I have reached a grand milestone in my life. Yesterday, for the first time in my entire life, I took notes during a sermon.

You know how you can listen to a fantastic message and forget what it was about a day later? Or if you’re like me, a few hours later. And even if you remember what it was about, the details and cited Scriptures don’t stick. Try it yourself – if you went to church yesterday, recall the topic and at least one passage (or even just its reference). Chances are that you’ll have an easier time remembering if you took notes.

The sad thing is that we know note-taking works, but most of us don’t bother on the pew. We endure over a decade of academics where we are taught to take lecture notes. Those who are serious about their education have notebooks full of facts and figures and study them for success. Why, then, do we neglect to do this when we are learning from a Biblical expositor during Sunday service? Could it be the grim possibility that we don’t take our spiritual growth more seriously than our worldly success?

I don’t know. Maybe you have a legitimate reason not to scribble on paper while listening to a speaker. But for me, I already see its positive effects. It was easy to pay attention during the entire sermon. Pastor Kevin spoke on guarding our hearts and minds and being aware of the media we consume. Out of the eight Scripture references I jotted down, I have pinpointed three to memorize.

If you haven’t tried it, give it a shot. Bring a journal next Sunday and join me on this venture!