Minister to Others04/30/2014 By Kristen Bannon Leave a Comment

Which way did you choose to memorize your verse last week?  Did you try several different ways?  We need to keep memorizing verses to be able to minister to others.  In Philippians 2:4 it says “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

When we minister to others we need to hit main topics to define the basic tenants of Christianity. We need to have memorized verses, at the ready, so we can minister anytime and anywhere.  Some of the main topics and related verses are:

1. God loves everyone:  John 3:16  “For God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

2.  Everyone sins:  Romans 3:23 ”For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

3.  There is a penalty for sin:  James 1:15 “Then desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown, brings forth death.”

4.  Nothing we can do can pay sins penalty:  Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

(Above found at:  http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/)

These are the first 4 basics to help you minister to others.  When looking at it, it may seem overwhelming; however, take it one verse at a time.  Use the ways we have discussed (use the clock, Popsicle sticks, writing it down, sticky notes) to help yourself.

Your homework is to memorize #1 (John 3:16).

Next week, we will learn the rest of the verses that are vital for you to have at the ready, verses to tie on your fingers and write upon your heart. (Proverbs 7:3)

God’s Word: A Sword Against Evil04/23/2014 By Kristen Bannon 1 Comment

I hope you had a blessed Easter week!  Our Lord has risen!  How did you do memorizing your verses this week?  Did you try using the clock and writing your verse on a piece of paper?  Are you finding it easier to memorize God’s Word?  It’s so important that we use God’s Word as a sword against evil.  Ephesians 6:17 says “and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”.

This week we will learn a few more ways to memorize Scripture.  1) Pray before, during and after you spend time memorizing Bible verses.  2) Write the Bible verse down many times as you say it out loud.  3) Make a song using the memory verse.  4) You can write each word on a Popsicle stick.  After you mix them up, try to put the sticks in order.

There are many other ways to memorize Bible verses. Whichever way you choose to memorize, just keep doing it for the glory of God!

Your homework this week is to memorize at least one verse and share it with someone!

Next week: ways to share Bible verses that will help you minister to others.

Use the Clock04/16/2014 By Kristen Bannon 2 Comments

Did you pick a verse to memorize?  Did the post-it notes help?  The Lord wants us to hide His Word in our hearts. Deuteronomy 11:18 says “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.”   We need to have Bible verses in our hearts so that we can use them against the enemy; when satan attacks, we can pray and quote Scripture.

Another way to memorize Bible verses is to use the clock!  Last week I said that my verse to use in rough times is John 10:10.  Each time the clock reads 10:10, that’s a signal to me to recite my Bible verse.  I usually say it over and over in my head until the clock reads 10:11.  You can even set a timer on your phone to go off at that specific time each day.

I also like to write my new verse on a small piece of paper and carry it in my pocket.  I can take it out on my breaks, waiting in line, sitting in traffic or waiting for the kids.

Keep memorizing your verse this week.  Try the clock method and writing it on a piece of paper to carry it with you.

Next week:  More ways to memorize Scripture.

Your Heart; Where God’s Word is Kept04/09/2014 By Kristen Bannon Leave a Comment

How was your week of diving into God’s Word?  Did you find your birthday verse?  I thought it was fun going through each book in the Bible, looking for my own unique verse!

This week we are learning about keeping God’s Word in our heart.  Psalm 119:11 says “I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”  We are told to not only read the Bible, but memorize it and keep it in our heart. There are several ways to do this.  The first step is to a pick a verse that makes you happy or can encourage you in times of trouble.  One of my verses to use in times of trouble/heartache/loneliness is John 10:10.  It says “The thief comes to kill, steal and destroy, but I come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”  This verse shows me that satan is in this world to destroy everything, but GOD is here to help me live abundantly.  The second step, after you pick the verse, is to write it down.  I write verses on sticky notes.  I place the notes in my car, on my bathroom mirror, on my fridge and on my front door; that way, I can see the verse and be reminded that I want to memorize it.

Your homework for this week is to pick a verse that encourages you, write it down, placing it where you will see it often; consciously reminding yourself of your intent to memorize the verse so that it will be kept within your heart.

Next week:  2 additional steps you can take to memorize a verse.

God Will Answer You!04/02/2014 By Kristen Bannon 1 Comment

How did you do with your Bible reading last week?  Are you staying accountable?

This week we are learning how to hear from the Lord.  Jeremiah 33:3 says “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”  This verse says that God WILL answer you!  Isn’t that exciting?  HE won’t ignore you… HE will answer you!

Now, not all people hear God’s voice like you hear a human’s voice.  Most of us hear HIM in our Spirit.  We feel like something is right or wrong; Intuition. We read the Bible and the answer isn’t always written in black and white.  We must read and pray to find the answer; Discernment.  Sometimes, God sends other people to us with the answer He wants us to receive.  (Pray and make sure it’s a person you trust before you take their advice).

Approach God, within prayer, and ask HIM for an answer!  James 4:2 says “You do not have because you do not ask God.”

Your homework for this week is to find a verse in the Bible that means something special to you.  To do this, I suggest looking up your month and day of your birthday in each book of the Bible.  Example:  My birthday is February 25 (2:25).  So, I looked up Genesis 2:25, Exodus 2:25, Leviticus 2:25 and so on until I found “my” verse, the one that spoke to me the most from those I uncovered.

Next week:  How to keep God’s Word in your heart.