In 1 Peter 3:15, the apostle urged his readers toward “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks [them] for a reason for the hope that is in [them].” Scripture memorization is the best way to do that. Yes, the drilling will be worth it.
When I was in third grade, my mother enrolled me in Children’s Bible Drill. It was certainly a well-titled activity. After hours of memorizing Bible passages, the class “drilled” together, competing to find and recite passages the quickest—at military attention, no less.
I can’t say I enjoyed those drills. But what I’ve enjoyed over the past 30 years is being able to share the gospel using all the Scripture coded into my memory. You can do the same—and you don’t even need to sign up for Children’s Bible Drill. The key is memorizing some of the Bible’s simple verses for evangelism (besides the “Romans Road”). Let’s consider a few.
Memorize the Gospel
If you’re going to share the gospel, you’ll want to know verses that succinctly summarize the good news of Christ. One of my favorites is from 1 Corinthians 15:3–4, but there are others. These are passages that get to the gospel’s heart in a few short words:
- “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3–4).
- “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18).
- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Memorize the Bible’s Storyline
You might also consider memorizing verses that follow the Bible’s storyline of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. Even if you don’t quote them verbatim, they can help you remember the movements of the gospel story. Here are some suggested verses to learn:
- Creation: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1).
- Fall: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).
- Redemption: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal. 4:4–5).
- Restoration: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God” (Rev. 21:3).