Service Meeting Schedule
Week Starting July 8
15 min: Local announcements. Selected Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry. Using the suggestions on page 4, have two separate demonstrations of how to present the July 15 Watchtower and the July 22 Awake! In each demonstration, show a different way to handle the conversation stopper “We are already Christians here.”—See Reasoning book, page 19.
10 min: Question Box. Talk by an elder, making local application of the material.
20 min: Getting Organized to Witness Informally. Audience discussion of Our Ministry book, pages 93-4. Using suggestions on the front page of the January 2002 Our Kingdom Ministry insert, briefly demonstrate two or three ways to witness informally to a stranger, a neighbor, a relative, or an acquaintance.
Song 139 and concluding prayer.
Week Starting July 15
10 min: Local announcements. Accounts report.
15 min: Local needs.
20 min: Good Reasons to Use the Bible in Our Ministry. Talk and audience discussion. Jesus knew the Scriptures and referred to them liberally when teaching. (Luke 24:27, 44-47) What he taught was not of his own originality. (John 7:16-18) It is important that we too use God’s Word. It has more power than anything we might personally say. (John 12:49, 50; Heb. 4:12) Sincere ones are drawn by the comfort and hope the Scriptures offer. Make it your goal to read at least one Bible text in your presentations. Point out that scriptures are incorporated in this month’s suggested magazine presentations. Entertain some comments from the audience on how they have been using the Bible in the ministry and the effect this has had on themselves and on those to whom they preached.
Song 215 and concluding prayer.
Week Starting July 22
10 min: Local announcements. A parent and child working together in service demonstrate how to use the suggestions on page 4 to offer the August 1 and August 8 magazines. One features The Watchtower, and the other features the Awake! Encourage parents to train their children progressively in the ministry.
17 min: What Would You Say to a Person Who Asks About Islam? Talk and demonstration. Using the book Mankind’s Search for God, chapter 12, briefly explain the parallel between the Bible and the Koran. (See the box on page 285.) Show the contrast between Islamic teaching on the soul (pages 297-300) and the Bible’s explanation. (See the footnote on page 299.) Using the Reasoning book, pages 375-9, demonstrate how to explain to a newly interested person what the Bible says about the soul.
18 min: How Can I Avoid Dangers on the Internet? Talk and audience discussion based on the January 22, 2000, Awake!, pages 19-21. Point out the pitfalls of unrestricted use of the Internet, and explain how to avoid becoming ensnared. Invite audience to comment on how they have benefited from applying this counsel.
Song 61 and concluding prayer.
Week Starting July 29
10 min: Local announcements. Remind publishers to turn in field service reports for July.
10 min: “New Circuit Assembly Program.” A talk. Announce date of the next circuit assembly. Urge all to be present and attentive to the program. Encourage unbaptized publishers to think about qualifying for baptism. Make a special effort to invite Bible students.
25 min: “Be Harmoniously Joined Together.”a When discussing paragraph 3, include comments on April 22, 2000, Awake!, pages 9-10. With paragraph 4, include comments on April 1, 1995, Watchtower, pages 16-17, paragraphs 4-6.
Song 81 and concluding prayer.
Week Starting August 5
10 min: Local announcements.
20 min: “Gathering People Out of All Languages.”b Include comments on April 1, 2002, Watchtower, page 24. If applicable, briefly explain what is being done to assist those in the local territory who speak foreign languages, and demonstrate the presentation in paragraph 4.
15 min: Local experiences. Invite audience to relate some upbuilding experiences in connection with attending the district convention, auxiliary pioneering, or sharing in other spiritual activities thus far during the summer.
Song 184 and concluding prayer.
[Footnotes]
a Limit introductory comments to less than a minute, and follow with a question-and-answer discussion.
b Limit introductory comments to less than a minute, and follow with a question-and-answer discussion.