It’s Wednesday. You’re having coffee with a church friend and they ask, “What was your takeaway from the sermon on Sunday?”

Panicking, you scour your brain for anything related to the message you heard three days ago…but you’ve got nothing. You remember the book of the Bible your pastor is preaching through and maybe a few random thoughts from the sermon. But the rest? It’s lost to the chaos of busy schedules, looming deadlines, and a never-ending to-do list.

If you’ve ever felt like this before, trust me…you’re not alone!

Whether you’re a new Christian or a long-time follower of Christ, it can be easy to let the busyness of life choke out the energy needed to invest in your local church. When it comes to getting the most out of the Sunday sermon, I’ve found that you really do get out what you put in. So, in light of that, I wanted to share a few tips that have helped me get more out of the message. Although simple, these three things have actually transformed the way I approach church each week. I hope they are helpful to you!

1 | Take Notes

This one might be obvious, but one of the best ways I’ve found to help me retain the information I’m learning from the sermon is by taking notes. I always bring my “church notes” journal with me to the service (You can find it here on Amazon!). Keeping this notebook separate from any other study notes or prayer journaling allows me to have all of my sermon notes in one spot, making them easier to find when I want to look back on what I’ve learned.

For me, taking notes looks like writing down literally everything I want to remember. If I don’t write something down, I forget it…that’s just how my brain works! But for you, that might not be necessary.

Maybe you remember things best when you only write down the main points of the message. Maybe you connect best with the content when you rephrase what the pastor says in your own words. And maybe, if you’re like my husband Caleb, you actually remember things best when you don’t take any notes at all!

While my first “tip” is to take notes, the point here is to actively listen to what your pastor is saying. Figure out what best helps you focus on the message and remember what you’ve learned. If taking notes distracts you, try waiting to write down the main points and takeaways until after the sermon is finished. Summarize what you’ve learned after the fact instead of taking notes in real time. Experiment! Figure out what helps the sermon stick so that you can live out what you’ve learned in everyday life.

2 | Read the Passage Ahead of Time

This second tip not only helps me remember what I’ve learned, but it also helps me better understand what my pastor is preaching in the moment. Read the passage ahead of time!

This can look like coming to church a little early just to sit down with coffee and a donut to read through the passage a few minutes before the service starts. Or, it could also look like spending extra time in the Word on a Saturday night to read through the Scripture for that week. Whatever time works for you, make it a priority to read through the passage on your own. Not only will this prepare your heart for worship, but it will also help you understand where your pastor is coming from when he preaches through the text.

This is such a simple practice, but one that can be so impactful! If your pastor preaches through whole books of the Bible, finding the passage he’s preaching next is pretty easy. But if your pastor preaches more topically, it can be a struggle. If this is the case for you, try reading through the key texts your pastor preached from later in the day on Sunday or review it at some point the following week.

3 | Study the Same Book

This one is a little bit more of a time commitment, but I’ve seen it be so fruitful in my own life! Try studying the same book of the Bible your pastor is preaching through during your own personal study time throughout the week. This doesn’t have to be an every day thing, but if you set aside a couple days a week to dig deeper into that book, you might be surprised with the results! After doing this myself, I’ve realized that I can engage with the sermon more deeply because I understand what my pastor is preaching in the context of the book as a whole. This also helps me feel more prepared to rightly apply the text to my life even after Sunday has come and gone.

Another reason why this is such a beneficial practice is because we should never blindly accept what a pastor preaches without comparing his words to the Word of God. No matter how solid your pastor is, he is human! He will make mistakes! While we shouldn’t come to church with a critical spirit, we should carefully consider what we’re being taught before accepting it as truth.

Just a quick note: please don’t take this as an excuse to go talk to your pastor after church each week and tell him what he did “wrong.” We should always come to church with humble hearts that are teachable and soft to where the Spirit is convicting us to change in our own lives. Constantly contradicting everything a pastor says and critiquing his message every week is unhelpful and discouraging. Go to your pastor with genuine questions, not critical remarks. If you have a question, ask it with a heart that is ready to learn rather than accuse!

BONUS | Remember Your Why

The Word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). It changes us! And while the Word certainly does this in our own personal study time, God did not create us to live in isolation. We need each other (1 Corinthians 12:12–26)! God has uniquely gifted pastors to preach. If your pastor works full-time at your church, he has the privilege of reading and studying God’s Word for his job. This means that not only does he have the time, but he also likely has the training needed to see things in the text that the average church goer will struggle to notice or understand.

Sunday sermons not only help us think more clearly about God and his Word, but they also encourage us to persevere in the Christian life. They reorient our hearts to the truth of the gospel and awaken our affections so that we can daily delight in our God. If we skip out on church or constantly find ourselves nodding off during the sermon, then we are missing out on one of the blessings God has provided us with! There should be a sense of eagerness, excitement, and gratitude in our hearts when we gather to worship. But this is not something we can just expect to happen on its own. It’s something that takes time and intention.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

HEBREWS 10:24-25

What has your attitude been towards church recently? How can you be more invested as you listen to the sermon each week? If you have any “tips” that have helped you, share them in the comments below!