Testimonies

Testimonies, Tips and Tidbits Curriculum Challenges Memory Verse Mania

by Robin Ulbredtch
05/02/17
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Memory Verse Mania

Memorizing scripture is a great way for students to get knowledge of God’s word. Memory verses can remain in the person’s memory for a long time, and when the appropriate time comes, the Holy Spirit will remind the student about the verse and bring revelation of its meaning. The Holy Spirit will bring a scripture back for a variety of reasons. One example of this is when circumstances in a student’s life line up in a way that the Holy Spirit can reveal deep meaning of the verse to the student and encourage or teach the student a lesson. Another example is when the Holy Spirit brings back a verse to be shared with another person to counsel, direct, encourage or teach them.

A Bible teacher can work with the class on a memory verse by having the students say the verse repeatedly in class as a group. The teacher can also have the students, individually, say the verse out loud in class. With a large class, it would take more time to make sure each student learns the verse. While the teacher works with each individual, the other students get tired of waiting, and get bored.  Having to wait for long periods of time can ultimately lead to bad behavior in class. Furthermore, I think the time would be better spent working together on a lesson activity or worksheet. This way, all of the students would be learning something instead of waiting.

This may be surprising coming from a Bible teacher, but I am convinced that even when teachers try to do their best to get the students to memorize scripture, the bulk of scripture memory and follow up is the responsibility of the child’s parents. Teachers don’t always have the time needed to make sure the student knows the verse, and besides, God gives fathers the ultimate responsibility of making sure their children are trained up in the ways of the Lord. Christian parents should work together to teach their children scripture, Bible principles and application of those principles to their daily lives and walks with God. Parents should also live godly lives and be godly examples for their children.

At times I’ve seen Bible curriculum with memory verses that are too difficult for the grade level of the students, too long, and too saturated with large words, making it nearly impossible for the student to memorize. Even if the student memorized the difficult verse, they probably wouldn’t understand what it meant.

At home, parents could take more time to explain the meaning of the big words and to monitor the ability of their child so the child can be challenged but not overwhelmed. Even if a family has only enough time to work on one verse a week, they are making progress. Perhaps the parents can join with their children in memorizing the weekly verse. Scripture tells us, “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life; but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons.” (Deuteronomy 4:9 KJV) Scripture also says, “And these words, which I commanded thee this day, shall be in thy heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7 KJV)

On occasion, Christian workers and parents can offer small rewards to encourage scripture memory. However, the students should be excited about God’s word and not have to be rewarded every time for their scripture memory work.