Theocratic Ministry School Schedule for 2009
INSTRUCTIONS
During 2009 the following will be the arrangements for conducting the Theocratic Ministry School.
SOURCE MATERIAL: New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures [bi12], “All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial” (1990 Edition) [si], Learn From the Great Teacher [lr], and Reasoning From the Scriptures (1989 Edition) [rs].
The school should begin ON TIME with remarks of welcome and then proceed as outlined below. After each part, the school overseer will introduce the next part.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM BIBLE READING: 10 minutes. For the first four minutes, a qualified elder or ministerial servant should consider Scriptural points from the weekly Bible reading. The exception to this will be when the weekly Bible reading begins with the opening chapter of a Bible book. On such occasions, material for the first four minutes should be taken from the “All Scripture” book. For example, the first five chapters of Genesis will be considered the week of January 5, so the speaker should select a few key points from the introductory paragraphs on the book of Genesis as found in the “All Scripture” book. He should apply the material in a way that will be beneficial to the congregation. Whether discussing the weekly Bible reading or points from the “All Scripture” book, the principal objective is to help the audience to appreciate why and how the information is of value. The speaker should be careful not to exceed the four minutes allotted for the opening portion. He should ensure that six minutes are set aside for the audience to offer brief comments of 30 seconds or less on what they have appreciated in the weekly Bible reading. The school overseer will then dismiss the students who are assigned to other classrooms.
ASSIGNMENT NO. 1: 4 minutes or less. This is a reading to be given by a brother. The student should read the assigned material without giving an introduction or a conclusion. The school overseer will be especially interested in helping students to read with understanding, fluency, proper sense stress, modulation, appropriate pausing, and naturalness.
ASSIGNMENT NO. 2: 5 minutes. This will be assigned to a sister. The student will either be given a setting or may select one from the list appearing on page 82 of Benefit From Theocratic Ministry School Education. The assigned theme should be used and be applied to an aspect of field service that is realistic and practical for the local territory. When no references are indicated as source material, the student will need to gather material for this part by doing research in our publications. The school overseer will be particularly interested in the way the student develops the material and the way she helps the householder to reason on the Scriptures and to understand the key points of the presentation. The school overseer will assign one assistant.
ASSIGNMENT NO. 3: 5 minutes. This may be assigned to a brother or a sister. The student should develop the assigned theme. When no references are indicated as source material, the student will need to gather material for this part by doing research in our publications. When assigned to a brother, this part should be given as a talk with the Kingdom Hall audience in mind. When a sister is given this part, it should always be presented as outlined for Assignment No. 2. Please note that themes with an asterisk next to them should always be assigned to brothers to develop as talks, and whenever practical, an elder or a ministerial servant should be used.
COUNSEL: 1-2 minutes. The school overseer will not announce in advance the speech quality that a student is working on. After Assignments No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, the school overseer will offer positive observations on an aspect of the presentation that was commendable, drawing attention to specific reasons why it was effective and referring frequently to the Ministry School textbook. According to the need of each student, additional constructive counsel may be given privately after the meeting or at another time.
TIMING: No part should go overtime, nor should the remarks of the counselor. Assignments No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 should tactfully be stopped when the time is up. If brothers handling highlights from the Bible reading go overtime, they should be given private counsel. All should watch their timing carefully. Total program: 30 minutes.
COUNSEL FORM: In Ministry School textbook.
AUXILIARY COUNSELOR: The body of elders may select a capable elder, if one is available in addition to the school overseer, to handle the assignment as auxiliary counselor. If there are a number of elders in the congregation, then a different qualified elder may care for this assignment each year. The auxiliary counselor’s responsibility will be to give private counsel, if needed, to brothers who present Bible highlights. It is not necessary that he offer counsel after each of such talks by fellow elders or by ministerial servants.
THEOCRATIC MINISTRY SCHOOL REVIEW: 20 minutes. Every two months, the school overseer will conduct a review. It will be preceded by highlights from the Bible reading as outlined above. The review will be based on material considered in the school during the preceding two months, including the current week. If your congregation has a circuit assembly or the visit of the circuit overseer during the week of the Theocratic Ministry School Review, then the review should be postponed one week and Assignments No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 of the following week’s schedule should be used. No changes should be made in the schedule of the weekly Bible reading or the presentation of Bible highlights.
SCHEDULE
Jan. 5 Bible reading: Genesis 1-5
No. 1: Genesis 3:1-15
No. 2: Why Jesus Was a Great Teacher (lr chap. 1)
No. 3: What Is Not Vanity? (1 Cor. 15:58)
Jan. 12 Bible reading: Genesis 6-10
No. 1: Genesis 9:1-17
No. 2: Responding to Objections About Belief in God (rs p. 150 ¶3–p. 151 ¶3)
No. 3: A Letter From a Loving God (lr chap. 2)
Jan. 19 Bible reading: Genesis 11-16
No. 1: Genesis 14:1-16
No. 2: The One Who Made All Things (lr chap. 3)
No. 3: How Does Jehovah Mold Us? (Isa. 64:8)
Jan. 26 Bible reading: Genesis 17-20
No. 1: Genesis 17:1-17
No. 2: Why Men Have Been Unable to Establish a Just Government (rs pp. 152-153 ¶1)
No. 3: God Has a Name (lr chap. 4)
Feb. 2 Bible reading: Genesis 21-24
No. 1: Genesis 22:1-18
No. 2: “This Is My Son” (lr chap. 5)
No. 3: a Ways That We Can Widen Out in Our Love for Others (2 Cor. 6:11-13)
Feb. 9 Bible reading: Genesis 25-28
No. 1: Genesis 25:1-18
No. 2: The Great Teacher Served Other People (lr chap. 6)
No. 3: Why Human Efforts to Bring Relief Cannot Succeed (rs p. 153 ¶2–p. 154 ¶2)
Feb. 16 Bible reading: Genesis 29-31
No. 1: Genesis 29:1-20
No. 2: Why We Should “Stop Being Anxious” (Matt. 6:25)
No. 3: Obedience Protects You (lr chap. 7)
Feb. 23 Bible reading: Genesis 32-35
Theocratic Ministry School Review
Mar. 2 Bible reading: Genesis 36-39
No. 1: Genesis 39:1-16
No. 2: Others Are Higher Than We Are (lr chap. 8)
No. 3: God’s Kingdom—The Only Answer to Mankind’s Real Needs (rs p. 154 ¶3–p. 155 ¶1)
Mar. 9 Bible reading: Genesis 40-42
No. 1: Genesis 40:1-15
No. 2: We Need to Resist Temptations (lr chap. 9)
No. 3: b Beware of an Independent Spirit!
Mar. 16 Bible reading: Genesis 43-46
No. 1: Genesis 44:1-17
No. 2: Jesus’ Power Over the Demons (lr chap. 10)
No. 3: Bible Prophecies Have Proved Completely Reliable (rs p. 155 ¶2-5)
Mar. 23 Bible reading: Genesis 47-50
No. 1: Genesis 48:1-16
No. 2: Should We Fear the Devil?
No. 3: Help From God’s Angels (lr chap. 11)
Mar. 30 Bible reading: Exodus 1-6
No. 1: Exodus 1:1-19
No. 2: Jesus Teaches Us to Pray (lr chap. 12)
No. 3: Is Healing Today Done by God’s Spirit? (rs pp. 156-157 ¶3)
Apr. 6 Bible reading: Exodus 7-10
No. 1: Exodus 9:1-19
No. 2: Those Who Became Jesus’ Disciples (lr chap. 13)
No. 3: c How Can We Harmonize Galatians 6:2 with Galatians 6:5?
Apr. 13 Bible reading: Exodus 11-14
No. 1: Exodus 12:21-36
No. 2: Why We Should Forgive (lr chap. 14)
No. 3: Difference Between Cures of Jesus and His Apostles and Those of Today (rs p. 157 ¶4–p. 158 ¶2)
Apr. 20 Bible reading: Exodus 15-18
No. 1: Exodus 15:1-19
No. 2: What Is Involved in Keeping Clear of False Worship?
No. 3: A Lesson on Being Kind (lr chap. 15)
Apr. 27 Bible reading: Exodus 19-22
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May 4 Bible reading: Exodus 23-26
No. 1: Exodus 24:1-18
No. 2: What Is Truly Important? (lr chap. 16)
No. 3: How True Christians Are Identified Today (rs p. 158 ¶3–p. 159 ¶1)
May 11 Bible reading: Exodus 27-29
No. 1: Exodus 29:1-18
No. 2: The Way to Be Happy (lr chap. 17)
No. 3: d Misplaced Loyalty and Its Dangers
May 18 Bible reading: Exodus 30-33
No. 1: Exodus 31:1-18
No. 2: Why Gifts of Healing Were Given in the First Century (rs p. 159 ¶2–p. 160 ¶2)
No. 3: Do You Remember to Say Thank You? (lr chap. 18)
May 25 Bible reading: Exodus 34-37
No. 1: Exodus 37:1-24
No. 2: Is It Right to Fight? (lr chap. 19)
No. 3: e What Is Permissiveness, and Why Should We Avoid It?
June 1 Bible reading: Exodus 38-40
No. 1: Exodus 40:1-19
No. 2: Do You Always Want to Be First? (lr chap. 20)
No. 3: What Hope Is There for Real Healing for All Mankind? (rs p. 160 ¶3-5)
June 8 Bible reading: Leviticus 1-5
No. 1: Leviticus 4:1-15
No. 2: Should We Brag About Anything? (lr chap. 21)
No. 3: f How Should Christians Exercise Authority?
June 15 Bible reading: Leviticus 6-9
No. 1: Leviticus 8:1-17
No. 2: ‘Do You Believe in Healing?’ (rs p. 160 ¶6–p. 161 ¶1)
No. 3: Why We Should Not Lie (lr chap. 22)
June 22 Bible reading: Leviticus 10-13
No. 1: Leviticus 11:29-45
No. 2: The Reason People Get Sick (lr chap. 23)
No. 3: Blessings That Baptized Disciples Enjoy
June 29 Bible reading: Leviticus 14-16
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July 6 Bible reading: Leviticus 17-20
No. 1: Leviticus 19:1-18
No. 2: Did We All Exist in the Spirit Realm Before Our Birth as Humans? (rs p. 161 ¶2–p. 162 ¶3)
No. 3: Never Become a Thief! (lr chap. 24)
July 13 Bible reading: Leviticus 21-24
No. 1: Leviticus 22:17-33
No. 2: Can Those Who Do Bad Things Change? (lr chap. 25)
No. 3: How True Christians Show Concern for the Poor
July 20 Bible reading: Leviticus 25-27
No. 1: Leviticus 25:39-54
No. 2: Why It Is Hard to Do Good (lr chap. 26)
No. 3: If Adam Had Not Sinned, Would He Eventually Have Gone to Heaven? (rs p. 162 ¶4-5)
July 27 Bible reading: Numbers 1-3
No. 1: Numbers 3:1-20
No. 2: Why Mildness Requires Self-Control
No. 3: Who Is Your God? (lr chap. 27)
Aug. 3 Bible reading: Numbers 4-6
No. 1: Numbers 4:1-16
No. 2: How to Know Whom to Obey (lr chap. 28)
No. 3: Must a Person Go to Heaven to Have a Truly Happy Future? (rs p. 163 ¶1-3)
Aug. 10 Bible reading: Numbers 7-9
No. 1: Numbers 9:1-14
No. 2: Do All Parties Please God? (lr chap. 29)
No. 3: Ways in Which We Show Loyalty to Jehovah
Aug. 17 Bible reading: Numbers 10-13
No. 1: Numbers 13:17-33
No. 2: Help to Overcome Our Fears (lr chap. 30)
No. 3: What Does 1 Peter 3:19, 20 Mean? (rs p. 163 ¶4)
Aug. 24 Bible reading: Numbers 14-16
No. 1: Numbers 14:26-43
No. 2: What Does It Mean to Love God’s Law? (Ps. 119:97)
No. 3: Where to Find Comfort (lr chap. 31)
Aug. 31 Bible reading: Numbers 17-21
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Sept. 7 Bible reading: Numbers 22-25
No. 1: Numbers 22:20-35
No. 2: How Jesus Was Protected (lr chap. 32)
No. 3: What Is the Meaning of 1 Peter 4:6? (rs p. 163 ¶5)
Sept. 14 Bible reading: Numbers 26-29
No. 1: Numbers 27:1-14
No. 2: What Is Mental-Regulating, and Why Is It Important? (Eph. 6:4)
No. 3: Jesus Can Protect Us (lr chap. 33)
Sept. 21 Bible reading: Numbers 30-32
No. 1: Numbers 32:1-15
No. 2: What Will Happen if We Die? (lr chap. 34)
No. 3: Is Heavenly Life the Hope for All Christians? (rs p. 164 ¶1-3)
Sept. 28 Bible reading: Numbers 33-36
No. 1: Numbers 33:1-23
No. 2: We Can Wake Up From Death! (lr chap. 35)
No. 3: Ways That God’s Kingdom Is Superior to All Human Governments
Oct. 5 Bible reading: Deuteronomy 1-3
No. 1: Deuteronomy 2:1-15
No. 2: What Does the “New Testament” Say About Eternal Life on Earth? (rs p. 165 ¶1–p. 166 ¶2)
No. 3: Who Will Be Resurrected? Where Will They Live? (lr chap. 36)
Oct. 12 Bible reading: Deuteronomy 4-6
No. 1: Deuteronomy 4:15-28
No. 2: Remembering Jehovah and His Son (lr chap. 37)
No. 3: When Can It Be Said That Less Is Better? (Prov. 15:16)
Oct. 19 Bible reading: Deuteronomy 7-10
No. 1: Deuteronomy 9:1-14
No. 2: Why We Should Love Jesus (lr chap. 38)
No. 3: To How Many Does the Bible Hold Out Hope of Heavenly Life? (rs p. 166 ¶3-4)
Oct. 26 Bible reading: Deuteronomy 11-13
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Nov. 2 Bible reading: Deuteronomy 14-18
No. 1: Deuteronomy 15:1-15
No. 2: What Does the Fear of God Encompass?
No. 3: God Remembers His Son (lr chap. 39)
Nov. 9 Bible reading: Deuteronomy 19-22
No. 1: Deuteronomy 22:1-19
No. 2: How to Make God Happy (lr chap. 40)
No. 3: Are the 144,000 Only Natural Jews? (rs p. 166 ¶5–p. 167 ¶3)
Nov. 16 Bible reading: Deuteronomy 23-27
No. 1: Deuteronomy 25:1-16
No. 2: Children Who Make God Happy (lr chap. 41)
No. 3: g What Things Should We Hold Sacred?
Nov. 23 Bible reading: Deuteronomy 28-31
No. 1: Deuteronomy 30:1-14
No. 2: Why We Need to Work (lr chap. 42)
No. 3: What Is the Scriptural Hope of the “Great Crowd”? (rs p. 167 ¶4–p. 168 ¶1)
Nov. 30 Bible reading: Deuteronomy 32-34
No. 1: Deuteronomy 32:1-21
No. 2: What Is “the Great Day of Jehovah”? (Zeph. 1:14)
No. 3: Who Are Our Brothers and Sisters? (lr chap. 43)
Dec. 7 Bible reading: Joshua 1-5
No. 1: Joshua 5:1-15
No. 2: Our Friends Should Love God (lr chap. 44)
No. 3: What Is God’s Kingdom? How to Show We Want It (lr chap. 45)
Dec. 14 Bible reading: Joshua 6-8
No. 1: Joshua 8:1-17
No. 2: Water Destroys a World—Will It Happen Again? (lr chap. 46)
No. 3: Why Is Ecclesiastes 7:21, 22 Practical Counsel?
Dec. 21 Bible reading: Joshua 9-11
No. 1: Joshua 9:1-15
No. 2: How We Can Tell Armageddon Is Near (lr chap. 47)
No. 3: God’s Peaceful New World—You Can Live There (lr chap. 48)
Dec. 28 Bible reading: Joshua 12-15
Theocratic Ministry School Review
[Footnotes]
a Assign to brothers only, preferably elders or ministerial servants.
b Assign to brothers only, preferably elders or ministerial servants.
c Assign to brothers only, preferably elders or ministerial servants.
d Assign to brothers only, preferably elders or ministerial servants.
e Assign to brothers only, preferably elders or ministerial servants.
f Assign to brothers only, preferably elders or ministerial servants.
g Assign to brothers only, preferably elders or ministerial servants.