Memorize Scripture

How to memorize John 15:1–8

John 15:1–8 is 8 verses. Learned a verse a day, a line at a time (25 lines in all), it takes about 11 days.

Spoken by Jesus to his disciples on the night before his death, after leaving the upper room. The picture is a vineyard: a vine, its branches, and the gardener. "Abide" (or "remain") is the key word.

John 15:1–8 in 25 lines

Berean Standard Bible (public domain). Learn a verse by adding one line at a time.

1. 15:1
   1. “I am the true vine,
   2. and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard.
2. 15:2
   1. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit,
   2. and every branch that does bear fruit,
   3. He prunes to make it even more fruitful.
3. 15:3
   1. You are already clean
   2. because of the word I have spoken to you.
4. 15:4
   1. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you.
   2. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself
   3. unless it remains in the vine,
   4. neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.
5. 15:5
   1. I am the vine and you are the branches.
   2. The one who remains in Me, and I in him,
   3. will bear much fruit.
   4. For apart from Me you can do nothing.
6. 15:6
   1. If anyone does not remain in Me,
   2. he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers.
   3. Such branches are gathered up,
   4. thrown into the fire, and burned.
7. 15:7
   1. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you,
   2. ask whatever you wish,
   3. and it will be done for you.
8. 15:8
   1. This is to My Father’s glory,
   2. that you bear much fruit,
   3. proving yourselves to be My disciples.

How to memorize it, five minutes a day

1. One phrase at a time. Read the first phrase aloud twice. Cover it and say it. Uncover it and check every word.
2. Add the next phrase only when the first comes easily, then say the two together. Keep joining until the verse is whole.
3. Come back tomorrow and say it before you look. Rate yourself honestly: got it, needed help, or practise again.
4. Space the reviews. Each time you recall it without help, wait longer before the next review: a day, three days, a week, a month.
5. Say the whole passage once a week so the verses stay joined, not just memorized one by one.

King James Version

¹I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. ²Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. ³Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. ⁴Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. ⁵I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. ⁶If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. ⁷If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. ⁸Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.