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 in 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 aback. 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 churches worship a traditional style or a contemporary style?

I sometimes tongue and 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.

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