TAKING NOTES WHILE LISTENING TO

A SERMON OR BIBLE STUDY

 

This guide is about how to make effective notes during a sermon at church or in our personal bible studies. There are various techniques which you can use, but you should consider how you can develop your own style of note-taking that will enhance not only how you take notes but how your note taking can encourage your spiritual knowledge and growth. Note making is not just about writing down everything you hear or read. It is a process of reviewing, connecting and synthesizing ideas from your lectures or reading.

 

Making notes helps you to:

 

Stay active and engaged during sermons, Bible studies, your quiet times and reading the Bible.

 

Understand what you are learning and clarify your thinking

 

Be selective and identify key ideas.

 

Remember the material.

 

Organize your ideas and make connections between key points you see in scripture.

 

Plan and structure your written notes so they can be helpful when you come back to them for review.

 

Review and revise your notes on a regular basis as you grow in spiritual knowledge.

 

What your notes should contain:

 

The date and source of notes taken – this can help you remember the context of your note taking.

 

Headings to help you identify the key topics.

 

Key points, examples, names, new ideas.

 

Triggers to make your notes more memorable – such as mnemonics, color or drawings.

 

Further reading and ideas to follow up later.

 

Consider developing a system of symbols and abbreviations to help you speed up your note taking. You can create a list that works for you. This will reduce the amount of writing and help you quickly recall information. 

 

You also might like to consider recording the source of your notes if you are listening to a sermon or reading a book. This will help you if you wish to consult the source again or find additional information from that same source.

 

Three stages of note making.

Note making doesn’t only happen when you are reading or attending Bible studies and listening to church sermons. There are three stages to making effective notes: before, during, and after.

 

Before: Prepare by finding out what scripture is being addressed in the sermon or Bible study.

 

During: Note down main ideas and keywords. Find techniques that work for you.

 

After: Reflect and review and then organize your notes.

 

Application: Never forget that you listen to sermons, participate in Bible Studies and set aside time for personal devotions to encourage your spiritual growth in Christ. Such disciplines are extremely important to your spiritual growth in Christ.