Scripture Memorization for Homeschool

Committing Bible verses to memory is a worthy pursuit both mentally and spiritually. On the mental side, when children memorize verses, their minds get a disciplined workout. From the spiritual perspective, knowing scripture by heart offers a rich heritage to call upon just as the Bible says in Psalm 119:11, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

The Bible is a huge book. How do you choose verses for your children to memorize?

I suggest you select a combination of Old Testament and New Testament verses so that your children will be familiar with more books of the Bible. Select verses that your children will benefit from in some way. Of course, all of the Bible is "profitable for instruction," but some verses are especially relevant to children.

Here are some of my favorite verses for children to memorize:

• Proverbs 3:5-6
• Jeremiah 29:11
• Matthew 22:37
• Colossians 3:23
• John 14:6
• Galatians 5:22-23

This question can bring out some passionate responses in people, and if you have strong feelings about a specific version of the Bible, by all means, use it! But if you're not sure which to use, consider these tips.

The Case for the King James Bible

The KJV was published at the same time of Shakespeare, so the language is that of Elizabethan England. If you desire to expose your children to that kind of language, memorizing verses from the KJV is a great option. Many scholars have praised the beauty of the language used in the KJV and claim that it is actually easier to memorize because of its poetics. In addition, many literary allusions to the Bible use the KJV.

The Case for a Modern Translation

If your primary aim is for your children to internalize the truths of Scripture, their understanding is essential. In that case, you may want a translation that they can easily comprehend such as one of these:

• New International Version (NIV)
• English Standard Version (ESV)
• New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Index Cards System

This system builds in continual review. Write the verse you want to memorize on an index card, and study it for one week. When the next week comes, begin to memorize a new verse while you review the old verse. Keep adding verses to your card file each week. Read more about this technique at The Homeschool Classroom.

Add a Phrase Technique

With this technique, you being at the end of the verse. Memorize a few words or a phrase from the end of the verse. The next day, add on a few more words before that ending phrase. Continue in this fashion until you have added on all of the verse and can say it from memory from beginning to end.

First Letter Method

This method uses a crutch to help you memorize. On an index card, write the first letter of each word in the verse. (You can capitalize and use punctuation if you like.) Try to "read" the verse by looking only at your first letter clues. Do this repeatedly until you can recite the verse without the crutch at all.

Songs

This is my preferred method. Listen to Bible verses in the form of songs. It will take only minutes each day, and you will easily memorize them. Some of my favorite Bible memory songs are by the Harrow family. I still hear the tunes in my mind when my preacher quotes some of those verses.

Seeds Family Worship Music CDs are another choice in using music to memorize Bible verses. The music is appropriate for children, but not done in that childish style that can be irritating to parents. That's why they are aptly called family music.