(04 Sermon Notes) Reviewing, Reflecting, and Applying Your Sermon Notes
Notes
Transcript
Handout
10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
1. Reviewing: Going Back to What You Heard
1. Reviewing: Going Back to What You Heard
20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.
Why review?
Why review?
Helps you remember what God spoke to you.
Keeps truth from slipping away in the busyness of life (Hebrews 2:1).
1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
Practical Tips:
Review soon: Within 24 hours, read your notes again. This cements memory.
Highlight & Mark: Circle key words, underline main points, star verses that spoke to you.
Summarize in 1–2 Sentences: Ask, “What was the main idea of this sermon?”
This is the cognitive part of it.
Remembering the facts.
2. Reflecting: Meditating on the Truth
2. Reflecting: Meditating on the Truth
15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
Why reflect?
Why reflect?
Moves truth from information to transformation.
Reflection deepens understanding and opens your heart to the Spirit’s teaching.
Practical Tips:
Ask reflective questions
Ask reflective questions
What does this teach me about God’s character?
What attribute was highlighted today? (love, holiness, sovereignty, mercy)
How does this truth point me to Jesus and His finished work on the cross?
Is there a promise I can claim and memorize?
What does this reveal about my heart, my motives, or my actions?
Was I convicted of any sin, attitude, or area of unbelief?
What change does this call for in my life?
In what ways am I tempted to resist what I just heard? Why?
Turn notes into prayer
Turn notes into prayer
Rewrite key truths into a personal prayer. Example: If sermon was on forgiveness, pray, “Lord, help me forgive ___ as You forgave me.”
Discuss with others
Discuss with others
Share with a friend or small group.
Talking helps you process and internalize.
Talking helps you learn from others.
3. Applying: Living Out the Word
3. Applying: Living Out the Word
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Why apply?
Why apply?
Application is the bridge between hearing God’s Word and obeying it.
Without application, notes are just ink on paper.
Practical Tips:
Write an Action Step: At the end of your notes, jot one specific way to live out the sermon this week.
Example: “Text my coworker to reconcile.”
Set a Reminder: Put it in your phone or planner so you don’t forget.
Accountability Partner: Tell someone your takeaway and ask them to help you follow through.
Putting It All Together
Review: Cement truth in your memory.
Reflect: Meditate until it touches your heart.
Apply: Step out in obedience.
Activity Idea for Your Class
Have participants pull out an old set of notes.
Together, walk through:
Review — Summarize the sermon.
Reflect — Answer the reflective questions.
Apply — Write one action step for the week.
This shows them the process in real time.
Closing Challenge
Don’t let your sermon notes collect dust. Each page is a record of God speaking to you.
Challenge: This week, take 10 minutes after church to review, reflect, and write one action step.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
CLOSE WITH ANCIENT WORDS
