Acts 20:9

New International Version (NIV)

Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead.

For Meditation

1. Why do some people bring their beds to church?
2. Have you sat close to somebody who slept through church service before – probably dropping on your shoulder sometimes?
3. How uncomfortable and distracting was it? With the person’s snores competing with the preacher’s voice, did you hear anything from the sermon at all?
4. I understand they may be tired and sleepy because they stayed up too late the previous night or their breakfast may have been a little too heavy; so, why don’t they stay home? Why carry their bed to church – the house of prayer and worship?
5. I also understand that some of our sermons get too long like that of Paul at Troas when Eutychus slept and fell to his death (Acts 20:7-12).
6. Other times, the sermon could be simply boring and unengaging.
7. But, can’t we focus on the holiness of God and the sacredness of His presence to help us tap into the Holy Spirit’s power to control our sleep?
8. Is it too difficult for Him to keep us awake in His presence?
9. Whatever our reason for sleeping in church, what does it say about our spiritual preparedness when we come to worship services?
10. Do we stay alert and determined to engage the word of God for spiritual nourishment, and to worship Him when we come to church?
11. Do we consider how our “zees” distract the preacher and competes for the attention of other worshippers? Do we consider their discomfort?
12. Most importantly, do we consider Jesus’s disappointment when we sleep at the time we should be praying? Do you remember how He rebuked Peter, John, and James when they slept in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mk. 14:37)?

I pray you will realize the seriousness of sleeping in church and do everything possible to desist from taking your bed there. The day you become like Eutychus, the preacher may not be as anointed as Paul was to bring you back to life.

So, the next time you feel sleepy in church, consider where you are, and the interest of your fellow worshippers. And if somebody sleeps around you, gently nudge the person and tell them to take their bed to their house; for you came to church to worship the Most High and to hear His word and not their “zees”.

 Shalom