Theocratic School Schedule for 1979
INSTRUCTIONS
During 1979 the following will be the arrangement when conducting the Theocratic School.
TEXTBOOKS: The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, The Watchtower [w], Awake! [g], Bible Topics for Discussion [td], and the books Aid to Bible Understanding [ad] “All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial” [si] and Holy Spirit—The Force Behind the Coming New Order! [hs] will be the basis for assignments.
The school will begin with song and prayer and remarks of welcome, and then proceed as follows:
INSTRUCTION TALK: No. 1: 15 minutes. This should not be just a summary of the assigned material. It should be a well-developed talk on a chosen theme, assigned to an elder if possible, or, when necessary, to a qualified ministerial servant. The coverage should not be superficial but should provide a presentation that is truly informative and helpful to the congregation. There will be no oral review.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM BIBLE READING: 5 minutes. Right after the instruction talk the school overseer, or another qualified elder assigned by him, will present highlights and questions based on the week’s Bible reading assignment. This should be well prepared. Following this, the students will be dismissed to their various classrooms.
TALK NO. 2: 6 minutes. This is a Bible reading of the assigned material to be given by a brother. The reading assignments are usually short enough to permit the student to present brief explanatory information in his opening and concluding remarks, and even at intermediate points. Historical background, prophetic or doctrinal significance, application of principles and expressions of appreciation for the wisdom reflected in the text may be included. The talk should be planned in a way that allows for all the assigned verses actually to be read. The allotted time should be fully utilized. The material may be presented as a talk to the congregation, or a boy may read it to his father or to another qualified older brother while they are seated on the platform. The father or other older brother may then use questions to draw comments from the boy on the value of the material.
TALK NO. 3: 6 minutes. This talk will be assigned to sisters whenever possible. When delivering the talk, the student may be either seated or standing. One assistant will be scheduled by the school overseer, but additional assistants may be used. Settings could include situations arising at home, in the field service, in the congregation or elsewhere. The sister giving the talk may either initiate the conversation to establish the setting or have her assistant(s) do so. Not the setting, but the material should be given prime consideration.
TALK NO. 4: 6 minutes. Rather than a talk, this will be a Bible study, conducted by a sister. The one conducting the study should strive to make it as helpful realistic and interesting as possible. This assignment in the school should encourage those who are not yet conducting home Bible studies to work toward this end and help publishers who do conduct them to improve. It is not necessary to read the paragraphs, though certain ones might be read. Nor is it necessary to cover all the assigned material; at times certain choice paragraphs could be selected, questions raised and scriptures looked up and considered. If an answer is incomplete, the conductor should ask auxiliary questions. Though only one assistant will be scheduled by the school overseer, additional assistants may be used.
TALK NO. 5: 6 minutes. Assigned preferably to a brother with some experience, it should be a talk to the entire audience. While giving his talk from notes, the speaker, when he thinks it fitting, may read quotations or pointed excerpts from the assigned material. It will usually be best for the speaker to prepare his talk with the Kingdom Hall audience in mind, so that it will be truly informative and beneficial to those who actually hear it. However, if the material lends itself to another practical and suitable setting, the speaker may choose to develop his talk accordingly.
REMARKS: After each student talk (Nos. 2 through 5), the school overseer will have two minutes to highlight truths and principles that the students may not have included in their presentations. These remarks should be meaningful, emphasizing points that will be helpful to the brothers in their homelife, at school, on the job, within the congregation or while out in the field service. Occasionally, questions can be put to the audience on points in the assigned material that can be applied.
COUNSEL: This will always be given privately after the meeting. More than two minutes may be used as advisable. The private counsel for Talk No. 4 may include overall impressions as to how the study was conducted. On the Speech Counsel slip use only those aspects that would suitably apply to one conducting a Bible study.
PREPARING TALKS: Where the material makes it possible, talks should follow a well-developed theme. Choose a theme that will allow for the best coverage of the material in the allotted time. Prepare all talks with the points in mind to be considered next on the Speech Counsel slip.
TIMING: No talk should go overtime. Neither should the remarks by the school overseer. Talks Nos. 2 through 5 should tactfully be stopped when the time is up. If the school overseer assigns someone to give the “stop signal,” that one should be advised as to the importance of doing this whenever a talk goes overtime. An instruction talk speaker who goes overtime should be given private counsel. All should watch their timing carefully so that the Theocratic School as a whole does not run overtime.
WRITTEN REVIEWS: Periodically a written review will be given. In preparation, review principally the material in ad, si and hs and complete the assignment of personal Bible reading. Only the Bible may be used during this thirty-minute review. The balance of the hour will be devoted to a discussion of the questions and answers. Each student will check his own paper and, in reading off the answers, the school overseer will concentrate on the more difficult questions, stressing the matter of accurate knowledge and letting the audience turn to the textbooks where the answers may be checked. If, for some reason, local circumstances make it necessary, the written review may be used a week later than what is shown on the schedule.
LARGE AND SMALL CONGREGATIONS: Congregations with a school enrollment of 50 or more students may wish to arrange for additional groups of students to deliver the scheduled talks before other counselors. Rotate the students to the various halls. Where it is necessary, sisters may take any student talk, presenting it to someone else, as outlined for Talk No. 3.
ABSENTEES: The entire congregation can show appreciation for this school by being present, when possible, at every weekly session, by preparing their assignments well, and by participating in question sessions. If a student is not present when scheduled, a volunteer may take the assignment, making whatever application he feels qualified to make on such short notice. Or, the school overseer may cover the material with appropriate audience participation.
SCHEDULE
Jan. 7 Bible reading: 2 Chronicles 1 to 4
No. 1: si p. 79 ¶1 to p. 84 ¶36. “2 Chronicles.”
No. 2: 2 Chronicles 1:1-12
No. 3: td 2A “Will God Ever Put an End to Wickedness?”
No. 4: hs p. 5 ¶1 to p. 7 ¶6
No. 5: w77 pp. 244-247
Jan. 14 Bible reading: 2 Chronicles 5 to 8
No. 1: ad p. 1582 ¶3 to p. 1584 ¶1. “Temple.”
No. 2: 2 Chronicles 6:12-21, 32, 33
No. 3: td 3B “Does Baptism Wash Our Sins Away?’
No. 4: hs p. 8 ¶7 to p. 12 ¶15
No. 5: w77 pp. 253-255
Jan. 21 Bible reading: 2 Chronicles 9 to 12
No. 1: ad p. 907 ¶3 to ¶12; p. 1383 ¶12 to p. 1384 ¶2. “Jeroboam,” “Rehoboam.”
No. 2: 2 Chronicles 9:1-9, 12, 23, 24
No. 3: td 4G “Do Christians Need the ‘Old Testament’?”
No. 4: hs p. 12 ¶16 to p. 15 ¶21
No. 5: w77 pp. 259-262
Jan. 28 Bible reading: 2 Chronicles 13 to 16
No. 1: si p. 269 ¶1 to 277 ¶32. “A Visit to the Promised Land.”
No. 2: 2 Chronicles 13:8-20
No. 3: td 5A “Why Don’t You Take Blood Transfusions?”
No. 4: hs p. 16 ¶1 to p. 19 ¶9
No. 5: w77 pp. 293-295
Feb. 4 Bible reading: 2 Chronicles 17 to 20
No. 1: ad p. 881 ¶8 to p. 882 ¶1. “Jehoshaphat.”
No. 2: 2 Chronicles 20:5-12, 22-25
No. 3: td 6C “How Do You Know Jesus Was Not Born in the Winter?”
No. 4: hs p. 20 ¶10 to p. 23 ¶15
No. 5: w77 pp. 323-325
Feb. 11 Bible reading: 2 Chronicles 21 to 24
No. 1: ad p. 507 ¶8 to p. 508 ¶8. “Elijah.”
No. 2: 2 Chronicles 24:15-25
No. 3: td 7E “Was Peter Jesus’ Successor?”
No. 4: hs p. 23 ¶ 16 to p. 26 ¶22
No. 5: w77 pp. 355, 356
Feb. 18 Bible reading: 2 Chronicles 25 to 28
No. 1: ad p. 1629 ¶1 to ¶8. “Uzziah.”
No. 2: 2 Chronicles 25:5-16
No. 3: td 8A “Is Conduct All That Important?”
No. 4: hs p. 27 ¶23 to p. 31 ¶32
No. 5: w77 pp. 357, 358
Feb. 25 Written Review. Complete 2 Chronicles 1 to 28
Mar. 4 Bible reading: 2 Chronicles 29 to 32
No. 1: ad p. 762 ¶12 to p. 764 ¶7. “Hezekiah.”
No. 2: 2 Chronicles 32:5-9, 16-22
No. 3: td 10B “Should the Cross Be Used in Worship?”
No. 4: hs p. 31 ¶33 to p. 34 ¶38
No. 5: w77 pp. 444-446
Mar. 11 Bible reading: 2 Chronicles 33 to 36
No. 1: ad p. 968 ¶6 to ¶15. “Josiah.”
No. 2: 2 Chronicles 33:1-13
No. 3: td 11B “Does the Soul Live On After Death?”
No. 4: hs p. 35 ¶1 to p. 38 ¶7
No. 5: w77 pp. 451, 452
Mar. 18 Bible reading: Ezra 1 to 3
No. 1: si p. 85 ¶1 to p. 87 ¶18. “Ezra.”
No. 2: Ezra 3:6-13
No. 3: td 13A “What Can Be Done About Juvenile Delinquency?”
No. 4: hs p. 38 ¶8 to p. 43 ¶18
No. 5: w77 pp. 509-511
Mar. 25 Bible reading: Ezra 4 to 6
No. 1: ad p. 296 ¶6 to p. 299 ¶1. “Captivity.”
No. 2: Ezra 6:1-13
No. 3: td 14D “Are There Really Wicked Spirits?”
No. 4: hs p. 44 ¶19 to p. 47 ¶26
No. 5: w77 pp. 526, 527
Apr. 1 Bible reading: Ezra 7 to 10
No. 1: ad p. 290 ¶7 to p. 292 ¶1. “Canon—Hebrew Scriptures.”
No. 2: Ezra 9:1-12
No. 3: td 15A “Why Do You Practice Disfellowshiping?”
No. 4: hs p. 48 ¶27 to p. 52 ¶34
No. 5: w77 pp. 547, 548
Apr. 8 Bible reading: Nehemiah 1 to 4
No. 1: si p. 88 ¶1 to p. 91 ¶19. “Nehemiah.”
No. 2: Nehemiah 4:7-20
No. 3: td 16A “Why Do the Witnesses Shun Drugs for Pleasure?”
No. 4: hs p. 52 ¶35 to p. 56 ¶42
No. 5: w77 pp. 605-607
Apr. 15 Bible reading: Nehemiah 5 to 7
No. 1: w72 pp. 716-723. “The Spiritual Temple.”
No. 2: Nehemiah 6:1-13
No. 3: td 17D “Will Men Eventually Destroy the Earth?”
No. 4: hs p. 57 ¶1 to p. 59 ¶7
No. 5: w77 pp. 637-639
Apr. 22 Bible reading: Nehemiah 8 to 10
No. 1: ad p. 1473 ¶3 to p. 1475 ¶5. “Seventy Weeks.”
No. 2: Nehemiah 9:4, 9-21
No. 3: td 18A “Did Man Descend from an Apelike Beast?”
No. 4: hs p. 60 ¶8 to p. 63 ¶14
No. 5: w78 2/15 pp. 3-6
Apr. 29 Written Review. Complete 2 Chronicles 29-36; Ezr 1-10 to Nehemiah 1-10
May 6 Bible reading: Nehemiah 11 to 13
No. 1: si p. 277 ¶1 to p. 283 ¶34. “Time and the Holy Scriptures.”
No. 2: Nehemiah 13:15-18, 23-31
No. 3: td 19A “How Can False Prophets Be Identified?”
No. 4: hs p. 64 ¶15 to p. 67 ¶22
No. 5: w78 2/15 pp. 27-30
May 13 Bible reading: Esther 1 to 5
No. 1: si p. 91 ¶1 to p. 94 ¶18. “Esther.”
No. 2: Esther 4:6-17
No. 3: td 20C “Why Is Neutrality So Important for Christians?”
No. 4: hs p. 68 ¶23 to p. 72 ¶33
No. 5: w78 3/1 pp. 3, 4
May 20 Bible reading: Esther 6 to 10
No. 1: ad p. 1292 ¶9 to p. 1295 ¶8. “Persia, Persians.”
No. 2: Esther 6:1-13
No. 3: td 21D “What Is the Christian View of Charity?”
No. 4: hs p. 72 ¶34 to p. 76 ¶42
No. 5: w78 3/15 pp. 3, 4
May 27 Bible reading: Job 1 to 4
No. 1: si p. 95 ¶1 to p. 100 ¶43. “Job.”
No. 2: Job 2:1-13
No. 3: td 22C “Is God Behind Faith Healers Today?”
No. 4: hs p. 76 ¶43 to p. 80 ¶51
No. 5: w78 5/15 pp. 3, 4
June 3 Bible reading: Job 5 to 9
No. 1: ad p. 1450 ¶7 to p. 1452 ¶7. “Satan.”
No. 2: Job 6:14-30
No. 3: td 23A “Will Not All Good People Go to Heaven?”
No. 4: hs p. 81 ¶1 to p. 85 ¶11
No. 5: w78 6/1 pp. 3, 4
June 10 Bible reading: Job 10 to 13
No. 1: ad p. 1535 ¶10 to p. 1538 ¶6. “Sovereignty.”
No. 2: Job 13:1-19
No. 3: td 24E “Does Not the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus Prove Hellfire?”
No. 4: hs p. 85 ¶12 to p. 89 ¶19
No. 5: w78 6/15 pp. 3, 4
June 17 Bible reading: Job 14 to 17
No. 1: ad p. 1393 ¶15 to p. 1395 ¶5. “Resurrection.”
No. 2: Job 16:1-17
No. 3: td 26A “Are Images an Aid to True Worship?”
No. 4: hs p. 89 ¶20 to p. 93 ¶28
No. 5: w78 7/1 pp. 3, 4
June 24 Written Review. Complete Nehemiah 11-13; Es 1-10 to Job 1-17
July 1 Bible reading: Job 18 to 21
No. 1: si p. 283 ¶1 to p. 292 ¶30; also w76 pp. 436, 437. “Measuring Events in the Stream of Time.”
No. 2: Job 19:1-9, 20-26
No. 3: td 27A “Is Interfaith the Way to Unity?”
No. 4: hs p. 94 ¶29 to p. 98 ¶38
No. 5: g77 4/8 pp. 27, 28
July 8 Bible reading: Job 22 to 25
No. 1: si p. 298 ¶1 to p. 303 ¶26. “The Bible and Its Canon.”
No. 2: Job 24:13-25
No. 3: td 28C “Do All Religions Lead to Salvation?”
No. 4: hs p. 99 ¶39 to p. 103 ¶50
No. 5: g77 4/22 pp. 26-28
July 15 Bible reading: Job 26 to 30
No. 1: si p. 304 ¶1 to p. 312 ¶31. “The Hebrew Text of the Holy Scriptures.”
No. 2: Job 29:1-18
No. 3: td 29G “Is Jehovah the God of the Jews Only?”
No. 4: hs p. 104 ¶1 to p. 108 ¶8
No. 5: g77 5/8 pp. 27, 28
July 22 Bible reading: Job 31 to 34
No. 1: ad p. 506 ¶39 to p. 507 ¶3. “Elihu.”
No. 2: Job 33:8-13, 21-25; 34:10-12
No. 3: td 30A “What Is the Origin of Jehovah’s Witnesses?”
No. 4: hs p. 108 ¶9 to p. 111 ¶17
No. 5: g77 5/22 pp. 26-28
July 29 Bible reading: Job 35 to 37
No. 1: si p. 314 ¶1 to p. 319 ¶32. “The Christian Greek Text of the Holy Scriptures.”
No. 2: Job 37:1-14, 23, 24
No. 3: td 31E “Are We Saved by Believing in Jesus?”
No. 4: hs p. 112 ¶18 to p. 115 ¶27
No. 5: g77 6/8 pp. 27, 28
Aug. 5 Bible reading: Job 38 to 42
No. 1: ad p. 390 ¶10 to p. 393 ¶5. “Creation.”
No. 2: Job 42:1-17
No. 3: td 32B “Is Judgment Day a Time of Terror?”
No. 4: hs p. 116 ¶28 to p. 120 ¶36
No. 5: g77 6/22 pp. 27, 28
Aug. 12 Bible reading: Psalms 1 to 9
No. 1: si p. 101 ¶1 to p. 106 ¶32. “Psalms.”
No. 2: Psalm 2:1-12
No. 3: td 33A “Why Do You Say So Much About God’s Kingdom?”
No. 4: hs p. 121 ¶1 to p. 123 ¶7
No. 5: g77 7/8 pp. 27, 28
Aug. 19 Bible reading: Psalms 10 to 17
No. 1: ad p. 737 ¶2 to ¶5; p. 740 ¶7 to p. 741 ¶7. “Hebrew—Hebrew Poetry.”
No. 2: Psalms 11:1-7; 15:1-5
No. 3: td 34A “What Is Meant by ‘the End of the World’?”
No. 4: hs p. 124 ¶8 to p. 126 ¶14
No. 5: g77 7/22 pp. 27, 28
Aug. 26 Written Review. Complete Job 18-42 to Psalm 1-17
Sept. 2 Bible reading: Psalms 18 to 21
No. 1: si p. 319 ¶1 to p. 326 ¶32. “The Bible in Modern Times.”
No. 2: Psalm 19:1-14
No. 3: td 35C “Is Keeping the Ten Commandments Enough?”
No. 4: hs p. 127 ¶15 to p. 132 ¶25
No. 5: g77 8/8 pp. 27, 28
Sept. 9 Bible reading: Psalms 22 to 27
No. 1: si p. 326 ¶1 to p. 330 ¶23. “Advantages of the New World Translation.”
No. 2: Psalm 22:1-18
No. 3: td 36B “Is Eternal Life Really Possible?”
No. 4: hs p. 132 ¶26 to p. 137 ¶36
No. 5: g77 8/22 pp. 27, 28
Sept. 16 Bible reading: Psalms 28 to 33
No. 1: si p. 331 ¶1 to p. 337 ¶27. “Archaeology Supports the Inspired Record.”
No. 2: Psalm 31:1-16
No. 3: td 37D “When People Say: ‘I Get Our Church Literature.’”
No. 4: hs p. 138 ¶1 to p. 141 ¶8
No. 5: g77 9/8 pp. 27, 28
Sept. 23 Bible reading: Psalms 34 to 37
No. 1: si p. 337 ¶1 to p. 342 ¶25. “The Bible—Authentic and True.”
No. 2: Psalm 34:1-22
No. 3: td 38E “Does It Matter Whom Christians Marry?”
No. 4: hs p. 141 ¶9 to p. 146 ¶18
No. 5: g77 9/22 pp. 27, 28
Sept. 30 Bible reading: Psalms 38 to 41
No. 1: w78 1/1 pp. 17-23. “Enduring in Faithfulness.”
No. 2: Psalm 41:1-13
No. 3: td 39D “Can Saints Be of Help to You?”
No. 4: hs p. 146 ¶19 to p. 151 ¶27
No. 5: g77 10/8 pp. 28, 29
Oct. 7 Bible reading: Psalms 42 to 47
No. 1: w78 2/1 pp. 4-7. “Maintaining the Family Circle.”
No. 2: Psalm 45:1-17
No. 3: td 41A “Is God Partial?”
No. 4: hs p. 151 ¶28 to p. 153 ¶32
No. 5: g77 12/8 pp. 27, 28
Oct. 14 Bible reading: Psalms 48 to 54
No. 1: w78 3/1 pp. 21-26. “‘The Kingdom of Our Lord and of His Christ’ Takes Over.”
No. 2: Psalm 48:1-14
No. 3: td 42B “Should Persecution Be Feared?”
No. 4: hs p. 154 ¶33 to p. 156 ¶38
No. 5: g77 12/22 pp. 27, 28
Oct. 21 Bible reading: Psalms 55 to 60
No. 1: w78 5/1 pp. 4-12. “Jehovah’s Name.”
No. 2: Psalm 58:1-11
No. 3: td 44A “Is the Fate of Men Predestined?”
No. 4: hs p. 157 ¶39 to p. 160 ¶44
No. 5: g78 1/8 pp. 27, 28
Oct. 28 Written Review. Complete Psalms 18 to 60
Nov. 4 Bible reading: Psalms 61 to 67
No. 1: w78 5/1 pp. 26-28. “How Important Is Christian Giving?”
No. 2: Psalm 62:1-12
No. 3: td 45A “Are Some Races Superior Before God?”
No. 4: hs p. 160 ¶45 to p. 162 ¶48
No. 5: g78 1/22 pp. 27, 28
Nov. 11 Bible reading: Psalms 68 to 70
No. 1: w78 5/15 pp. 11-14. “Where Did Those Verses Go?”
No. 2: Psalm 69:1-10, 19-21
No. 3: td 46A “How Was Jesus a ‘Ransom for All’?
No. 4: hs p. 163 ¶1 to p. 165 ¶6
No. 5: g78 2/8 pp. 27, 28
Nov. 18 Bible reading: Psalms 71 to 74
No. 1: w78 6/1 pp. 16-20. “Share Joyfully with Jesus Christ in Jehovah’s Work.”
No. 2: Psalm 72:1-20
No. 3: td 47B “How Can the True Religion Be Identified?”
No. 4: hs p. 166 ¶7 to p. 168 ¶11
No. 5: g78 2/22 pp. 27, 28
Nov. 25 Bible reading: Psalms 75 to 78
No. 1: w78 6/1 pp. 26-29. “Christian ‘Works’—What Do They Include?”
No. 2: Psalms 75:1-10; 76:1-5
No. 3: td 48A “Is There Hope for the Dead?”
No. 4: hs p. 169 ¶12 to p. 170 ¶14
No. 5: g78 3/8 pp. 26-28
Dec. 2 Bible reading: Psalms 79 to 85
No. 1: w78 6/15 pp. 12-15. “Human Governments Crushed by God’s Kingdom.”
No. 2: Psalm 81:1-16
No. 3: td 50D “How Can One Enter God’s Rest?”
No. 4: hs p. 171 ¶15 to p. 174 ¶22
No. 5: g78 3/22 pp. 27, 28
Dec. 9 Bible reading: Psalms 86 to 89
No. 1: w78 6/15 pp. 16-21. “Appreciating the Sacredness of Life and Blood.”
No. 2: Psalm 89:3, 4, 19-37
No. 3: td 51E “Will Everyone Finally Be Saved?”
No. 4: hs p. 175 ¶23 to p. 177 ¶27
No. 5: g78 4/22 pp. 27, 28
Dec. 16 Bible reading: Psalms 90 to 96
No. 1: w78 6/15 pp. 21-26. “Firmly Resolved About Life and Blood.”
No. 2: Psalm 91:1-16
No. 3: td 58C “Was Jesus a God-Man?”
No. 4: hs p. 177 ¶28 to p. 180 ¶33
No. 5: g78 5/8 pp. 27, 28
Dec. 23 Bible reading: Psalms 97 to 103
No. 1: w78 6/15 pp. 26-29. “More ‘Workers’ Needed—Can You Share?”
No. 2: Psalms 100:1-5; 101:1-8
No. 3: td 60D “How Are Jehovah’s Witnesses Financed?”
No. 4: hs p. 180 ¶34 to p. 183 ¶39
No. 5: g78 5/22 pp. 27, 28
Dec. 30 Written Review. Complete Psalms 61 to 103