Psalm 119.11, ESV
"I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."
It is our conviction that Scripture memorization is essential, vital and necessary... and fun for all believers.
• it aids your meditation - Joshua 1.8, ESV
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."
• it adds to your treasure - Psalm 119.11, ESV
"I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."
• it helps draw you closer to God - Psalm 63.5-6, ESV
"My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night..."
• it hinders the build up of sin - Psalm 119.9, ESV
"How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word."
• it holds hope for those without Christ - Romans 10.17, ESV
"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."
• it assists us in renewing our minds - Romans 12.2, ESV
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
So, we want to store up the Word in our hearts and minds. Pastor Kevin has challenged us to memorize Romans 8 –– the chapter Pastor John Piper calls, "The Great Eight." We're going to use the ESV as our translation for memory work. We'll be learning one new verse each week. There will be announced times for review (at the end of each of the main paragraphs in Romans 8). We'd love to have you join us, even via the internet! Just start memorizing Romans 8, one verse each week, starting with Romans 8.1 this week. Then, on Saturday, just send us an email that you've done so. We'll trust that you will have actually committed this verse to memory (God will know – and we don't say that to invoke guilt; simply to exhort you toward honesty and good discipline toward Scripture memorization).
Week One –– Romans 8.1
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
* You may use whatever version of the Bible you’re accustomed to using and memorizing. Pastor Kevin highly recommends the English Standard Version.
