Memorizing your National Bible Bee Competition memory passages might sound straightforward enough, but what should you look at when it comes to studying them? Knowing how to study your memory passages adds another layer to your preparation for the National Bible Bee Competition, and more importantly, deepens your understanding of what you are committing to memory. Below, you will find several important things to keep in mind when it comes to studying your NBBC memory passages. These study categories can also be applied to other aspects of your competition preparation, and not just the memory passages.
Study Materials
Before looking at our areas of study, here are a few materials you may find useful to keep close by as you study:
- Notebook or flashcards. You will want your memory passage studies in a dedicated place that makes review and organization easy.
- Different colored highlighters and pens. This will further organize and keep track of the different areas of your study.
- Study Bible and/or Commentary. These usually contain background information, cross-references, notes, maps, and further insight to deepen your study. There are many great ones out there that you can find for versions utilized by the National Bible Bee. It is alright to use a good quality study Bible that is in a different version from what you memorize in, or that is different from the versions chosen by the National Bible Bee Competition (make sure to memorize from the official memory passage cards found on your family dashboard).
- Dictionaries. Some great ones include Easton’s Bible Dictionary and Vine’s Expository Dictionary. There are many more to choose from. You may recognize these as dictionaries you may have utilized during the NBB summer study.
Of course, I have to mention that blueletterbible.com is an incredibly useful resource. This website can serve as your dictionary, commentary, study Bible, cross-reference finder, and more all in one! If you can’t get your hands on a study Bible, commentary, or dictionary, or if you just prefer utilizing a digital platform, this is definitely something to have ready to use when studying.
Now it is time to look at a few specific areas of study to keep in mind as you dive deeper into your memory passages. For each of these points, there is so much that can be studied. It’s up to you to decide how deep to go and which findings to prioritize most! It is best to focus on what you think are the most important things in the areas of your memory passage study, and then, if you feel inclined and have the time, you can go back and dig deeper. These areas of study can also be utilized when it comes to studying your National Bible Bee Competition study passages.
Content
Grab the next memory passage on your list and give it a slow and careful read through. Even if you’re pressed for time, taking extra minutes to deeply focus will serve to help you really think through its meaning. This can also aid in committing the passage to memory, if it is one that has not been memorized yet.
To go the extra mile and work toward solidifying your memory of the passage content, write the passage by hand to further instill it in your mind. This forces you to take the time to think through the study material, not just as a way to memorize the information, but as a way to meditate on God’s Word and reflect on the Scripture you are reading.
You can then proceed to make notes on the theme(s) and message of the passage, and compare it to other components of your studying. Oftentimes, the memory passages will correlate to your study passage (in this case, Proverbs 3-4; Matthew 5-7), the study theme (this year, Thrive), or other memory passages! Sometimes they can provide helpful background or insight on these other elements of the study, as well. Take note of what you deem most important for you to remember and review.
Context
Next, open up your Bible and start looking at the surrounding verses. It can be tricky to know how far out to go. Look for nearby verses that provide more clarity and expound on what is included in the memory passage. Oftentimes, the context of a passage is a continuation of the content. It can also give us important information regarding who is speaking, where the events in the passage occur, and more.
Remember that context moves across the headings and chapters you see in your Bible. If your passage starts at the beginning or end of a chapter, remember to look at the chapter before or after. Note down a quick summary of the before and after, then include any valuable information you find that further backs up or adds explanation and background to what is in your memory passage.
Background
Here is where you can ask some questions and fill in any gaps that the context left you with. Some things to think about could include the people, places, and events that are directly mentioned or heavily related to your memory passage. Looking at the author and recipients can also provide you with some great background information. You may also want to take a quick look at the purpose behind the passage. Is it from an epistle for new believers, a song of praise for a congregation, a warning for a neighboring city, or a prophetic word? These could all be useful to know when deepening your understanding of a passage.
Geography can also add to your background study. Finding a map that includes the places mentioned in the content and/or context of your passages will be helpful in understanding their proximity or direction from each other. There are also maps that show the geography at the time the verses were written, and then compare it to the geography of today. It is very interesting to see what has changed and what has remained similar over time!
If you are especially interested in the people and places mentioned in your passages, you can take it a step further and take a look at name meanings as a bonus study activity. Name meanings are usually quick to find! A great resource is Hitchcock’s Bible Names Dictionary found on blueletterbible.com. If you cannot find a name meaning there, sometimes Vine’s Expository Dictionary or Easton’s Bible Dictionary contains them, too. Many people in the Bible were named with a distinct purpose and meaning in mind that either connects to the circumstances of their birth, a prophecy, or character qualities.
Looking at biblical and historical context to further understand characters and events you come across when learning your memory passages is another way to deepen your study. As with everything listed here, you will have to decide for yourself how deep and far you will go with your study. You may not want to spend too much time on the details!
Cross-references
Another important area of study is cross-references. You have had some experience during the summer study with cross-references. During the national study season, participants now have to search for cross-references on their own. Finding the right cross-references can be very tricky, and it is easy to go down a rabbit hole and find more than you need. It can be hard to know which cross-references are most useful, or which to leave out of your memory passage study.
Oftentimes, you can find a list of cross-references in the corner or footnote of your Bible (especially in a study Bible) or on online Bible study resources. The three most important types of cross-references to look for and take note of are parallel passages, quotes/citations, and direct cross-references to your NBBC study passage. If you don’t have much time for cross-references, focus on these the most and note their correlation, writing down the most applicable portions of the text. Remember, you do not have to memorize your cross-references, but it is important to know the overlapping content and how it relates to your memory passage or study passage.
That wraps up an overview on how to study your memory passages. I hope you will find this breakdown helpful when preparing for the National Bible Bee Competition, and that you can take away some things to utilize in your personal study and devotional time outside of the competition, as well.
If you are searching for more ideas or have additional questions regarding studying for the National Bible Bee Competition, I recommend logging into your account on NBB Social Community (a private community available to registered families) and reaching out on there. There are plenty of alumni, seasoned participants, hosts, and parents of contestants who love to exchange ideas.
Happy studying, and always remember to keep your eyes on the Lord as you continue to prepare. May you be blessed through your study of God’s Word!
Written by NBB Alumna: Emma Fernandez
