Getting the most out of a sermon

After the service on Sunday morning, I had a chat with some of the young people in our church family to see how we could help each other get the most out of the sermon each week. Here's some things we shared:

• Expect God to speak! Mindset matters - think this is boring, and you usually find it is!

• Read the passage before coming to church.

• Make every effort to be on time - take a few minutes at the start of church to pray, asking God to speak.

• Don't worry if you don't understand everything - write questions down and ask a friend or the preacher later.

• Don't worry if you don't remember everything - not even the preacher will remember everything they say.

• If something is said that really catches your attention, or challenges you - stick with that thought, allow it to grow.  Ask yourself what does this truth mean for how I should live, does it lead me to praise God or say sorry for a sin I have committed?

• Keep your bible open - what the preacher is saying, flows from the passage so keep your bible open.  It can be hard to read and listen - so I as a preacher, will try to read each verse I refer too... so everyone can hear as well as reading along.

• Share! A verse that encouraged or challenged.  Ask those who you are sitting around you, what God was saying to them this morning.  We believe he is speaking to each of us, so let's share with each other what he is saying.

  I had wondered about using social media to do this...so that is part of the reason for starting this blog.  I may link it into FB, Twitter and Instagram in the future... but for now, I plan to use it to post a reminder of Sunday's sermon, as a way into remembering and applying what God has been saying that week. Another idea we had is WhatsApp groups.  Why not create a group, with a few others and commit to sharing one verse or thought that encouraged or challenged you from each sermon.  You don't have to do anything else, just share.  No debate, no questions - just share.  It may lead to a conversation, it may not.  Either way, I trust it shall help you engage with the sermon, remember and apply what God has been saying to you that day. What do you find helpful? Leave a comment below.