Active Listening

Looking as though you are listening to a sermon on Sunday morning is easy.  You sit very still looking at the pastor and occasionally nod your head in agreement.  Actively listening is more difficult.  Thoughts can easily invade our focus on the message the pastor is presenting.  Are we getting as much out of a sermon as God is wanting us to get out of it?  The Holy Spirit is working through our pastor by giving him the words to say.  We participate in this encounter with the Holy Spirit by listening to the sermon with our heart as well as our ears.  

This week, Livextreme Ladies will talk about active listening in our church lives, specifically active listening during sermons.  There are many resources to find information on active listening skills.  One article that I found listed five key elements of active listening.  The article and the website's information are for improving skills related to your career, but many of these skills can also be an helpful in our everyday life.  

The five key elements of active listening include pay attention, show that you are listening, defer judgement, respond appropriately, and provide feedback.  These elements are important to listening to a sermon just like they are important when you are listening to a friend.  I would like to take a moment to share how these elements can be used during or after actively listening to a sermon.  

1. Pay Attention

• Look at the pastor/speaker directly or follow along in your Bible
• Empty your mind of thoughts that do not pertain to the message
• Focus on how the message relates to you and your life
• Avoid being distracted by environmental factors
• "Listen" to the speaker's body language

2. Show That You're Listening

• Nod occasionally
• Smile and use other facial expressions (raising eyebrows)
• Note your posture (sit up straight)
• It is ok to encourage the pastor/speaker with an Amen every once in a while :)

3. Defer Judgment

• Allow the pastor/speaker to finish before bringing your opinion to a conclusion 
• Continue to actively listen even when your "toes" get stepped on ;)

4. Respond Appropriately

       Your response will depend on how the Holy Spirit is working in your heart by the end of the sermon.  When the Holy Spirit is working within you be sure to respond in the corresponding way and in a timely manner.

• Be open and honest in your response
• Pray at your seat during the invitation for what God has laid on your heart
• Kneel at the alter and bare your heart to God
• Share with the pastor what is weighing heavy on you and pray with him
• Make public decisions that you have made

5. Provide Feedback

       This is where our printable for the week comes in.  In order for us to remember what the pastor has said during the half hour or so that he has preached, it might be a good idea to take notes.  There are many ways to take notes.  The Cornell Method is very easy to use and covers the main concepts of a sermon such as scripture, notes on each passage or verse, application, and key verse.  The ladies will use this method for Sunday and share feedback next week.  A few ideas about providing feedback would include the following:

• Reflect what you understood from the message
• Talk to someone that attended the sermon about one thing you learned
• Ask the pastor/speaker questions to clarify certain points
• Summarize the pastor's/speaker's comments periodically in your notes/mentally
• Comment to the pastor/speaker about what you received from the message

 

The plan for tonight is for the ladies to discuss how they are active listeners during a sermon.  I will then take the time to introduce them to the Cornell Method of note taking.  The challenge will be for them to use this method to take notes during one of the sermons they hear this week.  Next week, we will share our experience in taking notes and give feedback about this method of note taking.  Please join us in our attempt at being a more active listener during sermons and using tools such as the Cornell Method to help us.  Leave a comment describing how you are an active listener during sermons and how you use note taking as a tool to keep you focused.