Why Can't You Pay Attention in Worship?

“And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:13
 
It’s a burden for every pastor that I know.  People show up for a church service dressed appropriately and talking the talk, so to speak.  Service begins and somebody isn’t singing.  They’re talking.  Maybe it’s talking to a kid or to a spouse or to a friend – who knows?  But nonetheless, the worship of God is being put aside for idle chatter. 
 
Then, the singing is done.  The pastor steps into the pulpit to preach the sermon he’s studied for all week while praying that God would enable him to reach the flock.  His hope for the past several days is that hearts and minds would be changed by this sermon.  Hours have gone into the study and preparation.  Words (English, Greek, Hebrew – all) defined…phrases laboriously studied…notes became an outline.  He rose up early Sunday morning while everyone was still asleep to restudy his outline in prayer that God would use him that day.  He glances out to his flock that he cares for so deeply – the flock he has studied to feed.  More idle chatter…more talking…people engaged in conversation that clearly has nothing to do with God or worship.  Why does this happen?
 
If you struggle to listen to a pastor exposit God’s Word for you, something is wrong.  First things first, if you’re an adult, you should be able to show enough respect for God and the man He has called to lead you by listening to what he has to say.  It’s simply disrespectful to ignore a man that has put in so much effort the past week – for you and the good of your soul.  And if the pastor is worth his pay, he’s put in far more effort than you will ever realize in this life.  None of us would appreciate such an attitude on a personal level.  Yet, many believers struggle with it.  We must learn to respect those God has placed over us to lead us – “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you” (Hebrews 13:17)
 
I don’t begin to have all the answers as to why people get up, bathe and drive to church only to sit there on their cell phone and talk with their neighbor.  There is no common sense in that.  And furthermore, it shows that we (as citizens of a free country) are completely spoiled.  There are believers today in other parts of the world putting their lives on the line every time they assemble.  Can we not at least respect them?
 
But honestly, respect isn’t nearly the whole issue.  There’s a root cause as to why you might think it’s OK to “visit” during the services rather than pay attention to the Word of God as it’s preached – to you.  Maybe you aren’t saved.  I guess that’s quite a bomb to drop.  But in our text verse above, Paul differentiates the salvation of the believers in Thessalonica as it compared to those that didn’t regard the Word of God as worthy to hear.  If you don’t care about the preaching of God’s Word and you feel talking to your neighbor (and thereby hindering their listening) is more to be preferred than listening attentively, that’s a great cause for concern.  Something is gravely off and it may be a false profession on your part. 


That said, some true believers certainly waver from time to time in their walk with Christ.  The Word of God is often laid aside for other secular things in life.  Perhaps athletics or some hobby or children or even work has so drawn your attention that it’s difficult to focus on God.  Let us all remember that we must “not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20).  Jesus followed this instruction up with this declaration – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).  If your heart just isn’t in church worship, your treasure isn’t either.  Don’t fool yourself.  Your priorities are off.  Take note, “…the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7).  God Himself knows what’s going on even if you are able to fool those around you. 
 
Don’t pass up the opportunity to listen to God’s Word preached.  Don’t flippantly sit in worship visiting with your neighbor while the pastor shares his hours of labor in God’s Word with you.  I have sat in the living room of a dying man with tears flowing down his face as he admitted how he’d had far less regard than he should have for God’s Word and the preaching of it.  If you are a child of God, you will face the same death with the same regrets as that man if you treat the worship service flippantly.  We are blessed (for now) to be free in America to sit in a congregation that preaches God’s Word (if your church doesn’t, you need to find a new church).  You will certainly look back and wish you’d listened if you don’t now.  Remember, you, as a church body, hired a man to care for your souls.  Allow him to do the job you called him to do.  You can only do this when you approach the preaching of God’s Word attentively and prayerfully.