Scripture Memorization

[hindsey]

I am wondering if any of you have ever had a "systematic" approach to memorizing Scripture. I have been using Jack Van Impe's system (http://www.jackvanimpe.com/scripturememorization.htm) and it has been working out well for me. I am just wondering if anyone else had any different ways that they have found to be effective.

 

[PapaLandShark]

I've just been reading the Word as much as possible. Thanks for the link...What an awesome determination the Lord gave him!

 

[RED that's ME]

Jack Van Impe is amazing how he has memorized/can quote scripture. One program that I went through as a clubber and now as a leader is AWANA.

[bible]2 Timothy 2:15[/bible]

 

[SumTinWong]

I don't personally like Van Impe, as he has been the chicken little of televangelists as long as I can remember, but they call him the walking Bible, because he can quote any verse at any time. He would be a great guy to have on a deserted island.

As far as memorizing Bible verses, I don't. I may happen to recall one here and there, but I don't read the Bible with the sole intent to memorize it.

 

[hindsey]

I was hoping to avoid any hits to the rest of his work... fortunately, I don't know enough about him to have any opinion.

Since I've started doing that system about a year ago, it's been great. I've been able to keep whole chapters of the Bible in memory, and when I'm out and have a few minutes to wait some times, I just go over them in my mind.

I also went through AWANA as a kid, and while many of the verses still come back, I know that most of the ones I learned I've forgotten. This method has a pattern of rehearsing verses that were memorized in the past to keep them fresh.

 

[aReformedPatriot]

I just say the words over and over again till i get them down. It use to take 10 minutes to get a verse but once you improve your skill and train the mind I can do a verse in 2 minutes. Its great.

 

[hindsey]

I just say the words over and over again till i get them down. It use to take 10 minutes to get a verse but once you improve your skill and train the mind I can do a verse in 2 minutes. Its great.

Do you find yourself able to retain these verses, or after a while do you have to memorize them again?

I too have seen that once it becomes a habit, it is much easier to do "the next verse."

 

[arunma]

If you guys have any techinques, let me know. I'm planning to memorize some Scripture this summer. Maybe just a short book like Galatians or Philemon.

From what I've heard, it's especially helpful to memorize the epistles, because these Scriptures were originally written to be read in church. By saying the words yourself, I'm told that it's possible to delve deeper into the meaning of the Scripture by noticing which words are meant to be emphasized.

 

[hindsey]

I would recommend reading through the link I originally posted from jackvanimpe.com. One thing you mentioned that I find extremely helpful is to say the verses out loud when they are being memorized and rehearsed. That way you hear it, and when you hear the verse from a different source, you can tell when it's not right. It just helps you grasp it more. I've not gone through an entire epsitle yet. I have done much of Romans and Philippians seems like a great book to memorize (shorter too ).

 

[GreenEyedLady]

I don't personally like Van Impe, as he has been the chicken little of televangelists as long as I can remember, but they call him the walking Bible, because he can quote any verse at any time. He would be a great guy to have on a deserted island.

As far as memorizing Bible verses, I don't. I may happen to recall one here and there, but I don't read the Bible with the sole intent to memorize it.

YOU have no IDEA what you are missing!

 

[arunma]

No, he has a good point. I don't care for televangelists either. But that doesn't mean we shouldnt' memorize Scripture.

 

[SumTinWong]

YOU have no IDEA what you are missing!

Sure I do.

Can someone point out to me where it says anywhere that we are to memorize scriptures?

 

[hindsey]

Sure I do.

Can someone point out to me where it says anywhere that we are to memorize scriptures?

I see memorizing Scripture as a way to make other commandments easier. For example, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly..." When I can quote Scripture in my mind, it is much easier to meditate on it. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." When God's Word is resting on my mind, it becomes much easier to let it sink into my heart.

Your comments remind me of a point I'd like to make. Memorizing Scripture is just putting it in your head - Memorizing Scripture is not hiding it in your heart.

Jesus illustrated the use of memorizing Scripture when He attacked the devil's temptations in Matthew & Luke 4. He combatted temptation by quoting Scripture that He had memorized. So, I guess by His example, we should memorize.

 

[SumTinWong]

Your comments remind me of a point I'd like to make. Memorizing Scripture is just putting it in your head - Memorizing Scripture is not hiding it in your heart.

Out of curiosity, which part of my comments led you to make this point?

Jesus illustrated the use of memorizing Scripture when He attacked the devil's temptations in Matthew & Luke 4. He combatted temptation by quoting Scripture that He had memorized. So, I guess by His example, we should memorize.

You will notice as well in those passages that even the devil was well versed in the Bible, as he even quoted it to Jesus. Jesus combatted temptation, not because He knew the scriptures, but because He is God, and was in one with the Father. He used the scriptures with the correct meanings, to combat the devils use of scriptures out of context.

 

[GreenEyedLady]

Sure I do.

Can someone point out to me where it says anywhere that we are to memorize scriptures?

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Psalms 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

To know something "by heart" is to memorize it. Also to meditate upon something means that you need to "know it" and mull over it.

Seriously Uncle Bud, you really do not know what you are missing. There is POWER in the verses that you keep in your heart. If you are not memorizing anything then you cannot give away the Word which is what God wants us to do. Your missing out on a tremendous part of fellowship with the Lord.
Just try it. You cannot knock it before you try it. Pick a verse that speaks to you, write it down on an index card and say it over and over until you know it by heart. This is our armor, you cannot fight without it. It is our sword that kills the wicked thoughts in our minds. Do this with all you heart for a week and just watch to see what the Lord does for you.
GEL

 

[hindsey]

Out of curiosity, which part of my comments led you to make this point?

You were asking for the reason to memorize Scripture, and the Bible doesn't say, "Thou shalt memorize Scripture." So, in finding reason to memorize, my thoughts came across what I wrote...


GEL, like Uncle Bud points out, memorizing Scripture is not hiding it in your heart. A friend of mine told me of a man that "acted" out the whole book of Mark while quoting the entire book. But when asked if he was a Christian, the answer was no. Memorizing will help meditate on Scripture and help hide it in your heart, but it is not the same thing. Do I make sense, or am I losing everyone?

 

[Gold Dragon]

You were asking for the reason to memorize Scripture, and the Bible doesn't say, "Thou shalt memorize Scripture." So, in finding reason to memorize, my thoughts came across what I wrote...


GEL, like Uncle Bud points out, memorizing Scripture is not hiding it in your heart. A friend of mine told me of a man that "acted" out the whole book of Mark while quoting the entire book. But when asked if he was a Christian, the answer was no. Memorizing will help meditate on Scripture and help hide it in your heart, but it is not the same thing. Do I make sense, or am I losing everyone?

I agree. My wife is always bugging me because I don't memorize the exact wording or verse references for Scripture. While she is better at that than I am for specific verses, I am much better at remembering the big picture ideas presented throughout the bible and when given a topic, I am better at telling you generally where in the bible you will find passages about those topics.

Finding and quoting bible passages on things like Christian Forums have improved my bible memory skills so that I now have better memory of what many specific chapters are talking about. But verse numbers and specific words will always be tough for me.

However, whether you memorize at the word level or the idea level or not at all, it is hiding it in your heart and letting God's scripture transform and change the way you live and act that God seeks.

 

[SumTinWong]

Well I have considered all the posts here and still disagree. If when reading the Bible as I do, I later recall a verse, that to me is enough. I do not set out to memorize a certain verse or passage, but there are some that come back to me when I am meditating on the law, or whatever. Why should I? I have the concept, love God, love each other and don't be afraid, so why the need to memorize various passages of the Bible?

Rhetorical question, you don't have to answer.

 

[hindsey]

Uncle Bud, I challenge you to try it. Take just a couple of minutes a day and try to memorize 3 verses a week. Maybe commit yourself to do it for a month. 4 weeks, 12 verses. My guess is that you will be blessed by doing it. If you aren't, then quit. Just a challenge for you...

 

[SumTinWong]

Not really interested, but thanks anyway.