Scripture Session #4- Memorizing Scripture
Introduction
If you read the gospel accounts of Jesus' ministry, you will notice that he had memorized and internalized much of the Old Testament Scriptures and frequently utilized it in his teachings, interactions with Pharisees, his disciples, and even Satan. Jesus did not just use the Scripture as merely a tool for academic study or as 'magic words' that gave him power over temptation. For Jesus, the words of Scripture shaped his understanding of his identity and vocation on earth (Luke 4:18-21), and everything that he would accomplish as Messiah that was "in accordance with the Scriptures." (1 Cor 15:3-4).
Many generations of Jews and Christians never had the Scriptures widely available in print or were even able to read them. Memorization was not just an extra spiritual exercise but a meaningful way to truly hear, understand, and pass on the Scripture. In the age of smartphones and Bible apps, memorizing Scripture can seem unnecessary and time-consuming. Some might object that repeating passages over and over is boring or is just a mental activity that isn't really about the heart. While this could be the case, when we tie the memorization of a passage to our meditation on it, it has the power to transform us and "renew our minds" (Rom 12:2).
In meditating and memorizing Scripture, we seek to make the truths of Scripture real and accessible to us in a way that they are not when we only read them. We are allowing the truth to fill our hearts and minds so that we can combat the lies of the enemy and be empowered towards faithfulness to Jesus.
What thoughts or fears do you have when you think about memorizing Scripture? Is this something that you do regularly or have done before?
Read these Passages Together and Discuss
Psalm 119:9-11, Deuteronomy 11:18-21
What do these passages teach us about the value of memorizing Scripture?
These passages suggest that remembering Scripture requires intentionality. What obstacles do we face in being intentional about the memorization of Scripture?
Matthew 4:1-11
What do you notice about how Jesus uses Scripture in his temptation in the wilderness? How does this combat Satan's strategy of temptation?
Reflect on what lies about yourself, others, and the world you are tempted to believe. What promises or truths from Scripture can refute those lies? Feel free to share if you are comfortable.
A Plan for Memorizing Scripture
Together with your community, take the next few minutes and talk through these practical suggestions. The goal is to have each person commit to which idea(s) they want to try this week.
First, Select the Passage You Would Like To Memorize
You can start with shorter passages you may already be familiar with (e.g. John 3:16, Proverbs 4:5-6) or longer passages that are meaningful to you (John 15, Galatians 5, or Romans 12). Either way, keep it simple and start small.
Here are some suggestions of passages to memorize. Feel free to pick a verse or two if you feel that is more obtainable
Psalm 1 Romans 5:1-8 Psalm 23 Colossians 3:12-14 Psalm 46: 7 Philippians 2:5-11
Matthew 7:24-29 Exodus 15:2-3. Romans 8:28-29 Isaiah 55:7-13 Proverbs 2:1-6 John 15:1-4
Meditation: Perhaps the best way to begin memorizing a passage is to spend time meditating on it. You could use the method we practiced last week (lectio divina) to familiarize yourself with the passage and to reflect on its meaning.
Index Card: Write the verse(s) on one side of an index card and the verse reference on the other side. Carry the card around with you so you can work on memorizing in your free time.
Listen: Try recording yourself on your phone reading the verse(s) or listen to an audio Bible on repeat.
Make It Visible: Tape the verse(s) to the bathroom mirror or your car dashboard and work on it as you go about your day. You can also put it as your desktop or phone background, and you'll honestly be surprised by how much that helps.
Repetitive Writing: transcribe the verse(s) by hand. Rewrite the verse(s) over and over or use hand-lettering or other creative illustrations or pictures as a way of putting it in your mind.
Repetitive Recitation: Read the verse(s) out loud in 5-minute increments and repeat (while allowing some time for your mind to rest). Worked out as a discipline, this could look like:
Reading/Reciting it out loud four times per day for a week
Then, read/recite it out loud once a week for a month
Then read/recite it once every three months for a year
And then read/recite it once every year
Talk through which of the above practices you want to try this week – share with your community which verses you will memorize, what strategies you will use, and when you will use them.