Parent Handbook For Scripture Memory

Central Presbyterian Church Children's Ministry
7308 York Road, Baltimore, MD 21204
410/823-6145   www.centralpc.org

The Importance of Helping Your Child Memorize Scripture

As you know, God's Word guides us, helps us worship Him, and gives us encouragement in time of need. What a wonderful resource we have as Christians. Won't you share this with your children? This handbook has been prepared to assist you with teaching your children to memorize Scripture. You will be equipping them for their future and preparing them for challenges they will inevitably face throughout their life.

The process of memorization for children is less challenging than for adults. Children enjoy learning and their minds are storing information constantly. Help them learn Scripture while their young minds can retain information more easily. You may be surprised and amazed at how quickly they can memorize Scripture.

How To Get Started

Start by choosing short verses to learn. This will build your child's confidence. See the attached list of verses, from the New International Version (Copyright 1973 and 1978 by International Bible Society), in order by age/grade to assist you.

Remember to have fun while learning the verse. Keep the time spent brief to hold the child's attention. This should be enjoyable so if your child gets frustrated try again later.

Show your child where the verse is found in the Bible. Mark their Bible with a special color to identify verses they have memorized.

Say the book, chapter, and verse before and after the Scripture. Recite the verse several times a day in your child's presence so it becomes familiar to them.

Do not simplify the verses. God's Word is perfect the way it is. Clarify any words they don't understand.

Make flash cards with Scripture on one side and the book, chapter, and verse on the other. If your child is too young to read still use the card to help yourself and for future review. Take the cards with you when you go out so that you can review the verse at different times of the day (in the car while you are at a light, waiting in line at the grocery store, etc.). You can put a sticker on the card when the child has successfully memorized the verse. He/she will be encouraged by the accumulated cards.

Five Fun Ways to Help Them Memorize

1. Teach them one phrase or word from the verse at a time. Say a word (or phrase) then point to your child to supply the next word (or hand them an item when it is their turn to speak). The last word of a phrase is easiest for them to learn first. For example, with Matthew 1:21, have the child first learn the words in italic. "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

2. Bounce or roll a ball back and forth as each word of the verse is said. Start by saying the verse with the child as you pass the ball. As he/she learns the verse, each of you say a word of the verse as you pass the ball.

3. Put the verse to music or rhythm. Your child will enjoy singing and clapping their hands.

4. Use flash cards. Put one word on each 4 x 6 index card (or sheet of paper) then scramble the words. Have your child put them in the right order.

5. Do any activity to make the verse fun and easy to remember. Be creative. For example, for Matthew 10:30, "And even the very hair of your head are all numbered.", make paper plate faces adding yarn for the hair. Attempt counting the hairs on their own head.

After a Verse Has Been Learned

Reward your child when he/she has accurately memorized a verse. Make the rewards immediate if possible. Rewards could include small treats or prizes, a trip to the dollar store, or special time with mom or dad. Telling them you are proud of them and having them share their accomplishment by reciting it to someone else (grandparent, Sunday School teacher, etc.) is very beneficial too. Reinforce the verses they have learned at appropriate times throughout the day. For example, when your child is not playing nicely or not sharing, remind them of Luke 6:31, "Do to others as you would have them do to you". When words or comments are said that are unacceptable, ask your child if their words would make God happy. Remind them of Psalm 19:14, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."

Put your flash cards in a special envelope or container and review the verses they have learned so they do not forget them.

AGE 3:

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Psalm 118:24

This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Psalm 136:1

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.

Matthew 22:37

Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'

Luke 6:31

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Philippians 4:13

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

AGE 4:

Psalm 23:1

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Mark 10:14

Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

John 8:12

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 10:11

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Matthew 22:37-39

Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Ephesians 6:1

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

I Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

AGE 5:

Psalm 19:14

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 23:1-6

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 103:8

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

Psalm 139:14

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Matthew 1:21

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.

THE LORD'S PRAYER  (from Matthew 6:9-13)

"...Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen."

GRADE 1:

Psalm 8:1O

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

Psalm 100:1-5

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Matthew 7:7

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Matthew 28:19

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

John 1:1-2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

John 14:1

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

The Twelve Disciples:

Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Thomas, Matthew, James the Son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon, Judas and Bartholomew

GRADE 2:

Psalm 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Psalm 34:14

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Matthew 28:18-20

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

John 1:1-4

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

John 14:6

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Hebrews 12:1

...let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

I John 3:16

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

I John 4:7-8

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

GRADE 3:

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Psalm 103:1-5

Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Isaiah 40:31

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Matthew 7:7-8

`Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.'

John 10:14

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Books of the Bible

GRADE 4:

Psalm 95:6

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

Isaiah 9:2

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Matthew 6:19-21

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

John 6:35

'I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.'

John 11:25-26

'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.'

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Hebrews 13:5

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

GRADE 5:

Exodus 20:2-17   10 COMMANDMENTS

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."

1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God.
3. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.
5. Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Psalm 96:4

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

Matthew 5:3-10   BEATITUDES

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

John 14:1-6

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Ephesians 2:8

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Another excellent resource for memorization is "Belonging to God: A First Catechism" published by the Presbyterian Church USA. The document includes biblical references. It is available for purchase through Children's Ministry. Here are some sample questions and answers.

Question 9. What does is mean that we are made in God's image?
Answer: It means we are made to reflect God's goodness, wisdom and love.

Question 10. Why, then, do we human beings often act in destructive and hateful ways?
Answer: Because we have turned away from God and fallen into sin.

Question 11: What is sin?
Answer: Sin is closing our hearts to God and disobeying God's law.

Question 12: What are the results of sin?
Answer: Our relationship with God is broken. All our relations with others are confused.

Question 13: How does God deal with us as sinners?
Answer: God hates our sin, but never stops loving us.

Question 27: How did Jesus Christ prove to be our Savior?
Answer: He sacrificed his life for us by dying on the cross. He showed his victory over death by rising from the dead. He removed our guilt and gave us new, unending life with God.

Question 32: What is the gospel?
Answer: The gospel is the good news about Jesus. It promises us the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life because of him. Forgiveness and eternal life with God are what we mean by salvation.

Question 46: Why do we pray to God?
Answer: Because we were created to live with God, who desires the prayers of our hearts. Our hearts long for God, for we need God's help and guidance every day.

Question 60: Why does our prayer end with "Amen"?
Answer: "Amen" means "so be it" or "let it be so". It expressed our complete confidence in God, who makes no promise that will not be kept and whose love ensures forever.

Another resource suggested to us is I Love God's Word: Scripture Memory In Song, a flip-chart book designed like a child's suitcase, with a CD of music to sing along as you memorize Scripture. (not an endorsement, just a link since we haven't gotten to see this first hand yet)