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How To...
Memorize a Verse

• Read the verse several times to get the meaning.
• Start with the topic and reference, "Assurance of Salvation, John 5:24," and say it several times with the first phrase of the verse.
• Then when you can say that by heart, add the next phrase, and say the topic and reference together with both phrases.
• Continue phrase by phrase until you can say the entire verse from memory.
• Then each time you review the verse, state the topic, the reference, the verse, and the reference again at the end.
• By repeating the reference before and after the verse, it helps you remember the location of it in the Bible.

The key to successful Scripture memory is daily review. Review the verse every day until it becomes part of you. Carry cards with you so that they are handy for use during your spare time. Scripture memory can become a lifetime habit that will give you blessing and strength as you learn to apply the verses to your life.

Timothy Training: Lesson Five

To Do:

Bring a Friend to Jesus

The Bible tells the story about 4 leprous beggars who lived in a city where the people were starving. The city was surrounded by a strong army, and there was no food left even in the king's household. So the beggars reasoned among themselves, "If we stay in the city, we will die of hunger. Come, let us go into the camp of the enemy, the Syrian army. If they save us alive, we shall live; but if not, we are going to die anyway."

So the four beggars went by night into the enemy camp to beg for food. What they did not know was that the Lord had visited the enemy camp that night and terrified the soldiers, who fled in panic to escape death and left everything behind. So when the beggars arrived at the enemy tents they found vast quantities of spoils--food, clothing, gold, silver.

They thought, "Aren't we lucky! Let us eat and drink and gather all these treasures for ourselves." And so the beggars banqueted on the food and drink. They discarded their rags for expensive clothing. Then they entered a tent and gathered silver, gold and valuables which they hid in the ground outside. They went into another tent to gather more riches for themselves.

Suddenly one of the beggars said, "Fellows, we are doing wrong. Here we are eating and gorging ourselves while the people in the city are starving and dying. They do not know the Lord has defeated the enemy. They do not know God has provided all these things. If we delay here until sunrise, God will judge us. Come, let us go and tell the city that the Lord has brought salvation." Thus the beggars became messengers of the "good news" and the city was saved.

This true story, recorded in 2 Kings Chapter 7, is a vivid allegory showing our duty to share the message of the Good News of Salvation with others who are without this knowledge.

The gospel of salvation is not just for us, so we can selfishly enjoy all the blessings of God, but it should flow through us to others. As Christians we should not be like a sponge soaking up God's goodness ourselves, but rather like a channel through which the gospel flows freely to others.

The Apostle Paul stated, "I am a debtor." He had a great burden upon him after receiving God's salvation. To whom was Paul in debt? Not to God, because salvation is free! Jesus freely died on the cross for our sins and we freely receive Jesus by grace through faith. But Paul was in debt to people who had not heard this gospel. Paul said, "Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel of Christ." It is our sacred duty and obligation to tell others about Jesus.

How do we do this? We can begin by making friends for the purpose of introducing them to Jesus. How do we make friends? The Bible says, "A man that has friends must show himself friendly" (Proverbs 18:24).

There are numerous examples of personal witnessing in the Bible. First is the example of Jesus himself. To the horror of the hypocritical religious leaders, Jesus was a friend of "publicans and sinners." The common people flocked to hear Him gladly. Little children came to sit in His lap. Sometimes He would ask a simple favor of someone, as He did with the Samaritan woman by the well, when he asked her for a drink of water.

In this world today, there are many people who are lonely for friendship. Reach out and make a friend. The Great Commission commands us to go into the world to witness for Jesus.

Jesus prayed that His disciples might be "in the world but not of the world" (John 17:14-16). Our lives as Christians should be different from those in the world. The New Testament gives clear instructions that we should walk lovingly and blamelessly in the midst of a crooked and perverse world (Philippians 2:15,16).

So we make a friend and treat him with love and kindness. But don't stop there. Bring that friend to Jesus. The disciple Andrew brought his brother Peter to the Lord. Andrew did not preach many sermons and did not get the promise that Peter did, but he brought Peter to Jesus. Begin now. Invite a friend to your Church, to your youth fellowship or to a gospel meeting.

Complete the Following Bible Study

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