Memory Verses
As part of our 'The Hope We Have' series, we are inviting people to try memorising some key verses from the Bible which reflect the hope we hold onto. By remembering parts of scripture, it is a way of embedding its truth and hope into our hearts and minds, to encourage and guide us in our daily lives.
Below are nine passages we thought you might like to try and memorise - whether you try just one or all of them!
You can also download a screensaver/image for your phone with each of the verses on them, to help you remember them.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
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15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...
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31but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
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14 ‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
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5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I shall not be shaken.
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14 As for me, I shall always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
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37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
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Bible Reading Resources
Jesus credits the Bible as authoritative for life, and so we believe it's crucial that followers of Jesus are spending time reading scripture daily. Yet, we also recognise that this isn't always an easy task. We need help and guidance along the way.
Here are a few resources that might be helpful for you as you seek to make the Bible part of your daily rhythm.
We intend to keep growing this list as we come across helpful resources.
The Bible Project
The Bible Project team has created some amazing resources to help people engage with the Bible. This includes videos answering common questions, helpful reading plans (also connected through the YouVersion App), and video summaries of Bible books to help people develop frameworks for understanding what they're reading.
Here are a few quick links you might like to access.
YouVersion Reading Plans
The YouVersion App has many reading plans available. Some are short 7 days plans, some focus on certain themes like anxiety or finances. These plans may be good to work through from time to time or in certain seasons, but we encourage you to utilise plans that take a more systematic approach to scripture so you are building a strong foundation of Biblical understanding.
You might want to consider one of these plans on the YouVersion which works through the Bible in 1, 2 or 3 years (there are many others like these available on the app too).
Bible in One Year Plans
Nicky & Pippa Gumbel Classic Version
Bible in Two Years Plan
Bible in Three Years Plan
Other plans
S.O.A.P Reading Method
Once you've decided WHAT you're going to read in the Bible, it can be hard to know HOW to do it. It's not just about taking in information, but allowing scripture to shape you.
The SOAP method is a simple approach which has been around for years and which might be a good place to start as you spend time reading the Bible.
Hearing from God in the Bible (Lectio Divina)
Another way we can approach Bible reading is through the practice of Lectio Divina ('sacred reading').
"Lectio Divina is an approach to scripture that emphasises reading it prayerfully, slowly and with imagination. It’s about the heart more than the head
The four steps of Lectio Divina are: Read, Meditate, Pray, Contemplate."
This 5 part free online course from the 24/7 Prayer Movement includes short video content, practical guides and discussion questions (if you'd like to work through this with a friend or your Life Group) to help you learn how to hear God through scripture.
Helpful Books
There are so many great books out there to help followers of Jesus engage with the Bible and grow their understanding of it.
Here are a few that you might want to check out (click on the titles to view more info):
Websites
When looking for helpful commentaries or resources to take your Bible knowledge deeper, these websites may be helpful.
The Best Commentaries website gives a summary of the commentaries available for different Bible books and includes reviews from readers to help you decide which will be most helpful for you.
Everand is a book subscription website where you pay a monthly fee and gain access to their library of books. This website contains a number of good commentaries in its list.