Making your Memory Work

I think many of us who are in ministry fail those who we try to lead by telling them what they need to but failing to tell them how to do it. We might say "love one another" but never give any descriptions of what thet might look like. We say "give up all your idols" but we never explain what you might could do in order to do that. We say "read your bible" but we might never point you to a good place to start. And I have just realized that I have told you all to "memorize scripture" but maybe I have failed to give you the tools or strategies that could help you along the way. So let's just look at a few ways that memorization can be less of a burden and more of a joy.


Scripture Memory Techniques:

1. Write the verse down over and over. This will help you to slow down and pay attention to each word in the verse. It also helps you to be hands-on.

2. Write out the verse so that you can visually see its progression. If you can see the verse in your mind, it will be easier to memorize it and repeat it. For example, I've been memorizing 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6 this past week. I wrote it out this ways so that it would be easier to memorize. Notice the three "that" statements that make it easy to break up the passage.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification:
.......that you abstain from sexual immorality;
.......that each one of you know how to control his own body
................in holiness and honor,
................not in the passion of lust
.........................like the Gentiles who do not know God;
........that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter,
................because the Lord is an avenger in all these things,
................as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.

3. Don't just try to memorize the words, try to understand the meaning. Memorizing words without knowing what they mean is useless. Understanding what the bible is saying will help you understand why the bible says what it says.

4. Say the verse out loud reapeatedly. Hearing the verse over and over helps you to memorize it, just like song lyrics.

5. Don't try to memorize the whole verse in one big chunk. The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. Memorize a small chunk, then add another chunk to it, then another, then another.

6. Get someone to quiz you. This makes it fun (its always more fun to do something together than by yourself). And this gives you accountability.

7. Don't forget to memorize the reference (or the "Address" as Sarah likes to call it).

8. Always go back and practice - never memorize something just to forget it in a week.