Twenty Verses in My Short Term Memory File

The key to memorizing Scripture is systematic repetition.  If you have a system for repeating verses aloud, then you will remember them. 

Here is what one of my Scripture memory sheets looks like.  I repeat verses 25 times the first day, 20 the second, 15, 10, and 5.  I then put the verse on a 3×5 card and repeat it once daily for a long time. I call this my short term memory file.

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Here are 20 verses in my short term system.  I made a few comments.  Even though, I have grouped the verses together when they are the same passage, I only put one verse on a card.

 "Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.(Jon 2:8)."  Read Tim Keller’s new book!  Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters

"For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.(2 Corinthians 1:20)."  If you can’t get fired up about this verse you have “wet wood.”

"And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live (Deuteronomy 30:6)."

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope (Romans 15:13)."

"For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,(Ro 4:3-5)."  One of the most concise statements of the Gospel.

"The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.(Pr 18:17)."  If you don’t know why I am memorizing this verse, then you have never done pastoral counseling.

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.(2 Co 3:17-18)."  Perhaps, the first verses to memorize on sanctification (being conformed to Christ and growing in him).

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(2 Co 5:21)."

" Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not put to death. And he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the Lord, while Athaliah reigned over the land.(2 Ki 11:1-3)."  (Really cool verses.  2 Kings 11:2 is one of the hardest verses I have ever memorized. See this post).

"Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?(1 Co 10:14-16)."  See this post that links, in turn, to other posts.  We must grow in our understanding that communion is central.

" Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”(Mt 16:24-28)."