The Centrality of Worship By John Piper   Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exist because worship doesn’t.  Worship is ultimate, not missions because God is ultimate, not man.  When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity.  But worship abides forever.  Worship, therefore, is the goal and fuel of missions: It is the goal of missions because in missions we simply aim to bring the nations into the white-hot enjoyment of God’s glory. The goal of missions is the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God. “The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!” (Ps 97:1 ESV, emphasis added). “Let the peoples praise thee, O God; let all the peoples praise thee! O let the nations be glad and sing for joy!” (Ps 67:3-4 KJV Cambridge ed.; emphasis added). But worship is also the ...