Watchtower Study, Week of July 13-19, 2026, How to Use Bible Principles to Train Your Conscience. Underlined Answers.

Watchtower Study, July 13-19, 2026, How to Use Bible Principles to Train Your Conscience. Underlined Answers.

Yellow: Direct Response

Light Yellow: Additional Response

Celeste: Additional Points

“Each one will bear his own load of responsibility” (GAL. 6:5).

1, 2. a) What gift did Adam and Eve receive? b) How should they have shown gratitude for that gift?

Animals are guided by instinct, and many machines are programmed to perform certain tasks. But humans are different. When God created us, He gave us a very special gift, one that true Christians greatly value. That gift is free will, that is, the freedom to choose and make our own decisions in life. The Bible says that the first man, Adam, was created in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26, 27). Both he and his wife, Eve, were intelligent beings and were given the freedom to make their own choices.

2 Jehovah did not give Adam and Eve a long list of laws. He simply told them to take care of the earth, populate it with their children, and respect his right to set reasonable limits on what they could do. (Gen. 1:28; 2:16, 17) What should they have done to thank him for the gift of free will? In view of all that Jehovah had given them, they should have obeyed those basic rules to show him that they loved him and wanted to make him happy. (Prov. 23:15).

3. How did Adam and Eve use their freedom of choice?

3 The Bible reveals that Adam and Eve misused their free will and chose to disobey Jehovah. Instead of showing love and gratitude, they gave in to selfishness. (Gen. 3:1-7). And even today we are paying the consequences of that bad decision (Rom. 5:12).

4. a) According to Galatians 6:5, what should we all do? b) What other gift will we discuss in this article?

4 Today life is very complicated. Every day we have to make many decisions (read Galatians 6:5). Some are simpler and others are more complex. How can we make decisions that please Jehovah? First of all, we must recognize that we need to ask for his help (Prov. 16:3; Jer. 10:23). Even Jesus, who was perfect, understood that he needed God’s help (Heb. 5:7). And we, who are imperfect, need it even more. But Jehovah has given us another help in making good decisions: our conscience. Let us now talk about this gift.

WHAT IS CONSCIOUSNESS?

5. a) What is conscience? b) How does conscience help us? (Romans 2:14, 15).

5 Conscience is an internal sense of right and wrong. Even people who don't know God's laws have a conscience (2 Corinthians 4:2). It's like an inner judge who accuses or excuses us for what we think or do. (Romans 2:14, 15). Our conscience warns us against doing what we know is wrong (1 Sam. 26:8-11). And it also motivates us to do what we know is right. Freedom of choice alone does not guarantee that every decision we make will please Jehovah. We need the help of our conscience to distinguish between a good and a bad decision.

6. What problem does our conscience have?

6 But there is a problem with conscience. Because we are imperfect, our consciousness is also imperfect. It can be negatively conditioned by our upbringing, culture, or ill will. The Bible says that it can become “weak,” “contaminated,” “unfeeling as though branded with a hot iron,” or even “evil” (1 Cor. 8:12; Titus 1:15; 1 Tim. 4:2; Heb. 10:22). In that case, it would no longer be a good guide. It would be like a scale that's out of adjustment and needs recalibrating. To keep it in good working order, it needs maintenance (1 Peter 3:16). How can we do that?

HOW TO EDUCATE OUR CONSCIENCE

7, 8. (a) What will help us to train our conscience? (b) How do Bible principles help us? Give an example (see also the picture).

7 How can we educate the conscience? Learning what is right and wrong in Jehovah's eyes. One way to do this is by reading the Bible every day. Studying God's laws will help us understand his way of thinking. Of course, as we discussed in the previous article, some laws are very specific and have limited application. For that reason, we must also look for principles. This will give us a broader view of what Jehovah thinks and feels (Isa. 55:9).

8 Our life is like a journey through a desert without roads, paths, or signs. The position of the sun and stars might give us a general idea of ​​which direction to take to reach our destination, but a map with landmarks would be much more useful. It would allow us to see if we are going in the right direction and get back on track if we stray. As Christians, our ultimate goal is Jehovah's approval. The Bible is our map with specific directions. And Bible principles are our landmarks. If we follow these principles, we will successfully reach our destination.

ILLUSTRATION

A hiker checks landmarks on his map to confirm he is heading in the right direction toward his destination in the middle of the desert.

Biblical principles are like reference points that show us we are going in the right direction. (See paragraph 8.)

9. According to Romans 9:1, what other help do we have to educate our conscience?

9 God’s holy spirit enables us to properly train our conscience (read Romans 9:1). It helps us to understand Jehovah’s opinion on certain matters. And it also motivates and energizes us to act in harmony with Jehovah’s will. (Phil. 2:13). But what must we do to receive help from the holy spirit?

10. What must we do to receive help from the holy spirit? (Luke 11:10, 13).

10 Ask Jehovah for his spirit (read Luke 11:10, 13). We can be sure that he will give it to us generously (John 3:34). Indeed, God gives it abundantly to all who let themselves be guided by him. (Prov. 1:23; James 1:5). What more do we need to educate our conscience?

11. a) What should be our main goal in life? b) Why should we make sure that our conscience is well educated and functioning properly?

11 Always seek Jehovah’s approval (Prov. 8:34, 35). This should be our primary goal in life. No matter what situation arises, having this goal clearly in mind will help us to train our conscience. We can say that we have a well-trained conscience when our way of thinking is in tune with Jehovah's and our heart is concerned about what he feels. Since life is very difficult today, it is very important that the conscience is well educated. We often face situations that are not specifically mentioned in the Bible. Perhaps they relate to entertainment, work, education, or personal relationships. So, what should we do to make sure that Jehovah approves of the decisions we make in these areas? (2 Cor. 1:12)

12. What will help us see if our conscience is leading us in the right direction? (Ephesians 5:10).

12 Meditate on what we read in God’s Word (Psalm 49:3). When we read the Bible, we should look for principles that will help us understand Jehovah’s way of thinking. (Read Ephesians 5:10.) Thus, when we need guidance in the midst of life’s major problems, these Bible principles will help us to see whether our conscience is leading us to make good decisions (Prov. 2:4-9, 11-13). And, if necessary, they will help us to readjust and correct our conscience so that we do not stray from the right path (Heb. 5:14).

13. What mistake of the Israelites should we avoid?

13 We shouldn't make the decision first and then look for principles to justify it. We should avoid being like the Israelites who remained in the land of Judah after the destruction of Jerusalem in 607 BCE. They said to Jeremiah: “Let Jehovah your God tell us which way to go and what we should do” (Jer. 42:3-6). But they had actually already decided what they were going to do. So when Jehovah gave them instructions they did not like, they clung to the decision they had already made, and this led to disaster (Jer. 42:19-22; 43:1, 2, 4). So we do not want to do as they do, but first look for Bible principles that show us Jehovah's way of thinking and then make a decision that is in accordance with them.

14. Why should we apply Bible principles when making decisions?

14 Make decisions based on biblical principles (Matt. 7:24-29; James 1:23-25). By doing this, we will be allowing ourselves to be guided by the holy spirit and acting in harmony with it. As a result, Jehovah will continue to give us his spirit. (Acts 5:32). On the other hand, if we ignore the guidance of Jehovah’s spirit or act against it, we could be “grieving” the holy spirit (Eph. 4:30; Isa. 63:10; Acts 7:51). As a result, Jehovah could take it away from us (Ps. 51:11; 1 Thess. 5:19). That would be terrible because we need the power and strength that come from the holy spirit (Eph. 3:16).

HOW TO FIND THE PRINCIPLES WE NEED

15, 16. (a) How can we find the principles we need? (b) What Bible principles can help a student to quit smoking?

15 Using study tools. In order to apply biblical principles, one must first be able to identify them in the Word of God. Imagine, for example, a Bible student who is reluctant to quit smoking. He might think, “The Bible doesn’t mention smoking. So why do the Witnesses say it’s wrong?” How can we help him find the principles that will lead him to the right conclusion? A valuable resource is the Study Guide for Jehovah's Witnesses. We could show you the heading “Tobacco” and, within that section, the reference to the article “What Does God Think About Tobacco?” (See The Watchtower of June 1, 2014.) What verses and principles will you find when you read the article?

16 Let's analyze five principles mentioned in the article. 1) We do not want to become slaves to something that leads to death (Rom. 6:16). 2) We must avoid anything that harms our body (2 Cor. 7:1). 3) Jehovah wants us to serve him with our whole soul (Matt. 22:37). 4) We must not harm others with our actions (Matt. 22:39; 1 Cor. 10:24). 5) Jehovah gives us the strength to do what is right (Phil. 4:13). So, although the Bible does not specifically address smoking, it contains principles that can help the student to understand Jehovah's viewpoint.

17. How can a Witness couple find Bible principles to help them plan their wedding?

17 How can a Witness couple planning their wedding find Bible principles to help them make good decisions? Again, the Study Guide can be helpful. Under the heading “Weddings and Receptions,” we find a list of articles that include basic principles. Let's analyze six principles that engaged couples should take into account. 1) All wedding preparations must honor Jehovah (1 Cor. 10:31, 32). 2) Clothing should be appropriate and modest, and not follow extreme fashions (1 Tim. 2:9; 1 Pet. 3:3, 4). 3) All ostentation that imitates Satan's world must be avoided (John 17:14; James 1:27; 1 John 2:15, 16). 4) It is necessary that everything be done in an orderly manner (1 Cor. 14:40). 5) The reception should not be an out-of-control party where people get drunk (Gal. 5:21). 6) It is advisable to assign someone to supervise the banquet (John 2:8, 9).

18, 19. a) What other tool can help us? b) What principles related to the topic of celebrations can we find in this book? (See the box “Can we identify the principles?”).

18 Another resource that has helped many is the book Biblical Texts for the Christian Life. This work contains lists of verses organized by different themes. Under each topic, there is a list of questions and texts that help us identify biblical principles. For example, a Christian might wonder whether they should attend a certain celebration. If they look up the entry “Celebrations,” they will find the section “Celebrations that are not appropriate for a Christian.”

19 Within that same section, you will see the following subsection: “Why is it wrong to participate in celebrations that are related to false religion? (1Co 10:21; 2Co 6:14-18; Eph 5:10, 11).” There you will also find examples of some of these celebrations. And, under the section “Patriotic Celebrations,” you will find other texts with useful principles. These principles can help you make decisions such as whether to celebrate historical or political events in a country, whether to attend events commemorating wars, or whether to participate in ceremonies that give almost religious honor to prominent people. We are very grateful that Jehovah's organization has given us such useful tools to educate our conscience.

LET'S SHOW THAT WE HAVE A WELL-EDUCATED CONSCIENCE

20. How do we demonstrate that we have properly educated our conscience?

20 We understand that the gift of freedom of choice is very valuable. But we also understand that we must educate our conscience so that we can use that freedom responsibly. A well-trained conscience will enable us to make decisions that honor Jehovah and are in harmony with his will. To do this, we need the help of Jehovah's spirit. So we must continue to ask for his spirit and let ourselves be guided by him. Biblical principles are another way to educate our conscience. Let's use all these gifts wisely, and we will see the power of God's Word in our lives. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Heb. 4:12).

WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?

What is consciousness?

Conscience is the inner sense of right and wrong that we all possess. Even those who don't know God's laws have it. You could say it's like an inner judge that accuses or excuses us for what we think or do. It warns us against doing what we know is wrong and motivates us to do what we know is right.

How can we educate our conscience?

Learning what is right and wrong in Jehovah’s eyes. One way to do this is by reading the Bible every day. Studying God’s laws helps us understand his way of thinking. If we compare it to a journey through a desert without roads, the Bible would be the map with specific directions, while Bible principles would be the landmarks that guide us and help us make good decisions.

How can Bible principles help us make decisions?

By making decisions based on Bible principles, we allow ourselves to be guided by the holy spirit and act in harmony with it. As a result, Jehovah will continue to grant us his spirit. In contrast, if we ignore his guidance or act against it, we could grieve the holy spirit.