Step by Step Memory Verse Learning

Psalm 37:23-24 — “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” (KJV) 

“If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.” (NIV) 

Give each of your students a sheet of construction paper and a marker. Help each child trace around his shoe with the marker and cut out the construction paper footprint. Help each child print one or two words of the memory verse on his footprint. Make sure each word of the verse is included on a footprint. If you have an extra footprint, include the reference, too. 

Have a student read the verse aloud from the Bible. Talk about the meaning of the verse. Then have the class repeat it several times. Take the footprints and mix them up. Have a volunteer put them in the right order. After he has, have the class say the verse. Mix up the footprints and have another volunteer do the same thing, followed by class recitation of the verse. Continue as long as interest continues.

Memory Verse Craft: Let Your Light Shine

Here's a fun craft to help your students learn Matthew 5:16. Click on the NIV or the KJV craft below depending on which memory verse version you use.

Print a set of candles in the version you prefer and cut them out. Before the lesson, cut two empty bathroom tissue tubes into four sections so you have eight sections. (Or cut one paper towel tube into eight sections.) Glue one word strip around each tube section so the candles stand up. Glue the verse reference on the same tube as the words "in heaven." Copy the candle page for each child and bring two empty bathroom tissue tubes or one paper towel tube for each child..

During your lesson, read Matthew 5:15-16 aloud from your Bible (or have an older student read it). Choose non-reading students to hold the candle visuals in front of the group. Let the children help them stand in the correct verse order. Then, together with the children, read verse 16 from the visuals.

Ask, What does it mean to let your light shine? (To do good deeds so people see the love of Jesus through you.) Why should we let our light shine? (So people will see the good things we do and will want to know Jesus, too.) Can people see good things in us if we are doing bad things? (No.) When people see us do good things, then they will want to know Jesus and our heavenly Father.

Give each child a copy of the visuals. Hand out scissors, glue, and 2 empty bathroom tissue tubes for each child. If you have young students in your group, cut the empty tubes into four sections before the lesson, so each child has eight sections. (You may need to tape some of the sections to reinforce them.) Let the child glue one word strip around each tube section so the candle stands. Have him glue the verse reference around the same tube as "in heaven."

Say the verse together twice. Change your “candle holders” around, and have a volunteer  put them in the proper order. Read the verse again; then mix up the holders and repeat.

Matthew 5:16 — “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (KJV)

“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (NIV)

Click on the image above to download the craft page.

NIV is on the left and KJV is on the right.

Bible Lesson: Love One Another

Help your students learn the memory verse I John 4:7 — “Let us love one another.” Before your lesson, cut a big heart from red poster board and a small heart from red paper. Mark your Bible at the Bible Words with the small heart. Post the large heart on a wall or bulletin board at the children’s eye level. Bring blueberry muffins for each child. Make them from a mix or use the recipe below. (Make sure to have extra muffins for visitors and helpers.)

During class, point to the large heart. Ask, What word do you think of when you see a heart? Say, Here in the Bible it says, “Let us love.” Do you know whom the Bible tells us to love? Read the whole verse. Say, We can begin by loving everyone in the room.

Give each child a piece of paper and crayons or markers. Let the children draw self-portraits. Let each child tape her picture near the heart. As each child does this, say the Bible Words. Substitute the child’s name for “one another.” When all the pictures have been posted around the heart, have the children say the Bible Words together. During the lesson, compliment those children who use kind words and thoughtful actions toward the others.

Have the children wash their hands. Now bring out the muffins along with napkins and small paper plates. Serve water or juice to drink. Say a prayer of thanks for the snack. Also thank God for His love for each person. Let each child choose a muffin and hand it to the person on his right. Talk about how when we show respect and kindness to others, we are showing love to each other. Say the memory verse once more as the children finish eating.

For more lesson ideas, take a look at Bible Foundations Sunday School Curriculum, available for Preschool, Early Elementary, and Upper Elementary.


Blueberry Muffin Recipe

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Mix 8 ounces vanilla yogurt or sour cream with one egg (if you omit the egg, add 1/4 cup water), 1/4 cup orange juice, two tablespoons canola or vegetable oil, and one teaspoon vanilla flavoring. Mix well.

In another bowl, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour with 1/3 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix well. Make a well in the center. Add wet ingredients and stir just until moist. Gently fold in one cup fresh or frozen blueberries.

Spoon batter evenly into 12 muffin cups sprayed with cooking spray. Sprinkle sugar on top of each muffin. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Let sit five minutes. Use a knife to loosen muffins from sides of pan. Remove from pans and cool on wire rack. Yield: one dozen muffins.

Build a Bible Verse

Play a verse builders game to help your students memorize the Bible verse for your lesson. Have the children sit in a circle. (If you have a large class, divide into several small groups.) Have a child read the verse aloud from the Bible. Pronounce any difficult words before he starts reading. Review the memory verse together several times. Begin and end with the reference since it's often the hardest part for children to remember.

Then designate a child to begin. That child places his  hand (palm down) in the center of the floor (or table) while saying the first word of the verse. Proceeding clockwise, each child takes a turn saying the next word in the verse while placing his hand on top of the previous player's hand.

Proceed clockwise. Each child takes a turn saying the next word in the verse while placing his hand on top of the previous player's hand. After everyone has his hand in the pile, the bottom hand is removed and placed on top as that player says the next word of the verse. Continue in this manner until the verse is complete. The next three children say the book, chapter, and verse. Then have everyone say the verse together as they lift their hands together. Repeat, using different children to start.

Bible Memory Verse Treasure

Use this memory verse game to help your students understand that God's Word is like a special treasure. Words from the Bible can teach us to act in ways that please God.

Before your class, print each word of your memory verse (including the reference) on a 4-inch round piece of cardboard or yellow poster board cut to resemble a gold coin. Print one word per cardboard circle. Number the backs of the circles in order, if you wish (or print one set with numbers and one without).

Decorate a box to look like a treasure chest or purchase a cardboard Treasure Chest (Item #CTP5999). See the picture above. Print the memory verse on a chalkboard, whiteboard, or poster board (or have an older student print it for you). Have a child read the verse from the Bible. Point to each word as it is read. Have everyone say it together.

Discuss the meaning of the words, and have the children read the verse together several times. Then give your students the memory verse coins (one coin per child). Have the children stand in the order of the verse (choose two children to help them get in order, if you wish). Let the children drop the coins in the treasure chest one at a time, in order, reading each word as it is dropped in. Do this several times so everyone has a turn. Repeat (with the unnumbered coins), if time allows.

Say, "The Bible is God's Word. Every word of the Bible is true. God's Word is like a special treasure. There are wonderful things in the Bible to teach and train us how to live to please God!"