How to take sermon notes that you'll actually use

To take sermon notes, write down the main Bible passage, the preacher's big idea in one sentence, the main points with their verses, and one thing you'll do in response. Use three columns: what was said, where it is in Scripture, and your own response. Then review your notes within 24 hours, while the sermon is still fresh.

Good sermon notes are not a transcript. They're a map back to the passage, so you can find what God said through that sermon again later in the week.

This guide covers the whole cycle: the five minutes before the service, the 3-column method during the sermon, a full sample page, and the paper versus app question (including when and how to record).

Why take sermon notes at all?

Jesus told his listeners, "Take heed therefore how ye hear" (Luke 8:18). James warns about the person who hears the word, walks away and "straightway forgetteth" (James 1:24). Note-taking won't make you a doer of the word by itself, but it slows you down enough to actually hear.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

There's also a practical reason. Memory research shows that information you never revisit fades quickly, and that actively recalling it later helps it last. In a well-known study, Roediger and Karpicke (2006) found that students who practiced recalling a passage remembered substantially more after two days and after one week than students who simply restudied it. Sermon notes give you something to recall from.

Notes also turn one hour on Sunday into material for the rest of the week: a short study, a conversation with a friend, a verse to memorize.

Before the sermon: five minutes that make the notes better

Most people start taking notes when the preacher starts talking. You'll get more out of it if you start a few minutes earlier.

1. Find the passage. Many churches list the text in the bulletin, on the screen or in their app. Read it once before the sermon begins. If your church preaches through a book, glance at last week's notes to remember where you left off.
2. Set up the page. Write the date, the preacher's name, the sermon title and the main passage at the top. Draw your three columns (more on that below).
3. Pray one sentence. Something like "Lord, show me one thing in this passage I need to hear today." It sets your posture as a listener, not a critic.
4. Silence your phone, or put it in airplane mode if you take notes on it, so notifications don't pull you away.

If you want a ready-made page instead of drawing lines, use our printable sermon notes template.

If you'd rather not write and listen at the same time, the app can record the sermon (where your church allows it) and give you a transcript and summary afterward.

During the sermon: what to write down

You can't write everything, and you shouldn't try. A typical sermon of 30 to 40 minutes contains thousands of spoken words. Notes of 100 to 200 words are plenty if they're the right ones.

Listen for these five things:

Things you can usually skip: most illustrations and stories (write two words to jog your memory), announcements, and long quotes. If a sentence really hits you, write it down word for word and put it in quotation marks so you know it's the preacher's phrasing and not yours.

The 3-column method

Divide your page into three vertical columns:

1. What was said: the big idea and main points, in your own short words.
2. Scripture: every reference mentioned, next to the point it supports.
3. My response: questions, things to look up, something to pray, something to do.

The third column is the one that changes you, because it forces you to answer "so what?" while the sermon is still happening. If you only fill one box in that column, make it a specific action for this week.

The layout is loosely based on the Cornell note-taking style many students use, with a dedicated Scripture column added.

A sample page of sermon notes

Here's what a page might look like for a sample sermon on the parable of the prodigal son. The sermon outline below is an example we wrote to show the method, not a real sermon.

Date: Sunday, October 25 · Passage: Luke 15:11-32 · Title: "Two lost sons"

Big idea: Both sons were far from the father; one left home, the other never left but didn't know him either.

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

One sentence to remember: The father came out for both sons.

This week I will: Call my brother before Thursday.

That's around 150 words. It fits on one side of a page and takes a minute to reread. You can read the full story in our page on the parable of the prodigal son, or check yourself with the Luke quiz.

Quick quiz: Luke

To whom does Luke dedicate his Gospel?

TimothyTheophilusTitusPhilemon

To whom does an angel announce the Savior’s birth on the very night Jesus is born in Bethlehem?

To magi from the EastTo King Herod in his palaceTo shepherds in the fieldsTo the priests of the temple

Which tree does Zacchaeus climb to see Jesus?

A sycamoreA fig treeAn olive treeA palm tree

Continue the quiz

There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start free, no card needed.

After the sermon: the 24-hour review

The best sermon notes in the world don't help if the notebook stays closed until next Sunday. Take ten minutes on Sunday afternoon or Monday morning:

1. Reread your notes once. Fill in anything you abbreviated while it's still fresh.
2. Look up every verse in column two. Read each one in context, a few verses before and after.
3. Close the notebook and recall. Can you say the big idea and the main points from memory? This is the step that matters most, and it's the one most people skip.
4. Pick your one response and put it on your calendar.

Spacing your reviews over several days works better than one long session. A large review of 317 experiments by Cepeda and colleagues (2006) found that spreading out practice improves long-term retention compared with cramming it together. For a full Monday-to-Saturday routine, see what to do with sermon notes after church. To build a small study from one sermon, use our 5-day plan for turning a sermon into a Bible study.

Paper or app: which is better for sermon notes?

Both work. The right choice depends on how you listen and what you want to do with the notes later.

A hybrid works well for many people: take short notes on paper during the service, then scan the page into an app afterward so it becomes searchable. Bible Academy's sermon notes (called "Teachings" in the app) can scan handwritten notes, turn every verse reference into a link, and export a PDF. We compare the options in more depth in our guide to the best sermon notes app.

Is it OK to record a sermon?

Often, yes, but it isn't your call alone. Many churches already livestream or post their sermons online, and they're usually glad for members to listen again. Others have policies about recording, especially for guest speakers, special services or small-group settings where people share personal things.

A few simple rules:

• Check your church's policy first. If you can't find one, ask a pastor or staff member before the service.
• Record only the sermon, not the prayer time or testimonies. People share things in church they don't expect to be captured.
• Keep recordings for your own study. Don't post or share them without permission.
• Be discreet. Phone face down, screen off, no distractions for the people next to you.

When recording is allowed, it lets you listen without scrambling to write. The app's sermon recording gives you a transcript and a summary afterward, with every verse turned into a link you can tap. Our sermon transcription app guide covers recording etiquette and privacy in more detail.

If you want your notes, scans and recordings searchable in one place, with every verse a tap away, that's what the app's sermon notes are for.

Tips that make sermon notes easier

• Use abbreviations. "J" for Jesus, "G" for God, "HS" for Holy Spirit, an arrow for "leads to," a star for something you want to remember.
• Leave white space. Skip lines between points so you can add verses or thoughts later.
• Write questions, not just answers. A question in column three ("Why did the father run?") gives you something to study on Tuesday.
• Don't argue in your notes. If you disagree with something, write a neutral question and look it up at home, like the Bereans who "searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). Our page on the Bereans tells the story.
• Number your notebooks. If you keep paper notes, write the passage on the spine or the first page so you can find "that sermon on James" in a year. Our summary of the book of James is a good place to start if your church is preaching through it.
• Take notes with your kids. A simple version for children is to draw one picture from the passage and write one word they remember.

Frequently asked questions

What should I write in my sermon notes?

Write the main passage, the preacher's big idea in one sentence, the main points with the verses that support them, and one response of your own. Add any question you want to look up later. Skip most illustrations and announcements. Around 100 to 200 words is enough for a typical 30- to 40-minute sermon.

How do you take notes in church without missing the sermon?

Write less. Capture keywords and references instead of full sentences, and listen for structural cues like "first," "second" and "if you remember one thing." Leave white space and fill in details right after the service. If your church permits recording, recording lets you listen fully and review the transcript later.

Is it disrespectful to take notes on your phone in church?

It depends on your church's culture. Many congregations are used to people reading the Bible and taking notes on phones. To avoid distraction, turn on airplane mode or silence notifications, keep the screen dim and stay in your notes app. If you're unsure, ask a pastor, or use paper during the service and scan it in afterward.

What is the 3-column method for sermon notes?

The 3-column method divides your page into "What was said," "Scripture," and "My response." The first column holds the big idea and main points, the second holds every verse reference next to the point it supports, and the third holds your questions, prayers and actions. It keeps application on the page during the sermon instead of leaving it for later.

How long should sermon notes be?

For a 30- to 40-minute sermon, 100 to 200 words is usually enough. That fits on one side of a page and takes about a minute to reread. Longer notes often mean you were transcribing instead of listening. The goal is a page you can review quickly and recall from, not a complete record.

Should I record sermons instead of taking notes?

Recording helps if your church allows it and you actually go back to it. A transcript and summary let you review details you missed. But hearing well still matters during the service, so many people combine both: they listen and jot a few notes in the moment, then use the recording or transcript for their review later in the week.