Top 5 Bible Verses to Start the New School Year

• Are you looking for ways to encourage your kids as they head into a new school year?
• Do you want to help your students start the year with God’s Word at the center?
• Wondering which Bible verses can build confidence, courage, and faith in this season?

A new school year is the perfect time to reset, refocus, and encourage children (and teachers too!) with God’s Word. Whether you’re a parent preparing your kids for their first day back, or a teacher welcoming students into your classroom, Scripture offers timeless encouragement.

Here are 5 Bible verses to start the new school year—great for memory verses, morning devotionals, or even classroom wall displays.

1. Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
This verse reminds students that God is always with them—in every class, every challenge, and every new friendship. Like Joshua, God has a calling on their life and He will give them the strength and courage to fulfill that calling this coming school year.

2. 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.”
A powerful reminder that we don’t have to figure out everything on our own—God leads the way. We need to remember to go to the Lord and ask Him for wisdom and then wait for His directions. The first step is to trust Him to lead us as we take the next step.

3. Philippians 4:13

“I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”
Perfect for test days, sports practices, and moments of doubt, this verse encourages students to lean on Christ for strength. This is such an encouragement to remember it is okay to be “weak” and do it scared!

4. Colossians 3:23

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Great for building a strong work ethic and reminding kids that even schoolwork can be an act of worship. Work began in garden and is something God has for us to do in our earthly life. For kids, that work is school and we can encourage them to begin to practice working as unto the Lord, even in school.

5. Psalm 119:105

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Encourage children to see God’s Word as their guide throughout the school year. The Lord doesn’t give us the long term plan, but does promise to guide our steps, which reminds us He wants to be intimately involved in our daily lives.

BONUS VERSES

6. James 1:5

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
This is the ultimate back-to-school prayer verse for wisdom in learning and decision-making. Testings will come and when they do, the Lord wants us to pass those tests. So, when they come, help your students practice asking for wisdom in those times of testing.

7. 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.”
A verse for students to remember that even at a young age, they can be leaders for Christ. Have them pick just one of these items to work on each week: speech, deeds, love, faith, and purity. Timothy began serving the Lord as a young man, and continued the rest of his life to be faithful to the Lord.

How to Use These Verses

• Write them on index cards for lunchboxes or backpacks.
• Use them for morning devotionals before school.
• Hang them in classrooms or study spaces.
• Memorize them together as a family.

This year as you begin the new school year, having these verses handy will make a difference not only in the lives of your children or students, but they are great reminders to all of us. May the Lord richly bless you and your student/children this coming new year.

Free Resource for You

If you’d like more memory verses for the school year, we’ve created free Old Testament Memory Verse Cards that pair perfectly with our Old Testament Overview or Old Testament Bible Study Journals. These cards make it easy to keep God’s Word front and center throughout the year.

👉 Download your Free Old Testament Memory Verse Cards here!