is going to say. This counsel can help us both at work and at home. What would help you let him finish?

Householder: Maybe remembering how bad I felt today. And asking him something before giving my opinion. Sometimes it turns out that he didn’t want a solution—he just wanted to tell me what had happened.

Publisher: That would help you know what he needs. I actually wanted to offer you a Bible course. We could read a passage, see what it teaches, and discuss your questions without assuming what you think.

Householder: A course? That already sounds like having to set aside time every week. Right now I don’t want to make a commitment. Besides, there would probably be things I wouldn’t agree with.

Publisher: I’m not asking you to decide now. We could begin with a brief conversation so you can see what it would be like. And you can express your doubts; you don’t have to give the answer you think I expect.

Householder: I could try a brief conversation. But I’d prefer to continue with this subject about listening. I don’t want to start with something completely different when this is still giving me something to think about.

Publisher: We can continue with this same passage and think about how to apply it in a difficult conversation. Would you prefer that we arrange a time, or that I ask you when I come by again?

Householder: Ask me when you come back. My schedule changes quite a bit. If I can that day, we’ll continue. For now, I’m going to try not to jump to conclusions when my brother calls me this afternoon.

Publisher: Before I go, about your brother: Is there a situation in which you find it especially difficult to listen to him? I’m asking because it may not be only a matter of jumping to conclusions about what he is going to say.

Householder: Yes, when he calls while I’m busy. I want to give him my attention, but I’m watching the time and end up rushing him. I can’t always drop what I’m doing either. So would it be better to tell him that I can’t talk?

Publisher: Telling him kindly may be more considerate than listening to him halfheartedly. For example: “I want to understand what’s happening to you, but I have to finish a task now. Is it urgent, or can we talk later?” That way, you let him explain whether he needs your attention at that moment, without assuming that he does. Listening attentively doesn’t mean being available all the time.

Householder: That seems more realistic. I can be honest without making him feel like a nuisance. I’d like us to continue next time by seeing how to apply that counsel in situations like these.

Publisher: All right, when I come back I’ll ask whether it’s a good time for you. I’ll let you get some rest before your next call.

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