Episode Overview

Main Theme:
This episode of "Things Unseen with Sinclair B. Ferguson" focuses on the true purpose and nature of worship in the Christian life. Sinclair explores how, historically and theologically, worship stands at the heart of the faith—not just as a church activity but as the ultimate goal toward which Scripture and salvation point. He challenges contemporary approaches to worship, urging listeners to consider what God desires in worship, rather than focusing on personal preferences or cultural trends.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Heart of the Reformation: Worship

• Sinclair reflects on the common perceptions about the Reformation, such as the authority of the Bible and justification by faith.

• He draws on John Calvin’s insight that the heart of the Reformation was worship—not merely doctrine for its own sake, but worship as the ultimate goal.

  “What really lies at the heart of things is worship... The Bible, after all, is a means to an end, to bring us to the knowledge of God. And the end is worship.”
  — Sinclair B. Ferguson (01:01)

• Both Scripture and justification serve the purpose of restoring fellowship with God, expressed in worship.

2. The End Goal of Scripture and Justification

• Sinclair stresses that both the Bible and justification are means to the end of worshipping God with all our being.

  “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.”
  — Sinclair B. Ferguson (01:36)

3. Modern Conversations About Worship

• Sinclair observes that “worship” has become a major topic in the church over the past 50 years, often focused more on style (traditional vs. contemporary) than substance.

• He humorously comments on the use of “contemporary” as a criterion for worship, highlighting the absurdity of evaluating worship primarily by personal taste or trends.

  “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.”
  — Sinclair B. Ferguson (02:35)

• He cautions that many discussions about worship are “about us... according to our taste, more than what [God] is actually like,” and urges listeners to focus on what pleases God.

4. Asking the Right Question: What Does God Want?

• Many churches, Sinclair suggests, fail to ask the fundamental question: What does God actually like in worship?

• He stresses that Christian worship is not about pleasing ourselves, each other, or even “worshipping worship”—but about offering ourselves to the God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

  “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?”
  — Sinclair B. Ferguson (03:22)

5. Lost Liturgical Words: "Let Us Worship God"

• Sinclair reminisces about a time when nearly every church service began with the words: "Let us worship God"—words he notes are now rarely heard.

• He notes that, although Scripture does not prescribe particular opening words for worship, these words encapsulated the intention and focus of the gathering.

• Their fading from use, Sinclair suggests, is “really significant,” pointing to a shift in how Christians think about and approach worship.

  “Of course, it’s true that the Scriptures don’t tell us what words we should use to begin our services of worship, but in many ways, how we begin explains what we intend to do... The words were ‘let us worship God.’”
  — Sinclair B. Ferguson (05:24)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Worship as the Heart of Christianity:

  “The end is worship. That’s the goal.” (01:01)

• On Personal vs. Divine Preference:

  “A great deal of that kind of talk about worship isn’t really about God at all. It’s about us. And often it’s about what we like, what is, according to our taste, more than what he is actually like...” (02:55)

• On the Central Question for Worship:

  “We’re not worshiping worship. We’re not worshiping one another, we’re not worshiping ourselves. We’re worshiping God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And so our worship should be shaped according to who he is and what he wants.” (03:51)

• On Liturgical Memory:

  “Virtually every church service I ever attended... began with exactly the same four words, and now I very rarely hear them... The words were ‘let us worship God.’” (04:31–05:31)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:08–01:36 – Reformation and Worship: Calvin’s insight on worship as the heart of Christianity
• 01:36–02:55 – The purpose of justification and scripture as leading to worship
• 02:55–03:51 – Contemporary debates about worship styles vs. substantive worship of God
• 03:51–05:31 – Challenging personal preferences; question of what God desires; remembrance of “let us worship God”

Conclusion

Sinclair B. Ferguson’s reflection calls the listener back to the bedrock of Christian worship: not style, tradition, or personal preference, but a God-centered focus, anchored in Scripture and the gospel. The episode is a gentle yet incisive critique of modern worship debates, ending with a poignant reminder of why we gather as the people of God:
"Let us worship God."