Resources for Teaching Your Teens to Memorize Scripture

If you are a Christian parent, then one of your primary goals is to help your children follow Jesus Christ. An important spiritual discipline that will bear significant fruit in your children’s lives is that of memorizing Scripture. Younger children are great at memorizing Scripture; and I think it is fantastic to start as early as possible. The main point of this post, however, is the importance of teaching our older children to establish their own commitment and habit of memorizing Scripture.

Why is memorizing God’s Word important?

“I have hidden Your Word in my heart
that I might not sin against You.”
Psalm 119:11

When we have God’s Word in our hearts, we are able to recall and meditate on it any time. When Jesus was tempted by Satan as he was fasting in the wilderness for forty day, he responded by quoting God’s Word (Luke 4:1-13). I do not think he pulled some scrolls out of his satchel and asked Satan to wait a moment while he found a passage that addressed each of the temptations. Like most Jewish boys, he had memorized God’s Word. 

Why is memorizing God’s Word challenging?

Memorizing Scripture is challenging. It is often challenging because, as a culture, we are not in the habit of memorizing anything. However, the more you do it (and the earlier you teach your children to do it), the more accustomed our minds will become to it. Don’t quit because it is hard at first; keep training your memory muscle, and it will become stronger.

The challenge of memorizing Scripture is not just memorizing it the first time, but remembering it after that. I have spent much time memorizing large portions of Scripture that I did not review and therefore could not remember months later. To remedy this, I use a Scripture Memory Review System. Memorizing scripture and using a review system takes time, but we know it is worth it! Here is David’s conclusion about the words of the Lord, 

“More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
In keeping them there is great reward!”
Psalm 19:10-11

A Scripture Memory Review System

I am sharing with you my Scripture Memory Review System. This is what I use every day. It is also what I use to teach my teens to memorize God’s Word. It has step by step instructions and charts for keeping up with your progress. Please contact me if you have any questions: matthew.mcdill@nche.com. 

Download the Scripture Memory Review System