46 Bible Passages Your Kids Should Memorize Before Leaving the Nest

Hi, Moms! I am so excited to share this with you. Yes, these are my sweet boys. They have something to share with you, too. 

Scripture memory is one of the greatest life-long gifts we can give our children. I want to encourage you moms - start today! You and your family will be so enriched by committing God's Word to memory. 

I want to bless you mamas by taking out the work of combing through scripture and making the painstaking choices of which verses to choose. My husband helped me narrow down our list based on three things: A thorough knowledge of the gospel, Christian character, and defending the faith. We take a gospel-centered approach to parenting, so we chose many passages that specifically point our kids back to the plan of redemption. We chose to use notecards and we weave them into our homeschool days. I would LOVE to hear other creative strategies you mamas use to help your kids memorize scripture. Please comment below with any tips or questions you have. 

* These are from the New American Standard Bible
** This list works well even if your kids are already in an AWANA program. There is a lot of crossover, but also more passages that help fill in some gaps that AWANA doesn't cover. 
*** "Passage" refers to consecutive verses. There are actually 72 individual verses in this list. 

Please print them, share them, pin them...from my heart to yours! 

Creation 

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

John 1:1-3 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

Psalm 100:3

Know that the Lord Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Jeremiah 32:17 

Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You.

Colossians 1:16 

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

God’s Word

2 Timothy 3:16-17 

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Psalm 19:7- 8 

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Psalm 119:105 

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm119:9 

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.

Hebrews 4:12 

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Gospel 

Ephesians 2:8-9 

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

John 14:6 

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

John 3:16 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Titus 3:5 

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 11:1 

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Romans Road

Romans 3:23 

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Roman 6:23 

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9 

That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 5:1 

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Confession and Forgiveness

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 103:12

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 51:10 

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 32:5 

I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”; and You forgave the guilt of my sin.

Prayer 

Matthew 6:9-10 

Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:11-13 

‘Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’

James 1:5

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Romans 8:26

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Loving Others

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Luke 10:27

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. 

Romans 12:9-10

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.

Matthew 7:12

In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

James 1:19

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.

Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Ephesians 6:10 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 

Ephesians 6:11

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

Ephesians 6:13

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 

Ephesians 6:14

Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness. 

Ephesians 6:15

and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

Ephesians 6:16

in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  

Ephesians 6:17

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:18

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.

God’s Sovereignty

Ephesians 1:4-5

Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.

Romans 9:15-16

For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.

John 10:28-29

And I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Psalm 139:16

Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.

Isaiah 45:7 

The One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity;

I am the Lord who does all these.

Trusting God 

Proverbs 3:5-6 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Philippians 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 26:4

Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.

Psalm 32:7 

You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. 

New Life in Christ 

Ephesians 5:8 

For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.

Colossians 3:1-3

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Galatians 2:20 

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

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