Ideas on Teaching Bible Verses to Children

Use techniques to help children memorize Bible verses.

Many Christian teachers and parents make every effort to teach children Bible verses. Memorizing these nuggets of wisdom is typically easier when children are young, and adults hope that hiding God's word in a child's heart will help bring to mind God's precepts when a child is faced with situations where he needs wisdom and strength. To make memorizing Bible verses less of a task, use different ways to help children remember them.

Music

Setting words to music makes them easier to remember.

Remembering words to a song is easy, so put the words in a Bible verse to music. Many CDs are already available with kids memory verses set to music. A more musical adult can make up a tune for a Bible verse, or simply use a tune you already know. For example, use the melody to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and sing the words of the verse instead of the traditional lyrics.

Writing Down Tasks

Have a child write out his memory verse and place it in strategic locations.

Many children remember things they write, so have a child write the memory verse on several index cards. Children can put one by their bed, and hang one on the refrigerator and one on the bathroom mirror. Let the children place them anywhere they will see them often. Suggest they keep one in their pocket that they can pull out any time they have a few minutes, such as riding the bus or waiting in line.

Games

Write a verse on a board and erase one word at a time.

Groups of children enjoy games while learning Bible verses. Write out the verse on a white board or chalkboard. Have the children read it together. Then erase one word at a time and pick a child to see if she can still remember the verse with whatever words are missing. Continue until all the words are gone.

Or write out the verse on many pieces of paper, making the words smaller and smaller until they are impossible to see on the last one. While you "test" children's eyesight as you ask them to read the verse, they will be learning by repeating it.

Puzzles

Cut up memory verses to make jigsaw puzzles.

Use puzzles to help kids learn Bible verses. Online sites provide many printable forms, or you can simply print out the verse, cut the paper into many shapes, and let the children try to put them back together. Make a code of letters and numbers for children and let the children use the code to discover their memory verse when teachers provide spaces and numbers for each letter. Groups of children will enjoy playing "Hangman" to figure out the letters in the memory verse too.

Puppets or Stuffed Animals

Enlist children's help in teaching Bible verses to a puppet.

Kids enjoy skits using puppets or stuffed animals. Teachers can pretend they are trying to teach a memory verse to a puppet or stuffed animal friend and ask children for help. Kids love when things get silly, so they will have to teach the puppet the verse several times, especially when he gets things very wrong. Have the puppet say funny things such as "I can eat ice cream because it feeds me" instead of "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

References

• Children's Ministry Vault: Teaching Memory Verses
• A Kids Heart: Learning God's Word