30 Short Bible verses for kids to help them develop a love for God’s Word
Hiding God’s Word in our heart can do a world of good when we are in need of some Biblical truths to keep us firmly rooted in our faith. Whether we’re seeking encouragement, battling temptation, or feeling anxious, these God breathed words of hope will never fail us.
I began to see the value of encouraging my five year old son to memorize short Bible verses for kids while having a conversation with him about a month ago.
Although my husband and I have been faithful to read the Bible and pray with our children from the time they were very young, we have not been so faithful in encouraging them to memorize Scripture. Yes, here and there. But not with the gusto that we should.
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My little man has many strengths (as all children do), but unfortunately memory isn’t one of them. I am ashamed to say that I never actually thought he could successfully memorize Scripture at this point in life, so I never asked him to try.
I would share God’s Word with him over and over, but I never took the time to explain to him the importance of truly treasuring God’s Word. I never taught him of the value of memorizing it for himself, so it could easily come to mind when he needed it most.
A recent basketball practice changed all of that.
30 Short Bible Verses For Kids
My son started playing in a Christian basketball league this winter. It’s been a wonderful outreach to the community and the coaches are given the opportunity to share the hope of Jesus with children who may never hear it otherwise. During practices the players are encouraged to memorize short Bible verses for kids as they’re taught character qualities.
My son’s passion for basketball collided with the Biblical truths he was learning and he became excited to memorize Scripture! He came home one evening telling me that we should “show proper respect to everyone” (1 Peter 2:17). I heard those words more than a dozen times the following week. It was just short enough that he could memorize it, and the meaning was clear enough that it stuck.
Since that day I’ve been reminded that our children are capable of so much more than we often give them credit for. I decided to start teaching my son to hide more of those verses in his heart too.
So whether you’re looking for easy bible verses to memorize or inspirational bible verses for kids I hope that the list below is a help to you. Depending on the age and ability of your child you can opt to go for the entire verse or break it down into shorter sections.
Here are 30 short Bible verses for kids to memorize. (All verses are in ESV).
1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
Matthew 5:44
“…Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”
It’s important for children to understand that not everyone is going to be their best friend. At times they will be mistreated which prompts our sinful hearts to react in anger, bitterness, or unkindness.
Kids need to understand that, as followers of Jesus, God calls us to forgive. Jesus even takes this a step further and commands us to pray for our enemies.
John 3:30
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
In a world that encourages us to place ourselves first we’ve got to be intentional in teaching our young children that this message is completely contrary to God’s Word. Life is not about us, but about a merciful Savior. We need to put Him first and learn to graciously serve those God has placed in our lives.
1 Peter 2:17
“Honor everyone…”
If you have young littles and are looking for a very short Bible verse, this one is a great place to start. A child is never too young to begin learning the importance of showing respect and honor to others.
James 1:19
“…let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger…”
Proverbs 15:1
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Ephesians 4:32
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
This is one of my favorite short bible verses about kindness. It clearly explains the importance of forgiveness alongside kindness and reminds us all of the amazing grace and forgiveness of our Savior. My son is currently working on memorizing this one!
Philippians 2:14
“Do all things without grumbling or complaining…”
This is one that I remind my kiddos of when they’re struggling with negative behavior, but there are many days that it comes in handy for me when it pops into my head too!
Colossians 3:20 (Short Bible Verses For Kids)
“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. “
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1 Corinthians 10:24
“Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.”
Romans 12:18
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.”
1 Peter 5:7
“… casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
As a mom of a certain little man who struggles with anxiety I’ve learned the importance of sharing God’s promises with our children when it comes to their fears and worries. The depth of God’s love for our children is beyond comprehension. In His strength they can learn to lay aside those fears and rest in His goodness.
Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
1 John 5:21
“Little children, keep yourself from idols.”
James 4:11
“Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.”
Proverbs 12:22
“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.”
“Abomination” may be a difficult word for young children to say, but clearly explains God’s hatred of lying. Our hearts are prone to wander and we need to understand the gravity of our sin from a young age.
Proverbs 16:18
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Ephesians 4:29
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up…”
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
If I had to pick just one favorite short Bible verse for kids this would be it! We are living in a culture that encourages our children (and us) to follow their hearts. What their young minds can’t fully grasp is the fact that our hearts can’t always be trusted and can easily lead us astray.
We need to faithfully trust and follow God’s leading and not rely on our fickle feelings.
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Psalm 136:1
“Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
Psalm 118:24
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
2 Corinthians 5:7
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
This short Bible verse about faith is a good reminder for us to continue trusting the Lord even when our circumstances are unfavorable and life doesn’t make sense. He has been faithful in the past and He will continue to take care of those that belong to Him.
Colossians 3:23
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…”
Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother…”
I Corinthians 16:14
“Let all that you do be done in love.”
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 is one of the most well-known inspirational bible verses for kids for good reason. Encouraging our children to memorize this one will remind them of that amazing grace that we come nowhere near deserving.
Galatians 6:9
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Romans 12:10
“Outdo one another in showing honor.”
Honor isn’t something that is spoken of too often anymore, but learning to show respect and reverence for others can go a long way in shaping our children’s character and can help develop a heart of humility within them.
Let’s Be Faithful
Pouring Scripture into our kids and encouraging them to hide God’s Word in their hearts can help them develop a solid Biblical worldview, which can enable them to take a stand for what is right in this ever wavering culture. We need strong children who will rise up to become strong leaders to influence the world around them for Christ.
The majority of these are easy Bible verses to memorize and can stick with us for many years. It’s a known fact that a child’s memory surpasses that of adults. I know from experience that it was much easier for me to memorize Scripture as a teenager than it is as a busy momma.
As a family we’ve also learned over the years how listening to Scripture through song lyrics aids memorization. Hide ‘Em In Your Heart is a super catchy one we discovered in our homeschool curriculum one year and the Scripture Lullabies collection is filled with beautiful orchestra music and soft vocals.
I hope that this list of short Bible verses for kids is a help to your family. Let’s encourage our children to put in a little effort now and see God do a work in their hearts exactly when they need it most.
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