A month ago, a friend was talking about making disciples. He said that part of following Jesus was remembering what he said, and that one important way to remember was to memorize verses from the Bible. He challenged us to memorize one verse a week for the next twelve weeks.
His challenge bugged me for a couple reasons.
One, as I’ve written before, the verse divisions aren’t part of the Bible as it was written. Learning individual verses can break up paragraphs that were part of the story or argument that is laid out.
Second, and more honestly, I’ve never been able to memorize very well. I can learn ideas. I can trace thought patterns. But when it comes to learning lines, I’m better walking off stage. My resistance to the challenge was less about textual integrity and more about what I thought was a weakness.
A week or so after that meeting, on September 2, I was driving to work and thought, “The only way to memorize is to start.” So I did.
- I decided to memorize Colossians. It’s a short book, it’s a great theological summary. And it has a great story.
- I decided to use the time I spend driving to and from work. I get 20 minutes each way.
- I printed out the text in paragraph form without any verse or chapter numbers. I wanted the flow of the text to guide my learning, not the numbers.
- I read a paragraph 2-3 times out loud and then start saying it, looking when I must.
- I review the previous days paragraph every day, the flow of the section most days, and the whole text so far every 2-3 days.
- The goal is a book, not a date.
- I listen for the voice.
Tomorrow, I’ll tell you what I’m learning about learning.
300 words a day 
Hans Schiefelbein
Challenging. Great way to spend the commute. And I appreciate the argument for wh you picked Colossians. I’m in.
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Jon Swanson
but it’s not a race. it’s a community
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hansschiefelbein
No problem there. I’m a slow learner, and my plate is extremely full. But I love the challenge and I know how good this will be for my soul and my mind.
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Rich Dixon
This makes more sense than doing single verses, which too often becomes a “gotcha” tool in discussions. I’m still wondering, though, about the purpose, what memorizing adds. I’ll be curious to hear what you’ve learned about learning and how this is changing your perspective.
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Jon Swanson
I gotta confess that I did learn individual verses as a kid and they have stayed with me. And have been very valuable. And they do trace truths across the whole Book. But right now, I need the context as well.
Tomorrow’s post may help, Rich. Or may not.
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Cheryl Smith (@CherylSmith999)
You continually challenge me. As you know, I’ve been doing drive prayers but I like the idea of memorizing “as you go.” Giving it some thought…and still working on John 15.
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Jon Swanson
and I like the idea of the driving praying. Especially when you have been talking about me.
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