Archive for the 'Scripture Memory' Category

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“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

Twenty Verses in My Short Term Memory File

Published on November 19, 2009 in Scripture Memory. 0 Comments

The key to memorizing Scripture is systematic repetition.  If you have a system for repeating verses aloud, then you will remember them. 

Chris Verse TallyHere is what one of my Scripture memory sheets looks like.  I repeat verses 25 times the first day, 20 the second, 15, 10, and 5.  I then put the verse on a 3×5 card and repeat it once daily for a long time. I call this my short term memory file.

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Here are 20 verses in my short term system.  I made a few comments.  Even though, I have grouped the verses together when they are the same passage, I only put one verse on a card.

 "Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.(Jon 2:8)."  Read Tim Keller’s new book!  Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters

"For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.(2 Corinthians 1:20)."  If you can’t get fired up about this verse you have “wet wood.”

"And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live (Deuteronomy 30:6)."

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope (Romans 15:13)."

"For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,(Ro 4:3-5)."  One of the most concise statements of the Gospel.

"The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.(Pr 18:17)."  If you don’t know why I am memorizing this verse, then you have never done pastoral counseling.

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.(2 Co 3:17-18)."  Perhaps, the first verses to memorize on sanctification (being conformed to Christ and growing in him).

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(2 Co 5:21)."

" Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not put to death. And he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the Lord, while Athaliah reigned over the land.(2 Ki 11:1-3)."  (Really cool verses.  2 Kings 11:2 is one of the hardest verses I have ever memorized. See this post).

"Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?(1 Co 10:14-16)."  See this post that links, in turn, to other posts.  We must grow in our understanding that communion is central.

" Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”(Mt 16:24-28)."

We need to know “how to hide” (God’s Word in our hearts) because we become like what we worship

Published on October 18, 2009 in Scripture Memory and Word of God. 0 Comments

This morning is Super AWANA Sunday at the Red Brick Church.  The title of the message is, “How to Hide.”  The goal is to explain why Scripture memory is such an important part of our children’s curriculum, and to challenge our people to hide God’s Word in their hearts.

One of the reason we need to know how to hide is because we become like what we worship.  Below is a post repeated from a few months ago that was also a radio spot.

When I was growing up, we didn’t have a broad range of sports in Southeast Iowa. We played football in the fall and basketball in the winter. The rest of the year was baseball.

We loved major league baseball players. Consciously and unconsciously we picked up the habits of our favorite players. Some of us twirled our bats like Willie Stargell. Others turned towards second base before pitching, like Boston Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant. One of my friends pumped his back elbow when he was at the plate, just like the great Cincinnati Red, Joe Morgan.

Here’s what is interesting. When my friends and I imitated big leaguers we were demonstrating a basic theological principle. We become like what we worship. When fix our eyes on what we love, our hearts are warm and pliable. Consciously and unconsciously we begin to take on the shape of what we revere.

This is what Paul explained in 2 Corinthians 3:18a.

“. . . And we all . . . beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. . . .”

As we look lovingly at Christ, we become like Him.

So, here is what you do. Make the Lord Jesus Christ your hero. Gaze at him intensely. Savor his beauty and loveliness. Hear His Word preached, and soak your minds in Scripture. Warm your heart to the beauty of Jesus and you will be transformed into his image, from one degree of glory to another.

Memorizing Scripture and Initial Thoughts on “How to Hide”

Published on September 18, 2009 in Scripture Memory. 2 Comments

Paul Adams has written an excellent post on why we should memorize Scripture, to which I say, “Amen.”

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. We live from the inside out. What we think (as well as how we think) matters. What goes into our minds comes out in our lives. This is the main reason I’ve titled my website “Teaching Minds, Changing Hearts,” because it is the content in our minds that drives the change of our hearts. Yes we have moments when we act before we think, but predominantly our thought life dictates the course of action that we take.

Over the years, I’ve memorized hundreds of Bible verses and it’s made a huge difference in my thought life. While the movement from my mind to my life has been slow, I wonder what kind of person I would be if I did not have the knowledge of God’s Word in my life. So, I’d like to say a few things about memorization of Scripture.

Everyone can memorize. It takes no special skill.

Read it all here.

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On October 18, I will preach a sermon with the title, “How to Hide.”  The goal will be to stress why we should memorize Scripture and also how you can go about it.  Many people fail to memorize Scripture because they don’t have a system.

One of the first principles for Scripture memory is a matter of repetition.  If you repeat a verse 25 times on one day, 20 times the next, then 15, then 10, then 5 – - you will have repeated that verse 75 times.

Then put the verse on a 3*5 card and review it once a day for a couple of months.  That truth will become a part of your heart.

Below is what one of my Scripture memory worksheets looks like.  Notice there is also a copy of the first verse in my system (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Chris Verse Tally