When I was a little boy going to our local church we had a primary Sunday School teacher that dipped snuff. She would hug each one of us kids when we walked through the door and plant a wet, snuff paste, kiss on our cheeks. While the snuff past would linger on you cheek, regardless of how much you tried to wipe it off, we really did not mind because we knew the teacher loved us. One thing our Sunday School teacher did was challenge us to memorize Scripture. She would place a verse up on the board that we were supposed to memorize for the coming week and challenge us to quote the verse we memorized. If you tried to move you lips she would catch you and make you stand in the corner for not taking seriously the memorization of God’s Word. It seems the year after I aged out of that class that some parents were appalled that we had a Sunday School teacher that would punish children for being slothful. The leadership believed it was best not to involve the church in such an argument and thus the scripture memorization ceased in the church.
Fast forward to September 11, 1988. That was the date that I received Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. Why should I move to that date? I stopped attending church when I was 16 and only went back for special occasions. Thus, at best, I was a once a year church attender. I knew nothing about the Bible, other than Jesus loved me and the truth of John 3:16. On the evening of September 11, 1988 I had Scripture flood my mind that I know I did not know. It seems that after that time and in my reminiscing, I realized these scripture verses were some that I memorized in my primary Sunday School class. Scripture memorization is vitally important as we know that it is the Word of God that convicts and reveals to us truth.
I remember some years ago a pastor friend of mine from Durham, North Carolina telling me about the new pastor at FBC Durham giving a challenge to begin memorizing books of the Bible. I also remember my former Professor of Evangelism, Dr. Alvin Reid, telling us in a class that God had convicted him to begin a memorization process of doing the same. I can remember thinking in Dr. Reid’s class, “yea, right! It is everything I can do to remember what I need to in order to pass your exam”. I also had to remember my sermons for sermon delivery because Dr. Wayne McDill, my Preaching Professor, would count off if he caught you preaching with notes. (He docked me a number of times. Not only for using notes, but for using illustrations my audience did not know. It seemed I had to explain to some of my classmates about a Corn Crib.) Thus, all I needed was something else to remember.
I have been traversing some dry lonely ground here lately. I have been looking for a well to drink from because it seems that all of the streams I have been getting refreshment from have dried up, or the water just does not seem as refreshing as it did. This morning as I perused my usual bloggers, I ran across something on Timmy Brister’s blog. He was challenged by Dr. Andy Davis, Sr. Pastor of FBC Durham, at the recent Founders Conference to memorize books of Scripture. As a result Brother Timmy has placed an outline on his blog that I will copy on mine. You can also access Dr. Davis’ booklet that gives pointers and encouragement on how to memorize extended excerpts of Scripture. While Brother Timmy and I have disagreed on some things in the past this is one area of discipleship that he and I can agree. Therefore, I have accepted Brother Timmy’s challenge and I plan to challenge my church to participate with me. I spoke with my Youth Minister this morning and we will hold each other accountable each Monday Am. The realization of this challenge hit me as I worked out the schedule by the weeks. If you begin this week you will have memorized the entire book of Ephesians at Christmas time. What better gift could I give my King for His birthday than to repeat to Him, from memory His love letter to me.
I am doing this, not so I can say I am memorizing an entire book of the Bible. I am doing this because as I began this morning I realized how much you have to remain in God’s word in order to memorize and meditate on the Scripture. Isn’t that what Psalm 1:1-2 tells us to do?
Week 1 :: Ephesians 1:1-6–July 6-12
Week 2 :: Ephesians 1:7-14–July 13-19
Week 3 :: Ephesians 1:15-23–July 20-26
Week 4 :: Ephesians 2:1-9–July 27-Aug. 2
Week 5 :: Ephesians 2:10-16–Aug. 3-9
Week 6 :: Ephesians 2:17-22–Aug. 10-16
Week 7 :: Ephesians 3:1-6–Aug. 17-23
Week 8 :: Ephesians 3:7-13–Aug. 24-30
Week 9 :: Ephesians 3:14-21–Aug. 31-Sept. 6
>> Week 10 – Review 1-9–Sept. 7-13
Week 11 :: Ephesians 4:1-8–Sept. 14-20
Week 12 :: Ephesians 4:9-16–Sept. 21-27
Week 13 :: Ephesians 4:17-24–Sept. 28-Oct. 4
Week 14 :: Ephesians 4:25-32–Oct. 5-11
Week 15 :: Ephesians 5:1-6–Oct. 12-18
Week 16 :: Ephesians 5:7-14–Oct. 19-25
Week 17 :: Ephesians 5:15-21–Oct. 26-Nov. 1
Week 18 :: Ephesians 5:22-33–Nov. 2-8
Week 19 :: Ephesians 6:1-9–Nov. 9-15
Week 20 :: Ephesians 6:10-17–Nov. 16-22
Week 21 :: Ephesians 6:18-24–Nov. 23-29
>> Week 22 – Review weeks 11-21–Nov. 30-Dec. 6
>> Week 23 – Recite weeks 1-22–Dec. 7-13
>> Week 24 – Meditate, Pray, and Rejoice!–Dec. 14-20HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS. HERE IS YOUR GIFT FROM ME.
Brother Tim,
You’re bringing back the memories from SEBTS.
I was encouraged as well by Andy Davis’ messages (both of them). I had seen him a couple of years back at an Evangelical Forum meeting sharing about his memorization plan. I already have the booklet in my possession and have started the plan. No wet, snuff paste kisses for me, thank you.
TBH
Comment by Travis Hilton — July 8, 2008 @ 12;56 pm
Amen! Preach on,Brother Tim!
Comment by John Killian — July 8, 2008 @ 4;13 pm
Great challenge and example Tim R!
Comment by Tim G — July 8, 2008 @ 6;59 pm
Brother Travis,
Some of my best memories consist of wiping my face and remembering that snuff smell.
Brother John,
Good to hear from you. How are things in Alabama?
Brother Tim G,
Does that mean you are going to join in?
Blessings,
Tim
Comment by Tim Rogers — July 8, 2008 @ 7;46 pm
Back when I was an avid marathon runner, I used to write portions of Philippians on cards and memorize them as I ran. I memorized the whole book of Philippians over 25 years ago, and can still quote most of it today, with a little prompting.
Comment by Dave Miller — July 8, 2008 @ 10;36 pm
Brother Dave,
Great testimony. My plan is to memorize Ephesians, then try to memorize the NT in 7 years.
Blessings,
Tim
Comment by Tim Rogers — July 9, 2008 @ 6;02 am
Tim,
A pastor in our city has memorized numerous books in the NT, and a few in the OT. The first Sunday he used that memorization in the pulpit, he asked everyone to turn to the book of Romans. Everyone was turning and he began “reading”. A few minutes into the reading of the Scripture, I looked up. His Bible was closed! He quoted the first eight chapters of Romans from memory! (By the way, he does have the entire book memorized.)
Talk about a great demonstration of the power of Scripture and how to use it! When he finished, you could hear a pin drop! And, you could see tears flowing down many cheeks! (none stained with snuff, that I could see!)
Comment by M. Steve Heartsill — July 9, 2008 @ 7;21 am
Tim: Great post, great idea. “Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee.”
Comment by Debbie Kaufman — July 9, 2008 @ 12;27 pm
Brother Tim,
I remember the first time I met brother Richard Wurmbrand, who spent 14 years in a Romanian prison, he was telling me that during those days while in prison he would recite to himself all the Bible he was able to memorize before he was imprisoned. In fact, it protected him from not going crazy.
Only when you are restricted from having a copy of the Word of God as was the case in many parts in communist Romania and other countries that persecute the believers, will you be able to appreciate and love the Word.
Comment by elijah soritau — July 14, 2008 @ 11;46 pm
Brother Elijah,
How are things going in Romania? Good to hear from you. Thanks for the testimony of Brother Wurmbrand. I still remember some of the testimonies I heard when I went on a short term mission trip with Dr. Phil Roberts. I especially remember the testimony of a Pastor in Bucharest as he spoke of the hardships he endured under the Ceauşescu Communist government.
Great to hear from you. I pray you are doing well in God’s work.
Blessings,
Tim
Comment by Tim Rogers — July 15, 2008 @ 5;50 am