How many times has your New Year’s resolution been to know more Scripture? Most of us set a course to read the Bible in a year or some other Bible reading plan.
But do you make a plan to memorize Scripture as well? If you have, how has that gone? I’ll admit I’ve set the course to memorize before, but often the coffee-cup verses that so often are taken out of context. Or maybe to memorize a short book like 1 John. But I want to set out for success.
This year, I am taking on the task of memorizing important chapters or larger sections of Scripture. So, instead to trying to memorize a few important verses of Romans… or the whole book of Romans… why not settle into 15 or so verses at a time? Not only do I think this method can work, I think memorization serves such important needs:
- Knowing Truth vs Knowing Truthiness
It is a constant pastoral experience that most people can know some general Christian theology, and even sometimes be able to know generally where it might be. For instance, someone might say, “Paul says we’re justified by faith.” Ok, but where? What is the context? If you were arguing with someone, where would you go? When someone shows you James 2:24, where do you go to have a conversation about justification? This is huge when talking to Christians about doctrine, when talking to non-Christians about the Gospel, and when encouraging and counseling others. - Growing in Godliness
Jesus explicitly prays for the connection between the Word and Sanctification (growing in godliness). In John 17:17, He prays, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” The Word itself plays a role in our sanctification, and to have that truth hidden in our hearts so that we might sin (Psalm 119:11) would be significant in our walk with Christ. - Knowing God
If Jesus is the Word and the main subject of the Word of God, then it is in His Word that we encounter Him. Its where we know the character, nature, and attributes of God, and can meditate and ponder these things. It is here that drives our affections. In the same way, I would struggle to grow my affections and love for my wife without thinking about her character, her likes, her passions.
Disciplines like this don’t happen without a plan. No one thinks, “I’m going to lose weight this year and be fit,” and doesn’t come up with a plan on how to make that happen.
I’ve created a plan.
I have included a three-year plan that includes two verses weekly to memorize. The plan builds upon the previous week, with reviews throughout. It covers major sections of Scripture that I think can be helpful to memorize. If you’re like me, listen to the Scripture over and over in the car with the Bible app. I memorize better the things I hear more than the things I read. Interested in joining me on this memorization journey?
Click here to download the three-year memorization plan.
