Rejoice at all times.
For the youngest: four words, one jump per word works as the motion. A three-year-old can own this one.
- Day 1Meet the verse
- Day 2Fill the gaps
- Day 3Half hidden
- Day 4First letters
- Day 5All by yourself
- ThenSaid it to someone
Five steps, one a day, a few minutes each. Here they are on one verse from this set:
1 John 4:19 We love because He first loved us.
- 1Meet the verseHear it and say it, with a motion for each phrase.We love because He first loved us.
- 2Fill the gapsSay it, supplying the words that are missing.We love because ___ first loved us.
- 3Half hiddenMost of the words are gone now. Say it once at bedtime.We ____ ______ He _____ _____ us.
- 4First lettersEvery word is down to its first letter.W l b H f l u.
- 5All by yourselfOnly the reference. Say it all.1 John 4:19
Then say it to someone, and come back to it after a day, three days and a week.
Five steps, one a day, a few minutes each. Here they are on one verse from this set:
1 John 4:19 We love because He first loved us.
- 1Meet the verseHear it and say it, with a motion for each phrase.We love because He first loved us.
- 2Fill the gapsSay it, supplying the words that are missing.We love because ___ first loved us.
- 3Half hiddenMost of the words are gone now. Say it once at bedtime.We ____ ______ He _____ _____ us.
- 4First lettersEvery word is down to its first letter.W l b H f l u.
- 5All by yourselfOnly the reference. Say it all.1 John 4:19
Then say it to someone, and come back to it after a day, three days and a week.
We love because He first loved us.
Point to yourself, hug yourself, point up: the motions almost write themselves, and so does the meaning.
- Day 1Meet the verse
- Day 2Fill the gaps
- Day 3Half hidden
- Day 4First letters
- Day 5All by yourself
- ThenSaid it to someone
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Kids love knowing what a shepherd does; explain that first and the verse explains itself.
- Day 1Meet the verse
- Day 2Fill the gaps
- Day 3Half hidden
- Day 4First letters
- Day 5All by yourself
- ThenSaid it to someone
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
The Bible's first sentence, so it doubles as a lesson in where the story starts. Big arm circles for the heavens and the earth.
- Day 1Meet the verse
- Day 2Fill the gaps
- Day 3Half hidden
- Day 4First letters
- Day 5All by yourself
- ThenSaid it to someone
When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.
The classic first verse, and the most useful: it comes back at thunderstorms, first days, and doctor visits. Worth learning before it is needed.
- Day 1Meet the verse
- Day 2Fill the gaps
- Day 3Half hidden
- Day 4First letters
- Day 5All by yourself
- ThenSaid it to someone
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
The Golden Rule. Once it is memorized, it referees sibling disputes all by itself.
- Day 1Meet the verse
- Day 2Fill the gaps
- Day 3Half hidden
- Day 4First letters
- Day 5All by yourself
- ThenSaid it to someone
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
The verse for trying hard things: two-wheelers, deep ends, first recitals. Flex both arms on strength.
- Day 1Meet the verse
- Day 2Fill the gaps
- Day 3Half hidden
- Day 4First letters
- Day 5All by yourself
- ThenSaid it to someone
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.
The verse addressed directly to them, which kids find genuinely surprising: the Bible talks to children too. Best introduced with a smile, not as a cudgel.
- Day 1Meet the verse
- Day 2Fill the gaps
- Day 3Half hidden
- Day 4First letters
- Day 5All by yourself
- ThenSaid it to someone
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
A friendship verse for the playground years. Ask who their friend was this week and the verse gets a face.
- Day 1Meet the verse
- Day 2Fill the gaps
- Day 3Half hidden
- Day 4First letters
- Day 5All by yourself
- ThenSaid it to someone
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Memorize it in the dark with a flashlight, once with the beam on their feet. They will not forget it; neither will you.
- Day 1Meet the verse
- Day 2Fill the gaps
- Day 3Half hidden
- Day 4First letters
- Day 5All by yourself
- ThenSaid it to someone
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
The kindness verse most families end up quoting weekly. The reason clause matters: forgiven people forgive.
- Day 1Meet the verse
- Day 2Fill the gaps
- Day 3Half hidden
- Day 4First letters
- Day 5All by yourself
- ThenSaid it to someone
This is the day that the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
A breakfast-table verse; many families say it every morning until the kids say it first.
- Day 1Meet the verse
- Day 2Fill the gaps
- Day 3Half hidden
- Day 4First letters
- Day 5All by yourself
- ThenSaid it to someone
But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
- Day 1Meet the verse
- Day 2Fill the gaps
- Day 3Half hidden
- Day 4First letters
- Day 5All by yourself
- ThenSaid it to someone