Memorizing scripture is a spiritual discipline that we encourage every D-Group to be committed to. It should be included in discipleship accountability along with reading God's word, prayer, and personal evangelism. Scripture memory has many benefits. It strengthens our prayer lives, making them more in line with God's will. It helps us engage others with apologetics, and witnessing. As stated in the Psalms, it helps us fight sin and walk in the spirit, "I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." (Ps. 119:11)
But I personally have found it most beneficial when I endure heartache and pain. Recently my beloved grandmother passed away. It was something that we were preparing for as she has been rapidly declining in health for some time. She was a woman of God who loved the scriptures and demonstrated faith by following Jesus. This gives us much confidence that though she is absent from the body she is present with the Lord. (2 Cor. 5:8) Nevertheless, death always has an unusual sting. God didn't create us to die, so it is difficult to have a category to process it. I loved my grandmother deeply, she was the backbone of our family, and we were extremely close. When you lose someone like that, or go through some other painful experience, cultural clichés such as, "everything happens for a reason" or "God will never give you more than you can handle" simply do not comfort. What comforts is God's enduring word. Truths from scripture that you have taken the time to store away in the reservoir of your heart to draw from during hard times. Over the past week scripture memory has served so well to bring comfort to me. The Holy Spirit gave me passages to lead my family in several powerful moments of prayer. He brought to mind timely passages for counseling and encouraging others on the spot. One of the more special things I've ever experienced was the day before she passed. I sat at my grandmother's bedside, turning to scripture after scripture, reading God's word to her. The passages I read were all passages that at some point I had memorized as a source of comfort for suffering. These were a balm to my own soul as well, anytime I was by myself and thinking.
"This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life." (Ps. 119:50)
It was the work put in before the week of our loss that I was able to lean on as a present help in time on need. I humbly share this as an encouragement to memorize God's word with your D-Groups. Make scripture memory a staple part of investing in men and women that God gives you. Talk to them about it's benefits. Challenge them to do it. Model it yourself. A life of following Jesus will have no shortage of tribulations (John 16:33). Equipping people with the discipline of putting God's word to memory will not only help them in their current sanctification, but their future faith in hardships. You can find a worksheet for teaching scripture memory to your D-Group at www.highview.org/discipleship under the resources tab.
5 Inspiring Stories about Daily Evangelism
Listen to the these short videos featuring 5 different women of God, who seek to intentionally share the gospel and make disciples in their daily lives.
https://www.crossway.org/articles/5-inspiring-stories-about-evangelism/