Preparing for Sunday Worship as a Family

Exodus 19:10–11 “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.’”

Before the Israelites met with God at Mount Sinai, the Lord called them to prepare themselves—both outwardly and inwardly. Washing their garments symbolized the need for purity. The command to “be ready” was a reminder that meeting with God is no small thing. Worship is not casual or careless; it demands reverence and intentional readiness.

This same principle runs throughout Scripture: when God’s people gather to meet with Him, preparation is required. And while we now worship under the New Covenant—in the freedom of grace and in the power of the Spirit—the call to prepare our hearts still stands.

Yet how often do we rush into Sunday morning distracted, groggy, anxious, or unprepared?

The truth is: our experience of Sunday worship is often shaped by what we do before Sunday even arrives. In this blog, I want to talk about how to prepare for the Lord's Day as a family.

Why Family Preparation Matters

Ephesians 6:4 reminds us that fathers are called to bring up their children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” One simple and deeply meaningful way to obey that call is by leading your family in worship on Saturday night—a time to intentionally set your minds on Christ and ready your hearts for gathered worship. There is no prescribed formula in Scripture for family worship, but the pattern we see in corporate worship offers a helpful guide: Scripture, prayer, and singing.

How to Prepare for Worship as a Family

1. Read Scripture Together

Begin with the Word. One great place to start is with the passage that will be preached on Sunday. At Lakeside, you can find this under the “Prepare for Sunday” section on our Resources page. Read the text aloud, and then ask a few simple questions:

• What stands out to you in this passage?

• What does this passage show us about God?

• How might this passage apply to our lives?

  
  

The Psalms are another excellent resource. In our home, we often read Psalm 92 on Saturday night. Its heading, “A Song for the Sabbath,” makes it especially fitting. This psalm helps us reflect on God’s justice, faithfulness, and mighty works—all of which prepare us to worship with reverence and joy.

2. Pray Together

After reading Scripture, spend a few moments in prayer. Keep it simple and sincere. Thank God for His provision and faithfulness throughout the week. Ask for His help to worship Him rightly the next day. Pray for:

• Your pastor and those leading in worship

• Your church family

• Guests and unbelievers who may attend

• Your own hearts—to be soft, humble, and responsive to God’s Word

  
  

These prayers teach your children that worship is not about performance, but about depending on God.

3. Sing Together

Singing is one of the most frequent commands in all of Scripture—and one of the most joyful. It doesn’t need to be perfect. In our home, we keep it simple. Our five-year-olds love singing the Doxology and the Gloria Patri, and they often request them by name.

Each week, we also check the Prepare for Sunday section to see what songs we’ll be singing in the service. If a song is complex, we might just learn the chorus or listen to it during the week—often in the car. This creates familiarity, and it’s a sweet moment when our kids recognize a song and can sing along with the congregation.

Singing together helps your children see that worship is not just for Sunday—it’s a rhythm of life.

4. Keep It Simple and Consistent

Family worship on Saturday night doesn’t have to be long. For many, family worship usually only takes 10 to 15 minutes. What matters most is consistency and sincerity. Over time, these brief moments create a rhythm of reverence that bears fruit. Even small habits—reading a short passage, praying for just a few moments, singing one song—can help cultivate a deeper love for God and a greater readiness for Sunday worship.

5. Follow Up After the Service

One of the most fruitful practices we’ve found is talking about the sermon after church. Ask your children what they learned. Highlight one truth from the message and talk about how it applies to their lives. This reinforces what they’ve heard and helps them process it in a personal way. It also communicates that worship doesn’t end when the service does—God’s Word continues to shape how we live.

The Lord’s Day is a gift—a weekly rhythm of rest, renewal, and rejoicing in Christ. Preparing for it with your family is a way of saying, “We take this gift seriously. We want to meet with God, and we want to be ready.”

You don’t need to be a Bible scholar or a music leader to do this. You just need to be faithful. Lead your family in simple, joyful preparation. Teach your children not just to attend church—but to approach the Lord’s presence with reverence, love, and expectation.

“Those who honor Me, I will honor…” — 1 Samuel 2:30

Let’s honor the Lord in our homes—on Saturday night, and every day—so that we may come to worship with hearts that are full, clean, and ready.