Worship Matters 23-24

    In this section, Bob shifts the attention from internal worship attitude to external experience. He mainly talked about planned and spontaneous worship. In detailed explanation, I was able to learn about Bob's idea of corresponding during a worship service. Since it's normal to make mistakes, we should adapt ourselves to correct and fix them on the spot. However, we should not struggle between failures, because as God's creation, we are allowed to be imperfect. So we should be more focused on the spiritual connection rather than our own performance.

   Through my worship experience, I found spontaneous worship can produce our very own personal moments to contact with the Holy Spirit. In my church, we can sometimes repeat a whole section with improvised words coming out from singers mouth to praise the Lord. I found it work really well with the crowds, because during that time, music turns into a bridge that connects us and the Lord. Although sometimes the band might overplay, but if we pay attention and do it at the right moment, it can make the worship experience better than ever.

Worship Matters 21-22

    In these two chapters, Bob started to illustrate to readers more about how to form a mutual balanced healthy relationship with God and how to apply it during and outside worship. First, he stressed about how we should form our strong faith and internalize our trust and love for God from the bottom of our hearts, which is being called as the internal way of worship. Then as the external, it can be demonstrated in various ways that can be unique to ourselves, as long as it means something between you and the Lord. Once we reach the balanced state, we can extend it into horizontal and vertical worship. In other sense, we need to understand God's words and be thankful for his work. Meanwhile, to reach the goal of a worship service is to connect others through glorifying God's glory.

    I think the way Bob separate these ideas into different directions is very cool. Because it made me feel easier to figure out the steps to prepare for worship. Not just music, but to reach the best mind set as possible. Of all the powerful things and miracles I've seen, people had always been faithful and crave for God in their lives. So, I believe the way Bob analyses the mindset of worship is definitely helpful when we try to bring the presence of the Lord to everyone.

Worship Matters 19-20

    In this section Bob talks about the connection between God and us, as well as identifying God’s unique qualities. To address the importance as God’s followers, we need to remain a healthy relationship with the Lord and communicate through worship. We also should help those who are in need with words of the wise one. During worship, we should ask his glory to help everyone in the congregation to have a better connection. So as worship leaders, our duty is to help everyone to feel God.

    I like Bob’s analysis on God’s quality. He really points out the points that can actually help you understand God. I think we should all apply these principles into our knowledge of God and help others to connect with the Lord.

Worship Matters chapter 18

    In this section, Bob introduced the main Guiding Principles. The first one is to follow what God desires, which is to obey his commands and carry out our duty as worshipers. The second one is about denying what God denies. As leaders, we need to stick to God's teaching and obey his law, because in others' mind, we are example of how worship should be. The last principle is to use scripture as our source of wisdom. We need to supply our mind with the Lord's word from the Bible to make sure what we do in life is true to God's goal.

   I agree that it's most important to follow through what God desires. We need to be prepared to demonstrate our behavior as the living servant of God. To believe in him, is to do what he commands. Also, we need to be willing to become a God's servant, which we should follow his order and do what he want us to do.