restored that one’s daughter from death. He sent orders to an army officer’s abode to heal his slave. A “woman named Martha received him as guest into the house”, where Jesus found her sister Mary to be very much interested, for she “sat down at the feet of the Master and kept listening to his word”. Martha’s anxiety over material things Jesus here said was in vain, proving that the spiritual provisions he served were always the motivating purpose of his calls.—Luke 19:5-10; Matt. 9:23-26; Luke 7:2-10; 10:38-42, NW.

So it would appear that house-to-house work was meant again when, following the outpouring of the holy spirit at the feast of Pentecost, A.D. 33, the disciples were described “continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house”. (Acts 2:46) Certainly we know that Jesus’ followers expanded the private home ministry to marvelous limits after his death and resurrection. Despite warning from the authorities to cease, “every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus.” (Acts 5:42, NW) Paul tells how anxious he was to discharge his apostleship in a thorough manner. Note the means he used to ensure this: “I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house.”—Acts 20:20, NW.

How natural in view of all this that, with the immense task of preaching the good news of the Kingdom throughout the earth in this complex modern world, Jehovah’s organization should lean so heavily on the age-old Scriptural door-to-door ministry! Difficult as the task is even with this help, it would be impossible without it. Still there are problems to be overcome in doing this work effectively. Just how we will now consider.

Preaching Effectively at the Doors

WHAT brings the minister of good news to the door? To find the Right Shepherd’s “other sheep”, a unique and blessed pursuit. If for his public lectures God’s minister prepares earnestly, should he not prepare equally well for the task of confronting each door in a manner much more intimate than is possible with any one of the listeners in a public hall? As the Right Shepherd’s representative he should be a pleasing example, able to relay the Shepherd’s voice without distortion.

The exemplary apostle Paul, in his effort to reach all and not stumble any by his message, said: “For, though I am free from all persons, I have made myself the slave to all, that I may gain the most persons. And so to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those under law I became as under law, . . . I have become all things to people of all kinds, that I might by all means save some.” (1 Cor. 9:19, 20, 22, NW) This does not mean to affect a false front of superficial worldly wisdom to impress the intellectual. The real sheep will be weary of such