Happy New Year everyone!
For those of you who have read my most recent post, I am still working on Part II of what we have learned in our homeschool so far this year, but something else came up that I wanted to share. As a family, we try to make memorizing scripture a priority. In the past, we have either memorized verses that are a part of a curriculum or have picked out scripture that we felt would be important for our kids to hide in their heart.
This year, we are going to do something a little different. The little seed for this idea was planted last fall, as both of the girls were memorizing poetry as a part of their “First Language Lessons” curriculum. I was amazed that they were memorizing several stanzas of poetry with relative ease and they both loved reciting them. I tucked the thought away in the recesses of my mind until January 1st, when I started my own resolution to read a Psalm and a Proverb each day. I was reading through Psalm 1 and the thought occurred to me again…our family should be memorizing larger passages like this! My husband and I talked it over and decided that this year, we would embark on a new endeavor in our scripture memory. We have picked a handful of longer passages that we will learn throughout this year as a family. We are also going to divide the 66 books of the Bible up over the 12 months so that by the time we reach December 2016, the girls can quote the books in order quickly. Rosebud already learned them as a part of her AWANA classes a couple of years ago, but with this plan she will get it down faster and I may actually have her look up books as a drill every once in a while.
We will also have these passages in audio form to listen to while in the car or around the dinner table. Bible Gateway has an audio option for each passage. If you are content to listen online without downloading, it is free. I have included a link to the ESV version of Bible Gateway for each passage. Once there, you can click on the sound icon to hear the verses spoken.
I share this plan, because I would LOVE it if several families would join us on this adventure! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to hold one another accountable, pray for one another, and share our joys and challenges as we collectively memorize these passages? If, after you finish reading this post, you feel led to join us, please let us know by replying below or by posting on our Seed Sower Facebook page here.
Okay, so here is the plan! I am also going to include this in a downloadable pdf for your convenience. Print it out and tack it to your refrigerator!
We will be memorizing out of the ESV translation.
Scripture Passage Memorization
2016
January
Books of the Bible: (The Penteteuch) Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
February
Books of the Bible: (Review previous books) + (History Books Part I) Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles
March
Romans 8:31-34 (We will memorize the other half of this passage later this year)
Books of the Bible:(Review all previous) + (History Books Part II) Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
April
The Beatitudes: Matthew 5:1-12
Books of the Bible:(Review all previous) + (Books of Poetry) Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Songs of Solomon
May
Deuteronomy 6:4-9: The Shema
Books of the Bible: (Review all previous) + (Major Prophets) Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
June
Psalm 119: 9-16: Beth portion of Psalm 119
Books of the Bible: (Review all previous) + (Minor Prophets Part I) Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum
July
Galatians 5: 22-26: The Fruit of the Spirit
Books of the Bible: (Review all previous) + (Minor Prophets Part II) Habbakuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zecheriah, Malachi
August
Books of the Bible: Practice all the OT each day.
September
Romans 8: 35-39 (Combine this with the earlier passage in Romans 8)
Books of the Bible: (Review all previous) + Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans
October
Philippians 4:4-7 (challenge 4:4-9)
Books of the Bible: (Review all previous) + 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians
November
Books of the Bible: (Review all previous) + 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James
December
Books of the Bible: (Review all previous) + 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2 & 3 John, Jude, Revelation
There are some of these passages that contain verses we have already memorized, but I believe this will be a wonderful journey for our family. I hope that you will join us! Remember, you can comment below, or “like” us on Facebook to join us in our journey!
Blessings,
Kristin
Kirk and I are in. Memorization is a challenge for me, but it will be good for me.
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Yay!
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