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The air was electric with excitement as the players entered the stadium. There was a roar with anticipation as the modern day gladiators took the field. The smoke and flames rose up with explosive force from tubes along the entry portal. It was a spectacle that you only saw when you were actually at the stadium. The cameras couldn’t capture the full experience. It was like something out of the movies. It was surreal but the drama was right in front of us. The game was about to begin.

My Pittsburgh Steelers were in town to play the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 21, 2025. It was a big deal for me. My daughter and her husband bought me a ticket to the game for my birthday back in June. I haven’t gone to a lot of games over the years. The last time I went in person was in 2013. Tom Brady was still playing behind the center. The Patriots had a successful campaign that year. They won the division with a 12-4 record, but they lost to Denver in the AFC Championship game.

There was a lot of excitement on that November day back in 2013 because the World Champion Boston Red Sox were in the house. They took the field in the pregame warmup and the crowd went wild. At the end of the day, my team took a beating at the hands of the home team. The Patriots scored four touchdowns in the final quarter and beat us 55-31. Even though I left the game a little deflated, the experience of being in the stadium was so much better than watching it from the confines of my living room.

I had that same exhilarating experience again a few weeks ago. We won this game but the final outcome was up in the air until the final seconds of the contest. Even though I was rooting for the visiting team, you couldn’t help being swept away every time the announcer said, “That’s another Patriot’s…” and the crowd responded with “FIRST DOWN!” There was a sea of Jerseys as far as you could see. No matter who you were supporting, there was a camaraderie felt by all. It was so much fun. The house was rocking.

You see, the game is bigger than you and me. When you enter the stadium you are entering hallowed ground where history has been made. You become a part of that. A lot of people don’t realize it but the same thing is true when we enter a house of worship. When we go to church, we are not just going to another building. We are going to the house of God. It is sacred ground. I often remind people that long before we show up in the morning, God has already been there. He knows where we sit. He’s heard our prayers.

God’s spirit fills the sanctuary of every Christian church that honors Him. He meets us there when we enter. It is like a divine appointment. The warm greeting, the fellowship of believers, the music and the prayers are amplified. Whenever I enter our church worship area, I think of the words of the prophet Isaiah. He says, “In the year King Uzzaih died, I saw the Lord, high and lifted up; the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim…and they were calling to one another, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty.’“

I have to confess that I’ve never seen a seraphim. I don’t need to see them to know that I am in the presence of God. It doesn’t matter if it’s an organ playing a prelude or a worship team singing a contemporary worship song, wherever the glory of God is lifted up, God will be there. You can tell when you have been in His presence. After worship your step will be a little lighter. Your heart will be a little fuller. You will walk away singing a song of joy. That’s what worshipping God in person will do for you.

To be honest, you can’t get that same feeling when you are sitting on the couch and watching a service on your television or on your laptop. I am glad that we have technology to share these wonderful services online. They are a blessing to so many. I’ve watched them while I was on vacation or away from home. Yet, it’s not the same as being there. Like that football game, joining in person is soooo much better. You can feel the joy. You can capture the Spirit. So why not get out of your recliner and go visit God’s house this week. I can guarantee you will walk away a winner.

The Rev. Cal Lord is pastor of Central Baptist Church in Westerly.