How to Memorize Scripture

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All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV)
Knowing God’s word is essential for living the Christian life. It helps us to learn God’s will for our lives. Just as important, it helps us to effectively share God’s Word with others. Thank goodness in this age of digital bibles, many of which are provided online for free, you can quickly search and find the scriptures you’re familiar with but haven’t memorized. I do this all the time which works well when I can only remember a fragment of the verse.

Even though this works fine for self-study, it doesn’t work as well when you’re sharing the Gospel with an unbeliever because it really breaks up the flow of the conversation and gives them time to try to change the subject. But memorizing scripture word for word has never been one of my strengths. I’m sure there are many ways to do this, but here’s one I found in the book that I highly recommend, The School of Biblical Evangelism by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron. If you’ve found other techniques that work for you, please share them with me.

Ray and Kirk recommend the old school method of writing a verse on a 3 x 5 card. Since I tend more towards the digital these days, I’ve created .jpg files that I can use with a screensaver or the lock screen on my computers for this purpose. Here’s the technique that Ray and Kirk recommend:
  1. Write the verse on a 3×5 index card. 
  2. On the top left, write a topic to categorize the verse. 
  3. Below that, write the verse reference. 
  4. Below that, write the verse.
  5. Below that write the verse reference again.
The card would look something like this:

God’s Love
Romans 5:8Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)

Read the verse two or three times out loud. Pay attention to the sound of the verse, and listen for any helpful memory aids, such as words in alphabetical order. As you begin to memorize the verse, say the Topic > Reference > Verse > Reference, one portion at a time. Here’s an example:
God’s Love
Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
God’s Love
Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
God’s Love
Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Repeat this at as many times as you can during the day until you can quote it from memory. When you're confident that you know it, move on to the next verse you want to memorize. At the end of the week, review all the verses that you’ve memorized (up to the last twenty verses). This helps to keep them in your short-term memory long enough for them to be burned permanently into your long-term memory.

Well, that’s it in a nutshell. Again, if you have a technique that works well for you, please share it with me.

Your brother in Christ,
Daniel

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