How to Take Sermon Notes: A Simple Template

Take sermon notes by recording the Bible passage, a short summary of the message, the key ideas you want to revisit, one question, and one response for the week. Use brief phrases while listening, then review them alongside the passage afterward. A notebook or a simple note on your phone is enough.

You do not need to capture every sentence. Start with a few lines you can find and understand later. If writing makes it harder to follow the message, listen first and complete your notes afterward.

This guide is for people listening to a sermon at church or returning to a recording. The template below is a suggested layout you can copy into a notebook or your usual notes app.

Before the sermon: prepare one place for your notes

Write the date, speaker, sermon title if available, and main Bible passage at the top. If your church provides an outline, use that instead of copying a second one.

Leave space for these four things:

• The main idea, in your own words.
• A few points with their Scripture references.
• A question to revisit.
• A response or next step.

On a phone, open the note before the message begins and reduce notifications if that helps you listen. On paper, leave a margin for questions and later corrections. Choose the format you can use comfortably; elaborate headings and color systems are optional.

During the sermon: capture the thread of the message

Keep the passage beside the point

Write references such as “Mark 4:35–41” beside the relevant idea. If several passages are mentioned, distinguish the main passage from supporting references.

When you review a point, read the surrounding passage too. BibleProject's article on the culture that shaped the Bible explains why understanding a passage's original cultural setting matters when interpreting Scripture. A note should help you return to that context. Read BibleProject's explanation of biblical context.

Use your own words and short phrases

Try to summarize the main idea in one sentence. Record a few supporting points that help you follow it, rather than trying to copy everything the speaker says.

Separate three kinds of notes:

• The speaker's point: your summary of what you heard.
• The passage: a reference or a detail you want to examine.
• Your response: a question, prayer, or possible action.

If you miss a sentence, leave a gap and keep listening. Use quotation marks only when you are confident you captured the words accurately. Otherwise, mark the note as a paraphrase.

Mark questions without rushing to settle them

A question mark can be enough during the sermon. You might write “What does this word mean here?” or “How does this point connect to the previous paragraph?”

Cru's Bible study guide distinguishes observing a passage, interpreting it, making connections, and considering an application. Those distinctions offer a useful way to review a question afterward without treating your first impression as a settled answer. See Cru's Bible study process.

Copy this sermon notes template

Copy the following prompts onto one page, or paste them into a note and add space beneath each. You can print the copied version if you prefer writing by hand. Use as much or as little of the layout as you need.

Sermon notes

Date:

Church / speaker:

Title, if given:

Main Bible passage:

Main idea in my own words:

Points to revisit, with Bible references:

Point 1 / reference:

Point 2 / reference:

Point 3 / reference:

A question I want to explore:

My response — a prayer, conversation, further reading, or practical action:

When I will return to this:

After reviewing — something I clarified, corrected, or still need to ask:

This is a flexible prompt sheet. You can record one important point instead of three, or leave the response open until you have read the passage again.

A fictional example of a completed note

The example below illustrates the layout for a fictional sermon on the Good Samaritan. It is not taken from a real sermon or speaker. Read the example alongside Luke 10:25–37, then use your own sermon and passage when completing the template.

Date: Example Sunday

Church / speaker: Local church / visiting speaker

Title: Mercy that becomes action

Main Bible passage: Luke 10:25–37

Main idea in my own words: The message invited us to notice people in need and respond with practical mercy.

Point to revisit: The Samaritan cared for the injured traveler and arranged further help, Luke 10:33–35.

Question: How does Jesus' closing question change the way I think about being a neighbor?

My response: Make time for a conversation with someone I have been too busy to listen to.

When I will return to this: Tuesday evening, to reread the passage and check my response.

After reviewing: Still to ask — how Jesus' question in verses 36–37 relates to the lawyer's question in verse 29. My planned conversation is my own response, not something the passage specifies.

Your own note can be much shorter. The useful part is having enough detail to return to the message and the passage honestly.

After the sermon: review, clarify, and respond

Choose a short time during the week to reopen the note. Read the main passage and check whether your summary still makes sense. Fill gaps from a church-provided outline or recording if one is available.

Keep corrections visible. You might add “I initially wrote X; after rereading, I think Y.” If a question remains, bring the passage and your specific question to an appropriate church teacher or group leader.

Then choose a response that fits what you have understood. It might be prayer, further reading, a conversation, or a practical action. You do not have to force every sermon into a task list.

If you are also returning to Bible reading after a break, see our simple plan for starting to read the Bible again.

If your church shares its sermons in TheFaithApp, the member app overview explains how members can return to church-published messages. Content depends on what your church makes available. Keep your personal notes wherever you prefer to write them.

Common questions about sermon notes

What if I cannot write and listen at the same time?

Listen without writing, then note the main passage, one idea, and one question afterward. Ask whether your church provides an outline, accessible text, or a recording. A completed sheet is optional.

Should I write on paper or use my phone?

Use the format that works comfortably for you. Paper provides room to sketch connections; a phone can make it easier to search your own notes. Try one for a few sermons and adjust if it interrupts your listening. Neither format is required.

What if I am listening to a recording?

Write down the sermon title or link so you can find it again. If the player shows timestamps, note a time beside a question. Pause or replay a section when you need to, and keep your summary separate from exact quotations.

Can I share my notes with a group?

Share the point or question you want to discuss, rather than assuming everyone needs the whole page. Clearly label your summaries as your own notes. Leave out other people's personal stories or identifying details when they do not belong in a shared discussion.

For your next sermon, start with just the passage, one main idea, and one question. Add the rest of the template only when it helps you listen and return to what you heard.