Good Complaints
No one loves to receive complaints but when they come, lowering your anxiety, embracing your humanity, and increasing your curiosity does help. I did none of that last Sunday when a 10 year old boy approached me and said, “I have something to say about this church!” I stood in shock, fear and trepidation while he unleashed. The centre of the complaint?
Nigel, the memory verses on the Colossians cards are not long enough!
Over the last term as we studied Colossians, our kids and youth have received a card each week encouraging them to read, discuss, pray and memorise the Scriptures themselves, with friends, with family and with their leaders. The cards have been hot property but the real gem here has been that if you come back the next week with the verse memorised, you receive an exclusive gold card to add to your set. It’s been amazing. The Year 4 boys I lead on a Friday have been seriously motivated to get stuck into the Bible. It’s been wonderful.
But evidently not totally wonderful as one boy wanted longer verses! How absolutely delightful. That is a good complaint.
I have heard some great stories about the Colossians cards. Whole families have been memorising verses. Leaders have been harassed when they forgot to do the memory verse themselves. There are verses written on bathroom mirrors, car windows and placemats at the dinner table. One Sunday morning I got two parents up on stage and they knew the verses too. And I heard that one young person decided to memorise the whole book of Colossians! Brilliant!
Do you know, Bible memorisation was very popular 30 years ago before we had the entire Bible on our phones and in our pockets. From one perspective it is an unnecessary art now but from another, it offers great potential for Christian growth and mission.
When you memorise parts of the Bible it shapes your thinking and heart and promotes deep inner transformation. Over decades, hidden verses snowball in impact, challenging sin, sharpening conscience and cultivating Christlikeness through continual exposure to Jesus and his word. It also enriches your prayer life as you learn biblical language for prayer in all of life’s situations.
Equally, when you memorise parts of the Bible it prepares you to give a reason for the hope you have in Christ (1 Peter 3:15). Knowing key gospel verses like John 3:16 will help you explain the good news of Jesus. Memorising whole Bible stories like the prodigal son will help you explain more fully what God is like. And of course, memorising Jesus’ own words is a wonderful way to help others delight and rejoice in Jesus.
So our season with the cards is almost over but I wonder if a season of Bible memorisation might be on the cards for you?
