Psalm 78 is just as relevant to this generation as it was to the generation that first heard it centuries ago. As a way to incline this generation to meditate and act on these words for the good of the next generation, we want to encourage you to mark July 8 (7/8) as a day to focus on Psalm 78.... More

In the midst of running errands, I received a text from my mom. My cousin had a serious infection. He was fading fast. When we arrived at the hospital, he was confused and anxious. As I held his hand and wondered if this was goodbye, I spoke the first verse that came to mind.... More

The soon-to-be graduates in our homes and churches are about to enter a new phase of life. Whether they have chosen college, trade school, the military, missions, or other full-time employment, they will encounter a variety of opportunities as they explore their God-given abilities and sharpen their focus on the future. Most will also experience life apart from the daily presence of their parents, becoming more responsible for their own everyday decisions. By God’s grace, many will enjoy tremendous spiritual growth. But make no mistake, there are serious dangers as they enter this new season of life. The world wants to capture their hearts and minds with godless philosophies and empty deceit (Colossians 2:8). Satan and his evil forces are scheming to bring about their fall (Ephesians 6:11-12). We are sending them out into a world that will literally hate them if they faithfully follow Christ and His ways (John 15:18). Will they love Jesus or the world? Will their faith flourish? Will they be able to stand firm? What will they need? ... More

Fighter Verses™ are a wonderful means to share the Word of God with our children. Breakfast or supper, riding in the car, or any time the family is together is a good time for instructional conversation about the Fighter Verses. ... More

The start of a new year is a popular time to commit afresh to Bible reading and Scripture memory. We believe that our Fighter Verse™ program is a wonderful tool for encouraging and sustaining Bible personal Bible memory. But did you know it was originally designed to also be used in the context of a larger church community? Pursuing a shared goal has one big benefit: stronger biblical community. ... More

We are pleased to announce that we have expanded the Fighter Verses App to include multiple languages. We added Spanish in 2012, French in 2016, and German in 2017. Having the Fighter Verses App in Spanish, French, and German might be really important to you if…

1. Your heart language is Spanish, French, or German.
2. You are studying one or more of these languages and want to learn Bible verses or practice your fluency in these languages.
3. You know missionaries working in countries where they speak these languages and can benefit from the app.
4. You are going on a short-term mission trip to a place where one of these languages is spoken.
5. You have friends or relatives whose heart language or mother tongue is one of these languages.

Children can memorize almost anything very quickly and easily, but they need encouragement and support from you as they memorize Scripture. Parent and teachers are crucial in challenging children to continue pursuing Scripture memory, developing a memory routine and helping children understand and apply the verses they learn. The best way to memorize is through repetition. There is no substitute for reviewing a verse repeatedly. However, specific memorization techniques can vary from age group to age group. The following are ideas that we have found helpful.

TIPS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

• Say the reference: First, clearly pronounce the reference (“address” may be easier for some young children to understand than “reference”). Then have the child repeat the reference.
• Repeat the passage in sections: Say the passage in several bite-sized sections, having children say each section after you. Repeat the sections.
• Repeat the reference again.
• Review the passage several more times, lengthening the sections each time.
• Discuss the passage. After the passage is remembered (usually in 3-4 repetitions), it is good to dissect it. Discuss the meaning of unfamiliar words. Rephrase the passage and try to help the child discover how the passage applies to his life.

Here at Children Desiring God, we have been excited to see so many churches start memorizing Fighter Verses together as a church this month. It is easy to generate excitement for Bible memory when you are just starting the program or at the beginning of a new year. However, you will want to think of ways to keep Bible memory as an important priority throughout the year.

There are many tangible ways that the pastors and elders can lead the congregation in the desire and practice of Bible memory and ways the church can motivate members throughout the year:

Sunday Morning

• During the Sunday morning announcements, ask for a volunteer to recite the weekly memory verse. If no one volunteers, ask another pastor or elder to try to recite the verse.
• Pray the Fighter Verse during the worship service. This could either be prayed as a general request for the congregation, or incorporated into a specific prayer request for an individual or event.

The Fighter Verses Songs are a wonderful tool to incorporate more Scripture into your day and help you memorize and remember verses more quickly. The Fighter Verses Songs, Set 2 album includes word-for-word Bible passages (English Standard Version) set to music to help believers fight the fight of faith. This CD features 34 songs (over an hour of music) from important and beloved Bible passages from 20 books of the Bible. The songs were creatively written and recorded to make Scripture memorization easy and fun. Musical styles include folk, a cappella, jazz, pop, classical and family songs. Tunes are easy to learn, fun for kids and enjoyable to listen to on repeat. ... More