Welcome to JW Broadcasting®! Last month we enjoyed Part 1 of the annual meeting for 2025. That was just the first half of a delectable spiritual banquet. We’re now happy to present Part 2. Please enjoy. Who among the serving members of the Governing Body is the longest-serving member of the present Governing Body? Now, if you didn’t get that answer right— Yes, it’s Brother Gerrit Lösch. And we just love the fact that he’s working with us. So Brother Lösch is going to talk to us now on the subject “Appreciating Jehovah’s Temples.” The Insight book, Volume 2, page 1076, defines Jehovah’s temple this way: “A divine habitation, sacred place or sanctuary, “either physical or spiritual, that is employed for worship. “The Hebrew word heh·khalʹ, translated ‘temple,’ also means ‘palace.’” Today, there is a spiritual temple in place. Here’s a question: True or false? Since in Bible times the temple arrangement was closely connected with the priests, today the ones in the spiritual temple are only the anointed Christians. Answer: false. We will see why. Let us first consider various applications of the word “temple” in the Scriptures. Let’s start with the literal temple structures. (1) In the Bible, the Hebrew word used for “temple” at 1 Samuel 1:9 refers to the tabernacle. It says there: “Eli the priest was sitting [at] the... doorpost of the temple.” But it was actually “the tabernacle.” It was Jehovah who had given the pattern for the tabernacle and its various features to Moses. (2) There was Solomon’s temple, which lasted for about 420 years. (3) There was the temple built by Zerubbabel after the return of the Israelites from Babylon, and it lasted about 500 years. The Insight book, Volume 2, says (and I quote): “This second temple did not contain “the ark of the covenant, “which seems to have disappeared “before Nebuchadnezzar captured “and looted Solomon’s temple in 607 B.C.E.” (4) There was Herod’s temple. John 2:20 mentions that it “was built in 46 years.” It took a long time. The word “temple” can also refer to a variety of other things. For example, (5) “The Greek hi·e·ronʹ “and na·osʹ are both rendered ‘temple’ and may refer to the entire temple complex” built by Herod, including its surrounding structures. (6) However, at times the Greek word for “temple,” na·osʹ, meaning “sanctuary” or “divine habitation,” refers only to the central building used for worship in Herod’s temple. (7) In the case of Solomon’s temple, the central building had two inner rooms —the Holy and the Most Holy. This followed the pattern of the sacred design of the tabernacle. But there were also side chambers and roof chambers that were not included in the divine pattern of the tabernacle and have no symbolic meaning. (8) In Hebrews, Paul refers to the tabernacle designed by Jehovah himself to represent something symbolic, “a shadow of... heavenly things,” it says. “The Holy represents their condition “[the anointed on earth] “as spirit-begotten sons of God, with heavenly life in view.” Insight, Volume 2, says (and I quote): “The Holy and the priestly courtyard, “as well as their features, “must pertain to things on earth, “those things having to do with Jesus Christ “during his ministry on earth “and his followers who are ‘partakers of the heavenly calling.’” (End of quote.) Then the Most Holy pictures heaven. Hebrews 9:24 says: “For Christ did not enter “into a holy place made with hands, “which is a copy of the reality, “but into heaven itself, “so that he now appears before God on our behalf.” Between the Holy and the Most Holy, there was a curtain. The curtain pictures what? Jesus’ flesh. When Jesus died, the curtain in Herod’s temple ripped apart, indicating that Jesus was now able to pass from earth into heaven. And it was symbolized by the Most Holy compartment. He did so 40 days after his death. Well, so far we have discussed that the Most Holy compartment of the literal temples pictures heaven. The Holy pictures the condition of the anointed while they are still on earth. Third, also, we consider that the word “temple” can have a broad meaning. It can refer to the central building, or sanctuary, as well as to the entire complex. But the various chambers and courtyards do not all have a symbolic meaning. For example, in Herod’s temple, there was a courtyard of the Gentiles. In Solomon’s nor in Zerubbabel’s temples there was not such a courtyard. Anyone could enter the Court of Gentiles in Herod’s temple. The Watchtower of 2002, May 1, page 30, gives five reasons why there is not “a spiritual equivalent, or an antitype, of the Court of Gentiles that existed in Jesus’ day.” It said: “Not all features of Herod’s temple have an antitype in Jehovah’s great spiritual temple.” Well, (9) the Bible also speaks of a figurative temple. At Ephesians 2:21, 22, it says: “In union with him the whole building, “being harmoniously joined together, “is growing into a holy temple “for Jehovah. “In union with him you too “are being built up together into a place for God to inhabit by spirit.” The Greek word for “temple,” mentioned in the Greek Scriptures also, is na·osʹ, and literally the translation says “divine habitation.” Surprisingly, here “temple” refers to anointed Christians as persons, not to the arrangement. For a long time, that is, until 1971, we wrongly understood that the word “temple,” mentioned in Ephesians chapter 2, refers to the spiritual temple. But the July 15 Watchtower of 2010, page 22, refers to a correction in our understanding. It explains: “Toward the year 1971,... “[we] began to discern “that the temple spoken of “by Paul in Ephesians “could not be Jehovah’s great spiritual temple. “If ‘the true tent’ were composed of resurrected anointed Christians, “it would first come into existence after the resurrection began “during ‘the presence of the Lord.’ “But referring to the tabernacle, Paul wrote: “‘This very tent is an illustration for the appointed time that is [listen] now here’” —back then in the first century— Hebrews 9:9. So this is a quote from The Watchtower. The Insight book, Volume 1, page 373, paragraph 17, says this: “The Christian congregation “is considered a house or temple “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus as the foundation cornerstone.” In line with this, Paul also wrote (quote): “Do you not know that you people “[meaning the anointed] are God’s temple, “and that the spirit of God dwells in you? “If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] you people are.” Similarly, Paul writes (quote): “Your body is the temple [or, na·osʹ ] of the holy spirit within you.” —1 Corinthians 6:19. (10) Besides a figurative temple, there’s also a spiritual temple. The figurative temple and the spiritual temple are not the same. The spiritual temple is “the true tent,” mentioned at Hebrews 8:2. Paul said that Jesus became “a minister of the holy place “and of the true tent, which Jehovah set up, and not man.” The spiritual temple came into existence in 29 C.E. when Jesus was anointed and started his earthly ministry. Then at Pentecost 33 C.E., when holy spirit was poured out on the disciples as they were anointed, they also entered the Holy of the spiritual temple. Now, how is the spiritual temple different from the figurative temple? The figurative temple refers to the anointed as persons. The spiritual temple is the arrangement for approaching Jehovah in worship on the basis of the “propitiatory sacrifice” of Christ. And it came into existence when Jesus started his earthly ministry in the year 29 C.E. Next point: Do only the anointed serve in the spiritual temple? What do you think? No. The great crowd also serve in the temple. They are shown in vision at Revelation 7:15 as “rendering him “[holy] service day and night [and then it says] in his temple.” So, what does that mean? They are included in this arrangement of worship. Revelation 7:15 says literally: “That is why they are before the throne of God, “and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple.” So the great crowd is “in [the] temple.” Then it continues: “And the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them.” They do not need to be in heaven in order to be in his temple. The Revelation book, chapter 20, paragraph 14, said (and I quote): “This temple [meaning the one mentioned at Revelation 7:15] “does not refer to the inner sanctuary, the Most Holy. “Rather, it’s the earthly courtyard of God’s spiritual temple... “Today, this is a spiritual structure that embraces both heaven and earth.” (End of quote.) And here’s another quote: The Watchtower, 2002, May 1, page 31: “Members of the great crowd “are not in the inner courtyard of Jehovah’s great spiritual temple “[and not in the Holy or Most Holy, of course], “which courtyard represents the condition of perfect, “righteous [humans or] human sonship “of the members of Jehovah’s ‘holy priesthood’ “while they are on earth. “But as the heavenly elder said to John, “the great crowd really is in the temple, “not outside the temple area in a kind of spiritual Court of the Gentiles.” (End of quote.) So somebody may say now: “I am confused. “We say we are in the temple, “or God’s arrangement of worship, “and then we say the anointed are the temple. Is this not a contradiction?” No. The application of this term depends on the context. Sometimes the word “temple” refers to the arrangement of worship, which includes the great crowd. Sometimes the term is used in an illustrative and prophetic way with reference to the anointed only. Therefore, the term “temple” has different meanings depending on the context. In line with this, brothers, all of you, we all are in the spiritual temple no matter what hope we entertain, and the anointed are in the Holy of that spiritual temple. Here are some other applications of the word “temple” in the Bible. (11) Jesus compared his body to a temple, didn’t he? He said, according to John 2:19: “Break down this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews thought he was speaking of the building, but he was speaking of his body. (12) At Isaiah 2:1-4 and Micah 4:1-4, reference is made to a lifting up of “the mountain of the house of Jehovah,” or the temple, “in the final part of the days.” This refers, not to some physical structure, but to an elevating of true worship in the lives of Jehovah’s people. (13) Then we have Ezekiel’s vision of a lofty temple. Jehovah described this temple as “the place of my throne.” We can read that at Ezekiel 43:7. So, what is represented by this visionary temple? The book Pure Worship of Jehovah Restored at Last!, page 240, explains that “Ezekiel saw, “not the spiritual temple “that came into existence in 29 C.E., “but an idealized vision of how the pure worship outlined in the Mosaic Law would be restored after the exile.” Simply put, it says the overall message was that pure worship would be restored. Therefore, the various features of that temple, including its lofty gates, highlight Jehovah’s high standard for pure worship that exists also in our day. And here’s another use of the term “temple”: (14) the New Jerusalem. In that New Jerusalem, Jehovah God is called the “temple,” or a temple (na·osʹ ), at Revelation 21:22 (if you want to note it down, 21:22). What does that mean? Since the members of New Jerusalem will have direct access in heaven to the face of Jehovah himself, they will not need any physical temple arrangement through which to approach God nor any intermediary arrangement. Their worship will be directly to him. And even the great crowd of earthly worshippers will not need an intermediary temple arrangement when the Millennium has ended. They will all worship Jehovah directly. (15) In this context, according to Revelation 21:22, Jesus is also called a “temple.” It says Jehovah and the Lamb are “its temple” —so the Lamb too, Jesus. Well, today we talked about the tabernacle called temple, three additional literal temples, a figurative temple, a spiritual temple, a visionary temple, the temple of Jesus’ body, as well as Jehovah and Jesus being a temple. Because Jehovah is a temple, in the new world after the Thousand Year Reign of Jesus, Jehovah will receive direct worship without any intermediary arrangement. Are we now sufficiently confused? If so, make it a study project to review what the Bible says about the temples. Are you children also with us in the temple? Yes. Remember that when Jesus was 12 years old not only he but also his younger siblings were taken to Jerusalem and the temple area. Luke reports about Jesus that he was “sitting in the midst of the teachers and listening to them and questioning them.” —Luke 2:41-50. We are happy to have you children also with us. Some things you hear may be difficult to understand, so then ask questions. Remember that when Jesus was sitting among the teachers, he was also “questioning them.” Also, our older ones are in the temple. Just as in Jesus’ day, Anna and Simeon were regularly in the literal temple. About Anna, the Bible says: “She was a widow now 84 years old. “She was never missing from the temple... “She came near and began giving thanks to God “and speaking about the child to all who were waiting for Jerusalem’s deliverance.” —Luke 2:36-38. And about old Simeon, Luke reported in chapter 2, verses 27, 28: “Under the power of the spirit, he now came into the temple, “and as the parents brought the young child Jesus in “to do for him according to the customary practice of the Law, he took the child into his arms and praised God.” Now, brothers, since we —all present here, young and old— are in the spiritual temple arrangement (not just the anointed), may we all be determined to render sacred service to Jehovah God forever. Thank you, Gerrit, for that very interesting talk. That’s the thing we love about Brother Lösch —his deep love for the Bible and research. Now, we’re going to ask the attendants to pass out the written reviews now. There’s only 15 questions, and those who get them right can remain in the audience. No, don’t worry; we’re just joking. We only do that to Gilead students. Well, in recent times, we’ve enjoyed listening to some of the soundtracks from the dramas that we’ve listened to and watched. Remember recently we had the “Commit Your Way to Jehovah” soundtrack, with the beautiful African music, and then we had the soundtrack for Episode 1 of The Good News According to Jesus. We’re pleased to release Episodes 2 and 3. And we just have one warning for anyone over 30 years of age. Please do not close your eyes as we listen to this sample. Otherwise, we may have to wake you up for the final prayer. It’s beautiful, relaxing music, and we’re going to have some visuals to keep you watching the screen and to help you enjoy it. So enjoy this sample of Episodes 2 and 3 and their soundtracks. I’m sure we all are going to enjoy downloading that music and listening to it. What a relaxing and a beautiful way to enjoy it! Who is the oldest serving member of the Governing Body? Well, yes, it’s Brother Samuel Herd at over 90 years of age. And wasn’t it amazing that recently, just a week or so ago, he did the update for us, the Governing Body Update? And he also has a beautiful talk prepared for us entitled “There Is Still One Thing Lacking About You.” Today, many people don’t like to give correction. Some schoolteachers won’t use red ink to correct test papers. They say the color red is too harsh and might scare their students. Some parents are reluctant to correct their children. They say that if they just praise the good traits, the bad traits will go away. Even some elders hesitate to give correction. They say they don’t want to come across as strict or judgmental. Admittedly, correction can be hard to give, and it can be even harder to take. Why? Because it hurts. But sometimes the correction that hurts the most is also the correction we need the most. Let’s take an example. Open your Bibles to Luke chapter 18. Here Jesus had just spent time giving attention to young children, saying that “the Kingdom of God belongs to such ones.” Jesus was emphasizing the fact that anyone who followed him would need to humbly recognize their need for guidance and correction. And after saying that, something happened that would demonstrate Jesus’ point. At Luke 18:18, a rich young ruler approaches Jesus and asks him: “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit everlasting life?” Now, notice these words: “What must I do?” “Do” is such a little word but one packed full of meaning. It is defined as “to perform an action or activity, “to bring to completion, “finish, cause, produce, achieve a particular goal.” “Do,” a little two-letter word —it is used to describe a piece of cloth that is worn on the head to cover the hair. It’s called a do-rag hairdo. Did I need to mention that? Maybe not. What must I do? It was a natural question for a first-century Jew. Let’s go back to where we left off. You see, under the Law, you prove yourself righteous largely by doing —by offering sacrifices, by observing the Sabbath, by paying the tithe, and so forth. No wonder this man asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit everlasting life?” And when Jesus answered by saying, ‘Obey the commandments of the Law,’ well, that was music to this man’s ears. Why do we say that? In verse 21, he confidently responds: “All of these I have kept from [my] youth on.” Maybe the man thought Jesus would be impressed by his amazing track record of obedience. Maybe, just maybe, he expected Jesus to say: ‘Good job. Just keep doing what you’re doing.’ If so, he was mistaken, because Jesus didn’t give him a pat on the back. Instead, in verse 22, he tells the man point-blank: “There is still one thing lacking about you.” Ouch! How those words must have stung! All those years of obeying the Law and doing what he should be doing, and now Jesus tells him: “There is still one thing lacking about you.” Now, we don’t know exactly how Jesus said those words, but he certainly wasn’t angry at the rich man. How do we know that? Well, we know that because Mark’s account says he “felt love for him.” Jesus must have seen potential in this man. In fact, in verse 22, he invited him: “Come be my follower.” He even spoke the rich man’s language, telling him: “You will have treasure,” that is, ‘treasure in heaven.’ But Jesus could also read hearts. And so along with seeing the rich man’s potential, he could also see one thing was lacking —just one thing that the man needed to correct. Jesus knew that as sincere as this man was, he wouldn’t be able to serve Jehovah whole-souled unless he got rid of the big distraction in his life. What was that? His wealth. So in verse 22, Jesus told him what he needed to do. This is what he said: “Sell all the things you have and distribute the proceeds to the poor.” Now, Jesus didn’t soft-pedal or muffle or deaden the sound of his words. His love for this man moved him to give straightforward correction. Jesus didn’t tell the man that his whole life was out of order. He didn’t call him a hypocrite like he called the scribes and Pharisees. A hypocrite is a person who pretends to be what he is not. Like a stage actor wearing a mask, take it off, and you will see who he really is. Take it off! Jesus gave correction on just one thing —one thing— that tested the man’s generosity and his faith. How did the rich man react? Verse 23 says: “He became deeply grieved.” Mark’s account says: “He grew sad... and went away.” We might say: ‘Well, of course the rich man went away sad. ‘Jesus told him to give up all his possessions. And that’s a big thing!’ Is it really? Well, note in verse 28, Peter says: ‘We did it. We left everything behind.’ Leaving possessions behind was no big thing for Jesus’ apostles. They were like the young children Jesus had just spoken about who recognized their need for guidance and correction. In contrast to that, the rich young ruler made this one thing a big thing. And because of that, he lost out on the opportunity to be a disciple of Jesus. Now, there’s an important lesson here for each one of us. Because at some point in life, each one of us will be told, ‘There is still one thing lacking about you.’ Maybe not in those words, but the message will come through clearly. We might hear it from an elder or from a friend who’s loving enough to level with us. Or we might silently hear a voice saying, ‘There is still one thing lacking about you’ when we read God’s Word and we’re confronted with something that we need to change. And make no mistake, every one of us occasionally needs correction. Do elders need correction? At times, yes. Do pioneers and circuit overseers and missionaries need correction? Do anointed Christians need correction? Uh, uh-uh, oh, at times, yes. All imperfect humans need correction even if we feel as the rich young ruler said: “All of these I have kept from [my] youth on.” Even if we think we have an impressive track record of faithfulness, at some point we’ll still need correction because we’re imperfect. The question then isn’t, Will we need correction, but, How will we respond when we get it? How will you respond when you get that message: “There is still one thing lacking about you”? There are three ways that people react to correction. Some people are like a fragile teacup that falls to the floor —snap, crackle, and pop. They’re shattered by correction. And so, like that rich young ruler, they walk away grieving. Others are more like a plastic cup. They don’t shatter. They’re tough enough to take the correction, but deep down they resent it, so they walk away angry. Then there are those who are like a tree. Trees need wind to grow properly. When the wind blows, it bends the tree, which tugs at the roots on one side and compresses the wood on the other side. That’s what causes the root system to expand and to anchor the tree firmly. Correction can help us grow in a similar way. Oh, it may feel like a windstorm when it hits. But it shouldn’t shatter us like that fragile teacup. Instead, we need to bend with it like that tree so that our roots can grow and our faith can promote a firm anchor for us. Really, we need to be like the person described at Proverbs 17:10. Let’s read that. Correction can help us or hurt us deeply depending on how we take it. Proverbs 17:10 says: “A rebuke makes a deeper impression “on one having understanding “than striking a stupid person a hundred times.” Another Bible version puts it this way: “Smart people learn more from a single correction than fools learn from a hundred beatings.” A single correction hurts. But it’s no big thing unless we make it one. If we can learn from that single correction, we’ll spare ourselves from having to get more corrections, which will feel like, as Proverbs puts it, “a hundred beatings.” True, correction can be hard to take, but let’s admit it: In many cases, we knew we needed the correction anyway. Deep down we knew it was coming. And really, it takes ten times more energy to resist correction than it does to apply it. So when we get that message, “There is still one thing lacking about you,” whether it comes from an elder, from a friend, or from something we read in the Bible, we shouldn’t let it shatter us like a fragile teacup. And we shouldn’t just be tough enough to take it but secretly resent it. Instead, welcome correction, accept it, and apply it. Bend into it like a tree bends into the wind, and you’ll become a stronger disciple of Jesus as a result. Thank you so much, Brother Herd, for that very interesting talk. As you’d appreciate, the other members of the Governing Body really enjoy working along with Brother Herd. Sometimes we’re deep into a very difficult problem, and all of a sudden, Brother Herd’s humor brings us back to reality. Sam, we love you for that. Well, now, are you ready for the next trivia question? Who worked together with Jody Jedele on night security at Wallkill in the early 90’s while they were both still single? Now, if you haven’t got that worked out yet, maybe you need to look. We’ll give you another clue: He also worked together with Ken Cook in the Bethel Office for ten years. Yes, it’s the other Jeff, Jeff Winder. And Jeff is now going to deliver a talk, “The Beauty of Bible Principles.” What do the following things have in common: a compass, a map, radar, and GPS? More trivia. Well, all of these things are tools to help people find their way, to give them direction. And they’re designed for a variety of situations. Some are designed to help navigate at sea, others on the land. Some help you while driving, others when you are hiking in the woods. Are these tools useful? Well, yes. We have all benefited from tools that give us good direction, but do we also need reliable guidance in charting the course of our life? Well, certainly, especially now, we are living deep into the time of the end, where the world’s morality is at an all-time low, when technology is advancing faster than we can keep up with, and when the spirit of the world has never been more pervasive. Well, are we left without reliable guidance? Are we left on our own? Of course not. Turn with me, please, to this verse in the book of Psalms. Psalm 119 “Your word is a lamp to my foot, and a light for my path.” Yes, within the pages of God’s Word there are Bible principles that guide us in every situation we might face. With them, we can make wise choices and arrive at our desired destination of pleasing our God, Jehovah, and putting ourselves in line for everlasting life. In recent years, when adjustments have been made in our organization, the Governing Body has avoided laying down a lot of rules but, rather, has provided Bible principles to guide Christian decisions. Think about some of the adjustments we’ve had recently. Publishers no longer report their hours or placements in the ministry. We’ve had adjustments in how we deal with ones who have been removed from the congregation. A Christian can decide whether to extend an invitation to one to attend a meeting, or one can decide whether they’d like to give a brief but warm welcome when they come to the Kingdom Hall. We’ve had adjustments in our dress and grooming, and brothers can have beards. The sisters can wear pants. Brothers don’t always have to wear ties in every situation. There’s the clinking of glasses, toasting, and our choice of education. In all these adjustments, the brothers don’t give us a long list of rules but, rather, principles to give us guidance. But isn’t the Governing Body concerned that without giving proper rules some might make unwise choices in these areas? Might some do less in the ministry because we’re no longer turning in a report? Might some have too much association with ones who have been removed from the congregation or perhaps dress too casually or immodestly at the meetings or in the ministry or groom our beards in a way that distracts? Might some share in toasting in some inappropriate way or occasion or make unwise choices regarding education? Wouldn’t it be safer to give clear rules? That way everyone would know exactly what to do. No one would take a misstep. Well, to be sure, laws have their place. Some matters are plainly right and wrong, and so Jehovah makes specific laws —Acts 15: ‘Abstain from blood,’ 1 Corinthians 10: “Flee from idolatry,” 1 Thessalonians 4: “Abstain from sexual immorality.” These are plainly right and wrong matters. And so Jehovah gives clear commands, specific laws. But these recent adjustments that we mention do not involve matters that are plainly right and wrong in every situation. Circumstances come into play. Various factors must be taken into account. How can we say exactly what a person should say if they choose to invite a removed one to the meeting? A rule could be made about a specific style of pants or a certain way to groom the beard, but then in time, that style goes out, and now the rule becomes obsolete. Circumstances have a bearing on toasting, our choice of education, and other matters. Also, it’s possible to obey a rule or a law for the wrong reason. Maybe this is because it’s what everyone else is doing or to avoid the penalty of disobedience. Well, this is where the beauty of Bible principles comes into play. And Bible principles are fundamental truths that never change. They guide us to do the right thing over time, regardless of the situation. You could illustrate it this way: While laws might be likened to a single beam of light —like a flashlight or a torch— and they guide us for a specific step or for a specific path, principles are more like light from overhead —even like the sun, perhaps— that illuminates the entire area. Now all aspects can be taken into account and proper decisions can be made. Well, the reason why Bible principles provide such reliable guidance is because when we learn to reason on them, we are becoming more attuned to Jehovah’s thinking. Turn with me, please, to the book of Romans chapter 12, and notice how this point is made at Romans 12:2. Romans 12:2—it says: “And stop being molded by this system of things, “but be transformed by making your mind over, “so that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” So here we’re encouraged to train our mind to line up with Jehovah’s “perfect will,” with Jehovah’s way of thinking. And the more closely we think like Jehovah, then the more we will make decisions like Jehovah. And since Jehovah always makes wise choices, we will make wise choices within the limits of our imperfections. But isn’t it reassuring to see the trust and confidence that Jehovah shows in us by giving us principles instead of a myriad of laws? When we’re young, we need rules, don’t we? Don’t run with the scissors. Don’t cross the street by yourself. But as we mature and get older, we don’t need those laws. It’s sufficient for us to know that scissors are sharp and that there’s heavy traffic. Well, Jehovah doesn’t treat us like children. He has confidence that in a spiritual way, we can learn to be guided by Bible principles and make good decisions. And that’s a tremendous trust, isn’t it? Because our decisions, our actions, our conduct reflect on Jehovah’s name. Jesus Christ made this clear in the book of Matthew, chapter 5, in verse 16, Matthew 5:16. Notice the point Jesus makes here. He says: “Likewise, let your light shine before men, “so that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father who is in the heavens.” Jehovah knows that the actions of his imperfect servants reflect on his name, but he doesn’t give us a million rules to make sure we never make a false step. He trusts that we can be guided by Bible principles and glorify his name, and the Governing Body maintains that same trust. So, then, how can you make sure that you are worthy of this trust and will please Jehovah in the way you conduct yourself? Recent adjustments call for each Christian to be able to identify and apply Bible principles. So how can we learn to be guided by Bible principles in all that we do and thereby please Jehovah? The Watchtower once said this (it said): “While God’s laws test our obedience, “his principles test the depth of our spirituality and of our desire to please him.” So, what must we do, then, to be guided by Bible principles? The basic answer is: Strengthen your spirituality. Do what the Bible says at Hebrews 6:1. Hebrews 6:1 says: “Therefore, now that we have moved beyond the primary doctrine about the Christ, “let us press on to maturity, “not laying a foundation again, namely, repentance from dead works and faith in God.” So how do we do that? How do we strengthen our spirituality so that we can learn to be guided by Bible principles? Here are two primary ways. The first is: Deepen your desire to please Jehovah. Now, Jesus always pleased his Father. What was his heart’s desire? Turn with me, please, over to Hebrews chapter 10, and let’s look at verse 7, Hebrews 10:7: “Then I said: ‘Look! “‘I have come (in the scroll it is written about me) to do your will, O God.’” Yes, doing God’s will, pleasing his Father, was of utmost importance to Jesus, and that guided his actions, his speech, his decisions. Well, when our relationship with Jehovah is strong, pleasing him becomes very important to us —more important than satisfying our personal preference or our opinion or demanding our rights. So that’s the first thing we can do, strengthen our spirituality. We deepen our desire to please Jehovah. The second thing we can do: Devote ourselves to a study of God’s Word. Now, this one is logical because we’re talking about Bible principles. So, then, we want to be more familiar with the Bible. Turn with me, please, to Joshua chapter 1, and notice how verse 8 makes this point very clear, Joshua 1:8. It says: “This book of the Law should not depart from your mouth, “and you must read it in an undertone day and night, “in order to observe carefully all that is written in it; “for then your way will be successful and then you will act wisely.” Devotion to God’s Word is indicated here, isn’t it? We read God’s Word every day in a meditative way. We observe what’s written in it, and then we act wisely, and we find success. The Watchtower said: “If we read his Word daily, “study it regularly, and meditate on what we read, we will experience growth in our powers of perception.” You can illustrate it this way: Each member of a sports team needs to be familiar with the playbook, so that when a certain play is called, each player knows exactly what to do. And the players never know which play is going to be called; it depends on the circumstances of the game and the strength of the opponent. Well, similarly, the more familiar we are with the principles found in the Bible, the more prepared we will be to do what pleases Jehovah in all areas of life, whatever the circumstance, including those circumstances affected by recent adjustments. So we will have a full share in the ministry, not because we want the report to look good, but because we love Jehovah and because lives are at stake. We will respect the arrangement regarding ones who have been removed from the congregation, but we will also make them sense that we are ready to welcome them back at the appropriate time. We will make good choices on how to dress at the meetings and in the ministry and how to groom ourselves, not just because we want to look good, but because we want to dignify the worship of the Most High God. We want to set a good example for others. We want to give “no cause for stumbling.” We’ll know how to apply the direction on toasting in a balanced and wise way, and we will guide our children to choose education that protects them spiritually but also prepares them to care for themselves in full-time service and in life. When we are spiritually strong and with Jehovah’s help, we will make choices that make Jehovah proud and that encourage our brothers and sisters. As Joshua 1:8 said: “[We] will be successful and... act wisely.” Well, as we’ve gotten deeper into the last days and this system has neared its end, Jehovah has seen fit to make adjustments to the way we handle certain things. Likely there will be more adjustments to come, but we are never left without guidance on how to apply these adjustments and how to make our way through life. Jehovah expresses confidence in our ability to apply Bible principles and follow his guidance as spiritual men and women. May it be the determination of each one of us to work hard to be guided by Bible principles and thereby navigate our life in a way that pleases Jehovah and puts us in line for his blessing. Thank you very much, Jeff, for that excellent discussion on the thinking behind some of the recent adjustments we’ve had. Which member of the Governing Body served as a missionary in Africa? He went through Gilead in 1966 and served in Senegal. Well, you may have guessed it; it’s Brother David Splane. And now Brother Splane is going to talk to us on the subject “My Father, My God and Friend.” Now, let’s see. my God, my Friend: That’s three different things —isn’t it?— three different roles for Jehovah. When we think of Jehovah as our Father, we may think of how loving and compassionate he is. The Bible says: “A father shows [compassion] to his sons.” When we think of Jehovah as our God, we remember that he’s worthy of our love, our respect, and our deference. We’re not casual with Jehovah. He deserves our respect. And what a Friend we have in Jehovah! The Bible says: “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” And Jehovah God is such a Friend. Now, in the Hebrew Scriptures, there are not many references to Jehovah as a Father. There are a few, about 30. David calls Jehovah “a father of the fatherless and a protector of widows.” In Isaiah we read: “O Jehovah, you are our Father.” And you have Malachi 1:6, where Jehovah asks: “If I am a father, where is the honor due me?” But as a study note in the New World Translation points out, in the Hebrew Scriptures, loftier titles for Jehovah were more common —“Jehovah of armies,” “the Sovereign Lord Jehovah.” Still, the Jews were familiar with the concept of Jehovah being a Father, and Jehovah certainly showed that he had warm affection for them. Jeremiah 31:3: “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” Hosea 11:4: “With the ropes of men [I have drawn you], with the cords of love.” So we can say that the Hebrew Scriptures drew a picture for us of Jehovah God as a Father. But who was it who colored that picture in? It was Jesus. Jesus presented us with a vivid and compelling picture of Jehovah God as a Father. Now, think about this: In all of the Hebrew Scriptures, there are thirty references to Jehovah as a Father. In the Sermon on the Mount alone how many references are there to Jehovah as a Father? Seventeen. And in the Gospels? A hundred and sixty. Jesus really colored that picture in. And we learned a lot about Jehovah God through Jesus by means of his teachings and his example. So let’s talk about Jesus’ teachings for a moment. Now, Jesus taught that Jehovah is interested in our physical well-being, that a loving father is interested in the physical well-being of his children. ‘So we don’t need to worry about what we eat, drink, or wear,’ because Jesus said: ‘Your Father knows what things you need.’ Now, a loving father shows personal interest in each one of his children. What about Jehovah God? He knows us all through and through. Jesus said: “The [very] hairs [on] your head are all numbered.” What’s the point of that? Doesn’t it show personal interest? Now, those of you in the audience who are parents, can you say that of your children that every hair on their head is numbered? Jehovah shows personal interest in his children. And like any loving Father, Jehovah is merciful. He welcomes back sinners who repent, showing that to Jehovah we’re not just a mass of people; this isn’t just a group of people. Jehovah God is interested in us as individuals. To show that, do you remember what Jesus said about sinners who repent? He said that the angels rejoice when just “one sinner... repents.” Now, can you imagine the unremitting joy in heaven the last few months as thousands and thousands who had left the organization returned? Now, if you’re one of them, you have made the angels very happy, and you’ve made us very happy too. And Jesus assured us that if we “forgive men their trespasses,” Jehovah God will forgive us as well. So we benefit a lot from what Jesus taught. What about his example? Well, like his Father, Jesus had compassion for the poor and downtrodden. He was interested in widows and orphans, and he invited them to “come to [him]” for refreshment. He made time for the children, and he was mindful of the limitations of the common people. So he made his teachings clear, simple, and practical. He assured his disciples that the Father is always ready to come to their aid. And that’s a comfort if we are confronted with a problem and we just don’t know what to do. It’s comforting to know that “with [Jehovah] all things are possible.” One time I had a conversation with a nun, and she was trying to explain to me why Catholics pray to Mary, and she used an illustration. Nuns do that. She said, “You know, when you’re afraid to approach your father with something, “when you want something and you’re afraid to approach your father, “well, you go to your mother, and you ask your mother to intercede for you.” Nice illustration. But it raises a question. Why in the world would you be afraid of your father? And more to the point, to ask Jehovah God for something? Isn’t it amazing that we can come into Jehovah’s presence at any time, even without an invitation? Can the angels do that? Can the angels enter Jehovah’s presence just at any time? What does the scripture mean when it says: “Now the day came “when the sons of the true God entered to take their [place] before Jehovah”? Now, we don’t know how often the angels entered Jehovah’s presence, but we do know that we humans can enter his presence at any time. Now, that is a privilege, and we don’t want to take that privilege for granted. Our brothers today are cultivating a warm, personal relationship with Jehovah, and we see that in the way so many of them pray. We often hear brothers in prayer tell Jehovah God, “We love you,” and it’s just wonderful to hear. You know, we didn’t hear that so often in the past. I was talking to Geoff Jackson about that the other day. Geoff has good ideas, you know, and he had a good one, I think, a good explanation, as to why we see this more often today. He noted that years ago, many men had a hard time looking their son or daughter in the eye and saying, “I love you.” And so they didn’t say that often to Jehovah God, even though they did love him. But today, it seems that men are more comfortable expressing their love to their children, and they’re more comfortable expressing their love to Jehovah God. That is just wonderful to see. Well, we don’t have Jesus with us today, but we are blessed to be surrounded by men and women who are doing their very best to imitate him. So suppose you have a hard time relating to Jehovah as a Father because your own father wasn’t kind and loving and compassionate. You don’t need to look any further than your own congregation to see men who are interacting beautifully with their children, and that will give you an idea of how a loving father acts. But let’s not forget that in addition to being our Father, Jehovah is also our God. Now, why is that significant? Well, it’s significant because, for one thing, a human father can only do so much for his children. Our God can do so much more for us than any human father can. Now, no one had a closer relationship with Jehovah than his beloved Son. And yet, as warm and as close as their relationship was, Jesus was always respectful when addressing his Father. He called him “Father” and “Holy Father” in prayer. On one occasion, he used the affectionate term Abba, which literally means “O Father.” Jesus’ apostles followed his example. They had a very warm, a very close, relationship with Jesus, and yet they were always respectful. They called him “Teacher,” “Master,” and “Lord.” Once, Peter got a bit too comfortable and stepped out of line. He felt that he was authorized to correct the Master. Well, you can be sure he never tried that again. Some time ago, The Watchtower commented on the matter of showing respect for Jehovah. And here’s what The Watchtower said: “In approaching the great [God] of the universe..., “we must... come to him in the proper manner. “We may approach him only with the greatest respect, “deference and... humility. “The fact that God’s Word tells us “that we may come to God with ‘freeness of speech’ “does not mean that we may become familiar or casual with the great Creator.” Our Governing Body meetings always begin and end with a prayer. And I’m always impressed that as close as their relationship is with Jehovah, the members of the Governing Body always speak to him respectfully and with humility. Now, in harmony with Brother Jeff’s talk that we just heard, we don’t make rules about what people can or cannot say in prayer. But each of us needs to examine his own situation or her own situation to make sure that we’re showing Jehovah the respect he deserves. Now, is it possible to be warm and yet respectful? Now think about the opening song, the song that we had at the beginning of this program, “Give Jehovah Glory.” It’s sort of a prayer, isn’t it? “Who is like you, O Jehovah, high on your heavenly throne? How could I ever repay you for all of the love you have shown?” It’s a prayer—or, at least, prayerful. Is it warm? Very much so. How did you feel when you were singing it? Is it respectful? Absolutely. It’s possible for us to address Jehovah God with respect and yet with warmth. Well, even if we can’t yet relate to Jehovah as a Father, can we take one step forward and view him as a Friend, a close Friend whom we love and deeply respect? What do you look for in a friend? Well, a close friend cares about you. He loves you, warts and all. You trust him, and you don’t hesitate to share your feelings with him. But as close as you are, you’re careful not to cross the line. You do not take liberties. For example, even if your friend is hospitable and generous, you don’t suggest how he should use his money, such as by taking you out to dinner or by buying you something. Why not? Because you don’t want anything to sour that relationship. When we think of friends of God, we naturally think of Abraham. Now, Jehovah loved Abraham in spite of the fact that, like us, Abraham was imperfect. When Abraham and Sarah traveled to Egypt, Abraham was afraid that if the Egyptians found out that he and Sarah were man and wife, he would be killed and Sarah would be given to another man. So he talked Sarah into saying that she was his sister. Well, it was half right. She was his half sister. And incidentally, if the Mosaic Law had been in force at that time, the marriage of Abraham and Sarah would have been declared illegal because you couldn’t marry your half sister. Anyway! Abraham was afraid for his life. That showed a little bit of a lack of faith on his part, didn’t it? Why? Well, Jehovah had already told him that he was going to be the father of a multitude. Abraham didn’t have any children at this point, so why did he think his life was in danger? Did he think that somehow God’s purpose for him was going to fail or that his Friend wasn’t able to prevent something bad from happening to him? How did Jehovah react? He didn’t chastise his friend for this momentary lapse. He took action to protect him and his wife. Well, in time, Abraham’s faith in Jehovah grew stronger, and we can be sure the friendship grew stronger as well. Well, how blessed we are, brothers, to have in Jehovah a compassionate, loving Father, a powerful God whom we respect, and a loyal Friend! May we imitate him by showing compassion, respect, and loyalty in our dealings with one another. Thank you so much, David, for that excellent talk. And I’m sure none of us will be able to sing that song again without thinking about the points that are mentioned. And that’s one reason why we, those of us on the Governing Body, enjoy working with Brother Splane. He has a beautiful way of bringing the Scriptures to life. The only thing is, of course, I think afterward the Research Department will question the reliability of some of those he quoted. Well, it’s time now for us to have something else released —something new. Over the last few years, we’ve had epic stories with Caleb and Sophia. So we’re happy to tell you there is another Become Jehovah’s Friend epic. This time it’s entitled Jehovah Is a Real Person. Enjoy watching this. Hey, boy! Hey, buddy! Here, boy! Here, boy! Hmm. Where is he? Oh! Whoa! OK! Roll over! Good boy. OK, kids! Are you ready? Grab your things and let’s go. Let’s go, Sophia! Coming! Hey, Dad, does Jehovah eat food? No. But he made it taste yummy for us. Hmm. Does Jehovah sleep? He doesn’t sleep, but he wants you to get a good night’s rest. Does Jehovah have fun? Of course! Jehovah invented fun. Dad, what does Jehovah look like? He’s a spirit. That means he’s invisible, just like the angels. But when angels look at Jehovah, what do they see? You have deep questions, my son. I don’t know what they see. But do you know what we can see? Romans 1:20 —can you please read that for us, sweetie? Sure! “For his invisible qualities are clearly seen “from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made.” So when we see creation, is it like we see him? Yes! When we look at all the wonderful things he made, we learn what kind of Person he is. See that glow? It’s called bioluminescence! Jehovah is such an Artist! Everything he made is beautiful. Whoa! What’s your favorite thing Jehovah made? My favorite thing—outer space! These are giant molecular clouds. Stars are born here! So many stars! They’re actually giant nuclear furnaces. Jehovah made them so beautiful! Yes! And he even gave each star a name. Jehovah is so powerful! What? Huh? Whoa! What about you, Sophia? What’s your favorite thing Jehovah made? The brain! Me too. These are brain cells called neurons. That tickles! That was a message traveling through Caleb’s neurons. They’re everywhere! It’s amazing! Jehovah is so wise! Wow! Jehovah could have made us like robots, but instead he lets us think and make choices. Jehovah made our brains so we can enjoy the world around us...... because he loves us! Yes! From little things to big things, we see Jehovah’s qualities in everything he made. That’s what he’s telling us at Romans 1:20. I’m glad he made apples! Dad, what’s your favorite thing God made? This is what I love. When Jehovah made people, he made us “in his image.” He put his good qualities inside of us. So when people forgive or do good things for others and show love, we can see what Jehovah is like. But, Dad, I wish I could see Jehovah, not just what he’s like. Hmm. You want to really know Jehovah. In the Scriptures, Jehovah gives us pictures, illustrations, that help you see who he is and the many ways he cares for you and me. That’s what he wants you to see. You just have to look. I’m looking. Look for Jehovah! Can you see him? I’m looking for Jehovah. What do I see? Trees and glowing creatures And stars beyond my reach. But is there more to see? Is he real to me? He says he’s like a potter Who molds me just like clay. He helps me change my thinking. He guides me ev’ry day. One day I was so sick I couldn’t play outside, But he was there for me. Yes, he cares for me. Jehovah is real! His love is revealed In things we can see And things we can feel. Now I see his hand. Now I understand Jehovah is real— He’s my best Friend. So when me and my sister Make our way to school And kids that seem so scary Make bad things seem cool, We call on Jehovah And tell him how we feel. He’s our Shield. When I’m at my lowest And feeling really down, He holds me with his right hand And he lifts me off the ground. Jehovah is real! His love is revealed In things we can see And things we can feel. Now I see his hand. Now I understand Jehovah is real— He’s my best Friend. Amen. Good night, Caleb. I love you, Jehovah. I love you, Caleb! Well, we certainly appreciate all the hard work that our brothers and sisters put into producing that. And of course, we thank Jehovah for such a beautiful tool to help our younger ones. Which member of the Governing Body graduated from the 132nd class of Gilead? That was the first class where Gilead changed and where they invited in brothers and sisters to help strengthen and stabilize the work in other countries. This brother went on to be an SKE instructor and also a member of the Ecuador Branch Committee. Well, if you’re answering Jacob Rumph, you’re right. So Jake has a very simple sort of title, “Keep It Simple.” Well, two years have passed since we received the brochure Love People—Make Disciples. And it has completely changed our ministry. What have the results shown? Well, reports are coming in from around the world that we’re talking to people more —more in the public ministry, more in the informal witnessing, more taking advantage of those informal moments that come up while we’re going from door to door as someone is watering their yard or someone is walking their dog or someone is washing their windows. We’re using all of those. Wonderful! But some of us are also finding it difficult to use those same principles when we go from door to door and we knock, the individual opens the door, What do we do now? The following video touches on some of those obstacles that our brothers are facing around the world. It was quite terrifying because I relied heavily on memorizing presentations, so the thought of undoing that was scary. Um, yeah. Hmm. I felt nervous because I didn’t know what I was going to talk to the person about, and I was always intimidated by that. I remember that at first, I panicked. Before, we knew which scripture to read and which question to leave with them. When we didn’t have them anymore, I felt lost and disoriented for a moment. I’ve gotten to doors and been like, ‘All right, I’m gonna love this person.’ And then they’re just like: “But why? Why are you here? Like, what are you doing?” I think that’s universal: “Who are you? What do you want? Get to the point.” Yeah, we call that the New York face. There can be that awkwardness of waiting a little too long. Because we’re trying to show personal interest, we keep going, and we keep going, and sometimes that can be awkward. Sometimes I’d ask a question, and it would just be silence. And all I can think is, ‘What am I going to say to him now?’ Yeah, the worst experience I had was when this man came to the door, and I asked him a couple of questions. Not much response. So I asked a couple more, and he looked me up and down and said: “Who are you? Are you the police?” So I might have asked too many questions. Well, I’m a person who loves to talk, right? So there I am; I’m at the door. I clap my hands, “Good morning.” I hear a voice, “Good morning.” And I’m like: “Hello. I’m Eli. I wanted to talk to you for a moment.” And I’m already reading the scripture, and I just start preaching. Then suddenly: “Who is it? Who is it? Cah-cah, cah-cah.” And I’m like: “Oh my goodness. I’m preaching to a parrot. I can’t believe it.” If I had listened more and talked less, I wouldn’t have preached to a bird. We laughed, but could we relate? I know that I could. So, what’s the solution? How can we apply those principles from the Love People brochure to our house-to-house ministry? The answer is to just keep it simple. When Jesus was on earth, he gave us simple guidelines, simple principles, for the ministry that we can apply today. And in this discussion, we’re going to talk about four of those principles, all of which are expressions of love. So open your Bibles to Matthew chapter 10, and we’ll see that first principle. This may seem so obvious when we’re going from house to house. We knock on the door; the householder opens the door. At Matthew 10:12 is principle (1): “When you enter the house, greet the household.” That seems simple enough. What’s the point? Introduce yourself —introduce yourself. What’s the principle behind this instruction? Well, the idea is if we introduce ourselves, if we greet them or give some sort of introduction, well, that will have a calming effect on the conversation. It will build a little bit of trust that can open the way for a future or further discussion —a more in-depth conversation. Notice that Jesus doesn’t give the exact words that we have to memorize, so it would depend on the situation. So, what would it depend on? Well, oftentimes, it just depends on where we live. So ask yourself: ‘What are common greetings or introductions where I live? ‘What would a person expect to know about me ‘or the purpose of my visit where I live? ‘Am I in a city or in a small town? ‘Do they expect me to chat first for a while, ‘or do they want me to get to the point —“the New York face,” as we saw in the video?’ See, all of the answers to those questions really depend on where we live. Principle (2) is at Matthew 10:6. There’s a benefit here in Jesus’ instruction to his disciples. It says Jesus told them: “Go continually to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” That means that at that time his disciples were to preach only to the Jews. Now, what would be the benefit of that? Well, they would know their territory in advance. Do we see a principle here for us as we go from door to door? Know the people in your territory. Know the people. What’s the benefit? Well, it helps us to understand them, to be able to empathize with them. That’s what his disciples would be able to do with the Jews. And that’s what we’ll have today as well. So again, ask yourself, ‘What is of general interest to those in my territory?’ And as you talk with the person, use good viewpoint questions; be a good listener. What is this person particularly interested in? What are his beliefs? Now, let’s go to (3) at Matthew 10:7. We’ve gotten to know the person. Verse 7 says: “As you go, preach, saying: ‘The Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’” This particular message was so important for the Jews. They liked this theme. What’s the point? Have something to say. Have something to say —a simple principle. Why is that so important? Because that’s why we’re there. We’re not there to just aimlessly chat with people. We’re there because we want to help them, we love them, and we want to fill their needs by giving them something encouraging. So ask yourself, ‘What aspect of the Kingdom message does this particular individual need to hear right now?’ While it’s good to be prepared, be flexible. What are their interests? Tailor your message to their needs. We might be able to use a truth we love to teach from the Love People brochure in appendix A. But some have said: “Well, there is no good verse for my territory in appendix A. Now what?” Really? Feel free to use any of these truths. It’s just a help for us to be able to talk to people. So, what have we learned so far? Well, we’ve talked about three principles that are the general dynamics of a typical conversation at the door: (1) Introduce yourself, (2) understand the person’s needs, and then (3) fill those needs with something encouraging. The fourth principle that we need to talk about because it has a direct influence on our personal joy in the ministry —and what is that? Well, do you remember when Peter was overly concerned with a particular apostle, John, in John chapter 21? He was too focused on John and his service. And then Jesus had to counsel Peter in verse 22. He said to Peter: “Of what concern is that to you? You [just] continue following me.” That’s what he said. Now, why would Peter need to hear that? It’s because Peter was too focused on other people. Now, what’s the lesson for us? Don’t compare. Just focus on being yourself in the ministry, and let others be themselves too. So again, ask yourself: ‘Who am I? What approach works for me and my personality?’ See, some are shy; some are outgoing. Some love to chat; others not so much. Some are more structured; others not so much. Don’t compare. Jehovah uses all types of people to attract all types of people to his organization. And appreciating the variety among us is an expression of love. Now, in the following video, let’s see how those publishers whom we saw in the beginning apply these principles to the house-to-house ministry. The house-to-house ministry is a bit different to other forms of ministry, so you do have to have something in mind. I pick a topic, and I get very familiar with that topic. It’s not memorized, but I am prepared. If we do not have a plan, then our anxiety increases. The individuals in our territory respond a lot better to an individual approach just because they are so diverse. It’s been really good to have that adaptability and flexibility when talking to them. Now with this new personal approach, this helped me to get Jehovah’s view on people as opposed to viewing them as a tick box. They’re unique individuals. Everyone we meet has their own point of view and concerns, and we need to be able to help them. If a topic comes up and I can’t remember the best scripture to use, I can quickly check the appendix, and it helps me to find the right scripture, and it helps me to explain it. I love to use appendix A, and often in the house-to-house ministry, I just have it open on my phone (ready), pick the one that suits them, and then inevitably that leads to a logical thought. I can leave them with a question for next time. I like to call it my ministry multi-tool because it really takes the pressure off me. I don’t feel so stressed anymore about having to remember everything or remember the scripture that I’m supposed to be using for that month. There are two questions: What’s coming out in the news? What are the neighbors talking about? If we think about that, what’s happening around us, we might be able to start a conversation and then see where it goes. Over time, what helped me to become more confident was prayer. I specifically asked Jehovah to help me understand how I could put these suggestions into practice in my territory. I know, personally, just applying some of these and trying to improve on them has increased my faith, because we may have gotten into a comfort zone on how we were doing our ministry. So we have to leave that comfort zone and get into the faith zone. Jehovah wants to draw people to him and to show that we are different. We are interested in them because we love them. Sometimes you do the best that you can, and you still don’t get results. But that doesn’t mean that you’re wrong or that there’s something wrong with you. Maybe even on the very last day, they may remember that one of Jehovah’s Witnesses showed interest in them. There are no rules on it. As long as the friends are comfortable, then the confidence will be there and their genuine personality will come out. And that’s what’s going to draw people. So, what have we learned so far? Well, the Love People brochure was not designed to make rules. It was designed to make our ministry more simple and refreshing. How so? By focusing on what really matters most to Jehovah. It’s the principle behind all of these things that we’ve talked about; the motive behind all of these principles is love. First of all, we love Jehovah. It hurts us to see how Satan is trying to misrepresent Jehovah in this world. And so our love for Him motivates us to act, to stand up and to defend Jehovah. And also like Jehovah, we love people. But some have wondered: ‘Well, is it really so urgent to be in the ministry right now, working so hard? If people might eventually learn the truth at the very last moment in the great tribulation, last minute, do I really have to put forth all of this effort now?’ Well, the answer to that question is yes! And the reason is because we feel like Jehovah does about people. See, it hurts Jehovah to see people in pain. And every day that goes by that a person does not know Jehovah hurts that person. And we can sense Jesus’ love for people too. Open your Bibles to Luke chapter 13. Sense the urgency and compassion that motivates Jesus in this passage —Luke 13:10. It’s the Sabbath. Jesus is better off just not helping anyone on the Sabbath. It always was causing him problems. But sometimes he just had to do it, verse 11 says: “And look! a woman was there “who had had a spirit of weakness for 18 years; and she was bent double and was unable to straighten up at all.” Can you imagine her pain? Well, Jesus did —so no frills, no time, verse 12 says: “When he saw her, Jesus addressed her and said: ‘Woman, you are released from your weakness.’” Do you sense that compassion, that urgency? You see, would it really matter to just wait a little longer? She’d been sick for 18 years. To Jesus, it did matter. Jesus couldn’t stand seeing her the way she was even one more minute. And that’s how we feel about people. See, love motivates us to be urgent and to help them. So, what have we discussed in this discussion? Well, Jesus gave us principles for the ministry that allow for variety. Some will do it one way; others might do it a little differently. That’s OK. Just keep it simple by focusing on what matters most —our love. Love is what motivates people to act. And even if they don’t respond right now, the fingerprint of love that we leave on their hearts might just be what eventually motivates them to act in the future. And most of all, it will always be our love that makes Jehovah’s heart rejoice as we work along with him in sharing the good news from house to house. Thank you so much, Jake, for helping us to keep it simple. And what a great quote, “The fingerprint of our love on their hearts”! Wow! I’m going to keep that one in mind. Now, on my notes here it just says, “something else for you.” What’s this “something else for you”? Maybe it’s a video. Our hearts have all been touched by The Good News According to Jesus video series. Bringing these accounts to life has brought us closer to our heavenly Father and his Son. For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. Thank you for your prayers and for everything you’ve done to support this exciting series. So many reports are coming in from brothers and sisters worldwide expressing deep appreciation for The Good News According to Jesus. Our faith is being strengthened as we see Jehovah bless this project in so many different ways. Can you believe the series is approaching its halfway point? The team is filming Episode 8 right now and will begin shooting Episodes 9 and 10 within the next six months. But Jehovah’s chariot is always on the move, and through his organization, Jehovah will see to it that the words at Isaiah 11:9 will be fulfilled: “The earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah.” So you may be wondering, ‘What’s next?’ Well, that certainly will make good use of the new facilities in Ramapo. Before we go, let’s enjoy this month’s postcard from Scotland. Scotland is the most northerly of the four parts of Great Britain. When you think of Scotland, what comes to mind? colorful tartans or melodious bagpipes? Jutting out between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, Scotland is a land of weather extremes. Blustery winters give way to lush, green summers. The land owes its breathtaking contours to glaciers that carved and crumpled the surface into countless shimmering lochs, or lakes, and majestic sandstone mountains. Few places in Scotland are more than 80 kilometers, or 50 miles, from the sea, meaning fresh seafood will often grace the table, including the coveted langoustine. The national dish is haggis, a savory meat dish made of minced liver, heart, and lungs that are packed into a sheep’s stomach and boiled. You might enjoy your haggis with tatties (that is, the humble potato) and neeps, or turnips, often served mashed. In 1891, Brother Charles Taze Russell made his first of many visits to Scotland. Years later, Sarah Ferrie, a Watch Tower magazine subscriber, wrote to Brother Russell and asked to help distribute tracts. Imagine her surprise when she received 30,000 copies at her little shop in Glasgow! She and some friends got to work right away distributing the tracts. Her relatives feared she had gone crazy. So they called Dr. John Edgar to evaluate her. To their dismay, he declared her sane and later accepted the truth himself. Later, he wrote the booklet Where Are the Dead? A copy made it to the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A., where a college student named Frederick W. Franz read it and reached the conclusion: “This is the truth.” Brother Franz later served as a member of the Governing Body. Decades later, the world was on the brink of a second world war. Nationalism was on the rise and with it persecution. Nevertheless, our brothers did not shrink back but instead increased their preaching activity. On one occasion in Glasgow, an angry mob of about 2,000 attacked a small group of only 12 Witnesses. Despite opposition, the number of publishers in Scotland almost doubled during the war years. With that same zeal today, our brothers and sisters fan out through the streets and harbors and farms and homes to search for sheeplike ones and share their faith. In fact, in the last ten years, the number of regular pioneers has doubled. We’ll end our postcard with the northernmost congregation in Scotland and the only congregation on a group of about 100 islands known for its ponies and adorable puffins, Shetland. With 36 publishers, the Lerwick Congregation might be, as the Scots would say, “a wee one,” but they conduct 21 Bible studies. Your brothers and sisters from the Lerwick Congregation in Shetland send you their warm love and best wishes. Please be assured of our love as well. From the World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, this is JW Broadcasting!