In my college dorm, each door was adorned with a large magnetic whiteboard facing the interior halls. The purpose of this whiteboard was to leave information or encouraging notes for your neighbors. Often you’d find a favorite Bible verse, song lyrics, a doodle, or note letting friends know you’d travelled home for the weekend. My door, however, rarely had witty messages or useful information. Most days throughout my freshman and sophomore years my whiteboard was cover in scribbles of Koine Greek. Now, before you go thinking I was some scholarly theologian sharing my wealth of ancient knowledge with my nineteen-year-old peers, I should add that these were in no way cohesive sentences. They weren’t full sentences at all. Rather, they were random words frantically written in chicken-scratch Greek lettering, legible—I’m sure—only by me.
My whiteboard wasn’t used for communicating to friends, it was mostly used for studying. Again, not nearly as noble as it sounds. The words were frequently abandoned on the board because mostly days I was in a frenzy to cram as much in my brain before rushing out to an exam. So why bother with the whiteboard when I’m in such a hurry? Well, it was the only thing that worked for me. Learning a new language, especially an unspoken language, is challenging. The only way I could seem to store and recall the words was by writing them over and over as I read index cards containing their meaning.
You probably have a similar story to mine. Maybe you recall writing out spelling words in grade school, making handwritten copies of class notes, or writing out passages of Scripture to memorize. Or maybe you’re just picturing Bart Simpson repeating punishments across a classic green chalkboard. Whatever your experience has been, we can all attest to the connection between writing and retention.
Like me and Greek, many teens struggle with studying the Word. This struggle is often attributed to not understanding the Scriptures or what God is speaking through them. The Foundations devotional series helps teens study the Word and remember it by combining a reading plan, devotional, and journal into one resource. As they read through this plan, they are guided by devotional content and encouraged to journal what they are learning utilizing the H.E.A.R journaling method of Highlighting, Explaining, Applying, and Responding to passages. The Foundations series contains the original key scriptures resource, a New Testament resource, and a just-released New Testament resource designed just for teen girls.
Check out this sample and see how you can help students begin studying and retaining Scripture.
Emily Allen serves as a Marketing Strategist on the Lifeway Students team. She is a Nashville native and loves exploring the great outdoors surrounding the city. Outside of work you can find her rearranging furniture (again) or hiking local trails with her husband, Dane, and their two dogs.
