I know and have heard that preachers benefit in this way, in the planning of their sermons. But it's true for anyone. And when you keep God's Word mostly just in your own mind - but don't express or share it with others - you will tend to learn less than otherwise - as a result.
I tell Bible stories to our 2 grandchildren about every time we see them - which is almost every day. I help to home-school them, too. They are hyper though bright. I find they listen best to Bible stories when I tell them in my own words, rather than just reading the stories to them (for one thing - they don't have patience for it). And I use the pictures of their Bible story books to illustrate as I tell them the stories. I also glance at each page to help make sure I have all facts straight before telling each part of the story. Many times, I discover I didn't remember some parts as well as I thought. So I look at the stories later in my Bible, and this helps me correct my poor memory of whatever parts I'd forgotten or hadn't noticed the details of before. So as you see - this helps both me and them!
Examples of things I recently learned better after reading the stories in my Bible - I paid attention especially to the parts I felt unsure of:
*I learned that Esau gave his birthright to Jacob much before the time his father formally gave it to Jacob when he was about to die. And refreshed my memory of how Jacob wore furry skins on his arms so that he'd feel like Esau to his father. And refreshed my memory of how in spite of this, his father expressed surprise that his voice sounded like Jacob's - but that his hands felt like Esau's.
*I refreshed my memory as to how Abraham's servant first asked for a drink from Rebecca, before offering water also to his camels. And refreshed my memory of who all were involved in giving Rebecca the ok to go with Abraham's servant.
*I remembered The order of events in Pharaoh's dream about the 7 lean cattle and the 7 fat cattle. I didn't have to look it up this time to refresh my memory - as I realized, after having erroneously said the lean cattle were first - that it couldn't have happened that way, as I knew the lean cows represented the 7 years of famine and knew that followed the 7 years of plenty, and that Joseph had a big role in helping to preserve food during the years of plenty, so that there would be enough during the years of famine.
Examples of how reviewing Bible stories - helps make the details more correct in your mind
I tell Bible stories to our 2 grandchildren about every time we see them - which is almost every day. I help to home-school them, too. They are hyper though bright. I find they listen best to Bible stories when I tell them in my own words, rather than just reading the stories to them (for one thing - they don't have patience for it). And I use the pictures of their Bible story books to illustrate as I tell them the stories. I also glance at each page to help make sure I have all facts straight before telling each part of the story. Many times, I discover I didn't remember some parts as well as I thought. So I look at the stories later in my Bible, and this helps me correct my poor memory of whatever parts I'd forgotten or hadn't noticed the details of before. So as you see - this helps both me and them!
Examples of things I recently learned better after reading the stories in my Bible - I paid attention especially to the parts I felt unsure of:
*I learned that Esau gave his birthright to Jacob much before the time his father formally gave it to Jacob when he was about to die. And refreshed my memory of how Jacob wore furry skins on his arms so that he'd feel like Esau to his father. And refreshed my memory of how in spite of this, his father expressed surprise that his voice sounded like Jacob's - but that his hands felt like Esau's.
*I refreshed my memory as to how Abraham's servant first asked for a drink from Rebecca, before offering water also to his camels. And refreshed my memory of who all were involved in giving Rebecca the ok to go with Abraham's servant.
*I remembered The order of events in Pharaoh's dream about the 7 lean cattle and the 7 fat cattle. I didn't have to look it up this time to refresh my memory - as I realized, after having erroneously said the lean cattle were first - that it couldn't have happened that way, as I knew the lean cows represented the 7 years of famine and knew that followed the 7 years of plenty, and that Joseph had a big role in helping to preserve food during the years of plenty, so that there would be enough during the years of famine.
Examples of how reviewing Bible stories - helps make the details more correct in your mind
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. I always keep a digital Bible Search open to make sure that what I think is in the Bible actually is. I also like to copy and paste the context. Use all tools God provides. The greatest of all is the leading of His Spirit.
