Why memorize the Bible?In our information-saturated society, with so many details to take in, the idea of memorizing Scripture can seem overwhelming--like one more task on a checklist. But pastor Joshua Choonmin Kang has discovered what happens when we do spend time memorizing God's Word: we grasp a larger, truer picture of God. We more closely and more often imitate Christ. We worship God "in Spirit and in truth." We're better able to fulfill God's mission.However, Pastor Kang also knows that memorizing Scripture isn't easy. The process itself, like the transformation it brings, doesn't happen overnight. Scripture by Heart is therefore his help for your growth in this important practice. He offers here



- 30 short devotional readings that motivate you to memorize God's Word

- spiritual practices interspersed throughout that teach you how to memorize

- specific help for persevering when you feel stuck or overwhelmed

- a step-by-step approach that roots Scripture in your mind and heart

There is no substitute for God's Word and no shortcut to having it dwell in us. But there is help here for the journey. Pastor Kang's words and wisdom can guide you into a new relationship with the living Word, and the God it reveals.



Dallas Willard (1935–2013) was a renowned teacher, an acclaimed writer and one of our most brilliant Christian thinkers. He was as celebrated for his enduring writings on spiritual formation as he was for his scholarship, with a profound influencein the way he humbly mentored so many of today's leaders in the Christian faith. His books include The Divine Conspiracy (a Christianity Today Book of the Year), The Spirit of the Disciplines, Hearing God, Renovation of the Heart, and others.



Joshua Choonmin Kang (ThM, Talbot School of Theology) is founding pastor of New Life Vision Church in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles, California. He is a speaker and has written books such as Deep-Rooted in Christ and Scripture byHeart. Pastor Kang is also the author of thirty books in Korean, including God's Grace That Turns the Life Around, with over 1.5 million copies in print.



Foreword by Dallas Willard



Introduction



1 Bearing Fruit Through Meditation



2 Tasting the Sweetness of the Word

Practice: Take Small Steps



3 Understanding the Bible as a Whole



4 Forming a Biblical Value System

Practice: Don't Back Out



5 Sharpening the Mind



6 Acquiring Wisdom

Practice: Sharpen Your Focus



7 Dipping into Wisdom



8 Cultivating the Affections of Our Hearts

Practice: Find the Right Environment



9 Overcoming Anxiety



10 Enjoying Peace

Practice: Divide and Conquer



11 Strengthening the Heart



12 Improving the Power of Learning

Practice: Get It Right the First Time



13 Developing Concentration



14 Strengthening the Will

Practice: Use Index Cards



15 Cultivating Ourselves



16 Parenting Wisely

Practice: Arrange by Topic



17 Nurturing Disciples



18 Maturing as a Teacher

Practice: Make a Habit of It



19 Dialoguing Well



20 Offering Spiritual Counsel

Practice: Determine Topic, Reference, Word



21 Becoming an Evangelist



22 Living in Faith

Practice: Planning Our Memory Schedule



23 Overcoming Temptation



24 Finding Victory in Spiritual Warfare

Practice: Understanding What We Memorize



25 Prevailing Prayer



26 Preparing for Spiritual Difficulty

Practice: Meditationfor Transformation



27 Transforming Trials

Practice: Memorize with an Eye on Use



28 Receiving Divine Guidance

Practice: Memorize for Recollection



29 Becoming God's Instrument

Practice: Aim for Mastery



30 Fulfilling Your Mission

Practice: When Memorization Bogs Down



Conclusion: Meditating on Psalm 1



Appendix: Favorite Passages for Memorization



"I encourage you to get Kang's book and let it help you with hiding God's word in your heart."



"This is a wise book, practical, winsome, and above all communicating a vibrant love for God and his Word."



"Joshua Choonmin Kang helps us to appreciate and appropriate the power for transformation into Christlikeness that comes from knowing the Scriptures 'by heart.' He gives us encouraging words about the many good effects of memorization, and excellent instruction upon how to go about memorizing the Scriptures. If you will absorb his teachings and do what he says—adapting it to your personal circumstances and making it a persistent part of your day-to-day life—then you will experience the renewal of your mind and undergo the transformation of your life which everyone knows should come from following Jesus closely. Grace will see to it. The Word of God which is 'living and powerful' (Hebrews 4:12) will form you in the likeness of Christ."



"Kang may have given us the best primer now available on the practice, significane, and hidden depths of 'treasuring God's Word in our hearts.'"



"Scripture by Heart is a good start to becoming more familiar with the Bible. This guide is more than a list of easy steps; it delves into why and how we should memorize God's Word."



"Kang does not mean simply memorizing an occasional verse or two. He means committing to memory long sections—entire books, even—of scripture. Kang believes that the practice of memorizing portions of the Bible can promote significant spiritual growth."



"Scripture by Heart comes from a pastor who has discovered the benefits to memorizing scripture—and who provides here some 30 short devotional readings and spiritual practices connected to the memorization process. From focusing and setting goals to setting memorization deadlines, this offers a fine connection between concentration and higher forms of thought."



"If you need to be encouraged to memorize scripture, Scripture by Heart is a good prod. Its 30 short devotionals focus on the importance of memorization for spiritual health and, to a lesser extent, the how-to's of doing it."



"A great introduction to the joys and challenges of memorization."