Personal Scriptures Flashcards
How do we get back up if we fall?
Jehovah will help the righteous get back up if they fall. But the wicked will stumble by calamity.
Proverbs 24:16
For the righteous one may fall even seven times, and he will certainly get up; but the wicked ones will be made to stumble by calamity.
How do we know that Jehovah will prevent us from stumbling?
There is no stumbling block for those who love Jehovah and follow his law.
Psalm 119:165
Abundant peace belongs to those loving your law, And for them there is no stumbling block.
How we can benefit from stories and people in the Bible?
They can give us comfort and encourage us through their endurance.
Romans 15:4
For all the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope.
What should we do if we face health problems or advancing age?
We should not give up even if our body is wasting away on the outside. We can renew ourselves spiritually on the inside by maintaining and building our faith and hope of God’s promises. Whatever tribulation we face, it is only temporary and light (if we have the right perspective). Overcoming our tribulations can bring us glory that is of more value and everlasting, because if we can still remain faithful to Jehovah after all our obstacles, that glory will be everlasting if we have the opportunity to have everlasting life. Thus we keep our eyes, our focus or faith, on what is unseen, which is Jehovah’s promises that have not yet but will be fulfilled, because his promises are everlasting.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not give up, but even if the man we are outside is wasting away, certainly the man we are inside is being renewed from day to day. For though the tribulation is momentary and light, it works out for us a glory that is of more and more surpassing weight and is everlasting; while we keep our eyes, not on the things seen, but on the things unseen. For the things seen are temporary, but the things unseen are everlasting.
What should we do if we feel anxious in life (regarding food, money, living, pressure from other people, etc)?
- We should stop being anxious about food, clothing, etc. The soul is more valuable than food, body, or any materialistic object in this world.
If birds are able to be fed without sowing, reaping, or gathering seed into storehouses, won’t Jehovah be able to feed us even more, especially when we are worth more than birds?
Worrying does not add to your life span.
Take clothing and the lilies of the field in a similar way.
Matthew 6:25-30
“On this account I say to YOU:
Stop being anxious about YOUR souls as to what YOU will eat or what YOU will drink, or about YOUR bodies as to what YOU will wear. Does not the soul mean more than food and the body than clothing?
Observe intently the birds of heaven, because they do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses; still YOUR heavenly Father feeds them. Are YOU not worth more than they are?
Who of YOU by being anxious can add one cubit to his life span?
Also, on the matter of clothing, why are YOU anxious? Take a lesson from the lilies of the field, how they are growing; they do not toil, nor do they spin; but I say to YOU that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these.
If, now, God thus clothes the vegetation of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much rather clothe YOU, YOU with little faith?
- We should never feel anxious regarding the anxieties of life. All of these things are being eagerly pursued by the world (but we want to be apart from this world). And Jehovah knows that we need all these things. But if we continue to seek Jehovah’s kingdom first and his righteousness, the things we need will be given to us.
Matthew 6:31-33
So never be anxious and say,
‘What are we to eat?’
or, ‘What are we to drink?’
or, ‘What are we to put on?’
For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing. For YOUR heavenly Father knows YOU need all these things.
Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these [other] things will be added to YOU.
- Live life free from the love of money or even wanting more. But be content with how much you have already. Jehovah will never leave or forget us as long as we remain faithful to him, so we should not be afraid in life for he will help us. We don’t even have to fear what humans can do to us if we have Jehovah as our helper.
Hebrews 13:5, 6
Let [YOUR] manner of life be free of the love of money, while YOU are content with the present things. For he has said: “I will by no means leave you nor by any means forsake you.” So that we may be of good courage and say: “Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
How should we view money/riches?
Live life free from the love of money or even wanting more. But be content with how much you have already. Jehovah will never leave or forget us as long as we remain faithful to him, so we should not be afraid even if we have no money, for he will help us.
Hebrews 13:5, 6
Let [YOUR] manner of life be free of the love of money, while YOU are content with the present things. For he has said: “I will by no means leave you nor by any means forsake you.” So that we may be of good courage and say: “Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid.
Hebrews 13:9
Do not be carried away with various and strange teachings; for it is fine for the heart to be given firmness by undeserved kindness, not by eatables, by which those who occupy themselves with them have not been benefited.
Why should we stay away from bad association?
2 Corinthians 6:14
Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness?
2 Thessalonians 3:6
Now we are giving YOU orders, brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw from every brother walking disorderly and not according to the tradition YOU received from us.
1 Corinthians 5:11
But now I am writing YOU to quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man.
James 4:4
Adulteresses,* do YOU not know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is constituting himself an enemy of God.
Luke 6:26
Woe, whenever all men speak well of YOU, for things like these are what their forefathers did to the false prophets.
Galatians 1:10
Is it, in fact, men I am now trying to persuade or God? Or am I seeking to please men? If I were yet pleasing men, I would not be Christ’s slave.
How and why should we not cause our brothers/sisters to stumble?
1 Corinthians 8:4, 7-13
Now concerning the eating of foods offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but one.
Nevertheless, there is not this knowledge in all persons; but some, being accustomed until now to the idol, eat food as something sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. But food will not commend us to God; if we do not eat, we do not fall short, and, if we eat, we have no credit to ourselves.
But keep watching that this authority of YOURS does not somehow become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone should see you, the one having knowledge, reclining at a meal in an idol temple, will not the conscience of that one who is weak be built up to the point of eating foods offered to idols?
Really, by your knowledge, the man that is weak is being ruined, [your] brother for whose sake Christ died. But when YOU people thus sin against YOUR brothers and wound their conscience that is weak, YOU are sinning against Christ.
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat flesh at all, that I may not make my brother stumble.
1 Corinthians 10:24
24 Let each one keep seeking, not his own [advantage], but that of the other person.
Romans 14:15-23
For if because of food your brother is being grieved, you are no longer walking in accord with love. Do not by your food ruin that one for whom Christ died. Do not, therefore, let the good YOU people do be spoken of with injury to YOU. For the kingdom of God does not mean eating and drinking, but [means] righteousness and peace and joy with holy spirit. For he who in this regard slaves for Christ is acceptable to God and has approval with men.
So, then, let us pursue the things making for peace and the things that are upbuilding to one another. Stop tearing down the work of God just for the sake of food. True, all things are clean, but it is injurious to the man who with an occasion for stumbling eats. It is well not to eat flesh or to drink wine or do anything over which your brother stumbles. The faith that you have, have it in accord with yourself in the sight of God. Happy is the man that does not put himself on judgment by what he approves. But if he has doubts, he is already condemned if he eats, because [he does] not [eat] out of faith. Indeed, everything that is not out of faith is sin.
James 4:17
17 Therefore, if one knows how to do what is right and yet does not do it, it is a sin for him.
Romans 14:21
It is well not to eat flesh or to drink wine or do anything over which your brother stumbles.
Matthew 18:6
But whoever stumbles one of these little ones who put faith in me, it is more beneficial for him to have hung around his neck a millstone such as is turned by an ass and to be sunk in the wide, open sea.
Romans 15:1
We, though, who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those not strong, and not to be pleasing ourselves.
Galatians 6:1
Brothers, even though a man takes some false step before he is aware of it, YOU who have spiritual qualifications try to readjust such a man in a spirit of mildness, as you each keep an eye on yourself, for fear you also may be tempted.
Why should we be careful about false/other teachings? What should we do if we are uncertain?
Hebrews 13:9
Do not be carried away with various and strange teachings; for it is fine for the heart to be given firmness by undeserved kindness, not by eatables, by which those who occupy themselves with them have not been benefited.
1 Corinthians 10:23
All things are lawful; but not all things are advantageous. All things are lawful; but not all things build up.
1 Corinthians 6:12
All things are lawful for me; but not all things are advantageous. All things are lawful for me; but I will not let myself be brought under authority by anything.
Romans 14:1
Welcome the [man] having weaknesses in [his] faith, but not to make decisions on inward questionings.
Ephesians 4:14
?in order that we should no longer be babes, tossed about as by waves and carried hither and thither by every wind of teaching by means of the trickery of men, by means of cunning in contriving error.
Colossians 2:8
Look out perhaps there may be someone who will carry YOU off as his prey through the philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ
2 Thessalonians 2:2
? not to be quickly shaken from YOUR reason nor to be excited either through an inspired expression or through a verbal message or through a letter as though from us, to the effect that the day of Jehovah is here.
Ephesians 5:15
So keep strict watch that how YOU walk is not as unwise but as wise [persons]
Why should we stay separate from the people or things in this world?
1 Corinthians 7:29-3
Moreover, this I say, brothers, the time left is reduced. Henceforth let those who have wives be as though they had none, and also those who weep be as those who do not weep, and those who rejoice as those who do not rejoice, and those who buy as those not possessing, and those making use of the world as those not using it to the full; for the scene of this world is changing.
1 Corinthians 7:32-38
Indeed, I want YOU to be free from anxiety. The unmarried man is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he may gain the Lord’s approval. But the married man is anxious for the things of the world, how he may gain the approval of his wife, and he is divided. Further, the unmarried woman, and the virgin, is anxious for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in her body and in her spirit. However, the married woman is anxious for the things of the world, how she may gain the approval of her husband. But this I am saying for YOUR personal advantage, not that I may cast a noose upon YOU, but to move YOU to that which is becoming and that which means constant attendance upon the Lord without distraction.
But if anyone thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virginity, if that is past the bloom of youth, and this is the way it should take place, let him do what he wants; he does not sin. Let them marry.
But if anyone stands settled in his heart, having no necessity, but has authority over his own will and has made this decision in his own heart, to keep his own virginity, he will do well.
Consequently he also that gives his virginity in marriage does well, but he that does not give it in marriage will do better.
Romans 6:16
Do YOU not know that if YOU keep presenting yourselves to anyone as slaves to obey him, YOU are slaves of him because YOU obey him, either of sin with death in view or of obedience with righteousness in view?
Romans 12:2
And quit being fashioned after this system of things,* but be transformed by making YOUR mind over, that YOU may prove to yourselves+ the good and acceptable and perfect will+ of God.
1 John 2:15
Do not be loving either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him
Romans 8:7
because the minding of the flesh means enmity with God, for it is not under subjection to the law of God, nor, in fact, can it be.
John 18:36
Jesus answered: “My kingdom is no part of this world. If my kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be delivered up to the Jews. But, as it is, my kingdom is not from this source.”
Why must we fear God and not men?
Galatians 1:10
Is it, in fact, men I am now trying to persuade or God? Or am I seeking to please men? If I were yet pleasing men, I would not be Christ’s slave.
Why should we be subjective to human governments? Why should we pay taxes?
Jesus and his disciples recognized the fact that some form of government is necessary for the existence of society, and they never fomented revolution or civil disobedience.
Since the governmental authorities render valuable services to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of their subjects, they are entitled to taxes and tribute in compensation for their services. The governmental authorities can be termed “God’s public servants” in the sense that they provide beneficial services.
Romans 13:1-7
Let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God. Therefore he who opposes the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have taken a stand against it will receive judgment to themselves. For those ruling are an object of fear, not to the good deed, but to the bad. Do you, then, want to have no fear of the authority? Keep doing good, and you will have praise from it; for it is God’s minister to you for your good. But if you are doing what is bad, be in fear: for it is not without purpose that it bears the sword; for it is God’s minister, an avenger to express wrath upon the one practicing what is bad.
There is therefore compelling reason for YOU people to be in subjection, not only on account of that wrath but also on account of [YOUR] conscience. For that is why YOU are also paying taxes; for they are God’s public servants constantly serving this very purpose. Render to all their dues, to him who [calls for] the tax, the tax; to him who [calls for] the tribute, the tribute; to him who [calls for] fear, such fear; to him who [calls for] honor, such honor.
Titus 3:1
Continue reminding them to be in subjection and be obedient to governments and authorities as rulers, to be ready for every good work
Jesus set forth the guiding principle for true worshipers of God to follow when he said:
Matthew 22:21
They said: “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them: “Pay back, therefore, Caesar’s things to Caesar, but God’s things to God.”
This principle enabled the early Christians (and Christians since then) to maintain a right balance as to relations with the two authorities, that of the civil governments and that of God. Jesus showed further that his position while on earth, and therefore that of his disciples, was not one of fighting against the “Caesar” governments but, rather, one of compliance with their regulations that did not conflict with God’s law. Pilate himself recognized this fact when he said: “I find no fault in him.”
John 18:38
Pilate said to him: “What is truth?”*
And after saying this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them: “I find no fault in him.
Acts 24:16
In this respect, indeed, I am exercising myself continually to have a consciousness of committing no offense against God and men.
Acts 25:10, 11
But Paul said: “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also are finding out quite well. If, on the one hand, I am really a wrongdoer and have committed anything deserving of death, I do not beg off from dying; if, on the other hand, none of those things exists of which these [men] accuse me, no man can hand me over to them as a favor. I appeal to Caesar!”
Christian subjection to the superior authorities is not based merely on their ability to punish evildoers. With a Christian, it becomes a matter of conscience. He is submissive to human authorities because he recognizes that this is in harmony with God’s will.
1 Peter 2:13-15
For the Lord’s sake subject yourselves to every human creation: whether to a king as being superior or to governors as being sent by him to inflict punishment on evildoers but to praise doers of good. For so the will of God is, that by doing good YOU may muzzle the ignorant talk of the unreasonable men.
Therefore, subjection to the superior authorities—to worldly political authorities—could never be absolute. It would be impossible for a Christian to preserve a good conscience and do the divine will if he broke God’s law because that is what the political authority demanded. For this reason, subjection to superior authorities must always be viewed in the light of the apostles’ statement to the Jewish Sanhedrin: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.”
Acts 5:29
In answer Peter and the [other] apostles said: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.
At times such services have directly assisted God’s servants, as when King Cyrus made it possible for the Jews to return to Judah and Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.
Chronicles 36:22, 23
And in the first year of Cyrus the king of Persia, that Jehovah’s word by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Jehovah roused the spirit of Cyrus the king of Persia, so that he caused a cry to pass through all his kingdom, and also in writing, saying: “This is what Cyrus the king of Persia has said, ‘All the kingdoms of the earth Jehovah the God of the heavens has given me, and he himself has commissioned me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among YOU of all his people, Jehovah his God be with him. So let him go up.’”
Ezra 1:1-4
And in the first year of Cyrus*+ the king of Persia, that Jehovah’s word from the mouth of Jeremiah+ might be accomplished, Jehovah roused+ the spirit of Cyrus the king of Persia so that he caused a cry+ to pass through all his realm, and also in writing,+ saying:
“This is what Cyrus the king of Persia has said,+ ‘All the kingdoms of the earth Jehovah the God of the heavens+ has given me,+ and he himself has commissioned me to build him a house in Jerusalem,+ which is in Judah. 3 Whoever there is among YOU of all his people, may his God prove to be with him.+ So let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of Jehovah the God of Israel—he is the [true] God*+—which was in Jerusalem.+ 4 As for anyone that is left from all the places where he is residing as an alien,+ let the men of his place assist him with silver and with gold and with goods and with domestic animals along with the voluntary offering+ for the house of the [true] God, which was in Jerusalem.’”
Philippians 1:7
It is altogether right for me to think this regarding all of YOU, on account of my having YOU in my heart, all of YOU being sharers with me in the undeserved kindness, both in my [prison] bonds and in the defending and legally establishing of the good news.
Often the benefits are those shared by all from the proper functioning of the authorities. These would include the maintenance of a legal system to which persons can appeal for justice, protection from criminals and from illegal mobs, and so forth.
Acts 21:30-32
And the whole city was set in an uproar, and a running together of the people occurred; and they laid hold of Paul and dragged him outside the temple. And immediately the doors were closed. And while they were seeking to kill him, information came up to the commander of the band that all Jerusalem was in confusion; and he at once took soldiers and army officers and ran down to them. When they caught sight of the military commander and the soldiers, they quit beating Paul.
And he summoned a certain two of the army officers and said: “Get two hundred soldiers ready to march clear to Caes·a·re′a, also seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, at the third hour* of the night. Also, provide beasts of burden that they may have Paul ride and convey him safely to Felix the governor.” And he wrote a letter having this form:
“Claudius Lys′i·as to his excellency, Governor Felix:+ Greetings! This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be done away with by them, but I came suddenly with a force of soldiers and rescued him, because I learned he was a Roman. And wishing to ascertain the cause for which they were accusing him, I brought him down into their San′he·drin. I found him to be accused about questions of their Law, but not charged with a single thing deserving of death or bonds. But because a plot that is to be laid against the man has been disclosed to me, I am at once sending him to you, and commanding the accusers to speak against him before you.”
Therefore these soldiers took Paul according to their orders and brought him by night to An·tip′a·tris. The next day they permitted the horsemen to go on with him, and they returned to the soldiers’ quarters.
Of course, a ruler who misuses his authority is accountable to God. Wrote the apostle Paul: “Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Jehovah.’”
Romans 12:19
Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Jehovah.”
Ecclesiastes 5:8
If you see any oppression of the one of little means and the violent taking away of judgment and of righteousness in a jurisdictional district, do not be amazed over the affair, for one that is higher than the high one is watching, and there are those who are high above them.
Proverbs 8:23-36
From time indefinite I was installed, from the start, from times earlier than the earth. When there were no watery deeps I was brought forth as with labor pains, when there were no springs heavily charged with water. Before the mountains themselves had been settled down,+ ahead of the hills, I was brought forth as with labor pains, 26 when as yet he had not made the earth+ and the open spaces and the first part of the dust masses of the productive land.+ 27 When he prepared the heavens I was there;+ when he decreed a circle upon the face of the watery deep,+ 28 when he made firm the cloud masses above,+ when he caused the fountains of the watery deep to be strong,+ 29 when he set for the sea his decree that the waters themselves should not pass beyond his order,+ when he decreed the foundations of the earth,+ 30 then I came to be beside him as a master worker,+ and I came to be the one he was specially fond+ of day by day, I being glad before him all the time,+ 31 being glad at the productive land* of his earth,+ and the things I was fond of were with the sons of men.*+
“And now, O sons, listen to me; yes, happy are the ones that keep my very ways.+ 33 Listen to discipline and become wise,+ and do not show any neglect.+ 34 Happy is the man that is listening to me by keeping awake at my doors day by day, by watching at the posts of my entrances.+ 35 For the one finding me will certainly find life,+ and gets goodwill from Jehovah.+ 36 But the one missing me is doing violence to his soul;+ all those intensely hating me are the ones that do love death.”
Ephesians 5:10-13
Keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord; and quit sharing with [them] in the unfruitful works that belong to the darkness, but, rather, even be reproving [them], for the things that take place in secret by them it is shameful even to relate. Now all the things that are being reproved are made manifest by the light, for everything that is being made manifest is light.
Why can we trust in Jehovah to provide for us?
Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold firmly the public declaration of our hope without wavering, for the one who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 13:5-6
Let your way of life be free of the love of money, while you are content with the present things. For he has said: “I will never leave you, and I will never abandon you.” So that we may be of good courage and say: “Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Why do we have more responsibility to stay in the truth after we have know of the truth? Why should we fear Jehovah above all else?
Hebrews 10:26-31
For if we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left, but there is a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a burning indignation that is going to consume those in opposition. Anyone who has disregarded the Law of Moses dies without compassion on the testimony of two or three. How much greater punishment do you think a person will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God and who has regarded as of ordinary value the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has outraged the spirit of undeserved kindness with contempt? For we know the One who said: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again: “Jehovah will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
How can we gain strength from our trials and tribulations?
Hebrews 10:32-39
However, keep remembering the former days in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle along with sufferings. At times you were publicly exposed both to reproaches and to tribulations, and at times you shared with those who were having such an experience. For you expressed sympathy for those in prison and you accepted joyfully the plundering of your belongings, knowing that you yourselves have a better and an enduring possession.
Therefore, do not throw away your boldness, which will be richly rewarded. For you need endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the fulfillment of the promise. For yet “a very little while,” and “the one who is coming will arrive and will not delay.” “But my righteous one will live by reason of faith,” and “if he shrinks back, I have no pleasure in him.” Now we are not the sort who shrink back to destruction, but the sort who have faith for the preserving of our lives.
