Pay Attention in Church

Do you have trouble paying attention in church? The following tips are a few methods I have used to curb my wandering mind.

First and foremost, pray.
If you believe the Bible, you believe that we can't do anything on our own. Our own power is limited, but God's is limitless. The night before His crucifixion, Jesus spent time with His disciples. He taught them several important concepts, recorded in the Gospel of John, that would be important for them in living life after He was gone. One of these concepts was that we can't do anything apart from His power. He said, "'I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing'" (John 15:5, NIV). Ask God for His help, so that you may be able to worship Him and understand the message He wants you to take away from the service. Pray before the service and during the service, too, when you know your attention is beginning to wander.

Sit near the front.
If you are distracted by other people, it may be best for you to sit in the first few rows. The fewer people you can see, the fewer the distractions for you. You may also feel more engaged with the speaker when you are not at the back of the room.

Bring a notebook.
Of course, you can take notes any way you wish, but try ditching the pre-printed handouts, where you just fill in a blank for each main point. Because these notes require minimal effort on your part, your mind may have too much free time. Try taking notes on a blank sheet of paper. What if you don't know how to take notes? If the speaker uses a slide presentation, write down main points that the speaker outlines on the screen. Listen to what is said and record any comments that seem important to you or anything you think you might want to examine later. Try to write down any Bible references that the speaker refers to. And if the sermon brings up any questions for you, jot those down. You may wish to discuss these questions with a friend or search the Bible for answers later. Taking notes actively is an excellent way for you to interact with the message.

Choose the right seatmates.
Maybe you sit with certain friends that make it difficult for you to pay attention by cracking jokes, talking during the service, or passing notes. While these things aren't wrong in themselves, they can be distracting. If they are distracting you, consider sitting with people who won't present a temptation to you. Or sit by yourself.

Consider your clothing.
Church shouldn't be all about clothing, but clothing can make a difference. If your skirt is a little too short, and you are constantly having to readjust and watch your legs, you probably aren't going to be paying good attention to the speaker. And you may be distracting the guy next to you, as well. At least have respect for him.

Thank God and/or other people.
Take time to realize the things you appreciated in the service. Thank God for speaking to you. Thank the soloist for the song. Thank the pastor for the sermon. Making gratitude a habit will change your attitude about church. Attending church will start to become less of a scheduled duty and more of an activity you look forward to. And if you enjoy the service, you will naturally pay more attention.