Apply Yourself to the Field Ministry for the Week of March 15-21, 2027

Starting a Conversation

Publisher: Here is the inventory. The missing parts arrived at the end, so it’s updated now. Do you have a moment for me to ask you something personal?

Householder: Yes, go ahead. As long as it isn’t another problem with the order… We’ve already had plenty this week.

Publisher: No, it’s not that this time. I wanted to ask if I could leave two hours early one day to attend the Memorial. I’m bringing you the request with the date so you can review it in good time.

Householder: The Memorial? I don’t know what that is. Is it connected with your religion?

Publisher: Yes, I’m one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It’s a very important religious occasion to me, and I’d like to attend. That’s why I prefer to discuss it now, before you organize the work for that week.

Householder: You’re right to give me notice, but I can’t say yes yet. If an urgent repair comes in, I need people until closing time. And I don’t want the others to have to cover for you without more consideration.

Publisher: I understand. I wouldn’t want to leave them with unfinished work. Would it be possible to make up those hours at another time, if that works with the schedule? I can prepare my part and follow whatever procedure you direct me to follow.

Householder: I’d have to look into it. I’m not a believer, but I respect that it’s important to you. I just wouldn’t want it to seem that I’m giving you an advantage for religious reasons.

Publisher: Of course, the request should be considered like any other personal request. I don’t expect special treatment because of my beliefs. In fact, something I value about the Bible is what it teaches about not favoring some people over others.

Householder: Well, sometimes it seems the opposite. Some very religious people treat only those in their group well. That’s what I find hard to understand.

Publisher: I understand why that would put you off. It wouldn’t be fair to judge someone simply because they belong to a group. Peter said something that explains how God views people. May I read you those two sentences?

Householder: Yes, if it’s brief. I have to get back to the workshop shortly.

Publisher: Of course. Notice what Acts 10:34, 35 says about what God takes into account.

Publisher: Acts 10:34-35 — At this Peter began to speak, and he said: “Now I truly understand that God is not partial, but in every nation the man who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. Peter recognized that God does not favor anyone because of his nation. He looks at whether a person fears him and does what is right. That reminds me that I should not judge someone because of their background or beliefs.

Householder: Well, if that is put into practice, it sounds good to me. As for the time off, leave the request with me. First I have to check who will be there that afternoon.

Publisher: Here it is. Thanks for listening to me. Would it be all right if I ask you on Monday, after you’ve had a chance to see how the work will be arranged?

Householder: Yes, we’ll talk about it Monday. If there’s an alternative for those hours, we’ll consider it then.

Publisher: Would it help if I brought you a specific proposal? For example, I could ask whether a coworker would be willing to swap a shift with me, without taking anything for granted.

Householder: You can ask, but I don’t want anyone to feel obligated or for you to arrange a change before I authorize it.

Publisher: Of course. I would explain that they can feel completely free to say no. If it works for them, we would present the proposal to you so you can check whether it works.

Householder: That would be fine. The important thing is that we keep the workshop covered.

Publisher: All right. In the meantime, I’ll get ahead on what has been assigned to me. You don’t need to give me an answer now.

Following Up

Publisher: Hi, Elena. Is this a good time to talk for a moment? The other time I left you the invitation, but you were busy and we couldn’t talk much.

Householder: Yes, I actually wanted to ask you something. I showed the invitation to my sister in case she came with me. She asked what would happen, and I didn’t know how to explain it. I only remembered something about Jesus’ death.

Publisher: We can talk about that before you make arrangements. What would you like to know about the event?

Householder: Mainly, what will be discussed. My sister thinks it will be about remembering how Jesus suffered. And honestly, I don’t want to spend the afternoon listening to painful details either. We already have plenty of worries at home lately.

Publisher: I understand. If you expect to hear a description of his suffering, it’s understandable that you would have reservations. The Bible’s explanation focuses on why we remember his death and what it means for us.

Householder: That sounds different. But I still don’t understand why his death is remembered. Jesus also did good things while he was alive. I’m more interested in how he treated people.

Publisher: Of course, the way he treated people is important. Remembering his death does not mean failing to value his life. He himself said something that explains the reason for this occasion.

Householder: Did he ask that people remember him this way? I didn’t know that. I thought it was a custom that began afterward.

Publisher: Yes, and that is why it is worthwhile to see what he said. I’m going to read Luke 22:19. Notice how he connected what he was going to give for his disciples with the request that they remember him. There’s a passage that fits the subject well. Shall we read Luke 22:19?

Publisher: Luke 22:19 — 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.” Here Jesus explains that he was going to give his body for their benefit. So it is not simply a matter of remembering a painful moment, but of appreciating what he did for others.

Householder: I understand better now why you do it. Although I find it difficult to accept that his death benefits other people. I’m not going to tell you that I understand just because I heard it.

Publisher: You don’t have to tell me that you understand. Thank you for explaining how you feel. Is what you find difficult understanding why he had to die, or how it could relate to you?

Householder: More the second thing. It happened a very long time ago. I can recognize that it was generous, but going from that to thinking that it has something to do with me… I’m missing something.

Publisher: So your question is not only what happened, but why it should matter to you personally. That is a good question to keep in mind while listening to the Bible’s explanation of the Memorial.

Householder: And will I be able to follow the explanation without knowing much about the Bible? You mention Luke and find the passage right away. I would first have to look for where that book is.

Publisher: If you like, we can sit together and I’ll help you find the texts. And if something is unclear, we can discuss it afterward. You don’t have to resolve all your questions before deciding whether to come.

Householder: That would help. But I also don’t want you to think afterward that I agree with everything just because I attended. Sometimes I prefer to listen and think things over on my own.

Publisher: I won’t interpret your attendance as agreement with everything. You’ve explained how you see it, and I respect that. If you want to talk afterward, I’ll listen; there’s no need to force a conversation.

Householder: All right. I’ll mention it to my sister. I’ll tell her that the Bible will be used to explain why you remember Jesus’ death. But I still have to see whether she can come with me.

Publisher: All right. Would you rather let me know when you find out?

Householder: Yes, that would be better. If we come, I’ll let you know so we can meet there. And I’ll keep that question in mind: What does what Jesus did have to do with me?

Publisher: Keeping that question in mind could help you listen with a specific purpose. Would you like to write it down so that, when the explanation ends, you can consider whether you found an answer or what part you need clarified?

Householder: Yes, because sometimes I try to remember everything and end up losing track. It even happens when I go to the doctor: I leave remembering details, but I forget the very thing I wanted to ask.

Publisher: Then you don’t need to try to retain every detail. You could bring your question in writing and note just one idea that helps answer it, or something you didn’t understand. That way you will have one specific point to think about calmly, without expecting yourself to understand everything all at once.

Householder: That sounds practical. I’ll bring a small notebook and then decide what I need clarified before talking about it with you.

Publisher: Perfect, Elena. If you come, we can discuss it again after hearing the explanation. And thank you for telling me what really concerned you.

Following Up

Publisher: Did you find your jacket? There was another one the same color, and I wasn’t sure which was yours.

Householder: Yes, this is it. My brother has just texted me; he’ll be a little while. I wanted to ask you a couple of things before I leave, because I didn’t want to interrupt during the program.

Publisher: Of course, go ahead. We can stay here while he comes. What would you like to ask?

Householder: I noticed that you looked up the texts in your Bible. Why check them if the speaker was already reading them? I listened, but if I had looked from one page to another, I would have lost track.

Publisher: It helps me to see the words while I hear them. That way I can distinguish what the passage says from the explanation being given. But I understand what you mean: if you’re looking for a page, you may stop listening to the next idea.

Householder: That would have happened to me. Also, there were expressions I didn’t know. I understood some things, but I couldn’t explain them. Would I have to read the entire Bible first to understand an occasion like this properly?

Publisher: You don’t need to have read it all before starting to ask questions. We can take one of the questions that came to your mind and look for the answer together. If a word is unclear, we’ll stop. We don’t have to resolve everything tonight.

Householder: That would work better for me. Sometimes I don’t ask because I assume everyone already knows the answer. And I don’t want you to have to explain every point from the beginning.

Publisher: You can tell me what interests you and start there. Actually, I wanted to offer you a Bible course. We could spend some time reading and discussing what we learn, rather than trying to clarify everything quickly while standing here.

Householder: A course? That sounds rather serious. I’m interested in understanding what I heard, but I don’t want to commit to classes now. There are weeks when I can barely organize myself.

Publisher: I understand. I’m not asking you to decide now whether you will continue. If you like, another day we could try just one question and see what studying together would be like. Then you can freely tell me whether it is useful or whether you would rather stop.

Householder: I could try it once. But let me ask you something else: Why are you interested in continuing to talk with me after inviting me? I thought that once I attended, that was it.

Publisher: Because I’m interested in how you are and what questions you still have, not just whether you were able to come. A passage shows that interest in seeing people again. I’ll read Acts 15:36. Notice why Paul said he wanted to return. There’s a passage that fits the subject well. Shall we read Acts 15:36?

Publisher: Acts 15:36 — After some days, Paul said to Barnabas: “Let us now return and visit the brothers in every one of the cities where we proclaimed the word of Jehovah, to see how they are.” Paul wanted to know how the brothers to whom they had preached were doing. He had not forgotten them after leaving. That interest seems important to me: talking again allows us to listen to the person and learn what help they need.

Householder: Although it talks about brothers there, right? I’m only beginning to learn what you believe. I don’t yet see myself in the same situation as those people.

Publisher: Yes, you’re right; the text refers to the brothers. I didn’t mean that your situation was identical. I was referring to the interest Paul showed in them. In your case, I want to listen to you and help with your questions, without assuming what you think.

Householder: Good, because some explanations may not convince me right away. I need to think about them. If we try it, can I bring one of my own questions, even if it isn’t the one you had prepared?

Publisher: Of course. Tell me what it is and we’ll take it into account. If I don’t know the answer, I would rather tell you and look up the information than improvise. And if something doesn’t convince you, you can explain which part is difficult for you to understand.

Householder: Then I’d like to start with how to distinguish what the Bible really says from someone’s interpretation. That relates to what I asked you at first, when I saw you looking up the passages.

Publisher: Yes, we can start with that question and calmly read a passage, taking into account what comes before and after it. What day and time would suit you for us to meet?

Householder: I’ll be home Thursday afternoon. But not before seven, because I have to take my mother to an appointment and I don’t know when we’ll finish.

Publisher: How about Thursday at seven-thirty, at your home? We can set aside about twenty minutes for that first conversation.

Householder: Yes, that time works for me. That way I can arrive without watching the clock. Look, my brother is already outside.

Publisher: Before you go, would you like us to return to the passage we just read on Thursday? That way we can work with an example you already know instead of starting with something completely new.

Householder: Yes, although I still have a question. If an explanation seems reasonable, how do I know that it really fits the passage? Sometimes I hear an idea and like it, but afterward I wouldn’t know whether it was in what I read or whether the person explaining it added it.

Publisher: That difference deserves attention. We can separate two questions: What is the passage saying, and what can we learn from it? For example, you noticed that Paul spoke about visiting the brothers. That detail helps us determine whom he was referring to; we should not overlook it. Then we can think about how to imitate his interest in others, but without confusing that application with what happened. On Thursday we could do this exercise: you explain in your own words what you understand, and we look for which details in the text support that conclusion.

If something doesn’t fit, we’ll review it together without rushing to consider it settled.

Householder: That would help me understand why we reach a conclusion, not just hear it. I like starting with that example because I already noticed a detail that could be confusing. Then we’ll leave it for Thursday.

Publisher: I’ll write it down: Thursday, seven-thirty, at your home. I’ll be there. And we’ll start with your question.

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