Ho Hum!

Ever feel like that in Church? Well, you’re certainly not the first, and you won’t be the last!

“What makes people respond to preaching that way?”

There are, of course, many reasons, but let’s look at it from the point of view of the pew-sitter. Too often, the preacher gets a bad rap!

What can you do to respond to preaching in a livelier, more productive manner? Let me give you just two suggestions:

1. Come prepared to learn something from the sermon.
2. Come after having gotten enough rest the night before.

Two simple suggestions, I admit—yet two that can make all the difference in your worship experience.

How should you prepare yourself for preaching?

First, you can read up on the passage beforehand when possible. If a preacher is going through a Bible book, then read ahead to the next set of verses. Write out any questions you may have. Bring them with you and see if the sermon answers them. If not, at a convenient time, ask an elder or the pastor about what you wanted to know. In addition to your Bible, have a pencil (pen) with you to write down such answers and any other insights, admonitions, and the like that are important to remember or do something about when you leave. In other words, don’t be a pew potato—take an active listening role during the sermon.

Second, you can be sure to go to bed on time, rather than stay up inordinate numbers of hours the night before. You can involve yourself in calm, unexciting activities that will not keep you awake after you lie down and try to sleep. Also, do some study of the passage to come, or some other related study that will make going to church helpful rather than boring. In other words, think about the fact that the very next day you’ll be in church and get your mind fixed on that so fully that it affects your attitudes. Plan the exciting things for Friday night whenever you can!

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