Just out of curiosity, do you take notes when you listen to your pastor’s sermon? Why, or why not? If you do take notes, how do you use them?
I’m a note taker. I take notes primarily to help me stay focused on the sermon. I wish I could say that taking notes aids retention, but I can’t. Nothing I do seems to helps me retain what I hear. I also never refer back to my notes for personal use. I do sometimes use them in family worship.
How about you?
I started taking notes years ago, but in my Bible. It’s hard to fit it all on the page sometimes, but I find it helpful to read over the notes in my private study. I also date it and put down who is preaching. Occasionally, I also write in a personal note: like if my kids were all there, or when a friend died, etc.
I’m exactly like you in that regard, Barry. I use them to stay focused and very rarely ever look at them again. I’ve finally given up feeling guilty and superstitious about throwing them away once I’ve accumulated an unwieldy stack inside my Bible. Yesterday I didn’t take notes on the sermon itself, but instead wrote down thoughts that were intruding into my mind that were interfering with my ability to focus, but which I really needed to address later and was afraid I’d forget. Once I wrote those down I could once focus again on what was being said.
I am an off-and-on note taker. When I do take them, it is mostly to help me focus and understand what is being said during the sermon. Sometimes I will write a reflection in my blog or journal for a particularly good point. But I rarely keep the notes or refer to them again.
Good question!
Mari Ann,
I think that’s a great habit. I did that at one time, but between changing Bibles and running out of room to write, I quit. Some people have actually made “Blank Bibles” with a blank page for notes between every page of text.
Laurie,
I always hate to throw away notes or articles I think I may use later, but trying to hang onto everything isn’t very practical either. In my case, our pastor always prepares a manuscript for his sermons, which is later posted to our church website. It’s easy to go the website and look something up if I need to.
dmonk,
Good to hear from you! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I know that keeping a journal would be helpful, but it’s something I’ve never done. Hope you’re doing well.
I didn’t used to, but I pretty much always take notes these days. I doubt anyone other than me could make much of them by looking at them, but I can follow them. I usually write the notes right on the bulletin (if the pastor says something especially awesome and concise, I’ll write it in next to the most relevant verse), and then leave it in my Bible on the page of the main reading that day. I usually reread them when I get to them — my problem is that I haven’t been reading enough lately to get to those spots.
At least, that’s what I do while I’m at college. My church back home prints bulletins on huge pieces of paper that won’t fit nicely in my Bible. Maybe I should get a notebook.
I take notes, partly to help focus, but I do look back at them sometimes when I’m conversing. To an extent, it’s like the journal that I used to keep … it was written down for the purpose of writing it down, not for using it later.
I’m a note taker. It keeps me focused, helps me learn. Something about writing it down triggers my learning gene.
And as I get older, it actually helps me remember. Imagine that, note taking as a memory aid.
Peren,
I use a little steno pad, which fits nicely in my Bible cover, but the bulletin-inserted-at-the-text idea is good. I hadn’t thought of that.
wickle,
Do you keep your notes indefinitely? What sort of filing system do you use?
Andy,
I wish note taking helped my retention. I don’t retain things very well any more.
As a pastor, preacher and teacher, this is an especially interesting topic for me. i look forward to reading more comments.
Blessings
Mostly, I keep my notes. I use (usually) the little composition notebooks, and they’re scattered around on various bookshelves. Not much of a rhyme or reason, just where I set them down when they were full.
This has been something I’ve been thinking about lately. I am very much a note taker when it comes to sermons. I believe it was Max Barnett that really convicted me about note taking. I can’t think of many more people who have had the impact for the kingdom that Max has. He’s lived a life of discipleship and poured into others who have done the same. He’s also older than anyone else I’ve seen involved in collegiate ministry. Yet, even when you see a student giving a testimony, Max is taking notes.
I find that incredibly humbling and challenging. It makes me realize that we all have something to learn from each other. Even if we don’t agree with that person’s stance or what they are saying. Maybe especially if we don’t agree with their stance.
I once heard it said that if you don’t take some sort of notes during a sermon, what you’re saying is “what you’re teaching right now isn’t important to me”. That may sound harsh but I think there’s some truth to that we need to deal with. Maybe some people can retain what they hear more without taking any notes, but I sure can’t. If we really believe in the message’s importance, we need to make some effort to retain what’s being said, and just as importantly, what God is saying to us through it.
That being said, I’ve gotten bad about going back over notes. I used to have a filing system by book of the Bible or subject. I’ve definitely dropped the ball on that and need to get it going again.
Thanks for the input. I especially like the idea of writing down what I disagree with. By doing so I can better understand what was spoken, and refrain from dismissing a thought just because it doesn’t fit into my paradeim. Also, I want to know exactly what God is saying to the Church. Therefore, it is vital to remember the anointed Word that is spoken across the pulpit. Now, to come up with an efficient and effective way of organizing what God wants from His Church is the challenge. “Seek and ye shall find.” I’ve just found a little nuget from you. Maranatha!
Thanks for your input, Sue. Writing down a thought that you disagree with so that you can investigate it later is a great idea. We should all be so teachable. Blessings!
I can comment as a pastor and as a listener.
As a pastor it is extremely encouraging when you see people taking notes. Consider that. It communicates that what the pastor is saying is reaching the people–that is vital.
As a listener I take notes. Not simply to encourage but for me writing is remembering. If I write something, or underline something, it tends to go somewhere in my head. Usually, after the sermon I throw the notes away or rewrite them into something else. Seldom do I keep them…but sometimes I really wish I had.
Great question…I hope people continue to comment.
Dr. Bruce,
Thanks for stopping by. There have been a lot of good comments–hope you’ve found them helpful.
wickle,
Thanks for the reply. I have a hard time deciding what to keep and what to pitch, so I usually end up keeping more than I’ll probably ever use.
Isaac,
Great comments. I was wondering if anyone had some sort of filing system. If you wanted to keep notes it would only make sense to organize them in some way. Notes could be scanned and very effectively organized in folders, too.
Mike,
I appreciate you sharing how note taking encourages you as a pastor. I hope it is something that everyone reading this considers carefully.
I would love to share with you all our new product that helps believers write great notes for church. The “Sunday Book” was designed by my husband, a new Christian, to help him take notes. We want to share this product with everyone who is a note taker. AS well, funds from the sales are being put aside to help with sharing the Gospel. We would love to have all your opinions.
Thanks
In Christ,
Julia
Quebec, Canada
sundaybook.ca
Thanks for the link, Julia. It looks like a nicely designed product and a great organization tool. I also appreciate the fact that some of the proceeds are being donated for evangelistic work.
I take notes – it helps me to retain the ideas that grab me during one of our pastor’s sermons