Service Meetings for May
NOTE: Our Kingdom Ministry will schedule a Service Meeting for each week during the summer months. Congregations may make adjustments as needed to allow for attending the “Faith in God’s Word” District Convention and then for a 30-minute review of the program highlights at the Service Meeting the following week. The day-by-day review of the district convention program should be assigned in advance to two or three qualified brothers who will be able to focus on outstanding points. This well-prepared review will help the congregation remember key points for personal application and for use in the field. Comments from the audience and experiences related should be brief and to the point.
Week Starting May 5
10 min: Local announcements. Selected Announcements from Our Kingdom Ministry.
12 min: “Follow Jesus Continually.” Questions and answers. Include experiences from the June 1, 1993, Watchtower, page 12.
23 min: “Show Genuine Concern for All the Interest Found.” Audience discussion. Stress the need to follow up all interest. Suggest some tactful ways to request the home address of those met in public places so that we can witness to them further. Have capable publishers demonstrate two of the presentations suggested in paragraphs 6-9. Review the box, “How to Be Successful in Making Return Visits,” on page 3 in the March 1997 Our Kingdom Ministry insert. Encourage all to schedule some time each week to make return visits.
Song 151 and concluding prayer.
Week Starting May 12
10 min: Local announcements. Accounts report.
12 min: Question Box. Talk by an elder.
23 min: “1997 ‘Faith in God’s Word’ District Convention.” (Paragraphs 1-15) Questions and answers. Read paragraphs 8, 10, and 13. Stress the Scriptural importance of carefully maintaining our modest Christian appearance and conduct and of properly supervising our children.
Song 162 and concluding prayer.
Week Starting May 19
7 min: Local announcements. Announce special field service arrangements for May 26.
20 min: “Conducting Progressive Home Bible Studies.” Capable brother discusses article with one or two publishers who do well in conducting studies. Using portions of the Knowledge book as examples, they relate teaching techniques that help them to keep the study moving at a steady pace and that allow them to discern what the student is actually learning.—See June 1996 Our Kingdom Ministry insert, paragraphs 5, 8, 12, and 21.
18 min: “1997 ‘Faith in God’s Word’ District Convention.” (Paragraphs 16-22) Questions and answers. Read paragraph 16 and the cited scriptures. Emphasize need for orderliness and consideration for others, especially when it comes to seating. Conclude with a brief talk reviewing “District Convention Reminders.”
Song 165 and concluding prayer.
Week Starting May 26
15 min: Local announcements. Review literature offer for June. Using the Knowledge book, explain how the thoughts in paragraphs 17-19 on pages 10-11 could be used to prepare a brief presentation. Give a reminder about mentioning the donation arrangement. Encourage all to concentrate on endeavoring to start studies. Stress the need to help interested ones progress quickly.—See the January 15, 1996, Watchtower, pages 13-14.
12 min: “Why Do We Keep Going Back?” Questions and answers. Include points from the box on page 570 in the Proclaimers book.
18 min: Local needs. Talk by an elder or a discussion by two elders, addressing a spiritual need of the congregation. Give Scriptural exhortation and practical suggestions for improvement.
Song 174 and concluding prayer.