Theocratic Ministry School Schedule for 1988
INSTRUCTIONS
During 1988 the following will be the arrangements when conducting the Theocratic Ministry School.
TEXTBOOKS: The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures [bi12], “All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial” [si], Reasoning From the Scriptures [rs], and You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth [pe] will be the basis for assignments.
The school will begin with song, prayer, and remarks of welcome, and then proceed as follows:
ASSIGNMENT NO. 1: 15 minutes. This should be handled by an elder or by a qualified ministerial servant. It will be based on “All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial.” This assignment should be delivered as a ten-minute instruction talk with a five-minute oral review following, using the printed questions for this section. The objective should be not just to cover the material but to focus attention on the practical value of the information being discussed, highlighting what will be most helpful to the congregation. Where needed, a theme should be selected. All are encouraged to make careful advance preparation so as to benefit fully from this material.
The brothers assigned this talk should be careful to keep within the time limit. Private counsel may be given if necessary.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM BIBLE READING: 6 minutes. This should be handled by the school overseer or another qualified elder or by a ministerial servant assigned by the school overseer. This should not be just a summary of the assigned reading. After giving a brief overall view of the assigned chapters, help the audience to appreciate why and how the information is of value to us. Check Watchtower issues for further highlight material. The students will then be dismissed to their various classrooms by the school overseer.
TALK NO. 2: 5 minutes. This is a Bible reading of the assigned material to be given by a brother. This will apply in the main school as well as in the auxiliary groups. The reading assignments are usually short enough to permit the student to present brief explanatory information in the opening and concluding remarks, and even at intermediate points. Historical background, prophetic or doctrinal significance, and application of principles may be included. All the assigned verses should actually be read.
TALK NO. 3: 5 minutes. This talk will be assigned to sisters. The subjects for this talk will alternate between the Reasoning and Live Forever books, the latter to be mainly assigned to young or new students. The student assigned should be able to read. 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. It is preferred that settings involve field service or informal witnessing. The one 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. The student should use the theme shown.
TALK NO. 4: 5 minutes. Assigned to a brother or a sister. When assigned to a brother, this should be a talk to the entire audience. It will usually be best for the brother 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 better to another practical and suitable audience-type setting, the brother may choose to develop his talk accordingly. The student should use the theme shown.
When assigned to a sister, the material should be presented as outlined for Talk No. 3.
COUNSEL AND REMARKS: After each student talk, the school overseer will give specific counsel, not necessarily following the program of progressive counsel outlined on the Speech Counsel slip. Rather, he should concentrate on those areas where the student needs to improve. If the student speaker merits solely a “G” and there is no other speech quality marked “I” or “W,” then the counselor should circle the box, where the “G,” “I,” or “W” would normally appear, of the speech quality that the student should work on next. He will advise the student of this that evening as well as show this speech quality on the student’s next Theocratic Ministry School Assignment slip (S-89). Those giving talks should sit toward the front of the hall. This will save time and enable the school overseer to give his counsel directly to each student. As time allows after the giving of necessary oral counsel, comments may be given by the counselor on informative and practical points not covered by the students. The school overseer should be careful to use no more than a total of two minutes for counsel and remarks after each student talk.
PREPARING TALKS: Brothers giving Assignment No. 1 should select a theme where needed. Students assigned the second talk should choose a theme that will allow for the best coverage of the material. Students assigned the third and fourth talks should use the theme shown. Prior to giving the talk, students will want to read over the School Guidebook material dealing with the speech quality being worked on.
TIMING: No talk should go overtime. Neither should the counsel and remarks of the counselor. Talks No. 2 through 4 should tactfully be stopped when the time is up. The brother assigned to give the “stop signal” should do so promptly. When brothers handling Assignment No. 1 go overtime, they should be given private counsel. All should watch their timing carefully. Total program: 45 minutes, excluding song and prayer.
WRITTEN REVIEW: Periodically a written review will be given. In preparation, review the assigned material and complete the scheduled Bible reading. The school overseer will already have made sure that he covers main points that should be highlighted and that were overlooked by the speakers. Only the Bible may be used during this 25-minute review. The balance of the time will be devoted to a discussion of the questions and answers. Each student will check his own paper. The school overseer will read off all answers and concentrate on the more difficult questions, helping all to understand the answers clearly. 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. Of course, nondedicated persons who are leading lives that conform to Christian principles may also enroll in the school and receive assignments.
ABSENTEES: All in the congregation can show appreciation for this school by endeavoring to be present at every weekly session, by preparing their assignments well, and by participating in question sessions. It is hoped that all students will view their assignments conscientiously. 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. 3 Bible reading: Isaiah 14 to 17
No. 1: Ezra 1:1 to 10:44 (si pp. 86-7, pars. 8-13)
No. 2: Isaiah 14:1-20
No. 3: Abortion—Why Forbidden? (rs pp. 25-6)
No. 4: Adam and Eve, Actual Historical Persons? (rs pp. 27-8)
Jan. 10 Bible reading: Isaiah 18 to 22
No. 1: Nehemiah: Facts Regarding It (si pp. 88-9, pars. 1-5)
No. 2: Isaiah 21:1-17
No. 3: Why Living Forever Is Not Just a Dream (pe chap. 1, pars. 1-10)
No. 4: Why Is Ancestor Worship Futile? (rs pp. 29-31, par. 3)
Jan. 17 Bible reading: Isaiah 23 to 26
No. 1: Nehemiah 1:1 to 6:19 (si p. 89, pars. 6-9)
No. 2: Isaiah 25:1-12
No. 3: Why Ancestor Worship Displeases Jehovah God (rs pp. 31-2)
No. 4: Who Are the Antichrists? (rs pp. 32-3)
Jan. 24 Bible reading: Isaiah 27 to 29
No. 1: Nehemiah 7:1 to 13:31 (si pp. 89-90, pars. 10-15)
No. 2: Isaiah 28:1-19
No. 3: Grand Blessings From God—Now Near! (pe chap. 1, pars. 11-19)
No. 4: Identifying Apostates (rs pp. 34-5)
Jan. 31 Bible reading: Isaiah 30 to 33
No. 1: Esther: Facts Regarding It (si pp. 91-2, pars. 1-6)
No. 2: Isaiah 32
No. 3: What Should Be Our Attitude Toward Apostates? (rs pp. 36-7)
No. 4: Christ Did Not Build Church on Peter (rs pp. 37-9, first subheading)
Feb. 7 Bible reading: Isaiah 34 to 37
No. 1: Esther 1:1 to 5:14 (si pp. 92-3, pars. 7-11)
No. 2: Isaiah 35
No. 3: Who Is the Ruler of the World? (pe chap. 2, pars. 1-12)
No. 4: What Were the Keys Peter Used? (rs pp. 39-40)
Feb. 14 Bible reading: Isaiah 38 to 40
No. 1: Esther 6:1 to 10:3 (si pp. 93-4, pars. 12-15)
No. 2: Isaiah 40:12-31
No. 3: “Apostolic Successors” Not True Christians (rs pp. 42-4)
No. 4: Where Will Armageddon Be Fought? (rs pp. 44-6, first subheading)
Feb. 21 Bible reading: Isaiah 41 to 43
No. 1: Job: Facts Regarding It (si pp. 95-6, pars. 1-6)
No. 2: Isaiah 43:1-17
No. 3: What Is the Devil Doing? (pe chap. 2, pars. 13-25)
No. 4: Who and What Will Be Destroyed at Armageddon? (rs pp. 46-7, first subheading)
Feb. 28 Written Review. Complete Isaiah 14 to 43
Mar. 6 Bible reading: Isaiah 44 to 46
No. 1: Job 1:1 to 2:13 (si p. 96, pars. 7-10)
No. 2: Isaiah 46
No. 3: Who Will Survive Armageddon? (rs p. 47)
No. 4: Armageddon—No Violation of God’s Love (rs p. 48, first subheading)
Mar. 13 Bible reading: Isaiah 47 to 49
No. 1: Job 3:1 to 14:22 (si pp. 96-7, pars. 11-17)
No. 2: Isaiah 48:1-19
No. 3: Religion That Is Not Good (pe chap. 3, pars. 1-10)
No. 4: No Neutral Position Possible at Armageddon (rs p. 48, second subheading)
Mar. 20 Bible reading: Isaiah 50 to 53
No. 1: Job 15:1 to 25:6 (si pp. 97-8, pars. 18-26)
No. 2: Isaiah 52
No. 3: Whose Influence Is Pushing Nations Toward the Armageddon Situation? (rs pp. 48-9)
No. 4: Identifying the Babylon of Revelation (rs p. 49)
Mar. 27 Bible reading: Isaiah 54 to 57
No. 1: Job 26:1 to 37:24 (si pp. 98-9, pars. 27-35)
No. 2: Isaiah 55:1-13
No. 3: What Makes Religion Pleasing to God? (pe chap. 3, pars. 11-22)
No. 4: For What Was Ancient Babylon Noted? (rs p. 50, first subheading)
Apr. 3 Bible reading: Isaiah 58 to 62
No. 1: Job 38:1 to 42:17 (si p. 99, pars. 36-38)
No. 2: Isaiah 60:4-22
No. 3: Why Professed Christian Religions Are Part of Babylon the Great (rs pp. 52-3)
No. 4: Why It Is Urgent to Get Out of Babylon the Great (rs p. 53)
Apr. 10 Bible reading: Isaiah 63 to 66
No. 1: Psalms: Who Wrote Them and When? (si pp. 101-2, pars. 1-6)
No. 2: Isaiah 65:8-25
No. 3: God—Who Is He? (pe chap. 4, pars. 1-17)
No. 4: What Baptism Is and Why Believers Get Baptized (rs p. 54, first subheading)
Apr. 17 Bible reading: Jeremiah 1 to 3
No. 1: Psalms: Their Characteristics and Authenticity (si p. 102, pars. 7-11)
No. 2: Jeremiah 1:1-19
No. 3: Christian Baptism—Not by Sprinkling, Not for Infants (rs pp. 54-5, first subheading)
No. 4: Water Baptism Does Not Forgive Sins (rs p. 55)
Apr. 24 Written Review. Complete Isaiah 44-66 to Jeremiah 1-3
May 1 Bible reading: Jeremiah 4 to 6
No. 1: Psalms 1 to 72 (si pp. 102-3, pars. 12-14)
No. 2: Jeremiah 5:1-17
No. 3: God’s Name and Purpose (pe chap. 4, pars. 18-31)
No. 4: Who Is Baptized With Holy Spirit? (rs p. 56, first subheading)
May 8 Bible reading: Jeremiah 7 to 9
No. 1: Psalms 73 to 106 (si p. 103, pars. 15-17)
No. 2: Jeremiah 9:12-26
No. 3: Baptism by Fire Not Same as by Holy Spirit (rs pp. 57-8)
No. 4: Reasons for Considering the Bible (rs pp. 58-9)
May 15 Bible reading: Jeremiah 10 to 12
No. 1: Psalms 107 to 150 (si p. 104, pars. 18-22)
No. 2: Jeremiah 10:6-25
No. 3: What Jesus Accomplished on Earth (pe chap. 6, pars. 1-19)
No. 4: Proof From Isaiah of the Bible’s Inspiration (rs pp. 60-1, par. 1)
May 22 Bible reading: Jeremiah 13 to 15
No. 1: Proverbs: Who Wrote It and When? (si pp. 106-7, pars. 1-5)
No. 2: Jeremiah 15:6-20
No. 3: Fulfillment of Jesus’ Prophecies Prove Bible’s Inspiration (rs pp. 61-2)
No. 4: Bible Is Scientifically Sound (rs pp. 62-3)
May 29 Bible reading: Jeremiah 16 to 19
No. 1: Proverbs: Characteristics and Authenticity (si pp. 107-8, pars. 6-11)
No. 2: Jeremiah 17:1-18
No. 3: Jesus’ Miracles—What They Mean to Us (pe chap. 6, pars. 20-28)
No. 4: Answering Objections to Belief in the Bible (rs pp. 64-5)
June 5 Bible reading: Jeremiah 20 to 22
No. 1: Proverbs 1:1 to 9:18 (si p. 108, pars. 12, 13)
No. 2: Jeremiah 20:1-13
No. 3: The Bible Is Practical for Our Day (rs p. 66)
No. 4: Why Do Christians Not Celebrate Birthdays? (rs pp. 68-9)
June 12 Bible reading: Jeremiah 23 to 25
No. 1: Proverbs 10:1 to 24:34 (si pp. 108-9, pars. 14, 15)
No. 2: Jeremiah 25:15, 16, 27-38
No. 3: Why We Are Here (pe chap. 7, pars. 1-18)
No. 4: Why Do Christians Abstain From Blood? (rs pp. 70-1)
June 19 Bible reading: Jeremiah 26 to 28
No. 1: Proverbs 25:1 to 31:31 (si p. 109, pars. 16-18)
No. 2: Jeremiah 28:1-17
No. 3: Why Do Christians Not Accept Blood Transfusions? (rs pp. 72-3)
No. 4: Answering Objections to the Bible’s View on Blood (rs pp. 74-6)
June 26 Written Review. Complete Jeremiah 4 to 28
July 3 Bible reading: Jeremiah 29 to 31
No. 1: Ecclesiastes: Who Wrote It and When? (si pp. 111-12, pars. 1-8)
No. 2: Jeremiah 31:23-40
No. 3: What Happens at Death? (pe chap. 8, pars. 1-14)
No. 4: What Does It Mean to Be “Born Again”? (rs pp. 76-7)
July 10 Bible reading: Jeremiah 32 and 33
No. 1: Ecclesiastes 1:1 to 7:29 (si pp. 112-13, pars. 9-12)
No. 2: Jeremiah 33:1-3, 10-26
No. 3: Salvation Not Dependent Upon Being “Born Again” (rs pp. 77-8)
No. 4: “Born Again”—Dealing With Misconceptions (rs pp. 79-80)
July 17 Bible reading: Jeremiah 34 to 37
No. 1: Ecclesiastes 8:1 to 12:14 (si p. 113, pars. 13, 14)
No. 2: Jeremiah 37:3-21
No. 3: What Kind of Place Is Hell? (pe chap. 9, pars. 1-22)
No. 4: Confessing to Priests: Why Not Scriptural? (rs pp. 80-1)
July 24 Bible reading: Jeremiah 38 to 41
No. 1: Song of Solomon: Who Wrote It and When? (si p. 115, pars. 1-4)
No. 2: Jeremiah 39:1-18
No. 3: Confessing Sins Against God and Man (rs p. 83, first and second subheadings)
No. 4: Why Should Serious Sins Be Confessed to Elders? (rs pp. 83-4)
July 31 Bible reading: Jeremiah 42 to 45
No. 1: Song of Solomon 1:1 to 8:14 (si pp. 115-17, pars. 5-15)
No. 2: Jeremiah 44:20-30; 45:1-5
No. 3: Who Are the Wicked Spirits? (pe chap. 10, pars. 1-12)
No. 4: Why Is It Reasonable to Believe in Creation? (rs pp. 84-6)
Aug. 7 Bible reading: Jeremiah 46 to 48
No. 1: Isaiah: Who Wrote It and When? (si p. 118, pars. 1-4)
No. 2: Jeremiah 46:13-28
No. 3: Understanding the Bible’s Account of Creation (rs pp. 86-8)
No. 4: Why Is Veneration of the Cross Unscriptural? (rs pp. 92-3, par. 1)
Aug. 14 Bible reading: Jeremiah 49 and 50
No. 1: Isaiah: Its Unity and Authenticity (si pp. 118-19, pars. 5-8)
No. 2: Jeremiah 50:1-16
No. 3: Be Informed and Resist Wicked Spirits (pe chap. 10, pars. 13-19)
No. 4: Why Do Humans Die? (rs pp. 98-9, first subheading)
Aug. 21 Bible reading: Jeremiah 51 and 52
No. 1: Isaiah 1:1 to 6:13 (si p. 119, pars. 9-11)
No. 2: Jeremiah 52:1-16
No. 3: Where Are the Dead and What Is Their Condition? (rs pp. 99-100)
No. 4: Why Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Not Share in Traditional Mourning Customs? (rs pp. 102-3)
Aug. 28 Written Review. Complete Jeremiah 29 to 52
Sept. 4 Bible reading: Lamentations 1 and 2
No. 1: Isaiah 7:1 to 14:27 (si pp. 119-20, pars. 12-14)
No. 2: Lamentations 1:1-18
No. 3: Why Has God Permitted Wickedness? (pe chap. 11, pars. 1-14)
No. 4: Refuting Misconceptions Regarding Death (rs pp. 103-4)
Sept. 11 Bible reading: Lamentations 3 to 5
No. 1: Isaiah 14:28 to 27:13 (si p. 120, pars. 15-17)
No. 2: Lamentations 3:1-3, 19-33
No. 3: Dreams: Inspired and Otherwise (rs pp. 104-6)
No. 4: Drugs: When Forbidden to Christians (rs pp. 106-7)
Sept. 18 Bible reading: Ezekiel 1 to 4
No. 1: Isaiah 28:1 to 35:10 (si pp. 120-1, pars. 18-20)
No. 2: Ezekiel 3:10-27
No. 3: You Are Involved in a Vital Issue (pe chap. 12, pars. 1-17)
No. 4: Why Christians Avoid Marijuana (rs pp. 108-9, first subheading)
Sept. 25 Bible reading: Ezekiel 5 to 8
No. 1: Isaiah 36:1 to 39:8 (si p. 121, pars. 21-23)
No. 2: Ezekiel 8:5-18
No. 3: Why Do Christians Avoid Tobacco? (rs pp. 109-11, first subheading)
No. 4: Nations Will Not Frustrate God’s Purpose Regarding Earth (rs pp. 112-13)
Oct. 2 Bible reading: Ezekiel 9 to 11
No. 1: Isaiah 40:1 to 48:22 (si p. 121, pars. 24, 25)
No. 2: Ezekiel 9:1-11
No. 3: The Importance of God’s Government (pe chap. 13, pars. 1-9)
No. 4: Will Jehovah Destroy the Earth by Fire? (rs pp. 113-15)
Oct. 9 Bible reading: Ezekiel 12 to 14
No. 1: Isaiah 49:1 to 59:21 (si pp. 121-2, pars. 26-29)
No. 2: Ezekiel 14:6-23
No. 3: Members of New Jerusalem Not to Return to Earth After Wicked Are Destroyed (rs pp. 115-16)
No. 4: Has God’s Original Purpose for Earth Changed? (rs pp. 116-17)
Oct. 16 Bible reading: Ezekiel 15 and 16
No. 1: Isaiah 60:1 to 66:24 (si p. 122, pars. 30-33)
No. 2: Ezekiel 16:44-63
No. 3: Arranging for God’s Government (pe chap. 13, pars. 10-18)
No. 4: How Can We Encourage Sick Ones? (rs p. 117)
Oct. 23 Bible reading: Ezekiel 17 to 19
No. 1: Jeremiah: Who Wrote It and When? (si pp. 124-5, pars. 1-6)
No. 2: Ezekiel 18:19-32
No. 3: How We Can Encourage Bereaved Ones (rs p. 118)
No. 4: Encouragement for Those Persecuted for Doing God’s Will (rs pp. 118-19)
Oct. 30 Written Review. Complete Lamentations 1-5 to Ezekiel 1-19
Nov. 6 Bible reading: Ezekiel 20 and 21
No. 1: Jeremiah 1:1 to 6:30 (si p. 125, pars. 7-10)
No. 2: Ezekiel 20:27-44
No. 3: Who Go to Heaven, and Why? (pe chap. 14, pars. 1-20)
No. 4: How Can You Encourage Those Disheartened by Injustices? (rs pp. 119-20)
Nov. 13 Bible reading: Ezekiel 22 and 23
No. 1: Jeremiah 7:1 to 12:17 (si pp. 125-6, pars. 11-14)
No. 2: Ezekiel 22:17-31
No. 3: What Encouragement for Those Pressed by Economic Problems? (rs p. 120)
No. 4: Encouragement for Those Disheartened by Shortcomings (rs pp. 120-1)
Nov. 20 Bible reading: Ezekiel 24 to 26
No. 1: Jeremiah 13:1 to 19:15 (si p. 126, pars. 15-17)
No. 2: Ezekiel 25:1-17
No. 3: What Is Required to Be a Subject of God’s Government? (pe chap. 15, pars. 1-19)
No. 4: Evolution: A Scientific Dilemma (rs pp. 121-2)
Nov. 27 Bible reading: Ezekiel 27 to 29
No. 1: Jeremiah 20:1 to 25:38 (si pp. 126-7, pars. 18-23)
No. 2: Ezekiel 28:1-19
No. 3: Evolution and the Fossil Record (rs pp. 123-4)
No. 4: Refuting Evolutionists’ Common Objections (rs pp. 126-7)
Dec. 4 Bible reading: Ezekiel 30 to 32
No. 1: Jeremiah 26:1 to 34:22 (si pp. 127-8, pars. 24-26)
No. 2: Ezekiel 31:1-18
No. 3: What Marked the Beginning of Kingdom Rule? (pe chap. 16, pars. 1-13)
No. 4: Why Do Many People Lack Faith? (rs pp. 129-30)
Dec. 11 Bible reading: Ezekiel 33 and 34
No. 1: Jeremiah 35:1 to 44:30 (si p. 128, pars. 27-31)
No. 2: Ezekiel 34:1-16
No. 3: How Can a Person Acquire Faith? (rs pp. 130-1, par. 3)
No. 4: Faith in Prospect of Righteous New System Proved by Works (rs pp. 131-2)
Dec. 18 Bible reading: Ezekiel 35 to 37
No. 1: Jeremiah 45:1 to 52:34 (si pp. 128-9, pars. 32-36)
No. 2: Ezekiel 37:10-28
No. 3: Identifying the Time for Kingdom Rule to Begin (pe chap. 16, pars. 14-22)
No. 4: How Can False Prophets Be Identified? (rs pp. 132-3, first subheading)
Dec. 25 Written Review. Complete Ezekiel 20 to 37