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1) START CONVERSATIONS

Duration: 4 minutes
Setting: House-to-house ministry
Goal: Offer a Bible study
Lesson: Make it clear that what you teach comes from the Bible

Role-play

Elena (Publisher): Good morning. We are making very brief visits to share a thought from the Bible that is helping many people in these difficult times. I will hardly take any of your time.

Martha (Householder): Okay, go ahead.

Elena (Publisher): Thank you. Today many people try to find answers in many places: on the internet, in other people’s opinions, or in what each person feels. But an important question is: where can we find truly reliable guidance for life?

Martha (Householder): Yeah… that’s not easy. Today everyone has an opinion about everything.

Elena (Publisher): Exactly, and that’s why I really like not to base things on personal ideas, but on what the Bible itself says. Please look at this text. At 2 Timothy 3:16 it says: “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching.”
I like this verse because it makes it clear that the Bible is not just an ancient book, but something useful, practical, capable of teaching us.

Martha (Householder): Yes, but often the problem is understanding it.

Elena (Publisher): And you’re absolutely right. Many people feel exactly the same way. In fact, some tell me: “I’d like to read the Bible, but I don’t know where to start” or “I read it, but I don’t understand it well.” Has that ever happened to you?

Martha (Householder): Well yes, actually. I’ve tried to read some parts, but then I don’t know how to connect one thing with another.

Elena (Publisher): That’s very common. That’s precisely why we offer a very simple Bible study. What’s nice is that it doesn’t consist of teaching the person human opinions or strange doctrines, but of looking directly at what the Bible teaches, step by step, with clear questions and answers based on Bible texts.

Martha (Householder): And what would that study be like?

Elena (Publisher): It’s quite practical. It covers topics that really interest people. For example: why there is so much suffering, whether God cares about us, what hope there is for the future, how to have a happier family, or how to find inner peace. And in each topic, Bible texts are used so that the person doesn’t say “someone told me that,” but “I saw that myself in the Bible.”

Martha (Householder): Well, that does seem clearer.

Elena (Publisher): Yes, that’s the idea. For faith to have a solid foundation. Look, Jesus said something very important at John 17:3: “This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.”
Notice that Jesus linked everlasting life with knowing God. So understanding the Bible is not just a curiosity; it can change a person’s life.

Martha (Householder): Yeah, but I don’t know if I’d have time for something like that.

Elena (Publisher): And I understand that too. Today we’re all in a hurry. But that’s precisely why the study adapts to the person. It can be done calmly, at your own pace, FREE and without any commitment. You could even just see a first lesson or a small sample, and then decide if you’re interested in continuing.

Martha (Householder): So I wouldn’t have to commit from the beginning?

Elena (Publisher): No, not at all. The idea is not to pressure, but to help. Sometimes just one Bible conversation already encourages the person a lot. And if you later see that it benefits you, you can continue. If not, that’s fine.

Martha (Householder): That seems more reasonable to me.

Elena (Publisher): I’m glad. Because honestly, when a person discovers for themselves what the Bible teaches, their faith changes. It’s no longer based on what others say, but on God’s own Word.

Martha (Householder): Yes, that does interest me more.

Elena (Publisher): If you’d like, there’s no need to decide anything today. I can come back another day and show you in a few minutes what a Bible lesson would be like. That way you can see for yourself if it’s useful to you.

Martha (Householder): Yes, that’s better.

Elena (Publisher): Perfect. Then I’ll do that. And when I come back, instead of me talking a lot, we’ll open the Bible and look together at the answer to a specific current question. That way you can see for yourself that what we teach comes from the Bible.

Martha (Householder): Very well, okay.

Elena (Publisher): Thank you very much for your time.

2) START CONVERSATIONS

Duration: 3 minutes
Setting: House-to-house ministry
Goal: Use one of the truths from Appendix A of the brochure A Labor of Love
Lesson: Show empathy
Text: Isaiah 41:10

Role-play

Elena (Publisher): Good morning. We’re sharing a very brief thought from the Bible designed especially for people who are going through difficult times. If it’s not a good time, I really won’t keep you.

Martha (Householder): Well… you can tell me.

Elena (Publisher): Thank you. Many times, when talking with people, I notice that on the outside they try to keep going with everything, but on the inside they carry a lot of weight. Health problems, family worries, anxiety, loneliness… and it’s not always easy to talk about that.

Martha (Householder): Yes, the truth is that nowadays almost everyone is carrying something, me too of course.

Elena (Publisher): Exactly. And what’s sad is that sometimes the person feels that no one fully understands what they’re going through. That’s why I really like a very simple truth from the Bible: God sees your suffering and wants to help you.

Martha (Householder): It sounds nice… although sometimes, when you’re going through a hard time, you don’t feel that God is near.

Elena (Publisher): I understand. When a person is distressed, tired, or discouraged, they don’t always feel comfort right away. But look at what God says at Isaiah 41:10: “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.”

Martha (Householder): It’s a very beautiful text.

Elena (Publisher): Yes, because it doesn’t sound cold or distant. It doesn’t simply say “hang in there” or “it will pass.” It says something much closer: “I will fortify you,” “I will help you,” “I will hold on to you.” It’s as if God were telling the person: “I know you’re suffering, I see it, and I’m not going to leave you alone.”

Martha (Householder): The truth is, that’s quite comforting.

Elena (Publisher): I’m glad. And I’ll tell you something honestly: I don’t know exactly what you’re going through, but I do know that God understands it better than anyone. The Bible shows that he is not indifferent to human pain.

Martha (Householder): That gives you something to think about.

Elena (Publisher): Yes. And besides, he not only promises help to endure, but also explains why we suffer and what he will soon do to end that suffering. That message has given a lot of peace to many people.

Martha (Householder): Well, I’d like to know more about that.

Elena (Publisher): With pleasure. If you’d like, another day I can come back and show you another brief text that explains why we can be sure that God truly wants to help people.

Martha (Householder): Yes, you can come back another day and we’ll look at it.

Elena (Publisher): Perfect. Well, thank you very much for listening to me. And I truly hope that text gives you today a little of the strength you need.

3) MAKE RETURN VISITS

Duration: 5 minutes
Setting: House-to-house ministry
Goal: Offer a Bible study to a person who attended the Memorial
Lesson: Try something different

Role-play

Elena (Publisher): Hello, Martha. How nice to see you again. I just wanted to greet you and thank you for attending the Memorial. I was very happy when I saw you there. What did you think?

Martha (Householder): Well honestly, I liked it quite a bit. It was a very respectful meeting and simpler than I imagined. I left with a good impression.

Elena (Publisher): I’m very glad. Was there anything that especially caught your attention?

Martha (Householder): Yes. I liked that everything was explained with the Bible and that there was so much talk about Jesus’ sacrifice. But I’ll also tell you the truth: I left with several questions and with the feeling that I’m still missing many pieces to understand it all well.

Elena (Publisher): And that’s completely normal. Many people feel exactly that after attending for the first time. They like what they hear, but they realize they’d like to understand the Bible better.

Martha (Householder): Yes, exactly. Although I’ll also tell you that I don’t know if I’m ready right now to start a Bible study. It sounds like something serious, long… I don’t know.

Elena (Publisher): I really appreciate you telling me so clearly. And I’m not going to pressure you. In fact, maybe the best thing isn’t to talk about “starting a study” just like that, all at once. Sometimes when people hear that expression they imagine long classes, commitments, or something very formal.

Martha (Householder): Yes, that’s exactly what I thought.

Elena (Publisher): Of course, and that’s why I wanted to try to explain it to you in a different way. Rather than thinking about “a study” in general, think of something much simpler: sitting down for a while to analyze a specific question from the Bible. For example: why did Jesus die?, how does his sacrifice benefit me?, why does God allow suffering?, what real hope does the Bible give for the future?

Martha (Householder): That sounds quite a bit more practical, actually.

Elena (Publisher): Yes, because that’s the idea. Not to fill the person with information, but to help them find clear answers in the Bible. Look, Jesus said at John 17:3: “This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” So knowing Jehovah and Jesus better is not something secondary. It’s essential.

Martha (Householder): Yes, that text is very beautiful.

Elena (Publisher): Besides, the Bible study is designed precisely for people who are starting from scratch or who want to better understand what they’ve heard. You don’t need to know much about the Bible or have experience. It goes step by step, with simple questions, clear texts, and in a very visual way.

Martha (Householder): And how long would that take?

Elena (Publisher): It adapts to the person. It can last around an hour, or less if needed. It can be done calmly, FREE and without commitment. You can even try a first lesson and then decide freely if you want to continue. It’s like having a conversation like we’re having now but in a more relaxed setting.

Martha (Householder): That does reassure me more, because right now I don’t want to get into something I can’t follow through with later.

Elena (Publisher): And you’re right to think about it. That’s precisely why I wanted to try something different with you. Instead of asking you to accept a complete Bible study right now, how about next time we just look at one first question? Something brief. That way you see what it’s really like, without pressure.

Martha (Householder): I could do that.

Elena (Publisher): Very good. And besides, I think it would help you a lot, because you already took a very nice step by attending the Memorial. Now maybe the next natural step is to understand even better why that sacrifice is so valuable to you personally.

Martha (Householder): Yes, because that was precisely one of the things that made me think the most. I understand that it was important, but I’d like to better understand what that changes for me.

Elena (Publisher): And that’s an excellent question. In fact, that could be precisely the first one we look at together. Not something theoretical, but something very personal: how does Jesus’ sacrifice benefit me?

Martha (Householder): Well yes, that would be a good way to start.

Elena (Publisher): I’m glad. And I’ll tell you something: many people who were hesitant at first, when they see a first lesson, realize that it’s not a tedious class, but a calm conversation based on the Bible and that you truly see God’s hand.

Martha (Householder): Yes, I think sometimes the word “study” is more intimidating than anything else.

Elena (Publisher): Exactly. That’s why I think the best thing is for you to see it for yourself. Because in the end what’s important is that it will help you draw closer to God and better understand his Word.

Martha (Householder): Yes, seen that way, it seems fine to me.

Elena (Publisher): Perfect. Then let’s do that. Next time, I’ll stop by your house, and I’ll bring a brochure to look at the first lesson, we’ll look at a brief part, and then you tell me with complete confidence whether you’d like to continue or not.

Martha (Householder): Yes, I prefer it that way.

Elena (Publisher): That sounds very good to me. And I’m very glad, because I sincerely think you’re going to like it. Especially because you can already tell that you value spiritual things and that you don’t want to just have a superficial impression, but to truly understand what the Bible teaches.

Martha (Householder): Yes, that’s true. When something matters to me, I like to understand it well.

Elena (Publisher): And that’s very good. So we’ll leave it at that. Next time we won’t talk in general, but we’ll look at a specific question from the Bible and you decide afterward.

Martha (Householder): Perfect. That sounds good to me.

Elena (Publisher): Great. Thank you very much, Martha. I’m very glad to see you so receptive.