Recently while doing some evangelistic work I realised once again how necessary it is to have a good grasp of what the Bible says, and not just that, but also a good grasp of where it says it. So I did a radical thing – I got my memory verses out and started reviewing them again.
This was one of the benefits of getting involved with the Navigators in Glasgow when I was converted. Scripture memory was a big thing with them, and I have benefitted enormously from it through the years. Many of the verses I learned then are still with me now, clear as day.
I had a poke around the net in a spare moment and discovered this church website. They have taken the Navs’ Topical Memory System (a set of 60 verses covering a whole range of topics) and put them on to online flash-cards for memorisation. It’s a pretty good site, easy to use and well worth making use of.
Remember: review, review, review!
Doggie's Breakfast 
Learning the Bible is crucially important, I agree. However, there’s a danger with systems of specific verses, in that they reflect a particular theology and can lead to a tendency to prooftext. And it means that the verses that pop into one’s mind are those that one has memorised.
So, I think, to balance the memorising of verses, it’s just as important to read the Bible properly, and to remember the context within which those verses lie – and the parts of the Bible that aren’t represented in your memory verses.
pax et bonum
Of course, John. Goes without saying.
Got to start somewhere though!
The Navs were great for getting you into the Bible. As well as memorisation they encouraged reading, study ( e.g. biblical books, themes, characters), devotions and hearing in addition to memorisation.
Strangely we (the Navs) were rather a-theological (not that I think that is wholly possible). Though an excellent starting place for Christians I tend to think it was a place to move on from, having learned lots of good habits.
Stephen, I am teaching a course right now on Reformed Evangelism. I hope to have the course posted on my web site in about 2 months! I too used the topical memory system through the navigators. A geat way to memorize Scripture. Blessings, Steve McGee
Thanks, Steve. I look forward to seeing the course. I trust you are recovering well.