Bob Sorge On Sexual Purity, Worshiping Through Trial, & The Current State Of Modern Worship

Few people have been speaking into the worship of the local church more consistently and more dynamically than Bob Sorge.

Ever since I read his landmark book Exploring Worship over a decade ago, I’ve been hooked on his writings. They’ve fed my spirit in my life’s darkest seasons.

If you’re not familiar with Bob’s story, Bob had a vocal injury during a surgery over 20 years ago that has left him in constant pain ever since. He can only speak for one hour a day before the pain takes over.

What happens to a pastor who can’t speak and a worship leader who can’t sing?

It’s incredible to see where God has brought Bob and the rich truth that comes forth in his teaching. I was able to ask him a few questions.

An Interview with Bob Sorge

David: Bob, with all that’s going on in your life and ministry these days, what are you most excited about?

Bob: I have a lot of energy right now about spreading the message in my latest book, A Covenant With My Eyes. I consider an eye covenant to be the most powerful tool the Holy Spirit has given us, in God’s word, to equip us in our pursuit of sexual consecration. The enemy wants to cloud the eyes of God’s psalmists. We’re in a battle for the eyes of a generation, and God has an answer for it. I hope this message reaches worshipers and worship leaders everywhere.

David: Your writings have so resonated with suffering saints over the years. What’s your best encouragement/advice for worshiping Jesus in the midst of a trial?

Bob: Go back to the cross. The cross is the fountainhead and genesis of all worship. What’s more, it’s the place of ultimate suffering. When suffering, immerse yourself in the glory and wonder of the cross of Christ, and new aquifers of worship will find their channels in the depths of your soul.

David: You write on such direct, sometimes painful topics with such pastor clarity and insight: envy, loyalty, sexual purity. How do you know when it’s time to write a new book on a subject?

Bob: Writing is very hard work for me. I can’t do it in my own strength. So I always wait for a divine building permit. When I receive the writing permit from heaven, I know it’s time to write a book, and with that divine release comes the impetus and momentum to write.

David: I know that writing a book is a crazy amount of work. What are some of your key habits that help you get the work done? Getting up early? Writing every day?

Bob: I am most effective and productive when writing in chunks. It’s better for me to write for four hours in one day, than to write an hour a day for four days.

David: What are you learning about worship currently?

Bob: I am focused right now on how worship is complete abandonment to God. It’s abandoning to him all our time, all our resources, all our energies, all we hold dear. When we see the abandonment of the cross, we are empowered to love Jesus with the same abandonment with which He loves us.

David: From all your travels, what trends are you noticing about worship in the church? How are we doing as worship leaders? What do we need more of?

Bob: Churches everywhere must grapple with the constant tendency for worship to become a “spectator sport.” Our platform-driven models of worship leading naturally tend toward a concert culture in worship. But our goal as worship ministries is not to produce a bonfire on the platform; our goal is to release a bonfire in the congregation.

Never cease to contend for multitude-driven worship (that’s a term I explain in my book Following the River: A Vision for Corporate Worship) in which the congregation become the primary owners of and participants in the corporate worship experience.

David: What advice to you have for worship leaders when it comes to leading worship for those who are suffering, in a dark night of the soul?

Bob: Lead them with tenderness and gentleness. Be aware that in any worship service, you have people in all seasons of life. For those who are in a winter season of darkness and sorrow, they don’t need a worship leader who is slapping them in the face and upbraiding them. Lead in a way that shows the compassion of Christ for the entire flock of God.

David: What books have you been reading?

Bob: I just finished Excavating the City of David, a rather obscure book by a secular archeologist. I read it because of my fascination with how Joab took the stronghold of Zion via the watershaft. And I’m currently reading BONHOEFFER by Eric Metaxas.

David: What’s next on the horizon for Bob Sorge?

Bob: I used to be a visionary leader, but when God threw me into prison (I am referring to a vocal injury that happened 22 years ago), it reduced me to living one day at a time. Now, I am simply incapable of seeing into the future. So I just live one day at a time, walking with and loving Jesus, listening for and obeying His word. It’s actually a much less stressful way to live.

Question: What was your biggest takeaway from the interview with Bob? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

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