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START CONVERSATIONS

Duration: 2 actual minutes
Setting: House-to-house ministry
Objective: Use one of the truths from Appendix A of the brochure A Work of Love
Lesson: Naturalness
Bible text: Psalm 83:18

Scenario

Elena (Publisher): Good morning. We are making very brief visits to share a simple Bible thought that many people find interesting. I will not take much of your time.

Marta (Householder): All right, go ahead.

Elena (Publisher): Thank you. There is a question that may seem small, but it really changes the way we see God. The question is: Does God have a name, or is he simply called “God” or “Lord”?

Marta (Householder): To be honest, I have always heard people say “God” or “the Lord.”

Elena (Publisher): Yes, that is very common. In fact, many people have never stopped to think about it. But what is interesting is that the Bible itself answers that question. Notice what it says here at Psalm 83:18: “May people know that you, whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth.”

Marta (Householder): Oh, so according to the Bible, he really does have a name.

Elena (Publisher): Exactly. And I really like that because it makes God seem less distant. It is not the same to talk about someone by saying only “a person” as it is to know that person’s name. When we know someone’s name, we feel we can draw closer. It is similar with God.

Marta (Householder): Seen that way, it makes sense. How interesting.

Elena (Publisher): Also, the Bible does not mention that name just once by chance. It presents it as something important, because Jehovah wants people to know him for who he really is, not just believe that he exists. And when a person discovers that, many times they start reading the Bible in a different way.

Marta (Householder): The truth is, I had never thought about it that way.

Elena (Publisher): That is normal. They are details that sometimes people do not hear very often. But they are beautiful, because they help us see that God is not impersonal. He has a name, he has a purpose, and he wants us to know him.

Marta (Householder): Well, I found that very interesting. I was not expecting it.

Elena (Publisher): I am glad. If you like, I can come back another day and show you another brief verse that answers another very common question: If God has a name, why do so many people not know it?

Marta (Householder): Yes, that would be fine, if you find me at home…

Elena (Publisher): Perfect. Thank you very much for your time. We will keep in touch.

START CONVERSATIONS

Duration: 2 actual minutes
Setting: House-to-house ministry
Objective: Use one of the truths from Appendix A of the brochure A Work of Love
Lesson: Be observant
Bible text: Matthew 6:14, 15

Scenario

Elena (Publisher): Good morning. I am sorry, I do not want to keep you. I can see I may have caught you at a somewhat tense moment.

Marta (Householder): Well… yes, the truth is that today is not my best day.

Elena (Publisher): I am sorry. Sometimes we try to keep going with everything, but we are carrying something inside. That is precisely why we are sharing a Bible thought that has helped many people when they have had problems with someone or have felt hurt.

Marta (Householder): Yes, that happens quite a lot.

Elena (Publisher): Of course. And in those cases, Jesus gave counsel that is still very practical. Notice what he said at Matthew 6:14 and 15: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; whereas if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Marta (Householder): That is very powerful counsel.

Elena (Publisher): It is. But it is also very realistic. Jesus was a great teacher, because he did not give beautiful advice just to sound good. He knew what we are like, and he knew that holding on to resentment is very heavy. Sometimes the other person does not even know how much damage they caused, but we keep carrying it.

Marta (Householder): That is true. The one who keeps going over it is us.

Elena (Publisher): Exactly. And forgiving does not always mean that what happened does not matter or that it is easy to forget it. But it can mean stopping the constant feeding of that pain. And that is where Jesus’ counsel works. It helps us have peace and not remain trapped in what happened.

Marta (Householder): I had never thought of it that way.

Elena (Publisher): That is why it is so impressive to see that his words are still useful today. Even though centuries have passed, his counsel still works in daily life, in the family, at work, in friendships… in everything.

Marta (Householder): It could be interesting to reflect on how it helps us.

Elena (Publisher): I am glad. If you would like, I can come back another day and show you another brief counsel from Jesus that is also very helpful when a person is worried or carrying a heavy load.

Marta (Householder): Yes, you may come back. I think I will be around at about this time.

Elena (Publisher): Perfect. Thank you very much. Have a good day.

MAKE RETURN VISITS

Duration: 2 actual minutes
Setting: House-to-house ministry
Objective: Give the person a JW.ORG contact card
Lesson: Listen attentively

Scenario

Elena (Publisher): Hello, Marta. I am Elena. The other day we spoke briefly about the Bible. I just wanted to stop by and greet you.

Marta (Householder): Ah, yes, I remember. Look, today I really cannot stop for long.

Elena (Publisher): Of course, do not worry. In fact, I remembered something you yourself told me the other day: that these subjects interest you, but you are almost always in a hurry.

Marta (Householder): Yes, that is the problem. Between work, the house, and everything else, I hardly have time to stop for a moment.

Elena (Publisher): And that is exactly why I thought that today it would not be best to leave you a publication to read calmly, because right now it might not be practical for you. Rather, I wanted to leave you something simple that fits better with what you told me.

Marta (Householder): Oh, really?

Elena (Publisher): Yes. Look, this is a JW.ORG contact card. It is very useful because, whenever you have a little time, even if it is just five minutes, you can use your phone to scan this QR code and look at clear, brief Bible information.

Marta (Householder): That would suit me better, because sometimes I do look at quick things on my phone.

Elena (Publisher): Exactly. And that is why I thought of you. Since you told me that time is what limits you the most, I thought this card gives you an easy way to keep looking at Bible topics without feeling pressured or having to sit down for a long time.

Marta (Householder): Yes, that is how I prefer it.

Elena (Publisher): I am glad. Also, there you can look up the very topic that interests you most at the moment. For example, questions about the Bible, why we suffer, how to find peace, or what our meetings are like. That way, you yourself choose where to start.

Marta (Householder): That is good, because that way I can look at it little by little.

Elena (Publisher): Exactly, that is the idea. To go little by little and at your own pace. And then, if one day you see something that catches your attention or a question comes up, I will be very happy to come back and discuss it with you.

Marta (Householder): Yes, that definitely makes it easier for me.

Elena (Publisher): Perfect. Then I will leave it with you. And when you have a moment, you can look at it calmly.

Marta (Householder): Very good, thank you.

Elena (Publisher): Thank you. Have a very good day.

TALK

Duration: 5 actual minutes
Setting: Auditorium
Title: How to Study
Lesson: Highlight the main points

Talk: How to Study

Brothers, when we think about studying, perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is something very practical: sitting down, opening the Bible, having the publication at hand, a pen, and perhaps a notebook. And all of that is fine. But the important question is not only what we have in front of us, but how we study. Because a person can spend time studying and still not get all the possible benefit from it. So it is good to ask ourselves: what makes study truly useful?

The answer can be seen very clearly in Ezra’s example. At Ezra 7:10 we are told that he “had prepared his heart” to consult the law of Jehovah, to practice it, and to teach it. Notice that expression: prepared his heart. It does not say only that he prepared his scrolls, his material, or his mind. He prepared his heart. So good study begins even before we read the first line.

And that brings us to the first main point: to study well, we need the right attitude. How do we get that attitude? One essential help is prayer. Before we start studying, we do very well to ask Jehovah for his holy spirit. We can beg him to help us understand what we are about to read, to grasp how it relates to his purpose, and to see how to apply it in our life. We can also ask him to help us examine ourselves honestly. What we study may touch on a goal, a decision, an attitude, or a way of thinking that we need to adjust. When we begin that way, study stops being a routine and becomes something spiritual. We are no longer just looking for information. We are letting Jehovah teach us.

Also, preparing the heart means studying with humility. We do not approach the Bible to argue with it or to look for faults in it. We approach it with trust in Jehovah. So when there is something we do not fully understand, we do not immediately think there must be an error. Rather, we wait on Jehovah, keep researching, and leave room for understanding to become clearer in time. That humble attitude is extremely important. Without it, a person may study a lot and learn little. With it, on the other hand, even a brief study session can bring us much closer to Jehovah.

Now, besides a good attitude, we also need a good method. And here we come to the second main point: to study well, we need to highlight the main ideas. Sometimes a person starts with the first paragraph and keeps going until the end without stopping to think about the overall thread of the subject. But that is not always best. Before getting into the details, it is good to get the general picture. Look at the title, notice the subheadings, observe the illustrations or the boxes, and ask yourself: “What am I going to learn? How will this help me?” That first look already does a lot to guide the mind.

Then, as we read, it is good to identify the key ideas. If the publication has questions, it helps to look consciously for the answers. And if it does not, we can still ask ourselves: “What is the main idea here?” That helps us not to get lost in secondary details. It is also very useful to look up the Bible texts that are cited and see how they support what is being said. Because our goal is not only to understand the comment, but to verify for ourselves what God’s Word teaches.

Sometimes, while we are studying, a question comes up or a point appears that we would like to investigate more deeply. What do we do? It is not always necessary to stop the whole study right there. Many times, the best thing is to make a note of it and keep going. Perhaps later the material itself will clarify it. And if not, we can research it calmly afterward. That too is part of studying well, because it helps us not to lose the main thread.

In this connection, the apostle Paul’s example is very interesting. In his letter to the Hebrews, after developing several deep ideas, he stopped and said: “Now this is the main point”. What a great way to teach. Paul knew that his readers needed to see the central idea clearly. It was not enough to give a lot of information. The essential thing had to be highlighted. Well, we too should do that when we study. From time to time, it is good to ask ourselves: “Now then, what is the main point here?” When we do that, we retain the information better and understand better why it matters.

But there is still a third main point, and it is very important: study should move us to act. That is the real test of whether we are studying well. When we finish a study session, we should ask ourselves: “What effect should this have on me? What should change in my attitude? How can I put this into practice in my family, in the congregation, or in the ministry?” Because Christian study has never been just to accumulate knowledge. Jehovah teaches us to shape us, to help us make good decisions, and to make us spiritually stronger.

For example, if we study about prayer, it is not enough to think: “What a beautiful subject.” We should ask ourselves whether we are praying with more sincerity, more often, or with greater confidence. If we study about patience, we should think about with whom we need to be more patient. If we study about the ministry, we should ask ourselves what point we could use this very week to encourage someone. That is when study stops being theoretical and becomes something alive.

And there is one final help that we should not overlook: at the end, it is good to do a brief review. It does not have to be long. It is enough to recall the main points and the reasons that support them. That fixes the information better in the memory and makes it easier to use in the future. So, brothers, if we had to summarize how to study, we could say it this way: first, let us prepare our heart; second, let us focus on the main points; and third, let us allow study to move us to act. If we study in that way, study will not be a mere task. It will be an opportunity to draw closer to Jehovah, to understand his Word better, and to let that Word change us deep inside. And that, without a doubt, is the kind of study that benefits us most.