Key to a practical life of faith is knowing how to apply God’s Word. That’s why the psalmist says in that ‘I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you’ (Ps. 119:11). Also in Psalm we read ‘Your word is a lamp for my feet and light for my path’ (Ps. 119:105). Hiding God’s word in the heart of kids would enable them walk upright. God’s word is also a powerful guide and tool to give directions for the kids to walk in righteousness as they grow.
But first, we have to encourage them to read the Bible regularly. How can this significance be instilled into a small child? One good way is to give passages, which contain stories and not doctrines. Take suspense related stories, you brief a little bit of that story and leave the suspense part and tell the children that part story is such an such book, so and so chapter and so and so verse.
I can challenge you that children will pick up those passages and read since they cannot keep suspense in their mind for long time. Even if they don’t know how to read, they would ask their parents to read it for them. Hey that is double blessing. So identify the suspense stories. Do not use suspense stories during Bible Story time or for skit. That’s why planning is necessary. The Bible has got stories of many people, (not just Samson, David, Abraham or Noah), identify them and make the children read them.
Another way could be to make it activity related. For example Genesis Chapter 1. It talks about creation. Ask the children to draw all the creations mentioned and bring it. Like sun, moon, stars, plant, Adam and Eve, etc. This means surely they have to read the passage first. Having encouraged the children to read the Bible, how can we help them to memorise select verses?
There are many different ways in which we can make children memorise Bible verses. You might know most of this. Repetition Technique Make the children repeat the verse after you. This is a wonderful idea to memorise Bible verses. Take 1 or 2 verses at a time and repeat 5 to 10 times and I am sure at least some words will get registered in their mind. By doing this for a 2 or 3 consecutive weeks, the children will know it by heart.
The technique can be followed for both big and small kids. Reading Technique I remember as a school kid, we as a class used to read 5–10 verses seeing the Bible. This exercise is continued every day for 15 minutes. At the end of one week we know all the 10 verses by heart. My classmates and I memorised I Timothy, II Timothy, Psalms 1, 23, 24, 27, 34, 91, 100, 121, 150, Isaiah 53 and few more chapters likewise. This method will be helpful for children who can read.
Make sure all children use a common version. Only then this technique can be practiced. Action Technique You need to compose the actions for the verses before you teach the children. As you tell the verse you also need to do the actions and children also will repeat the verse after you with actions. After few repetitions, you do the actions only and ask children to tell the verse based on the actions, then ask the children to do the actions and you tell the verse, then make the boys do the actions and let girls tell the verse and vice-versa.
This technique will be suitable for kids small and big, since children love doing actions. Song Technique Identify verses, which already have tunes, like “I will enter his gates”, “Rejoice in the LORD” and make the children sing the song. At the end of the song give the reference like Psalm 100:4, and Philippians 4:4. Whenever you sing that song in Sunday school, ask for the reference.
This is an easy method to memories verses along with the reference. Wall Poster Technique Decorate your Sunday school hall with verse cards, the best available stuff is from old calendars, else take print outs and write them big on chart papers and stick them on the wall. Make the children look at those every week and read from them. Make the chart attractive and creative so that it pulls their attraction easily. Paste it in a place visible to all. Don’t tell them come early to Sunday school and read or wait after Sunday school and read. Card Technique Write down in a piece of paper (memory card) and give your child, so that child carries it home and reads it whenever he or she can.
I have seen some children carrying that in their pencils boxes to school. In our prayer cell, after the prayer all of us were given a verse written down in a piece of paper. I have carried the verse in my pockets many times and it has helped me memorise them. Jumbled Verses Take a verse, for example, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want’ (Ps. 23:1). Cut these verses into words like “The”, “Lord”, and so on. Give it to the children. Then give a Bible and tell them the reference. Mention the time limit. The children have to read the verse and arrange the jumbled verses in order and finally recite it to you.
Author: Mr. Prince Josiah Jeyaraj is an instrumentation engineer, currently serving as Director of Bridge of Hope – a holistic program for childcare development.
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