In many churches today, Sunday morning worship has become a time to “preach for decisions.” At the end of the service, people are invited to come forward, raise a hand, or repeat a prayer to accept Jesus. And while there’s nothing wrong with longing for people to be saved—that desire is very biblical—the question is:
Is Sunday morning worship the right place for that focus?
Surprisingly, the answer is: not really.
And here’s why.
1. Sunday Worship Is for the Church, Not the Crowd
From the earliest days of Christianity, Sunday—the first day of the week—was set apart as a holy day for the people of God to gather, break bread, and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:2). It wasn’t designed as a seeker-friendly outreach event. It was meant to be a time when believers worship the risen Christ together.
The very word “church” (ekklesia in Greek) means “the assembly” or “the called-out ones.” Sunday morning is a gathering of those who already belong to Christ. It’s not meant to mimic an evangelistic crusade every week.
Yes, nonbelievers might be present—and we hope they are! But they are entering into a holy gathering to witness something sacred: the people of God doing what they were made to do—worship. Our primary aim on Sunday is not to preach for a response from the lost, but to lead the found in worship.
2. Worship Is a Picture of the End
The book of Revelation gives us a stunning image of heavenly worship:
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude… standing before the throne and before the Lamb… crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” —Revelation 7:9–10
That’s Sunday morning. Or at least, it should be. When we gather, we are rehearsing eternity. We are enacting a preview of the end of all things, where the faithful are gathered in the throne room, worshiping the risen Christ.
That’s not the time for turning inward, simplifying the message, or crafting every sermon around a decision moment. It’s the time to lift our eyes to heaven and declare the greatness of God.
To re-center Sunday worship around human decision rather than divine glory is to turn the throne room into a therapy room. And that’s not what we were made for.
3. “Preaching for Decision” Misunderstands the Church and Salvation
At the heart of the weekly altar call is often a well-meaning—but flawed—understanding of the church and salvation.
❌ Mistaken Ecclesiology (View of the Church):
If we assume that most people in the pews are unbelievers who need to be persuaded to “make a decision,” we misunderstand what the church is. The church is made up of those who have already been brought from death to life, who are being discipled and sanctified.
Yes, we always preach the gospel. But not always for conversion. Sometimes we preach it to remind the saints of their hope, to call them to deeper holiness, to stir their hearts to worship and obedience.
❌ Mistaken Soteriology (View of Salvation):
Salvation is not a one-time emotional moment. It’s the result of the Spirit’s work in the heart—sometimes fast, sometimes slow. To pressure people into a “decision” every week can cheapen what salvation really is: a life-altering encounter with the living Christ, not just a raised hand or whispered prayer.
4. So Where Should Evangelism Happen?
Everywhere—but not only on Sundays.
The New Testament model of evangelism often happened out in the streets, in homes, in the public square. Evangelism is not limited to a pulpit. In fact, it’s the responsibility of every believer to share Christ in everyday life.
That means the church should train, equip, and send its members into the world as missionaries. Sunday is the gathering of the saints—Monday through Saturday is when we scatter to carry the good news into our workplaces, neighborhoods, and families.
5. So What’s the Role of the Gospel in Sunday Worship?
The gospel is central—but not always in an altar call.
Every sermon, every song, every prayer should be shaped by the gospel. The good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection isn’t something we tack onto the end of a service—it’s the foundation for the entire gathering.
But the primary aim of that gospel in worship is to build up believers, not pressure the lost. If unbelievers are present, praise God! Let them hear the gospel clearly. But let them also see the church in its truest form—worshiping its risen King with awe and joy.
Final Thoughts
Let’s be clear: we want people to be saved.
We should preach the gospel often and clearly.
We should rejoice when someone turns to Christ.
But we shouldn’t turn Sunday morning into a weekly altar call. To do so is to misunderstand what worship is for—and who it’s for.
Sunday is the church’s weekly resurrection celebration. It’s a foretaste of glory. Let’s treat it as such.
