Sinclair Ferguson

And then I think I saw what Calvin was saying.

The Bible, after all, is a means to an end, to bring us to the knowledge of God, and the end is worship.

That's the goal.

And justification, our being counted righteous, our sins being forgiven, is also a means to an end, isn't it?

Fellowship with God and worship.

So that, in a sense, both Scripture and justification are given to us so that we can be brought by the Spirit to love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength.

In other words, to worship Him.

Worship's been a big topic in the church for the last 50 years and more, hasn't it?

We probably talk more about how we do it than any generation since the Reformation.

We now talk about worship styles.

Is your church's worship a traditional style or a contemporary style?

I sometimes tongue-in-cheek want to say if our worship isn't contemporary, it can't possibly be worship.

But I know that's not what people mean by the question.

But there's a reason that it's worth thinking about this, because a great deal of that kind of talk about worship isn't really about God at all.

Because to be honest, even if it sounds a little harsh to say it, I suspect in many churches the fundamental question is never asked.

What does God actually like?

What does He want?

What kind of directives has He given to us?

And yet, that's the very first question we should ask, isn't it?

Because we're not worshipping worship.