I believe if you commit yourself to read, meditate on, and memorize one verse a week for the next year, you will gain the understanding of Scripture you wish you had.
That’s a lofty statement considering there are 31,103 verses in the Bible.
You don’t have to rely solely on my claim. Mark E. Moore, scholar, former professor, and current pastor, states in his book, Core 52, that understanding each of these verses will enable you to master dozens of other verses that reflect the same biblical principles. Many other verses will begin to make sense by starting with these first 52.
You may have heard of the Pareto principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, where 80% of results come from 20% of the effort. That’s the idea for the next year—to give you 52 of the most foundational verses to understanding Scripture so you can then build a lifetime of Biblical literacy.
Do you want to gain confidence in your Biblical knowledge? Mark Moore says that by carving out 15 minutes a day for these verses you will know the vast majority of what every pastor preaches.
He said he wrote the book Core 52 for those who are busy and don’t know where to start in understanding the Bible to build a firm framework for ambassadors of Jesus Christ to serve our world that is hungering for truth that transforms.
“It’s not designed to make you smart; it’s designed to make you effective. Those who move from Bible curiosity to Bible confidence are far more likely to engage their gifts in service to others for God’s glory. Bible confidence fosters social engagement, acts of compassion, and community transformation.”
If that’s what you want, then please join others on this journey to transform your mind.
If you’re unsure, give it a try for a month and see what you think. And if you struggle with memorizing or read the material and have questions afterward, shoot me an email and let’s discuss. Or find an accountability partner or group to help you stay on track with your memorization.
Understanding the Bible isn’t just important, it’s critical.
As Moore writes:
“You’re more needed now than ever. Our culture is reeling from the demise of biblical literacy. As you gain confidence, you’ll find yourself at the epicenter of God’s solution in your own circle of influence. God has designed you uniquely for such a time as this.”
I couldn’t agree more, which is why I’m inviting you to spend the next year memorizing Scripture, gaining a deeper understanding of the Bible, and preparing to share truth and defend biblical misunderstandings.
Each week I will send an email highlighting a chapter from Mark Moore’s book. I highly encourage you to purchase the book and read along, taking advantage of his deeper insights.
But you don’t need the book to participate and benefit from memorizing and understanding God’s Word.
If you do purchase Core 52 and read along, use the weekly emails as a supplement to your study.
Either way, know that many others are joining you in memorizing God’s Word each week.
