Here it is the first WT study of 2004
Comments You Will Not Hear at the 1-4-04 WT Study
Review comments
will be in black and parentheses ()WT quotes
will be in red and quotes ""Quotes from other sources
will be in blueScripture Types
: (S) Snippet, (C) Citation, (Q) QuotationPREACH TO MAKE DISCIPLES
"When Priscilla and Aquila heard [Apollos], they took him into their company and expounded the way of Godo more correctly to him."?ACTS 18:26
Apollos started speaking bravely in the Jewish meeting place. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him to their home and helped him understand God's Way even better.?Acts 18:26 (Contemporary English Version)
Opening Comment
Aren?t disciples made through "teaching"?
Where are the disciples coming from lately? When you look down at the candidates at an assembly/convention who do you see? Young teenagers, maybe even pre-teens, and perhaps one adult. The harvest is from the children of current JWs not from people outside. The WTS knows this and wants to turn the tide. Already the COs are letting the elders know that the new MS and elders come from the ranks of new brothers. If the young men leave or are DF?d, who will there be? The average age of elders in several circuits I know of, is around 35 and aging. Door to door is not working but the "sheep" have been conditioned. Will they change and talk to people at their cars and through the phone? Are these new ideas? Look at the role women play in the preaching/teaching work in reality.
START OF ARTICLE
Priscilla and Aquila, a first-century Christian married couple, observed Apollos giving a speech at a synagogue in the city of Ephesus. With his eloquent words and power of persuasion, Apollos had captured the attention of his audience. He was "aglow with the spirit," and was "teaching with correctness the things about Jesus." However, it was evident that Apollos was "acquainted with only the baptism of John." What Apollos preached about the Christ was true as far as it went. The problem was that it did not go far enough. Apollos needed to increase his knowledge of the role of Jesus Christ in the outworking of Jehovah?s purpose.?Acts 18:24-26 (Snippet)
PICTURE
Apollos and Aquila are reading an opened scroll seated next to each other. Priscilla is standing next to them with a basket of scrolls. We can see how the WTS views her part in ?expounding the way of God more correctly to him."
BTW how does the WTS apply this in regard to women? Can a sister conduct a study with a couple or is she "forced" to turn it over to a brother or a married couple? Can 2 sisters conduct a study with a man?
Without hesitation, Priscilla and Aquila made themselves available to help Apollos become one who could observe "all the things" Christ commanded. (Matthew 28:19,20) (C) The account says that they took Apollos "into their company and expounded the way of God more correctly to him." However, there were facts about Apollos that would have led some Christians to be reluctant to teach him. What facts? And what can we learn from the efforts of Priscilla and Aquila to discuss the Scriptures with Apollos? How can a review of this historical account help us focus on starting home Bible studies?Priscilla made herself available to keeping the house clean, getting the beverages, making up the guest room, running and getting more scrolls.
What would have "led some Christians to be reluctant to teach him (Apollos)?
And the WTS wants the rank and file to "focus on starting home Bible studies." Why? Because the number of studies per publisher is dropping, no studies no new JWs, no money. They know that the bulk of those baptized are children of current JWs and that anywhere from 50 to 80 percent of them leave or are DF?d/DA?d within 5 years.
Focus on People Born of Jewish stock, Apollos had apparently (buzzword meaning the WTS is adding to the Bible account) been reared in the city of Alexandria. Alexandria was then the capital of Egypt and a center of higher learning, renowned for its great library. The city had a large Jewish population, including scholars. Hence, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures known as the Septuagint was produced there. No wonder Apollos was "well versed in the Scriptures"! Aquila and Priscilla wereBut Apollos was clean, well dressed, and evidently had a few denarii. Would JWs today consider talking to a homeless street person, not so clean or well dressed and evidently had no money?
No matter how eloquent Apollos was, he needed instruction. The help he needed was not to be found in any university but was found among fellow members of the Christian congregation (of which Apollos was not yet a member so why are they saying fellow members? Is there another message here?)Yes, the help any JW needs is not found in any university. So why pursue further education? It didn?t help Apollos.
Apollos was about to benefit from points that would result in a more accurate understanding of God?s arrangement for salvation. Priscilla and Aquilla "took him into their company and expounded the way of God more correctly to him."Can something be more accurate? Isn?t it either accurate or inaccurate?
How was/is your congregation?s attitude about taking Bible students into your company? Invite them to your house? Go out to eat with them? Take them on their errands if they have no transportation? Or were you told to limit your social contact because they were still tainted by the world?
Priscilla and Aquilla were spiritually strong and well-grounded in the faith. Very likely (another buzzword meaning the WTS is now going to add to the Bible account), they were ?always ready to make a defense before everyone that demanded a reason for their hope,? whether that be a rich man, a poor person, a scholar, or a slave. (1 Peter 3:15) (S) Aquila and his wife (Priscilla) were able to ?handle the world of the truth aright.? (2 Timothy 2:15) (S) Evidently (buzzword), they were serious students of the Scriptures. Apollos was deeply touched by the instruction based on ?the word of God, which is alive and exerts power? affecting the heart.?Hebrews 4:12We have seen "apparently," "very likely," and "evidently," used so far in this article. Above, the WTS strings together snippets of scriptures designed to make people feel guilty. Do you think the average publisher is or thinks of themselves as "spiritually strong and "well-grounded"? Are they "always ready to make a defense?" Of the Bible or the WTS?
Apollos appreciated the example of his teachers (what teaching does the WTS portray Priscilla doing?) and became even more adept at making disciples. He used his knowledge to full advantage in the work of proclaiming the good news ,Translation: No using that knowledge to pursue worldly education or a career.
Especially among the Jewish population. Apollos was exceptionally useful in persuading the Jews about Christ. ?Being powerful in the Scriptures,? he was able to prove to them that all the prophets of old looked forward to the coming of the Christ. (Acts 18:24, Kingdom Interlinear Translation) (S) The account adds that Apollos went to Achaia, where "he greatly helped those who had believed on account of God'? undeserved kindness (grace); for with intensity he thoroughly proved the Jews to be wrong publicly, while he demonstrated by the Scriptures, that Jesus was the Christ."?Acts 18:27,28. (S)Apollos did all this without a single Watchtower publication. Just with the Bible. Can JWs today do the same?
Learn from the Example of Other Teachers How did Aquila and Priscilla become proficient teachers of the Word of God?Translation: The majority of JWs are not or why have this article?
Besides their diligence in personal study and meeting attendance,How many meetings a week does the Bible say the early Christians attended?
Their close association with the apostle Paul must have (buzzword, Bible doesn?t say) helped greatly. For 18 months Paul resided in the home of Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth. They worked together making and repairing tents. (Acts 18:2,3) (C) Imagine (meaning the Bible doesn?t say) the deep Scriptural conversations that must have ensued. And what a boost to their spirituality such association with Paul afforded the! "He that is walking with wise persons will become wise," says Proverbs 13:20.Translation: Good association is found with men with position like Paul.
Good association had a fine effect on their spiritual habits?1 Corinthians 15:33 (C)Translation: Don?t associate with those not judged as spiritually strong.
When Priscilla and Aquila observed Paul as a Kingdom proclaimer, they saw a good teacher in action.Do the elders and the COs work with the average publishers or only each other? How will the rank and file see "a good teacher in action."?
The account in Acts states that Paul "would give a talk in the synagogue [in Corinth] every sabbath and would persuade Jews and Greeks."Then should JWs give talks at the meeting places of other religious groups like Paul did?
Later when he was joined by Silas and Timothy, Paul began to be intensely occupied with the word, witnessing to the Jews to prove that Jesus is the Christ." When little interest was found among the members of the synagogue, Priscilla and Aquila noticed that Paul transferred the center of his preaching activity to a more favorable location, a house adjoining the synagogue. There Paul was able to help Crispus, "the presiding officer of the synagogue," to be come a disciple. Very likely (buzzword meaning that the following is not in the Bible account), Priscilla and Aquila noted that the making of that one disciple had a profound and fruitful effect on the territory. The account states: "Crispus?became a believer in the Lord, and so did all his household. And many of the Corinthians that heard began to believe and be baptized."?Acts 18:4-8 (S)Translation: When you find someone who listens, make a return visit, heck move in and convert the whole family. It would be best if the person were famous, like Michael Jackson or Prince.
Paul?s example in the field ministry was imitated by other Kingdom proclaimers, such as Priscilla and Aquila. The apostle exhorted other Christians: "Become imitators of me, even as I am of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1) (S) In harmony with Paul?s example, Priscilla and Aquila helped Apollos to understand Christian teachings more correctly. In turn, he assisted still others. Priscilla and Aquila no doubt (buzzword) helped to make disciples in Rome, Corinth, and Ephesus.?Acts 18:1,2,18,19; Romans 16:3-5 (C).Whose example is followed today? Jesus??
w01 2/15 p. 27 Although anointed ones have diminished in number to fewer than 8,700, some six million others are imitating their faith by seeking Jehovah and speaking the pure language.w74 12/15 p. 759 The recently appearing "great crowd" that have joined the remnant in worshiping Jehovah as God have imitated the remnant in declaring and making Him their refuge, and hence their "dwelling."What can we learn from our consideration of Acts chapter 18? Well, just as Aquila and Priscilla may have (buzzword) learned from Paul, we can improve our ability to make disciples by following the example of good teachers of God?s Word. We can associate with those who are "intensely occupied with the word." And who are "thoroughly witnessing" to others. (Acts 18:5, Kingdom Interlinear Translation)Now who could these "good teachers" be? Elders, MS, pioneers? Do they work with the publishers? Or do they make car groups and then take off with the other elders in one car leaving their wives to train the children? Or do the pioneers hold back saying that they have studies that they always take a certain pioneer sister on? Or do they want you to observe their "teaching" techniques on the stage when the people they are talking to are already JWs?
We can observe how they reach the heart of people by using persuasive teaching skills. Such skills can help us to make disciples. When a person is studying the Bible with us, we might suggest that he (she) invite other members of his (her) family or neighbors to join in the study. Or we might ask him (her) to let us know of others to whom we could offer a Bible study.?Acts 18:6-8 (S)I don?t know why they don?t use the feminine pronoun since 85% of Bible students are women.
Create Opportunities to Make Disciples Paul and his fellow Christians sought to make disciples by preaching from house to house, in the marketplace, and on their travels (going/returning from conventions?)?really, everywhere (don?t do it in the restroom). As a zealous Kingdom worker seeking to make disciples, can you expand your field service activities?Translation: There is no excuse for anyone not to be able to simplify their lives and regular pioneer and/or move to where the need is great.
Kingdom Ministry 5/74 p. 3 How Are You Using Your Life? Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world?s end.?1 John 2:17.Can you take advantage of opportunities to search for deserving ones?Now who are deserving ones? Who decides they are deserving? How do you know they are deserving ones? How can it be "undeserved" kindness yet people have to be deserving?
And preach to them? What are some good ways in which our fellow publishers (not preachers or teachers?) of the good news (really hawking the WT publications) have found disciples? Let us first take a look at the field of telephone witnessing.Do we have to?
While witnessing from house to house in Brazil, a Christian whom we will call Maria (are they underground or something) handed a tract to a young woman who was leaving an apartment building (I thought this was about telephone witnessing). Using the tract?s title as an introduction, Maria asked "Would you like to know more about the Bible?" The woman replied: "I would love to. The problem is that I am a teacher and giving lessons takes up all my time." Maria explained that they could consider Bible topics over the telephone (that takes less time?). The woman gave Maria her phone number (don?t lose it), and that very evening, she started a study by telephone using the brochure What Does God Require of Us?* (published by Jehovah?s Witnesses (rather than previously Watchtower Bible and Tract Society)).Now we know a real JW would have misplaced the phone number and found it in the bottom of her bookbag 2 weeks later and have forgotten why she wrote it down. Note there is no statement that this woman progressed to baptism because if she had, it would be noted.
While engaged in telephone witnessing, a full-time minister (pioneer) in Ethiopia was started when she spoke to a man but heard a commotion in the background. The man asked her to call back later. When she did, he apologized and said that at the time of her earlier call, he and his wife were in the middle of a heated quarrel (yes, like I would pick up the phone when I was fighting with my husband). The sister used this remark as an opportunity to point to the wise guidance the Bible gives for handling family problems. She told him that many families had been helped by The Secret of Family Happiness (except for the elder that has been beating his kids and wife for 10 years), a book published by Jehovah?s Witnesses. A few days after the book was delivered, the sister telephoned the man again. He exclaimed: "This book has saved my marriage!" (he wasn?t talking about the Bible) In fact, he had held a family meeting so as to pass on the good points he had read in the book. (Yes, the ones about the wife being in subjection to the husband.) A home Bible study was started, and soon the man began to attend Christian meetings regularly.Note that it does not say the family started attending or that this man progressed to baptism.
A Kingdom proclaimer in Denmark who started a Bible study by witnessing over the telephone says: "The service overseer encouraged me to participate in telephone witnessing. In the beginning I held back, saying: ?That is not my cup of tea;? However, one day I mustered up the courage and began dialing the first householder (why do we call them householders?it sounds so impersonal?). Sonja answered and, after a short conversation, agreed to receive Bible-based literature (push those publications). One evening we discussed the subject of creation, and she wanted to read Life?How Did It Get Here? By Evolution or by Creation. I said it would be nice if we could meet in person and discuss the subject. She agreed. Sonja was ready for the study when I came, and we have studied every week since that time." Our Christian sister concludes: "For many years I had prayed for a Bible study, but I did not expect to get one by witnessing on the phone."Notice again, no mention that this person progressed to the point of baptism. I bring this up because my family has participated in many demonstrations about RVs or Bible studies that have not progressed and have been told not to say anything about that but to leave the audience with the impression that there was a positive outcome.
Many are enjoying success because of applying suggestions to witness to people wherever they are. A Christian woman in the United States stopped her car next to a commercial van in a parking lot. When the woman in the van saw her, the sister started to explain the nature of our Bible educational work (buzzword). The woman listened, got out of the van, and stepped over to the sister?s car. She said: "I?m so glad you stopped to talk with me. I haven?t had any of your Bible literature for a long time (because JWs call during the day). Besides, I want to study the Bible again. Will you study with me?" Our sister thus created a favorable situation for sharing the good news.That?s right, interrupt someone during their working hours to talk about the Bible and get them fired.
A sister in the United States had the following experience when she visited a nursing home: She approached a director of certain activities in the facility and told him that she would like to volunteer her help in meeting the spiritual needs of the residents. Our sister added that she would be pleased to conduct a free weekly Bible study (using WTS publications) with all who wished to attend. The director gave her permission to visit the rooms of different residents. Soon, she was conducting a Bible study three times a week with a total of 26 residents, one of whom is able to attend our meetings regularly .Well, if the other 25 aren?t attending soon, they will be toast. It?s amazing how many JWs can and will visit nursing homes when they can count their time but not if it is just to visit Sister Bedridden who can?t make the meetings any more.
Please note that all these examples were about SISTERS doing telephone witnessing. Evidently, brothers either don?t or aren?t successful. I?m betting on don?t.
PICTUREThe lower one shows 2 sisters (in heels no woman would wear in service) talking to a man and his young daughter by the car.
The upper one shows 2 brothers getting ready to show a video at a nursing home. (not in keeping with the actual experience where a sister made the effort and conducted studies?much more difficult that showing a movie)
The bottom one shows 2 sisters doing telephone witnessing.
For some Kingdom proclaimers, a direct offer of a Bible study products good results. One morning a congregation with 105 publishers made a special effort (translation, they really never do it) to offer a Bible study to each householder they met (1). Eighty-six publishers participated (80%, it had to be the circuit overseer?s visit) in field service, and after spending two hours in the preaching work, they found that at least 15 new Bible studies had been started (of course they aren?t official until they are conducted 2 more times).Keep on Searching for Deserving OnesAs a Kingdom proclaimer (better than publisher but they still slip that in), you may wish (this is not a suggestion) to try the suggestions mentioned in this article (listen up brothers). Of course, it would be wise to take into account local customs when considering methods of witnessing.Now that is an ambiguous statement. Can anyone guess what they mean?
Above all, let us keep in mind Jesus? direction to search out deserving ones (for undeserved kindness) and help such individuals to become disciples.?Matthew 10:11; 28:19 (C)To that end, may we ?handle the word of the truth aright.? We can do so by using persuasion based solidly on the Scriptures (as interpreted through the appointed channel the WTS?self-appointed). This will help us to touch the heart of receptive (deserving) ones and move them to action (after the JWs move themselves to action). As we prayerfully rely on Jehovah, we can share in helping some (not even a fraction of the 6 billion plus on earth) to become disciples of Jesus Christ. And how rewarding this work is! (That is why so many show up on Saturdays?out of a congregation of 100, only 30 showed up at the KH last week). Let us therefore ?do our utmost to present ourselves approved to God,? always honoring Jehovah (where?s Jesus?) as zealous (10 hours/month or more) Kingdom proclaimers, who preach with the purpose of making disciples (not just getting our time in).?2 Timothy 2:15 Concluding CommentsAre JWs preaching (teaching) to make disciples? You be the judge.
Daytime witnessing when no one is home.
Most regular and auxiliary pioneers get the bulk of their witnessing time done during the day. I speak from experience during my own days of regular pioneering. As a woman, it was hard for me to go out in evening witnessing alone. Do you think I could find someone to go? Which brings me to:
Evening witnessing, very little done.
Reasons: I have a family to take care of, I?m afraid to go out in the evening but will go to a movie in the worst part of town, it?s too dark, none of my RVs are home in the evening (I heard that one for real, of course, none of the daytime ones were home either but that didn?t stop her), people don?t want us stopping in the evening (or during the day), add your own.
Little followup on RVs or wait until the "die on the vine" due to lack of attention.
Not wanting to be tied down to the responsibility of a Bible student
The real point is that JWs know that their salvation does not depend on having a Bible study, making return visits, or even placing literature. As long as they remain active by getting 1/hour/month in (15 minutes for the elderly or ill), they are set. They just have to show up at the meetings (they don?t even have to comment) and avoid the Big DF offenses (or at least being caught doing them).
My suggestion, 2034 or die! (that?s a joke folks)
Blondie