Memory Verses 2010

The Verse for this week commencing Sunday March 7th 2010 is:

March 7th - Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV)
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

March 7th - Matthew 5:23-24 (NIV)
Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

What are Memory Verses?

Our Memory Verses are short passages of Scripture which we as a church have chosen to memorise each week. The Scripture, day after day, reveals to us the greatness of all that God is for us in Christ so that by the power of the Spirit we find our joy in him. The scheme was created to help Christians persevere in the fight of faith by arming them with God’s Word - hence the name sometimes used Fighter Verses. Designed for anyone from pre-school children through to adults, this system allows individuals, groups, or entire churches to memorise and review at their own pace.

There is a new one every week to memorise and meditate on.

We have adopted the programme from Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneaoplis. They use this as a church-wide memory system with hundreds of adults and children committed to memorise one passage per week throughout the year. Their programme uses the English Standard Version (ESV) - a new translation which is faithful to the original text and is easier to memorise than some other versions. But you could use the NIV (or another translation) if you prefer. We will publish both versions on the website, but most resources we link to use the ESV.

How Will I Know Which Verses to Memorise?

Find the weekly Memory Verse here on the web, in the weekly service sheet, or in the Grapevine. 

The complete schedule for the year is available as a file to download here. Or you can view it on our website in the ESV translation or the NIV translation.

A bookmark you can printout and use with all the verse references and some helpful tips is available here.

Why Memorize the Bible?

For many reasons! Here are a few. It is one of the most effective ways to "meditate" on the Word of God "day and night" (Joshua 1:8); to treasure it in our hearts that we might not sin against the Lord (Psalm 119:11); and to meditate on the Lord in the "night watches" (Psalm 63:6) so that we can regard all his ways (Psalm 119:15). Since "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17), the memorised Word helps us in evangelism making the Word of truth readily available to build our own and others' faiths. It works on our hearts to cultivate Christ-like character. It helps us to resist temptation, and enhances prayer and worship.

Why Memorize the Bible Together, Church-Wide?

Everyone needs to be armed with the Word of God. Memorising together adds accountability and encouragement.

What's the best way to memorise a verse?

Here is one way that works for a lot of people...

What To Do Each Day

Sunday: Read this week's memory passage with surrounding verses so you can see it in context.  Ask the Lord to help you commit this passage to memory, apply it to your life, and use it to bless others.

Monday: Read this week's passage (with the reference) aloud ten times.  Cover the passage and try to say it aloud (with its reference) ten more times, peeking if necessary. Say each memorised passages from previous weeks once (aloud with references).

Tuesday: Cover this week's passage and try to say the verse aloud (with its reference) ten more times, peeking if necessary. Say each memorised passage from previous weeks once (aloud with references).

Wednesday-Saturday: Say this week's passage and each memorised passage from previous weeks once (aloud with references).

Other Suggestions:

• Repeat memorised passages once daily for at least 50 days; after that once every week or two.
• Pray daily asking the Lord to help his Word remain in you, using it to feed your soul and minister to others.
• Take advantage of passing "idle" moments during the day to call this week's passage to mind.

Resources to help you

You can find other helpful suggestions and resources from Bethlehem Baptist Church here.

Three guys write a weekly blog around these particular verses to provide assistance and suggestions and encouragement. You can follow it here. They also provide other useful links and ideas.