Today we will hear from John Piper— 8 reasons why he memorizes Scripture.
John Piper is the founder of Desiring God. He was the pastor of preaching and teaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis for more than 30 years.
Here is a summary of his 8 reasons:
1 – Memorizing Scripture makes meditation possible at times when you can’t be reading the Bible, and meditation is the pathway to deeper understanding.
2 – Memorizing Scripture strengthens my faith because faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, and that happens when I am hearing the word in my head.
3 – Memorizing Scripture shapes the way I view the world by conforming my mind to God’s viewpoint on everything.
4 – Memorizing Scripture makes God’s Word more readily accessible in overcoming temptation to sin, because God’s warnings and promises are the way we conquer the deceitful lies of the devil.
5 – Memorizing Scripture guards my mind, making it easier for me to detect error, and the world is filled with error because the god of this world is a liar.
6 – Memorizing Scripture enables me to hit the devil in the face with a force he cannot resist, to protect myself and my family from his assaults.
7 – Memorizing Scripture provides the strongest and sweetest words for ministering to others in need.
8 – Memorizing Scripture provides the matrix for fellowship with Jesus, because he talks to me here [in his word], and nowhere else. Sweetly, powerfully, authentically, really, he speaks to me here.
Website for more information on John Piper’s ministry www.desiringgod.org
Tell us what resonated with you from this testimony.
I would like to encourage everyone, if you found this video compelling, please SHARE it on Facebook so that many more people will see it.
What especially stands out to me (though ALL of his points are excellent!) is the one about being able to meditate on God’s Word when we don’t have the Bible handy–if it is stored up in our minds. We think that in our land of freedom, with Bibles in almost every home–that there will never be a time when we cannot have a Bible to look at. But while it may be “available” in our home, or on our phones, or other places, when we are in a crisis situation it needs to be immediately accessible. That is only one place–instantly, in our mind, from the Holy Spirit helping us to recall what we have read/memorized before. I am only a baby at starting memorization, yet I have already seen this happen and was SO thankful that I had the verse stored in my mind that I did!
Janet
Thanks for posting this video today, John Piper is a great supporter and promoter of Bible memorization. He leads by example,and this is very powerful.He has many video’s of himself quoting the Bible,and also discussions on why it’s important to memorize the Bible on youtube. He has a sermon If my words abide in you, in which the first ten minutes he quotes scripture. Here is the Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El1pnoozruI. His church also started the fighter verse program and it is also an app much like scripture typer. Like you Janet, John Piper and his ministry has been a great encouragement to me.
What a powerful video! When someone like John Piper testifies to the paramount importance of knowing scripture by heart from his own experience, I sit up and take notice. He knows the value, and so do those of us who memorize.
Amen!! Summed up beautifully!
“How anybody walks through this devil-ruled world without a sword in their hand is beyond me…”
This clip on memorization is so powerful, we should MEMORIZE it? I love how it is like a huge confirmation of what I’ve dedicated every single one of my Daily Mindless Activities to. Sue Bond said to me one day, “Cherie, can you even imagine vacuuming without working on your chapter…”? I, of course can’t. So, today I’m taking away from this post that not only will I not put down my sword, but I will be more bold about telling other believers WHY they need to pick theirs up and start carrying it everywhere by memorizing.
Hi Cherie, I had that same thought that we should MEMORIZE the 8 reasons to memorize.
Ha. You girls. Memorizing fools, you are! In a good way! 🙂
I admit it!
Guilty
Mickey,
Thanks so much for that link. Hearing John Piper quote all those Psalms and then Romans 8 was mesmerizing? I could barely stand it. IT WAS SO STINKING COOL!
Chérie
yeah he quotes Romans 8 the best of anybody I have ever heard, very powerful, that is one of my favorite sermons of all time. Another really good sermon is David Platt preaching on mobilizing God’s Army for the Great Commission in which he quotes Romans chapters 1-8,if you don’t want to listen to the whole sermon he starts quoting around 27 minutes in. Here is the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1YNkq_-Swo
Mickey, I love all these inspiring resources that you are sharing with all of us. Thank you so much. More food for the soul.
Thank you so much Janet for posting this! This encourages me because every point is true and to hear each point preached was like sitting in church and being admonished as I need to stay focused on serving my Savior Jesus Christ.
As I read these 8 points I thought had heard them before. That’s right, the bible teaches and promises us these things. I add a 9th point for myself: I can do this. I have tasted the sweetness of this word, this communication with God. I have been strengthened and rescued and encouraged by God’s Word. I still am a hungry man sitting before some good food. I will eat. I am permitted to take some of this life sustaining food with me. I’ll do that too.
Peace, Mark Z.