October 10, 2024 by

Chapel services are often one of students’ favorite parts of their Cedarville experience. And it’s no wonder why — every single day, we all gather together, worship with our friends, and hear a message about God’s Word from wonderful speakers. But how can we make the most of this opportunity, especially during times when our lives are chaotic, and chapel feels like another to-do list item? Here are five tips for making the most of chapel services: 

Dr. White preaching in chapel. Engage in a Way That Works for You

During chapel, it can be hard to stay focused, especially when you have a million other things to think about. It can be really easy to just zone out and let the speaker’s words pass over you. But making the most out of chapel messages comes down to engaging in a way that works for you. For me, the traditional method of taking notes works really well. During each chapel sermon, I write down the Bible verses, main idea, key points, and anything else that sticks out to me. This helps me pay attention to the message and have a handy outline to go back to later to remember the speaker’s message.  

But taking notes doesn’t work for everyone. The best method of engaging in chapel depends on you. It may require some trial and error to determine which method you prefer. It may work best for you to have something to do with your hands, like doodling, to keep your mind open to the chapel message. Of course, for some people this method may be distracting, so it is up to you to determine whether this is helpful or harmful. 

Another option is Bible journaling. Many companies make Bibles with margins along the text designated specifically for journaling. You could take notes directly in your Bible, highlight important verses, or make doodles that help you remember the message.  

For some people, simply sitting and listening to the message is what works the best! If that’s you, don’t bother making engagement more complicated than it is. 

Talk About Chapel Messages

Another way to get the most out of chapel is discussing the message with your friends around campus! If there was a particular message that really resonated with you, or even something a speaker said that you have questions about, what better way to consider this message than talking about it with your friends who also heard it? You could always bring up the message to your friends, your hall/unit mates, your classmates, or your d-group and see what others thought about it. Some of the best conversations I’ve had on campus have been those late-night conversations with my hallmates about Bible passages or chapel messages we’ve been pondering lately. 

Or, if a message particularly challenges you, your Bible professors would be more than happy to talk about it with you, whether in class or in their office hours.  

Talking about chapel messages doesn’t just extend to people on campus! If you hear a message you think a certain family member or friend outside of campus would enjoy, you could always send them the recording. On the Chapel Resources Page, you can find audio recordings of chapel messages dating back to 1964! If you’re more of a podcast person, you’re in luck — you can subscribe to the Cedarville University Chapel Podcast on Apple Podcasts or the RSS feed to send to your family or friends.  

Students walking out of the Dixon Ministry Center.

Do Further Reading

At Cedarville, we are very lucky to have speakers who are prolific in their field. Many have spoken at numerous conferences and institutions around the country or even the world, and many have published books or online articles. If you especially like a particular speaker, chances are that you can find other messages they’ve given online. And if they’ve written books, a quick Google search will likely pull up their works. If a speaker particularly struck you, it may be worth investing in buying one of their books! Or, if you don’t want to spend the money, the Centennial Library may have a copy of chapel speakers’ books. Doing further research and reading from prominent Christian teachers will help you learn even more about the Bible, expanding your knowledge and helping you become a more effective Christian in your field of work. 

Don’t Scan and Scram! 

This one may seem obvious, but in case it’s not: Don’t record that you were in chapel when you weren’t! Not only is it dishonest, going against Cedarville’s core value of integrity, but it can also very easily become a bad habit. Treating chapel as a requirement you have to simply check off instead of a fundamental Christian experience of community is undermining its importance. It’s about developing a habit of daily worship and immersing yourself in God’s Word. The chapel messages on days I’ve least wanted to go to chapel have ended up being the most impactful to my life. 

Utilize Chapel Skips  

Of course, there are times when you really need that 10 o’clock hour to work on homework or just relax. That is why everyone is granted eight chapel skips! They’re up to you to use at your discretion — whether you want to use it to study for an upcoming test, finalize an essay, or call your family. Those skips are given to us to utilize for a reason, so use them well! You can always watch the livestream if you want on a skip day, or you can simply take this hour for yourself to get caught up. It’s at your discretion how you want to spend it. 

Student chapel band leading chapel worship.

In summary, you get out of chapel what you put into it. We are immensely blessed at Cedarville to have time to hear a message from the Bible and worship with fellow believers. Often, we can become so used to our daily routine that we forget how precious that time in chapel really is. This hour each day can be the time the Lord uses most to shape your heart and grow your faith in Him.  

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