Bible Lesson for Bible Teachers, Lesson #5
A 100% Guaranteed Way to Sin Lesson Than You Do
Psalm 119.9, 11; Matthew 12.1 – 11
Good Questions Have Groups Talking
www.joshhunt.com
Email your group and mention you will be talking about Scripture memory this week. There are a number of great Scripture memory apps out there. (I use Scripture Typer.) Ask you people to experiment with one or two and give the group a review.
If you like this format of lessons, I have a couple of thousand at www.mybiblestudylessons.com
OPEN
What is your name and one thing you love about teaching.
DIG
1. Last week we talked about setting an example for the people we teach. We talked about saying to our people, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” We don’t want to be people who say to our people, “Do what I say, not what I do.” Perhaps this has caused you to think. (I hope so!) Perhaps you are thinking, “I need to be a better example.” If so, would you like to have a 100% guaranteed plan to sin less than you do? If so, let’s read Psalm 119.9, 11. Let’s read it—especially verse 11—in several translations.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11 (NIV2011)
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11 (ESV)
I have thought much about your words and stored them in my heart so that they would hold me back from sin. Psalm 119:11 (TLB)
I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt. Psalm 119:11 (MSG)
I treasure your word above all else; it keeps me from sinning against you. Psalm 119:11 (CEV)
Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. Psalm 119:11 (NASB)
I treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you. Psalm 119:11 (NRSV)
I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You. Psalm 119:11 (HCSB)
In my heart I treasure your promises, to avoid sinning against you. Psalm 119:11 (NJB)
2. Some translations say, “hidden” while others say, “treasured.” How are those words similar, and how are they different? Do you have a study Bible with a note? Which one is right?
The term hidden expresses the idea of treasuring the Bible the same way a miser hoards gold coins, keeping them in a secret vault.
Over the years, I have hoarded Bible verses, gathering a storehouse of them in my mind. I can recall more than one occasion when the memorized Word of God rescued me from sexual temptation. It was as though God pulled down an imaginary shade between the other person and me, and inscribed on the surface were the words “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7 KJV). I had committed that verse to memory as a teenager. During times when I felt profound loneliness, Scripture I had memorized rescued me from the pit of depression. Verses like Isaiah 41:10 and 49:15–16, along with Psalm 27:1 and 30:5, have brought me great comfort. — Charles R. Swindoll, Living the Proverbs: Insights for the Daily Grind (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing, 2012).
3. What does it mean to hide God’s Word in your heart?
That is perhaps the best and most comprehensive thing in the whole Bible that describes very, very briefly what your relationship should be to the Word of Truth. To hide something in the heart doesn’t mean less than study it. To hide it in the heart means you are meditating on it, maybe memorizing it, studying it, and thinking about it.
To hide it in your heart means you’re making it part of you. It means it becomes instinctive. It means it becomes part of your very blood. It means that the summons, assurances, and warnings are just part of you. You walk around with them. I remember one incident on one morning. I don’t do this like I should. I hate to use myself as a good example; I really wasn’t. — Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).
4. What benefits come to those who hide God’s word in your heart?
If you get into the Word of God, you won’t sin nearly as much as if you don’t. The Word of God will prevent you from sinning. That’s what David meant again when he said, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11).
The more you are in the Word of God, the more sensitive you become to those things which can lead you astray. It is awfully difficult to spend an hour or two in the Word of God in the morning, and then walk away from that and begin to violate principles that you know are a part of God’s truth. The Word of God empowers you to do the right thing, so you don’t end up violating what you know to be true. — David Jeremiah, Celebrate His Love: Study Guide (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999), 130.
5. Would you say Scripture memory is a means to an end, or an end in itself?
One morning I was studying Deuteronomy. In Deuteronomy, God is talking to the children of Israel saying, “You have a lot of immigrants. You have aliens, people from other countries who live among you. Be kind to the aliens and immigrants among you, for you were once aliens and immigrants in Egypt, and I brought you out.” Later in the day, I was in a line at Gristedes, a grocery store, and it was taking forever. It was a long line, and it wasn’t moving at all. All of us were just so angry.
As I got to about the third from the front, I suddenly realized the reason was the female cashier didn’t know English very well. She was making a lot of mistakes, and I was standing there saying, “Why can’t you even know English?” Suddenly I remembered, “Be kind to the aliens and immigrants amongst you, for you were an alien, and I brought you out.” When I got up to the cashier, I looked at her and said, “Hi,” because accidently, frankly, part of the Word of God was hidden in my heart. It doesn’t happen enough. — Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).
6. How would you explain the value of Scripture memory to a new believer?
Nothing will drive steel into the soul of a believer like memorizing God’s Word. Would you like to sin less than you do? Memorize God’s Word. I love this verse: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 (NIV)
Dallas Willard, professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California, wrote, “Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual life, I would choose Bible memorization, because it is a fundamental way of filling our minds with what it needs. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. That’s where you need it! How does it get in your mouth? Memorization.”
Chuck Swindoll wrote, “I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture… No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified.”
One of the reasons Martin Luther came to his great discovery in the Bible of justification by faith alone was that in his early years in the Augustinian monastery he was influenced to love Scripture by Johann Staupitz. Luther devoured the Bible in a day when people earned doctorates in theology without even reading the Bible. Luther said that his fellow professor, Andreas Karlstadt, did not even own a Bible when he earned his doctor of theology degree, nor did he until many years later. Luther knew so much of the Bible from memory that when the Lord opened his eyes to see the truth of justification in Romans 1:17, he said, “Thereupon I ran through the Scriptures from memory,” in order to confirm what he had found. — Josh Hunt, The Habit of Discipleship (Pulpit Press, 2015).
7. Matthew 4.1 – 11. What was Jesus’ secret to beating temptation?
Most Christians don’t like to hear the “Bible memory” message, but I’m going to summarize here because it is so important in defeating temptation. How did Jesus defeat Satan in the wilderness? By quoting the Word of God. And we can do the same (Matthew 4:1–11). If Jesus relied on Bible memory, do you think it might be good for us as well? One of the best verses I know to memorize as a great checklist for Internet use is Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true . . . noble . . . just . . . pure . . . lovely . . . of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” If you can find a web site that meets those criteria, then stay there all day. If it doesn’t, then you’d better move on in a hurry.
When we hide God’s Word in our hearts the Holy Spirit can bring it immediately to mind when we are tempted (Psalm 119:9, 11). To use computer terminology, some Christians’ hard drives are completely empty—there is nothing stored there for the Holy Spirit to use to help them resist sin. So start downloading the Word today. — David Jeremiah, Family Factor: Study Guide (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003), 96.
8. Do you think Jesus just knew these verses because He was Jesus, or do you think He had to memorize them the old-fashioned way—without and app?
It is obvious He had memorized these Old Testament commands that He effectively used to thwart Satan’s assaults. But it should also be apparent to us that Jesus knew more than a few isolated verses of the Mosaic Law. Rather, His mind was steeped in the Scriptures. If you and I are going to be holy as He is holy, our minds must also be filled with Scripture. In the words of Paul, we must “let the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly” (Colossians 3:16). — Jerry Bridges, The Discipline of Grace: God’s Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2006), 180.
9. How would you respond to a friend who said, “I just can’t memorize”?
That means that you hide the Word of God in your heart. You can remember far more than you think you can remember. In fact, we function by memory. Memory comes with concentration, motivation, and use. Your mind is a marvel, and you can remember far more than you think you can remember as you preserve the Word of God.
My wife enjoys collecting pretty little boxes. Sometimes people will bring her boxes from other countries. They may be intricately carved or covered in jewels. You see one and say, “What a marvelous little box.” Then you open it up to look inside. Do you know what’s inside that beautiful little box? It contains things like rubber bands, paper clips, toothpicks, or an old breath mint. Your mind is like that box. God gave you a marvelous mind, and you’ve got all this junk in it. — Adrian Rogers and Steve Rogers, What Every Christian Ought to Know (Nashville: B&H, 2012).
10. Have any of you used a Scripture memory app? Who can give us a report?
Best Bible Memory Apps
Our Winner: Scripture Typer Bible Memory
https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/app/bible-memory-scripture-typer/id496790833?mt=8&at=1000l6oGPlatform: Android; iOS: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch
File Size: 13.9MB
Seller: Millennial Apps, LLC
Cost: Free / Premium version recommended. $9.99
If you’ve been meaning to start memorizing Scripture, the Scripture Typer Bible Memorization System is where it’s at. You can type verses out, use flash cards, create drawings, make collections, and set review intervals. You can also sync with your other devices, and on the upgraded version of this amazing app, you can record yourself speaking the verse. Customer reviews say it all; just check out how much the users love this app, and you’ll have every reason to download it then and there.
The Runner-Up: Fighter Verses
https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/app/fighter-verses-memorize-bible/id411711646?mt=8&at=1000l6oGPlatform: Android; iOS: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch
File Size: 7.1MB
Seller: Children Desiring God
Cost: $2.99
Fighter Verses is another great Bible memorization app that offers handy features like daily alerts and customizable settings, making Bible memory attainable for anyone, even children. It’s perfect for anyone who’s serious about hiding God’s Word in their heart. http://www.theologydegrees.org/best-bible-app/
11. Let’s brainstorm practical ways we can make Scripture Memory a part of our lives. Let’s make a long list of practical ideas to help us hide God’s Word in our heart.
It is also very important to commit Scripture to memory. Many wonderful Bible memorization helps are available. Once Scripture is ingrained in your memory, it will always be there to use. There will be times when that verse or passage you memorized will pay great dividends. It will bring comfort to your heart, as well as needed strength in a time of intense temptation. We’re told in Psalm 119:11, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Although it is good to carry a Bible in your briefcase, pocket, or purse, the best place to carry it is in your heart!
In Deuteronomy 11:18–20, God tells us, “Commit yourselves completely to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands as a reminder, and wear them on your forehead. Teach them to your children. Talk about them.… Write them.…”
The best way for me to remember things is to write them down. When I write something down, it is engraved more deeply into my memory, much deeper than if I only read it. I might not even have to refer to what I wrote. Writing something down seems to help the material enter my mind and gives it more “staying power.” It is a good practice to keep a journal or notebook with your Bible. When you study the Scripture and a passage speaks to you, write down what God has shown you. Maybe it won’t be useful right at that moment, but the next day or a month later it may be just what you need. — Greg Laurie, New Believer’s Guide to Effective Christian Living (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2002), 47–48.