1. How does Jehovah feel when one of his sheep is rescued?

On one occasion, he told the Israelites who had separated from him: \”Come back to me, and I will come back to you.\” And we know that today he still feels the same, because he says: \”I do not change.\” Furthermore, Jesus said that Jehovah and the angels are very happy when a lost sheep returns.​—Luke 15:10, 32.

2. What will we consider in this article?

2In this article, we will discuss three parables of Jesus that focus on helping those who have turned away from Jehovah. We will see what qualities we need to help them return to it and why it is worth the effort to support the weak.

3-4. Why did the woman mentioned at Luke 15:8-10 search so carefully for her lost drachma?

The central point of this story is how hard he tries to find it, because in the time of Jesus, on the day that Jewish women were getting married, some mothers gave them a set of 10 drachma coins. The woman in the parable may have lost one of these silver coins.​—Read Luke 15:8-10.

5. Why might it be difficult to locate those who have left the congregation?

Jesus teaches us that finding something that has been lost takes effort. The same happens when looking for the inactive. They may not have been in contact with the congregation for years. Perhaps now they live in another area, where the brothers do not know them. But surely at this very moment some of them want to return to Jehovah, but they need our help.

6. How can all in the congregation be involved in the search for inactive ones?

The entire congregation, both their relatives and elders, pioneers and publishers, Let us explain that, if they wish to be visited, we will gladly pass on their contact information to the elders of the congregation, always in accordance with the corresponding regulations of our country.

7. What do you learn from the comments of an elder named Thomas?

What I learn is that just as Brother Thomas was interested in his sheep, I must also cultivate a genuine interest in those who have distanced themselves from Jehovah\’s organization, since it is not an easy mission, as it requires a lot of patience and commitment , since you do not need to be an old man to do it, as we can collaborate with them.

8. In the illustration of the lost son, found at Luke 15:17-24, how did the father treat his repentant son?

Jesus tells that the son ends up regaining his senses and decides to go home. The father runs to meet him and embraces him lovingly to assure him that he still loves him. The young man has many regrets and thinks that he no longer deserves to be called his son. The father is moved to see that his son opens his heart to him and is sorry. So he organizes a banquet and sends for the best quality clothes. In this way, he shows him that he does not receive him as one of his workers, but as a beloved member of the family.

9. What attitude must we have in order to help inactive ones to return to Jehovah? (See the box “How to Help Those Who Want to Return.”)

we can help them return. For this we must have patience, empathy and love. Why do we need these particular qualities.

ILLUSTRATION

Series of images: 1. An elderly man sends a text message to an inactive brother. The inactive brother reads the elder\’s message during a break from work. 2. Another elder brings a box of fruit to the inactive brother, who is repairing his car. 3. Another old man listens to the inactive brother while they have a coffee sitting in a park.

In most cases, the inactive need the support of good friends. This support can be provided in the following ways:

Keeping in touch and even visiting them over and over again.

Showing them sincere love and confirming that Jehovah loves them and the brothers too.

Listening to them with empathy and trying to understand their problems and feelings without rushing to criticize them.

10. What part does patience play in helping someone to recover spiritually?

We need patience because it will take time for a person to regain her friendship with Jehovah. Many Christians who were inactive acknowledge that the elders and other brothers of the congregation had to visit them many times before they returned to Jehovah.

11. Why do we need empathy to soothe hurt feelings?

Empathy is like an ointment that helps us heal hurt feelings. Some inactive people walked away because they were offended by someone in the congregation, and they have resented years. That is why they do not want to return to Jehovah. Others may think they suffered injustice. They may need someone to listen to them and understand how they feel.

12. Illustrate how Jehovah’s love draws inactive ones back to his people.

That is what God wants to do today with those who are inactive and drowning in a sea of ​​problems and worries. You want them to know that you love them and want to help them get back. And he can use us to express that love to them.

13. Relate an experience that illustrates the power of brotherly love.

An older sister greeted me and spoke to me with great affection and love. I started crying like a child. I told her that it seemed that Jehovah had sent her to talk to me. It was then that I decided to return to Jehovah.

14. According to the illustration found at Luke 15:4, 5, what did the shepherd do once he found the lost sheep?

They will surely be spiritually weak. So we need to help them renew their faith in Jehovah. In the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus says that the shepherd carries her on his shoulders and leads her back to the flock. The pastor has already spent time and energy looking for it. But he knows that he will have to help her return because she will not have the strength to do it alone.—Read Luke 15:4, 5.

15. How can we support weak ones who want to return to Jehovah? (See the box “An Invaluable Tool.”)

We may need to spend time and energy helping some of the inactive to get spiritually strong again. So if the elders ask us to help an inactive, we gladly accept.  An invaluable tool

The brochure Jehovah Wants Me Back can make inactive people want to return to the congregation.

Maria, mentioned in the article, says: \”This brochure helped me to realize that Jehovah loves me, and that he wants to always be by my side.\”

Flora from Cameroon recalls: “Part 4 of the Jehovah Wants Me Back booklet helped me tremendously. It gave me the strength and courage to open my heart to Jehovah, and then explain my situation to the elders, who had helped me so much.

Tatyana from Bulgaria says: “The brochure was like a personal invitation from Jehovah. It made me see that he cares about his lost sheep, regardless of the reasons why they were lost. \”

16. How do we know that we can count on heavenly support?

There are many experiences that indicate that angels help us to find the inactive who are willing to return to Jehovah. For example, Silvio, who is from Ecuador, pleaded with Jehovah to help him return to the congregation. While he was still praying, his doorbell rang. They were two old men. On that same visit, they gladly began to give him the help he needed.

17. What reward do we receive for helping the spiritually weak?

Helping those who are spiritually weak to return to Jehovah will make us very happy.—Acts 20:35.

18. If you are inactive, of what can you be sure?

But remember the father of Jesus\’ parable. Jehovah is waiting for you to return to his family, and he will welcome you with open arms. You can be sure that God still loves you and wants you to return.

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

• How can we search for those who have become inactive?

• We can all cooperate to search for them, perhaps we have an inactive friend or relative or we know of someone who lives in our territory or we have found him in public preaching, the important thing is to explain that if he wishes to be visited with pleasure we will pass on his information about I contacted the elders of the congregation, who if they want to return to Jehovah a warm welcome awaits them.

• What three qualities can help us to be successful?

• The qualities that we must have are patience, empathy and love, we must bear in mind that often in spiritual recovery it is slow, it goes step by step, we want to speak to them in a positive way and with understanding tell them that they are of great value in the eyes of Jehovah and not desist in our efforts to help them.

• Why do inactive ones need consistent loving support?

• Because they may feel intense emotional pain that is why we have to help them renew their faith in Jehovah, we know that they will not have the strength to do it alone, so once they return they need us to continue helping and encouraging them with love.

• SONG 103 Shepherds​—Gifts in Men