Memorizing the Word: Part II

I have a bad memory, how can I memorize scripture?

1.  Reading it over and over again! The Bible study I'm involved in suggested reading whatever passage you would like to memorize 3 times in the morning, 3 times at noon, and 3 times at night until you have it down.

2.  Write it out several times a day.  Some people learn by "doing."  This is the method that seems to work best for me. 

3.  You could write out a test for yourself too.  Write out the passage or verse leaving certain words out.  Then, after studying or reading it for a couple days come back and see if you can say the whole verse filling in all the blanks.  Switch up the blanks until you have the whole thing memorized.

4.  Write out the passage and put it where you will see it most:  above the sink, on the mirror, in a plastic sleeve in the shower, etc. 

5.  Read it OUT LOUD every time to see it. 

6.  Draw pictures of what the verses talk about or visualize it. 

7.  Set the verse to music.  This is the only way I was able to memorize the books of the Bible as a kid.  The names have no meaningful order so putting them to music gives the order. 

8.  Write the verses on a card and take it with you everywhere. 

9.  Record the verses yourself or find a recording of them and listen to them over and over again.  This might be better when you are memorizing a huge chunk of scripture. 

10.  Do it as a family or with a friend for help, encouragement, or accountability.

11.  Add verses on after you've memorized one.  For example, I was working on memorizing a passage for my Bible study that I pretty much had memorized already.  Then I realized that I had memorized them as a kid one verse at a time until I had all five or so verses down pat.  To be more specific, I was in a kids program that would have me memorize Philippians 2:5-6 one year, and then the next year I would have to memorize Philippians 2:5-7, and so on until I had all the way up to verse 11.  This may be a great way to work with kids through years of homeschooling.  Come up with a bunch of passages and start out with just one verse of each one each year.  By 6th grade your child could have a few passages memorized, and, having worked on the same ones year after year, he or she will know them very well.

12.  Explain it to someone.  The best way to learn something is to teach it.

13.  Make up games surrounding memorization (like in #3).  Make it fun for your kids.  Jump rope games, hand movements, etc.  Think of all those rhymes, songs, and games you remember from your childhood because they were fun to do over and over again?

What are some more tips we can add to the list?