When the Church Service Ends, You Still Have to Live What You Learned

I was watching an online church service the other day, and I was so encouraged by what the pastor was saying. It was exactly what I needed to hear. It reminded me that what I’m gifted to do in life and ministry is important.

We feel empowered, encouraged, rejuvenated, energized when a pastor is speaking things that seem to pierce our hearts or answer questions that we’ve had. If the pastor is wise, he will have given you some simple, biblical steps to follow that will help you to make changes in your life for the better. Or, he might have stated a different, biblical perspective that should change the way you act in a specific situation.

Regardless of what the pastor said, when the live stream is over or the lights are turned off in the church building, if you want to grow in your life or change where you are, you have to live what you learned.

It’s easy to be excited and energized. It’s more challenging to make the necessary changes in our behaviors, attitudes, actions, and words.

So how do we keep going when our pastor, teacher, or mentor isn’t talking to us? If you’re like me, I still hear the voice of one of my mentors in my head even though she’s no longer alive. But it’s even more important to internalize the biblical principles that we’ve heard. How? By writing them, applying them immediately, and continuing to search the Bible to see other principles that encourage and guide us toward maturity.

Because that’s the goal. Maturity.

Any change requires decision, commitment, and effort. It’s easy to hear someone say something great or motivating, and when they’re done, we say, “Wow! Great talk.” And nothing changes in our lives. Then we complain, “Why is it always this way? Why can’t life be easier?”

It’s easy to complain. It’s easy to overlook the change in perspective and the actions that will put us on a different path.

So when you hear a minister saying something that seems to pierce your heart, answers a question, or gives a biblical direction, write it down. Pray about it. Decide what you’re going to do. Then do it. You’ll thank yourself later, and you’ll thank God for sending that wisdom to you.