Lesson 10 How Can the Meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses Benefit You?
[Image:] A man looking at a scripture that a Witness shows him in the Bible during a congregation meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
[Press play to hear the MP3 of the Lesson]
Have you been invited to a meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses? If you have not yet attended, you may feel a little nervous about attending for the first time. You may wonder: ‘What happens at these meetings? Why are they important? Why should I attend?’ In this lesson, you will learn how meeting with others can draw you closer to God and help you personally.
1. What is the most important reason for meeting together?
Note how a Bible writer expressed the most important reason for meeting with others: “In the great congregation, I will praise Jehovah.” (Psalm 26:12)
[Quotation] Psalms 26:12: My foot is standing on level ground; In the great congregation, I will praise Jehovah. [End Quotation]
Likewise, Jehovah’s Witnesses find great joy in meeting together. Around the world, they meet each week to praise God, to sing, and to pray. A few times each year, they also attend larger gatherings for worship.
2. What will you learn at our meetings?
At the meetings, we focus on God’s Word, “clearly explaining it and putting meaning into it.” (Read Nehemiah 8:8) By attending, you will learn about Jehovah and his wonderful qualities. As you get to know more about his love for you, you will draw closer to him. You will also discover how he can help you to have a satisfying life.
[Quotation] Isaiah 48:17 and 18: This is what Jehovah says, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel: “I, Jehovah, am your God, The One teaching you to benefit yourself, The One guiding you in the way you should walk. If only you would pay attention to my commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river And your righteousness like the waves of the sea. [End Quotation]
[Read scripture] Nehemiah 8:8: And they continued reading aloud from the book, from the Law of the true God, clearly explaining it and putting meaning into it; so they helped the people to understand what was being read. [End of Read scripture]
3. How can you benefit from associating with others at our meetings?
Jehovah directs us to “consider one another so as to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking our meeting together.” (Hebrews 10:24 and 25)
[Quotation] Hebrews 10:24 and 25: And let us consider one another so as to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking our meeting together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you see the day drawing near. [End Quotation]
At our meetings, you will meet people who truly care about one another and who, like you, are interested in learning more about God. You will hear them share encouraging thoughts from the Bible. (Read Romans 1:11 and 12) You will also be able to talk to others who are dealing successfully with the problems that single and married people face. These are just some reasons why Jehovah wants us to meet together regularly!
[Read scripture] Romans 1:11 and 12: For I am longing to see you, that I may impart some spiritual gift to you for you to be made firm; or, rather, that we may have an interchange of encouragement by one another’s faith, both yours and mine. [End of Read scripture]
Dig Deeper
Find out what meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses are like and why it is worth the effort to attend these meetings.
4. Meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses
In the first century, Christians regularly met together to worship Jehovah.
[Quotation] Romans 16:3 through 5: Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who have risked their own necks for me and to whom not only I but also all the congregations of the nations give thanks. Also greet the congregation that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is a firstfruits of Asia for Christ. [End Quotation]
Read Colossians 3:16, and then discuss the question that follows:
[Read scripture] Colossians 3:16: Let the word of the Christ reside in you richly in all wisdom. Keep on teaching and encouraging one another with psalms, praises to God, spiritual songs sung with gratitude, singing in your hearts to Jehovah. [End of Read scripture]
How did the early Christians worship Jehovah?
Today, the Witnesses also regularly meet together at their places of worship. To see what their meetings are like, play the video What Happens at a Kingdom Hall? (2:25). Then, look at the picture of a congregation meeting, and discuss the questions that follow.
[Click for Transcript]|[What happens at a Kingdom Hall?]
Presenter: All around the world, people come together every week at places of worship called Kingdom Halls.
[United States. Malawi. Japan]
Have you ever wondered what happens inside a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses?
[South Korea]
It’s a place where Bible study programs and lectures are held each week.
[Brazil]
Sister 1: The first time I attended a meeting, I felt very happy. The atmosphere was so good; I’ve never seen anything like it anywhere else.
[South Africa]
Sister 2: The people are loving, orderly, and show an interest in people.
Presenter: Every meeting is open to the public. Seats are free and no collections are ever taken.
[People follow along in their Bibles]
Families are invited to attend and learn together.
[A sign Language Congregation sings by using their hands]
All meetings begin and end with song and prayer.
An Interpreter uses tactile sign]
One meeting, usually held on the weekend, includes a 30-minute Bible discourse especially designed for the general public. After that, there’s a question-and-answer discussion based on an article in the study edition of the Watchtower magazine. Participation is always voluntary.
Brother 1: At one of the meetings during the week, we not only study the Bible but also receive training in public speaking.
[A young boy delivers a talk]
Brother 2: Everyone is invited to the Christian meetings, including those who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Sister 3: You can go into any Kingdom Hall and receive the same program of Bible instruction.
Presenter: Bible education, upbuilding association, and the opportunity to praise God await you at Christian meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
[To find a Kingdom Hall near you, please visit the about us section and fill in the congregation meeting search. Computer icons pop up then transform into JW.org]
(Logo: Black capital letters JW.ORG inside a white box. Copyright 2014 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania) [Click to close]
What similarities did you notice between what happens at a Kingdom Hall and what you read at Colossians 3:16?
In the video or in the picture, did you notice anything else about the meetings that appeals to you?
[Image:] Collage: Scenes at a Kingdom Hall before, during, and after a meeting. Scenes are repeated in images A through D.
[Box]
During a meeting
A. Our meetings include talks, demonstrations, and videos. Meetings begin and end with song and prayer
B. During some parts of the program, the audience is invited to comment
Before and after a meeting
C. Everyone is welcome, families, single ones, the elderly, and children
D. Our meetings are free. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not charge admission or pass a collection plate.
[End of box]
Read 2 Corinthians 9:7, and then discuss the question that follows:
[Read scripture] 2 Corinthians 9:7: Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. [End of Read scripture]
Why are meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses free of charge?
Along with your teacher, look at what will be discussed at one of this week’s meetings.
What part of the meeting sounds most interesting or useful to you?
[Box] Did You Know?
On JW.org, you can find out where and when meetings are held all over the world. [End of box]
5. Effort is required to attend meetings
Consider the example of Jesus’ family. To attend a yearly event, they had to walk some 60 miles (100 kilometers) through mountainous terrain from Nazareth to Jerusalem. Read Luke 2:39 through 42, and then discuss the questions that follow:
[Read scripture] Luke 2:39 through 42: So when they had carried out all the things according to the Law of Jehovah, they went back into Galilee to their own city, Nazareth. And the young child continued growing and getting strong, being filled with wisdom, and God’s favor continued upon him. Now his parents were accustomed to go from year to year to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was 12 years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival. [End of Read scripture]
Do you think that this journey to Jerusalem took effort?
Why might you have to put forth effort to attend meetings?
Do you think it is worth it? Why?
The Bible says that meeting together for worship is very important. Read Hebrews 10:24 and 25, and then discuss the question that follows:
[Read scripture] Hebrews 10:24 and 25: And let us consider one another so as to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking our meeting together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you see the day drawing near. [End of Read scripture]
Why should we attend meetings regularly?
[Image:] Collage: Joseph, Mary, Jesus, and one of Jesus’ siblings preparing for a journey. 1. Joseph loads bags onto a donkey, and Mary prepares food items. 2. A map shows the route from Nazareth to Jerusalem.
[Box]
Some People Say: “You don’t need to meet with others. It’s enough to study the Bible at home.” What scripture or Bible example reveals what Jehovah wants? [End of box]
Summary
Attending meetings will help you to learn more about Jehovah, to deepen your friendship with him, and to worship him with others.
Review
Why does Jehovah encourage us to meet together?
What will you learn at the meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses?
How else do you think you could benefit from attending the meetings?
Goal
Attend a meeting and get to know some of the people who are there. Set Other Goals
Explore
What if you are nervous about attending a meeting? See how a man who felt that way came to love the meetings. We Will Never Forget the Greeting (4:16)
[Click for transcript]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]
See how a young man enjoyed the meetings and what he did to keep attending. I Liked the Meetings So Much! (4:33)
[Click for transcript]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]
Learn how others feel about attending meetings. “Why Attend Meetings at the Kingdom Hall?” (Web article)
[Click for article]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]
Find out how a violent gang member’s life changed after attending a meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses. “I Never Went Anywhere Without My Gun” (The Watchtower, July 1, 2014)
[Click for article]|[THE BIBLE CHANGES LIVES I Never Went Anywhere Without My Gun
As told by Annunziato Lugarà
YEAR BORN: 1958
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: ITALY
HISTORY: VIOLENT GANG MEMBER
MY PAST: I was born and raised in the suburbs of Rome, in an area made up of the poor working class. Life was tough. I never knew my real mother, and I didn’t have a good relationship with my father. I grew up learning the rules of the streets.
By the time I was ten years old, I had already started stealing. At age 12, I ran away from home for the first time. On more than one occasion, my father had to pick me up at police headquarters and take me home. I argued with people constantly—I was violent and angry with the whole world. When I was 14, I left home for good. I started taking drugs and living on the street. Not having anywhere to sleep, I would break into a car and stay in it until the early morning hours. Then I would look for a water fountain so that I could wash up.
I became really good at stealing—anything from bag snatching to robbing apartments and villas during the night. I started to gain a bad reputation and was soon invited to join a notorious gang, which allowed me the “opportunity” to upgrade to robbing banks. Because of my aggressive personality, I was soon a respected member of the gang. I never went anywhere without my gun; in fact, I slept with it under my pillow. Violence, drugs, stealing, foul language, and immorality became my way of life. The police were constantly on my heels. I was arrested several times, and I spent years in and out of prison.
HOW THE BIBLE CHANGED MY LIFE: On one occasion when I was let out of prison, I decided to go and visit one of my aunts. Unbeknownst to me, my aunt and two of my cousins had become Jehovah’s Witnesses. They invited me to attend a meeting of the Witnesses. Out of curiosity, I decided to go with them. When we arrived at the Kingdom Hall, I insisted on sitting near the door so that I could keep an eye on those who came in and out. Of course, I was armed.
That meeting changed my life. I remember thinking that I must be on a different planet. I was greeted by people with warm, friendly smiling faces. I still have a vivid picture in my mind of the kind, honest look the Witnesses had in their eyes. This was certainly a million miles away from the world I was used to!
I started to study the Bible with the Witnesses. The more I learned, the clearer it became that I had to change my lifestyle completely. I took to heart the words recorded at Proverbs 13:20: “The one walking with the wise will become wise, but the one who has dealings with the stupid will fare badly.” I realized that I needed to distance myself from the gang. That was not easy to do, but with Jehovah’s help, I succeeded.
I also cleaned myself up physically. With much effort, I stopped smoking cigarettes and using drugs. I cut my long hair, got rid of my earrings, and stopped using bad language. For the first time in my life, I started to have control over my actions.
I had never enjoyed reading and studying, so it was a real challenge to concentrate and apply myself to Bible study. However, as I made the effort, I gradually came to love Jehovah, and something started to change inside me—my conscience began to bother me. I often had negative feelings about myself, doubting that Jehovah could ever forgive me for all the bad that I had done. In those moments I found a lot of comfort in reading about Jehovah forgiving King David after he had committed serious sins.—2 Samuel 11:1–12:13.
Another challenge was sharing my faith with others in the door-to-door ministry. (Matthew 28:19,20) I was terrified that I would meet someone whom I had hurt or wronged in some way in the past! But gradually I was able to overcome my fear. I began to find real satisfaction in helping others learn about our wonderful heavenly Father, who forgives so abundantly.
HOW I HAVE BENEFITED: Learning about Jehovah saved my life! Most of my former companions are dead or in prison, but I have a truly satisfying life and a future to look forward to. I have learned to be humble and obedient and to control my volcanic temper. As a result, I enjoy better relationships with the people around me. I am happily married to my beautiful wife, Carmen. Together, we find great joy in helping others learn about the Bible.
Oh, and I now do honest work—it sometimes still involves banks, but instead of robbing them, I clean them! [Click to close]