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Topical Sermons - Executable Outlines

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Studying With JWs<br />

Mark A. Copeland<br />

INTRODUCTION<br />

1. It not uncommon for members of the Watchtower Society to come to your front door...<br />

a. Who refer to themselves as “Jehovah’s Witnesses”<br />

b. A term I hesitate to use, as they’ve neither seen Jehovah nor do they speak for Him<br />

2. Their zeal is commendable...<br />

a. They strongly believe in their faith<br />

b. They desire to share their faith with everyone<br />

-- Yet zeal alone will not save one - cf. Ro 10:1-3<br />

3. Our heart’s desire and prayer should be for their salvation...<br />

a. That they might know the truth concerning God’s righteousness<br />

b. For which reason we ought to be glad for opportunities to study with them<br />

4. Yet most opportunities to study with JWs are frustrating and unfruitful...<br />

a. Differences regarding basic Bible doctrines are many<br />

b. Discussions rarely make progress, and often become heated<br />

[Why is this so? What can be done about? Is there anyway to lead a JW to “the way of God more<br />

accurately” (cf. Ac 18:26)? I don’t have all the answers, but the following thoughts might be helpful...]<br />

I. THE CHALLENGE IN STUDYING WITH JWs<br />

A. THEIR DOCTRINE IS DIFFERENT...<br />

1. Their views differ on many Biblical subjects, for example:<br />

a. The deity of Christ, the person of the Holy Spirit<br />

b. The nature of man, death, and hell<br />

c. The bodily resurrection of Christ<br />

d. The second coming of Christ<br />

2. Their diverse doctrines make it difficult to communicate<br />

a. We may use the same words, but they mean something different to a JW<br />

b. E.g., salvation, spirit, soul, Son of God<br />

-- This makes it easy to wrangle over words, no matter what the topic, even the<br />

simple gospel plan of salvation!<br />

B. THEIR AUTHORITY IS DIFFERENT...<br />

1. They claim to follow the Bible, but...<br />

a. They accept only their translation (New World Translation) as reliable, which is slanted<br />

to support their peculiar doctrines<br />

b. They accept only those Biblical resources approved by their organization<br />

c. They do not consider the Bible alone as a sufficient guide to learn the truth<br />

2. So with any topic of discussion...<br />

a. They will accept only what is supported by their translation, their approved Bible study<br />

aids<br />

b. They will not accept any view, even Scripture, that counters the official belief of their<br />

<strong>Topical</strong> <strong>Sermons</strong> 337

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