Preaching and Teaching​—Essential to Making Disciples

Preaching and Teaching​—Essential to Making Disciples

Preaching and Teaching​—Essential to Making Disciples
Jesus commanded his followers to go and make disciples. (Mt 28:19) This involves preaching and teaching. From time to time, we should all ask ourselves, ‘How can I improve in these essential aspects of the disciple-making work?’
PREACHING
Instead of waiting for people to come to us, we must actively search for “deserving” ones. (Mt 10:11) When we share in the ministry, are we alert to opportunities to speak with people who ‘happen to be on hand’? (Ac 17:17) Lydia became a disciple as a result of the apostle Paul’s diligent preaching.​—Ac 16:13-15.
WATCH THE VIDEO CONTINUE PREACHING “WITHOUT LETUP”​—INFORMALLY AND FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
My name is Ezekiel, and this is me, 15 years ago. They are Samuel and Daniel, who at the time were my colleagues. Samuel always gave a good example at work, he was honest, and he did not say bad words, he was a witness of Jehovah.
Daniel, however, did not agree with the ideas of the witnesses, and often criticized, and teased, who listened to them. On one occasion while Samuel was trying to testify to him, Daniel became very angry.
In his daily routine, how did Samuel show that he was actively seeking to plant seeds of truth?
 During the lunch break, Samuel always read the watchtower and Awake, and so often began conversations based on the Bible. After Daniel’s strong reaction, however, most of our colleagues did not want to hear Samuel anymore, but he did not give up. He was looking for the same, talking to us about the Bible, he always offered me magazines, but even if they really intrigued me, I never accepted them, because I was afraid of what they would think, Daniel and the other colleagues.
“Sow your seed in the morning and do not let your hand rest until the evening” (Ec 11:6)

Why must we persevere in all types of preaching?
*** w16 August pp. 23-24 pars. 14-16 Do You See the Need to Make Spiritual Progress? ***
14 Paul urged Timothy: “Continue applying yourself to public reading, to exhortation, to teaching. Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching.” (1 Tim. 4:13, 16) Timothy was already an experienced Kingdom proclaimer. Yet, his ministry would be effective only if he would “pay constant attention” to his teaching. He could not take for granted that people would respond to his usual approach. To continue reaching their hearts, he had to adapt his teaching methods to their needs. As Kingdom proclaimers, we need to do the same.
15 We often find that people are not at home when we preach from door to door. In some areas, we cannot enter certain apartment buildings and gated communities. If that is true in your territory, why not consider different ways to preach the good news?
16 Public witnessing is one excellent method of spreading the good news. Many Witnesses are having a very effective and rewarding share in such work. They set aside time to approach people at train and bus stations, in marketplaces and parks, and in other public areas. Using good judgment, a Witness may start a conversation with someone by commenting on the news, complimenting the person’s children, or asking a question about his work. As the conversation moves along, the publisher brings up a Scriptural point and elicits a response. The person’s comments often lead to a further discussion of the Bible.
With whom might you share the Kingdom message during your daily routine?
*** km 9/09 p. 3 pars. 3-4 Search Out Deserving Ones ***
3 In addition to your house-to-house territory, could you also preach to people found at transportation hubs, parks, employment offices, busy street corners, business places, and shopping centers in your territory? Perhaps you could witness to those in gated communities and restricted apartments by means of letters or the telephone. Being observant and adaptable to changing needs in your territory will allow you to have “plenty to do in the work of the Lord.”—1 Cor. 15:58.
4 Many publishers have had the opportunity to expand their ministry by moving to another congregation either in their own land or abroad. Others have learned a new language in order to preach to people who have come from another country.

TEACHING
To make disciples, we must do more than simply leave literature with people. To help them progress spiritually, we need to make return visits and conduct Bible studies. (1Co 3:6-9) Yet, what if our diligent efforts to teach someone Kingdom truth yield little results? (Mt 13:19-22) We should continue our search for those whose hearts are like “fine soil.”​—Mt 13:23; Ac 13:48.
WATCH THE VIDEO CONTINUE PREACHING “WITHOUT LETUP”​—PUBLICLY AND MAKING DISCIPLES, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
Shortly after Samuel, I found work in another city, and we lost sight of each other. But I never forgot, how he managed to stay calm despite Daniel’s behavior. His exemplary conduct, impressed me for a long time, was like a seed planted in my heart.
Years after that first contact with Jehovah’s Witnesses, my only son suddenly, fell seriously ill and died. My wife and I were devastated. We had grown up in a religious environment, but nothing that was taught to us gave us comfort.
Some of the Church even told us that God had taken our son because he needed another angel. We were completely destroyed, we finally began to pray, begging God to help us understand why, we had lost our baby.
How did Solomon and Mary water the seeds of truth in the hearts of Ezekiel and Abigail?
Someone knocked on the door, we thought they were angels, it was a well dressed couple, who was offering the flyer, what hope is there for the dead.
 Jehovah’s Witnesses had knocked on our door other times, but now everything was different. We listened attentively, as they explained to us with the Bible, that we could see our Johnny, what they told us, was really comforting. When they told us that they were Jehovah’s Witnesses, I immediately thought of Samuel, and the times when years before, he had tried to talk to me, maybe that was what he wanted to tell me.
I was really pleased that Jehovah’s Witnesses had not stopped knocking at my door, and that Jehovah God had given me another opportunity.

What should be our goal in all facets of the ministry, including public witnessing?
 After starting to study, with Solomon and Mary, me and Abigail, we have made rapid progress. Later, we began to participate in the ministry, and then we were baptized. After some time, in our congregation, it was decided to organize public testimony, and we were invited to participate.
It was really a privilege, feeling united, to the brothers and sisters who perform this work all over the world, but we did not have much joy, because we had few results.
Alla fine di una giornata particolarmente poco produttiva, ci guardammo e ci dicemmo, sembra che Geova non stia attirando nessuno.
 At the next meeting, I approached Solomon to ask him for some suggestions. He showed me the Ministry of the Kingdom of April 2015, which contained some indications, on what to do and what not to do in public testimony. Solomon reminded me that the goal of this kind of testimony is not just to leave publications, but to direct people to jw.org, to diligently take care of the interest shown, and to start Bible studies. I thanked him, and told him I would talk to Abigail.
 We treat the article together, during our adoration in the family, we were determined to put these advice into practice. When we realized that the problem was us, things got a lot better.
We change our attitude by passing from passive presence mode to active research. Now we experience much more joy in public witness, and we have even begun some Bible studies.

How might we give greater emphasis to teaching others the truth?
It’s been 15 years since I first met Samuel, and then things have changed, we’ve come a long way. Samuel, he moved to another congregation, where there was a need.
But recently, we have met again, because now it is our circuit overseer. I could not wait to spend time with him in the ministry, but I was a little nervous, because he was a very capable teacher, but I was struggling to take care of the interest that people showed.
We went to a man, to whom I visited. I invited him to the public talk, but took out the usual excuse, then left him the magazine in progress, he took it, and put it together with the others.
Samuel asked me, how long I had been visiting Isaac, and how many times he had gone to the hall. I told him that I had been going to him for some years, but he had never attended a meeting.
 Then he asked me if Isaac was interested in starting a Bible study, so he showed me Acts 13 48, “all those who were rightly prepared for eternal life became believers”. Tactfully, he told me that maybe I could use my time better, to find out who he really is, hunger and thirst for truth.
It is true that we should not immediately give up with people, but at the same time, they should show that they are making progress, or appreciate spiritual things.
Then Samuel, made me rethink my own experience, he was right. When we worked together, I was not looking for the truth, but after losing my son, I was ready to listen to Jehovah.
I was very grateful, for the precious advice he gave me, I really want to make the most of my time, to help people, to grow spiritually. Of course, I did not forget Isaac, I keep visiting him from time to time. However, when people do not take any further steps, I look for others, because the work is urgent, and lives are at stake.
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God kept making it grow” (1Co 3:6)

*** km 4/15 p. 2 How to Witness Using a Literature Display ***