Archive for the 'Word of God' Category

In the wrong place emotionally? Memorize a Psalm in order to be moved.

Published on August 26, 2010 in Psalms, Sabbatical and Scripture Memory. 2 Comments

If you need to be moved from one place emotionally to another: (1) Identify a Psalm that relates to your experience.  (2) Systematically memorize it over a period of time.  (3) As you do so, experience the movement of the Psalm and be transported by the Spirit in conjunction with the Word.

Psalms are poetry.  This means that they are truth to be experienced.  The idea with poetry is not that we simply learn objective truth.  Rather, poetry, particularly in the case of the Word of God,  transports us through an experience.

You might respond, “Well, when I read Psalms, it doesn’t make that much of a difference.”

We cannot experience poetry with a quick read.  Rather, we need to hear the Words – - to reflect on them – - to prayerfully take in delight at pondering the images.  There is no better way to accomplish this than through memorization.

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But, how does one go about memorizing?  As I have posted in the past (see these posts), a system is needed.  (This post provides a concise summary of my approach).

Below are two pages from my moleskin that picture how I went about memorizing Psalm 65 this summer.  While you wouldn’t be able to read my writing even if it was larger, you can see that my basic approach was to mediate on the Psalm by saying it over and over again.

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If you were to turn to the next page, you would see notes that I made while memorizing the Psalm – - ways that the Psalm moved me.

I appreciated this Psalm initially, but nowhere near the degree to which I savor it now.

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Why Psalm 65?

I chose Psalm 65 initially because of verse 6, “The one who established the mountains being girded with might.”  I was staying in the Lauterbrunnen valley (see below) at the time, arguably the most beautiful valley in Europe.  My goal was for the poetry of the Word of God to interpret the beauty for me so that I could move from the place of initial awe to one of worship.

What I discovered by memorizing the Psalm – - was that this is a Psalm about joy and happiness.  Indeed, the place where it moves the prayerful “meditator” is to one of celebration.

One of my favorite things to do in the Lauterbrunnen Valley was watch this cog wheel train wind its way up the side of the mountain.  It was as though I was watching a life-toy train.  What a joy to meditate on the truth that the Triune God established these mountains, being girded with might (Psalm 65:6).

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Which is the right Psalm for you to begin memorizing?  There are only 150 to chose from.  So it shouldn’t take that long to identify one.

Nothing will help you more than Scripture memory

Published on July 23, 2010 in Scripture Memory. 0 Comments

I know of nothing that will help you grow as a believer more than Scripture memory.

John Piper:

The following is an edited transcript of the audio.

How do you keep from forgetting Scripture after you’ve memorized it?

I don’t. But practically, what can you do to keep it as long as you can? There is only one word. Review.

Review, review, review. There is no way to memorize Scripture that keeps you from losing it. Some people don’t lose anything. Some people have traps in their head that just hang on to it. But only 1 in 10,000 people can do that. Average folks like me have to work real hard to memorize the first time, and then recurrently review to keep it. So I memorize verses every day, and I forget them every day.

This morning I re-memorized a verse. I finished Deuteronomy and ran across a verse that I memorized years ago. Maybe I memorize it once a year, because I read the whole Bible once every year.

The verse is Deuteronomy 33:26. "There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help, and through the skies in his majesty." So, I’ve got it memorized. I probably will forget it in a week. That verse is hard for me to remember.

I’ve memorized that verse probably five times in five years. I forget it because I don’t use it as often as some verses. So, I jot it down on a little piece of paper and carry it in my pocket, pulling it out during the day once or twice. If I try to nail it so that it is useful for me over the long haul, I keep it and review it.

A practical thing I would suggest for people to do, is decide what cluster of text they want to always be at their disposal. For me I could name Psalm 46, Psalm 23, Psalm 1, Romans 8, 2 Corinthians 5:21, a cluster of texts surrounding justification, 1 Peter 4:11—"let him who serves serve in the strength that God supplies, that in everything God may get the glory through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the dominion forever." This is the most quoted verse as we move into worship at Bethlehem.

So for my soul, for the warfare of my life, and for ministry in hospitals and counseling sessions, I want a cluster of texts at my disposal. Decide what those are, put them on a piece of paper, and review them until you have them down. I’ll give you a little story.

My first or second year of pastoring I was called to the hospital—quickly. I went without my Bible. Rollin Erickson’s wife just had a heart attack. I walk into a room of probably 20 family members that didn’t know if she was alive or dead—as she is in surgery. Rollin gave me a big hug and said, "John, give us a Word from the Lord." Now, if I had my Bible I would have opened it to a Psalm or something. I didn’t have my Bible, and for whatever reason at age 35 my mind went blank.

I felt so humiliated. It was horrible. Here are 20 people, and the husband of a dying woman says, "Give us a Word from the Lord." I can’t even remember what I said. I probably said, "Let’s pray," and tried to paraphrase some Scripture. I went home and got on my knees that afternoon. I said, "Lord Jesus, that will never happen again." I opened to Psalm 46—"God is our refuge and strength." I have been able to quote Psalm 46 verbatim for the last 28 years. I decided that Psalm 46 is going to be in my head because it is so useful all the time.

The answer is, review. But don’t try to do that with every verse you learn. You should be learning hundreds of Bible verses by heart, and forgetting 90% of them. But then you get to them again and relearn them, and they are still with you because you learned them once. Somehow they will function to get out into your life.

But really nail down a cluster of soul strengthening words

Why memorize Scripture?

Published on May 24, 2010 in Scripture Memory. 0 Comments

One of my sabbatical goals is to spend extra time on Scripture memory.  But, it doesn’t take a sabbatical!  Remember . . . it’s just not that hard.  You can memorize Scripture if you follow this approach and give it 10 minutes a day.

John Piper motivates us to memorize the Word:

First, a few testimonies: I have it third hand, that Dr. Howard Hendricks of Dallas Seminary once made the statement (and I paraphrase) that if it were his decision, every student graduating from Dallas Theological Seminary would be required to learn one thousand verses word perfect before they graduated.

Dallas Willard, professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California, wrote, “Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual life, I would choose Bible memorization, because it is a fundamental way of filling our minds with what it needs. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. That’s where you need it! How does it get in your mouth? Memorization” (“Spiritual Formation in Christ for the Whole Life and Whole Person” in Vocatio, Vol. 12, no. 2, Spring, 2001, p. 7).

Chuck Swindoll wrote, “I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture. . . . No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant.

The rest here.

HT: Z

More motivation to memorize Scripture

Published on April 22, 2010 in Scripture Memory. 0 Comments

Charles Bridges:

The sudden flash of light leaves no influence.  There is no movement from the heart, till the truth is clearly exhibited to the mind, set strongly and constantly in view, deeply pondered and closely applied.  The Christian Ministry, page 209.

More on Scripture memory.

A new Bible is like fresh snow

Published on February 3, 2010 in Leadership development and Word of God. 2 Comments

I have a new Bible in my cupboard.  Once Sabbatical arrives, I will peel the shrink wrapping off and begin devouring it (Jeremiah 15:16).  And, my prayer (Psalm 119:18 –-see here) is that God will speak into my life in new and exciting ways.  When He answers that prayer, I will track up the snow of my new Bible by writing out in the margins what God is teaching me – - meditating with pen in hand – - ready to hear from God in living and dynamic ways. 

Remember, the principle means by which God speaks to us today is through His Word.  When we read prayerfully hear the Word of God, then the Spirit will illuminate it in ways that revive our souls,make wise the simple, give joy to the heart, and light to the eyes (Psalm 19:7-11).

With the fresh white pages of my new Bible, I will feel like our friends in the last Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, who looking at a fresh blanket of snow say to one another, “It’s a magical world, let’s go exploring.” 

After the exploring of Sabbatical is over, I’ll have a marked up Bible that will remind me of fresh tracks on my heart. 

And, the reality is, believers have a new Bible every day.  God’s Word is always living and active.  Let’s go exploring.

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My son will be proud of me for putting in the below link.

Meditate with pen in hand

Published on January 27, 2010 in Leadership development and Scripture Memory. 0 Comments

One of the things we’re encouraging our leaders to do is to write in their Bibles.

  • When you read the day’s chapter of Proverbs, paraphrase the Proverb that gets your attention (See here).  So, today is the 27th.  Read Proverbs 27 with pen in hand!
  • Journal your prayers.  Write out sentence prayers.  Pray with pen in hand.
  • Write out your Scripture memory verses (See here).
  • Write the date at the end of a book of the Bible each time you read it (See here).

Stephen Altrogge has a very helpful post on how to meditate on Scripture.

Meditate With Pen In Hand
I first heard of this from John Piper, who said the following:

“A pastor will not be able to feed his flock rich and challenging insight into God’s word unless he becomes a disciplined thinker. But almost none of us does this by nature. We must train ourselves to do it. And one of the best ways to train ourselves to think about what we read is to read with pen in hand and to write down a train of thought that comes to mind. Without this, we simply cannot sustain a sequence of questions and answers long enough to come to penetrating conclusions”

The practice of writing down my thoughts as I read my Bible has had a transforming effect on my devotional times. Writing forces me to think through each verse, and to trace the logic of each passage. It helps me to fight distraction and to focus all my attention on the words before me. Go out and get yourself a Moleskine Watercolor Notebook Large journal and start writing as you read.

Read more of Stephen Altrogge’s excellent thoughts here.

How will your problems be solved?

Published on January 14, 2010 in Prayer, Preaching and Scripture Memory. 2 Comments

How much are you really praying about the challenges you face in life?

Going through my Scripture memory system today (see these posts), I came across this verse that I started memorizing on September 3, 1993.

So, he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbebel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.”  Zechariah 4:6

I have repeated this verse hundreds of times – - maybe even getting close to a thousand – - but, I still have problems remembering that ultimately my preaching or efforts in any other area of life will not succeed apart from God’s help.

So, consider the biggest struggle you currently face. 

  1. Are you consistently praying about this area?  I recommend that you start a prayer journal in which you journal your prayers.  Also, be sure and pray with other believers.  When was the last time you were on your knees praying with others?  It is not enough to “go it alone.”
  2. Are you memorizing relevant Scripture? God works powerfully through His Word.  When God speaks, the Red Sea parts.  Wear a rut in your mind with the truth of God’s Word and you will be amazed at the results.

Make a point to quote this truth one way or another 3 times in the next 24 hours.  Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit  . . .

A Message from Outer Space

Published on January 5, 2010 in Word of God. 0 Comments

Robert Reymond:

Hundreds of the world’s space scientists are spending vast sums from their nations’ treasuries trying to make meaningful contact with imagined rational beings living in deep space.  It is an extremely questionable undertaking for many reasons, but the insatiable thirst for a word to us from another world drives them on in a pursuit that has to date yielded nothing.

The Christian church believes that it already possesses such a word from “outer space,” or, more accurately, a word form beyond space, even from the Triune God of heaven himself. . .

The conviction that the Holy Spirit is the primary author of Scripture entails yet another conviction, namely, that the Spirit’s superintending influence upon the minds of the Bible writers insured that they would write precisely what God wanted them to.  So, since the God of truth by the Spirit of truth inspired the Bible writers to write what he wanted them to write, the final effects was an inerrant autograph or original.  And if we fail to recognize within the Scriptures our Master’s voice speaking his infallible truth to us from his world to our world, we destroy ourselves not only epistemically but also personally, for we abandon the only foundation for the certainty of knowledge and the only “meaning base” by which we may truly know the One infinite, personal God and thereby ourselves as persons of dignity and worth.

Reymond’s is a systematic theology worth owning.

“Divine power to demolish strongholds” / “Let them truckers roll, 10:4”

Published on December 18, 2009 in Sanctification and Scripture Memory. 9 Comments

Here is a verse to memorize and a pathetic way I remember the reference.  Notice that I am offering extra credit for this assignment.

If there is some area that has a grip on your life (an addiction, pornography, eating, temper problems), then a verse to consider memorizing is 2 Corinthians 10:4:

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).

Meditate on the truth of this verse.  If you continue to allow some area to rule your life, then you are like a city with broken down walls (Proverbs 25:28).  Grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

Memory Tips

  • Put it on a 3*5 card – - reference on one side, reference and text on the other side.  No more than one verse per card.  Write down the date you begin. 
  • Repeat to remember.  The idea is systematic repetition with a goal of wearing a rut in your mind. Chris Verse Tally  If you say it enough times, you will remember it.  And, if you are struggling with sin in some area, you should be motivated.
  • Associate the reference with something familiar. I started memorizing this verse in June of 1992.  If you are from my generation (the C.B. era), and you remember the horrendously awful song “Convoy,” I had the 45, then the reference will be easy to remember: 10:4.

See also, aloud, and twenty verses from my short term file.

Extra Credit

As I did one year in my room with a record player, listen to the entire song Convoy 100 times so that you too will never forget the phrase, “So, we crashed the gate doing 98, I said let them truckers roll 10:4.”  Your IQ will permanently drop, but you will remember the reference of 2 Corinthians 10:4.

Scripture Memory: Repeat to remember ALOUD

Published on November 30, 2009 in Scripture Memory. 0 Comments

As I continue to repeat, the key to Scripture memory is systematic repetition.

  • You need a system.  Begin by repeating a large number of times over a few days.  Then put it on a 3*5 card for review.
  • Repeat, repeat, repeat.  You can memorize anything if you say it enough times.

Today, let me add an additional and important detail.  When you repeat it, you should say it aloud.  In doing so, you will involve more of your senses and the repetition will be more memorable.

Repeating Scripture is aloud is especially helpful if you say it with emphasis and conviction.  The goal is to wear a rut in your memory.

See also this post.

By way of review, here again is a copy of one of my Scripture memory sheets that shows how I keep track of repeating a verse when I am first memorizing it.

Chris Verse Tally