I don't take notes in church.

I used to. I think I have since I became a Christian. I've carried my cutesy, usually floral journal or notebook to church with my pen and Bible. (Lately, I've even carried my pencil pouch in. Now, that's serious business.) Brownie points, right?

Well, last week I read a blog entry from Ray Ortlund about taking notes in church, and I was taken aback. "I have often discouraged the taking of notes while I am preaching..." What?! Why not? Shouldn't we be writing down all the main points and nifty quotes and anything else we deem worthy of our paper and pen? 

I read on, "The first and primary object of preaching is not only to give information....While you are writing your notes, you may be missing something of the impact of the Spirit." 

Wow, I had never thought that through. While I'm taking notes as though I'm seated in a lecture hall, the Spirit of the Living God may be speaking to my heart. I may be too busy being studious to hear His voice. 

Today, I read this quote from Jonathan Edwards on another blog: "The main benefit that is obtained by preaching is by impression made upon the mind in the time of it, and not by the effect that arises afterwards by a remembrance of what was delivered." 

All this to say, I no longer take notes in church. I'm learning to sit under the preaching of the Word and let it soak into my heart. I jot down thoughts or impressions in the margins of my Bible or on my hand. (Sometimes I know I should pray or journal through something later and must remember it.) 

I'm now seeing God's Word as a means to greater intimacy with the Lord, rather than a way to just know more stuff about Him. Besides, here's a confession: I rarely...ahem...don't ever go back and look through sermon notes. 

“This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” ~Jesus, from John 17:3