Bible Memorization & Sunday School.pdf

 
The Family Discipleship Department is very committed to the memorization of Bible verses.  We believe that memorized verses have tremendous potential for promoting spiritual growth.  For this reason, we are committed to encouraging the children to learn the FOUNDATION VERSES (preschool & kindergarten) and FIGHTER VERSES (and older).
 
The Family Discipleship Department workers will review verses and highlight verses in their teaching times but we are requesting that parents help their children learn the verses. Tote bags and the knights will be given to the children as a gift from the Family Discipleship Department as our way of encouraging you and your child(ren) in this endeavor. Preschool and Kindergarten children earn a tote bag after learning the first five Foundation Verses, and a star to attach to the tote bag for every five verses following.
 
Older children (Grades 1-6) will earn a miniature knight figure for each 25 verses learned.   Departments or small group leaders may possibly provide other incentives.
 
In addition, every child who learns 100 verses can have his/her picture taken with the knight. This is not meant to be a competition and will not be treated as such.  Rather they are motivators and rewards for working hard.  Parents may want to offer additional incentives. These need not be expensive and can be seen as “celebrations.” Here are some suggestions for starters.  Allow your child to:
 
• Choose his/her favorite meal to have for dinner
• Invite a friend to play
• Have a sleepover
• Play his/her favorite game with the family
 
Reporting slips can be obtained from each department.  These will help you track your child's progress.  Please notify the team leader or small group leader when your child is eligible for a prize.  NOTE: ANY VERSES YOUR CHILD IS LEARNING ARE REPORTABLE.  Although we are encouraging the memorization of FOUNDATION/FIGHTER VERSES we know that children learn other verses at home and at school.  Our goal is to encourage scripture memorization and we will happily reward your child for any verses memorized.
 
Memorizing Fighter Verses and Disabilities
If your child has a disability which makes it difficult for them to memorize Scripture we want to look for other ways to encourage them to plant God's word in their heart.  Please talk to your child's team leader and they will work with you on goals for your child.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Church and Home Partnership
 
We see the Fighter Verse program as a wonderful opportunity for families to memorize the Word of God together. It is our hope that the Sunday School departments can encourage your family in this endeavor.
 
It is unrealistic to think that we can adequately nurture the faith of your children in 1-2 hours a week. However, there is great potential in reinforcing your efforts and "coming alongside" you. In Sunday School, we cannot teach your children their memory verses, but we can introduce the verses, review the verses, keep records, provide accountability and help motivate your children. Working as a team, we can prepare our children to fight the fight of faith.
 
Here is how we envision this partnership:
 
PRESCHOOL:
Preschool departments will be working on the Foundation Verses.  Inform your child's small group leader when your child knows the first five verses (some of the children already know more than five verses). The small group leader may “spot check” your child by asking him/her to repeat 2-3 verses. If your child knows the verses,  he/she will be given a tote bag with a castle on it (artwork by Sam Westlund) and the words, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower...” (one of the Foundation Verses). The tote bag can be used to carry your child's Bible storybook, etc. to church.  For every five verses learned after the initial five, your child will earn a star to place on his/her tote bag. Let your child's small group leader know each time your child learns five verses.  The small group leader will spot check your child, and if your child knows the verses, the small group leader will send home a certificate with a star on it.  The star can be sewn or glued to the tote bag. Foundation Verse reporting slips, which help to track your child's progress, can be obtained from your child's department.
 
KINDERGARTEN:
Unless your child already knows the Foundation Verses, we encourage parents of kindergartners to help your child learn the Foundation Verses before starting the Fighter Verses. We would also encourage you to teach your child the Jesus, What a Savior! verses at the same time. Your child will also earn a tote bag and stars (see PRESCHOOL). After learning the Foundation Verses, your child can start on the Fighter Verses.  All verses children memorize will be counted for incentives (Foundation Verses, Fighter Verses, curriculum verses, verses learned at school, etc.).  Fighter Verse reporting slips, which help to track your child's progress, can be obtained from your child's department.
 
FIRST THROUGH SIXTH GRADE:
First and second grade will be starting with the Fighter Verses.  For every 25 verses learned (when your child “freezes”), he/she will receive a miniature knight. Please inform your child's small group leader when your child is ready to “freeze” (see explanation in the Fighter Verse Manual). The small group leader may spot check your child by asking him/her to repeat a few verses. We would also encourage you to help your child to learn the curriculum verses. All verses children memorize will be counted for incentives (Foundation Verses, Fighter Verses, curriculum verses, verses learned at school, etc.).  Fighter Verse reporting slips, which help to track your child's progress, can be obtained from your child's department.
 
What about the memory verses which correspond to the curriculum?
 
The curricula produced by Desiring God (Jesus, What a Savior!; The ABC’s of God; Faithful to All His Promises; In the Beginning Jesus; To Be Like Jesus; How Majestic is Your Name; and My Purpose Will Stand) also have accompanying verse card sets.  These verses have been especially chosen to reinforce the curriculum. We are committed to long-term learning, therefore we are encouraging you to purchase the curriculum sets and use them as appropriate in your family.
 
Here's what we recommend that you do about the curriculum verses: Many children are capable of learning more than one scripture passage a week.  If your child is able to do so, we would recommend that he learn the FIGHTER VERSE and the curriculum verse.  
 
If one passage a week is adequate memory work for your child, we would recommend that you use the curriculum verses as a review tool rather than a memory tool.  Each verse card notes an attribute of God, a promise, or a name of God, as well as the memory verse.  Read the cards aloud at supper time, in the car, or before bed as a way to review the Sunday School lesson - or place it by your child's bed and suggest that he read through all the cards learned to date before going to sleep.