35 Bible Verses Pastors Should Memorize

What Bible verses should pastors memorize? Every pastor will be in situations where they need to quote a Bible verse on the spot. You’ll be hit with questions in the church lobby, walk-in counseling sessions, phone calls, urgent hospital visits, and other times when you do not have the luxury to look up a verse.

So, to be effective in ministry, you need to memorize Scripture. Hide Scripture in your heart as the Bible commands (Psalm 119:11, Joshua 1:8, Colossians 3:16). Because your mouth will speak from the overflow of the heart (Luke 6:45). And God promises to bless those who delight in and meditate on the law of the Lord (Psalm 1).

You can’t memorize everything, but with a little focus and discipline, you can memorize some of the most common Bible verses that pastors need to have ready to fire at a moment’s notice. After all, as Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” What better words can we say than God’s Word?

So I’ve compiled a list of 35 Bible verses pastors should memorize. These Bible verses will serve you well as you minister to the people in your church and community. This list is by no means comprehensive. We could add plenty of other verses to this list. But this will be a good start.

Memorize these Bible verses if you haven’t already.

1-4. The Romans Road

Romans 3:23; 5:8; 6:23; 10:9

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (3:23, ESV)

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (5:8).

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (6:23).

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (10:9).

As a pastor, I hope that you are finding opportunities to share the gospel with people. What do you do if you’re out in a coffee shop or at the gym and have a chance to share the gospel with someone you’ve been praying for? 

The Romans Road is a classic way to present the good news. Walk them through these passages to help them understand how we are all sinners that can only be saved by repenting and believing in Jesus’ death and resurrection.

5-6. Saved by Grace

Ephesians 2:8-9

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 

Understanding that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus alone is a foundational principle of our faith. Grace-based salvation is what separates Christianity from every other religion on the planet. All other religions are works-based —teaching that we can earn salvation by stacking up enough good works.

Ephesians 2:1-10 is a foundational passage for understanding that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone. If you don’t memorize the entire passage, at least memorize verses 8 and 9.

7-12. The Lord is My Shepherd

Psalm 23:1-6

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 

Psalm 23 is a beautiful passage of hope and comfort for people in times of need. I’ve quoted it countless times for funerals and hospital visits. You may already know it, but if you don’t yet, memorize the entire chapter which is only six verses. Keep this one in your pocket for pastoral care situations.

13-14. Cast Your Anxiety On Him

Philippians 4:6-7

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Anxiety is a constant struggle for many people. Whenever you are talking to someone about feeling anxious, you need to have Philippians 4:6-7 ready to fire. 

I’m not a psychologist, but I’ve found that anxiety is often a result of wanting control but feeling like you are not in control. A passage like this helps us to let go of the control we never had anyway and give it over to the Lord, who is in control. Only trust in a sovereign God can give us this peace.

15. Temptation

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Pastors often find themselves talking to people who are wrestling with various temptations and addictions. Whenever talking to someone who believes the lie that they will never be able to escape their temptation, you need to be able to unleash the truth of 1 Corinthians 10:13. Temptation is common. Nobody is alone in their struggles, and God is always faithful to provide an escape.

16-18. Trials

James 1:2-4

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

When people have their faith tested, there may be no better Bible verses for pastors to have handy than James 1:2-4. James reminds us that trials are part of the Christian life. Enduring the trials makes our faith stronger. So we should rejoice through trials and persecution like the apostles did (Acts 5:41). This verse is a tremendous encouragement for all Christians facing trials.

19-20. Trust in the Lord

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths

When people are uncertain about what path to take—such as when they have a significant life decision to make—it is always helpful to remind them of Proverbs 3:5-6. If we put all of our trust in the Lord, he will guide us down the right path. Use this verse to help your people lean on the Lord to guide them.

21-23. The Great Commission

Matthew 28:18-20

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 

The Great Commission is the mission of the church. As a leader in the church, you should know it, live it, and constantly remind your people of it.

24-26. The Great Commandment

Mark 12:28-31

29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

According to Jesus, these two commandments are the greatest of all the commandments in the entire Bible because they summarize all other commandments. So as with the Great Commission, we should know them, embody them in our life and ministry, and continually remind our people to love God and love people.

27-30. Communion

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

As a pastor, you’ll lead your church in the Lord’s Supper often. I recite this passage nearly every time I lead communion. This is one that I don’t have perfectly memorized (yet). So I typically read it from my Bible. But there have been times when I was put on the spot to lead communion and didn’t have a Bible with me, and having this memorized sure would’ve helped.

31-32. Baptism

Romans 6:3-4

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Any time someone asks about baptism, it’s helpful to know this verse explaining its significance. In the sacrament of baptism, we are buried with Christ and raised to new life, just as Jesus was. Plus, I don’t know about you, but I don’t typically bring a Bible into the water. Having these verses memorized when explaining baptism to an individual or your congregation when performing baptisms is a huge help.

33-34. The Bible

2 Timothy 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Whenever you are talking to someone about the Bible and explaining why it is so important to know it, read it, or obey it, you will want to quote this verse. The Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is the ultimate source of authority for all faith and practice. Not only that, but it also helps us become fully equipped to do God’s work. 

35. End Times

Matthew 24:36

36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

I can’t tell you how many times over the years that I’ve been asked about the end times. When will Christ return? Is this a sign that he is coming soon? Whenever someone comes to me with a new theory they’ve heard that predicts the end of the world, I like to quote Jesus. Nobody knows the day. So if somebody says they know the day, we know they are a false prophet since they contradict Scripture.

So that’s my list of 35 verses that pastors should memorize immediately. There are many other passages of Scripture that pastors should memorize too. But this is the list that I’m working on.

What would you add to this list? What Bible verses do you find most helpful to have at the ready-to-fire in a pinch? Let us know in the comments.