"All human wisdom consists in this alone, the knowledge and worship of God" (Lactantius, Divine Institutes 3.30; ca. 250-325 AD).

At a time when worship remains the subject of what are often passionate conversations in the church, we need to think more about worship, not merely its forms and what may or may not be appropriate in its performance, but about what our worship should be. The sermons collected for this series were prepared to help one church reflect on worship's importance, nature, and elements. The title and three major topic designations for the collection are derived from Psalm 96:4, 8.

• The importance of worship: "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised" (Psalm 96:4a)
• The attitude and approach we bring to worship: "he is to be feared above all gods" Psalm 96:4b)
• The actions we perform in communal worship: "bring an offering . . . into his courts!" (Psalm 96:8b)
• Related supplemental sermons and essays

Imagine being given several small oddly shaped, differently colored, random puzzle pieces and told to complete the picture they form when correctly assembled. How much easier will it be if you also have a copy of the complete picture the assembled puzzle depicts?

Beginning Bible students can feel like they have been given the pieces but not the picture. They open the Bible to find a collection of different writings and styles that refer to distant and unfamiliar people, places, and customs. Sometimes the writings seem repetitive; at other times they seem to jump from one idea to another.

It is easier to understand the Bible if we already have an idea about its purpose, how its parts fit together, and the plot its story develops. Getting Acquainted with the Bible is a primer that aims to introduce the Bible's big picture, purpose, and parts. Its author believes we will more fully appreciate and benefit from the details of its teaching if we see the complete picture that gives those details their meaning.

This book takes note of how the Bible differs from other books and explains how its parts fit together and why we should study it. It also helps beginning students find their way around the Bible and the story it tells.

Both first-time Bible readers and those who would like a review will find it useful.