"I used to have difficulty memorizing a verse in the past, but now I can memorize an entire chapter!" This effective method, which has garnered praise from believers, is referred to by the local church pastor as the "Scene Memorizing Technique".
Recently, I participated in a scripture memorization event. The first session began with a review of the scripture learned in the previous Bible study. A woman in her fifties, surnamed Li, took the initiative to stand up and respond; although there were some pauses and errors, she managed to recite it correctly. She was quite pleased, saying, "I am usually a very shy person and cannot even memorize a phone number, but now that I have learned this, I remember all of it".
The second session was titled "Scripture Analysis". The pastor first introduced the content of the activity to those participating for the first time: the four gospels collectively recorded Jesus performing 35 miracles, and Apostle John selected and recorded seven of them. This Bible memorization series and learning utilizes the scene memorizing technique to learn and memorize the accounts of these seven miracles. This time, we focused on John 4:46–54, where Jesus healed the official's son.
Next, around 50 participants among the congregation were paired in twos. The pastor in charge divided the passage into three segments, the first one providing background information about the main characters, time, and place; the second one involving dialogues between characters; and the third revealing the outcome. "Regardless of how it was divided, they were required to recite according to their designated segments."
Then, the participants were to ask questions about the scriptures, such as "Why does it say Jesus came 'again' to Cana of Galilee?" "Why is it described as 'going down' from Galilee to Capernaum to the official's house?" "What illness did the official's son have?" "The official asked Jesus to heal his son, but why did Jesus respond, 'Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe'?" "What is the difference between the two miracles Jesus performed in Cana?"
The pastor addressed each question one by one. His responses covered not only geographical locations like Galilee, Cana, and Capernaum, which are unfamiliar to most believers, but also explanations of the scriptures. For instance, in the Gospel of John, the term "miracle" is translated in English as "sign," indicating a symbol or sign, and the two miracles in Cana were two signs. The miracle at the wedding in Cana demonstrates Jesus' ability to transcend qualitative transformation, while the healing of the official's son displays Jesus' capacity to transcend time and space. All of these point to one message: Jesus is the Christ.
The activity then progressed to the third segment, where, in pairs of two, the students took turns attempting to recite the scriptures.
From there, we entered the final phase of the activity: reenacting the entire Bible story through a dramatic performance based on context. Based on the characters (Jesus, the official and his servant, and the narrator), groups of four were to participate in a "group acting competition."
In one performance by a group of young sisters, the narrator spoke with clear diction and vivid storytelling, like a professional presenter. Later inquiries revealed she had a major in broadcasting! In another group, the brother playing the role of Jesus turned and picked up a broomstick as if it were a staff, lifted his head high, chest out, and stroked his beard while speaking, to act like a teacher or old man. However, the pastor jokingly remarked that Jesus was only about thirty years old at the time, still a young man, far from this portrayal. In another group, the character "the official's son" was temporarily added. One brother played both parts, portraying both the official seeking assistance and the sick man writhing in bed before Jesus saved him. Towards the end of the scene, the official thanked Jesus, and when the narrator read, "He and his whole household believed," everyone instinctively responded, "Amen."
Finally, the pastor reminded the participants to recite it in the WeChat group during the week to remember it better.
This innovative form of teaching and learning helps believers master the Scriptures, which is the most fundamental and important spiritual food in our life of faith, thus making the church healthier and more powerful.
-Translated by Nonye Nancy
“我之前啊，背一节经文都难，现在能背一章！”这个让信徒争相称颂的好方法被当地教会牧者称为“情景记忆背经法”。
近日，笔者参加了一次背经活动。第一个环节先来复习背诵上次学习的经文，五十多岁的李姓女基督徒站起来回应，虽然有些许磕绊和错误，但竟然都顺着背了下来。她相当高兴，“平时我是很害羞的啊，连一个电话都记不住。现在学习了这个，脑子里都记得。”
第二环节为“经文解析”。首先由牧师向第一次参加学习的信徒介绍活动内容：四福音书共记载耶稣行了35个神迹，使徒约翰挑选其中7个记载成册。此次系列背经学习即利用情境记忆法学习并背诵这七个神迹的记载，本次进行到约翰福音4章46-54节，耶稣医治大臣的儿子。
接下来，全场50人左右两两一组成为搭档。带领的牧师把这篇经文分为3个段落，比如第一段交代主要人物、时间、地点等背景信息；第二段为人物对话；第三段为结果。“不管怎么分，之后会按照你的分段去背诵。”
接着学员要针对经文提出问题，比如“为什么说耶稣‘又’到了加利利的迦拿？”“为什么从加利利到大臣的家里迦百农是‘下去’？”“这个大臣的儿子患了什么病？”“大臣请求耶稣医治他的儿子，为什么耶稣的回答却是‘若不看见神迹奇事，你们总是不信’？”“耶稣在迦拿行的两件神迹有什么不同？”
牧师对此一一回应，其回答所涉及的内容，不仅包括加利利、迦拿、迦百农的地理方位等为大多数信徒所不知的圣经知识。也有经文讲解，如约翰福音中“神迹”的英文不是miracle而是sign，即记号，两个迦拿的神迹是两个记号。迦拿婚宴的神迹显示耶稣的能力可以超越质的变化，而医治大臣儿子的奇迹则显示耶稣超越时空的能力。这些都指向一个信息：耶稣就是基督。
随后活动进入第三环节，在两人小组内，轮流尝试背诵经文。
自此，便要进入活动的最后一环：用情境表演的方式再现整段圣经故事。根据段落里的人物（耶稣、大臣、大臣的仆人）以及旁白，按照四人为一组，进行“小组表演赛”。
一个年轻姊妹组的表演中，旁白者口齿清晰，娓娓道来，堪比专业主持人，后来一问，果然是播音专业毕业！另一小组中，只见扮演耶稣的弟兄转头找了跟扫帚棒假作拐杖，昂首挺胸，边说话边做抚须状。不过被牧者调侃耶稣当时不过才三十岁，还是青年，远远不是这个形象。还有一组临时添加一个角色“大臣的儿子”，为此一个弟兄一人分饰两角，不仅表演病人在床上呻吟又因耶稣得救的场景，同时扮演大臣向耶稣求助。当小情境接近尾声，大臣感谢耶稣，而旁白念到“他和他全家就都信了的时候”，大家不由自主地应道：阿们。
最后，牧师提醒大家，要想记得牢还不要忘了周中在微信群里背诵打卡
这种寓教于乐的创新形式，帮助信徒掌握经文这一我们信仰生活中最基础也最重要的属灵食粮，从而令教会也更健康、更具有活力。
寓教于乐，事半功倍——记一场别开生面的背经活动
"I used to have difficulty memorizing a verse in the past, but now I can memorize an entire chapter!" This effective method, which has garnered praise from believers, is referred to by the local church pastor as the "Scene Memorizing Technique".
Recently, I participated in a scripture memorization event. The first session began with a review of the scripture learned in the previous Bible study. A woman in her fifties, surnamed Li, took the initiative to stand up and respond; although there were some pauses and errors, she managed to recite it correctly. She was quite pleased, saying, "I am usually a very shy person and cannot even memorize a phone number, but now that I have learned this, I remember all of it".
The second session was titled "Scripture Analysis". The pastor first introduced the content of the activity to those participating for the first time: the four gospels collectively recorded Jesus performing 35 miracles, and Apostle John selected and recorded seven of them. This Bible memorization series and learning utilizes the scene memorizing technique to learn and memorize the accounts of these seven miracles. This time, we focused on John 4:46–54, where Jesus healed the official's son.
Next, around 50 participants among the congregation were paired in twos. The pastor in charge divided the passage into three segments, the first one providing background information about the main characters, time, and place; the second one involving dialogues between characters; and the third revealing the outcome. "Regardless of how it was divided, they were required to recite according to their designated segments."
Then, the participants were to ask questions about the scriptures, such as "Why does it say Jesus came 'again' to Cana of Galilee?" "Why is it described as 'going down' from Galilee to Capernaum to the official's house?" "What illness did the official's son have?" "The official asked Jesus to heal his son, but why did Jesus respond, 'Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe'?" "What is the difference between the two miracles Jesus performed in Cana?"
The pastor addressed each question one by one. His responses covered not only geographical locations like Galilee, Cana, and Capernaum, which are unfamiliar to most believers, but also explanations of the scriptures. For instance, in the Gospel of John, the term "miracle" is translated in English as "sign," indicating a symbol or sign, and the two miracles in Cana were two signs. The miracle at the wedding in Cana demonstrates Jesus' ability to transcend qualitative transformation, while the healing of the official's son displays Jesus' capacity to transcend time and space. All of these point to one message: Jesus is the Christ.
The activity then progressed to the third segment, where, in pairs of two, the students took turns attempting to recite the scriptures.
From there, we entered the final phase of the activity: reenacting the entire Bible story through a dramatic performance based on context. Based on the characters (Jesus, the official and his servant, and the narrator), groups of four were to participate in a "group acting competition."
In one performance by a group of young sisters, the narrator spoke with clear diction and vivid storytelling, like a professional presenter. Later inquiries revealed she had a major in broadcasting! In another group, the brother playing the role of Jesus turned and picked up a broomstick as if it were a staff, lifted his head high, chest out, and stroked his beard while speaking, to act like a teacher or old man. However, the pastor jokingly remarked that Jesus was only about thirty years old at the time, still a young man, far from this portrayal. In another group, the character "the official's son" was temporarily added. One brother played both parts, portraying both the official seeking assistance and the sick man writhing in bed before Jesus saved him. Towards the end of the scene, the official thanked Jesus, and when the narrator read, "He and his whole household believed," everyone instinctively responded, "Amen."
Finally, the pastor reminded the participants to recite it in the WeChat group during the week to remember it better.
This innovative form of teaching and learning helps believers master the Scriptures, which is the most fundamental and important spiritual food in our life of faith, thus making the church healthier and more powerful.
-Translated by Nonye Nancy
Account of an Unconventional Scripture Memorization Activity
