by Jim Burns (for Christianity Today)

Q. I go to church every week, but I don't get much out of it. I have a hard time paying attention. My mind wanders a lot. How can I get more out of church?

A. Ever have that question? You're not the only one who sometimes finds it tough to pay attention in church. There are times during church when my mind slips away to far-off places.

The way I look at it, my attitude about church has the biggest impact on how I feel about being there. I try to remember that church is not about being entertained for an hour or two on Sunday morning. It's about coming together with other Christians to worship our incredible God. This means what I put into church is perhaps more important than what I get out of church.

There are several things you can do to prepare yourself for worship. Stop by or call the church office each week and ask about that week's sermon topic. Ask which Bible verses will be used in the service. Take some time before you actually get to church to look over these verses so they're familiar to you when they're read. Take notes during the sermon. This will help you focus on the message. When you sing, focus on God. Use the song lyrics to guide your thoughts. Think about the ways God has worked in your life during the past week. Use the time you're in church to praise God for these things. And think about ways you can actually be involved in the worship service. You could sing in the choir or offer to read a Scripture passage. If you like working with children, volunteer to help teach a Sunday school class. These things will help you meet more people and feel more involved in the life of the church.

I encourage you to talk to other high school students at your church. They may be feeling the same way you do. Talk about the services and what you can all do to help each other stay focused and participate. Maybe you can sit together to encourage each other and keep one another accountable.

Regardless of how we feel about going to church, the Bible is clear that worshiping God together is an essential part of every Christian's life. Hebrews 10:25 says, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another" (NIV).

Jim is an author, longtime youth worker and founder of HomeWord, a group seeking to honor God through strong families.