Preparation and Participation

Below are some specific ways you can prepare your heart before worship, participate more fully in worship, and practice what God taught you after worship.

Prepare Your Heart In Advance

• Examine yourself (1 Cor. 11:28; 2 Cor. 13:5). Confess your sin, doubt, or spiritual apathy, and look to Jesus who saves and assures all who draw near by faith.

• Pray for a teachable spirit, a focused mind, and a zealous heart.

• Pray for the preacher, congregation, and all serving the body on the Lord’s Day.

• Come expecting to hear God in his word and to be changed by his Spirit.

• Read and meditate on the Scripture to be preached before Sunday.

• Get enough sleep Saturday night to wake up refreshed and ready to worship.

Participate in Worship Fully

• Arrive early to church. Don’t allow yourself to miss any part of the service, for even the Call to Worship might be the Scripture God uses to teach and transform you.

• When singing, sing with your heart and your voice.

• When someone is leading in prayer, join them in their praise and petition.

• Bring your Bible and use whatever method best helps you stay engaged during the message (take notes, sketch or doodle as you listen, mark up your Bible, etc.).

• If you have children in the service, encourage them to listen carefully for the main idea, and to note anything that stands out to them as new, helpful, or confusing.

Practice What God taught You After Sunday

• Take your bulletin home with you to revisit the Scripture readings and songs from that Sunday.

• Discuss the sermon and text with family, friends, or your Community Group during the week. Identify what implications the doctrines or principles have in your life.