100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart

by Robert J. Morgan

Clearer thoughts, steadier nerves, healthier emotions, purer habits, happier homes, greater respect, and eternal optimism are the rewards promised in "100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart."

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Religion, Faith, Christianity, Reference, Theology

391 pages, ebook

First published September 1, 2010

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently decided to buy this one. I had been thinking about buying it for a couple of years at least. I don't regret my decision. I found the book to be well-organized, practical, and substantive.

In the first part of the book, Morgan shares WHY believers should memorize Scripture. He concludes this section by sharing ten tips for HOW to memorize Scripture. His list begins with, "First, make up your mind you can memorize just one verse. That’s all. Just one. (Of course, if you can memorize one verse, you can memorize two.)" I believe Morgan is familiar with excuses and knows how intimidating the idea of memorizing verses can be.

In the second part of the book is the heart of the book. In this section, Morgan shares one hundred Bible Verses that he believes everyone should know by heart. These are arranged into categories.

Beginnings: The Bible's Fantastic Four (Genesis 1:1, John 1:1, John 1:14, John 3:16)
The Roman Road: The Plan of Salvation (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, Romans 10:9, Romans 10:10)
Listening: The Word of God and Prayer (2 Timothy 3:16, Joshua 1:8, Psalm 119:11, Deuteronomy 6:6, Deuteronomy 6:7, Hebrews 4:12, Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 5:14, 1 John 5:15)
Assurance: Inner Peace and Security (1 John 5:11, 1 John 5:12, John 14:1, John 14:2, John 14:3, John 14:6, John 14:27, Isaiah 26:3, Isaiah 53:5, Isaiah 53:6)
Praise: Worship and Thanksgiving (1 Peter 1:3, Psalm 100:4, Psalm 100:5, Revelation 4:11)
Promises: Verses to Stand On (Matthew 6:33, Romans 8:28, Jeremiah 29:11, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 1:9, Proverbs 3:5, Proverbs 3:6, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Psalm 55:22, 1 Peter 5:7)
Holiness: Obeying God's Commands (2 Chronicles 7:14, Romans 12:1, Romans 12:2, Romans 12:11, Romans 12:12, Romans 12:18, 2 Corinthians 9:7, Hebrews 10:25, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 15:1)
Fullness: The Holy Spirit's Role In Our Lives (Ephesians 5:18, Ephesians 5:19, Ephesians 5:20, Ephesians 5:21, Galatians 5:22, Galatians 5:23)
Joy: God's Kind of Happiness (Psalm 118:24, Philippians 4:4, Philippians 4:5, Philippians 4:6, Philippians 4:7, James 1:2, James 1:3, James 1:4, James 1:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Faith: Trusting God and Resting (Ephesians 2:8, Ephesians 2:9, Ephesians 2:10, Galatians 2:20, Colossians 3:15, Colossians 3:16, Colossians 3:17, Romans 1:16, Romans 1:17, Psalm 56:3, Psalm 4:8, Hebrews 11:6)
Sent: The Great Commission and Our Global Task: Matthew 28:18, Matthew 28:19, Matthew 28:20, Acts 1:8)
The Twenty Third Psalm: The Lord is My Shepherd (Psalm 23:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Alpha and Omega: The First and Second Comings of Christ (Isaiah 9:6, Luke 2:10, Luke 2:11, Luke 2:12, Acts 1:11, Revelation 21:1, Revelation 21:2, Revelation 22:20)

Each chapter in this section focuses on the verse itself. What the verse means in its context, how it is interpreted. Why the verse was chosen, or, why it's important for us to know it and live by it. Each chapter generally shares a few quotes by famous writers about the verse. I was impressed by the organization and layout of each chapter. The book is very practical.

For example,

In memorizing John 1:14, take time to study the entire passage, using this outline as a guide. 1. Jesus is the God who made us (1:1–3). He is God, existing from the beginning and through whom all things were made. 2. He is the life who sustains us (v. 4a). In Him was life! 3. He is the light who illumines us (vv. 4b–5). His life is our light. It shines in the darkness, and the darkness can’t overcome it. 4. He is the message who excites us (vv. 6–9). John the Baptist testified about Him, and so can we. 5. He is the Savior who redeems us (vv. 10–13). All who receive Him and who believe in His name are given the right to become children of God. 6. He is the friend who dwells among us (v. 14). He pitched His tent here and tabernacles among us. 7. He is the Lord who surpasses us (v. 15). John the Baptist said of Him, “The One coming after me has surpassed me, because He existed before me.” 8. He is the Son who blesses us (vv. 16–18). No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son has revealed Him, and from the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another (v. 16 NIV).

The book concludes with an appendix for further tips on memorizing Scripture.

Favorite quotes:

Scripture memory is our most powerful tool in changing our habits of thought, and the internalized truths of God’s Word keep us mentally healthy. It’s the greatest secret I know to personal resiliency. It molds our thoughts, and our thoughts shape our lives; for as we think in our hearts, so we are.

Bible verses, committed to memory and applied by the Holy Spirit, are the most powerful medications in the whole world. They’re a balm for sore hearts, an elixir for low spirits, an immunization for bad habits, a booster shot of high spirits, a pick-me-up for dreary days, and a stimulant for positive nerves.

When you’ve memorized Genesis 1:1; John 1:1; 1:14; and 3:16, you have the entire Bible in the palm of your hand. These verses are the four corners of God’s Word.

Only three people in the history of the world have been perfect and sinless, and the first two didn’t stay that way—Adam and Eve. That leaves only Jesus Himself. No one else can ever gain access into God’s presence or eternal life on the basis of one’s own perfections or righteous efforts. We have all sinned and have fallen short of the requirements of God’s glory. We can never be reconciled to God by trying to live a good life, for we are intrinsically, internally sinful; and nothing sinful can exist in the blazing holiness of God’s presence and perfections. Only when we realize this can we fully appreciate what Christ has done for us.

With the possible exception of John 3:16, no other text in Scripture better sums up all sixty-six books and thirty-one thousand verses of the Bible. [Romans 6:23] This is the ultimate Reader’s Digest version of God’s Word. Notice the way the verse is balanced between its two clauses: The wages of sin is death. The gift of God is eternal life.

Beware of getting alone with your own thoughts. Get alone with God’s thoughts. There is danger in rummaging through waste and barren desert-thoughts that can be labeled—daydreaming or worse. Don’t meditate upon yourself but dwell upon God. . . . Make this a built-in habit of daily living.

Little verses, little truths, little insights, shared spontaneously, memorized in the family circle—this is the most powerful technique we have in raising our children in the fear and nurture of the Lord.

If you were a sentence, what mark of punctuation would follow you? Is your life a question mark because you’re without answers? A comma because you’re in transition? A period for everything’s at a standstill? Or a dash because you’re in a continual rush? This verse can put an exclamation point to our lives. [1 Peter 1:3]

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Morgan is a local pastor in my hometown of Donelson, TN and I've enjoyed his other books on Hymn stories. This book was also outstanding, and Robert makes one of the strongest cases for scripture memory I've read in awhile.

If you suffer from anxiety, worry or negative thoughts, this is the book that will encourage you to memorize scripture and to keep at it! There are many other reasons to memorize scripture but if you are looking for a push to help you get started, you will find it here.

I loved the verse selections, the stories and words of wisdom in this book. Another great thing about this book is it's perfect for families to use together- the verses are practical and short enough for kids and adults and many are the favorites I memorized growing up in my church. Highly recommend for any family library!

[Della Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I was deeply inspired by it. The stories were interesting and thought provoking and I thoroughly enjoyed the scripture aspect of it. A must read for anyone wanting inspiration and spiritual healing.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morgan makes his case for the importance of Bible memorization. For each verse, Morgan provides a verse explanation, relevant story, & a relevant quote. The stories are both interesting & inspiring. I was disappointed that Morgan used the Holman translation, however, I will be using the KJV for memorization. Personally, I find the poetical language of the KJV is easier to memorize.I'm intending to read several of the books from the bibliography, starting with "How to Memorize" by William Evans.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is more than just a list of important verses. After forty-seven pages of introduction, Morgan devotes 200 pages to the verses themselves. In the main section Morgan carefully shows how each suggested verse builds on the previous, giving a thorough explanation of the implications of each passage This is essential to Morgan's emphasis that memorization is not just about words remembered, but about truths absorbed. If "Wisdom is seeing life from God’s point of view,” then Scripture memory is a good way to saturate our thinking with God’s way of thinking.

Having returned to Bible memory after many years of neglect I am discovering once again, "First you have the verse and then the verse has you." (p. 44)

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! Not only is this book a guide to memorizing, but it's also like a devotional. And a very good one too! I'm so glad I started my Scripture memory journey! It has helped me so much in my thought life and internal struggles.

[Sverre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can we be inspired by the Bible and put major trust in its guidance WITHOUT acclaiming that its contents was infallibly dictated word-by-word and phrase-by-phrase through its scribes by the All Father God, the Lord of heaven and earth? I say "absolutely." Can we be intellectually true to our own discernment based on academic theological scholarship and research in regard to biblical scripture and still venerate much, or most, of its contents? Again, I say "absolutely." Can we respect and give credibility to authors, like Robert J Morgan, who insist on the Bible having a direct divine Source and it therefore being infallible and (at least for the most part) being literally true? I say "only with wisdom and discernment." (Perhaps I should have inserted the words "spiritually inspired" between "with" and "wisdom" in the last sentence.)

Unlike so many other Christian evangelical writers, Morgan is not being fundamentalistically radical or bombastic. I would recommend this book to all Christians who find themselves anywhere on the theological and doctrinal continuum, from ultra conservative to ultra liberal, who wish to focus on the treasures found in the Bible whether they wish to pursue memorization or not. It offers a tremendous collective resource of scripture verses; not only the one hundred touted in the book's title but hundreds of other ancillary ones, along with sagacious commentaries. On the whole this work offers good advice for anyone who strives to follow Jesus' precepts as they apply to our complicated and conflicted contemporary lives.

Yes, those of us who choose to explore metaphorical and allegorical interpretations more often than literalistic ones may interpret scripture verses and Morgan's annotations more liberally and inclusively than other readers. We may also choose to analyze scriptural meanings in light of the time, place and circumstances of their origin--allowing for them sometimes being the product of the culture and worldview of their time. But such interpretative and analytical thought processes by open minded readers should not detract from the wonderful overall devotional practicality of this book.

[Ken Rothacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not breeze through this book, and I am glad I took my time.
Memorizing Scripture is a time-honored spiritual discipline, and a practice that is mandated within Scripture itself.
In addition to providing the author’s suggestions of 100 verses worthy of memorizing, this book contains discussions, mini-sermons if you will, regarding these verses.
This book could be an excellent source for personal devotions.
There is not a downside to memorizing Scripture.
If you choose to read this book, take your time. No need to rush.
Consider what verses you are led to memorize.
I found this book to be an both an encouragement and a resource in pursuing the discipline of Scripture memorization,

[Andrea Huelsenbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend Linda worked her way through this book a few years ago and recommended it highly. When it came up on a BookBub promotion, I remembered, and ordered it.
The first few chapters of 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know By Heart are about why memorizing Scripture is a worthwhile endeavor and a good discipline, and how people have been blessed by internalizing passages of the Bible.
I made myself index cards of the verses. The first few verses were some that I already knew, so I started by reviewing the first six, and then added one or two verses each day or so. When I had over 26 cards, I found it time-consuming to run through them all everyday (each one I missed, I repeated five times to help me remember), so I limited myself to reviewing 20 a day and learning one more. The ones I got right I moved to the bottom of the stack; the ones I missed I laid on top so I would review them again the next day. Most days I was able to move eleven or twelve to the bottom of the stack.
The book is published by B & H Publishing Group which owns the Holman Christian Standard Bible translation, so that is the translation used for the verses. Unfortunately, I had already memorized some of the verses in other translations, such as the NIV and the old King James Version, and trying to relearn them in the HCSB felt cumbersome. They just didn’t roll off my tongue. I kept messing up, and I finally just rewrote the cards in the more familiar translation.
I think it took me a full year to work through the whole book, because there were times when I couldn’t remember anything, and I just worked on my 20 cards and didn’t add any new ones. That’s okay—it’s not a race.
The end of the book includes a summary of How to Memorize by William Evans, published in 1909 and long out of print. I wish I had read this appendix first. It was extremely helpful, and it included one suggestion I would have appreciated before I began, because I did not think of it myself: writing the reference on one side of the card, and the verse on the other side. It’s such an obvious idea, but I wrote both on the same side. As I flipped through my cards, I covered the verse portion with a blank card and didn’t reveal it to myself until I’d said the verse to the best of my ability. One of the advantages of having the reference on the reverse side is that you can practice the verses in two ways: looking at the reference and reciting the verse, and looking at the verse and reciting the reference. You’d think if you could recite the verse from the reference, you could remember the reference from the verse, but not everyone’s brain works that way. (Mine sure doesn’t.) I am in the process of recopying all my cards.
And I intend to continue to study my cards, and gradually add to them.
It is possible to find lists of the verses online, but I heartily recommend you buy the book, because the content Morgan includes helps you remember the context of the verse, and also provides motivation for learning it. I asked my friend Linda to type me a list of the verses way back when she was learning them, and then I didn’t study it. Sincerely, if you want to memorize scripture, buy 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know By Heart. And since you’ve read about my experience, you won’t make the same mistakes I did.

[David Mccowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Start here if you want to memorize scripture.

Memorizing scripture was my Covid-19 hobby and by God’s grace I’ve kept it up and still enjoy it. I will confess the first part of 2022 was spent just review. My head needed a break. Sometimes I take a detour and memorize a hymn. If someone came to me and said they wanted to get started memorizing scripture this is the book I would point them to. For several reasons:

1. Most books written by people who have a gift for memorization focus on memorizing entire books or long passages. It is clear Morgan has taught people who didn’t think they had the gift or did not have the gift. Morgan places emphasis on taking your time, and sometimes going phrase by phrase instead attempting to swallow the entire verse. While taking a verse out of context is a sin, you don’t need to memorize the entire chapter of every verse. One of my favorite verses, Acts 20:35 has on the flash card (I use anki) “[Paul to the Elders of Ephesus in Miletus]”. I don’t require myself to remember the bits in brackets but I’ve read the card on every review. So of course I know the context.

2. The verse selection here is excellent. Of the 100 verses I’ve memorized 28, most as part of long passages. But again Morgan’s choices shines. Morgan often has the reader memorize paragraphs or 3-4 verse snippets. I didn’t count how often it happens but it is enough to be significant. Among the verses are:

- The Bible’s fantastic 4: Gen 1:1, Jhn 1:1, Jhn 1:14, Jhn 3:16

- Roman’s Road

- Psalm 23

- Php 4:4-7

3. The introduction (quite long) is the second best expositions of why you should memorize verses in the bible. The John Piper video /Eight Reasons to Memorize Scripture/ is better, but only slightly (it is a short video instead of a long exposition). Warning, the introduction switches between translations quite often, often enough to raise an alarm with a serious bible student. Morgan I think does an artful job but when it gets down to the verses Morgan sticks with the CSB and uses the NIV and the NLT only when more clarity might be needed.

4. Each section for each verse includes: the verse in the CSB translation, the context of the verse, an explanation of the verse, an anecdote on the verse or a former saint’s writing on the verse, and then quite often a list of similar verses. The NLT and NIV are referenced when added clarity is needed modeling good bible study habits for someone who doesn’t know Hebrew or Greek or have access to commentaries.

5. The appendix includes of chapter by chapter summary of William Evan’s /How to Memorize/.

I don’t think memorizing scripture is a command but as someone who has done so it is a blessing and can only help in your spiritual walk.

[LAMONT D · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS AUTHOR IS BECOMING ONE OF MY FAVORITES. THIS BOOK IS A WINNER ON MANY LEVELS. FIRST, HE LAYS OUT THE REASONS WHY MEMORIZING SCRIPTURE IS A BENEFIT TO US. SECONDLY, HE GIVES US QUICK LITTLE TIPS ON HOW TO MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE. I FOUND MYSELF MAKING NOTES OF HIS COMMENTS IN MY BIBLE AS HE MADE THE CASE AND TOLD STORIES OF HOW MEMORIZING SCRIPTURE HAS HELPED PEOPLE IN THE PAST. THE SECOND PART ARE THE 100 VERSES THAT HE RECOMMENDS TO MEMORIZE (BASED UPON A SERIES OF SERMONS HE DID WITH HIS CHURCH). OBVIOUSLY, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO FOLLWING HIS SUGGESTIONS BUT I WOULD ADVISE TO DOWNLOAD OR BUY THIS BOOK AND GET STARTED NO MATTER WHAT YOUR AGE. I CERTAINLY CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT VERSES I LEARNED WHEN I WAS YOUNGER HAVE STAYED WITH ME THROUGHOUT MY LIFE.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Senior citizen, I had given up trying to learn new verses telling myself that I am too old. But then I read this book, and I have set my goal to learn all of the verses in this book. Many I already knew and the rest I was very familiar with, but that doesn't make it any easier for me to memorize a long verse. What I found most helpful was the Appendix which shares a condensation of a book titled How To Memorize by William Evans. One of his steps to memorization is analyzing what you desire to memorize. With each verse, Robert Morgan does this for the reader - sharing insights to the verse, tying verses together and offering helpful hints. Anyone serious about memorizing scripture should read this book.

[Ta'Neisha Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated the detail that Mr. Morgan went to explain and empower the reader to memorize scripture. He paid close attention to the concerns that most people would have about their age for keeping their minds on track. The first part of this book is filled with so much helpful information while the latter contains the 100 verses. Reading this has given me a new understanding and excitement about my goal to memorize more passages of scripture in 2020. I definitely recommend a copy of this for each home.

[Nancy Holte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd like to tell you that I did not finish this book because it wasn't any good. But, that would be a lie, and it seems that it would be in poor taste to lie when I'm writing about a book on memorizing scripture. It is actually a very good book, and as I read it I started memorizing some of the most read scripture verses. But, then, as sadly often happens, I got way laid and stopped reading, and memorizing. I'll get back to it someday, so eventually the book will be finished but it was bothering me having it on my reading list when I wasn't really reading it.

[Laura G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este libro llama a la pasión y la urgencia de llenarnos de la verdad, palabras que nos hacen libres al llevarnos a intimar en oración con Dios y caminar en su voluntad.
Cuán valiosas son las promesas de Dios y aun más vivirlas, pues nos libra de la angustia, la ansiedad, la desesperanza que trae la vida o las circunstancias. Un gran manual para iniciar memorizar la palabra y orar con eficiencia.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like verse recommendations for memorizing. I don't like the far too many versions of the Bible used. Some of the stories were interesting, but it got tedious towards the end. I'm glad I read it. I'm glad I finished it, and I will continue to memorize scripture. It's great place to start if one isn't sure where to start.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great devotional

Really enjoyed this devotional. Even did memorize some of the verses. Great short stories and teachings. Also nice short read each day.

[Owen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a thoughtful gift from a friend. It's a good collection of 100 Bible verses, why the author thinks these particular ones are important, and some tips on memorizing.

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

The need to believe and be thankful

The passage helps bring me home, especially when it’s supported by Bonhoeffer who was hung by the nazi thugs at the closing days of WWll

[Pescador · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un buen libro

[David Gamble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really useful for figuring out where to go next with personal and family bible study. It also included tips for helping memorization.

[Sally Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this on audio, which is not the best option. READ IT. Use it, study it, and learn from it. Just don't listen to it in the car. It's too good for that.

[Heather Masten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great reminders and tips for Scripture memory

[Jeffrey Bush · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're interested in the Bible, this book will bee helpful. The author lays out "key" verses and gives great illustrations and explanations of those verses.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

my only criticism is that I don't need 44 pages to convince me to memorize verses. that's why I'm reading it...to memorize verses. Aside from that, all good.

[Rebecca Herold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great motivation and tips for memorizing scripture.

[Stephanie Nall · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Sharif · Rating 2 out of 5]

The verses listed are not especially inspiring and there were too many personal stories. This book may prove helpful to beginner level bible students.

[Kellye · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a looooong time to memorize these verses. And while I cannot say I have them all perfectly by chapter and verse, I CAN say that when I need to be reminded of something God has clearly said in His word, they do pop right into my mind. This was well worth doing, even if it took me over 18 months to do it. I highly recommend this.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot! The first section made a good case for why I should memorize Scripture verses. The author uses interesting illustrations to make his points. The second section dealt with the verses, but gave a brief explanation of the verse and its context. He also gives hints to help remember the verses.