Come Be My Follower - Jehovah's Witnesses Official Media Web Site

90
“COMEBEMYFOLLOWER”
Trained to Give a Witness
8 Jesus gave his disciples the best possible training for
the ministry. Above all, he set a perfect example for
them. (Luke 6:40) In the preceding chapter, we discussed
his attitude toward the ministry. Consider, for a moment,
the disciples who traveled with Jesus on his preaching
tours. They observed that he preached wherever people
could be found—on lakeshores and hillsides, in cities
and marketplaces, and in private homes. (Matthew 5:
1, 2; Luke 5:1-3; 8:1; 19:5, 6) They saw that he was a hard
worker, rising early and serving well into the night. The
ministry was no casual pastime for him! (Luke 21:37, 38;
John 5:17) They no doubt sensed that he was motivated
by deep-rooted love for people. Perhaps they saw in his
face a reflection of the compassion he felt in his heart.
(Mark 6:34) What effect do you think Jesus’ example had
on his disciples? How would you have been affected?
9 As followers of Christ, we pattern our ministry after
his example. Hence, we leave no stone unturned when it
comes to giving “a thorough witness.” (Acts 10:42) Like
Jesus, we call on people in their homes. (Acts 5:42) We
adjust our schedule, if necessary, so that we can call
at a time when they are more likely to be at home. We
also search out and discreetly preach to people in public
places—on streets, in parks, in stores, and in the workplace.
We keep “working hard and exerting ourselves” in
the ministry, for we take this work seriously. (1 Timothy
4:10) Deep, heartfelt love for others motivates us to keep
looking for opportunities to preach wherever and whenever
people can be found.—1 Thessalonians 2:8.
8, 9. What example did Jesus set in the ministry, and how can we
pattern our ministry after his example?