and teaching. (Matt. 10:7, 11-14; Mark 1:38; Luke 8:1) True Christians do not emulate the clergy of today, who do not preach by calling from door to door. They emulate Christ.

29. Whom do we copy in preaching, but with what modern aids?

²⁹ “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” (1 Pet. 2:21) Jehovah’s witnesses preach as did the primitive followers of Jesus. They have a far grander privilege than the early disciples, because they are now advertising in this “time of the end” the complete fulfillment of all that has been written in the Bible. They accept the responsibility imposed by God and the Lord Jesus Christ to declare now the gospel of God’s kingdom over all the earth. They have answered the great challenge of preaching this gospel in all the world as a witness to all nations (Matt. 24:14) by employing modern inventions, such as radio, the printing press and modern transportation, to supplement their primitive method. They have caused the message to be put into the form of printed Bibles, books, booklets, journals, newspapers, handbills and other literature which has been distributed throughout the earth by the millions, yes, by the billions of copies. This sharing of the truth with others they do without financial reward. It is only by this wise course, as sons of God, that they can have a part in the vindication of Jehovah’s name and live up to the name as his witnesses, making glad his heart. “My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.”—Prov. 27:11.

30. Besides the older ones, who also preach, and why?

³⁰ The covenant obligations of Jehovah’s witnesses, requiring them to live up to the name of Jehovah, are carried out by both old and young alike. All who hear must say “Come”! (Rev. 22:17) Today, in every part of the earth, are to be found young and old alike preaching and teaching the glad tidings of God’s kingdom. True to the admonition of Ecclesiastes 12:1, the young ministers of Jehovah God remember their Creator in the days of their youth. In order to escape the destruction which is the destiny of the unfaithful religionists at Armageddon, they offer acceptable sacrifices of praise now. They do not wait until they are old and decrepit to praise Jehovah by preaching and teaching. They serve while they have vigor. They put forth all their energies in their youth, laying up a great treasure of good works. (1 Tim. 6:12, 19) The preaching work is not reserved to the few, as the clergy claim preaching as their prerogative. The preaching work of Jehovah’s witnesses is open to all, young and old, from every nationality and walk of life, who are willing to enter into a covenant with God and who want to volunteer to live up to the name by declaring his work, kingdom and name in this time of the end.

31. To gain required knowledge and strengthen us, what do we do?

³¹ To gain the knowledge required for preaching, Jehovah’s witnesses forsake not the assembling of themselves together. Realizing they are living in the last days, they strengthen themselves for the work of maintaining the name of Jehovah. “Let us not neglect meeting together as some do, but let us encourage one another, all the more as you can see that the great Day is coming nearer.” (Heb. 10:25, An Amer. Trans.) Having freely received the gift of knowledge as to Jehovah’s purposes, they are obligated to freely give it to others.—Matt. 10:8.

WITNESSING REQUIRED

32. Living up to the name calls for what? How is this done now?

³² Living up to the name requires preaching. “Though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Cor. 9:16) Besides preaching verbally Jehovah’s witnesses distribute magazines containing God’s Word of truth on the streets and, incidental to their preaching to the people in their homes, offer them Bibles and explanatory literature. Such literature is an additional channel of the flowing stream of education that leads to life. Revisits by the minister are required to maintain a constant flow of the truth. This continual helpfulness, exercised in a wise and tactful manner (Matt. 10:16), produces good results, proving that Jehovah’s witnesses are living up to the name. The persons of good-will also become active as preachers of the Word.—Rev. 22:17.

33, 34. To be true to name, why must perseverance be shown? How?

³³ Living up to the name does not mean just praising Jehovah God on occasions. It is not confined to fair-weather serving of Jehovah. Regular, dependable preaching is required, with much patience. “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Gal. 6:9) Living up to the name by perseverance requires that Jehovah’s witnesses continue to stand on the street corners with the magazines regardless of the stony faces, cold looks and rebukes of passers-by, or bad weather. It means they will continue their witnessing regardless of the lack of interest shown. It means that territory will be combed over regularly, even though door after door may be slammed in the face.

³⁴ The apostle Paul had in mind the perseverance required to live up to the name when he wrote that Christians must have the patience of a farmer. (1 Cor. 3:6) There he wrote: “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” As a farmer must wait on the power of God to bring up the seed and make it grow, so must Jehovah’s witnesses plant, cultivate, water, watch over and care for their territory of witnessing. They must also fight the religious tares and weeds which the clergy throw in among the crop of people of goodwill in the territory. Showing the perseverance of a farmer in diligent attention to his crops, Jehovah’s witnesses live up to the name.

35. When will they preach, and in what manner?

³⁵ Much more than just preaching is required to live up to the name. It is possible, as the apostle stated, to preach to others and yet become a castaway. (1 Cor. 9:27) Christians must live their faith in their daily lives, being alert at all times to praise and honor God’s name, both in season and out of season. (2 Tim. 4:2) This means that by living up to the name Jehovah’s witnesses will take every opportunity to explain to people the hope that is within them. (1 Pet. 3:15) They will not remain silent when it is proper to speak. They will not, of course, indiscriminately intrude the Kingdom message upon others. They will not be rude. But they will not wait for a direct question for occasion to answer the hope within them or tell others about the Kingdom promises. They will be friendly, taking advantage of the opportunity to inform the listener on what the Bible reveals concerning the new world of righteousness.

Organized for United Testimony

 1. Must each witness work independently? or how? Why?

IN ORDER to measure up to their name, Jehovah’s witnesses know that they must work together with others of like precious faith. Together they all fulfill Matthew 24:14 by preaching the gospel in all the world as a witness to all nations. Each is for all and all are for each. Each knows that not one is safe alone or can preach the gospel independently of all his other brethren. In working together to form a composite body, they live up to the name. God’s blessing and direction is upon his composite body of people in the earth. God deals with his people as a group or society, as he dealt with Israel in times of old.

 2. What association and common fundamental service unifies them?

² Jehovah’s witnesses therefore associate with their brethren at the congregational meetings, at circuit assemblies and district assemblies and at large international conventions, when possible and convenient to attend. In carrying out their preaching work, they all cooperate together like an army. Jehovah God has placed each one in the organization as it pleases him. In an army not all can be officers, but privates do the great mass of working and fighting. All among Jehovah’s witnesses realize that the greatest position or job that one can have in God’s organization is being a minister, teacher, preacher or publisher by telling others about God’s kingdom. Having this knowledge and feeling of equality of privileges, Jehovah’s witnesses are led toward unity. Unity and harmony of spirit and mind and work are accomplished by the power or spirit of Jehovah God that hovers over his organization like a mighty canopy.

 3. What must they observe as to their private lives and dealings?

³ In their private lives as well as in their dealings with one another, Jehovah’s witnesses recognize that in God’s law there are laid down many requirements that they must abide by in order to prove that they are living up to the name. They must keep themselves unstained by the world. (Jas. 1:27) Not only must they keep entirely free from the political, commercial and religious elements of the “old world”, but they must also abstain from the nefarious living habits of the world. They must avoid the standards of personal conduct prevalent in the world in respect to morals and honesty if they are to keep themselves unspotted from the world. They keep themselves clean morally and physically. This they do because they know that God requires all who bear the message, as his vessels, to be clean. “Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.” (Isa. 52:11) The apostle said: “I beat and bruise my body and make it my slave, so that after I have called others to the contest I may not be disqualified myself.”—1 Cor. 9:27, An Amer. Trans.

 4. What works not consistent with the name do they eschew? How?

⁴ Being consistent with their name requires that the warning of Paul be accepted, by following his advice to eschew the vices that flow from the lusts of the flesh. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:19-21) Thus Jehovah’s witnesses have renewed their minds by God’s grace and help and have put out of their minds the personal ways and habits of the evil, wicked world. Their minds have been purged with the truths of righteousness mentioned by the apostle at 2 Peter 1:5-9.

 5, 6. What burdens do they not impose? What help do they offer free?

⁵ In order to live up to the name, Jehovah’s witnesses do not place heavy burdens on anyone. Each does not shirk his responsibilities in doing his part of the work. Each bears his own burden in assisting with the preaching of the gospel or the maintenance of a meeting-place or any other instrumentality that