At Teach One Reach One Ministries we talk a lot about the value of scripture memorization as well as ways to move God’s commands and principles to the long term memories of your students. Repetition plays an important part in reaching both of those goals – especially spaced repetition and review. But there’s another somewhat hidden benefit to exposing Bible students to everything in scripture as many times as possible (along with its meaning and application of course).
It’s called the mere-exposure effect or the familiarity principle. Researchers have found that repeated exposure to something or someone causes us to view that thing or person more favorably. One study even found that merely by spending more time with a person, the subjects of the study found that person to be more likable and pleasant. It’s similar to the three bite principle parents often use to get their children to like new foods. Those repeated exposures to a few bites of a rejected food eventually causes it to become accepted.
While this has several applications that can be helpful in the spiritual education of children and teens, perhaps the most important one is this…. You and your students need as much exposure to as much of the Bible as possible and regular repetition of those exposures. The more young people are exposed to scripture, the more they will value it over other worldviews and philosophies. The more time they spend independently with God and Jesus through Bible reading, study, reflection and prayer, the more they will be drawn to them.
Of course, this is pointed out in the Bible multiple times, but we tend to minimize the importance of time spent with scripture and prayer as somehow antiquated and unnecessary. Many of our Bible classes are more pop psychology or religion than actual Bible study. No wonder we are losing so many young people! They have more daily exposure to the celebrities, athletes, influencers and others they follow and their beliefs than they do God/Jesus. Which means those views get the benefit of the mere-exposure effect over God and Jesus.
How can we reverse this damaging trend? By adding more actual scripture to our Bible classes, devotionals and sermons. By encouraging independent Bible study and prayer. By making sure children and teens are not only exposed to as much scripture as possible, but also that we find ways to give them repeated exposure to those scriptures over time. We forget sometimes that we are battling Satan for the souls of these young people. We need to fight not just smarter, but wiser. Up your Bible students’ exposure to scripture, God and Jesus. It’s worth the time and effort.