I lifted a cup of chai latte to my lips and gently blew across its rising steam. Two college girls sat across from me at our local coffee shop. All three of us were excited about our plans for the upcoming school year. We had decided to read through the New Testament and to meet weekly to share what we were learning.
As the conversation turned to Scripture memory, a ball of anxiety bobbled in my stomach. The New Testament reading plan we had chosen also included a plan to memorize the Sermon on the Mount. The whole thing. In one year. Surely committing Matthew 5, 6, and 7 to memory was impossible. Once upon a time, memorization came easy for me. In the days before cell phones, I had committed to memory a plethora of random ten-digit numbers that would connect me to family and friends. But that was decades ago. Nowadays, I can’t always access the part of my brain where something as basic as my kids’ names are stored.
Tilting the latte to my lips, I savored the cardamon, ginger, and cinnamon flavors then settled the cup back on the table. “You know we don’t have to memorize the Sermon on the Mount like this says,” I pointed to the reading plan and quickly added, “We could just go through an assortment of verses on the Christian life instead. You know, about things like prayer and temptation.”
“Oh, let’s memorize the Sermon on the Mount!” Delight danced in Carly’s eyes. “Our youth pastor had us memorize the Beatitudes in high school. It was soooo good.”
She emphasized her last few words with glee.
Please, Lord, no, I silently pleaded.
“I would love that,” Emma chimed in.
Excitement bubbled in their voices, but a lump formed in my throat. How could I possibly turn down two college girls who wanted to memorize the Sermon on the Mount? I swallowed the lump and mustered as much cheer as I could. “All right. That’s what we’ll do. We will memorize the Sermon on the Mount.”
That year, I picked my way through the first half of Matthew 5. The next year, I met with a new group of college seniors and memorized the rest of Matthew 5. Now, two years later, I’ve added Matthew 6. So, no, I didn’t actually memorize the whole Sermon on the Mount in one year. In fact, I’m still working on it. But that afternoon in the coffee shop, I embarked on one of the most significant journeys of my life.
Even though I didn’t keep the pace suggested in our reading plan, Carly and Emma’s exuberance invited me to do something that seemed impossible. As I have read, studied, and recited the Sermon on the Mount for over two years, the moments of my day have become increasingly anchored to the Jesus who loves me and gave himself for me.
Most of all, Jesus’s Sermon has shown me how different his kingdom is from anything I know or expect. Today, I’m not the same woman that I was when I sat across from two college seniors sipping chai in the coffee shop. I thank God for using Carly and Emma to push me out of my comfort zone. Here are three unexpected ways memorizing the Sermon on the Mount has changed my life:
1. Quoting long passages of Scripture is humbling. Knowing my tendency toward forgetfulness, I aim for word-perfect recitation. But that rarely happens. Most of the time, I show up to my discipleship group after a long day of meetings with an empty brain. Asking for the first few words to get going isn’t exactly impressive. And then requesting more prompts to continue . . . well, it’s rough. Having others hold me accountable to Scripture memory is a lot like living the Christian life. It’s not meant to be impressive or perfect. When done right, Scripture memory reminds me of my weaknesses, connects me to my Savior, and brings me abiding joy that doesn’t depend on my abilities and accomplishments.
2. Memorizing the Sermon on the Mount is changing the fabric of my thoughts. William Blake said, “We become what we behold.” So many ideas and objects compete for my affection. My social media feed gives me many things to behold. Within a few minutes of scrolling Facebook, I’m on Amazon looking for the perfect basket for my living room or some gadget for my kitchen. Memorizing the Sermon on the Mount is doing for my heart and mind what social media does: it is changing the things I long for and pursue. This is a slow process, but I notice it is happening. And what richness it is bringing! The kitchen gadget that was supposed to simplify meal prep doesn’t live up to my expectations. The jeans the model wore while twirling through a beautiful courtyard don’t inspire me to pirouette through my day. Jesus’s words that life is more than food and the body is more than clothing resonate as I put the gadget in my giveaway box and prepare to return the pants. In Jesus, my heart’s longings are finding the satisfaction that I crave.
3. The Sermon on the Mount connects to other Scripture in powerful ways that deepen my understanding and help me to live out God’s gracious truth. The seeds that the Lord spoke on the mount took root in his disciples as they sat and listened. Now when I read letters in the New Testament written by his disciples, I see the framework of Jesus’s Sermon just below the surface, undergirding everything they did and taught. For example, Peter didn’t forget how Jesus emphasized that we are so much more than the clothes we wear (Matthew 6:25-34). Later Peter wrote that imperishable beauty doesn’t come from clothes but from a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:3-4). His words encourage me to shift my focus away from hoping that a new outfit will make me look slimmer and more vibrant. Instead, his words inspire me to examine the behaviors that I choose to adorn my moments. That is just one example. As I continue to memorize the Sermon on the Mount, I’m amazed at the depth and simplicity of God’s word and its strong power to change me.
Memorize with me
How about joining me on this life-changing adventure? I’ll be sharing visual aid reels on my YouTube channel. Also, if you sign up for my weekly email, every Monday you’ll get a link to my newest YouTube reel along with encouragement and nuggets I’m discovering as I delve into the Sermon on the Mount.
My prayer is that over time what seems impossible will change the fabric of our lives. And word by word, verse by verse, we will learn more about the unexpected wonders of following Jesus.
Such practical encouragement to invest time in memorizing the Words of Life!