Key Scriptures Every Christian Should Know By Heart

Key Scriptures Every Christian
Should Know By Heart

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” (Col. 3:16) Below are 60 foundational verses to begin your journey of hiding God’s Word in your heart (Ps. 119:11).  Start by working your way down the Foundation Column.  Once you have completed that column, go deeper and memorize the Building Column.  The goal:  Know all 60 precisely.

        FOUNDATION         BUILDING

LIVE THE NEW LIFE 

Christ the Center 2 Corinthians 5:17 Galatians 2:20 

Obedience to Christ Romans 12:1         John 14:21 

The Word         2 Timothy 3:16 Joshua 1:8 

Prayer         John 15:7         Philippians 4:6,7 

Fellowship Matthew 18:20         Hebrews 10:24,25 

Witnessing Matthew 4:19         Romans 1:16 

PROCLAIM CHRIST 

All Have Sinned         Romans 3:23 Isaiah 53:6 

Sin's Penalty Romans 6:23         Hebrews 9:27 

Christ Paid the Penalty Romans 5:8 1 Peter 3:18 

Salvation is not by Works Ephesians 2:8,9 Titus 3:5 

Must Receive Christ          John 1:12 Revelation 3:20 

Assurance of Salvation 1 John 5:13 John 5:24 

RELY ON GOD'S RESOURCES 

His Spirit         1 Corinthians 3:16 1 Corinthians 2:12 

His Strength Isaiah 41:10 Philippians 4:13 

His Faithfulness Lamentations 3:22,23 Numbers 23:19 

His Peace         Isaiah 26:3 1 Peter 5:7 

His Provision         Romans 8:32         Philippians 4:19 

His Help in Temptation Hebrews 2:18         Psalms 119:9,11 

BE CHRIST'S DISCIPLE 

Put Christ First         Matthew 6:33         Luke 9:23 

Separate From the World 1 John 2:15,16         Romans 12:2 

Be Steadfast 1 Corinthians 15:58         Hebrews 12:3 

Serve Others         Mark 10:45 2 Corinthians 4:5 

Give Generously Proverbs 3:9,10 2 Corinthians 9:6,7 

Develop World Vision Acts 1:8         Matthew 28:19,20 

GROW IN CHRISTLIKENESS 

Love         John 13:34,35         1 John 3:18

Humility         Philippians 2:3,4 1 Peter 5:5,6 

Purity Ephesians 5:3         1 Peter 2:11 

Honesty         Leviticus 19:11 Acts 24:16 

Faith Hebrews 11:6         Romans 4:20,21 

Good Works Galatians 6:9,10 Matthew 5:16

Motivation for Memorization*

Often when Christians today are challenged to memorize Scripture their reaction is tantamount to modern-day martyrdom.  We react with about as much eagerness as to a request for volunteers to face Nero’s lions.  Maybe it is because we associate it with memorization in school:  uninteresting and of limited value.  Some say they have a bad memory.  But what if someone offered you $5,000 for every verse you could memorize in the next seven days?  How many Scriptures could you quote by next week?  Any financial reward would be paltry compared to the accumulating value of the treasure of God’s Word deposited in your mind.  You CAN memorize Scripture if you set your heart and mind to do it!

In his book, Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Life, Donald Whitney lists several benefits to memorizing Scripture:

1. Memorizing supplies spiritual power (Ps. 119:11; Eph. 6:17; Matt. 4:1-11)
2. Memorizing strengthens your faith (Prov. 22:17-19)
3. Memorizing deepens witnessing and counseling (see how much Peter quotes in Acts 2:14-40)
4. A means of God’s guidance (Ps. 119:24)
5. Stimulates Meditation (Ps. 119:97)

Methods for Memorization*

1. Have a plan.  Use the list on the first page to get you started.  Or, if you are deeply struggling with some issue right now, then let your first verses center on that.  For instance, if you are struggling with a habit, find some verses that will help you experience victory over it.
2. Write out the verses.  
3. Repeat and remember one phrase at a time.
4. Draw picture reminders or use hand gestures to help you visually remember it.
5. Memorize word-perfectly.  Don’t settle for getting close.  The Enemy has a knack for  throwing you off with a subtle misquote.  “Did God really say...?” (Gen. 3:1)
6. Find a method of accountability.  Because of our tendency toward sloth, most of us need someone to hold us accountable.  Find a Scripture memory partner or two and hold each other to it.
7. Review and meditate daily.  

“As a pastor, teacher and counselor, I have repeatedly seen the transformation of the inner and outer life that comes simply from memorization and meditation upon Scripture.  Personally, I would never undertake to pastor a church or guide a program of Christian education that did not involve a continuous program of memorization of choicest passages of Scripture for people of all ages.”  --Dallas Willard

*These sections adapated from Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Life by Donald Whitney (Navpress, 1991), pp 41-47