How to memorize Bible passages

Here you'll find a simple and effective method for memorizing Bible verses. Whether you're just getting started, helping someone else, or adding to your own cache of verses, this article gives you exactly what you need. By following these steps, you'll be able to memorize at least one or two verses every week for the rest of your life.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A Bible (recommended versions - New King James, New American Standard, King James)
• 3" x 5" or 2" x 4" note cards
• Box or folder for storing your memory cards
• A pen or pencil
• Note pad, journal for taking notes.

1. Find verses. Use your Bible to find the verses you want to memorize.

2. 
   Note Card Side 1 - Record full-text Bible verse

   Record verses. Record the verse, word-for-word, onto a 3" x 5" or 2" x 4" note card. Record all spelling, grammar, and punctuation exactly as they appear in your Bible. Include the reference in the top left corner of the card (e.g. Hebrews 1:3).

3. 
   Outline, take notes on a passage

   Read and re-read verses. Read the verse five to seven times. Become familiar as well with the context of the verse - the verses and paragraphs that come before and after your verse. Pay particular attention to the central idea of the verse and the sentence structure used to support the main point. Make an outline or other visual representation of your memory passage as you read and review it.

4. 
   Note Card Side 2 - Record first-letter only Bible verse

   Create the "first-letter crutch". Turn over the note card you used in step 2 and record only the first letter of each word. Always include capitalization and punctuation as found in the Bible. This is to be exactly the same as side 1 of the card except that you are recording only the first letter of each word. Write the reference in the top left corner of the card (e.g. Hebrews 1:3).

5. Check progress. Read the verse on side 1 of the card two to three times and then test yourself to see how much of the passage you can say from memory. Don't be discouraged if you're not very successful, yet. You're just getting started.

6. Make progress. Now, use your "first-letter crutch" to help you recite the verse. You'll be surprised how close you are to having the entire verse memorized. Most likely, to get it correct, all you'll need is help from your "first-letter crutch".

7. Master each verse. Continue to read, review, and recite your verse until you've mastered it. Use your Bible and both sides of your note cards to achieve permanent memory of your verses. See the "Tips" section of this article for creative and effective methods for reviewing all of your verses on an on-going basis.

8. Always review. Review and recite your verses daily. Go back and forth between reviewing side 1 of the card and advancing as soon as possible to using only side 2 of the card as your only means for help. You'll soon find that you've mastered the verse.

Tips & Warnings

• Work on just one new verse at a time until you master it. Don't rush to the next one until you've mastered the first one. This is not about a race, but about steadily gaining familiarity with the only book God gave to mankind.
• Review your newest verses each night before you go to bed.
• Have a child or other loved one record your set of verses onto tape or MP3 device and use the audio recording to review on a regular basis (great for commuting or road trips).
• When you review and recite your verses, write them out by hand or type them using a computer. Then check your written work with the Bible for accuracy.
• Recite your verses to yourself in your voice mail or other recording device as a way to test yourself for accuracy and practice reciting your verses with clarity and appropriate emphasis.
• To keep track of and to be encouraged by your progress, include the completion date on each verse card after you've been able to say or write, without error, for a few days.
• Sometimes you might memorize verses in more than one translation. Be sure to indicate from which translation your verse card is recorded.
• On the verse card, list similar passages or cross-references that apply to your verse.
• After you memorize a verse, go to the Bible you read from most frequently and circle the verse number for the verses you've memorized.