Distractions during sermon

[Classik]

What can really get one distracted during a message?

Poorly worded message? The preacher whom you don't like? What?

 

[Willie T]

Myself.

 

[Kathi]

Well,a boring sermon.I used to go to this Church and the pastor would put me to sleep.It was not the words it was the way he delivered the words.I then went to a Community Church and I loved the Pastors sermons.His words were thought provoking and he was funny.When he was done I had learned so much about the history of the Bible and its characters but he delivered his message with love.I could really feel that he loved the Lord.

 

[Classik]

Myself.

I think this is 70 per cent the problem

 

[WIP]

Well,a boring sermon.I used to go to this Lutheran Church and the pastor would put me to sleep.It was not the words it was the way he delivered the words.I then went to a Community Church and I loved the Pastors sermons.His words were thought provoking and he was funny.When he was done I had learned so much about the history of the Bible and its characters but he delivered his message with love.I could really feel that he loved the Lord.

Not to take this off track but why did you bring up the denomination in your post? I don't see how denomination has anything to do with the ability of the one delivering the sermon. I remember as a child growing up attending a Catholic church where the sermon was very enlightening and funny while delivering a clear message even for me as a child. Catholic priests are not typically notorious for their upbeat sermons.

 

[Kathi]

Not to take this off track but why did you bring up the denomination in your post? I don't see how denomination has anything to do with the ability of the one delivering the sermon. I remember as a child growing up attending a Catholic church of all places where the sermon was very enlightening and funny while delivering a clear message even for me as a child.

I did not think mentioning "Lutheran" was an issue.The denomination had nothing to do with my issues with the Pastors sermon.Are you being too sensative?

 

[Obadiah]

...the pastor would put me to sleep.It was not the words it was the way he delivered the words....

Was it Reverend Lovejoy from the Simpsons?

 

[Kathi]

I did not think mentioning "Lutheran" was an issue.The denomination had nothing to do with my issues with the Pastors sermon.Are you being too sensative?

I deleted the denomination in my post.

 

[Kathi]

Was it Reverend Lovejoy from the Simpsons?

I don't remember him.I saw alot of the Simpson episodes.I know my kids would know.Remember the neighbor Mr.Flanders?The Simpsons made him out to be a real simpleton because he was a Christian.

 

[WIP]

I did not think mentioning "Lutheran" was an issue.The denomination had nothing to do with my issues with the Pastors sermon.Are you being too sensative?

No, not being sensitive but I thought it was interesting since I also know you once indicated that you attended a Lutheran church in the past but didn't find it appealing or impressive or something along those lines. Are you harboring negative feelings toward Lutheran churches perhaps?

 

[Kathi]

No, not being sensitive but I thought it was interesting since I also know you once indicated that you attended a Lutheran church in the past but didn't find it appealing or impressive or something along those lines. Are you harboring negative feelings toward Lutheran churches perhaps?

The only negative feelings I have is that I lost so many years of really getting to know God and the Bible.But then that brings up bad feelings to those who attend a Lutheran Church.That is my choice and my choice alone.

 

[Obadiah]

I don't remember him.I saw alot of the Simpson episodes.I know my kids would know.Remember the neighbor Mr.Flanders?The Simpsons made him out to be a real simpleton because he was a Christian.

LOL, yeah, they weren't too kind to Flander's were they? But then, he was a strange kind of dude!

Lovejoy was the pastor of the church Flanders and the Simpsons attended. His style of preaching was one of saying very little in the way of actual content, but dragging it out as long as possible by saying his words VERY slowly with many long pauses in inappropriate places and using a tone of voice that completely lacked any hint of emotion at all. Very good for inducing sleep! :yes

 

[Kathi]

LOL, yeah, they weren't too kind to Flander's were they? But then, he was a strange kind of dude!

Lovejoy was the pastor of the church Flanders and the Simpsons attended. His style of preaching was one of saying very little in the way of actual content, but dragging it out as long as possible by saying his words VERY slowly with many long pauses in inappropriate places and using a tone of voice that completely lacked any hint of emotion at all. Very good for inducing sleep! :yes

The character that the Simpsons made Flanders out to be was a goody two shoes.Another words that is what all Christians come off as.

 

[Claudya]

A lot of stuff can get people distracted.

Personally I just don't enjoy sitting around for 20 min and do nothing but listen. Sitting still is a bit of a problem for me. Even if the sermon is real good my mind starts wandering. Even more so if some serious important personal stuff is going on in my life.

On those sundays when I'm sound tech I get totally distracted and fascinated by the blinking lights on the mixer console, and the synchronicity of the lights. Seriously. That kind of stuff is more amazing to pay attention to than the sermon. Maybe my mental devlopment stopped at age 5....
Or I keep worrying about whether the sound is too loud/ too low/ distorted/ too high or low pitched, and so on.
So being a volunteer that helps make the service work actually keeps me from listening to the sermon.

 

[Kathi]

A lot of stuff can get people distracted.

Personally I just don't enjoy sitting around for 20 min and do nothing but listen. Sitting still is a bit of a problem for me. Even if the sermon is real good my mind starts wandering. Even more so if some serious important personal stuff is going on in my life.

On those sundays when I'm sound tech I get totally distracted and fascinated by the blinking lights on the mixer console, and the synchronicity of the lights. Seriously. That kind of stuff is more amazing to pay attention to than the sermon. Maybe my mental devlopment stopped at age 5....
Or I keep worrying about whether the sound is too loud/ too low/ distorted/ too high or low pitched, and so on.
So being a volunteer that helps make the service work actually keeps me from listening to the sermon.

ADD?

 

[Claudya]

ADD?

Kind of. Not bad enough to be diagnosed and treated for it, but yeah I ---- Oh, look, I found a picture of a hadgehog carrying marshmellows!!! Isn't that awesome? :shock

 

[Obadiah]

A lot of stuff can get people distracted.

Personally I just don't enjoy sitting around for 20 min and do nothing but listen. Sitting still is a bit of a problem for me. Even if the sermon is real good my mind starts wandering. Even more so if some serious important personal stuff is going on in my life.

On those sundays when I'm sound tech I get totally distracted and fascinated by the blinking lights on the mixer console, and the synchronicity of the lights. Seriously. That kind of stuff is more amazing to pay attention to than the sermon. Maybe my mental devlopment stopped at age 5....
Or I keep worrying about whether the sound is too loud/ too low/ distorted/ too high or low pitched, and so on.
So being a volunteer that helps make the service work actually keeps me from listening to the sermon.

I'm exactly the same when I'm running sound. Only for me it's been every Sunday for the last 3 years with no break. When we use our talents to facilitate worship we are supposed to do the job to the best of our abilities and that takes concentration. You can't do that while concentrating on something else such as singing along with the congregation or listening to the sermon. Even if it's just the sermon, If the pastor suddenly walks in front of a speaker, you better be ready for it and cut the fader some BEFORE he gets too close, cause if your congregation's anything like mine they will literally crucify you for allowing a little feedback! (But of course, when things go well, they think you are just some amateur up there twiddling knobs at random hoping to get it right once in a while.) Yet people just seem to think people who do jobs in church like you do are still able to worship just the same as they do.

The pastor and I were talking the other day about how neither of us (since we are the only two who are there every Sunday without fail, first two in the door and last two to leave) has been able to actually "worship God" in a Sunday service for a long long time. It's not ADD. It's not lack of caring or spiritual immaturity. It's what it takes to serve God to the best of your ability when your place of service involves facilitating worship for everyone else.

Also, if... oh, nice hedgehog.

 

[Kathi]

Kind of. Not bad enough to be diagnosed and treated for it, but yeah I ---- Oh, look, I found a picture of a hadgehog carrying marshmellows!!! Isn't that awesome? :shock

Ya,add some graham crackers and some chocolate...Yummy.

 

[Claudya]

Obadiah Thanks for your kind words.

I'm exactly the same when I'm running sound. Only for me it's been every Sunday for the last 3 years with no break. When we use our talents to facilitate worship we are supposed to do the job to the best of our abilities and that takes concentration. You can't do that while concentrating on something else such as singing along with the congregation or listening to the sermon. Even if it's just the sermon, If the pastor suddenly walks in front of a speaker, you better be ready for it and cut the fader some BEFORE he gets too close, cause if your congregation's anything like mine they will literally crucify you for allowing a little feedback!

I'm glad our pastors don't walk around while preaching. However, one sunday one of our worship team singers managed to drop the mic while getting on stage for the last song. That'd already be bad enough, but she also dropped it right in front of a monitor speaker. 2
Thank God the guy that taught me all the sound tech stuff had told me many times to always mute everything that isn't being used. So nothing bad happened. Nobody could have reacted that fast even if they had been paying attention closely.

Anyway there were a few incidences when someone was speaking/ singing to a muted mic because I wasn't paying attention. :-(
Lucky for me my church people are too lazy to crucify anyone.

(But of course, when things go well, they think you are just some amateur up there twiddling knobs at random hoping to get it right once in a while.) Yet people just seem to think people who do jobs in church like you do are still able to worship just the same as they do.

Yeah and someone will always complain. Pastors/ preachers must have the hardest job at all.

The pastor and I were talking the other day about how neither of us (since we are the only two who are there every Sunday without fail, first two in the door and last two to leave) has been able to actually "worship God" in a Sunday service for a long long time. It's not ADD. It's not lack of caring or spiritual immaturity. It's what it takes to serve God to the best of your ability when your place of service involves facilitating worship for everyone else.

I really hope you find other ways of worshipping Him. Though I think your work counts as worship in God's book. But you need some kind of worship for yourself, to recreate and refill yourself if you know what I mean.

 

[Kathi]

a fart

Yes....this is a poorly worded message.