How to Teach Children to Memorize Bible Scriptures

There are several ways to teach children how to memorize Bible Scriptures so here are a few.

In a Song

There are several ways to teach children how to memorize Bible Scriptures so here are a few but how can we help children commit certain Bible verses to memory ? By the way, these same ideas can help adults memorize Scripture too and we’re much better if we do. Perhaps one of the greatest ways to teach Scripture is by the use of music. Music has a way of imbedding Bible verses deep within the recesses of the mind, very similar to how we learned our ABC’s in a song. Music can help children (and us) to higher rates of memorization than just rote reading of Bible verses. Most children love music, so why not use music to help them internalize Bible verses? It might even hope to have them clap their hands to the music because this could further reinforce the memorization process. Even if they’re not strictly Scripture, we can teach biblically centered lessons in songs. In this way, the children can memorize Bible stories and remember the important lessons they bring. It is much more fun and easier using music to teach children.

Board Games

I used to have a Bible board game that I used in Sunday school when teaching 3rd/4th graders (combined class). There was a board game where Moses was taking the Israelites out of Egypt and through the desert, heading toward the Promised Land. When the children read parts of Exodus, they could answer questions that moved their piece across the board. They learned to tie in the events of Exodus with the Scriptures associated with the migration of the nation of Israel after their exodus from Egypt, even teaching on the Passover and the meaning of this holy day. I can also remember a board game where Joshua led the nation of Israel into the Promised Land. In this game they had to select one of three Bible verses that matched where the Israelites were. By finding the correct Bible verse, they could advance on the game board. The outcome was that they had to read the Bible for themselves (which is always a good thing). Every time they played this game, they became better acquainted with Bible verses. Some students didn’t even have to look at their Bible because they already knew which Bible verse applied to the question. You can be creative and make up your own board games using cardbox.

Arts and Crafts

Children typically love arts and crafts because they’re hands on activities. Allow them freedom to choose one of their favorite Bible verses and then create a craft around their own idea. It might even be a Bible verse that they can choose to create a craft related to the Bible verse. One of their favorites were, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). Children can then take these crafts home to be hung in the child’s room or even on the refrigerator where they can see it every day. The possibilities for biblical or scriptural arts and crafts are only limited their imagination. Let them choose the Bible verses so that they can feel more proud of their own accomplishments.

Dinner Table Scripture Reading

Another idea is to have the children take about thirty 3 by 5 index cards and write down their own Bible verses or ones they like. Let them choose. These Bible verse cards can then be placed at the family dinner table and be read before praying over the meal. They might even use different colored pencils to delineate between Old Testament or New Testament or red for Jesus’ words. They can be replaced every so often for variety. This works very well for many family Bible studies.

Make a Bible Verse Scrapbook

Scrapbooking Bible verses in a scrap book for them to own and take home is another fun way for the children to memorize Bible verses. Let them decide what Bible verses are to go in the scrapbook. It’s even more fun to have them draw their own pictures that are associated with the Bible verse or verses. Make sure to place their names on the inside of the first page and put the dates that they were created. They can add pictures as they go and this can be a keepsake for them to pass on to their own children and grandchildren. If they need help with pictures, you can search old magazines or newspapers and them clip out but let them paste or glue them to the scrapbook. These little scrapbooks can eventually become highly valued gems that they can cherish throughout the child’s life and take with them into their adulthood and share with their own children someday.

Verse Around the Chairs

It is fun to tell Bible stories to children & then give them a quiz to see how many details they remember.

I couldn’t come up with a good enough name for this one so I called it “Verse Around the Chairs” but have the children sit in a circle, on the floor or in chairs, and give each child a 3 by 5 index card with the same verse on it. Start randomly in one place and have each child read only one word at a time and immediately after one child reads one word of the Bible verse(s) have the child to their immediate right read the next and go around and around until the entire verse or verses are read. Start in the reverse order next time. Then challenge them to go as fast as they can…they’ll love it. They will usually end up memorizing it fairly quick.

Conclusion

Parents, caregivers and those who care for children are all commanded too “take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children” (Duet 4:9). Why? It is “so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life” (Duet 6:2). Maybe those two Bible verses can be the first Bible verses used to memorize.

Here is some related reading for you: 7 Great Bible Verses for Children to Memorize

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: Children, gospel, Memorize Scripture, teaching children