10 Tips for Memorizing Scripture

"10 Tips for Memorizing Scripture"
by Eddie Cross, Roosevelt's Web Site Coordinator


In light of our new monthly memory verses, here is a short list of tips that can help those of you who are either looking to participate or are working through your own memorization schedule.

1. Find a memorization partner

Talk to people in your home group and see if anyone would be interested in joining you. Check-in with one another once a week and review where you are and what you have learned about the scripture you are working on. By offering our insights and keeping tabs on another, we grow relationships and build accountability.

2. Break-up the verse into segments

It is much easier to memorize verses in portions, rather than trying to absorb the entire passage once. Consider the following verse:

2 Timothy 2:2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (ESV)

 Slice up the sentence into pieces that seem natural to you (it is important to include the reference, either at the beginning, the end, or both). Here is what works for me:

2 Timothy 2:2

and what you have heard from me

in the presence of many witnesses

entrust to faithful men

who will be able to teach others also.
2 Timothy 2:2

 Once this is done, work on one piece at a time.

3. Recall as often as possible

This tip is related to the one above it. Once you split the verse in question into manageable chunks and are ready to begin with the first part, try not to read it repeatedly. Instead, read it once, then try to recall what you just read, saying it out loud or in your head. You will find that the more you use your recollection rather than your reading skills, the more accurately you will be able to recall the verse later – it works to cement the verse into your long-term memory. Picture the words being branded into your brain, deeper and more striking after each repetition.

4. Memorize to a beat

This is a useful method that many people don’t consider. I thought it may be hard to explain this tip by text alone, so click here for a verbal explanation.

5. Write the verse down

Perhaps this one is for those of you who were disciplined as a child by being assigned a particular statement to write out a certain number of times to teach you your lesson. Exciting debates about disciplinary methods aside, this process works quite well for some (less “green”) people. Essentially, you simply write out the verse over and over again on a sheet of paper. I personally prefer the above strategies, but try it yourself and see if it aids in your mission of memorization.

6. Schedule time to practice

It does not have to be very long, but five to fifteen minutes should suffice, depending on the amount you are attempting to memorize at any given time. Whatever number of minutes you decide to allocate, stick with it – ‘em verses ain’t gonna memorize themselves! Prime times are while you wait for your coffee to brew every morning; before or after your daily Bible reading; when you sit down for lunch; heading to the parking lot a few minutes early before waiting to pick up your kids from a daily activity; as you lay in bed when you wake up/are going to sleep, etc. I have even heard of people who have written their verse on a card, placed the card in a plastic bag, then hung the bag in the shower so they could fit their practice into their busy daily schedule. This leads us to our next tip...

7. Carry your verses with you

Whether by flash card, smart phone, iPod, tablet PC, mini-chalk board, elaborate tattoo…just be sure to transfer your verses onto something mobile that you can pull out and use to practice if and when you stumble upon some down time. For example, I ride the bus or light rail fairly regularly, affording me ample time to sneak in a few practice sessions once in awhile. I am confident you can use your creative genius to imagine situations in your own life that may arise which would give you the same opportunity.

8. Study the content of the verse

Let’s say you are choosing to memorize one verse a week. Choose a day or two, preferably near the beginning of the week, and set aside time to study and meditate upon the meaning of the scripture you have chosen. Use various resources – commentaries, Study Bible notes, sermons, prayer, the opinion of a wandering neighborhood kid – to supplement your memorization and enhance your meditations. John Piper’s website has a wonderful resource library with a scripture index that allows you to query for any sermon, conference message, article, book, poem or study guide associated with any given passage of scripture.

9. Review past verses

O, 'tis sad when wisdom is lost with the passage of time! Does it not seem as though it should otherwise, that we grow in wisdom and knowledge as time progresses? Once you are all memory experts, do not allow thyself to slip into the sins of pride and slothfulness! On top of the time you schedule to memorize your new chosen verses, be sure to consistently revisit past choices. Keep a master list of all the scripture you have memorized, then during a separate time, simply go down the list and practice each verse. There is no need to go down the entire list in one sitting - the idea is that you stay familiar with what you have already worked through.

10. Apply the verse to everyday circumstances

Keep things practical; do not fall into the trap of separating your memorization from your sanctification or the edification of The Body. If you are memorizing a verse concerning anger, recall it to mind when you experiencing a bout of frustration. If a friend is seeking counsel on how to talk to her coworkers about the Gospel, share the Gospel-centric verse you memorized a few weeks ago. If you are walking through nature and witnessing the beauty of His creation, pray a verse about His glory in creation that you worked on 3 months ago. You get the idea.

What are some other tips that have helped you in the past? 
Please, comment below and share your experiences.