Easy As A B C

I’m currently reading a book called Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. In one section of the book he talks about the power of stickiness and explains a lot about the background of Sesame Street. One reference that he makes is to the alphabet reading by James Earl Jones. You’ve probably seen and heard it over the years. Jones recorded the alphabet by saying a letter then pausing before saying the next. Of course it thundered in his big voice. Originally it was recorded this way so that in the pauses the creators on Sesame Street could insert activity to reinforce the letter. But what they found was that playing it with simply a picture of the letter caused children to start saying the name of the letter and associating it with the letter on the screen. When it was played multiple times children would begin anticipating the next letter, and effectively learn the alphabet from repetition and anticipation.

This has caused me to consider how scripture memory could be done in the corporate worship setting. The catholic church has obviously used the same type of systematic repetition to educate their parishioners. (i.e. Hail Mary, full of grace, etc.) And recently I’ve become aware of Joel Osteen leading his congregation in a recitation about their Bible. (i.e. This is my Bible, etc.) I’ve just been thinking about the opportunity that we have to memorize scripture together that in the tradition of doing church the way I’ve experienced it has been lacking.

I will, in the future, be leading a time of scripture memory with my congregation whenever I’m blessed with the opportunity to lead one. Scripture memory is putting the raw materials into our mind so that the Holy Spirit can use it to make some new for the Kingdom. I think it should have an effect not just in the individual, but in the congregation as well.

Now, if I could just line up some studio time with James Earl Jones to record some passages…

--Ben