Keeping track of Bible verses?

[soulsearching1]

As a new Christian, I've obviously started reading the Bible. I am an avid reader and underline stuff and take notes in books all the time- which is what you're supposed to do with the Bible, and I have been doing. But I am just curious as to how to organize the material. What works for you as far as keeping track of various quotes you like, by topic, etc? I know some people color-code, others use flashcards. This would be especially helpful for instances where I want to find a particular quote to send to a friend, loved one or just to remind myself of certain things. Any and all suggestions are welcome, so that I have several options to choose from :)

[snoochface]

One of my favorite tools is an excellent, free Bible software called e-Sword. You can download it, and many Bible versions, commentaries, dictionaries, etc., at http://www.e-sword.net

One of the things it comes with is a tab for "study notes" where you can copy in any verses from the Bible as notes for yourself. You can arrange them by heading, make your own observations and thoughts about them, etc. It's like having a notepad always next to you when you're reading the Bible. I've found it to be very helpful.

When I'm notating a hard-copy Bible, I tend to underline verses and make notes in the margin. That way, when I'm reading the same verses again, I have some notes right there. Sometimes I'll use a post-it note on the page for longer notes that don't fit in the margin.

[DawnTillery]

When I find something in my bible that I want to remember, I take a note card, piece of paper or something and on the very top put what its about (2 or 3 words) - then below that i write the verse number and put it in my bible (sticking out enough so I can quickly see what its about) I have tried writing things down only to find a jumbled mess. (I do keep a journal book with sermon notes in it from services I have been to) Also TRY to memorize some witnessing verses so you dont have to refer back, but know where those verses are so you can easily show them to someone.

This works for me.. I hope you find something to that works for you.

God bless you

[Elijah2]

As a new Christian, I've obviously started reading the Bible. I am an avid reader and underline stuff and take notes in books all the time- which is what you're supposed to do with the Bible, and I have been doing. But I am just curious as to how to organize the material. What works for you as far as keeping track of various quotes you like, by topic, etc? I know some people color-code, others use flashcards. This would be especially helpful for instances where I want to find a particular quote to send to a friend, loved one or just to remind myself of certain things. Any and all suggestions are welcome, so that I have several options to choose from :)
Keep the reference recorded in an Alphabetic Record Book.

[LifeInChrist]

As a new Christian, I've obviously started reading the Bible. I am an avid reader and underline stuff and take notes in books all the time- which is what you're supposed to do with the Bible, and I have been doing.
Excellent IMO!

But I am just curious as to how to organize the material. What works for you as far as keeping track of various quotes you like, by topic, etc? I know some people color-code, others use flashcards. This would be especially helpful for instances where I want to find a particular quote to send to a friend, loved one or just to remind myself of certain things. Any and all suggestions are welcome, so that I have several options to choose from.

Like Snoochface, i would also recommend any good Bible software like E-Sword for quick reference of Bible verses based on a topic or with a Search facility where one can search the much-needed Bible verses with word(s) in case we do not remember them immediately.

I would also agree with what DawnTillery has suggested "Also TRY to memorize some witnessing verses so you dont have to refer back, but know where those verses are so you can easily show them to someone" when needed.

Apart from the above i would suggest the following Bible verses which remind us of keeping the Spirit-Inspired Scriptures within our hearts.

Psalms 119:11 - Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

2 Corinthians 3:3 - Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

When the Spiritual Truths go into our hearts with the correct understanding then it produces the much-needed transformation in our inner being and the Life of Christ would be manifested in our lives. This kind of inner-transformation takes time as we grow in the knowledge and understanding of the Word and as we learn to apply the Truths that we understood in our life.

Just like we eat the food which we need to chew and then it goes into the stomach and needs to be digested before it becomes a part of our flesh, in the same way the Spiritual Truths of the Bible need to go into our hearts after some meditation in our mind and need to become a part of our being.

The Lord Bless you.

[Elijah2]

Hi SS1,

I've some verses for you to read, and also pray the prayers that are listed with them. I am sorry the posting is long. I pray that they are a blessing. Now the verses are from the CEV, which gives a simple explanation of GOD's WORD, and it's more truthful and user friendly than any other paraphrased version. Still read these verses in conjunctions with other Bibles that marry up with the Authorised version (KJV), such as Geneva Bible (1590), NKJV, and NASB, beware of others, because many are misleading, and distort HIS INSPIRED WORD.

SCRIPTURAL VERSES TO MEMORISE

GUIDANCE:

Most new Christians always ask about the future, wondering how their new life is going to work out. We can ask, “What about God's Will for our life”, or “Will HE really lead us”?

Well the following verses will give us our "Assurance of Guidance":

"With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgement. Always let HIM lead you, and HE will clear the road for you to follow" (Prov. 3:5-6).

DEFEAT, WORRY and FEAR:

"Together you are the body of Christ. Each one of you is part of HIS body" (1 Cor. 12:27).

"Don't let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good" (Rom. 12:21)

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and I am the body of Christ, and Satan has no power over me, because I overcome evil with good, in Jesus’ Name. AMEN

“Children, you belong to God, and you have defeated these enemies. God’s Spirit is in you and is more powerful than the one that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4).

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and I am of God and have overcome Satan and his forces, because HE that is in me, is greater than he that is in the world, in Jesus’ Name. AMEN

“I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won’t be afraid. You are with me, and your shepherd’s rod makes me feel safe” (Psa. 23:4).

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and I will fear no evil. You are with me, Lord. Your Word, and Your Spirit comfort me, in Jesus’ Name. AMEN

“You will be built on fairness with no fears of injustice; every one of your worries will be taken far from you” (Isa. 54:14).

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and I am far from oppression, and fear does not come near me, in Jesus’ Name. AMEN

“Weapons made to attack you won’t be successful; words spoken against you won’t hurt at all” (Isa. 54:17).

“They are like trees growing beside a stream, trees that produce fruit in season and always have leaves. Thos people succeed in everything they do” (Psa. 1:3).

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and no weapons made to attack me will be successful. But, whatever I do, I will prosper, for I am like a tree growing by rivers of water, in Jesus’ Name. AMEN

Christ obeyed God our Heavenly Father and gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sins to rescue us from this evil world” (Gal. 1:4).

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and I am delivered from evils of this world, for it is the Will of God, in Jesus’ Name. AMEN

“…no terrible disasters will strike you or your home. God will command HIS angels to protect you wherever you go” (Psa. 91:10-11).

“Follow the road to life, and you won’t be bothered by death” (Prov. 12:28).

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and no evil will fall upon me or our house. God’s angels protect us, and my pathway is life and there is no death, in Jesus’ Name. AMEN

“Obey God’s messages! Don’t fool yourselves by just listening to it” (James 1:22).

“Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all flaming arrows of the evil one” (Eph. 6:16).

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and my faith will quench every fiery dart that Satan and his forces brings against me, in Jesus’ Name. AMEN

“Yet God raised Jesus to life! God’s Spirit now lives in you, and HE will raise you to life by HIS Spirit” (Rom. 8:11).

“I’ll give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, and God in Heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth. But HE won’t allow anything that you don’t allow” (Matt. 16:19).

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and I forbid any sickness or disease to come upon my body. Every disease, germ, and virus that touches my body dies instantly. I command every organ and every tissue of my body to function in the perfection to which God created it to function. I forbid any malfunction in my body, in Jesus’ Name. AMEN

“Our people defeated Satan because of the Blood of the Lamb, and the Message of God. They were willing to give up their lives” (Rev. 12:11).

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and I overcome Satan and his forces by the Blood of the Lamb, and the Word of God, in Jesus’ Name. AMEN

“Surrender to God1 Resist the devil, and he will run from you” (James 4:7).

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and I am submitted to God, and I resist you Satan and your forces, in Jesus’ Name. AMEN

“Our Lord, you are eternal! Your Word will last as long as the heavens” (Psa. 119:89)

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and Lord, You are eternal, and Your Word will last forever, in Jesus’ Name. AMEN

[soulsearching1]

Thanks for the quotes and prayers, Elijah2! I appreciate it!

[paigesmommy]

As a new Christian, I've obviously started reading the Bible. I am an avid reader and underline stuff and take notes in books all the time- which is what you're supposed to do with the Bible, and I have been doing. But I am just curious as to how to organize the material. What works for you as far as keeping track of various quotes you like, by topic, etc? I know some people color-code, others use flashcards. This would be especially helpful for instances where I want to find a particular quote to send to a friend, loved one or just to remind myself of certain things. Any and all suggestions are welcome, so that I have several options to choose from :)
I do not even no where to begin reading the bible i pretty much just go to church and learn from there i have no idea whre to start could any one please help? thank you so much

[soulsearching1]

I do not even no where to begin reading the bible i pretty much just go to church and learn from there i have no idea whre to start could any one please help? thank you so much

Not that I'd be of much help because I'm new to this, but someone told me, when I first started reading the Bible, to start with the Gospels and the rest of the NT, since that's where the "meat" of Christianity is- that is, the teachings of Jesus. So I read through the NT and go back to passages and stuff that I liked. Then I went back to Genesis and am just going through. But I am an avid reader- I have a Masters in Literature and am able to digest a lot of material very quickly. Plus, I like to get through a book to get the overall gist and then go back and study specific passages, chapters, etc.

You might also want to try getting involved in a Bible study- they generally focus on specific books of the Bible at a time.

[Desperate4You]

I do not even no where to begin reading the bible i pretty much just go to church and learn from there i have no idea whre to start could any one please help? thank you so much

I started at Genesis 1:1 and just kept going. I found it more interesting than any other book I've ever read. The history of "God", if you will, is first, then of Israel, then the writings of the prophets (what they wrote - much of it is happening today). The NT contains the gospels which are about Jesus and salvation and then the letters which help us to live a Christian life. Finally, Revelation which describes that which is to come.

Sometimes the easiest way to start is .... just to start! :)

:hug: