27 Bible Verses to Memorize as a Family

Have you ever made a list of Bible verses to memorize?

I’ve had a list as long as I can remember. When I was in the 4th grade I memorized over 100 verses for a competition. I’ve also memorized verses as a part of VBS, Sunday School, and many other kids’ programs.

Although I don’t remember all of those verses, they have served me well in moments when I needed them most. I’m thankful for leaders and teachers who were dedicated to encouraging us to tackle that list of Bible verses to memorize.

But it wasn’t until I was an adult that I began to learn the real power in memorizing Scripture, particularly in learning longer passages.

Why You’ll Love Memorizing Longer Bible Verses

Psalm 119:11 tells us to hide God’s Word in our hearts so we might not sin against Him. I can personally testify that there have been many times in my life when I was close to making a poor decision and God brought to mind a Bible verse I had memorized.

The problem I’ve had over the years is that I’ve learned so many short random verses that I don’t always know how they connect and I often don’t remember where to find them.

I tell my kids that “lost” Bible verses can’t help you when you need them most. It’s like calling 911 and saying, “I’m in a white house down the street in town.” The ambulance will only have a vague idea that you are there, but not be able to get to you.

We want to be able to get to the verses we need AND to recall as much of them as possible to help us. Why? Because the Bible is our guidebook for life and for our knowledge of God.

Without it, we are truly lost in some random house in a no-name town.

Several years ago, a friend challenged me to start learning longer Bible verse passages with my kids. I can’t tell you how powerful that has been! It’s so much easier to connect important thoughts and truly understand what God desires for your life when you understand how Scripture fits together!

Even though the passages are longer, the context helps things stick together in your mind, making it even easier to memorize larger chunks than it would be to memorize those Bible verses separately.

Top Longer Bible Verses to Memorize

I could never compile a complete list, but here are many of our favorite longer Bible verses to memorize. We’ve noted suggested stop/start points, as well as the theme of these verses. Of course, you can adjust them as needed for your family.

• Psalm 46:1-11 (God is our refuge & strength)
• Proverbs 4:20-27 (guarding your heart)
• James 1:1-15 (trials & temptation)
• James 1:19-27 (hearing & doing the Word)
• Galatians 5:16-26 (walking in the Spirit)
• 1 Timothy 4:6-16 (serving Christ)
• Colossians 3:12-25 (family relationships)
• John 3:14-18 (salvation)
• 1 Peter 5:5-11 (humility, anxiety, suffering)
• Ephesians 6:10-18 (spiritual warfare, prayer)
• Ephesians 4:20-32 (Christian life)
• Psalm 139:1-15 (God made you and knows you)
• Psalm 119:9-16 (memorizing God’s Word)
• Romans 12:9-21 (Christian life)
• 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (value of Scripture)
• Philippians 4:4-13 (contentment)
• 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 (life lessons)
• Lamentations 3:21-26 (God’s mercy & goodness)
• Psalm 119:97-105 (God’s Word directs)
• Psalm 19 (God’s Word is perfect)
• Titus 3:3-8 (salvation)
• Genesis 1:26-31 (creation mandate)
• Matthew 22:34-40 (greatest commandment)
• Philippians 2:1-11 (humility, mind of Christ)
• Colossians 1:15-20 (character of Christ)
• 1 John 4:7-18 (God is love)
• Proverbs 3:5-12 (trust in the Lord)

Wondering where to start? I use a few different strategies for picking the next Bible verse to memorize. If there is something I’m struggling with or something that would help in a particular season of life, I pick that first.

If not, I look for passages that I’ve already partially memorized. For example, many people know Proverbs 3:5-6 or John 3:16. You can start by learning the verses around those. It’s always nice to have a head start.

If you are still stuck after that, focus on God’s character. After all, it’s our knowledge of God’s character that makes it possible for us to trust Him with life’s struggles. The more we know Him, the more we trust His goodness and faithfulness.

Free Printable Verses to Memorize

We’ve made it simple for you to keep up with these 27 Bible verses as you memorize with your family! Click below to GET the free printable!

You’ll want to print it on cardstock and then keep it somewhere you’ll see often. You can hang it on the fridge, slip it in your Bible, or keep it in your morning basket. You might even choose to highlight the passages you’ve completed.

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Our Strategy for Memorizing Longer Bible Verses

There is no shortage of strategies for memorizing Bible verses. Just remember, it’s not about being able to quote the words. It’s about knowing God’s Word so well, that we know Him better.

We have a huge list of fun games for memorizing Scripture that you’ll love, but I want to mention our specific strategy for memorizing longer passages of the Bible here.

Step 1—> Listen to the Bible verses

Once we decide on a passage, we use the Bible app to listen to the passage as many times as possible. This is especially great while driving, cleaning, or exercising. The more times you hear the verses spoken, the easier it will be to learn them yourself.

If you prefer to get just the exact verses you’ll memorize, use the voice recorder app on your phone and read it from the Bible yourself. That way you can hear just those verses on repeat. Don’t read too quickly. Keep a regular pace.

Step 2—> Write it out

After you’ve listened to it many times and the passage feels very familiar, it’s time to write it out. I prefer to keep a running journal for this and add passages as we study them. Even if you only write it out once, it will be a HUGE benefit for memorizing the Bible verses.

This was the exact method I used to learn all of the anatomy and other advanced biology definitions when I was in college. By the time I wrote most of it out, getting an A on the exam was already within my reach.

For some people, this will be a huge chore and it won’t be quite as profitable as listening to it. I encourage you to persevere through at least one full time though.

I typically write it out multiple times, once each day as I’m working on it. After a few days, I try to write as much as possible without looking at my Bible. I’m always surprised at how much I’ve already memorized.

Step 3—> Keyword

Next, take one of your written copies and note a keyword for each verse or phrase. Pick a word that is unique to each verse in the passage to help you keep them straight. We highlight these words in blue and underline the prepositions.

No, this isn’t a grammar lesson. Haha. But it really helps you keep the phrases straight when memorizing longer passages of Scripture.

Step 4—> Add a Bible verse

This one is probably intuitive, but in case it needs to be said, don’t try to memorize the whole passage at once. Memorize one verse until you’ve got it down. Then add on the second verse while still reciting the first verse from memory. As you work your way down, the first verses will get really fluid, which makes the next ones easier to get started.

Ready to start memorizing?

We’ve made it simple to get started memorizing Scripture with these age-appropriate Scripture Memory Cards for kids! There are three different levels available for ages 4-teen.

More Bible Verses to Memorize

• Looking for easier Bible verses to memorize? You’ll love these 35 memory verses for kids.
• Find 14 fun and engaging memory verse games here.
• You’ll also love these free printable Bible verses for when you need encouragement.
• If you are new to learning Bible verses, you’ll love this Ultimate Guide to Scripture Memorization. It’s full of tips, strategies, and resources.
• Do a family Bible study together to complement your Scripture memory!