Sharing: Some Easy Memorization Practice Tips

How to Memorize Scripture

Many people don't think they

can memorize their way out of

a new shopping mall let alone

remember a verse in the Bible.

I've spoken with dozens of people

about Scripture memorization

who say the same thing: "I have

a terrible memory." My answer

to them is, "Nonsense!" Everyone

memorizes all the time. You've

learned to speak, haven't you?

You've memorized thousands of

do's and don't's in life, right?

You know your social security

number, your phone number,

your address, how many brothers,

sisters, or children you have, how

to get to work and what to do

when you get there. The problem

is not that people can't memorize,

it's that they won't memorize.

The Bible is the foundation for

witnessing and you must memorize

verses to be able to use it --

this applies to your devotional life as

well as witnessing. One serious problem

I've found is that most people have

memorized fewer than seven verses.

The average Jehovah's Witness has

committed many more to memory and,

given the opportunity, could make the

average Christian feel about as knowledgeable

as banana bread. What I would like to do is

help you memorize better.

Four easy steps to memorization

There are four easy steps to Scripture

memorization. Let's use 1 Peter. 2:24 as

an example: "and He Himself bore our sins in

His body on the cross, that we might die to

sin and live to righteousness; for by his

wounds you were healed" (NASB).

Step 1: Location

The first step is to memorize the location,

not the verse. The reason for this is if you

forget the verse, but you've memorized

the location, you can always go look it up.

First, memorize the location: "1 Peter 2:24.

" Say "1 Peter 2:24" over and over again.

Don't worry about what it says at first,

just memorize the location. Make sure that

when you say 1 Peter 2:24 it flows smoothly

off your lips. Say 1 Peter 2:24 emphasizing

different syllables. Say 1 Peter 2:24, or 1

Peter 2:24 or 1 Peter 2:24 or even 1 Peter 2:24.

But say 1 Peter 2:24 enough times that when

you say 1 Peter 2:24, it is as natural as breathing.

Step 2: Gist

The second step is to learn the gist of what

the verse is. In this case it is very simple,

"Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross.

" Say, "Jesus bore our sins in His body on the

cross" in different ways. Say, "Jesus bore our

sins in His body on the cross," or "Jesus bore

our sins in His body on the cross," and "Jesus

bore our sins in His body on the cross," etc.

But say "Jesus bore our sins in His body on

the cross" enough times that when you say,

"Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross,"

it is as natural as saying 1 Peter. 2:24. (Kind of repetitive, isn't it?)

Step 3: Association

The third part is more fun. This is where you

associate the two together. Say, "1 Peter 2:24

is Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross.

Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross is

1 Peter 2:24. 1 Peter 2:24 is Jesus bore our

sins in His body on the cross..." Say this over

and over again, about ten times. In no time,

if you do this, you will memorize.

This association part is important because it

helps you to think of one part whenever you t

hink of the other. For example, if someone asked you "Where does it say that Jesus bore our sin in his body?", you'd immediately reply with "1 Peter. 2:24." It works.

Step 4: A piece of paper/Notebook of dedication

The fourth and final part is to take a piece of lined

paper, 8 1/2" by 11", and draw a vertical line about

one inch from the left hand side.

Write the verse location in the left column on your

paper and on the right side simply write the verse.

Do this with each verse you want to remember.

Memorization is like exercise. The more you do it,

the easier it gets; the less you do the harder it gets.

So do it. If you follow this procedure your mind will

become like a sponge, you'll end up memorizing

all sorts of stuff with the greatest of ease, like

how many socks are in your drawer, everything

that is in your refrigerator, and even where your car keys are.

And one more thing. You will be amazed at

how the Lord uses what you've memorized.