As a teen, it’s easy to feel like no one understands you, and sometimes even like you may not matter as much in the church because of your age. This is why it’s the job of those discipling youth to show them how important they are. We can achieve them by using God’s word to show them their importance and encourage them.
What are good Bible verses for youth to memorize? Inspiring verses for youth to memorize are: 1 Timothy 4:12, 2 Timothy 2:22, Ephesians 3:17-19, Ephesians 4:29,Ephesians 5:1-2, Luke 2:42-43, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Exodus 20:12, Romans 8:1-2, Romans 10:9-10, Romans 15:13, Proverbs 3:5-6, Jeremiah 29:11, Deuteronomy 31:6, 1 Peter 2:9, Philippians 4:13, Isaiah 40:29-31, Psalm 119:9-11, 1 John 2:14, Mathew 18:1-5, 1 Thessalonians 2:4, Psalm 144:12, Psalm 71:5, Ezekiel 16:60, and Ecclesiastes 12:1.
The following verses will help you inspire your youth and remind them of their identity in Christ.
1) 1 Timothy 4:12
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
This verse is one of the most inspiring verses for teens because it encourages them that they still have a role in the church, and are to help inspire their elders as well. Knowing this verse will also be a tool that you can use when they feel undervalued by others.
2) 2 Timothy 2:22
Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Different desires begin to fill your mind that you haven’t yet experienced before as a teen. Sometimes this can cause your youth to stumble or feel alone in their thoughts.
Memorizing this verse will give help them redirect their thoughts when those desires creep back in and set their minds on Christ.
3) Ephesians 3:17-19
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
This verse will help your students to ground themselves in God’s love and remind themselves of His love whenever needed.
God’s love is difficult for our human minds to fully comprehend because it is the only true love one can obtain.
4) Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Gossip is something that we all fall into at some point, but is even more prominent for teens. If they have this verse in the back of their minds it will help prevent them from falling into the temptation to gossip, and it will be a good example for them to tell their friends as well.
5) Ephesians 5:1-2
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
This verse will help remind students of how to act in their daily lives and to walk in the freedom that God has given them. It will also help them to remind themselves daily of the most selfless act that ever took place, Christ’s crucifixion. Reminding themselves of this will help them to be less selfish and more selfless.
6) Luke 2:42-43
When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.
Though from first look this verse may not appear to be incredibly inspiring, it can mean so much to a teen when we dive deeper. Though Jesus’ time at the temple is a very good story, what we want to focus on in this verse is how old Jesus was.
This helps Jesus to feel more relatable to teens when they remember that He wasn’t always in His 30’s, but instead went through the teen years as well.
7) 1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
When temptation begins to creep in we can feel alone and even at times like we won’t be able to resist it, especially as a teen. This verse however will reassure them that. they are not fighting off their temptation alone, and that God will always provide a way out.
8) Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Most teens may be opposed to memorizing this verse at first because it’s usually the opposite of what they want to do. However, it will help them when they come into conflict with their parents and be more obedient to this commandment.
9) Romans 8:1-2
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Our sin leaves stains not just on our hearts, but also on our minds causing us to sometimes feel overwhelmed by our sin. As a teen this is how I felt quite a bit, but once I began to really believe that Christ had set me free I was renewed.
Reminding your youth of this verse and helping them embed it into their minds will do the same.
10) Romans 10:9-10
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Memorizing this verse helps your teens to be reminded that if they apply this verse they are saved. It will also encourage them to share the gospel with others since this verse commands them to profess their faith.
11) Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
On days when it feels like we’ve lost all hope or feel uncertain about everything happening in our lives, this verse is a great reminder.
Your youth will be reminded of the hope they have in Christ and it will help replace whatever fear they may be feeling with peace.
12) Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Pride is a huge thing as a teen, in fact, most of us look back at ourselves and say that we thought we knew everything. This verse will help them to humble themselves by leaning on God and His abounding knowledge.
13) Lamentations 3:20-24
I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
Though sin is overwhelming and consumes our mind, the Lord never fails to have compassion on us and redeem us. He is always good and brings new blessings every day.
Remembering this will inspire your students to keep pushing forward even when times are hard, and for the Lord to be their portion.
14) Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Without God, it is easy to allow fear to consume our lives and prevent us from being effective workers in His kingdom. With God though we have the ability to be strong and courageous in every situation because He is always with us.
15) 1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Though there are times that teens and everyone feel as though we don’t matter, we can be encouraged that our heavenly father specially chose us for a great purpose. He cares for us and because of Him we are pulled from our sin into a life of freedom.
16) Philippians 4:13
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
As humans we are weak even if we want to believe we can do things by ourselves, we cant. Philippians 4:13 will help remind your students of where their strength actually comes from and to lean on Him.
17) Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
There are times as teens that we even stumble and fall, even if we feel invincible. This verse not only reassures them that it happens to everyone, but also that they will soar once they put their hope in God.
18) Psalm 119:9-11
How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
The beauty of God’s word is that there are so many instructions within it to apply to our lives. This verse gives teens instructions on how to stay on the path of purity, why also inspiring them to be obedient to all of God’s commandments.
19) 1 John 2:14
I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
This verse is inspirational to the entire body of Christ because it addresses each one, and shows that no one is more important than the other. It also reminds us that through Him we have defeated the enemy.
20) Mathew 18:1-5
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.
And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Though teens will be offended if you call them children, they are closer to the age of children than adults. This verse shows the beauty in having childlike faith and will inspire your teens to focus on keeping their childlike wonder of God throughout their lives.
21) 1 Thessalonians 2:4
On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.
It’s easy to focus on pleasing your friends, parents, grandparents, and even pastors as a teen, but that is not who we should be aiming to please. Our focus should be on pleasing God.
22) Psalm 144:12
Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.
This scripture talks about the result of youth after having time poured into them by other believers. It’s inspiring for youth to know how beautiful of a creation they are while also seeing how much they are able to grow after being poured into.
23) Psalm 71:5
For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.
Psalms 71:5 is another greater reminder for your students to put their hope in the Lord and keep it within Him throughout their entire lives.
24) Ezekiel 16:60
Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.
The covenant this verse is speaking of is the promise to God’s people that He is committed to them and will remain faithful.
This covenant extends to us as followers of Christ and is a good verse to have to reside in our brains so that we will not forget it.
25) Ecclesiastes 12:1
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”
This verse shows the importance of why we should be raising up our youth as disciples of Christ and teaching them to memorize His words so that they stay with them. Memorizing this will help build a foundation for all of the other verses because it shows the importance of remembering our heavenly father.
It is important that you not only help your students memorize these verses but also understand them. Without any understanding, the verses will have little meaning even if they have it memorized. We know God’s Word and understand it, so it’s important that we help our youth to do the same.