Top 10 Bible Verses for Kids to Learn
What are the most important Bible verses for kids to learn? This can almost be a loaded question! I’m not sure any 2 people would agree on the same 10 verses out of the more than 31,000 verses in God’s Word!
However, it’s important to start somewhere in teaching our children to Hide God’s Word in their hearts (so they might not sin against Him)! So, I am going to give you a short list of 10 bible verses that would be great for kids to learn as they start to memorize Scripture!
The importance of context!
There are so many verses in the Bible, but it’s so important for us to remember that each verse is interlaced with all of the others! This is the beautiful thing about God’s word! Each verse helps explain all of the others!
Cultivating a Relationship
As we are teaching our children these Bible verses, we should read the verses before and after each verse. That way, we can help them to have a better understanding of the full picture of God’s Word and start to learn more about God’s character.
One of my favorite quotes is by Josh McDowell,
Rules without relationship lead to rebellion!
That is why it is so important for us to help our children get to know God’s heart as they learn their memory verses (not just arbitrarily memorize Bible verses)! So that as they grow, their faith and love for God will grow also!
Top 10 Memory Verses for Kids to Learn
God’s Plan of Salvation
1. John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Out of this entire list, this is probably the one verse that most people would agree on being listed first. John 3:16 gives the synopsis of the Bible in this one short verse! If you have older children that already know John 3:16, encourage them to learn John 3:17 also!
Note: If you have a Jesus Storybook Bible, you might use that to help your children learn how the entire Bible revolves around Jesus coming to die for our sins (even before He was born)!
2. Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
It’s important for people to realize that they aren’t different from everyone else… not better, not worse… ALL have sinned! We all need Jesus or we have no hope!
3. Acts 16:31
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
This is what Paul & Silas told the prison guard when he awoke to find the prison doors open (and was ready to take his own life because he was sure all of the prisoners had escaped)! Finding the all there, he was so thankful, and he asked them “What must I do to be saved?”
It’s beautiful how simple it is!
How God Wants His people to Act
4. Matthew 22:37
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
5. Matthew 22:39
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Be sure to explain to your children how these 2 verses sum up the 10 commandments and usher in the New Covenant where God is more concerned with our heart attitude than with just our actions!
6. Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
This is a wonderful memory verse to explain how to treat other, even when they have wronged you!
7. Ephesians 6:1
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
I recite this one to my children often. I want them to understand that God had a plan when He gave children parents. We aren’t to be a jail warden, but a loving (& sometimes disciplining) guide! Go ahead and teach them about verses 2 & 3 also, older children especially may need to learn these short verse as well.
Benefits of Serving God
8. Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
These are my favorite verses in the entire Bible and I think it is so important for us all to remember how important trusting God is!! There are more than 100 verse in God’s Word about trusting Him, and for good reason, every situation in our Christian lives comes down to one question, “Do I trust Him”?
9. Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
There are so many times in our lives that we may feel defeated, or that we can’t go on. That is why this is a perfect verse for all of God’s children to memorize!
10. Psalm 121:1-2
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
Isn’t it awesome to know that we have help!? But even more than that, our help comes from the Creator of all things! Amazing!
Help your children learn who to look to for their help. Mom and Dad can’t always be around, but God can and He hears us and is ready to help us when we call!
Bonus Verse
So, maybe this is cheating a little, adding one more verse into my list of 10? However, this verse will help your children to understand why it’s important to memorize Bible verses!
Psalm 119:11
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
This verse gives our children the why behind what they are doing as they memorize Bible verse! It is to help them hide God’s truths in their hearts so that they may remember them as they go through life to keep them from sin (and heartache).
Other ideas for Memorizing Scripture
If you would like to get a few ideas of how to help your kids learn Bible verses, be sure to stop by this post! There are lots of great ideas there about specific ways to make memorizing Scripture fun & easy!
Also, be sure to download the FREE printable Scripture cards for each verses!
