How to take sermon notes you'll actually use

Most of us have a notebook full of sermon notes we never opened again. The problem usually isn't the sermon, and it isn't that we didn't write enough. It's that our notes were written to record what was said, not to help us do something about it.

Good sermon notes are short, specific and pointed at your week. Here is a simple way to take them.

1. Write down the main scripture first

Before anything else, write the passage the message is built on. If the preacher reads from more than one place, note the one they keep coming back to. Everything else you write hangs on this, and it's what you'll return to during the week.

2. Capture the one big idea, in a single sentence

Most sermons have one main point, even when they have five sub-points. Try to put it in one sentence in your own words. If you can't, listen for the line the preacher repeats or slows down on. That's usually it.

If you only write one thing all service, write this sentence. You can rebuild a lot from it later.

3. Note the illustrations and phrases that landed

A story, an example or a phrase that hit you is what will bring the message back to mind on Wednesday. You don't need the whole story. A few words is enough: "the farmer who kept checking the seed" will do.

4. Skip what you don't need

• You don't need every sub-point word for word.
• You don't need to copy out every verse; the reference is enough.
• You don't need neat handwriting or perfect structure. Notes are for you.

5. End with one question: what will I do?

This is the step most notes leave out, and it's the one that matters most. Before you close your notebook, write one small thing you will do this week because of what you heard. Make it specific enough that you'll know when it's done.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

"Pray more" is hard to do. "Pray for my sister by name every morning before I check my phone" is easy to do, and easy to know you've done.

6. Look at your notes again within 48 hours

What we don't revisit, we lose. A quick look on Monday or Tuesday, reading your one sentence, your scripture and your action step, is often enough to carry the message into your week. Set a reminder if it helps.

Let the app do the busywork

The Doer Life does steps 1 to 5 for you. Record the sermon, snap a photo of your notebook or paste a YouTube link, and it pulls out the main scripture, a short summary, confessions, prayer points and three small action steps for the week. Then it reminds you to actually do them.