Why I’m Creating a Weekly Worship Primer for Sundays

For most of my life, Sunday has mattered deeply to me.

As a pastor, I’ve spent decades preparing sermons, planning worship, praying for congregations, and standing behind pulpits much like the one in the photo above. I’ve watched people arrive on Sunday mornings carrying the weight of long weeks, distracted minds, weary hearts, and sometimes unspoken hope that something meaningful will happen when they walk through the doors.

Over time, one conviction has grown clearer in my spirit:

Worship doesn’t begin when the first song starts.

Worship begins when our hearts are prepared.

That conviction is the reason I’m creating a new weekly resource called Worship Rising—a short, Scripture-centered worship primer released every Sunday morning to help people prepare their hearts before they ever arrive at church.

A Lifetime of Ministry Has Shaped This Vision

I’ve spent my ministry serving and coaching churches—especially smaller churches—through seasons of growth, struggle, transition, and renewal. I’ve preached in sanctuaries full and half-full, in traditional settings and contemporary ones, in moments of celebration and moments of deep grief.

Through it all, one thing has remained constant:

God meets people who come with open, expectant hearts.

Yet I’ve also seen how often people arrive at worship rushed, distracted, or spiritually disengaged—not because they don’t care, but because life is heavy and preparation is rare.

We prepare for meetings.

We prepare for trips.

We prepare for presentations.

But too often, we don’t prepare for worship.

Worship Is Not a Performance—It’s a Participation

I believe deeply in the local church.

Worship Rising is not meant to replace Sunday worship, compete with it, or pull people away from it.

Just the opposite.

My heart is to support the local church by helping people arrive more spiritually ready—more attentive, more prayerful, more responsive to the movement of the Holy Spirit.

When we gather for worship, we’re not an audience.

We’re participants.

And participation requires preparation.

A Simple Way to Prepare—Right Where You Are

One of the things I love most about this weekly worship primer is its simplicity.

You can watch or listen as you’re getting ready for church—with a cup of coffee in hand, Bible nearby, and a few quiet moments before the day gets busy.

You can listen in the car on the way to church, allowing Scripture and reflection to replace distraction and hurry.

By the time you arrive, your heart is already engaged.

Your mind is already centered.

Your spirit is already turned toward worship.

It’s not meant to add another obligation to your week.

It’s meant to shape your Sunday rhythm—so worship begins before you ever walk through the doors.

Discipleship Happens Best in Relationship—and Worship Shapes That

Much of my work over the years has focused on relational discipleship—faith that is shared, modeled, practiced, and lived out in real life. Disciples aren’t formed primarily through information alone, but through rhythms, relationships, and repeated encounters with Jesus.

Worship is one of those formative rhythms.

When worship is approached thoughtfully and prayerfully, it shapes us:

• It reorients our hearts toward God.

• It reminds us who we are and whose we are.

• It fuels our love for Jesus and our love for others.

A weekly worship primer is one small but meaningful way to help that formation happen more intentionally.

Going to Church Ready to Worship Boldly

One of the phrases you’ll hear often in Worship Rising is this simple charge:

“Worship Jesus boldly today.”

Bold worship doesn’t mean loud worship or flashy worship.

It means intentional worship.

It means coming ready:

• Ready to listen.

• Ready to respond.

• Ready to be shaped.

• Ready to encounter the living Christ.

When people go to church prepared, worship changes—not because the music is different or the sermon is better, but because hearts are open.

Bold worship often begins in small moments—on the drive to church, in quiet prayer at home, or in a few minutes of focused reflection before worship begins.

Why Launch During Lent?

Lent is a season of reflection, repentance, renewal, and preparation. It’s a time when Christians intentionally slow down, examine their hearts, and draw nearer to Christ.

There could be no better season to introduce a weekly rhythm designed to help people pause, focus, and prepare for worship.

This Lenten season, I’ll be inviting you into something new—a simple, weekly moment to center your heart before Sunday worship begins.

More to Come

In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing more about Worship Rising, including when it launches and how you can be part of it.

My hope is simple:

That together, we would rediscover the power of coming to worship ready—ready to listen,

ready to respond,

and ready to worship Jesus boldly.

Stay tuned.

Stay Connected

If this vision resonates with you, I’d love to stay connected as it continues to unfold.

In the weeks ahead, I’ll be sharing more about Worship Rising, along with encouragement and practical insights to help you grow as a disciple and enter worship with greater intention. You can find weekly articles and resources on my website at https://www.smallchurchcoaching.com, and I invite you to follow along on social media as well.

You can connect with me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ItsTimeSam, join the conversation in my Facebook Group Leadership Edge for Smaller Churches at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1019833292715686, and follow me on X at @ItsTimeSam.

If you know someone who longs to experience worship more deeply—or who could benefit from a simple way to prepare their heart before Sunday—please consider sharing this article with them. Sometimes a small invitation can become a meaningful step in someone’s faith journey.

Thank you for reading, for walking this journey with me, and for seeking to worship Jesus boldly—together.