This weekend, we launched our New Years’ challenge: for our entire church to memorize the entire book of Philippians by Easter. This week, we’re memorizing Philippians 1:1-6.
Memorizing Scripture is difficult. Memorizing large chunks of Scripture is even harder. While believers throughout history have done it (during Jesus’ time, many Jews would have known all of the first five books of the Bible by memory), most modern Christians have never even tried.
You may have doubts about your ability to accomplish such a big task. If so, John Piper has a challenge for you:
You may doubt that you can do this, especially if you are older. But ask yourself this question: If I offered you $1,000 for every verse you memorized in the next week, how many do you think you could memorize? Yet God says of his word in Psalm 19:10-11, “They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Thy servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” The real value of the word is far greater than $1,000 a verse. The question is, Do you believe this? Believing this will be the crucial motivation you need.
If you’re still feeling overwhelmed by the challenge, consider these steps to get started:
- Each week, write out the entire week’s Scripture passage with verse numbers. Don’t copy it mindlessly. Think about the text as you write it out. Every time you interact with the words, they will be cemented a little more into your heart.
- Underline important words. Which ones are important? That’s up to you. Some people highlight all the verbs. Others just highlight words that stick out to them as they’re reading the passage.
- Read the whole passage out loud three times. This is important. You’re engaging multiple senses as you see the words and hear yourself say them.
- Each day, write down one verse from the week’s passage. Say it out loud a few times. Meditate on it and pray. Write down some of your thoughts about the verse and the passage. What was Paul trying to convey? How can you apply it to life today? Then memorize the verse one phrase at a time with the verse number.
- Review old verses. Each day, spend time reviewing what you’ve already memorized. Each week, go back and read the passages you’ve covered to refresh your memory and “weed the garden” of errors. Then recite everything you’ve memorized thus far.
- Talk about what you’re memorizing and learning. Bring it up at family dinner, or at Starbucks with friends. Discuss it with your spouse before you go to bed. This will help you apply the passage to your life, which will help you remember it even more!
If you’d like to join us in the challenge but you don’t have one of the prayer/memorization journals we handed out on Sunday, here’s the schedule we’re following:
- Week 1 :: Philippians 1:1-6
- Week 2 :: Philippians 1:7-11
- Week 3 :: Philippians 1:12-18
- Week 4 :: Philippians 1:19-26
- Week 5 :: Philippians 1:27-30
- REVIEW Philippians 1
- Week 6 :: Philippians 2:1-4
- Week 7 :: Philippians 2:5-11
- Week 8 :: Philippians 2:12-18
- Week 9 :: Philippians 2:19-24
- Week 10 :: Philippians 2:25-30
- REVIEW Philippians 1 & 2
- Week 11 :: Philippians 3:1-6
- Week 12 :: Philippians 3:7-14
- Week 13 :: Philippians 3:15-21
- REVIEW Philippians 1, 2, 3
- Week 14 :: Philippians 4:1-7
- Week 15 :: Philippians 4:8-13
- Week 16 :: Philippians 4:14-23
- REVIEW Philippians all