Some years ago the Wittenburg Door put out a book called ' 101 Things To Do During A Dull Sermon' by Tim Sims and Dan Pegoda. Here is a portion:
A Modest Proposal
Write a letter to the church board proposing a lottery to help finance the new building program. Be certain you have done adequate research by playing the lottery a few times yourself before making the proposal. (Deduct your losses by describing your activity as 'religious research'.)
Six Days You Shall Labor
Since many people in your congregation only work five days a week, devise a list of jobs for the sixth day and submit it to those people after church. Job ideas might include work on the church property, publicity, visitation, painting your swimming pool, etc.. Your fellow worshippers will be so glad for your help in this matter.
Methusehah
See how many words you can make out of the word Methuselah.
Score:
1-9 words - Some boring spots in sermon
10-20 words - Lots of boring spots in sermon
21-40 words - Totally boring sermon
41 or more words - Even the minister is bored and has decided to help you.
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Write a note to your preacher offering to loan him all of your camping gear if he will take off for a few weeks.
Ananias & Sapphira List
With due consideration for the net worth of each member and their motives for giving, list the names of the 'Ten Most Likely To Be Struck Dead During The Offering'.
Jumbled Context
Open your Bible at random and point to a verse. write it down. Repeat the process until you've received a personal message from scripture. Example: 'Pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads...' (Acts 21:24) '...and your Father who sees in secret will reward you', (Matthew 6:18).
Missionary Pilot
Using bulletins or attendance cards for raw materials, design, test and modify a collection of paper airplanes.
Request
Pass a note to the organist asking whether he/she plays requests.
Yawn
See if a yawn really is contagious.
Potty Break
Raise your hand and ask permission to go to the toilet.
Turn The Other Cheek
Slap your neighbour. See if he or she turns the other cheek. If he or she doesn't, raise your hand and tell the pastor.
To Bernie Or Not To Bernie
Pass a note to someone named Bernie, but first make sure there is no-one named Bernie in your congregation.
Liberal Church Altar Call
If you are attending a liberal church, come forward to be 'born again' toward the end of the sermon: that will really throw things into a tizzy.
Hot Message
Sound travels faster at high temperatures. Ask the church janitor to turn off the air conditioning so the sermon would reach you sooner and end earlier.
1000 Years
If, in the Lord's sight, a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day, how many years would this sermon be consuming if it were a thousand year day? Share your answer with the pastor.
Can you think of anything else to do during a dull sermon?
A Modest Proposal
Write a letter to the church board proposing a lottery to help finance the new building program. Be certain you have done adequate research by playing the lottery a few times yourself before making the proposal. (Deduct your losses by describing your activity as 'religious research'.)
Six Days You Shall Labor
Since many people in your congregation only work five days a week, devise a list of jobs for the sixth day and submit it to those people after church. Job ideas might include work on the church property, publicity, visitation, painting your swimming pool, etc.. Your fellow worshippers will be so glad for your help in this matter.
Methusehah
See how many words you can make out of the word Methuselah.
Score:
1-9 words - Some boring spots in sermon
10-20 words - Lots of boring spots in sermon
21-40 words - Totally boring sermon
41 or more words - Even the minister is bored and has decided to help you.
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Write a note to your preacher offering to loan him all of your camping gear if he will take off for a few weeks.
Ananias & Sapphira List
With due consideration for the net worth of each member and their motives for giving, list the names of the 'Ten Most Likely To Be Struck Dead During The Offering'.
Jumbled Context
Open your Bible at random and point to a verse. write it down. Repeat the process until you've received a personal message from scripture. Example: 'Pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads...' (Acts 21:24) '...and your Father who sees in secret will reward you', (Matthew 6:18).
Missionary Pilot
Using bulletins or attendance cards for raw materials, design, test and modify a collection of paper airplanes.
Request
Pass a note to the organist asking whether he/she plays requests.
Yawn
See if a yawn really is contagious.
Potty Break
Raise your hand and ask permission to go to the toilet.
Turn The Other Cheek
Slap your neighbour. See if he or she turns the other cheek. If he or she doesn't, raise your hand and tell the pastor.
To Bernie Or Not To Bernie
Pass a note to someone named Bernie, but first make sure there is no-one named Bernie in your congregation.
Liberal Church Altar Call
If you are attending a liberal church, come forward to be 'born again' toward the end of the sermon: that will really throw things into a tizzy.
Hot Message
Sound travels faster at high temperatures. Ask the church janitor to turn off the air conditioning so the sermon would reach you sooner and end earlier.
1000 Years
If, in the Lord's sight, a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day, how many years would this sermon be consuming if it were a thousand year day? Share your answer with the pastor.
Can you think of anything else to do during a dull sermon?
