New Testament in Seven Years

Oh, boy… I would really like to join you… and I am the leader of the "Memorize the Entire Bible" group… and it sounds like a great idea… but only seven years… but five verses a day… five days a week… the whole New Testament…

As you can see, I am a bit undecided. :D I have found by experience that whenever I join a group, I get left far behind in the dust in about a week, and eventually find another group to join, and then get left in the dust again, etc, etc, etc. I'll think about it, but I don't count on joining, though I would really like to… But since I plan on memorizing the entire Bible in my lifetime anyway, I guess I'll just be doing it over a longer period of time… :)

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Hi SavedByGrace,
It looks like you are well underway with the Romans and that's a great start. Perhaps you won't do it in the same schedule as me, but if you keep plugging away at it, I'm convinced you'll do it. It seems you have the same dilemma as me, every project looks good! I get easily derailed as well by tempting offers (I did add James to my list this year because we were studying it at church, and I tossed in 1 John and a couple of Psalms for the same reason, and now along comes the Sermon on the Mount challenge which is too good to pass up! So, I am a little behind, but the schedule is the motivation, not the goal.). At some point I just have to say 'No' and stick to my first love. The other projects won't go away in the meantime. So now, IF I finish my NTin7yrs verses on a given day, I sneak in another verse from the Sermon on the Mount.

You have learned so many verses, I'm curious, do you have a special memorization routine that works for you? I find that it takes me hours each day to review verses after I have already spent an hour learning my 5 new ones (as I said, old, slow, brain).

God bless you in hiding as much of His Word in your heart as you can. I am praying that it will bear fruit to Him and strengthen you in this world.

His Servant

I'd really like to do this with you…memorizing the NT, that is. I can't commit to doing it in seven years though…

Keep up the good work on memorizing. It is inspiring to have people making goals like this!

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Way to go, Bethany! Sounds like I'm joining you!

John project

June 23, 2012

Old brain here! ( raises hand )

Wow! I really like your schedule! I would like to memorize the whole new testament as well, eventually.
I am presently working on the Gospels.When I started looking at all the wonderful things to memorize in the new testament, I had a tendency to get overwhelmed cause I wanted to have it all memorized "now, right now"
And then I would get sort of frustrated because I didn't know where to begin.
Sooo, I started with John, and I am now working on mark with some Mat and Luke thrown in occasionally for variety.

I will then tackle the smaller epistles and hit the larger ones lastly, and I am sure the pace will quicken because then I will be able to see the end of the road, so to speak.

Anyway, that's my schedule. Oops I forgot Acts! Well, that will go into brain and heart after the Gospels. Oh no ! I forgot Revelations! …….

May I ask what your working on at the moment? And also, are you going to start a group?

I find it totally fascinating in seeing what other people are memorizing, it inspires me to keep going and not to give up when I hit a dry spell or have monkey brain.

His Servant

June 23, 2012

@john Project – That's great that your working on memorizing John! How far are you through it? How do you keep it reviewed?

Keep up the great work…it's very inspiring to hear all that you are doing!

John project

Thank you Bethany, I have already finished John. And am now starting on Mark, I am on chapter 3 at the moment., Yippee! I am so excited!

I thought about starting with Matthew too, but then I remembered the genealogy and I thought I would start on John, and I am glad I did. thank you Lord! But I am also adding in bits of Luke and Mat as I go for variety, for instance the sermon on the mount.

I am going to be "performing" or dramatizing the Book of John in different rehabs and nursing institutions in my area starting in July and I can't wait ! But I am pretty nervous as well.

As for all you guys who want to memorize a book and want to start with Matthew, and you realize you already have the sermon on the mount memorized, well, be encouraged, you're already 3 chapters in, isn't that great ?

I would encourage you who do memorize a book to take it public and dramatize it.
Especially you younger folks. If you have a few team mates you can work together with and trade off with the different characters, I think that would be a blast.

Oh yeah I almost forgot, since there are 21 chapters in John, I made a schedule of reviewing 7 chapters of John a day, sometimes more sometimes less, but I try to stick to 7 as religiously as possible.

PS. I ain't memorizing the genealogies. But that's just me. Maybe after I have the whole new testament memorized, then I might think about it.

His Servant

That's great that you are going to be able to quote John to people! Have you ever tried just quoting through the entire book? If so, how long did it take? During Bible Be last year, I tried quoting all 1100 verses seniors had to know…I got 1000 quoted in about 6-7 hours :)

Also, how do you keep all of John reviewed? That's my hardest part on Bible memory…

My younger brother and sister and I got to quote the book of 2 Peter last year in front of our Church. It was a great experience, though I was really nervous =)

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I would like to start a group called New Testament in Seven Years. Unfortunately, Memverse still only allows one group name in your profile. I was on the Romans Project group (one of my NT books for this year). Then Bible Bee came along and I started the Bible Bee NC group to encourage our NC contestants to get familiar with Memverse. So, I'll need to stick with that group for the summer. And I really am uncomfortable with "group-hopping" since the number of verses you memorize affects the group's ranking on the LEADERBOARD. I wish they would use the tag field to decide which group to give memory credits to. I've labeled all my current verses with the NTin7yrs tag. This covers the Romans, Revelation, Hebrews, and James books I'm currently working on.

On a practical note…exactly how do you start a group? For the Bible Bee NC, I just told our families to put that in their profile GROUP name. I don't know if there's more to it than that. I don't really have an audience for the NTin7yrs discussion, except this forum, of course. And, most here already belong to a group. I really don't want to "compete" with other groups here for members since we are all in the business together of encouraging Scripture memory.

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I'm excited about your "going public" idea with the book of John! In fact, I just registered to attend a conference to learn how to do dramatic recitations of Scripture. The Fall Gathering of the Network of Biblical Storytellers on August 8-11. (see www.nbsint.org) I'm pretty reserved in some ways, so I hope I can do it!

I'd really like to see your recitation. How far are you from Raleigh, NC?

2 Corinthians 5:17

Twilah - I would really like to join you in this, but haven't committed to it yet. I'll pray about it, alright? Thanks for the idea!

ZachB

Can't do it as the schedule shows, as many of us are doing Bible Bee, but I am trying to memorize the whole Bible in my lifetime! :)

John project

@ Bethany
I usually average around 7 chapters per hour. And although I haven't quoted the whole thing all at once yet , I am guessing it may take me 3 hours to complete.

I think one of the best ways of retaining your verses is usage. the more you use it, especially in witnessing or in teaching others what you have learned, the better you remember it.
Plus, giving your chapters and books a purpose keeps them fresh as well. For instance, what I am doing with the book of John, and eventually with the other books I will be memorizing.

The next time you think about memorizing a book, say your to yourself how can I use this for the glory of God?
I can almost bet that if you have a few books memorized and called around to various churches in your area and told them that you would be willing to preform and recite the books of their choice ( give them your list ) that you would probably be very, very busy.

( If anyone else is reading this, feel free to take my advice : )

Wow! what an inspiration that would be. I have been to a few churches where the young people run amok, dragged there by there parents and hating every second of it, just waiting to be dismissed to the youth group gathering.

When memorizing a book, make it part of you. Let it come alive within you. So that when you walk out on that platform under the anointing and power of God, Boom!!
They will be awestruck and mesmerized, glued to their seat, like a deer in a headlight unable to turn away, hearing the word of God in a way they never imagined…… and when its all over, and everyone is putting their socks back on after they just got blown off. They will come and thank you for being such an inspiration and encouragement not only to them but to their children as well.

Sorry, I got carried away there, didn't I ?

Which is why I started with a Gospel, so I can take to the general public, its simple and easy to understand especially in a dramatized fashion. Whereas a book like Romans, which I love dearly, would not be understood by Non-Christians, aka, the general public. But it would be great to quote in churches. but most people who have a limited knowledge of the Bible would benefit more greatly from the simplicity of the Gospels. That my opinion and I'm sticking to it! He he!

As for your Quoting your memory verses in a 6 hour stretch, I find that totally amazing! I wish I could do that. God bless you!

John project

@ twilah

I checked out the website with the link you posted. That is pretty awesome, I never knew these type of things existed! Thank you for that!
I am temped to go but I don't think I can afford it at this time. But my Mother lives near Aashville, and I could commute, so I am thinking about attending.

As far as you attending and witnessing my debut, Lol ! I would wait till I have a few performances under my belt. I, like you, am a bit reserved and am really stepping out of my comfort zone in order to open up new avenues for God to use me as a witness. If this is a talent God gave me, I don't want to bury it, but use it.
And as with other new adventures in witnessing, there is the humbling, dying to your self part that can be pretty intense at the beginning, at least in my own mind.

But I would definitely encourage you to step out and try this new method of witnessing which God seems to be leading you towards. God Bless You!

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@ John Project

AHA! You ARE close (well, relatively)! Actually, I didn't have in mind hearing you do a formal recitation (although I hope enjoy that, too, someday). But if you'd like someone to practice on (one who can relate to the obstacles of reciting aloud). I'd enjoy that if we are close enough to arrange it, or if you happen to be coming to the Raleigh area. A friend and I used to walk together (3 to 4 hours) and take turns reciting our passages and correcting each other, until her work schedule changed. I found those walks beneficial just to get over the shyness of making a few mistakes in front of a peer and to learn the different feel of having a living being listening to me.

As for the BSN Fall Gathering, I'm new to this, but I recall seeing a scholarship mentioned somewhere on their website. If you do decide to come for some portion of the program, look me up. I was blessed by hearing one of these folks do the whole book of Mark for Easter. It was powerful! So it's definitely worth the effort to catch at least one event if you can.

Hope this comes across as encouraging, but not pushy! (Written communication has it limits.)

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@ Jesus-Paid-It-All

Pray first, definitely! You know better what God is doing in your life. Also, you may consider doing the years/books in a different order if you want. You've already done 1 Peter, you could just continue with the 2013 schedule and make July 1st your start date (like many businesses, whose fiscal year ends in June).

John Project made a good point about choosing books that an audience would want to or be able to relate to. Of my three this year, Revelation seems to be the only one with "curb appeal". But that wasn't my motivation to begin with, I just wanted to know my Lord and His plan better and grow closer to Him in the process. Now I want to share it! With a lot of people!

2 Corinthians 5:17

"As you can see, I am a bit undecided. :D I have found by experience that whenever I join a group, I get left far behind in the dust in about a week, and eventually find another group to join, and then get left in the dust again, etc, etc, etc." –SBG

This is usually what happens to me too :| I would really like to join, but I'm afraid that I'll lose track, etc etc.
I'm also still in the Bible Bee age limit so during the summer (and maybe fall) I couldn't/might not be able to follow along/keep up with the schedule. :( Just asking the Lord to give me direction, as one of my goals is to try to memorize the entire New Testament. :)

BTW - I am curious, I saw that you live in/near Raleigh from a previous comment of yours. Could you by any chance be volunteering at a Local contest in NC? Just wondering :)

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I hosted the Salem Bee in Apex, near Raleigh, the last two years. This year I am volunteering at the Raleigh Bee, in Apex, at the Calvary Church of Cary. Are you in a NC bee?

John project

Alas my friend, I live in central Florida but my Mother who is 85 by the way lives in NC. I wish I lived in NC though. And I wish you I were in close proximity as I have often prayed for Christian friends to do exactly what you have suggested doing.

It would be great to have another like-minded adult to practice with, yeah, it would definitely be beneficial and inspiring. You were truly blessed to have a memorization partner.

I was so desperate to try this out in front of someone that as I was walking down a city street one day and passing out tracts, I went into the Christian Science reading room and hijacked the guy at the front desk, and asked him if he would mind reading along while I recited and then asked him if he would take the yellow marker I had with me and underline my mistakes for me. He was gracious enough to entertain me for the first four chapters, and I think he really liked it. Lol ! God bless him, .

I agree with you totally ! I personally think that if you have a partner in memorizing you can do so much more. It has been a personal trial for me and I have been going to many churches in the area looking for someone who would like to team up and work on the word and go witnessing as well. but to no avail.
I have prayed desperately about it and now I have to just trust the lord when I feel I want to pout, Bo ho. But I know God will work it out eventually one way or another.

I really want to experience a real live performance for ideas on how to do it as well.
I memorized John in the KJV and unfortunately they want you to have something in the niv I think.

There is something on netfix called the passion of Christ or something like that ( not the Mel Gibson one ) But a guy going solo with the Book Of Luke on stage, which I watch on and off for tips.

Thanks for the invite and no you were not pushy at all and I am totally encouraged as well : )

2 Corinthians 5:17

Yes, i'm in NC, but going to Lexington bee as a Senior contestant.

John project

@Bethany

I wanted to post this as a side note because I sounded so pompous when I was explaining my review procedures.

Trust me, I have my battles with review at times as well. its funny that you asked, because I was going to propose a forum that the top 5 on the leader board ( who are memorization machines) give us their testimonies on how they keep up with their verses.

Chapters and Psalms are easy for me because they are a chunk of scripture all ready organized for my brain. and I can just out of the blue no matter where I am at, start reviewing.
Single verses are harder for me because I don't have them linked together in a chain like a chapter would be, but I may try linking them and see if that would work.

John is the most easy for me to review cause I have reviewed it everyday for 11 months now. Well, total since I began memorizing it. Plus like I said, I have to have it down good if I am going to perform it publicly.

Anyway, Mark is a little bit harder for me to be as faithful with, in reviewing for some reason. But the further I get into it, the more excited I am getting. The vision for how I will be able to use it is becoming clearer.

All that to say yes I know how you feel, and I know it can be hard to keep up with so many verses.

Its all Jesus I know that!

Hey, Maybe you could ask the top five to share their secrets.

EdB

Twilah - I am intrigued by your NTin7yrs plan. If I wanted to speak with you, is there any way that I could email my phone number to you?

I am EdB, been on memVerse about half a year. I am currantly number 59 on the Leaderboard with 513 verses.

I have done dramatic presentations of Psalm 119, Romans 8, and Luke 1-2.

The Pentimone family knows me, and could tell you if I am alright.

My email address is truemacguy@gmail.com.

I would love to chat with you.

2 Corinthians 5:17