Scripture Memory: Part 1 - Practical Appliction

I decided to break this into a couple of posts. I don't like it when posts get too long.

First of all, I am going to share with you what ideas Jackie has for applying scriptural truth to the lives of the children:

I don't know about teaching a group of kids that you don't REALLY know personally, but in our family, we use the memory verses in every day life. As they are learning I try to simplify it for them and say, what is thy word? (The Bible), etc. But when we are in every day life we use them, for instance, when they disobey we go over Ephesians 6:1-- Believe it or not my 1 yr old knows the verse. Just the other day my 2 and 4 yr. old were fighting over a toy and my 5 yr. old said be ye kind one to another... I was shocked.

So, if you don't know the kids so personally like they were your own, but you know they have siblings just think like a child, what will children fight over? Dolls, trucks, then when you teach verses about being kind bring up if you and sissy were playing and she wanted to trade dolls, or "Be the nursery worker (in play)" if you would follow the Bible verse, be ye kind one to another, you would let her have the favorite doll.

Thank you Jackie for your participation.

I believe the biggest key to seeing if children understand is of course by asking them questions about the verse. This goes along with what Jackie said. You can take part of the verse and turn it into a question so that another part of the verse is the answer. I do this and then turn the answer into a question. If you have them answer it exactly as the verse states then you are helping them memorize it as well as understand it. For example:

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."

What does the fool say in his heart? there is no God

Who says in his heart that there is no God? The fool

This helps emphasize key points but does not necessarily mean they understand. It is important to also ask questions like "what does this verse mean to you?" or "how does this apply to your life?"

It is important to apply verses to situations that the children deal with every day and make it practical for them.

Four keys to understanding are:

1. Illustrate

"A good visual aid properly used will pique the students' curiosity, stimulate their interest, catch and hold their attention, and lead to life-changing learning." - Ed Dunlop

2. Discuss

3. Allow questions

4. Define words