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Bible study memory tools:In the 1920-50's preachers were called "walking Bibles." Now days, many are weak in Bible doctrine. They can't defend fundamental concepts or share salvation with a lost sinner.
As a preacher, people will be looking to you for answers. You will need to be able to give a ready defense of the hope that is within you, (1 Peter 3:15). To do this, you need to get emotionally intimate with the scriptures. It needs to be a relationship of commitment. For such a connection with the Word, you must first choose to love the truth, (2 Thessalonians 2:10). You must desire to hide the truth in your heart, (Psalm 119:11). To truly belong to God, you must be invested in following Christ's teaching, (John 8:31). The Bible must be valued more then any other book or opinion of man, (Galatians 1:10). If your willing to defend it, love it and commit it to your mind and life, then you will truly esteem God's Word above all else. |
Bible retention tips:
1. Mark up your Bible with scriptures. Find a page in the Bible that talks on baptism for salvation, for example, then find other passages and write them all in that page location. Have a "post it flag" sticker, marked on the page area. This makes the passages on a certain them, easy to reference. Make it a point to quickly learn the passages through this page. It can be a go to source when doing Bible studies and needing quick references.
2. Read your Bible daily at least an hour. Meditate on the words read. Make it applicable and pray on what you read. Try to create a desire and longing for the Word, through maxims, tell yourself to,"crave reading His truth." Tell yourself "you love His truth." Tell yourself "you desire His truth." If you say these things with conviction, desire and belief in the statements made, you will grow in the maxims spoken.
3. Memorize a passage each week. Write down the desired passage on a note card. Take the note care with you, as you do your work throughout the day. When at a stop light, read it, when washing your clothes, read it, when at the church building, take the card out and read it, when in the doctor's office, read it, when walking around the block, read it, etc. Do this exercise daily. You'll be surprised in how you grow each week in Bible knowledge, when you do this. When memorized. Write down the verse in a note page, to review with the other memorized passages at the end of the week.
4. Further down the road, when ready, pick a theme and try to write a short article from the Bible passages on that theme, this will require a lot of study and research. Yet this practice will be worth it. This behavior will help to create learning. When comfortable with that, try to write a longer article or sermon on a specific Bible theme. Make this a more regular routine, as you get comfortable with the process.
5. Regularly teach a Bible class, either a new convert class, a kids class, a ladies class, a church class or a home study group class. If possible try to do this practice. There is no better way to learn then through this method.
6. The more you read the Bible more you will want to read the Bible, for the more you read the more you will grow spiritually. This will create stronger Bible convictions and principles. Regular Bible study will help you learn to cherish the Bible above anything else this world can offer or give.
FAN this desire for Bible study, feed it, love it, nurture it.
2. Read your Bible daily at least an hour. Meditate on the words read. Make it applicable and pray on what you read. Try to create a desire and longing for the Word, through maxims, tell yourself to,"crave reading His truth." Tell yourself "you love His truth." Tell yourself "you desire His truth." If you say these things with conviction, desire and belief in the statements made, you will grow in the maxims spoken.
3. Memorize a passage each week. Write down the desired passage on a note card. Take the note care with you, as you do your work throughout the day. When at a stop light, read it, when washing your clothes, read it, when at the church building, take the card out and read it, when in the doctor's office, read it, when walking around the block, read it, etc. Do this exercise daily. You'll be surprised in how you grow each week in Bible knowledge, when you do this. When memorized. Write down the verse in a note page, to review with the other memorized passages at the end of the week.
4. Further down the road, when ready, pick a theme and try to write a short article from the Bible passages on that theme, this will require a lot of study and research. Yet this practice will be worth it. This behavior will help to create learning. When comfortable with that, try to write a longer article or sermon on a specific Bible theme. Make this a more regular routine, as you get comfortable with the process.
5. Regularly teach a Bible class, either a new convert class, a kids class, a ladies class, a church class or a home study group class. If possible try to do this practice. There is no better way to learn then through this method.
6. The more you read the Bible more you will want to read the Bible, for the more you read the more you will grow spiritually. This will create stronger Bible convictions and principles. Regular Bible study will help you learn to cherish the Bible above anything else this world can offer or give.
FAN this desire for Bible study, feed it, love it, nurture it.
My thoughts on Bible study...
People have said to me “I’m a walking Bible” to be honest, I'm far from this ideal and am a shadow of the men of old. Who deserves that title. I know of many others who are far closer to that mark than me. But let me tell you what I do to keep my mind sharp in the scriptures. For me, I find using, personal application to be helpful for my memory in recalling Bible texts. So, I write an article (each week) about a theme I want to refresh myself in or better learn about. I may do this also for reflective study in a moral issue I’m struggling with.
If I want to learn more about the life of the Apostle Paul, I spend a week researching online and from the scriptures the themes on that topic. When he was born, his missionary journeys, why he was zealous for God, as an evangelist, how he died, etc. I like to use online platforms, like BibleHub, which gives related scripture to the online Bible searches I make, this site has topical themes, commentaries, concordances, etc.
BibleHub also has the English word listed in Greek. With the Greek word giving the exact/original meaning of that word, (Greek words are more definitional than English, love, for example, can be Eros, which is sexual or Philia which implies an emotional bond that is connected to affection/friendship, Storge, on the other hand, means dutiful love, it is compared to a family bond one would have between family members, agape love, on the other hand, has a divine purpose behind it, and is considered the highest form of love, it is mentioned in connection to Jesus’ sacrifice, which is a divine love, it is an unselfish love, a sacrificial love).
If I wanted to study the book of Revelation, I’d get a lesson book to help me out, I’m currently using “Beneath the Alter,” by Carl McMurray. I’d take notes to use in the article and I’d also research online to help me in my article creation. I make notes in my Bible for future references as well. I have a Bible I was given since I was 10 years old, I got that Bible around the time I was baptized. I have notes in this old and cherished book.
But I wish I had a “note-taking” Bible, for taking notes. A Bible that has a blank page for every page that has scripture in it. But I am not willing to give up my old Bible for that…
When I have a family, I will encourage my young children to make a small, short article (from the Bible) each week on a certain theme or personal problem they are dealing with. I will mentor them and help them develop in this pursuit. A strong family is built on prayer, on Bible study, and on hymnal singing…
- Joseph Sullivan
If I want to learn more about the life of the Apostle Paul, I spend a week researching online and from the scriptures the themes on that topic. When he was born, his missionary journeys, why he was zealous for God, as an evangelist, how he died, etc. I like to use online platforms, like BibleHub, which gives related scripture to the online Bible searches I make, this site has topical themes, commentaries, concordances, etc.
BibleHub also has the English word listed in Greek. With the Greek word giving the exact/original meaning of that word, (Greek words are more definitional than English, love, for example, can be Eros, which is sexual or Philia which implies an emotional bond that is connected to affection/friendship, Storge, on the other hand, means dutiful love, it is compared to a family bond one would have between family members, agape love, on the other hand, has a divine purpose behind it, and is considered the highest form of love, it is mentioned in connection to Jesus’ sacrifice, which is a divine love, it is an unselfish love, a sacrificial love).
If I wanted to study the book of Revelation, I’d get a lesson book to help me out, I’m currently using “Beneath the Alter,” by Carl McMurray. I’d take notes to use in the article and I’d also research online to help me in my article creation. I make notes in my Bible for future references as well. I have a Bible I was given since I was 10 years old, I got that Bible around the time I was baptized. I have notes in this old and cherished book.
But I wish I had a “note-taking” Bible, for taking notes. A Bible that has a blank page for every page that has scripture in it. But I am not willing to give up my old Bible for that…
When I have a family, I will encourage my young children to make a small, short article (from the Bible) each week on a certain theme or personal problem they are dealing with. I will mentor them and help them develop in this pursuit. A strong family is built on prayer, on Bible study, and on hymnal singing…
- Joseph Sullivan