Hey friends,
This morning, I took a few minutes to recite part of the Sermon on the Mount—not all of it, but just enough to keep it fresh. I don’t do it every day, but I try to go back to it often. Because even though it’s been a few months since I memorized the whole thing, I don’t want to forget what it did in me.
A Surprise Email from Across the Country
A few days ago, I got an email from someone named Scott. He lives in Connecticut and recently felt prompted to start memorizing Scripture, specifically, the Sermon on the Mount. He started in Matthew 6, made it to verse 13, and then went to Google for some help. He stumbled across an article I had written about my experience and decided to reach out.
Honestly, that email meant a lot. Scott wanted to know if I had a method for memorization because, in his words, he was kind of winging it. His message brought me right back to when I started this journey myself.
How It Actually Started for Me
Here’s the truth: I had every intention of starting early. Like, months in advance. But January rolled around, and all I had was the Beatitudes. The first sermon in the series was only a month away, and I had a choice to make: slowly ease into it… or buckle down.
I chose to buckle down. And by God’s grace, I memorized the entire Sermon on the Mount in a month.
Now, I’m a pastor, and studying the Bible is part of my job. But this went way beyond that. I memorized most of it in my off hours—late nights, early mornings, swapping out Netflix or podcasts for Scripture memory. It was challenging. It was messy. And it was one of the most spiritually rewarding things I’ve ever done.
So, Here’s What Helped Me
If you’re thinking about doing something like this, or you’re already in it, here’s what helped me:
- Print It Out
Either a copy of the passage or a photocopy of the Bible page. Something you can carry, mark up, and refer to anywhere.
- Write It by Hand
There’s something powerful about writing Scripture. It slows you down. It shows you what you know—and what you don’t.
- Move Around
I paced a lot. I’d walk in circles, repeat lines aloud, and let the rhythm of the text settle into my mind and heart. And sometimes, I’d just stop and pray mid-memorization because a line would hit me that hard.
- Involve Others
Once I felt more confident, I asked others to help check my memorization. I gave them a printed copy and had them mark spots I missed, without interrupting me. And the cool part? They got immersed in the passage, too.
It’s Not About Perfection
Look, it doesn’t have to be perfect. I didn’t get every word right when I recited it for the first time in front of our church. But that’s not the point.
The point is: God’s Word does something to you when you let it in deeply. Even now, months later, I still catch myself whispering parts of it during the day. It anchors me. Convicts me. Lifts me.
So if you’re memorizing or thinking about it, keep going. Even if you don’t finish the whole thing, God will use what you do learn to shape you. You’re hiding His Word in your heart, and that’s never wasted.
Be Encouraged
For all of you who’ve started this journey. I’m praying for you and cheering you on. And for anyone else considering this journey, I’ll drop the link to the message where I recited the sermon from memory. It’s not perfect, but it’s one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever done.
Let’s keep letting Jesus’ words form us as we are equipped and encouraged to trust in Jesus, become like Jesus, and do as Jesus did.
Mark Deering
Lead Pastor
Epikos Church