How to Stop Getting Bored Out of Your Mind at Church

Before you read this post, I recommend taking this learning style test to figure out what kind of learner you are. I will be connecting most of this post to which one you are! There’s auditory: hearing and talking to learn, kinesthetic: moving and physically touching materials to learn, and visual: drawing/writing and using diagrams to learn. Here’s the link: 

http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-quiz.shtml

A lot of times church is viewed as a bore: a snoozefest, a time to get lost in thoughts, a lecture… not enjoyable. We expect so much from a church service: engagement, entertainment and great lessons. The truth is those things just don’t mix. How can you expect church to be an entertainment, like a video game or TV show? But at the same time, teach you great and meaningful lessons… and all the while, you’re just supposed to show up, kick your feet up and not put forth any effort to be engaged, expecting the church to engage you on its own. 

Church is a lot more interesting than you think. Let me show you how to stop getting swallowed up by the boredom you associate with it.

The key?

Your effort to be engaged. The experience of church is a two way street. Your pastor can have the most touching message and do the best possible to engage you, but will never engage you in the message if you don’t put in some effort to be in a position to be engaged. I’ll show you how to be engaged and receive the message, and actually enjoy church.

I’ve mistreated church for way too long, and I want to prevent anyone else from having the same experience.

Here’s my 3 tips. I’m a little bit of everything when it comes to learning, so I do a little mix of everything below to make the most of my experience at church. Depending on what your percentage of your learning types are, you can mix and match these tips to tailor your experience of church to you! Despite your learning type, I would recommend all of these tips to  you, though.

PRAY

-auditory

First things first: ask God to clear your mind and allow you to focus on the message before the service starts. You can never go wrong here! This can be on the car ride there, during worship or just as the service begins. You can even open a conversation with God for the entirety of the service, creating an interactive conversation with Him that keeps you engaged during the entire message. Even if it’s just you commenting to God what you’re thinking of the message as it goes, or asking Him questions as they come to your head while you listen to the sermon. This is also an opportunity to listen to Him in your conversation, too. Open your heart and your mind to Him. Only extraordinary things come from that.

If you’re an auditory learner, this method is most suited to you. Although church is viewed as a silent activity on the audience’s part, it doesn’t have to be. You can still talk to God during the service, as nothing can take away or silence your ability to do that. If that’s how you learn, then that’s how you should approach church! Do what’s best for you, and most importantly your relationship with God and the church.

BRING A BIBLE

-kinesthetic

If you are able, pick up a bible and make it a habit to bring it to church! I’m just as guilty as anyone else about starting habits, but all it takes is setting an alarm for every Sunday, or whatever day you attend, at a time that you know is a few minutes before you leave, reminding you to grab that bible. Bringing your bible allows you to physically engage yourself, flipping through the pages and reading the verses from your own copy. You can make yourself notes or highlight verses, too. I personally would recommend getting a journaling bible, because they have extra space in the margins for notes. The opportunities are endless! You can paint in them, draw in them, make notes or anything crafty you can think of. This tip now starts to bleed into the next one, as we get into the visual learning tips with art and notes.

If you’re a kinesthetic learner, being able to hold and turn the physical pages on your own bible is most suited to you. Holding a bible and being able to flatten your fingers against the pages as you read up close will get you more engaged and interested. You can take it up a level by taking notes on your own bible too. This will allow you to remember the sermon and be able to look over the notes later when you might need them.

BRING A NOTEBOOK AND ART SUPPLIES

-visual

This is an excuse for some of us to buy a cute new journal or notebook, but it really allows for you to fully engage and delve into a sermon. I’ve found this is most beneficial to me, and I’ve almost started to treat church like a class, which is essentially what it is, but is not fully realized as that. Now, I take bullet notes over every sermon, dating the top and including which book of the bible and the title of the series my church is in at the time. I write down insightful points, verses to note and meaningful connections or quotes from my pastor. After I’m done, I tear off the pages and stick them in my journaling bible on the same page I’ve also been highlighting verses and making drawings in. This way, I can look back and utilize my notes and verses when I’m in a tough place, needing them most. I can review them throughout my week, reminding me how to become a better person and grow in Christ. This has caused me to realize just how many great sermons and tips I’ve lost over the years from my pastors, because I never engaged myself enough to listen attentively or take notes. I’m not going to let that happen anymore, and I hope after reading this you don’t either. You could also bring straight up watercolor paper and watercolors, and paint something that keeps you engaged and interested in the message, just be careful that it doesn’t do the opposite and take away your focus.

If you’re a visual learner, taking notes and making art as you receive a sermon is most suited to you. You’ll be doing something you enjoy and for the better of your relationship with God. Unlocking your creative or visual side at church can seriously elevate your experience of church, and allows you to use your gifts for Jesus. Like bringing a bible, this allows you to utilize your notes in the future and especially when you need those words or verses in a low place in your life.

Overall, I would encourage you to try all of these things, maybe one at a time before you try them together. Even if you’re 0% one of the types of learners, try every tactic! These things have completely transformed not only my experience of church, but my perception of it. I no longer associate church with boredom or a dragging feeling after trying numerous different approaches to change my relationship with church. Now, I get excited to bring my notepad printed with flowers and my bright blue journaling bible that’s now full of art and doodles, ready to take notes and make art over the next sermon. I hope it does all this and more for you.

Lastly, with Christmas only a few days away, I wanted to remind you to take care of yourself. There’s a lot of focus on giving to others, which is just lovely, until you haven’t taken care of yourself, hindering your ability to care for anyone else. Treat yourself to your favorite show, a bubble bath or your favorite candy. Take a deep breath. The chaos is settling, and you have so so much time. You don’t need to worry anymore. Guess what? Jesus is still on his throne. No matter what chaos is occurring in the country or in Washington or in your family or with your friends, God is in control and no one can remove him from that. Jesus is still on His rightful throne. Rejoice in that, and His coming to earth.

I hope you have the most blessed Christmas.

All my love,

angelle