It is a great blessing to know God from childhood. During childhood, children absorb a good part of the principles that will govern them for the rest of their lives. Therefore, it is very important to help them to know and memorize short verses of the Word of God.
Learning Bible verses helps children understand their need for God and God’s great love for them.
1. Psalm 23:1
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
(Psalm 23:1)
2. Psalm 100:1
Shout joyfully to the Lord, you inhabitants of all the earth.
(Psalm 100:1)
3. Psalm 107:1
Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good; His great love endures forever.
(Psalm 107:1)
4. Psalm 119:11
In my heart I treasure your sayings so as not to sin against you.
(Psalm 119:11)
5. Psalm 116:1
I love the Lord because he hears my pleading voice.
(Psalm 116:1)
6. 1 John 4:19
We love God because he first loved us.
7. Psalm 111:10a
The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.
(Psalm 111:10a)
8. Philippians 4:4
Always rejoice in the Lord. I insist: rejoice!
(Philippians 4:4)
9. Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
(Hebrews 13:8)
10. Psalm 117:1
Praise the Lord, all nations! All peoples, sing praises to him!
(Psalm 117:1)
11. Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in everything, because this pleases the Lord.
(Colossians 3:20)
12. Romans 10:13
Because “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
(Romans 10:13)
13. Proverbs 20:11
By his actions, the child lets us see if his conduct will be pure and upright.
(Proverbs 20:11)
14. Genesis 1:1
God, in the beginning, created the heavens and the earth.
(Genesis 1:1)
15. 1 John 4:8
He who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
(1 John 4:8)
Other longer verses:
1. John 3:16
For God loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16)
2. John 14:6
I am the way, the truth and the life, Jesus replied. Nobody comes to the Father except through me.
(John 14:6)
3. Matthew 5:16
Shine your light before everyone, so that they can see your good deeds and praise the Father who is in heaven.
(Matthew 5:16)
4. John 6:35
I am the bread of life,” Jesus declared. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never thirst again.
(John 6:35)
5. Psalm 36:7
How precious, O God, is your great love! Every human being finds refuge in the shadow of your wings.
(John 36:7)
6. 1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.
(1 Peter 4:8)
7. 1 Corinthians 16:13
Stay alert; stand firm in the faith; be brave and strong.
(1 Corinthians 16:13)
8. 1 John 5:5
Who is he who overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
(1 John 5:5)
9. Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, while the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 6:23)
10. Luke 6:45a
He who is good, from the goodness that he treasures in his heart, produces good.
(Luke 6:45a)
4 ideas for teaching verses to children:
Children can learn Bible verses with the help of an adult or as a group activity in Sunday school. The following activities can be done with groups of children to encourage them to memorize Bible verses.
- Divide the group in two. One group learns the beginning of the verse and another the end. After they know their part well, they can exchange and learn the rest of the verse.
- For children who already know how to read: puzzles (puzzles) of 3 or 4 pieces are created with the words of the verse. The children must put the puzzle pieces in order and then read the text together. It is a different activity that will help them memorize the text while playing and cooperating with each other.
- Bible verses with music. As a general rule, children like music very much. You can sing the verses together as there are many children’s songs based on Bible verses. Or they can compose their own song using the words of the memory verse.
- Prepare posters with pictures that represent the key words of the verse. For example, draw hearts for a verse that talks about love. Those who know how to write can add the words of the memory verse.
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