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Lost people saved, saved people matured, mature people multiplied to the glory of God

Memorizing Scripture Together

This Week's Fighter Verse

Fighter Verse

Why Should We Do This?

1. No More Casualties.

Some have fallen hard because they have not been well-armed for the battle. Ps 119.11 makes it clear that one crucial part of fighting sin is storing up or treasuring the Word in our hearts.

2. Holiness is Our Purpose.

We ought to often pray with McCheyne: “Lord, make me as godly as a saved sinner can be!” Anything less than this desire is idolatry and unworthy of our calling. In Ps 119.11 God has instructed us on how to be godly… we dare not neglect his direction!

3. Memorizing Forces Meditation.

Meditation is everywhere commanded in the Bible and church history has proven that our heroes of the faith have been men and women who meditated on the Word—often through memorization (Philippians 4:8).

4. This Will Help Fathers.

Those with children still at home, who are desirous of being spiritual leaders, now have a tool to help them lead and shepherd their families. The family could spend two minutes before every dinner working on the verse of the week and fathers can teach the meaning and give application.

5. Memorizing Will Increase Our Fellowship.

Every week we will have truth we have been considering and pondering together and this will provide a good launching pad to direct our conversation to spiritual matters. Also, over the years we will be able to draw one another back to the “old paths” by referring to Scriptures we have learned together.

6. Memorizing Will Not Harm You.

How many hours do we spend in a week in mindless or mind-numbing activity? Will one hour less of television per week harm your spiritual life? Will memorizing and meditating on a different verse each week do you injury? Surely, this is the least we can do!

7. Are We Content with Our Sin?

Do we think so little of sin (and hence, of God) that we are content with our spiritual maturity—thinking that we have “arrived” or at least gotten to a place where we do not have to work so hard anymore? May it never be! The best reason to memorize is so that we “might not sin against” our Lord. The godly understand that their sin is never only against themselves or another—all sin is ultimately aimed at and offensive to God (Psalm 51). Not one of these sins is excusable or winked at—they are all punished on the cross. Do I disdain the cross and the sufferings of Jesus so much that I am not willing to give my all to never sin again?

8. Memorizing Aids Delighting.

One of the primary means to delighting in God is pondering His glorious Word. As followers of Christ, our aim is to enjoy God and delight in Him and so we are committed to actually doing it—not just thinking about it.

9. This is Counter-Cultural.

Sometimes it is very healthy to live against the flow of the culture in order to make our faith in Christ more visible to our own eyes. Most people only think about work, sports, news, family and sleep—who ponders the glories of our Saviour? Memorizing the Word together makes us stand out in bold relief, like the rock in the middle of the river—holding firm against the current. This is healthy.

10. Memorizing Improves Our Souls.

Consider Scougal’s profound words: “The excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love…”. Do I love the Word of God? If I do, I will treasure it in my heart. I will yearn for it, adore it, think on it, look forward to it and ponder it deeply.

11. We Will Be Better Counsellors.

Of what profit is Godless, truthless, Wordless counsel? Part of our ministry to one another is to sharpen each other and help one another through the decisions of life. We need to own the Word in order to do this effectively and memorizing is one means of doing that.

12. No Hypocrisy.

We will demonstrate to our children that memorizing is not just some game for kids, but it is the serious business of godly people. Our action of memorizing will value the Word before their eyes and show them that learning the Word is not just child’s play.

13. Armed For Battle.

The Devil never calls or e-mails ahead to tell you when you are going to be attacked. We must be well-armed and ready in advance for his wicked onslaughts and memorizing is one tool in our training. Remember Christian (from Pilgrim’s Progress) as he fought Apollyon… what happened when he dropped his sword (the symbol of the Word of God)?

Six Possible Objections to Memorizing Together

1. “It is Too Hard.”

Some of us find memorizing extremely difficult and painful! There is no doubt that it requires time and effort. But, what good things in life are free (besides our salvation)? If it is good, it is worth working for. Besides this, the man who may take an easy 5 minutes to memorize compared to your agonizing 55 minutes, may struggle in other areas of life that are of no problem to you. Each one is different. But God does not offer an alternative plan for the slow of memory. We must heed the counsel of “the man after God’s own heart” and store up that Word in our hearts. Your kids (if you have them) may lap you 13 times over before you finally get the verse down… but what lesson does that teach your kids? That you are a bad memorizer? No! It teaches your kids that you love the Word so much you will agonize and strive over it because it is worth it! They will learn, here is how vital the Word of God is!

2. “Don’t Force Me.”

Someone will say, “Okay, I concede I need to memorize, but don’t force me to memorize what everyone else is doing. I will do my own memorizing.” Will you? How many verses did you memorize last year? How many the year before that? No one is seeking to stifle your “individuality,” but here is a way we can help one another and grow closer together as a church family.

3. “Nobody Will Do It.”

You are absolutely right—unless you lead the way! What may feel like labour at first will quickly become routine down the road. Some things we just need to do.

4. “I Have Other Verses I Want to Memorize.”

Great! Do those as well!

5. “We All Have Different Versions.”

We will all memorize in the ESV. It is faithful to the original and yet understandable by the young. Even if you don’t own one, the verses will be printed in the bulletins and available on the web.

6. “I Don’t Want To.”

Well, we certainly won’t force you! Just know that you will be missing out on a great opportunity to cultivate your spiritual life.

How Will We Do This?

We will put the verse for the coming week in the Sunday bulletin and our website. We will hold one another accountable in our memorizing by reciting these verses corporately at various meetings throughout the week. The children will memorize these verses for their Harvest Kids classes—one verse for all per week.

We understand that not all will learn every verse perfectly. Sometimes providence makes the task more difficult… but better to shoot for perfection and land a little lower, than aim low and get nothing done. Gird up your loins for action, Harvest Durham! Adopt that warfare mentality and get into boot camp. By God’s grace, you can do it!

Why not make this a part of your family devotions?