Topical Memory System

The basics

What is the Topical Memory System?

TMS is a topical approach to Scripture memory. It centers on 60 verses grouped by theme — six topics per series, two verses per topic — so that related truths are learned together. A distinctive feature is that you memorize the reference both before and after the verse, which trains you to recall not only the words but where they are found.

The system is designed to be worked through gradually. You begin with Series A, add two verses each week, and keep reviewing everything you have already learned. That blend of new learning and constant review is what gives the system its staying power — and it is the same principle behind the spaced-repetition review in The Bible Memory App.

The five series

The five TMS series, with sample verses from each

The Topical Memory System is arranged into five series, A through E. Each series gathers six topics, and each topic pairs two verses, for twelve verses per series and sixty in all. You work through the series in order, learning two verses at a time while continuing to review the ones you already know. To give you a feel for each series, here are two of its six topics with their paired verses — the complete official list is available from The Navigators.

The topics above are a sample, not the official list — each series contains six topics and twelve verses in all. Sample references verified against The Navigators' published TMS topic list; topic wording can vary slightly between editions, so if you are following the official course, let your own materials settle any differences. Get the complete 60-verse list from The Navigators.

Week by week

A 30-week cadence for all 60 verses

The classic TMS pace is two verses per week — one topic at a time. At that pace the whole system takes about 30 weeks, or roughly seven months. Here is what that looks like in practice. If life gets busy, slow the pace rather than skipping review; a year-long TMS journey with daily review beats a seven-month sprint you cannot sustain.

How to use it

A simple rhythm for working through the verses

The system is most effective when you treat review as the main event, not an afterthought. Learn a new verse with its reference, practice recalling it without looking, and then review the verses you already know every single day. A few focused minutes daily will carry you through the whole system over time.

Practice with help

Working the system with spaced repetition in The Bible Memory App

The hardest part of TMS is not learning verse 3 — it is still knowing verse 3 when you are learning verse 43. That is a scheduling problem, and spaced repetition solves it. In The Bible Memory App you type each verse from memory (the app fades the words out as you learn), and once a verse is mastered the app automatically schedules reviews at growing intervals — soon at first, then less often as the verse gets stronger. Your daily session always shows you exactly which TMS verses are due, so review never piles up and nothing silently fades.

Add the references two at a time as you reach each topic, and include the reference in your typed recall so it is welded to the verse, just as the system intends. For the technique itself — first-letter prompts, recall practice, and review timing — see our full guide on how to memorize Scripture. And when you finish all sixty, the Memory Verses by Topic library is a natural next step for going deeper on any TMS topic, from prayer to perseverance.

Join a group

Topical Memory System groups

These public groups on BibleMemory.com are memorizing verses connected to the Navigators Topical Memory System. Open one to see its verses and join to memorize along with the group.

FAQ

Questions about the Topical Memory System