Arthur Gonçalves
Oct 19, 2024
A Guide for All God’s People
The Lord’s Day is a treasure for the people of God—a day set apart for worship, rest, and delighting in our Savior. It’s more than a routine or an obligation; it’s an opportunity to meet with the living God and to fellowship with His people. Yet, how we approach this day can greatly affect the richness of our experience. Like any important event, preparation is key. Preparing our hearts and lives on Saturday sets the stage for a deeper, more intentional worship on Sunday. As the Puritan Stephen Charnock reminds us, "To render our worship spiritual, we should, before every engagement in it, implore the actual presence of the Spirit." This guide will offer practical ways for families, singles, couples, the elderly, and those bearing burdens to prepare for the Lord's Day, ensuring that every believer enters into worship ready to exalt Christ.
1. A Universal Call: Preparing to Meet with God
God invites His people to meet with Him, not as passive spectators but as active worshipers. Psalm 95:6–7 (ESV) beckons us: “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.” The day before worship, we can begin this preparation in a few simple yet profound ways:
Prayerful Preparation: On Saturday evening, spend time in prayer as a family, couple, or individual, asking the Lord to prepare your heart to receive His Word with humility and joy. Pray specifically for your church, your pastor, and those who will serve during the worship service.
Read Ahead: If your pastor provides the passage for Sunday’s sermon, read it and meditate on it. Allow God’s Word to settle into your heart, stirring anticipation for how He will speak to you and your church family.
Lay Aside Distractions: Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” On Saturday, consider limiting activities that might drain your energy or fill your mind with worldly concerns, so that you can focus on the glory of Christ.
2. For Families with Children: Turning Chaos into Worship
Families, especially those with young children, often find Sunday mornings to be a whirlwind of activity. Yet, even amidst the hustle, we can set a tone of joy and expectation:
Start Saturday Night: Prepare clothing, pack diaper bags, and set out shoes on Saturday evening. This simple act reduces stress on Sunday morning and allows the family to leave the house without a rush. It helps children understand that Sunday is special—a day that requires thought and readiness.
A Gentle Morning: Wake up a little earlier than usual to create a calm atmosphere. Have breakfast together and share a brief prayer or devotional. Remind your children that we are going to worship Jesus, who loves them deeply.
Teaching Through Experience: For older children, use Saturday as a chance to explain why Sunday is important. Share how God gathers His people to worship Him together, as 1 Peter 2:5 (ESV) says, "You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house." Let them know that they are part of that building!
3. For Singles: Cultivating a Heart of Expectation
For those who live alone, preparing for the Lord’s Day can be a deeply personal time with the Lord. It’s an opportunity to quiet the heart and anticipate being with the family of God:
Reflect on the Week: Spend time Saturday reflecting on how God has worked throughout your week, and how you can bring those praises and burdens before Him in worship. This prepares your heart to participate in the communal aspect of worship, even if your week was marked by loneliness or challenge.
Serve with Intention: Consider how you might serve others in the church on Sunday—whether it’s a word of encouragement, a listening ear, or a helping hand. Hebrews 10:24–25 (ESV) reminds us, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.”
4. For Couples Without Children: A Time to Deepen Unity
For couples, Saturday is a chance to prepare not just as individuals, but as one. Preparing for worship together deepens unity and sets a Christ-centered rhythm for the home:
Pray Together: Spend time in prayer as a couple, asking God to use Sunday’s service to strengthen your faith and your relationship. Pray for your pastor, your church, and for those who might visit for the first time.
Reflect on the Week: Take time to share with one another the highs and lows of the week. Let this time lead into praying for God’s continued work in your lives and the lives of those in your church family.
5. For the Elderly: Embracing the Joy of Worship
For older members of the church, preparing for the Lord’s Day can be a precious time of reflection and anticipation:
Pray for the Generations: Use Saturday to pray for the younger families, singles, and children of the church. Like Anna in Luke 2:37 (ESV), who “did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day,” your prayers are a powerful ministry to the body of Christ.
Prepare Physically: If physical limitations make Sunday mornings more difficult, prepare everything you’ll need on Saturday, so that your focus can be on Christ rather than logistics.
6. For Those Hurting or Burdened: A Place of Refuge
If you’re struggling with church hurt, grief, or simply feeling weighed down by life’s trials, preparing for the Lord’s Day can feel especially daunting. Yet, it’s precisely for those weary in heart that Christ calls us: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, ESV).
Bring Your Burdens to Jesus: On Saturday evening, spend time in prayer, telling God your struggles and asking Him to meet you in worship. Christ’s invitation is to come as you are, not as you think you should be.
Remember the Good Shepherd: As you prepare for worship, meditate on Psalm 23, reminding yourself that the Lord is your Shepherd, and you will lack nothing. He will guide you, even through the valley, as you gather with His people.
7. For the Overwhelmed: Finding Rest in God’s Presence
If your week has been filled with busyness, affliction, or unrelenting stress, the Lord’s Day is a reminder of God’s invitation to rest. As Exodus 20:11 (ESV) tells us, the Sabbath is a day of rest, “for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth...and rested on the seventh day.”
Make Space for Rest: Prioritize rest on Saturday evening, turning off distractions and seeking a quiet time before bed. As you quiet your body, ask the Lord to quiet your heart so that you might worship Him without the noise of the past week.
Focus on the Giver of Rest: Remember that Christ Himself says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (John 14:27, ESV). The Lord’s Day is a time to experience His peace, not as the world gives, but as He gives—richly, abundantly, and eternally.
Come to Worship, Come to Behold Christ
Preparation for the Lord’s Day is not about performance but about readiness. It’s about coming to meet with the Savior who has already done the work of redeeming us. As we prepare, we follow in the footsteps of saints who have gone before us, like Charles Spurgeon, who said, “Look to the cross, and hate your sin, for sin nailed your Well-Beloved to the tree. Look up to the cross, and never leave it till the Lord has broken your heart.” As you prepare for this Sunday, whether you come weary, joyful, or somewhere in between, know that Christ is waiting to meet you, to speak through His Word, and to shape you more into His likeness.
May we all enter the Lord’s Day with hearts ready to sing, “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!” (Psalm 84:1, ESV). Let us come as living stones, prepared to be built up together as a spiritual house, to offer worship that is pleasing to our great God.