Fulfill Your Role as an Evangelizer

This is a wonderful Watchtower I thought was extremely useful and have been wanting to share.  5/15/13 Watchtower 

“Do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.”—2 TIM. 4:5.

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?
What is an evangelizer?
Why do people need to hear the good news?
What do successful evangelizers do?


AN EVANGELIZER is someone who tells good news. The first and foremost Evangelizer is Jehovah God. Immediately after the rebellion of our first parents, Jehovah announced the good news that the serpent—actually, Satan the Devil—will be destroyed. (Gen. 3:15) Throughout the centuries, Jehovah inspired faithful men to write down details about how his name will be cleared of reproach, how the damage caused by Satan will be undone, and how humans can regain the opportunities forfeited by Adam and Eve.

2 Angels too are evangelizers. They themselves tell good news, and they assist others in spreading good news. (Luke 1:19; 2:10; Acts 8:26, 27, 35; Rev. 14:6) What about the archangel Michael? While on earth as Jesus, he set the standard for human evangelizers. Why, Jesus built his life around spreading the good news!—Luke 4:16-21.

3 Jesus commanded his disciples to be evangelizers. (Matt. 28:19, 20; Acts 1:8) The apostle Paul urged his coworker Timothy: “Do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.” (2 Tim. 4:5) What is the good news that we as Jesus’ followers spread? It includes the reassuring truth that our heavenly Father, Jehovah, loves us. (John 3:16; 1 Pet. 5:7) A key way that Jehovah God expresses his love is through his Kingdom. Therefore, we gladly tell others that all who submit to Kingdom rule, obey God, and do what is righteous can have a relationship with him as his friends. (Ps. 15:1, 2) In fact, it is Jehovah’s purpose to do away with all unjust suffering. He will also remove the pain caused by memories of past suffering. What good news! (Isa. 65:17) Since we are evangelizers, let us consider the answers to two important questions: Why is it vital that people hear the good news today? And how can we successfully fulfill our role as evangelizers?

WHY DO PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR THE GOOD NEWS?

4 Imagine being told that your father has abandoned you as well as the rest of your family. Suppose those who claimed to know him say that he was aloof, secretive, and cruel. Some might even have you believe that it is no use trying to reestablish contact with your father because he is dead. In effect, many are told similar stories about God. They are taught that God is a mystery, that he is unknowable, or that he is cruel. For example, some religious leaders claim that God will punish bad people forever in a place of torment. Others attribute to God the suffering caused by natural disasters. Although these events kill good people as well as bad, they are said to be punishment from God.

5 Others assert that God does not exist. In this regard, consider the theory of evolution. Many who champion it declare that life came about without any intelligent direction. They claim that there is no Creator. Some have even said that a human is just another animal, so it should come as no surprise when a person acts in an animalistic fashion. They argue that the strong who cruelly dominate the weak are just following so-called laws of nature. So it is not surprising that many believe that injustice will always be with us. Therefore, those who put faith in evolution are robbed of true hope.

6 Without doubt, the theory of evolution and false doctrines have contributed to the misery that mankind has experienced during the last days. (Rom. 1:28-31; 2 Tim. 3:1-5) These human teachings have brought no real and lasting good news. Instead, as the apostle Paul notes, they have left people “in darkness mentally, and alienated from the life that belongs to God.” (Eph. 4:17-19) In addition, the theory of evolution and false doctrines have hindered people from accepting the good news originating with God.—Read Ephesians 2:11-13.

7 To become reconciled to God, people must first be convinced that Jehovah exists and that there are good reasons for drawing close to him. We can help them to gain that knowledge by encouraging them to examine creation. When people study creation with an open mind, they learn of God’s wisdom and power. (Rom. 1:19, 20) In an effort to help people develop a sense of awe when they think about what our Grand Creator has accomplished, we can use the two brochures Was Life Created? and The Origin of Life—Five Questions Worth Asking. Even so, those who learn only from creation will not find answers to some of life’s most perplexing questions, such as these: Why does God allow suffering? What is God’s purpose for the earth? Does God care about me as an individual?

8 The only way that people can fully grasp the good news about God and his purpose is by studying the Bible. What a privilege we have to help people find answers to their questions! To reach the heart of our listeners, though, we need to do more than inform them of facts; we must persuade them. (2 Tim. 3:14) We can become more persuasive by following Jesus’ example. Why was he so successful? One reason is that he used questions effectively. How can we imitate him?

SUCCESSFUL EVANGELIZERS USE QUESTIONS EFFECTIVELY

9 Why should we, like Jesus, use questions in the evangelizing work? Well, consider this scenario: Your doctor tells you that he has good news. He can cure your illness if you undergo serious surgery. You might believe him. But what if he makes that promise even before he asks you any questions about your health? Then it is unlikely that you will have confidence in him. No matter how talented the doctor may be, he needs to ask questions and listen to what your symptoms are before he can give any meaningful help. Similarly, if we are to help people accept the good news of the Kingdom, we must master the art of asking effective questions. Only after we gain a clear picture of their spiritual condition can we assist them.

10 Jesus knew that well-chosen questions not only help a teacher learn about a student but also get the listener involved in the discussion. For example, when Jesus wanted to teach his disciples a lesson in humility, he first put a thought-provoking question to them. (Mark 9:33) To teach Peter how to reason on principles, Jesus asked him a multiple-choice question. (Matt. 17:24-26) On another occasion, when Jesus wanted to draw up what was in the heart of his disciples, he asked a series of viewpoint questions. (Read Matthew 16:13-17.) By using questions and making statements, Jesus did more than impart facts. He touched hearts, motivating people to act in harmony with the good news.

11 When we imitate Jesus by using questions effectively, we do at least three things. We discover how we can best help people, we overcome potential conversation stoppers, and we teach humble ones how they can benefit themselves. Consider three scenarios showing how we can use questions to good effect.

12 Scenario 1: As a parent, what would you do if your teenage child expressed concern about being able to defend his belief in creation when talking with a classmate? No doubt you would want to help him to be confident about sharing the good news. So rather than criticizing him or immediately offering advice, why not imitate Jesus’ example and ask some viewpoint questions? How could you do so?

13 After reading with your child portions from the brochure The Origin of Life—Five Questions Worth Asking, you could ask what arguments he finds most thought provoking. Encourage him to discover his own reasons why he is persuaded to believe in a Creator and why he wants to do God’s will. (Rom. 12:2) Let your child know that his reasons do not have to be exactly the same as yours.

14 Explain to your child that when talking with a classmate, your youngster could follow the pattern you have demonstrated. That is, he could review some facts and then ask leading or viewpoint questions. For instance, a classmate could be asked to read the box on page 21 of the Origin of Life brochure. Your child could then ask, “Is it true that the capacity of DNA for storing information still has no parallel in today’s computer age?” The classmate will likely answer yes. Then your child could ask, “If human computer technicians cannot achieve such results, how could mindless matter do so on its own?” To help your child become more comfortable when conversing with others about his faith, you can regularly conduct practice sessions with him. If you train him to use questions effectively, you will help him to fulfill his role as an evangelizer.

15 Scenario 2: In our witnessing work, we meet those who doubt that God exists. For example, a person might tell us that he is an atheist. Instead of letting that comment stop the conversation, we could respectfully ask how long he has been an atheist and what caused him to adopt that view. After listening to his answers and complimenting him on giving the matter serious thought, we could ask if he felt that it would be wrong to read material that presented evidence that life was created. If the householder is open-minded, he would likely say that it would be unreasonable to refuse to look at such evidence. We could then offer him either the brochure Was Life Created? or the one entitled The Origin of Life—Five Questions Worth Asking. Tactful questions, kindly asked, can act as a key that opens a person’s heart to the good news.

16 Scenario 3: When conducting a Bible study, we might simply have the student repeat answers printed in a Bible study aid. If we do so, however, we could stunt the spiritual growth of the student. Why? Because a student who repeats answers without meditating on them is unlikely to grow deep spiritual roots. He could easily end up being like a plant that withers under the heat of opposition. (Matt. 13:20, 21) To help avoid that outcome, we need to ask our student how he feels about what he is learning. Try to discover if he agrees with the points made. More important, have him say why he agrees or disagrees. Then help him to reason on the Scriptures so that he will eventually be able to arrive at correct conclusions by himself. (Heb. 5:14) If we use questions effectively, individuals we teach are more likely to be solidly rooted in the faith and to be able to resist the efforts of those who would oppose or mislead them. (Col. 2:6-8) What else can we do to fulfill our role as evangelizers?

SUCCESSFUL EVANGELIZERS ASSIST ONE ANOTHER

17 Jesus sent his disciples out in the preaching work by twos. (Mark 6:7; Luke 10:1) Later, the apostle Paul mentioned “fellow workers” who had “striven side by side with [him] in the good news.” (Phil. 4:3) In harmony with that Scriptural precedent, in 1953, Kingdom publishers began a program of training others in the ministry.

18 When you accompany another Christian in the ministry, how can you work as a team? (Read 1 Corinthians 3:6-9.) In your Bible, look up the scriptures that your partner is using. Keep your attention turned to your partner and to the householder when either of them is talking. Follow the discussion closely in case there is a need for you to assist your partner to overcome an objection. (Eccl. 4:12) A word of caution, though: Resist the urge to interrupt your partner when he or she is using an effective line of reasoning. Your unrestrained enthusiasm might discourage your partner and confuse the householder. At times, it may be appropriate to join in the discussion. But if you choose to say something, limit yourself to a brief comment or two. Then allow your partner to resume the lead.

19 How can you and your partner assist each other while walking from door to door? Why not use the time to discuss ways that your presentation might be improved? Be careful that your comments about those living in your territory are not discouraging. Likewise, avoid the trap of harping on the negative traits of fellow evangelizers. (Prov. 18:24) We do well to remember that we are earthen vessels. Jehovah has shown us extraordinary kindness by entrusting us with the treasure of the ministry of the good news. (Read 2 Corinthians 4:1, 7.) So let all of us show appreciation for that treasure by doing our best to fulfill our role as evangelizers.


[Study Questions]
 1. Why can Jehovah be called the first and foremost Evangelizer?

 2. (a) What part do angels play in connection with the evangelizing work? (b) What standard did Jesus set for evangelizers?

 3. (a) What is the good news that we spread? (b) What questions are of interest to us as evangelizers?
 4. What untrue stories are people sometimes told regarding God?

5, 6. How have the theory of evolution and false doctrines affected people?

7, 8. What is the only way that people can fully grasp the good news?

 9. If we are to help people in a spiritual way, what must we do?
10, 11. What may we be able to accomplish by imitating Jesus’ way of teaching?

12-14. How can you help a child to be more confident about sharing the good news? Give an example.
15. How might we use questions in an effort to help an atheist?

16. Why should we not settle for having a Bible student read answers from a Bible study aid?
17, 18. When accompanying someone in the ministry, how can we work as a team?
19. What do we do well to remember, and why?

 


This post is based on two articles from the Watchtower society from page 19 paragraph 10 in the brochure, '' A Book for all people" & The September 2016 Study Edition paragraph 12, under the heading Use  Effective Illustrations.

First article
The Watchtower society from page 19 paragraph 10 in the brochure, '' A Book for all people" 

Under The heading " What Holds Up The Earth? In ancient times, humans were perplexed by other questions about the cosmos: What is the earth resting on? What holds up the sun, the moon, and the stars? They had no knowledge of the law of universal gravitation, formulated by Isaac Newton and published in 1687. The idea that heavenly bodies are, in effect, suspended in empty space upon nothing was unknown to them. Thus, their explanations often suggested that tangible objects or substances held the earth and other heavenly bodies aloft. 

For example, one ancient theory, perhaps originated by people who lived on an island, was that the earth was surrounded by water and that it floated in these waters. The Hindus conceived that the earth had several foundations, one on top of the other. It rested on four elephants, the elephants stood on an enormous tortoise, the tortoise stood on an immense serpent, and the coiled serpent floated on universal waters. Empedocles, a Greek philosopher of the fifth century B.C.E., believed that the earth rested upon a whirlwind and that this whirlwind was the cause of the motion of the heavenly bodies. 
Among the most influential views were those of Aristotle. Although he theorized that the earth is a sphere, he denied that it could ever hang in empty space. In his treatise On the Heavens, when refuting the notion that the earth rests on water, he said: “It is not the nature of water, any more than of earth, to stay in mid-air: it must have something to rest upon.”4 So, what does the earth “rest upon”? Aristotle taught that the sun, the moon, and the stars were attached to the surface of solid, transparent spheres. Sphere lay nestled within sphere, with the earth—immobile—at the center. As the spheres revolved within one another, the objects on them—the sun, the moon, and the planets—moved across the sky. 
Aristotle’s explanation seemed logical. If the heavenly bodies were not firmly attached to something, how else could they stay aloft?

Second article
The September 2016 Study Edition paragraph 12, under the heading Use  Effective Illustrations.

12 Effective illustrations can also strengthen a child’s faith in the accuracy of the Bible. For example, consider Job 26:7. (Read.) How might you show that this scripture was inspired? You could just state facts. Instead, why not stimulate your child’s imagination? Bring up the fact that Job lived long before telescopes and spaceships. Your child’s job could be to show how difficult t it might be for some to believe that a very large object, such as the earth, could sit on nothing. The child could use a ball or a stone to illustrate the point by showing that objects with mass have to rest on something. Such a lesson would impress on your child that Jehovah had facts recorded in the Bible long before humans could prove them.—Neh. 9:6.


Also I thought of a though experiment that I really took from the above statement. Imagine their is a base ball that weighed as mush as the earth. Ask the person how would you be able to demonstrate that this heavy sphere can hang on nothing; no solid object!

 “What I teach is not mine. . . 

(John.7:16)

This post is based of of the October 1, 2015 Watchtower. I would like and hope that this blog shows that Jehovah has helped the Witnesses that is his chosen people, and has educated them in many different ways. During the apostasy, Satan has succeeded in introducing false teachings such as the Trinity. This teaching carries no benefit when it comes to not being able to  understand certain aspects of its nature. However, when compared to Jehovah's aspects that are incomprehensible to us his creation, it's actually of a great benefit to His creatures!

The doctrine of the Trinity is one teaching found in the churches that most who believe in it cannot explain to another individual. They claim it is a mystery, or even those who are versed in that doctrine could even find himself getting lost in an explanation of it, I had this experience more than I could remember. Here is a quote by C.S. Lewis who believed in the Trinity, He said this about his view on Christianity in general, this quote could also include the puzzling Trinity doctrine. If you're one of Jehovah's Witnesses, then you've heard this puzzle all to well. They have tried to use Illustrations like the egg, clover, pretzel ect.

Compare the difference between Philo & The Apostle Paul 

“God is incomprehensible.”—Philo of Alexandria, first-century philosopher.

“[God] is not far off from each one of us.”—Saul of Tarsus, addressing first-century philosophers in Athens.

AS YOU read those two statements, which one describes your view? Many find the words of Saul of Tarsus, also called the apostle Paul, comforting and appealing. (Acts 17:26, 27) And the Bible contains other assurances like that one. For example, Jesus offered a prayer that contains a warm assurance that his followers can come to know God and receive his blessing.—John 17:3.

This means everlasting life, their coming to know you,* the only true God,  and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. - (John.17:3)

However, philosophers such as Philo took a different view. They implied that we could never know God at all because he is completely incomprehensible. Where does the truth lie?

The Bible frankly acknowledges that there are some things about God that are difficult for humans to understand. 

For example, the length of the(1) Creator’s existence, (2)the brilliance of his mind, and (3) the depth of his wisdom cannot be measured, quantified, or fathomed. They simply exceed human comprehension. However, those aspects of God present no obstacle to our getting to know him. In fact, meditating on those very things can help us to “draw close to God.” (James 4:8) Let us consider a few examples of such incomprehensible things. Then we will look at aspects of God we really can grasp.

What Aspects Are Incomprehensible?

(1)

GOD’S ETERNAL EXISTENCE: The Bible teaches that God exists “from everlasting to everlasting.” (Psalm 90:2) In other words, God had no beginning and will have no end. From a human point of view, “the number of his years is beyond comprehension.”—Job 36:26.

How you benefit: God promises you everlasting life if you truly come to know him. (John 17:3) How reliable would such a promise be if God himself did not live forever? Only “the King of eternity” could fulfill such a promise.—1 Timothy 1:17.

(2) 

GOD’S MIND: The Bible teaches that God’s “understanding is unsearchable” because his thoughts are so much higher than ours. (Isaiah 40:28; 55:9) Appropriately, the Bible asks the rhetorical question: “Who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”—1 Corinthians 2:16, English Standard Version.

How you benefit: God is able to listen to millions of prayers at the same time. (Psalm 65:2) He even notices every sparrow that falls to the ground. Will God’s mind ever be overloaded, preventing him from noticing you and listening to your prayers? No, because his mind is not limited. What is more, “you are worth more than many sparrows” to him.—Matthew 10:29, 31.

(3) 

GOD’S WAYS: The Bible teaches that man can “never find out the work that the true God has made from start to finish.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Hence we will never know everything about God. The wisdom behind God’s ways is “beyond tracing out.” (Romans 11:33) However, God is willing to reveal his ways to those who want to please him.—Amos 3:7.

The length of the Creator’s existence, the brilliance of his mind, and the depth of his wisdom cannot be measured, quantified, or fathomed

How you benefit: If you read and study the Bible, you will never cease to learn new things about God and his ways. This means that we can draw ever closer to our heavenly Father for all eternity.

What You Can Know

Just because we cannot fully comprehend certain aspects of God does not mean that we cannot get to know him at all. The Bible contains plenty of information that helps us to get to know God better. Consider some examples:

(1) 

GOD’S NAME: The Bible teaches us that God has a name. He says: “I am Jehovah. That is my name.” God’s name appears some 7,000 times in the Bible, more than any other name.—Isaiah 42:8.

How you benefit: Jesus said in his model prayer: “Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified.” (Matthew 6:9) Could you also use God’s name in your prayers? Jehovah is willing to save everyone who shows proper respect for his name.—Romans 10:13.

(2)

GOD’S DWELLING: The Bible teaches that there are two “realms”—a spirit realm where spirit creatures with spirit bodies exist and a physical realm consisting of our earth and the universe. (John 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:44) In the Bible, the word “heavens” often refers to the spirit realm. The Creator’s “dwelling place” is in those “heavens.”—1 Kings 8:43.

How you benefit: You get a clearer picture of God. The Creator is not an obscure force that is everywhere and in everything. Jehovah is a real Person who lives in a real place. Still, “there is not a creation that is hidden from his sight.”—Hebrews 4:13.

(3)

GOD’S PERSONALITY: The Bible teaches that Jehovah has endearing qualities. “God is love.” (1 John 4:8) He never lies. (Titus 1:2) He is impartial, merciful, compassionate, and slow to anger. (Exodus 34:6; Acts 10:34) It may come as a surprise to many that the Creator desires to have a “close friendship” with those who respect him.—Psalm 25:14.

How you benefit: You can become Jehovah’s friend. (James 2:23) Then, as you come to know Jehovah’s personality, you can better understand Bible accounts.

“SEARCH FOR HIM”

The Bible portrays a clear picture of Jehovah God. He is far from being incomprehensible. In fact, the Creator wants you to get to know him. His Word, the Bible, promises: “If you search for him, he will let himself be found by you.” (1 Chronicles 28:9) Why not get to know God by reading and meditating on Bible accounts? If you do so, the Bible promises that God “will draw close to you.”—James 4:8.

You might wonder, ‘Since I cannot comprehend everything about the Creator, how can I ever be his friend?’ Consider this: Does the best friend of a surgeon need to have a degree in medicine? Not at all! The surgeon’s friend might have a completely different profession. Still, a close friendship is possible. What really counts is that the surgeon’s friend knows the surgeon’s personality as well as what he likes and what he dislikes. Similarly, you can learn from the Bible what kind of person Jehovah is—exactly what you need to know in order to forge a friendship with him.

Far from providing a faint outline of the Creator, the Bible contains the kind of information that we need in order to get to know God. Would you like to learn more about Jehovah God? Jehovah’s Witnesses offer a free home Bible study program. We invite you to contact the Witnesses in your area or to visit our website, www.jw.org.

The Reliability of the Christian Greek Scriptures/ New Testament (Internal Evidence)  

There is a book by J.J. Blunt,  named ''Undesigned Coincidences", which demonstrates that the Bible is internally reliable and can therefore be  trusted. This book is old enough to be free on a pdf and I'll put a link right here.  Undesigned Coincidences  .  However, I have noticed in our publication, " A Book for all people'', printed by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, it contains the same line of reasoning. So this would be taken from our Brochure.

(1)
At times, detailed explanations are omitted from one account but are provided from else were by statements made by in passing. For instance, Matthews account of the trial of Jesus before the Jewish Sanhedrin says that some people present  "slapped him in the face, saying:
' Prophecy to us, you Christ. Who is it that struck you? ' "  (Matt.26:67,68) Why would the ask Jesus to '' Prophecy who had struck Him, When the striker was standing there right in from of Him? Matthew does not explain. But two of the other Gospel writers explain the missing detail, Jesus' persecutors covered His face before he was slapped.( Mark.14:65) (Luke.22:64) Matthew presents his material without concern as to whether as every last detail was supplied.

(Matt.26:67,68) Then they spat in his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped him on the face, saying: “Prophesy to us, you Christ. Who struck you?”

Why did they ask Jesus who hit him? Matthew does not explain. But two of the other Gospel writers explain the missing detail.
Highlighted in red


(Mark.14:65) And some started to spit on him and to cover his face and hit him with their fists and say to him: “Prophesy!” And slapping him in the face, the court attendants took him.

(Luke.22:64) and after covering his face, they kept asking: “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?”

(2)
The Gospel of john tells of an occasion when a large crowd gathered to hear Jesus teach according to the record, when Jesus observed the crowd, " he said to fill up: ' Where shall we buy loaves  for these to eat ' " (John.6:5) Of all the disciples present , why did Jesus ask Philip to buy some bread? The writer did not say. In the parallel account,though  Luke reports the incident took place near Bethsaida, a city of the north shore of Galilee, and earlier in johns Gospel it says that "Phillip was from Bethsaida. " (John.1:44) (Luke.9:10) So Jesus logically asked a person whose home town was nearby. The agreement between the details was remarkable, yet clearly unwitting.


(John.6:5) When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip: “Where will we buy bread for these people to eat?”


(John.1:44) Now Philip was from Beth·saʹi·da, from the city of Andrew and Peter.


(Luke.9:10) When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus all they had done.With that he took them along and withdrew privately into a city called Beth·saʹi·da.

remember (John.6:5) and (Luke.9:10) are parallel accounts (John.1:44) explains unintentionally why Jesus asked Phillip where to buy bread.
Jehovah's Word is no myth!

Found a video of  internal biblical evidence. Not promoting the beliefs of the speaker's in the video.

Non Christian Sources of Jesus Christ
 
The Death of Jesus
⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵ for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶ Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”^[a] When he had said this, he breathed his last.

(Luke 23:44-46)

Thallus. 

In the Book, by  Norman L. Geisler in his Baker Encyclopedia
of Christian Apologetics, on page. 382, it reads,

 Thallus wrote about A.D. 52. None of his works are extant, though a few fragmented citations are preserved by other writers. One such writer is Julius Africanus in about 221, who quotes thallus in a discussion of the darkness which followed the crucifixion of Christ:
On the whole world their pressed a most fearful darkness; and the rocks were rent by an earthquake, and many places in Judea and other districts were thrown down. This darkness Thallus, in the third book of hid History calls, as appears to me without reason, an eclipse of the sun. [ Extant Writings , 18 in the Ante-Nicene Fathers. 

Africanus identifies the darkness which Thallus explained as a solar eclipse with the darkness at the crucifixion described in Luke.23:44-45