More Than a Song - Discovering the Truth of Scripture Hidden in Today's Popular Christian Music

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There's a great invitation in Scripture. It's sprinkled throughout the pages of the Bible in the Old and New Testaments. The invitation is to walk in newness of life in the very presence of our Creator and direct opposition to our human nature. Zach Williams sings of this idea in his song "Less of Me."

Let's explore Paul's letter to the Colossians to see what living a little more like Jesus looks like.

In this episode, I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: 
  • Reading in context
  • Read the envelope
  • Consider the historical background
  • Consult an outside resource
  • Read the overview/introduction
  • Consult a map
  • Make a list
  • Compare and contrast
• The 30-Day Music Challenge
• Reading the letter all the way through
• My favorite overview resource - The Bible Project
• The solution of spiritual maturity in Christ
• Focusing our attention and efforts in the right direction - Colossians 3:1-4
• Dying to self - Colossians 2:12-14
• Killing off the earthly remnants in our lives - Colossians 3:5-11
• Putting on a new wardrobe that looks a whole lot more like Jesus - Colossians 3:12-17

Additional Resources

• Lyrics and chords - EssentialWorship.com
• An overview of Colossians - BibleProject.com
• Introduction to Colossians - BlueLetterBible.org
• The story behind the song "Less Like Me" by Zach Williams - YouTube Video

This Week's Challenge

Read Paul's letter to the Colossians. Watch the overview video from The Bible Project. Read over an online introduction or the introduction in your study Bible to the book of Colossians. Hone in on Colossians chapter 3 and create a chart of ways we live that reflect our "old selves" and how we live to look a little more like Jesus.

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The Bible may be comprised of 66 books by 40 writers over 1,500 years, but it has one Author (God) and offers a grand storyline running throughout. In the song "Christ The True And Better" by Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Boswell, and Matt Papa, we see the Old Testament connecting with the New as it displays men who were types and shadows of all that Christ would be and fulfill.

Let's compare and contrast Christ and Adam as revealed in Scripture.

In this episode, I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: 
  • Reading in context
  • Repetition
  • Read in various translations
  • Listen to an audio version of the text
  • Make a list
  • Write out observations
  • Ask questions
  • Consult an outside resource
  • Define words
  • Compare and contrast
• The 30 Day Music Challenge
• My chat with Joel Arcieri over at the Theology of Music podcast - iTunes Show Link | Spotify Show Link
• Free study guide to continue using this song to inspire further study - Episode 378 Download
• Answering the question about "types" in the Bible - BlueLetterBible.org Article
• Discovering Adam was a type of Christ - Romans 5:14
• Exploring who Adam is and the purposes God had for him - Genesis 1-3
• The ruin of all mankind through original sin - Romans 5:12
• Asking questions about Romans 5:13
• My trusted outside resource for Romans - Romans Commentary by R. Kent Hughes
• Mankind lives under death and sin whether there was a law to point it out or not - Romans 5:14
• Contrasting the free gift and the trespass - Romans 5:15-16
• Defining "justification" - GotQuestions.org Article
• Discovering through one man death reigns and through the other life reigns - Romans 5:17
• The good news of the gospel - Romans 5:18-19
• Further looking at the contrast between Adam and Christ - Philippians 2:6-11

Additional Resources

• Lyrics and chords - PraiseCharts.com
• "The Bible is Not Basically About You" - The Gospel Coalition Article
• "Jesus the True and Better" - Tim Keller clips
• "Jesus the True and Better Adam" - JD Greear Article

This Week's Challenge

 I encourage you to retrace my steps this week and read Genesis 1-3 with your antenna up, looking for details about Adam and the purposes God designed for him. Then, meditate on Romans 5:12-19 and consider the contrast between Adam and Christ, the true and better Adam. Then grab the free study guide at michellenezat.com/378download to use the song "Christ The True And Better" to inspire further study in Scripture. And don't forget to listen in on my conversation unpacking this song with Joel Arcieri over at the "Theology of Music" podcast. 

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There's a problem in our hearts that is not a new problem. We have hearts that are prone to wander from God. Hillary Scott & The Scott Family sing of this very thing in their rendition of the famous hymn, "Come Thou Fount." These lyrics will take us on a wonderful journey through Scripture this week.

Perhaps you'll find a place to sit and stay for a while with the Source of all our fountains.

In this episode, I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  Reading in context
  Journaling
• The 30 Day Music Challenge
• How all of our fountains are in Him - Psalm 87:7
• Allowing God to tune our hearts like a master musician
• Understanding the significance of the Ebenezer stone - 1 Samuel 4-7
• The time "when completeness comes" - 1 Corinthians 13:9-12
• Wandering hearts are not a new phenomenon - Deuteronomy 31:16
• We can be sealed for "Thy courts above" - Ephesians 1:13-14

• Purchase the album or single on Amazon
• Lyrics and chords
• "Come Thou Fount" lyrics - New Release Today
• Song story "Come Thou Fount" as sung by Hillary Scott and Family - YouTube Video
• Behind the hymn "Come Thou Fount" - Hymnary.org article

Weekly Challenge
Choose a phrase that resonates with you from our hymn and spend some time in Scripture this week. Perhaps you could take your time through the story found in 1 Samuel chapters 4-7. It may just inspire you to pull out your own Ebenezer stone and add a symbol of remembrance to your walk with God. Perhaps you need to surrender to the call of the gospel -- to believe and receive the seal of the Holy Spirit on your life. Pray and ask God to guide you this week, but don't miss this opportunity to spend time with Him...in His Word, in prayer, in praise, and in remembrance.

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Sometimes my grandmother bemoans the repetition in contemporary worship songs. Once she mentioned she felt like the worship team might just "sing of your love forever"…forever. I'm pretty sure she'll excuse the repetition in the classic hymn "Nothing but the Blood" as it leads us to consider the significance of the blood shed by our Savior.

No matter how hard we may "try," NOTHING but the blood of Jesus can atone for our sin.

In this episode, I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Write out Scripture
  • Meditate
  • Read in context
• The 30 Day Music Challenge
• The story behind the song by Jars of Clay lead singer Dan Haseltine - BeliefNet Article
• Nothing can for sin atone...not of good that I have done - Isaiah 64:6, Romans 5:8
• No other fount I know - Zechariah 13:1
• For my pardon this I see - Ephesians 1:7, 2 Corinthians 5:17
• This is all my hope and peace - Colossians 1:19-20
• This is all my righteousness - Titus 3:4-6
• Nothing but the blood of Jesus - Hebrews 9:19-22
• Why? So that we might LIVE saved - 1 John 4:7-12

Weekly Challenge
Listen to the song and then do the work. Use the Bible Interaction Tool Exercises I introduced to interact with God’s Word this week. Reflect on the idea that nothing but the blood could have atoned for our sins, but it was not merely so we could be saved…but rather that we would LIVE saved.

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Let's develop a sense of wonder, shall we? The famous hymn "How Great Thou Art" makes us consider God with a sense of "awesome wonder." I chose Carrie Underwood's rendition to meditate on Psalm 145.

David sat in the awesome wonder of God and gave us a host of truths to meditate on in just one Psalm. Let's learn from his song of praise.

In this episode, I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: 
  • Read in context
  • Slow down
  • Meditate
  • Follow the cross-references
  • Share with a friend
• The 30-Day Music Challenge
• The one word that jumped out at me in the hymn this week - WONDER
• The background of how the hymn was written - hymntime.com
• Thinking about the WONDER of God speaking everything into existence
• The WONDER of walking on a glacier
• Slowing down to change the pace and perspective
• No one can measure God’s greatness - Psalm 145:3
• How amazing it is that an immeasurable, deep, unsearchable, and untraceable God has revealed Himself to us - Romans 11:33
• God’s wonders are without number - Job 5:9
• The limitlessness of God - Job 11:7
• Turning on your “noticer”
• Getting to know the God in whose image you were created - Psalm 145:13-20  

Additional Resources

• Lyrics and chords
• Behind the song "How Great Thou Art" by Carrie Underwood - YouTube Video

Weekly Challenge

 Read Psalm 145. Pray Psalm 145. Slow down. Meditate on these Scriptures. Meditate on God and His amazing characteristics. Develop a sense of wonder. Consider all of creation that God spoke into existence. Recount His good deeds and miracles.  

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Occasionally, I enjoy a few (or a bag) of Oreos. While they are enjoyable, they are not nourishing. The hymns of old are full of rich, nourishing doctrines that help form a strong foundation for the believer. This week I use Rend Collective's rendition of "You Are My Vision," a classic hymn versified by Eleanor Hull in 1912.

Join me as I uncover the Scriptural recipe for a nourishing meal at the table of God.

In this episode, I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: 
  • Read in context
  • Read in several translations
  • Review the section headings
• The 30-Day Music Challenge
• The history of hymns in my own life
• How light on doctrine much of Christian music can be these days
• A verse on vision - Proverbs 29:18
• Making connections with God's Word in such a way that you SEE what God is teaching
• Focusing on finding connections to the point where you train yourself to see them
• Casting aside our own plan for Christ alone - Proverbs 19:21
• God's presence my light - Psalm 27:1
• God as the only source of wisdom - Proverbs 2:6
• "You dwell inside me, together we're one" - 1 Timothy 1:14
• The Lord is our inheritance - Deuteronomy 18:2, 1 Peter 2:9
• Finding the Scripture we're looking for by searching for a phrase and typing "Scripture" at the end of our search

Additional Resources

• Lyrics and chords - WorshipTogether.com

Weekly Challenge

 You can go back to these Scriptures and link them to what you’re singing about in “Be Thou My Vision.” Perhaps you need a place to sit for a while. Psalm 16 is a really good place. It talks about God alone being our portion/inheritance, just like our hymn. 

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There are foundational truths found in Scripture that we may not question but may not be able to defend. In their song, "Image of God," We Are Messengers sings of a truth that profoundly impacts our daily lives.

Let's gain a Biblical perspective on being made in the image of God in our study this week.

In this week's episode, I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: 
  • Explore a topic
  • Utilize outside resources
  • Read in context
• The 30-Day Music Challenge
• Systematically poring over Scripture as it relates to a topic
• Using a resource like Wayne Grudem's "Systematic Theology" as an outside resource to guide your study
• God's creation was VERY GOOD - Genesis 1:31
• God's creative brilliance climaxes with humanity - Genesis 1:26-29
• God is the master artist who brought humanity to life
• Imago Dei is Latin for "image of God"
• We were created to glorify God - Isaiah 43:1-7
• God retains ownership over our lives - Psalm 24:1-2
• In the fall, God's image is distorted but not lost - Genesis 9:6
• Even though marred by sin, humans retain enough of God's image to be described as "made in the likeness of God" - James 3:9
• Even though God retains authority, we like to make our own plans - Ecclesiastes 7:29
• As Christ's followers, we set our feet on the path of image-bearing renewal - 2 Corinthians 3:18
• When Jesus returns, the transformation will be complete - 1 John 3:2
• Because we are image bearers, our time in God's Word is crucial to know Him and thereby be able to represent God to a lost and dying world

Additional Resources

• Lyrics - New Release Today
• An acoustic version of "Image of God" featuring Vince Gill - YouTube Video
• "The Image of God - An Approach from Biblical and Systematic Theology" - DesiringGod.org Article
• "Tim Keller on the Image of God" - Focus on the Family Article
• "3 Reasons We Must Preach on the Image of God" - Lifeway Research Article
• "What it Means to be 'Made in the Image of God'" - Focus on the Family Article
• "In His Image: 10 Ways God Calls Us to Reflect His Character" - Book by Jen Wilkin
• "God and the Transgender Debate" - Book by Andrew Walker

Weekly Challenge

 Read the first two chapters of Genesis and really focus on how God created humankind in the beginning. Utilize some of the outside resources (both free articles and books you may want to purchase) to explore what it means to be created in the image of God. Read the Scripture references in the show notes above in context and ponder how our image-bearing fits into the truths found in these various sections of Scripture. If you want to focus on a larger chunk of Scripture, consider 1 John 3 as it dials into the conduct that should be evident in the life of a believer made in God's image who represents God to the world. 

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Stale. Fake. Dead. Dying. Faded. Worthless. Delusional. There are all kinds of hope in this world, but believers in Christ are born again into a living hope. Phil Wickham's song "Living Hope" leads us straight to Scripture, where we discover that a Living God gives us a Living Hope through a Living Savior.

The original recipients of 1 Peter needed assurance of their living hope as they were suffering greatly. Let's explore it together.

In this week's episode, I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: 
  • Read and keep on reading
  • Read an introduction to the entire book of the Bible you are studying
  • Consult outside resources
  • Make a list
• The 30-Day Music Challenge
• "The Lord is My Strength and My Song" Women's Conference - More Information
• An introduction and outline of 1 Peter by J Vernon McGee - PDF of notes and outline
• Reading all the way through 1 Peter
• The theme of 1 Peter - the Christian hope in the time of trial
• J Vernon McGee teachings on 1 Peter - BlueLetterBible.com
• The Living God, our Living Hope, through our Living Savior - 1 Peter 1:3-5
• God's call not to follow the culture - Jeremiah 10:3-5
• Jeremiah's response calling God the living God - Jeremiah 10:10
• Making a list of the characteristics of the manmade idols vs. God's characteristics in Jeremiah 10
• Our living hope comes after being born again - John 3:5-8
• Our living Savior Who bore our sins - 1 Peter 2:24
• The description of our living hope - 1 Peter 1:4-5
• Our proper response to the gift of our living hope - 1 Peter 1:13-16
• Our conduct reflects our living hope - 1 Peter 1:22-23
• It is through Christ we believe in God - 1 Peter 1:21

Additional Resources

• Lyrics and chords - Essential Worship
• The Story Behind the Song "Living Hope" by Phil Wickham - Essential Worship

Weekly Challenge

 First, if you’ve never been born again…place your faith and hope in God through Jesus, your living Savior. Then, read 1 Peter. I think you’ll be surprised at the suffering it reveals…all the more need for a living hope. Read Jeremiah 10 for a snapshot of the effectiveness (rather ineffectiveness) of our false idols and the worthiness of our living God. Review the introductions to these books, interact with God’s Word as you read, and consult tried and true outside resources to shed even more light on what you’re reading. 

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Are you in need of a fight song these days? The struggle is real, but it's not against who you might think. "Stand My Ground," a new song by Zach Williams, is a great anthem for your playlist, but it points to truths more meaningful than any lyric.

Let's learn how to stand our ground and observe a man in the Old Testament standing his ground.

In this episode, I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: 
  • Repetition
  • Reading in context
  • Completing a word study
  • Mark up the text
  • Journal your thoughts
  • Read in a variety of translations
  • Make a list
  • Use a reading plan (outside resource)
• The 30-Day Music Challenge
• Focusing on standing our ground against the devil - Ephesians 6:10-18
• Friday with Friends on Michelle Nezat TV - YouTube Channel
• Seeing "stand" mentioned three times in 10 verses - BibleHub.com
• How a key part of the devil's "scheme" is to convince us our battle is against people
• How we are called to stand, stand, stand and pray, pray, pray in Ephesians 6:10-18
• A reading plan about Daniel and his friends taking a stand - YouVersion Reading Plan
• The book of Daniel in one sentence - OverviewBible.com
• Daniel taking a stand because of his resolve - Daniel 1
• Daniel taking a stand and praying (and recruiting his friends to pray, too) - Daniel 2
• Reading Scripture before commentary

Additional Resources

• Lyrics - NewReleaseToday.com
• Story Behind the Song "Stand My Ground" by Zach Williams - YouTube Video
• YouVersion Reading Plan

Weekly Challenge

 Spend some time in Ephesians 6 learning about the armor of God with a focus on standing your ground against the enemy. Read this section of Scripture repetitively and interact with it in new ways. Then, consider reading about Daniel and his friends in the first few chapters of the book Daniel, focusing on how they stood their ground. 

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We spend a lot of time celebrating Jesus at Christmastime. Easter doesn't have as much secular fanfare, and one reason may be that Easter forces us to answer hard questions about who Jesus is and who we are. In fact, Aaron Shust's song "Isaiah 53" leads us to an important section of ancient Scripture that forces us to answer those questions.

Let's study the ancient prophecy Isaiah wrote 700 years before Christ fulfilled its words.

In this episode, I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: 
  • Repetition
  • Meditation
  • Follow the cross-references
  • Consult various translations
• The 30-Day Music Challenge
• Our focus Scripture for the week - Isaiah 52:13-Isaiah 53:12
• The Mysterious Prophecy of Isaiah 53 by Michael Rydelnik - RightNowMedia.org
• How the interaction between Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch confirms this Scripture is about Jesus - Acts 8:26-40
• How God revealed to Peter that Jesus is the Messiah (and Jesus confirms it) - Matthew 16:15-17
• John the Baptist prophesied that Jesus is the sacrificial lamb - John 1:29
• Unpacking the focus Scripture verse by verse with cross-references 
  • Isaiah 52:13 - Jesus is exalted - Philippians 2:9
  • Isaiah 52:14 - crucifixion is disfiguring
  • Isaiah 52:15 - we will be sprinkled clean - Ezekiel 36:25-27
  • Isaiah 53:1 - explained in John 12:37-43
  • Isaiah 53:2 - Jesus was a common man - John 1:46, John 6:42
  • Isaiah 53:3 - Jesus was rejected - John 1:11
  • Isaiah 53:4 - Jesus was thought to be rejected by God because of false claims of divinity - John 19:7
  • Isaiah 53:5 - it was our sin he died for - Romans 4:25
  • Isaiah 53:6 - we've all sinned - Romans 3:23, 1 Peter 2:25
  • Isaiah 53:7 - Jesus remained silent - Matthew 26:63
  • Isaiah 53:8 - read in the New Living Translation
  • Isaiah 53:9 - Jesus died between two wicked men and was buried in a rich man's tomb - Mark 15:27, Matthew 27:57-60
  • Isaiah 53:10 - it was God's plan before the foundation of the world - Revelation 13:8
  • Isaiah 53:11 - we are justified through Christ - Romans 5:18-19
  • Isaiah 53:12 - Jesus bore our sin - 2 Corinthians 5:21
• Christ's sacrifice happened once, and he will appear again to bring salvation to those waiting for Him - Hebrews 2:28

Additional Resources

• Lyrics
• The Mysterious Prophecy of Isaiah 53 by Michael Rydelnik - RightNowMedia.org
• Isaiah 53 TALK (w/ Rabbi Ken) by Aaron Shust - YouTube Video
• Why Isaiah 53 is Important by Aaron Shust - YouTube Video

Weekly Challenge

 Read Isaiah 52:13-53:12. Then read it again. Consider how Jesus has fulfilled this prophecy through your own understanding of Scripture. Use the cross-references listed in the show notes above to get you started. Finally, read the account of the last days of Christ on earth in Matthew 26-28 or one of the other gospels. Take in the entire picture and rejoice that our iniquity has been paid for by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, and our eternity is secure through his victory over death in resurrection power. 

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