We’re officially in week two of memorizing the Sermon on the Mount together as a church. For many of us, scripture memorization isn’t something that we are very familiar or comfortable with. If we were to be honest, some of us don’t even consider ourselves to be on “that level.” Memorizing scripture feels more like something that only “varsity” Christians do.
Well, my hope is that in this season, all of us will be convinced of both the benefits and possibility of memorizing scripture. Throughout the next few months, I will be sharing various resources to help us mature in this discipline. To get us started, here are 13 practical tips on how to integrate memorization into our daily lives:
Your Phone is Your Friend
- Take a screen shot of the scripture portion for the week and set the picture as your lock screen. Every time you look at your phone, take a look at the verse and use a moment to repeat it back to yourself.
- Set the scripture portion as your wake-up message on your phone so that it’s the first thing that you see in the morning.
Make it Visible
- Print out the scripture on a 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper and hang it on your fridge.
- Write it on a post-it and hang it up on your bathroom mirror or computer monitor.
Redeem Your Time
- Turn off the radio and use a portion of your daily commute to memorizing scripture.
- Take a moment to recite the portion together as a family before eating dinner.
- If you’re struggling with having personal time with Jesus, use this as a catalyst to reconnect with the Lord. Use the weekly portions as a guide.
Immerse Yourself in the Text
- Listen regularly (in your car, on the train, or at the gym) to an audio version of the Sermon on the Mount through a free app such as Bible Gateway.
- Use Matthew 5-7 to pray through the scriptures regularly. Use it as a guide in your times of individual and corporate prayer.
- Use a journal to capture thoughts, convictions, and the things you are learning during this season.
Don’t Do It Alone
- Ask your Soulcare group to keep you accountable in staying committed.
- Discuss what you’re learning with your spouse, family, or friends. This isn’t simply an exercise in memorization, it’s an opportunity for discussion and transformation.
- Depend on the Holy Spirit for conviction, truth, and transformation. Pray. Pray. Pray.
by Ajay Thomas
Ajay lives in Philadelphia with his wife Shainu and their kids Hannah and Micah. He is responsible for preaching and vision as a pastor at Seven Mile Road.