Can You Memorize Scripture Like a 5th Grader?

April 09, 2014 | By Chuck

If you haven't seen the game show "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader" then maybe you've at least heard of it. I've only watched the show a few times but it seems fun and, if I'm honest, a little challenging at times. I'm really not concerned if you and I are smarter than 5th graders. However, I am curious if we can memorize Scripture like a 5th grader. I am so fortunate and blessed to teach the 5th graders on Sunday morning this quarter. They are a great group and have really impressed me already with their Bible knowledge. I issued a challenge to my class to try and memorize Matthew 5:3-10, the Beatitudes. You may think that's a little too much for 5th graders but I can tell you with confidence that every one of the kids in my class have the ability to memorize the Beatitudes and much more. Just a few weeks after I issued that challenge Molly Madar informed me at the beginning of class that she was ready to quote the Beatitudes. I was excited and said let's hear it. She quoted all of the Beatitudes word for word, Matthew 5:3-10, and I began to congratulate her after finishing verse 10 and she said I can keep going and she quoted all the way through verse 12. She went the extra mile and did more than was expected (you remember that sermon from Tony Tarole, don't you). I was so encouraged by the way Molly memorized that long text in Scripture that I challenged my own kids as well as myself to not only memorize the Beatitudes but the whole Sermon on the Mount. That's right, memorizing all of Matthew chapters 5,6 and 7. I used to put a lot of time and emphasis on memorizing Scripture but I'm embarrassed to confess that I haven't done that like I should in a while. Can you memorize Scripture like a 5th grader? Some of you will immediately say no, absolutely not. I want to encourage you to give it a try before you talk yourself out of it. You have to admit that it's very encouraging that a 5th grader memorized Scripture like that. What do any of us have to lose in this little challenge? Truth is we all need to know God's Word better so why not try to memorize it. "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."(Psalm 119:11)