From the Home Place

November 9, 2025

Begin by reading Isaiah 6:1-8

It’s Sunday, and we get to go to church! But before you leave your home, please take a few minutes to pray: Pray for yourself, that your attitude and actions will glorify your Heavenly Father. Pray for your pastoral staff, if that be one or many. Pray for Sunday School organizers and teachers. Pray for musicians and singers. Pray for sound technicians. Pray for all of the electronic equipment to work correctly. Pray for those doing announcements. Pray for nursery and children’s ministry workers. Pray for those in attendance who do not yet know Jesus as Savior, my this be their day of salvation. Pray for custodial workers. Pray for the Holy Spirit to move among all in attendance today, because that is why we gather there to start with. (Read 2 Chronicles 6:40)

Pray that you and others will remember why you are really going to church. For you see, with what Sunday morning worship has evolved into today, it is really easy to overlook why we really go to church to start with.

From the church that sings their songs au Capella to the church that has a full band or orchestra, may all be done for His glory! Pray that the music is not just entertainment, but that it will help all present to participate in the worship experience. For you see my friends, with all that, our Sunday morning service or services have become, it is very easy to miss why we are there to start with. (Read Psalm 47:6)

Sunday worship is to be a time of worshiping in public the One we have been worshiping all week long in private. Yes, it is great to see friends and to encourage one-another as Scripture commands us to do, but we really are there to worship God – the real reason we are there to start with. It’s great to enjoy the music but make sure of Whom you are singing to and for. May today’s sermon be biblically based, clear and concise. May today’s sermon challenge your life and the lives of everyone present in your church facility, including the preacher. May today’s sermon change how you will live tomorrow, the real reason that you are there to start with. (Read 1 Corinthians 9:26)

You see dear friends, getting ready for church involves much more than getting cleaned up on the outside. I must start my Sunday worship by asking, “Is my inside ready to enter into the presence of all mighty God, the reason I go to church to start with.” (Read Romans 12:1-2)

And with all of the other things that need to take place for a modern-day worship service, may the Holy Spirit give each of us a glimpse of what Heaven will really be like – all eyes upon Jesus, for He is really the reason we go to church to start with!

Preparing for worship with you, Neal