Scripture memorising challenge

I was reading Brother Yun's story in 'The Heavenly Man' and noticed that the believers he was training up to minister in China would memorise the whole of the Gospel of Matthew in a month.

So I am setting on a challenge now to memorise the Gospel of Matthew and the book of Acts by early 2013.

Does anyone on SI want to join the challenge? A few of us going at it together can help each other with memorisation tips, share experiences and support each other - perhaps using this thread to connect and discuss?

I think what John MacArthur had advised is more viable for most of us, unless one is going to China or same other places as a missionary or a minister.

Are they talking about the Chinese translation or the KJV. If I am to memorize the bible, I think I will start with John, then Matthew, then Galatians.

I think it will be also helpful to use subheadings, some bible versions have this divisions. Actually this will facilitate memorization and retention, as it will be easier to memorize and retain something that you understand or have an insight.

I would love to try this as much asGod enables my aging brain!

Wonderful.

Yes, even if we end up memorising different books from each other, lets do it together here and share tips and ideas as we go along.

Yes, repetition will likely be my primary technique. I'll be planning out my strategy soon but I think I might go with something like reading a third of the books each day - so a three day cycle. Then keeping that cycle going on for as long as possible. But I'll also look at the tips people have mentioned here. I have not decided yet.

I'm also using a mindmapping software (you can download some for free, BTW. See here: https://encrypted.google.com/search?q=free+mindmapper&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a)

So I'm thinking to mindmap the chapters into memorable chunks (maybe with reminder pictures, symbols etc).

I might then maybe put the reminder symbols on a key-chain or something always to hand, so wherever I am, the symbol will remind me of section of scripture associated with it . . . and it will be a chance to rehearse mentally while waiting in line at the bank, check-out counter etc.

Still working to get into order and get started proper on memorising, but wanted to share a couple of points with anyone who has decided they're in:

-apparently, speaking the verses out as you memorise helps retention.

-I imagine writing them out helps too.

This is a wonderful challenge!

I can't necessarily commit to this right now, but I think that you will be surprised at how much of the Word of God that we already have memorized when we undergo such attempts.

Sometimes, when my wife and I are studying the Word, we are amazed at how much we know...or how we can complete a passage before reading it.

A church that I was a part of as a teenager had a Christian school as part of their ministries. One of the requirements was for the students to memorize a chapter of the Bible each month. They did this by reciting the passage together each morning. I thought that this was a wonderful idea...and many of them STILL remember those passages!

May the Lord bless you in this endeavor, Brother Blaine!