Let The Little Children Memorize. Part 1

It was said of Timothy, “… from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 3:15).

My next two blogs are for parents with children 3 – 10 years old. Don’t underestimate your child’s desire or ability to memorize—they’re sponges! No reading skills required.

Your goals should be to inspire curiosity and to elevate your child’s understanding of God. And, equal to that, you want to foster meaningful family interaction about God and how he intersects with the world.

• Children love stories so that is a great place to begin. Examples below.
• As a parent, do your homework first. Select 2 or 3 passages and let your children choose which one they want to memorize. You are the best judge of their level of understanding at each age. Also, which story brings out the truths you want them to learn?
• Memorize the passage as a family—parents included. Take 1 verse, or 1 sentence at a time. Have each family member take turns saying it out loud. Do this every day.
• Do not memorize the reference numbers—an unnecessary burden.
• Adapt these suggestions to what works for your family. Make it your plan.
• Along with memorizing, it is crucial that you talk about the passage: in the car, driving to school, waiting in the carpool line, at the drive-thru, during breakfast, lunch, at the dinner table, and before bed. Deuteronomy 6:7-9 instructs us to talk about God and his Word in all our activities. Ask questions (who, what, where, when, why & how). Make it fun.

SHORT PASSAGES – under 10 verses:
• Psalm 1, 8, 23, 100, 121
• Matt 6:25-30 Do not worry
• Matt 7:24-27 building on the rock or the sand
• Mark 10:13-16 Let the children come
• Mark 12:41-44 the widow’s offering
• Mark 14:3-9 perfume poured on Jesus
• Luke 8:22-25 Jesus calms the storm
• John 14:1-7 In my Father’s house
• 1 John 4:7-12 Love one another

Part 2 will give MEDIUM PASSAGES (11- 20 verses) and LONGER PASSAGES (21-31 verses). Also technology tips, and a challenge to move on to entire books.

Give your children the solid foundation they will need to navigate this complex world, and to be “instruments in God’s hands, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work” (2 Tim 2:21).

Please share your thoughts, tips and experiences with us. And ask questions, so that we can all do this better.