Monday, June 29, 2009

Week of June 29th - July 5th

Congregation Bookstudy Lesson:
(song 124)
Keep Yourselves In God's Love
(chapter 6, pgs 70-73 ¶16-23)

Theocratic Ministry School Parts:
Bible reading: Leviticus 14-16
~THEOCRATIC MINISTRY SCHOOL REVIEW~
Service Meeting:
(song 81)
Good Personal Appearance - Why Important (10 min.)
(be pgs 131-134)
Choose Bible Topics for "People of All Sorts" (10 min.)
(based on 1 Corinthians 9:22 & topics from rs book)
The Offer for July and August (10 min.)
(review & demonstrations)
(song 215)

Watchtower Study Lesson:
"Appreciating Jesus - The Greater David and the Greater Solomon"
(pgs 28-32 -April 15th study edition)
(songs 168 & 209)

book abbreviations:
* be (Benefit From Theocratic Ministry School Education)
* rs (Reasoning from the Scriptures)

Monday, June 22, 2009

Week of June 22nd - June 28th

*FYI -don't forget you can download the audio versions of the Bible reading each week, plus the 'Keep Yourselves in God's Love' and the 'Learn From the Great Teacher' lesson or chapter right off the website to listen to when you commute or whenever. (Just scroll down the menu bar to choose the book) AUDIO VERSION

Congregation Bookstudy Lesson:
(song 177)
Keep Yourselves In God's Love
(chapter 6, pgs 65-70 ¶10-15, box on pg 67)

Theocratic Ministry School Parts:
Bible reading: Leviticus 10-13
No. 1: Leviticus 11:29-45
No. 2: The Reason People Get Sick
(lr chapter 23)
No. 3: Blessings That Baptized Disciples Enjoy

Service Meeting:
(song 7)
Help Your Listeners to Use Discernment (10 min.)
(be pg 57 ¶3 to pg 58 ¶3)
Prepare to offer the July 1 Watchtower/Awake! (10 min.)
(overview & demonstrations)
How to Overcome Objections About Religion (10 min.)
(rs pg 330 ¶4 to pg 333 ¶2)
(song 27)

Watchtower Study Lesson:
"Appreciating the Greater Moses"
(pgs 24-28 -April 15th study edition)
(songs 205 & 150)

book abbreviations:
* lr (Learn From the Great Teacher)
* be (Benefit From Theocratic Ministry School Education)
* rs (Reasoning from the Scriptures)

Monday, June 15, 2009

Week of June 15th - 21st

Congregation Bookstudy Lesson:
(song 175)
Keep Yourselves In God's Love
(chapter 6, pgs 62-65, ¶1-9)

Theocratic Ministry School Parts:
Bible reading: Leviticus 6-9
No. 1: Leviticus 8:1-17
No. 2: Do You Believe in Healing?
(rs pg 160 ¶6 thru pg 161 ¶1)
No. 3: Why We Should Not Lie
(lr chapter 22)

Service Meeting:
(song 25)
Preach the Good News (10 min.)
(be pg 279 ¶1-4)
'I Believe in Evolution'(10 min.)
(rs pgs 126-128)
"Be Well Prepared for Teaching" Q&A (10 min.)
(song 68)

Watchtower Study Lesson:
"Jehovah's Wisdom Observed In Creation"
(pgs 15-19 -April 15th study edition)
(songs 79 & 84)

book abbreviations:
* lr (Learn From the Great Teacher)
* be (Benefit From Theocratic Ministry School Education)

* rs (Reasoning from the Scriptures)

Sunday, June 14, 2009

backround info on Leviticus

Since we just started the book of Leviticus in our Bible reading schedule, I wanted to post some extra info taken from the "All Scripture Is Inspired" book (pgs 25 & 26) that helps to have in the back of your mind while you're reading Leviticus.

"...the book consists chiefly of the regulations of the Levitical priesthood, which was the chosen tribe of Levi, and the laws that the priests taught the people: "For the lips of a priest are the ones that should keep knowledge, and the law is what people should seek from his mouth." (Malachi 2:7)

Why was Leviticus written?
"As a new nation journeying toward a new land, Israel needed proper direction. It was still less than a year from the Exodus, and the living standards of Egypt as well as its religious practices were fresh in mind. Marriage of brother and sister was practiced in Egypt. False worship was carried on in honor of many gods, some of them animal gods. Now this large congregation was on its way to Canaan, where life and religious practices were even more degrading. But look again at the encampment of Israel. Swelling the congregation were many who were pure or part Egyptian, a mixed multitude who were living right in among the Israelites and who had been born of Egyptian parents and were raised and schooled in the ways, religion, and patriotism of the Egyptians. Many of these had undoubtedly indulged in detestable practices in their homeland only a short time before. How neccessary that they now receive detailed guidance from Jehovah!"

(Based on the fact that the Canaanites had some seriously gross and immoral practices such as pedophilia, incest, and bestiality, among other things, you can really see why the Israelites would need to be given such forceful, clear-cut regulations...so that those 'new laws' regarding clean moral conduct, would be firmly implanted in their minds & hearts PRIOR to entering the land of Canaan.)

"Jehovah had purposed to have a holy nation, a sanctified people, set apart for his service. From the time of Abel, faithful men of God had been offering sacrifices to Jehovah, but first with the nation of Israel did Jehovah give explicit instructions regarding sin offerings and other sacrifices. These, as explained in detail in Leviticus, made the Israelites aware of the exceeding sinfulness of sin ... these regulations, as part of the Law, served as a tutor leading the Jews to Christ, showing them the need for a Savior and at the same time serving to keep them as a people separate from the rest of the world. Especially did God's laws regarding ceremonial cleanness serve the latter purpose." but also, "Its statutes regarding diet, disease, quarantine, and treatment of dead bodies reveal a knowledge of facts not appreciated by worldly men of medicine until thousands of years later. God's laws regarding animals unclean for eating would protect the Israelites while they traveled. It would safeguard them against trichinosis from pigs, typhoid and paratyphoid from certain types of fish, and infection from animals found already dead. These practical laws were to direct their religion and their lives that they might remain a holy nation and reach and inhabit the Promised Land. History shows that the regulations provided by Jehovah gave the Jews a definite advantage over other peoples in the matter of health."

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Week of June 8th - 14th

Congregation Bookstudy Lesson:
(song 14)
Keep Yourselves In God's Love
(appendix, pgs 212-215)

Theocratic Ministry School Parts:
Bible reading: Leviticus 1-5
No. 1: Leviticus 4:1-15
No. 2: Should We Brag About Anything?
(lr chapter 21)
No. 3: How Should Christians Exercise Authority?

Service Meeting:
(song 20)
Jesus' Vital Place in God's Purpose (10 min.)
(be -talk based on info under subheading beginning on pg 276)
The Offer for June (10 min.)
"Our Ministry-A Reflection of Our Love for God" Q&A (10 min.)
(song 10)

Watchtower Study Lesson:
"Your Integrity Makes Jehovah's Heart Rejoice"
(pgs 7-11 - April 15th study edition)
(songs 160 & 138)

book abbreviations:
* lr (Learn From the Great Teacher)
* be (Benefit From Theocratic Ministry School Education)

Monday, June 1, 2009

Week of June 1st - 7th

*For anyone whose going to convention next weekend then you already know there's no regular meeting schedule this week. But I'm posting it anyway since most of this info will be covered in the program and some of you have a different convention date this summer.

Congregation Bookstudy Lesson:
(song 26)
Keep Yourselves In God's Love
(chapter 5, pgs 58-61, ¶16-23)

Theocratic Ministry School Parts:
Bible reading: Exodus 38-40
No. 1: Exodus 40:1-19
No. 2: Do You Always Want to Be First?
(lr chapter 20)
No. 3: What Hope Is There for Real Healing for All Mankind?
(rs p. 160 ¶3-5)

Service Meeting:
(song 129)
Help Others To Progress (10 min.)
(be pg 187 beginning under 2nd subheading thru pg 188)
Local Needs (10 min.)
What Did We Accomplish? (10 min.)
(song 53)

Watchtower Study Lesson:
"Job Held High the Name Of Jehovah"
(pgs 3-7 - April 15th study edition)
(songs 197 & 41)

book abbreviations:
* rs (Reasoning From the Scriptures)
* lr (Learn From the Great Teacher)
* be (Benefit From Theocratic Ministry School Education)