Thursday, July 4
[Noah] proved himself faultless among his contemporaries. Noah walked with the true God.—Gen. 6:9.
Noah was not content just to lead a good life. He also became a bold “preacher of righteousness,” publicly confessing his faith in Jehovah. (2 Pet. 2:5) “Through this faith he condemned the world,” wrote the apostle Paul. (Heb. 11:7) It stands to reason, therefore, that Noah faced ridicule and opposition, perhaps even threats of violence. But he was not “trembling at men.” (Prov. 29:25) Rather, he had the courage that Jehovah gives to his faithful servants. After Noah had walked with God for more than five centuries, Jehovah told him to build an ark for the saving of human and animal life. (Gen. 5:32; 6:14) How difficult that project must have seemed—and not just from the construction point of view! Noah surely knew that it would bring on even more ridicule and opposition. Still, he obediently went ahead in faith. “He did just so.”—Gen. 6:22. w18.02 4 ¶4, 6-7
July 1-7
COLOSSIANS 1-4
Song 56 and Prayer
Opening Comments (3 min. or less)
TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD
“Strip Off the Old, and Clothe Yourselves With the New”: (10 min.)
[Play the video Introduction to Colossians.]
Col 3:5-9—“Strip off the old personality” (w11 3/15 10 ¶12-13)
Col 3:10-14—“Clothe yourselves with the new personality” (w13 9/15 21 ¶18-19)
Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)
Col 1:13, 14—What is “the kingdom of his beloved Son”? (it-2 169 ¶3-5)
Col 2:8—What are “the elementary things of the world”? (w08 8/15 28 ¶9)
What has this week’s Bible reading taught you about Jehovah?
What other spiritual gems have you discovered in this week’s Bible reading?
Bible Reading: (4 min. or less) Col 1:1-20 (th study 2)
APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY
Apply Yourself to Reading and Teaching: (10 min.) Discussion. Play the video Accurate and Convincing, and then discuss study 7 of the Teaching brochure.
Talk: (5 min. or less) w04 5/1 19-20 ¶3-7—Theme: How Were Certain Christians “a Strengthening Aid” to Paul? (Col 4:11, ftn.) (th study 7)
LIVING AS CHRISTIANS
2018 Teaching Committee Report: (15 min.) Play the video. Then discuss the following questions: How has travel been an integral part of our organization’s activity? How does the WHQ Travel Department save valuable Kingdom funds? What can publishers do to reduce travel costs for the organization? How is the WHQ Travel Department helping delegates who will be traveling to international conventions in 2019?
Congregation Bible Study: (30 min.) jy chap. 73
Review Followed by Preview of Next Week (3 min.)
Song 102 and Prayer