I am amazed every week by my preaching experience. I look out on the crowd and see some people on the edge of their seats while others are sleeping. Some people come out the back door and say it was the best sermon ever and others run out before I can get to the back door so they don’t have to talk to me. It seems every week that there is this bi-polar reaction to my preaching. Well, over the years I have come to a few conclusions about what it takes to get the most out of a Sunday sermon.

1. Spend time growing personally each week. It never fails that the people who get the most out of a sermon are those who are regularly reading their Bible. I simply help to explain what they are reading or connect dots in their understanding.

2. Get rest on Saturday night. Simple truth; If you are tired you are not a good listener. Although I am not sure I have ever completely understood this. Our worship time starts at 10:30 am. You can get to sleep at 1:00 am and still have time for a good nights sleep and still have breakfast before Church.

3. If you are tired, take notes. I have a sweet older lady who takes copious notes each week. I know she has been in Church for years and years and she is probably not hearing anything new. She just knows it helps her to stay engaged.

4. If you are not a note taker, then look up all the scriptures and read those. I don’t care if you use your iPhone, iPad or printed Bible. Engage the scriptures while I am talking.

5. Try to focus your thoughts on, what one thing can I apply from this sermon. Every week I have numerous points of application. I do this hoping the each person will do one thing because of what they have heard.

6. If nothing helps to keep you engaged, decide not to be a distraction. I once heard a sermon on dating after I was already married. There was not much to keep me engaged, so I sat quietly reading my Bible, taking notes and listening with one ear. I did not get up and go to the bathroom or make faces at the kid near me or take a nap or talk or play a game on my phone. Those things are very distracting and while I might not be getting much out of the sermon I realize that someone else might be and I do not want to hinder them or the preacher.

Here is the commitment I make with a congregation. I will plan and prepare the very best sermon that I can every week. I will try to keep it Biblical, interesting and useful for your life. Your promise is that you will not only attend but try to learn from what I am saying. In other words, I will do my best job of throwing the pass down field. I just need you to try and catch it for this whole thing to work.