Help PLEASE..Bible Study & Memorization

Ok, I’m not the most disciplined person, so here’s what works for me with my 5 and 2 yr olds… We keep it totally simple and during or right after breakfast we use a good children’s Bible and read one story.  We started at the beginning.  Sometimes there are questions and sometimes they need time to meditate on it.  I think you can do this all together with older and younger because at first they just need to get familiar with the “stories”.  Let the questions come naturally and if you can’t answer some, then the olders can seek out other resources – webisites, commentaries, etc. that you direct them too.  I wouldn’t push to make it a “Lesson” instead just think of it as Living Water to refresh their spririts.

The little ones will love memorizing scripture and I would recommend the system they use here. Its super simple and does not take long, and personally, I don’t see why the olders can’t memorize the same stuff as the youngers.  I have been amazed at the longer scripture passages my older son can recite.  Hope this helps! 🙂

Becky

P.S. I also hardly ever post but come here nearly every day! This is such a great place! 🙂

Hi Kim,

I have felt inadequate regarding scripture memory over the years. Our dc range in age from 2-14. I’ll share something that has worked wonderfully for our family. I love the SCM scripture memory system but found that it kept falling by the way side. I would fail to pull the cards out and make time for memory ( I know, lack of discipline on my part ). Awhile back I came across an article by Steve and Teri Maxwell that has helped our family utilize the SCM scripture memory system in a consistant and successful manner.

Part of the article is here….

“The simplest way our family memorizes Scripture is what I might term the whiteboard-mealtime-grace method. After we say grace before lunch and dinner, we recite a portion of Scripture together before we begin to eat. We have a whiteboard hanging in the dining room where the current Scripture is written down for us to read until it is memorized. The verses on our board now are Matthew 5:3-12. A couple of the previous passages were 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and Galatians 5:22-24.

Just by reading the verses two times a day as our family sits down to meals, we memorize them usually in a few days to weeks. The children learn them before Steve and I do. There is no pressure on anyone, and everyone—even the youngest—will eventually know all the verses on the whiteboard. We leave the set of verses up even after everyone knows them well so they become very ingrained. At that point, the Lord will put a new section of Scripture on Steve’s heart to put on the whiteboard on which we will begin to work.

I believe the key to Scripture memory is having it scheduled every day. That is one reason why our whiteboard-mealtime-grace Scripture method is effective. We work on it twice a day, day after day, and in this case it doesn’t even feel like we are memorizing.”

(you can read more of the article here http://www.titus2.com/corners/8-08-m.htm )

After memorizing the scriptures in this way, we then write down the current one being memorized on an index card, and then file it accordingly- as SCM scripture memory system states. I’ve also found that as we recite our scripture at meals, it will sometimes lead to an excellent conversation/ reflection and interest in more of surrounding verses/chapters.

Another thing that has helped to keep scripture first and foremost in our mind while we go about our day is to listen to CD’s that have verses set to music. There are several wonderful ones out there (which if you’re interested I can give you links to) Also I try to keep a dramatized audio Bible on hand in the kitchen or in the vehicle to listen to while we sit idle or eat meals at the table, etc.

I do think that Ken Ham has an excellent point in teaching history – the 7 C’s of History are a great foundation to build all our history studies around. This is the approach we’ve taken as well. But let it not overwhelm you – you can teach this in the context of any approach to history whether it be SCM, Paths of Exploration, etc.

As Misty stated, you are not alone. I can assure you that we’ve all felt the way you decribe at one tiime or another. You’re doing a wonderful job! Rest, knowing that God is very near….  ~ Heather