Learn From Jesus' Younger Brother - TEACH EFFECTIVELY LIKE JAMES

 Read James 1:22-25. James' illustration of the mirror is effective for a number of reasons. He had a specific point in mind, namely, that to benefit from God's Word, we must do more than read it; we must act on what we read.  James chose an illustration tha this audience could quickl relate to-a man looking in a mirror.  His point?  It would be foolish if a man were to look in a mirror, see a flaw he can correct, and do nothing about it.  Similarly, it would foolish if we were to read God's Word, see something that we need to change about our personality, and do nothing about it. 

When using an illustration, you can immitate James' example by doing three things: (1) Make sure that the illustration is appropriate to the point you discussing.  (2) Use an illustration that you audience can easily relate to.  (3) Make the applications of the illustration clear. If you find it difficult  to think of appropriate illustrations, consult the Watch Tower Publications Index. Under the heading "Illustrations," you will find dozens of examples that  you can use.   Remember, though, that illustrations are like a microphone-they will ampliy the point you are making.  So be sure to illustrate only the key points that you want to teach.  Of course, our ultimate reason for wanting to  improve our teaching skills is, not to draw attention to ourselves, but to help as many people as possible to be a part of Jehovh's happy family.

We have not had the privileg of growing up with a perfect older brother,  buy we have hadhte honor of serving Jehovah along with a large family of Christian brothers and sisters.  We show our love for them by associating with them, by learning from them, and by loyally serving side by side wth them in the preaching and teaching work. When we strive to imitate James' example in our attitude, conduct, and method of teaching, we bring honor to Jehovah and we help honesthearted people to draw close to our loving heavenly Father.  

Next time: Lessons We Can Learn From Jesus' Tears

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Learn From Jesus' Younger Brother - TEACH EFFECTIVELY LIKE JAMES -Continued

The lesson: Remember that we are all sinners.  We must not think that we are somehow superior to those whom we teach.  Why not?  If we give our student the impression that we are  flawless, he may conclude that he could never measure up; to God's requirements.  But when we honestly admit that it has not been easy for us to follow Scriptural principles  and we explain how Jehovah has helped us to overcome our challenges, we will help our students to see that he too can serve Jehovah.

James  used illustrations that reached the heart.  No doubt he was helped by the holy spirit, he likely also learned a great deal about how to teach by studying the illustrations that his older brother, Jesus had used. The illustrations  James used in his letter are simpjle, and the application is clear.  Read JAMES 3:2-6, 10-12.

The lesson: Use effective Illustrations.   When  you use appropriate illustrations, you turn ears into eyes. You paint pictures in the minds of people. These pictures help your audience to reember key Bible truths.  Jesus was a master  at b using effective illustrations, and his brother James followed his example. Let us examine one of Jame's illustrations and consider why it is so effective.

Next time: Learn From Jesus' Younger Brother - Teach Effectively Like James - Conclusion

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Learn From Jesus' Younger Brother - TEACH EFFECTIVE LIKE JAMES -Continued

 James was realistic. From his letter, it is obvious that James was aware of the challenges his fellow believers were struggling with, and he gave them clear direction how to overcome these. For exampe, some Christians were slow to apply counsel.  (James 1:22)  Others showed partiality toward the rich. (James 2:1-3) Still others had a hard time controlling their tongue.  (James 3:8-10) Those Christians had serious problems, but James did not give up on them. He presented his counsel in a kind but straightfoward way and encouraged those who were struggling spiritually to seek additional help from the elders. - Read James 5:13-15. 

The lesson: Be realistic, but keep a positive view of others. Many with whom we study the Bible may struggle to apply its counsel. (James 4:1-4) It may take them some time to root out bad traits and replace them with Christlike qualities.  In imitation of James, we must have the courage to tell our students whree they need to improve. We also need to remain positive, trusting that Jehovah will draw humble people to him and will him the strength to make changes in their life. - JAMES 4:10.

James kept the right view of himself. James did not feel his family background or his privileged assignments made him special or placed him above his brothers and siters.  He referred to his fellow worshippers as "my beloved brothers." (James 1:16, 19; 2:5) He did not give  the impression that he was perfect.  Rather, he included himelf in the statement:  "We all make mistakes many times." Read JAMES 3:2.

Next time: Learn From Jesus' Younger Brother - TEACH EFFECTIVE LIKE JAMES -Continue

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Learn From Jesus' Younger Brother - TEACH EFFECTIVELY LIKE JAMES

 James did not have an impressive secular education.  The religious leaders of his day no doubt viewed him in the same way  they veiwed the apostles Peter and John-as "uneducated and ordinary." (Acts 4:13) But James learned to be an effective teacher, as is evident when we read the book that bears his name.  Like James, we may have limited secular education. Even so,w ith the help of Jehovah's spirit and practical training from his organization, we too can become good teachers.  Let us consider the example Jame set as a teacher and see what lessons we can learn.

James did not use big words or complicated reasoning.As a result, his audience knew what they needed to do and how to do it.  Consider, for example the simple way James taught that Christians  must be willing  to suffer injustice without becoming  resentful. He wrote: "We consider happy thsoe who have endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome Jehovah gave, that Jehovah is very tender in affection and merciful." (James 5:11)  Note that James relied on the Scriptures as his authority.  He used God's Words to help his audience to see that Jehovah always rewards those  who, like Job. are loyal to Him. James got his point across by using simple words and logic.  In that way, he drew attention, not to himself, but to Jehovah.

The lesson"  Keep your message simple, and teach from God's Word.  Our goal should be, not to impress others with how much we know, but to impress them wiht how Jehovah  knows and how much he cares about them.  (Romans 11:33)  We can reach that goal by always basing what we say on the Scriptures.  For example, rather than tell our Bible students what we would do in their place, we should help them to reason on Bible examples and to perceive Jehovah's thinking and feelings.  Then they will bve motivated by a desire to please Jehovah, not us.

Next time:  Learn From Jesus' Younger Brother - Continue TEACH EFFECTIVELY LIKE JAMES

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Learn From Jesus' Younger Brother - REMAIN HUMBLE LIKE JAMES

 When did Jame become a loyal follower of Jesus?  After Jesus was raised from the dead, "he appeared to James, then to all the apostles." (1 Corinthians 15:7) That meeting with Jesus marked a turning point in Jame's life.  He was present when the  apostles awaited the promised holy spirit in an upper room in Jerusalem.  (Acts 1:13, 14)  Later, James had the joy of serving as a member of the first-century governing body.  (Acts 15:6, 13-22; Galatians 2:9)  And sometime before 62 C.E., he was inspired to write a letter to the anointed Christians.  That letter is of benefit  tous today, whether our hope is heavenly or earthly.  (James 1:1) According to the first-century historian Josephus, James was executed at the order of the Jewish High Priest  Ananias the Younger James, reained faithful to Jehovah until he finished his earthly course.

James was humble.  Why can't we say that?  Consider the contrast between the way  James eventually responded to Jesus and the say that many of the religious leadlers reacted. When James was confronted by irrefutable evidence that Jesus is the son of God, he humbly accepted it.  That was not the case with the chief priests in Jerusalem.  For example, they could not deny that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. Instead of acknowledging that Jesus was Jehovah's representative, they endeavored to kill both  Jesus and Lazarus.  (John 11:53; 12:9-11)  Later when Jesus himself was resurrected from the dead, they conspired to hide that fact from the people.  (Matthew 28:11-15)  The pride of those religious leaders caused them to reject the Messiah.

The lesson: Avoid pride, and remain teachable.  Just as disease can harden the arteries of a literal heart and restrict its abiltity to beat, pride can harden our figurative heart and prevent us from responding to Jehovah's direction. The Pharisees allowed their heart to become so hard that they refused to recognized the clear evidence  being presented to them by God's spirit.  (John 12:37-40) That was a dangerous course because it affected their everlasting future. (Matthew 23:13, 33)  How important it isthat we continue to allow God's Word and spirit to mold our personality and influence our thinking and or decisions!  (James 3:17) Because James was humble, he allowed himself to be taught by Jehovah.  And,  and we shall see, it was because of his humility that he became a skillful teacher.

Next time: Learn From Jesus' Younger Brother - TEACH EFFECTIVELY LIKE JAMES

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Learn From Jesus' Younger Brother

James,  a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ." - JAMES 1:1.

JAMES, the brother of  Jesus, was raised in a spiritually strong family.  His parents Joseph and Mary, loved Jehovah very much and did their best to serve Him. James had an added blessing -his older brother would grow up to be the promised Messiah. What a fine privilet James had to be part of that family!

James had many reasons to look up to his older brother.  (Matthew 13:55) For example,  Jesus knew the Scriptures so well that by the age of 12, he amazed the well-educated elders in Jerusalme.  (Luke 2:46, 47)  James may have worked in the carpentry trade with Jesus. In that case, he would come to know his brother very well.  Nathan H. Knorr often said: "You learn a lot about a  person when you work with him. James could also not help; but notice how "Jesus went on progressing  in wisdom and in physical growth and in favor with God and men." (Luke 2:52) So we might assume that James  would have been among the first to became a disciple of Jesus.  But that is not what happened. 

During  Jesus' ministry on earth, James did not become one of his disciples. (John 7:3-5) In fact, James may have become one of the relatives   who thought that Jesus  had "gone out of his mind." (Mark 3:21)And there is no indication that James was with their mother, Mary, when Jesus was put to death on the torture stake. - John 19:25-27.

Later, James put faith in Jesus and became a respected member of the Christian congregation.  In this article, we will consider two lessons that we can learn from James:  (1) why we must remain humble and (2) how we can become effective teachers.

Next time: Learn From Jesus' Young Brother - REMAIN HUMBLE LIKE JAMES

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"Those Seeking Jehovah Lack Nothing Good" - PREPARE NOW FOR THE FUTURE - Conclusion

 The more we look to  Jehovah for guidance now, the more confident we will be in his ability to deliver us in the future.  It takes faith and a willingness to rely on Jehovah to ask or employer for time off so that we can attend an assembly or a covention or to ask for an adjusteed work schedule  so that we can attend meetings and spend more time in the ministry.  Suppose our employer refuses our request and we lose our  job. Do we have faith that Jehovah will never leave us por abandon us and that he will always  supply our basic needs?  (Hebrews 13:5) Many who are in full-time service can related experiences that show how Jehovah came to  their aid when they needed him most.  Jehovah is faithful.

With Jehovah on our side, we have no reason to fear the days ahead.  Our God will  never forsake us as long as put  his interests first in our lives. To remind us of the need to prepare now for our difficult days ahead and trust that Jehovah will never forsake  us.

Next time: Learn From Jesus' Younger Brother

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"Those Seeking Jehovah Will Lack Nothing Good" - PREPARE NOW FOR THE FUTURE

 What can we do now to prepare for the future?  First of all, we need to have a proper view of material things, realizing that one day we will have to part with what we have. We also need to be content  and to find our greatest joy in our relationship with  Jehovah. The better we get to know our God, the more convinced we will be of his ability to protect us when God of Magog attacks.

Consider what else helped David and can help us to prepare for trials.  David said:  "Taste and see that Jehovah is good; happy is the man who take refuge in him." (Psalm 34:8) Those words explain why David knew that he could count on Jehovah's support.  David often relied on Jehovah and his God never disappointed him.  When young, David  faced the Philistine giant Goliath adn told that formiddable warrior:  "This  very day Jehovah will surrender  you into my hand." (1 Samuel 17:46)  Later, David was in the service of a king, Saul, who tried a number of times to murder him. But "Jehovah was with" David.  (1 Samuel 18:12)  Because David  had experienced Jehovah's help in the past, David knew he could count on Him during his present trials. 

Next time: 'Those Seeking Jehovah Will Lack Nothign Good" - Conclusion of PREPARE NOW FOR THE FUTURE

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"Those Seeking Jehovah Will Lack Nothing Good" - BE CONFIDENT THAT JEHOVAH WILL CARE FOR YOU

 David knew that Jehovah is loyal and cares deeply for those who love him. Even though his life was in danger when he composed the third Psalm, with eyes of faith, David saw "the angel of Jehovah camping "all around" him. (Psalm 34:7) Perhaps David was comparing Jehovah's angel to a soldier camping the field, always on the alert for the enemy. Although he himself was a mighty man of war and Jehovah had promised  him the kingship, David did not reply on his ability to sling a stone or to wield a sword to defeat the enemy.  (1 Samuel 16:13; 24:12) David put his trust in God, confident that Jehovah's angel 'rescues those fearing him.'  Of course, we do not expect to receive miraculous protection today.  But we we know that no one who p;ut his trust in Jehovag will suffer everlasting harm.

In the near future, our trust in Jehovah's ability to protect ius will be put to the test.  When God of Magog, a coalition of nations, attacks God's people, our lives will appear to be in danger.  We will need to be convinced that Jehovah can and will deliver us.  To the nations, we will seem the defenseless sheep with no one to protect us.  (Ezekiel 38:10-12)  We will be unarmed, untrained in warfare.  The nations will see us as easy targets.  They will not see what we see with out eyes of faith-a host of angels camped all around God's people, ready to defend us. How the nations see them?  They have no spiritual vision. What a surprise is in store for them when the heavenly armies come to our aid! - REVELATIONS 19:11, 14, 15.

Next time: "Those Seeking Jehovah Will Lack Nothing Good" - PREPARE NOW FOR THE FUTURE

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"Those Seeking Jehovah Will Lack Nothing Good" - "WE WILL BE CONTENT WITH THESE THINGS"

Paul gave similar counsel to Timothy and, by extension, to us. He wrote: "So, having food and clothing, we will be content with these things." (1 Timothy 6:8) Does this mean that we cannot enjoy a fine meal, have a decent place to live, or purchase  new clothing from time to time?  That is not the point Paul is making. Paul is saying that we should be content with whatever we have materially. (Philippians 4:12)  That was Paul's "secret." Our most precious possession is our relationship with our God, not any material thing that we own. - HABAKKUK 3:17, 18.

There may be a difference between our view and Jehovah's view of what we need.  Consider what moses told the Israelites after they had spent 40 years in the wilderness"  Jehovah your God has blessed you in all that you have done.  He is fully aware of  your walking through his great wildnerness.  These 40 years, Jehovah provided the Israelites iwth  manna to eat.  Their clothes with which they left Egypt-never wore out.  (Deuteronomuy 8:3, 4) Although some might have viewed these as modest provisions, Moses reminded the Israelits that they had everthing they needed. Jehovah will be pleased if we can learn to be content -to appreciate even the simple provisions he makes available, viewing them as a blessing and giving thanks for them. 

Next time: "Those Seeking Jehovah Will Lack Nothing Good" - BE CONFIDENT THAT JEHOVAH WILL CARE FOR YOU

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