Christian Colleges and Universities

Undoubtedly, if you’ve sat through hours of sermons, you’ve experienced a myriad of varying annoyances that have inhibited you from a fulfilling worshipping experience. People, including you and I, are imperfect, and sitting through an hour without the normal positive distractions to which we cling can leave us restless. Moreover, the sermon itself isn’t always mistake-free, which can make for some awkward moments. Below are 10 Sunday morning sermon distractions that most churchgoers have to endure.

1. Cell phones
   Where aren’t cell phones a distraction? These days, when people aren’t completely engaged in an activity, they pull out their cell phones to pass time by texting, playing games, surfing the internet or toying with some kind of new app. And, of course, there’s the random ringing of a congregation member’s cell phone, featuring the dulcet tones of everyone’s favorite ’80s and ’90s pop star.
2. Rambunctious children
   It’s not uncommon to hear the laughing, snickering, crying and chatting of rambunctious children in the congregation who lack the attention spans to stay seated and comprehend the sermon. In many cases, their parents have learned to tune them out – a skill few others sitting around them are fortunate enough to possess.
3. Sleepiness
   Sundays are generally considered days for relaxation. After staying up late on Friday and Saturday night, an extra couple of hours of sleep to cap off the weekend are well-deserved. But nodding off in church is disrespectful to the pastor and those who’ve worked hard to provide an enlightening sermon. So as you struggle to keep your eyes open, counting down to that afternoon nap, remember why you’re sitting there in the first place.
4. Tone-deaf singers
   Congregational singing can be a wild ride. Although everyone should be singing together, it’s simply not possible. Some of the more spirited members of the congregation may take it upon themselves to liven things up, but their tone-deafness makes the experience even less enjoyable. It’d be a lot easier if people would just go with the flow.
5. Bodily noises
   Most people don’t consider random bodily noises major distractions. But when it’s cold season and half of the congregation is suffering through its ill effects, it’s difficult to ignore the incessant sniffling, nose-blowing, coughing and wheezing. Additionally, knuckle-cracking and foot-tapping are year-round problems.
6. Inappropriate attire
   Now that most people don’t wear their Sunday’s best, it seems that many have taken to wearing their Sunday’s worst. The younger generation, I’m sure you’ve heard this complaint before – has adopted some outrageous styles, and they can be distracting in and outside of church. Some people show up dressed too casually, while others could stand to dress more conservatively; most men will tell you the excessive display of cleavage by women inevitably causes them to lose their concentration.
7. Invasion of space
   Churches aren’t known for providing comfortable seating arrangements. For the most part, it’s first come; first serve. And although you respect and care for your fellow church members, a few of them may distract you with their, likely unintentional, disregard for your personal space, which commonly occurs when they sit too close, invade your legroom or inadvertently hit or tap you.
8. Bad view
   If you weren’t blessed with above average height, finding a seat where you have full-view of the pastor can be a challenge. Plus, you never know who’ll sit in front of you. So if you have the misfortune of being seated behind Shaq, for example, you’re out of luck unless another seat with an unobstructed view is available.
9. Malfunctioning microphone
   Your pastor’s message can be muddled by a malfunctioning microphone that cuts in and out or fluctuates in volume, thus rendering the sermon ineffective. What’s more, when the microphone stops working altogether and there isn’t backup, your pastor is forced to rely on the power of his own voice for an hour, which may not be his strong-suit.
10. Temperature abnormalities
    Dealing with uncomfortably hot or cold temperatures while attending church was more of a distraction endured by previous generations of churchgoers than the present generation. However, if your church ever experiences problems with its cooling or heating system, you’ve probably spent some time during the sermon praying for a quick fix and an end to your profuse sweating or uncontrollable shivering.