If you were listening to the podcast last week, you might remember we were thinking about

the Bible.

And I imagine if someone asked what was the Reformation in the 16th century all about,

you might actually say it was about the authority of the Bible over against the authority of

the Roman Catholic Church, or you could say, well, it was all about justification by

faith alone and Christ alone.

And certainly these would be both good and true answers.

But I remember years ago being struck by something I read in a book written by the reformer

John Calvin.

He said that what really lies at the heart of things is worship.

And I must confess that for a moment that took me a back.

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.

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