Any good pastor or preacher is trying to inspire you to take action through his or her sermon.  In order for that to happen, you have to take in the message, ponder it, and then come up with a way to act upon it.  However, many of us let the Sunday sermon go in one ear and out of the other, so to speak.

Oh, don’t get me wrong-we have the best of intentions.  We hear the message and think, “This is exactly what I needed to hear today!”  We think about the impact that the sermon will have on our lives in those few moments.  And then we head home to our daily routines, and the important message is too soon forgotten.

One way that you can keep your focus on how that sermon spoke to you is to journal about it in the week following the church service.  I’ve designed a series of prompts that you could use each week, one for each day following the service.  I intentionally did not attach weekday names to them, since I realize that not everyone hears sermons on Sunday.  Just pick right up with the beginning of the series each time you listen to a sermon, and see what happens.  Try them out, and let me know what you think!

• The day you hear the sermon: Begin by summarizing the message that you heard.  Write it down clearly and in your own words.  Now, write a prayer asking for help to apply these truths into your life in the next few days.
• Day 2: What Scripture passages did the pastor refer to in the sermon?  Or, if you prefer, what Scripture passages does this sermon bring to mind for you?  Note the Biblical reference and read them.  What thoughts come into your mind based on these verses?  How do they connect with or support the sermon you heard yesterday?
• Day 3: All good sermons include some kind of a call to action.  What was the call to action in the sermon you heard the other day?  In what way does it apply to you?  What aspect of your behavior, your spiritual life, your relationships, or other part of your life will you change as a result of hearing this sermon? What can you do differently right now?
• Day 4: What did you do differently today than yesterday as a result of hearing the sermon this week?  What difference did that change make?  Will you continue in this new direction tomorrow?  Why or why not?  Write a prayer asking for God’s guidance in this matter.
• Day 5: What will it take to make this new change a habit in your daily life?  What steps can you take today to make this change permanent?
• Day 6: Looking back, how have you truly grown from hearing the sermon last week?  What has changed?  Find a Scripture verse that will remind you of what you have been called to do and write it in your journal.  You can also put it on a card or note and post it somewhere that you see regularly.  Set a date to look back to examine your routines and discover if this change that you have implemented truly was permanent.

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Don’t forget that we are journaling our way through Genesis, and the next installment will be posted on Sunday, January 31, 2016.  You’ll want to become a member of the group to get the prompts, so sign up today at Journaling Through the Bible.  It’s free, private and completely personal.  There’s an optional group for sharing the things you feel comfortable with, but absolutely no pressure.  Enjoy!