Wednesday, January 08, 2014

Scripture memorization from Philippians

One significant advantage of the saturation method of bible reading has been scripture memorization.  I have never been particularly faithful to regularly committing passages to memory since given the time I was already spending in bible reading and prayer, it was difficult to carve out yet more time to tackle yet one more spiritual discipline. 

I have found though that as I read daily through the book of Philippians the passages are becoming more and more familiar and the structure of the book is becoming ingrained in my mind, and memorization is happening to some extent on its own.  Nevertheless I want to take it to the next level, so I have identified the key passages from Philippians that I want to memorize fully.  I present them here.

Philippians 1:6 - And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:9–11 - And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:21 - For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:27a - Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Philippians 2:3 - Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Philippians 2:5–11 - Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:12b–13 - Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Philippians 2:14–15 - Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

Philippians 3:3 - For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.

Philippians 3:8–11 - Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:13b –14 - One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:16 - Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Philippians 3:17 - Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.

Philippians 3:20–21 - But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Philippians 4:6–7 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 4:9 - What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:11b - I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

Philippians 4:12b–13 - In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:19 - And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

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