You are here: Home › Whats New › 2010 › 08 › 16 › 18plus Learn Your Sword

16th August 2010 by Julia Hosking

The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). When we know Scripture, we can ward off Satan's temptations (akin to Jesus), use it to guide our path in life (like in the film clip), and apply it to become more Christlike.

But it is no good to just learn Scripture by memorisation, we need to understand and apply it. Not doing so would be like learning Pythagoras' theorem, yet still not knowing how to figure out a triangle's measurements.

Learning the Word of God (memorise and understand) is not just for kids – in fact, it is essential for mature Christians; so here are a few practical ideas to help you get Scripture into your head. If you become disciplined by regularly doing any of these, you are on your way to a more Christlike life.

Meditate on the Word

"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it" (Joshua 1:8).

In this instance, "meditate" means using your vocal chords.

Challenge: Choose a passage of Scripture and pray (read) the Bible aloud for 15 minutes a day.

Why?

1. If you read or pray out loud, then you know when you've stopped.
2. When you're talking, it's hard to think about something else. Therefore, you'll concentrate on the Bible and on what you're reading from, or saying to, God.

Memorise

Do you find it difficult to memorise a single verse? Well did you know some people are known to regularly learn an entire chapter of Scripture (e.g. Romans 8 Movement)?

Does that totally freak you out? Or does it challenge you to do likewise? Whatever your thought, I bet you're wondering what the trick is when you can hardly remember your eight times tables from primary school!

Try this

1. Read selected verses of Scripture repeatedly, pausing to reflect along the way.
2. Pay attention to what you're reading (eliminate distractions), and visualise it.
3. Write it several times – by pen, into your phone, on your computer.
4. Narrate it. Build word and picture associations; locate keywords.
5. Sing it (are you still humming the tune from Logoz?); speak it dramatically; act as if you were in a play; dance it.
6. Start with memorising "easy" verses of Scripture e.g. some of the sayings of Jesus before tackling the Old Testament prophesies.

(Source: 18 Tricks to Memorize Scripture)

Sacred Reading

Contemplating on the Word of God through praying, meditating and reading Scripture is important to understanding and knowing it. One way to do this in practice is to take part in "Lectio Divina" or "Sacred Reading".

Lectio Divina will have you reading and re-reading the same section of Scripture which helps you with memorisation. Furthermore, the exercise allows space for God to communicate the message to you – thus enhancing the meaning and application to your life.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Choose a passage e.g. Psalm 25:1-7.
2. Lectio (Reading): Read the passage slowly (out loud or in your head), savouring the words.
3. Meditatio (Meditation): Read the passage again, this time searching for deeper meanings and paying attention to your emotions and those of the author.
4. Oratio (Prayer): Ask God for illumination about the meaning of the Scripture, and the emotions and experiences you uncovered as you read for a third time.
5. Contemplatio (Contemplation): Go beyond the words and intellect into communion with God – listening and speaking.

Spiritually disciplined

The above methods of learning the Bible are part of developing spiritual disciplines which are "life patterns that direct us to God and disciple us more fully into the likeness of Jesus Christ". That is, spiritual disciplines help us to understand who God is, what he wants for our life and how to live life.

If you'd like to learn a bit more about spiritual disciplines, a good starting point is Lieutenant-Colonel Janet Munn's notes from Brengle Create.

(Another interesting video about the importance of memorising Scripture.)

By Julia Hosking

Comments

• Leave a comment
• Subscribe to comments

No comments yet - be the first.