Bible reading: JEREMIAH 20-21
🎵 Song 73 — opens in JW Library
Jeremiah was persecuted for delivering Jehovah’s judgments (Jer 20:2, 8)
Jeremiah became discouraged and considered giving up (Jer 20:9a)
Jeremiah was able to continue preaching boldly because of Jehovah’s word and His support (Jer 20:9b, 11; w11 3/15 30 ¶9; w10 2/15 7 ¶8-9)
Why these scriptures
Then Pashʹhur struck Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks that were at the Upper Gate of Benjamin, which was in the house of Jehovah.
For whenever I speak, I must cry out and proclaim, “Violence and destruction!” For me the word of Jehovah has been the cause of insults and jeering all day long.
So I said: “I am not going to make mention of him, And I will speak no more in his name.” But in my heart it became like a burning fire shut up in my bones, And I was tired of holding it in; I could no longer endure it.
But Jehovah was with me like a fearsome warrior. That is why those persecuting me will stumble and will not prevail. They will be put to great shame, for they will not succeed. Their everlasting humiliation will not be forgotten.
🗺️ Places: Benjamin Gate (Jerusalem)
Referenced material
Jer 20:12—What does this verse motivate us to do? (w13 3/15 10 ¶11)
What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share?
Why these scriptures
But you, O Jehovah of armies, are examining the righteous one; You see the innermost thoughts and the heart. Let me see your vengeance on them, For to you I have committed my legal case.
🗺️ Places: Benjamin Gate (Jerusalem), Judea (southern West Bank / Israel), Babylon (Hillah, Iraq)
Referenced material
Why these scriptures
You have fooled me, O Jehovah, and I was fooled. You used your strength against me, and you prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day long; Everyone ridicules me.
For whenever I speak, I must cry out and proclaim, “Violence and destruction!” For me the word of Jehovah has been the cause of insults and jeering all day long.
So I said: “I am not going to make mention of him, And I will speak no more in his name.” But in my heart it became like a burning fire shut up in my bones, And I was tired of holding it in; I could no longer endure it.
For I heard many evil rumors; Terror surrounded me. “Denounce him; let us denounce him!” Every man wishing me peace was watching for my downfall: “Perhaps he will make a foolish mistake, And we can prevail and take our revenge against him.”
But Jehovah was with me like a fearsome warrior. That is why those persecuting me will stumble and will not prevail. They will be put to great shame, for they will not succeed. Their everlasting humiliation will not be forgotten.
But you, O Jehovah of armies, are examining the righteous one; You see the innermost thoughts and the heart. Let me see your vengeance on them, For to you I have committed my legal case.
Sing to Jehovah! Praise Jehovah! For he has rescued the poor one from the hand of evildoers.
Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother gave birth to me not be blessed!
Cursed be the man who brought good news to my father, saying: “A son has been born to you, a boy!” Making him rejoice greatly.
May that man become like cities that Jehovah overthrew without regret. May he hear an outcry in the morning and the sound of alarm at midday.
Why did he not put me to death in the womb, So that my mother would become my burial place And her womb would always remain pregnant?
Why did I have to come out of the womb To see trouble and grief, To end my days in shame?
Referenced material
INFORMAL WITNESSING. Find a natural way to let the person know that you are one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. (lmd lesson 2 point 4)
Referenced material
HOUSE TO HOUSE. Share a truth from appendix A of the Love People brochure. (lmd lesson 9 point 3)
Referenced material
Demonstration. A child rehearses with one of his parents a report that he plans to give to his class based on ijwwd article 41. (th study 13)
Referenced material
🎵 Song 57 — opens in JW Library
Discussion.
Before going in the ministry, we might have prepared to start a conversation on a topic that many people in the territory are thinking about. (lmd lesson 1 point 3) However, what if we discern that a different topic would be better for a particular householder? Before sharing the good news with a blind man, Jesus showed him kindness. (Joh 9:1, 6, 7, 35-38) What does this teach us? When someone senses that we genuinely care, he is more likely to listen to our message. Therefore, when preaching from house to house, it is important to imagine how the householder feels and to demonstrate personal interest.
Read 1 Corinthians 9:20-23. Then ask the audience:
How did Paul show that he cared about people?
Why did Paul make the effort to adapt his message?
Play the VIDEO “Eager to Declare the Good News”—Be Ready With the Right Equipment—Excerpt. Then ask the audience:
Although the brother had prepared a topic to start a conversation, how did he adapt to the situation?
Why is it important to show that we care?
🎬 Play the VIDEO — opens in JW Library
Why these scriptures
9 As he was passing along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth.
After he said these things, he spat on the ground and made a paste with the saliva, and he smeared the paste on the man’s eyes
and said to him: “Go wash in the pool of Si·loʹam” (which is translated “Sent Forth”). And he went and washed, and came back seeing.
Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and on finding him, he said: “Are you putting faith in the Son of man?”
The man answered: “And who is he, sir, so that I may put faith in him?”
Jesus said to him: “You have seen him, and in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
He said: “I do put faith in him, Lord.” And he did obeisance to him.
To the Jews I became as a Jew in order to gain Jews; to those under law I became as under law, though I myself am not under law, in order to gain those under law.
To those without law I became as without law, although I am not without law toward God but under law toward Christ, in order to gain those without law.
To the weak I became weak, in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to people of all sorts, so that I might by all possible means save some.
But I do all things for the sake of the good news, in order to share it with others.
🗺️ Places: Siloam (Pool of Siloam)
Referenced material
wcg intro to section 1, timeline, and chap. 1
Referenced material
🎵 Song 31 — opens in JW Library
Comments are AI-generated study aids, not published material. Program text and references are © Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania; follow the links above to read them on jw.org.