Bible Devotion

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Bible Memorization

Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with

Learning is not attained by chance, it must ardor and attended to with diligence. -Abigail Adams
be sought for with ardor and attended to
with diligence. -Abigail Adams Jan. 22 — Jan. 28, 2009
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Use this page to practice your verses. Or to keep a list of those you want
to learn. Log on to thebibledevotionfairy.blogspot to join the conversa-
tion of verses we’re learning.
Bible Memorization

The What Not the Why

Most of you following along at home have heard the reasons why we
need to memorize the Bible since you were old enough to read. A quick
for those of you new to this thing.

Read Psalm 119:11 (See References at the back of this book):

Why do we memorize scripture?

How many Star Trek fans out there? Do you remember the Prime Direc-
tive? (Extra points if you blog on and tell me.)

The Prime Directive of the Christian's life is given in Matthew 28:19-20.

What does it say:

Pretty hard to disciple and teach if you don’t know what to teach.

All of us at some point in time needed to be walked through the process

of salvation. That’s why the first thing I recommend that you memorize
are the verses that accompany the illustration on the next page.

January
January 1,22,
2009 2009
 Christ Paid the Penalty
Page 14 Romans 5:8 Page 3
I Peter 3:18

Scripture References
All Have Sinned Must Receive Christ
Romans 3:23 John 1:12
Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin Isaiah 53:6 Revelation 3:20
against you.

Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptiz-

ing them...and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Sin’s Penalty Assurance of Salvation

I Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks Romans 6:23 I John 5:13
you to give the reason for the hope that you have. Hebrews 9:27 Salvation not by Works John 5:24
Titus 3:5
Ephesians 2:8-9

This is a great little example of the process of Salvation. How Christ is

the bridge between man and God, between sin and perfection. Learn it
and know how it all works. Read I Peter 3:15.

What do we need to be ready for?

Dictionary

“If you want to get elected president, you've got to think up some memorable homily so that
Scripture References school kids can be pestered into memorizing it, even if they don't know what it means”
Page 4 God cares for us and lifts us up, protecting us Page 13
from the our enemy:
1 Peter 5:6-8 Humble yourselves therefore under the
mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: casting all
Bible Memorization your care upon Him; for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; be-
cause your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking
whom he may devour.

The How
As I’ve mentioned on the blog and to your overlord, my objective is to
fill you with practical application—not just fluffy little fillers. For the
next two days we will be discussing the “Top 10” creative ways to
memorize.
10. Work with a Friend.
Didn’t we just talk about something like that...starts with an “A”...means
keeping each other on the right track. Right. Accountability. Have
someone work to memorize the same passage and help each other.
9. Random Quizzing
Before I attended a recent conference where I would have opportunity to
present my work to some famous people in the “biz” I practiced my
pitch. One way I practiced with a friend was to randomly call each other
and ask to hear each other’s pitch here and now. Doing the same with
your Bible verses will keep you on your toes.
Do not love the world's ways, and we will live forever:
1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the
world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the
will of God abides forever.
We have victory if we have faith:
1 John 5:3,4 For this is the love of God, that we keep His command-
ments: and His commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is
born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that over-
comes the world, even our faith.

8. Flashcards
They work for learning your French verbs and your multiplication tables,
there isn’t any reason they won’t work for your Bible Verses. Carrying
them around in your pocket with the reference on one side and the words
on the other, pull them out when you spare moments standing in line, eat-
ing your lunch or pretending to play with your little sister.

7. Sticky Notes
Write out your verse on sticky notes five or six times and post them in
places you frequent. Your bedroom mirror, your bathroom mirror, your
car mirror—well, those will work for the girls and Justin. The car dash,
math book cover, best friends hat also work well.

“On the other hand, the Bible contains much that is relevant
January 23, 2009 today, like Noah taking 40 days to find a place to park”
Page 12 Page 5

6. Get Emily Dunham to make you a testify jewelry bracelet. She’ll

probably smoke me out of the hollow log for putting this in here, but tes-
Bible Memorization tify jewelry has been of great help to me in learning new verses and chal-
lenging my thinking throughout the day. A testify bracelet has one word
on it to help jog your memory about a verse. For instance, to learn I Pe-
ter 3:15 you could have the word “Always.”
More Encouragement Verses—Just for fun
We share in Christ's glory if we share in his sufferings:
What should I learn?
Romans 8:16,17 The Spirit Itself bears witness with our spirit, that we
are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and
Well, only you can answer that. Gone are
joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be
the days of Kids Clubs and Awana where
also glorified together.
people gave you a prize for learning the
verses they told you to learn. Sorry, the
God gave us His Son, who pleads with Him for us:
hollow log does not contain any Happy
Romans 8:31b-34 If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared
Meal toys for me to pass out.
not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with
Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge
Here are some verses to read and choose
of God's elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is
some to learn.
Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right
hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
LIVE THE NEW LIFE
Christ the Center 2 Corinthians 5:17 Galatians 2:20
In both life and death, we belong to God:
Obedience to Christ Romans 12:1 John 14:21
Romans 14:7,8 For none of us lives to himself, and no man dies to him-
The Word 2 Timothy 3:16 Joshua 1:8
self. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we
Prayer John 15:7 Philippians 4:6,7
die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
Fellowship Matthew 18:20 Hebrews 10:24,25
Witnessing Matthew 4:19 Romans 1:16
With Jesus you can do anything:
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Read some of the above verses and pick a couple to learn over the next
weeks. Write them down here—and get them stuck in your head so they
God will give us mercy and grace:
get stuck in your heart.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Endure temptation to receive God's wonderful and holy promises:

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is
tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to
them that love Him.

“I worked min (minimum) wage my first job, and I got a raise

Encouragement Verses
Learningwhat
when I memorized is goes
notonattained
a hamburger.”by chance,
Page 6
Bible Memorization
The How—Part II
5. Work on a whole book at a time
One way to make learning easier is to work on a whole book at a time
instead of just random verses. That way you can learn to follow the
thought of the passage instead of learning verses out of context. Philippi-
ans is a great place to start if you want to try this.
4. Write out everyday
Taking the time to write the verses out that you’re trying to learn. The
old Bart Simpson method: Pizza is not health food, pizza is not health
food, pizza is not health food (that’s what I’m writing on my freezer as a
New Year’s resolution). It seems simplistic but if you write it down, it
will work it’s way from your hand to your head.
3. Set to music/rhythm
I can learn anything set to music. Raise your hand if you can sing the
Fifty Nifty United States. I used to know a song that had all of the presi-
dents in it. Wish I hadn’t forgotten that one—though I would have had to
find a way to add Bush, Clinton, Bush and Obama to the list. Hopefully
by the time this hits your hands there will be a post on the blog with an
example of this performed by some of your very own.
2. Set a Consequence
This is one of those...if I don’t learn these five verses in three weeks then
I will clean the bathroom for the next three. Or, I will give up my ipod
for a week, or not watch television.
1. Reward—earn something
Some of us learn by being punished, some of us learn by being rewarded.
I like presents. It’s my love language (and Alan would be happy to pass
along anything you like to give to me). So, if I really want something, I
set myself a goal. I have to run so many times per week or get so much
work done or put together the tractor puzzle so many times with the local
flutter pixies.
January 26, 2009
Page 11
God will be found by those who seek him, and will pros-
per those who find him:
Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you",
says the LORD, "thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an ex-
pected end. Then shall you call upon Me, and you shall go and pray
unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And you shall seek Me, and find
Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart."
We were hand picked by God:
John 15:16-19 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen
you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth
fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever
you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it
you. These things I command you, that you love one an-
other. If the world hate you, you know that it hated Me
before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world
would love his own; but because you are not of the world,
but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world
hates you.
Why we endure:
Romans 5:3b-5 ...we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribula-
tions works patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope:
and hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad
in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Which of these areas do you need to work on? Which verses will you
learn to help you?
“Fight truth decay - study the Bible daily”
Learning is not attained by chance,
Page 10 Page 7

Read some of the verses below and pick a few to add to those you al-
ready know.
Bible Memorization
BE CHRIST'S DISCIPLE
Put Christ First Matthew 6:33 Luke 9:23
Verses on Encouragement
Top 25 Accounta bili ty Ques tio ns

Separate From the World 1 John 2:15,16 Romans 12:2

Along with fear, life often throws us reasons to be discouraged. During Be Steadfast 1 Corinthians
the volatile teen years when you are figuring out who your friends are, 15:58 Hebrews 12:3
who you are, what you want to do with your life (by the way...still work-
ing on that one myself and colleges is eons in my past so don’t freak out Serve Others Mark 10:45 2
if you haven’t worked it all out yet). Here are some verses to encourage Corinthians 4:5
you in some of those areas.
Give Generously Proverbs
God will not let us down: 3:9,10 2 Corinthians 9:6,7
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not; for I am with you. Be not dismayed; for I am your
God. I will strengthen you; yea, I will help you; yea, I will uphold you Develop World Vision Acts
with the right hand of My righteousness. 1:8 Matthew 28:19,20
Who can harm or condemn those who belong to God?
Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and Which verses did you pick? Why? Can you pick a creative way to learn
every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you will condemn. them? Share...with me or your friends.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness
is of Me", says the LORD.

We have nothing to fear in death:

Isaiah 57:1 The righteous perish, and no man layeth it to heart: and
mericful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken
away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in
their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.

The Lord will stop the enemy:

Isaiah 59:19 When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the
LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

January 28, 2009 “I not only use all the brains I have but all I can borrow.”
Learning is not attained by chance,
Page 8 Page 9

(Phil 2:12-13 NASB) "So then, my beloved, just as you

Bible Memorization have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in
my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it
is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good
pleasure."
Verses on Fear (Eph 5:21 NASB) "and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ."
When I was in college, the summer before my senior year, I had a series
(Jude 1:22-23 NASB) "And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23
of bouts with panic attacks. If you’ve ever experienced one, you know
save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy
what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, allow me to explain. I would
with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh."
usually wake up in the middle of the night. My chest would be squeezed
and I couldn’t catch a breath. I thought I was dying.
(Mat 10:28 NASB) ""And do not fear those who kill the body, but are
unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both
Three doctor appointments later, one finally told me I was having panic
soul and body in hell."
attacks. They didn’t bother me during the day, I had no idea why I would
panic when I let my mind relax. And I only knew of one person who
(1 John 4:18 NASB) "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out
would be able to heal it. God. Sometimes we let down our guard and
fear, because fear involves punishment, and
Satan grabs a foothold and won’t let go. In those times we need to be
the one who fears is not perfected in love."
equipped with some spiritual dynamite to get him out of the trench he’s
dug.
(Rom 8:15 NASB) "For you have not re-
ceived a spirit of slavery leading to fear again,
Knowing the world as I do, I can assume that one or two of you out there
but you have received a spirit of adoption as
struggle with fear. The world, steeped in sin as it is, can be a scary place.
sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!""
So here are some of the sticks of dynamite I used. Maybe they can help
you, too.
(Phil 1:14 NASB) "and that most of the breth-
ren, trusting in the Lord because of my im-
(Deu 10:12-13 NASB) ""And now, Israel, what does the LORD your
prisonment, have far more courage to speak
God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His
the word of God without fear."
ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart
and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the LORD'S commandments and
What do you fear? Do you have any other sticks of dynamite to con-
His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?"
tribute?
(Lev 25:17 NASB) "'So you shall not wrong one another, but you shall
fear your God; for I am the LORD your God."

(Prov 15:33 NASB) "The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wis-
dom, And before honor comes humility."

“A full belly makes a dull brain”

January 27, 2009 Learning is not attained by chance,