Preaching and Suggestions

SusanB

SusanB

Well-known member
I wanted to start a new thread because I think a common question many of us have or think about is how to start a bible based discussion aka preaching without getting mired in falsehoods. One thing that is easy to remember and to point to is the question that Jesus asked in Matthew 24 about who REALLY is the faithful slave/servant. That question has not yet been answered by Jesus and I was thinking it could be a conversation starter which could segue into the future promise of Jesus appointing the faithful and repentant anointed ones over ALL his belongings and what that would entail. It certainly gets the brain lit up. How will people in general respond to those questions and how would you guess they would answer those questions?

Also, I am hoping that others will share what they have found that works for them. After all is there anything more enjoyable than talking about Jehovah, his Son and the future he wants for us?
 
I bring up current events. Where I work there is a large subdivision going in next door, 400 single resident houses. It was a beautiful 70 plus acre hay field. To bring up our crumbling infrastructure, electric, water, all the extra traffic it will bring to roads that aren't big enough now, opens up a discussion on mans mess and how only Jehovah can and will straighten it out. By that time their propane tanks are full and ready to take home.
 
jay said:
I bring up current events. Where I work there is a large subdivision going in next door, 400 single resident houses. It was a beautiful 70 plus acre hay field. To bring up our crumbling infrastructure, electric, water, all the extra traffic it will bring to roads that aren't big enough now, opens up a discussion on mans mess and how only Jehovah can and will straighten it out. By that time their propane tanks are full and ready to take home.
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It doesn’t take long to plant a seed. Great job and good to hear that you are making the opportunity. Take care.
 
SusanB said:
I wanted to start a new thread because I think a common question many of us have or think about is how to start a bible based discussion aka preaching without getting mired in falsehoods. One thing that is easy to remember and to point to is the question that Jesus asked in Matthew 24 about who REALLY is the faithful slave/servant. That question has not yet been answered by Jesus and I was thinking it could be a conversation starter which could segue into the future promise of Jesus appointing the faithful and repentant anointed ones over ALL his belongings and what that would entail. It certainly gets the brain lit up. How will people in general respond to those questions and how would you guess they would answer those questions?

Also, I am hoping that others will share what they have found that works for them. After all is there anything more enjoyable than talking about Jehovah, his Son and the future he wants for us?
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Sadly I think that the question as to whom really is the faithful and discreet slave will not assist in avoiding the discussions of falsehoods for the very reason you state - because it has not been answered, and thus is fraught with speculation. Personally, I could discuss with you or anyone else here endlessly on the discreet slave. I would like nothing more than to discuss it, but for the witnesses, or interested people, the slave is either a mystery, or is the GB and thus forms a contentious challenge to their belief. Reasoning is thin on the ground in watchtower, it’s already done and dusted and awaiting final approval by the destruction of Babylon. I suppose I’m being a bit negative - I don’t mean to be. What works for me? Nature. I find it the greatest talking point of all because it is the one thing that unarguably points to design, love and purpose for all things from the single cell creature to the blue whale, and from hummingbirds to eagles 🦅.
 
BARNABY THE DOG. said:
Sadly I think that the question as to whom really is the faithful and discreet slave will not assist in avoiding the discussions of falsehoods for the very reason you state - because it has not been answered, and thus is fraught with speculation. Personally, I could discuss with you or anyone else here endlessly on the discreet slave. I would like nothing more than to discuss it, but for the witnesses, or interested people, the slave is either a mystery, or is the GB and thus forms a contentious challenge to their belief. Reasoning is thin on the ground in watchtower, it’s already done and dusted and awaiting final approval by the destruction of Babylon. I suppose I’m being a bit negative - I don’t mean to be. What works for me? Nature. I find it the greatest talking point of all because it is the one thing that unarguably points to design, love and purpose for all things from the single cell creature to the blue whale, and from hummingbirds to eagles 🦅.
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Exactly what I want to read. I want to hear the good, bad and ugly because it helps me think logically in ways that I might not have thought about previously. I agree it is fraught with speculation but my point is that it is a seed and hopefully it will make people think and then when the Chosen Ones start preaching, Jehovah can bring the thoughts (sprouting seed) back into their mind. It’s called a setup, like for a basketball dunk.
 
SusanB said:
Exactly what I want to read. I want to hear the good, bad and ugly because it helps me think logically in ways that I might not have thought about previously. I agree it is fraught with speculation but my point is that it is a seed and hopefully it will make people think and then when the Chosen Ones start preaching, Jehovah can bring the thoughts (sprouting seed) back into their mind. It’s called a setup, like for a basketball dunk.
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Yes, you’re very right. I have found it true that cometh the hour, cometh the thought, in discussion. When the chosen ones start speaking, I think it will be a very different matter. The destruction, the despair, people will listen, and they will listen also to the false ones too, and yet those hearing the voice will know it. Difficult times ahead because it is certain that many will be deceived through their lack of study so that the ”voice“ is not recognised.

I do not pretend to know how Jehovah presents Himself to those seeking, but I do assume that it is based on their particular interest into His many facets - objects of wonder that attract them. So many things speak of Him. My main hobby is woodwork, and whenever I make something from a good piece of lumber, it is the grain of the wood that shines, rather than any joint or bit of carving I have made. I learnt that lesson long before I learnt of the truth, but in a piece of wood is where I first saw Jehovah. I can tell you something else I saw for the first time today - I had a small operation on my eye today to reattach my retina, and as they were shining light into my eye it illuminated the optic nerve pathway receptors and there are MILLIONS of them, like a honeycomb of the finest silken gossamer defining every aspect, every picture of light into an image we can understand and “see” in the pitch black of our cranium. That is a miracle of invention - splitting the spectrum of light into fragments of electrical impulse and shooting it through a network of nerve endings and which in turn, allow our brain to see it all - but not only all, but the right way up too. It brings a new meaning to stones speaking out. I reckon they could after the light show I’ve had today is anything to go by. These little glimpses of creation - awesomely made!!
 
a watcher said:
I prefer to be known as a Beroean JW.
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I prefer to be known as the mad psychotic rambling antique britisher still living in the empire days of yore trying to make sense of a world of iniquity and seeking the creator of all things and to knock upon His door hoping to be let in, but in the interim, happy to be sitting on a stone on the dusty road to his temple.,
 
Yesterday before starting driving, I prayed to Jehovah to help me have a conversation with someone about spiritual truths. Many of the rides that I give are very short, only 5 or 10 minutes and often they gave earbuds and are preoccupied listening to their music or viewing their phone or talking on it. But one man who is just turning 30 years old wanted to talk with me. And, he asked me what my opinion was on the most impactful thing that one can do to have a happy life. He is afraid of turning 30 years old with no marriage prospects or family and he is apparently very unsure of what to do with his life. It was a great opportunity to plant a seed but it was almost like an elevator speech as far as timing and I had to think fast.

I told him that the most impactful thing in my opinion is to develop a deep relationship with our Creator and that is the only one we can truly count on to give us good direction. He then asked me if I was a christian and I said yes. He was asian and very possibly a Buddhist since that is common in Hawaii. I also talked to him about how I met my husband at a bible study and we have now been married nearly 28 years.

He then wanted to let me know about his failed relationships with women and then made the hysterically funny comment that he thought I was “smoking hot”. I simply replied, “Well that’s very embarrassing”. Then we arrived at his home and he exited the car. Just an ordinary experience but at least with a bit of humor.
 
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