The Bible is the written Word of God in which we find Christ. We can read, study, pray through and meditate upon it. However, it can also be memorised with great benefit. The day after I became a Christian (in 1953!), a friend gave me a small booklet by the Navigators, called Initial Bible Rations. In the booklet were four Bible verses on cards. Each represented a profound Bible truth. They were:
- 1 John 5:11,12 (assurance of salvation)
- 1 Corinthians 10:13 (victory in temptation)
- 1 John 1:9 (forgiveness)
- John 16:24 (answered prayer)
Over the next four weeks I eagerly memorised the verses, and then the Navigators provided some more – the equivalent of the present day Topical Memory System (TMS). I also used to write out verses on library cards, with the reference on the back, and carry these around with me, trying hard to memorise the words and references at free moments. Scripture memory has become a way of life for me and a very great help to my devotional and personal life. Here are ten good reasons for memorising Scripture (I shall be quoting verses from the New King James Version).
1. Carrying God's Word in our hearts and minds
Once Scripture is learnt, it becomes 'ours' and we 'own it' in a special way. It's then possible to review and meditate on Scripture without a written Bible when standing on a crowded tube train, waiting at a bus stop, or whenever we like. No books needed! The Word of God brings his presence into our lives, and so we can know his presence coming to us as we review his memorised Word.
Peter Saunders[1] writes:
I got into Scripture memory as a student, and went through the Navigators' Topical Memory System. This inspired me to learn longer passages. Once properly learnt a passage is with you always and I have found it an incredible strength and encouragement to call up God's truth in my mind as I face the fresh challenges each day brings. 'For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.' I love Hebrews 4:12 because as a surgeon it is a constant reminder to me of how God the master surgeon does his spiritual surgery on our lives. If Scripture is there already in your mind, it is a readily accessible tool for the Holy Sprit to use. You will notice that I prefer the RSV. I find its poetic structure more easily memorable. But as we say down under, 'each one to his own.' The important thing is to get on and do it.
2. Inner cleansing
Jesus says, 'You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.'[2] Reviewing memorised Scripture is like a cleansing stream, flowing through the mind and reminding us of the promises of God. It is not a chore – it is a delight! 'The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.'[3]
Reviewing memorised Scripture helps to lift us from feelings and thoughts of negativity, such as fear, low self esteem, lack of confidence and depression. It puts the Word of God alongside these negative thoughts, so that we can think powerful thoughts of faith.
Charles Swindoll, an eminent American minister,[4] offers his thoughts:
I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorising Scripture. No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified.[5]
3. Confidence in finding Scripture
Jesus had obviously memorised many passages of Scripture, as he was able to quote it in his teaching. When he talked to Cleopas and his companion on the seven mile walk to Emmaus on the day of his resurrection, he explained to them the Scriptures.[6] He repeated this exercise when he subsequently met up with his disciples.[7]
There can be little doubt that the apostles were taught to learn and understand the Bible by Jesus himself. The disciples passed on this tradition to the early church. For example, Peter's sermon at Pentecost included several quotes that he had learnt by heart;[8] young Philip was able to explain to the Ethiopian eunuch the Bible passages about the Messiah from memory.[9]
Sometimes we may have the privilege of sharing the Scriptures with people or of leading them to Christ. It makes a great difference to be able to find Scripture quickly and easily, rather than fumbling around not knowing which book or which chapter of the Bible it's in! In the context of medicine, Bernard Palmer, a consultant surgeon in Hertfordshire, was told by his former surgical trainer in years past that, 'if a person cannot explain something, they do not properly understand it.' We can apply the same principle to Christian matters: if we do not properly understand the gospel, how can we expect to explain it succinctly to others? God has spoken to us through the Lord Jesus as well as through his prophets before him and through his apostles afterwards. These writings that make up our Bible are the 'very words of God'.[10]
It has always been expected of God's people that they would know God's Word well. This must surely include memorising key passages. The psalmist wrote, 'Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you.'[11]
In practice today, it is obvious that those who have learnt key passages of the Bible by heart are much more effective at sharing the gospel with others. The Navigators TMS is an excellent way to get started, but don't stop with those verses! If our Lord felt this was important, and the apostles and early church members took this seriously, should we not strengthen our arms so that we can be more effective for him by making the effort to learn Scripture by heart?
Robert Hampson,[12] one of my local vicars, writes:
I have found memorising passages of Scripture, principally stories in the Gospels, to be an immense assistance to me in my prayer life. I find that if I learn a passage off by heart, then I enter into the circumstances of that passage at a much deeper level, experiencing between the lines what otherwise I would never have unearthed. In contemplative prayer one enters as fully as possible into a story or passage, including hearing the sounds, feeling the wind of Galilee upon one's neck, the scents of the mountainside, and much more besides. Learning the passage assists me immensely in this and brings me much closer to the man whose heart is of paramount importance in my life.
4. Prayer
It is incredibly helpful to pray Scripture that we already know. We can pray the Word of God over our lives and over the lives of others. So often Jesus said, 'It is written…' and yet unless we actually know the Word of God, we lose so much of the power that is available. Here is a suggestion. Memorise the Lord's Prayer as a start. This will be very helpful in leading into prayer.
5. A discipline of grace
We discipline ourselves to learn and store medical facts in our minds over many years in our professional lives. In the same way, as disciples of Jesus, disciplining ourselves to learn and store the word of God is definitely a 'discipline of grace' to help and strengthen our spiritual lives.
Memorising Scripture enables us to concentrate on those verses that have personally blessed and encouraged us. Then as we review them, that blessing and encouragement comes afresh to us in the 'now'. For instance I am currently learning Leviticus 8:35 where we are told to 'keep the charge of the Lord' – what a challenge!
6. Spiritual warfare
Three times Jesus used 'It is written…'[13] against Satan. Paul reminds us that the word of God is 'the sword of the Spirit'.[14] How important to know it – so that we can use it! How helpful can be words such as 'I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.'[15] In these days with the upsurge of other faiths, many of whose adherents know the teaching of their religion extremely well, we need to have applied our minds and have ready recall of the Scriptures. We need to be able to present scriptural 'reasons for the hope that is within us' in an intelligent and relevant way, 'with meekness and fear'.[16]
7. No Bibles allowed?
It is possible that a time may come, in these darkening days, when Scripture is no longer available to us. Many Christians live under various totalitarian regimes, and we may need to face such an eventuality. How much of memorised Scripture could we take into a prison cell? How much Scripture could we rewrite? Brother Yun, author of The Heavenly Man and a leader in the Chinese house church movement, describes how as a new Christian, after he had read through the whole Bible, he started to memorise it.
8. Teaching others
You may give assent to the value of memorising Scripture – for others but not for you. What better way to encourage others than to do it yourself! As Timothy was instructed, 'the things you have heard from me [Paul] among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.'[17] I am always pleased to come and speak to student groups about Scripture memory.
Pablo Martinez,[18] a regular speaker at many Christian medical conferences, has this to say:
For me memorising Scripture is one excellent, practical way to follow the example of Jesus who quoted the Old Testament so many times. This was especially crucial for him in the most distressing periods of his life: the temptations in the desert and the long agony on the cross. Likewise, I try to imitate the Lord in memorising verses which eventually become a powerful tool either for personal encouragement or to encourage others. The more I know the Scripture by heart, the more able I am to ruminate, digest and apply it to my life.
9. Overcoming temptation
How powerful is the urge to sin. We wrestle against the world, the flesh and the devil. Reviewing learnt Scripture gives a powerful jolt to the mind and is an enormous help in 'the Great Battle'.
10. Spare time
Have you ever wondered what to do when sitting on the tube, looking at the adverts? Or are you waiting for someone who is late while you sit and fume? What better way of using time than to review Scripture? Paul says, 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.'[19] It has been estimated that each of us spend approximately seven years of our lives just waiting – going to work, doing the ironing, or in a traffic jam![20]
How do I get started?
Some with extremely good memories will find it easy. Some may memorise directly from the Scripture page. Some learn passages of Scripture, for example Psalm 23 or 1 Corinthians 13. One person memorised all the headings in the Old and New Testament and thus knew all the contents of Scripture. I myself am familiar with the Navigators method, the TMS. This was developed by Dawson Trotman, founder of the Navigators. Most other courses are largely similar. The Memlok Bible Memory System, for example, is like TMS, but is also available for use on the computer, and can be used with pictures as memory joggers.[21]
The Topical Memory System
This is based on credit card size memory cards, on which are written the Bible verse and the reference. Memorising the reference is an integral part of the process. The goal is to learn one new verse every week, which is placed in a wallet for daily review. This may seem very slow at first, but remember that in ten years, this would mean over 500 verses being learned! Emphasis is placed on daily review without which no real progress can be made. This is part of the joy and power of memorising Scripture – mentioned earlier as a cleansing stream, flowing through the mind. It can take up to two months of daily review, before one verse in its context with its reference, can be properly learned.
As more verses are added a separate system will have to be made for review. A slogan is – REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW. As you learn more, this review process can become a discipline of grace – pure joy!
TMS can be completed in just over a year. It has 60 verses on cards and is arranged under five topical headings, which are based on the fundamentals of Christianity. In case you were wondering if I was the only person extolling its virtues, Hugh Ip, a member of the Nucleus editorial committee, comments on the TMS:
It has been a year since I got my copy of the Topical Memory System. In this time I have been challenged and blessed by the 50 verses I have memorised so far. Scripture has genuinely had an impact on every aspect of my daily walk. Reviewing Scripture focuses my mind for holy living. Recalling it has helped me encourage others in prayer. Meditating on it has been a reassurance always of God's greatness. I know it makes a difference in my life because there have been weeks this year that I have slacked off. It takes discipline - but Scripture memory is hugely beneficial to any Christian!
A few months ago I went through a series of tough challenges. But each morning I prayed Lamentations 3:22,23: 'Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.' What joy and reassurance that verse provided me during that time! Similarly, Philippians 4:6,7, Isaiah 41:10, and 1 John 3:18 are just a few verses from the TMS that have blessed me hugely.
Tips for memorising Scripture
Choose a Scripture version that suits you, and stick to it. TMS comes in the New International or Good News Versions. I personally use the New King James Version.
In memorising a verse it is useful to split it up into phrases. For example take 2 Corinthians 5:17 – a well known verse.
'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.'
These four phrases can be learned one by one. When writing new cards the phrases can be written on different lines.
Do not learn more than one, or at the very most occasionally two verses per week. With new found enthusiasm, we may try to learn amazing quantities of Scripture and retire in confusion! Slow and steady does it.
As we learn more it will help to learn the books of the Bible by heart. The New Testament is easier to start with, having 27 books. The Old Testament has 39. Then try placing the verses you have learned in order.
Do not be content with anything less than word perfection. This helps to get the verse into the memory and keep it there.
In reviewing Scripture, treat it as it is – the Word of God – incredibly powerful! Treasure the words. Meditate on them. Allow them to speak to you, or to lead you into prayer.
Reviewing memorised Scripture should not be seen as boring or a chore, but rather life giving, exciting, equipping and challenging.
Where to go next?
The Topical Memory System can open the door for a lifetime's practice of Scripture memory. Some memorise those verses that have blessed them and are particularly meaningful to them. I was challenged recently to learn a verse from each of the 66 books of the Bible. This is not easy when it comes to the last twelve prophets of the Old Testament!
How long each day?
The more verses you know means a longer time reviewing them. As a rule of thumb, five minutes a day will maitain 100 verses well in the memory, by reviewing say, 20 per day in succession.
Finally, brothers and sisters…
Many before us have memorised Scripture – perhaps some of the more famous names include Martin Luther, Winston Churchill, Billy Graham, and Brother Yun (who insisted that his students learn parts of the Bible off by heart). I can't encourage you enough to take on this enterprise!
