Who: Everyone, the entire church family
What: Weekly verses in topical blocks
When: Every week except Christmas and Easter; use those for review.
Where: Find verses here and in the Sunday bulletin each week.
Why: God has told us to make his word a part of our lives and to keep it in our hearts (Deut 6:6) God will call to mind his words when he is speaking to us.
Benefits: To grow in our relationship with God; To find comfort, reassurance, courage, guidance, peace and more through his words; To share with others; To use in prayer; To deter Satan’s attacks.
How: Set up your own system or use one of our ideas; clip the verse from the bulletin; write it on an index card; print the template from the web site on labels or cardstock. Put the verse in a visible spot; include it with your daily devotions.
Schedule:
- Sunday: Read the verse through several times as you’re preparing for worship; ask God to speak to you through this verse.
- Monday: Set up your system; Say the verse out loud several times. Say: Topic, Reference, Verse, Reference. Pray for understanding.
- Tuesday: Place the verse in context by reading the entire passage. Read the verse in other translations.
- Wednesday: Meditate on the verse; Continue to say the verse, phrase by phrase. Perhaps you might journal your thoughts. Write the verse in your own words.
- Thursday: Review prior verses in the block; focus on the verse during the day. How does it speak to you?
- Friday: Continue to say the verse and pray over it, asking God to use it in your life.
- Saturday: Review past verses, continue to say this verse.
Ideas, Resources and Tips
- Find a hymn written about the verse; try web sites like: www.hymntime or nethymnal.org/scr/scriptur.htm
- Be very careful to say the verse word for word correctly from whatever translation you use.
- Tape the verse to your mirror or use a magnet to put it on the refrigerator; put it on the center of your kitchen table
- Take your verse with you and review it while your waiting in some long line
- Keep a positive attitude and pray for God to help you with this spiritual discipline
- Break the verse down into phrases
- Say it out loud as that helps you remember better
- If you don’t understand a verse, look it up in a Bible commentary or ask someone else for help.
- Discouraged? Read Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible. Nearly all the verses tell about God’s word. Read Romans 15:4.
- Watch for our atrium table with ideas and encouragements throughout the year. Got an idea to share? We want to hear from you.
FAQs
I can’t memorize anything. Should I just skip this?
No, no, of course not. There’s nothing that says you have to memorize this. God will be planting the scriptures in your heart for a deeper understanding and closeness with him. God will reward your efforts.
I’ll just forget them once I learn them. Why start?
We’re going to allow time for review; we’ve also assembled the verses in topical blocks. Trust God. He won’t let you forget something that He plans to use later. Push on and persevere.
I already know some of these verses. How can I participate?
Each week, we’ll include a “Do More” suggestion. Try including that verse or maybe you could partner with someone who could use a mentor.
What if the verse for the week doesn’t pertain to me?
Maybe not today, but can you be sure it never will? Plant it and see how God uses it in your life, or perhaps in someone else’s life.
I wasn’t here to start or I travel a lot and miss Sundays. How can I participate?
Start now; jump in. All the verses will be on line as well so you can get the verse in advance.
I start off strong on projects but then I burn out, just like New Year’s Resolutions. How can I keep going?
Remember it’s just one verse per week. Focus on that; pray for perseverance and encouragement. Get a partner or work as a family, small group. We’ll have suggestions, tips and encouragement throughout the year. Check out our Atrium table for ideas. Keep a log of the verses that particularly speak to you.
My family isn’t interested. Should I do this alone or wait for them?
Forge ahead and maybe they’ll join later on. Remember, you can start this at any point and still benefit.
What about my kids?
If they’re in Sunday School, they’ve been having memory verses all along. If you want to include them in this, shorten the verse for the very young. Say it together at dinner. Say the verse leaving one word out. Can they remember the word?
I’m all alone or I’m too old to memorize. What should I do?
You are never alone. God is always right there with you. Just spend time each day with the verse. God will bless your efforts.
This seems like a lot of work. Why can’t I just look up a verse when I need it?
Of course you can and should. You’ll find that this really isn’t a lot of work and it will be five minutes well spent each day. If we are to be faithful to scripture, as our mission calls, we need to spend time with scripture.
Try it! What do you have to lose? This is definitely the easiest study you’ve ever done.. no class, no test. Trust God!