Pay close attention to the words of Scripture. Don't just listen to your pastor as he gives you his thoughts about the text. Be an active listener. Study the words of the passage. I never attend church without my Greek New Testament, an English Bible, and a notepad. It's not unusual for me to leave the service with pages of notes. Interact with the text, be it at church, in your small group, or in your private time. Become, if you will, a word vulture. Pay careful attention to terms that in a hurried moment you'd look right past. This is essential for our own spiritual lives and for effectiveness in ministering to others.