Review of Memorial Talk

by pixel 76 Replies latest watchtower bible

  • pixel
    pixel

    This is my personal review of the Memorial Talk for this year. Take into account that this is a new "outline". I put "outline" in quotes because
    I believe this is going to be deliver "verbatim style", word by word, easy, no?

    I don't know if somebody else has posted it besides maybe Atlantis.

    My comments are underlined and in parenthesis.

    Here it is:

    Appreciate what Christ has done for you!

    Song No. 8 and Opening Prayer

    THIS IS A SPECIAL OCCASION (6 min.)

    We are here to show our appreciation for a superlative act of love

    On this date almost 2,000 years ago (Wow! they are highlighting the 2,000 years) Jesus Christ gave his life in order to deliver us from the curse
    of sin and death

    Jesus commanded his disciples to remember his loving act once a year in a simple ceremony [Read Luke22:19, 20]

    In obedience to Jesus’ command, millions in 236 lands will observe the Lord’s Evening Meal tonight

    They will meet in Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls, in private homes, in rented facilities—even in prisons and open fields

    In countries where our work is banned, appreciative ones will risk their freedom in order to obey Jesus’

    command [Mention adjustments some in audience may have made in order to attend, and warmly commend them for making the effort]

    Last year observed the Lord’s Evening Meal worldwide

    Tonight we will briefly answer the following questions:

    (1) Why do humans need to be delivered from the curse of sin and death?

    (2) Who benefit from Jesus’ loving sacrifice?

    (3) Who partake of the bread and the wine?

    (4) Besides attending this meeting, what else must we do to show our appreciation for what Christ has done for us?

    WHY WE NEEDED DELIVERANCE (7 min.)

    The first man, Adam, had the prospect of living forever

    His enjoyment of everlasting life was dependent on his obedience

    By disobeying God, Adam personally lost the prospect of everlasting life

    Later, when children were born to him, they came under the death sentence along with Adam [Read Romans5:12]

    Could righthearted descendants of Adam ever be delivered from the sad condition they inherited?

    They could, by becoming part of a different family!

    Obedient descendants of Adam can join Jesus’ family

    Jesus is “the last Adam” (1Co 15:45)

    The first Adam set his descendants on the path to destruction

    The last Adam, Jesus, provided our deliverance through his obedience as far as death [Read Romans 5:19]

    But why did Jesus have to die?

    Not for any wrong he committed; Jesus was without sin (1Pe 2:22)

    Jesus took our place, suffering death for us so that we could live forever [Read Hebrews 2:9]

    It warms our heart to think that Jesus was willing to change places with us—to suffer and die so that we could have life!

    But life where? In heaven or on earth?

    WHO BENEFIT FROM JESUS’ LOVING SACRIFICE? (10 min.)

    The Bible describes two destinies, or hopes, for faithful humans (I can't read this without thinking about Ephesian 4:4)

    A limited number will receive everlasting life in heaven; (I thought it was immortal life, or are this two terms equal?) the vast majority will
    enjoy life on a paradise earth, according to God’s original purpose for mankind

    Those with either hope can become members of God’s family

    Those with a heavenly hope are called Christ’s “brothers” (Heb 2:17)

    Those with an earthly hope, his children (Isa 9:6) (Now Jesus is our heavenly father?)

    We can all decide whether to join God’s family or not, but we cannot choose where we will serve him, in heaven or on earth

    Cannot ‘decide’ to be “born again” (Joh 3:5-8; w09 4/1 5-6)

    Jehovah determines where we will best serve

    144,000 will join Christ in heavenly Kingdom [Read Revelation 14:1]

    They are all Christians, having the name of Jesus figuratively written on their foreheads

    They also proudly bear “the name of his Father”—Jehovah

    God’s spirit gives them personal assurance that they have the heavenly hope (Ro 8:15-17)

    These partake of the bread and the wine

    The vast majority of those attending the Lord’s Evening Meal do not have the heavenly hope

    It thrills them to contemplate the blessings that God has in store for them on a paradise earth:

    Children are eager for the fulfillment of Isaiah 11:6-9 [Read]

    Sick or infirm yearn to see Isaiah 35:5, 6 come true [Read]

    Family men look forward to the day when Isaiah 65:21-23 will become a reality [Read]

    While on earth, Jesus healed the sick and even raised the dead

    He longs to reverse the effects of Adam’s sin on the human race

    Can you see yourself in the new world? God wants you to be there!

    WHO SHOULD PARTAKE OF THE BREAD AND THE WINE? (4 min.)

    Both those with the heavenly hope and those with the earthly hope benefit from Jesus’ sacrifice

    However, those with the earthly hope do not partake of the emblems

    Why not?

    Because the bread and the wine represent Christ’s body and blood in a special sense:

    Bread represents Jesus’ body given in behalf of anointed (w06 2/15 23, box; w85 2/15 12-13)

    Wine represents Jesus’ blood as it applies to those in new covenant, the 144,000

    Cup of wine represents new covenant (Lu 22:20) (I thought Jesus' body and blood was given in behalf of everybody, just not the "anointed")

    The Lord’s Evening Meal will be observed as long as Christians with the heavenly hope are on earth [Read1 Corinthians 11:26]

    Once the Lord “arrives,” he will take the last of the 144,000 home to be with him in heaven (Joh 14:1-3)

    (So, it seems that they won't be any "anointed" passing through paradise as they had many times said?)

    Those with the earthly hope will no longer observe the Memorial

    Will not partake of the emblems then, so do not partake now (oh! that was mean! so do not partake now)

    OBSERVING THE MEMORIAL OF CHRIST’S DEATH TODAY (10 min.)

    Tonight we will follow the pattern Jesus set for observing the Lord’s Evening Meal

    [Read and comment briefly on 1 Corinthians 11:23, 24]

    Jesus offered prayer and passed bread to 11 faithful apostles (you sure it was just 11?)

    Unleavened bread represents Jesus’ sinless body, given in behalf of his anointed followers (again, just the anointed. Sorry everybody else)

    [Qualified brother offers brief prayer, and then the bread is passed; optional whether speaker comments while emblems are being served]

    [Read and comment briefly on 1 Corinthians 11:25]

    Jesus prayed and then offered wine to followers

    Red wine pictures his precious “blood of the covenant” (Mt 26:28)

    [Another qualified brother prays briefly, (they have to control the time of the prayer, read: briefly) and then the wine is passed]

    WHAT MUST WE DO TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION? (8 min.)

    Jehovah wants you to be a member of his family

    Jesus’ sacrifice opened the way for you to have a precious relationship with your loving heavenly Father (I thought my heavenly Father was Jesus?)

    You must obey the rules of the household (1Ti 3:14, 15)

    God will help you to live by his standards—he wants you to succeed!

    When you are discouraged, pour out your heart to him in earnest prayer

    Build faith in God by taking in knowledge

    The more you get to know about God and Christ, the more you will love them

    Attend meetings regularly, not merely on special occasions, such as this one

    It has been heartwarming for us to consider what Jesus did for us

    In coming days and weeks, continue to reflect appreciatively on his sacrifice

    [Conclude by reading 1 John 4:9]

    Song No. 109 and Closing Prayer

    S-31-E—page 2 TO BE COVERED IN 45 MINUTES

    (Boring)

  • jgnat
    jgnat

    I see no earth-shaking revelation about the "reduced" status of the anointed.

  • undercover
    undercover

    I see no earth-shaking revelation about the "reduced" status of the anointed.

    They avoid the use of the term "Faithful and Discreet Slave class", which is what the annointed used to be considered. Now they're just "the annointed". Same basic talk, minus mention of the F&DS and none of the dubs will catch the change.

  • Amelia Ashton
    Amelia Ashton

    If the faithful and discreet slave consists of only the 8 members of the GB now maybe they will be dropping the GB title in a few years hoping everyone will forget it was once all the 144,000.

  • pixel
    pixel

    What is new to me is this part:

    Bread represents Jesus’ body given in behalf of anointed (w06 2/15 23, box; w85 2/15 12-13)

    Wine represents Jesus’ blood as it applies to those in new covenant, the 144,000

    For some reason I knew that they say the Last Supper was the introduction of the New Covenant, between anointed and Jesus, but I didn't know that Jesus was giving his body in behalf of the the anointed. Since tehy make no mention of the no anointed, that leaves them out , no?

  • Amelia Ashton
    Amelia Ashton

    (Isaiah 9:6) 6 For there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

    Jesus is our heavenly Father?! I never saw that before

  • Ding
    Ding

    The key point of the talk is DON'T PARTAKE: THIS ISN'T FOR YOU!!!

  • DATA-DOG
    DATA-DOG

    They are morons.. It is the most boring corporate meeting of the year. It is one notch below sound-system/michrophone meetings. The information is olld and stale, and based on the false teaching of the heavenly calling ending in the 1920's. The memorial as celebrated by Jehovah's witnesses has no bearing or tangible effect on anyones life. The day after it will be buisiness as usual.... The only thing it accomplishes is to cause dissonance, and reassure the rank and file that they are second class, and that Christ is not their mediator.

  • Amelia Ashton
    Amelia Ashton

    The only thing it accomplishes is to cause dissonance, and reassure the rank and file that they are second class, and that Christ is not their mediator.

    I don't think the majority of the R & F even understand this much

  • maninthemiddle
    maninthemiddle

    I'm looking at 2012-s-31-E-memorial talk and I don't see any difference.

    EDIT: i have another dated 2006 that is different.

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