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

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Where would you be if you didn't have Jesus? Peter Burton's chart-topping song asks a question that Paul's letter to Titus answers in vivid detail. In this episode, we explore what life looks like without Jesus, what it looks like with Him, and how to study Scripture through the lens of created, fallen, and redeemed.

📥 Download your free Episode Guide at michellenezat.com/538download (Pairs with the Episode 537 guide — use them together for a complete walk-through of Titus!)

This episode introduces a powerful new Bible Interaction Tool Exercise — learning about people the way the Bible does: created, fallen, and redeemed. We also practice starting with God, considering the opposite, and making a list as we work through Titus 1 together.

If this is who God is, and in Christ we are to reflect Him — consider the opposite. That's exactly what we do in this episode, and it just might change the way you read your Bible.

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What is your testimony?

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If someone asked you to share your “Jesus story,” would you know where to begin? In this episode of More Than a Song, we explore what it really means to be a living, breathing, walking testimony—inspired by the song “Testimony” by Terrian.

Together, we’ll dive into Titus 3:3–7 and uncover a simple but powerful framework for understanding our shared story in Christ:
I once was… But God… I am now… and my hope for the future is…

Whether you have a dramatic story or a quiet, steady faith journey, your testimony matters—because it’s ultimately the story of what Jesus has done.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What Scripture says a true testimony is
• Why every believer shares the same core “Jesus story”
• How God’s mercy, grace, and renewal shape your identity
• Practical ways to build a routine of engaging with God’s Word
• How your testimony leads to a life of purpose and good works

You’ll also be encouraged to start (or restart!) a simple rhythm of Bible reading—with grace for the days when life gets in the way.

So press play, reflect on your own story, and discover how God is still writing it.

👉 Don’t forget to download your free Episode Guide at michellenezat.com/537download

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Free Episode Guide: michellenezat.com/536download

When life feels heavy and hope feels distant, what do you do with your questions, your pain, and your doubt?

In this episode of More Than a Song, Michelle Nezat uses “There’s a God” by Mary‑Clair as a doorway into Psalm 22 and Jesus’ darkest day on the cross. Together, we explore how Scripture invites us to bring honest lament to God while anchoring ourselves in unshakable truth.

You’ll discover how Jesus’ cry of “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” points us to a psalm that holds both suffering and hope—and how our feelings can be real without being the full story. This episode will encourage you to look to Jesus, interrupt destructive thought loops, and engage Scripture personally when hope feels hard to find.

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Apply the Care Cycle and dig deeper into Psalm 22 at
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What if the question “Am I worthy?” isn’t the right question at all?

Inspired by Matthew West’s song “Good,” this episode of More Than a Song takes us back (again!) to the book of Romans—and this time, we lean into the power of repetition. In Romans 5:1–11, we uncover a truth that changes everything: we are not loved because we’re worthy, but because God is good.

In this episode, you’ll:

• Discover why repetition is a powerful way to interact with Scripture
• Learn how to Start With God by focusing on His character, conduct, and concerns
• Explore how hope rooted in God does not lead to shame
• Be reminded that your standing with God rests on Christ’s work, not your performance

If you’ve ever struggled with measuring your worth—or wondered why grace feels hard to believe—this episode is an invitation to return to Scripture and let God’s goodness wreck you with mercy.

🎧 Song: “Good” by Matthew West
📖 Scripture Focus: Romans 5:1–11

👉 Episode Guide: michellenezat.com/535download

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Easter isn’t just a season — it’s the heart of the gospel. In this episode of More Than a Song, Michelle uses “Remembrance” by Hillsong Worship to explore what Jesus is talking about when He says, “Do this in remembrance of me.”

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As we read the accounts of the Last Supper in the gospels in context, we discover something surprising — only one Gospel records Jesus’ exact words. From there, we follow the cross‑references back to the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, uncovering how Jesus fulfills God’s original memorial and institutes the Lord’s Supper as an ongoing proclamation of His sacrifice.

This episode will deepen your understanding of communion and invite you to approach the Lord’s Table with greater clarity, gratitude, and remembrance.

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What does the word hallelujah actually mean in the Bible? In this episode of More Than a Song, we explore the Scripture behind “Let It Be a Hallelujah” by Lauren Daigle and discover how Colossians 3 shows us what it looks like to live a life of praise.

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Instead of thinking of hallelujah as something we sing in worship, Scripture reveals that our entire everyday life can become a hallelujah—a living declaration of praise to God.

In This Episode

• What the word hallelujah actually means
• Why the word only appears four times in the Bible
• How Colossians 3 describes a life of worship
• The difference between praising God in moments and living a life of praise
• Practical ways our everyday actions can become a hallelujah to God

Scriptures Referenced

• Revelation 19:1–6
• Exodus 3:14
• Exodus 6:2–3
• Exodus 20:7
• Leviticus 24:16
• Colossians 1–4
• Colossians 3:1–17
• Romans 12:1

Try This BITE (Bible Interaction Tool Exercise)

Read in Context

Read the entire letter to the Colossians (chapters 1–4). Then spend extra time sitting in Colossians 3, noticing:

• What believers are called to put off
• What believers are called to put on
• How gratitude is woven throughout the passage

Ask yourself:

How should this change the way I think?
 How should this change the way I live?

Quote from the Episode

“Our hallelujah—our worship—is not just a song or a prayer. It’s our lives. It’s taking our everyday, ordinary life—our sleeping, eating, going-to-work, walking-around life—and doing everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

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Have you ever wondered what it really means to be more than a conqueror? What if the pressures, fears, and doubts in your life aren’t the final word—and what if God’s love is bigger than all of it? In this episode, Colton Dixon’s song “The Love I Have For You” becomes our guide to exploring the power, security, and overwhelming strength of God’s love.

We’ll walk through Romans 8 in a way that makes Scripture come alive, uncover faulty thinking that keeps us stuck, and discover how God’s love transforms anxiety into assurance. By the end, you won’t just be singing along—you’ll be living with a fresh perspective on the One who fights for you.

Key Points

• Song Inspiration: Colton Dixon wrote “The Love I Have For You” while learning to rest in God’s love amidst work, life, and fatherhood.
• Theme: Romans 8:37 – “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
• Scriptural Context: Romans 1–8 explores the Gospel, justification by faith, sanctification, suffering, and future hope.
• Teaching Method: Paul’s diatribe method—posing rhetorical objections to correct faulty thinking—is a model for how we can interact with Scripture.
• Takeaway: God’s love is constant, secure, and empowers us to overcome external pressures, internal struggles, and accusations.

Scriptures Referenced

• Romans 1–8 (focus on 8:31–39)
• Romans 8:1–2
• Romans 8:31–39
• Romans 8:37
• Romans 8:38–39
• Psalm 44:22
• Revelation 12:10

BITEs (Bible Interaction Tool Exercises)

1. Read in Context – Read Romans 1–8 in one sitting. Notice Paul’s progression from justification to present experience to future hope.
2. Make a List (Diatribe Chart) – Create a two-column chart: Faulty Thinking vs. Truth
3. Follow the cross-reference – Follow Paul’s quotation: Psalm 44:22. Reflect on God’s faithfulness to His covenant people even amidst affliction.
4. Breath Prayer – Inspired by Tim Timmons: Breath in…Jesus…Breathe out… You have my attention. Let this prepare your heart to interact with Scripture.
5. Pray a Declaration of Gratitude – Turn truths uncovered from Romans 8:31–39 into a spoken or written declaration of God’s love and victory through Christ.

Additional Resources

• Download the free Episode Guide
• Lyrics - New Release Today
• Behind the Song "The Love I Have For You" by Colton Dixon - New Release Today Editorial
• Cover Story: Colton Dixon | The Love I Have For You - CCM YouTube Interview
• Bible Interaction Roadmap Bible Study - videos and assignments that will equip you with habits you can use over and over in your own Bible Study - Learn More
• Learn more about my favorite Bible Study Software with a 30-day free trial and links to my favorite Bible resources - Logos Bible Software Affiliate Link

This Week's Challenge

Read Romans chapters 1-8. Pay attention to Paul’s rhetorical question, “What shall we say?” Consider what you can learn from his teaching style. Create a two-column chart based on Paul’s discourse in Romans 8:31-39. In one column, list examples of faulty thinking; in the other column, provide the corrected thinking. Share your insights with a friend. If you are feeling separated

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In this episode of More Than a Song, we use Tim Timmons’ song “Christ In Me” as a launching point to explore what Scripture teaches about the indwelling Holy Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit, and the tension we experience when our lives don’t always align with what we say we believe.

We’ll dig into what it means to suppress the truth, why Paul says this leads to being “futile in our thinking,” and how setting our minds on the Spirit changes everything — from our thoughts to our actions to our worship.

Key Points

• What it means to believe something intellectually but not live like it’s true
• Hypocrisy vs. life in the Spirit
• The promise and presence of the Holy Spirit
• Fruit of the Spirit as evidence, not effort
• Suppressing truth and the cost of futile thinking
• Allowing Truth to resurface — like a beach ball underwater
• How setting our minds on the Spirit leads to life and peace

Scriptures Referenced

• John 14–16
• Acts 2
• Romans 1:18–22; 29–31
• Romans 2:1
• Romans 8:5–11
• Galatians 5:17; 22–23
• Ephesians 1:13–14
• Philippians 4:8
• Matthew 5:21–22

BITEs (Bible Interaction Tool Exercises)

• Read & Keep on Reading: Read Romans 1–8 in context and note the contrast between suppressing truth and life in the Spirit.
• Turn Scripture Into Prayer: Thank God for His Spirit dwelling in you and producing His fruit through you.
• Compare & Contrast: Look at Galatians 5 and identify the difference between striving in the flesh and keeping in step with the Spirit.

Additional Resources

• Download the free Episode Guide
• Lyrics - New Release Today
• Tim Timmons shares the heart behind the song "Christ In Me" and shares the song live on Essential Worship Song Sessions - YouTube
• Bible Interaction Roadmap Bible Study - videos and assignments that will equip you with habits you can use over and over in your own Bible Study - Learn More
• Learn more about my favorite Bible Study Software with a 30-day free trial and links to my favorite Bible resources - Logos Bible Software Affiliate Link

This Week's Challenge

Read John 14-16 and highlight every time Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit and make note of how He describes Him. Head over to Romans 1 and 8 (better yet, read Romans 1-8) and examine what it looks like to suppress truth and the results, and contrast that to what life in the Spirit looks like. Finally, spend some time in Galatians 5 to see what keeping in step with the Spirit looks like—what life looks like when following the Spirit's leading rather than suppressing Him. It should change your prayers, your praise, your thinking, and your life. What if we lived like we believed that the Spirit of Christ dwelled within us?

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In this special Friday With Friends episode of More Than a Song, I’m joined by worship leader, songwriter, and author Tim Timmons—a voice many of us recognize from songs we’ve sung, but whose story gives those lyrics profound weight.

Tim co-wrote Even If, a song rooted in the kind of faith that trusts God without guaranteed outcomes. That theology isn’t abstract for Tim. Over twenty years ago, he received a terminal cancer diagnosis—and he’s been living out an “even if” faith ever since.

In our conversation, we talk honestly about suffering, grief, and gratitude. We explore how music becomes prayer when words are hard to find, how God’s Word anchors us when faith feels fragile, and how joy and sorrow can coexist without canceling each other out.

If you’ve ever felt worn out by performative faith—or needed permission to bring your real story to Jesus—this conversation is for you.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why Scripture still matters when life doesn’t make sense
• How suffering strips faith down to what’s real and lasting
• The story behind Tim’s new book, Waking Up Again: A Journey of Grief and Gratitude
• Seeing his story portrayed in I Can Only Imagine 2, and what it was like watching that unfold
• Holding joy and grief together in everyday life
• How music helps us process pain and hope simultaneously as prayers to be sung
• Tim’s personal habits for staying engaged with God’s Word
• A song recommendation you’ll want on repeat (and we’ll be using it for Monday’s episode!)

Connect with Tim: All the links to all the things are at https://michellenezat.com/tim

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There are some songs that stay with us—not because they were tied to a moment, but because they put words to a posture of faith we keep coming back to. Even If by MercyMe is one of those songs for me. At its core, it gives voice to a tension we all know well: trusting that God is able… while also learning to remain faithful when He doesn’t act in the way we hope He will.

Key Points

• “Even If” by MercyMe gives voice to a deeply biblical kind of faith—a faith that remains even when God doesn’t intervene the way we hope He will.
• The song is rooted in Daniel 3, where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego declare that God can save them…but even if He doesn’t, they will not bow.
• The modern testimony behind the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul” echoes the same posture—sorrow acknowledged, trust unshaken.
• This phrase even if names something many believers live daily: trusting God when the outcome is uncertain, painful, or opposite of what we prayed for.
• The enemy still whispers the same lie King Nebuchadnezzar did: “What god could save you now?” Recognizing that lie and responding with truth shapes our spiritual resilience.

Scriptures Referenced

• Daniel 1–3 – Context of the exile, rise of Daniel and his friends, and the furnace account
• Daniel 3:16–18 – “The God we serve is able…but even if…”
• Daniel 2:49 – Their roles in Babylon
• Daniel 1:17–20 – God-given wisdom and favor
• Supporting historical reference from the story behind “It Is Well with My Soul”

BITEs (Bible Interaction Tool Exercises)

• Consult a summary or introduction before diving into a book you’re less familiar with (e.g., study Bible intros, Blue Letter Bible, BibleProject).
• Read in context – Start in Daniel 1 and read through Daniel 3 to see the full arc of faithfulness.
• Consider historical context – Culture, timeline, exile setting, and long-term leadership roles.
• Follow cross-references – Explore the broader biblical theme of steadfast trust.
• Ask reflection questions – “Where is my even if? Where am I tempted to bow to cultural pressure?”

Additional Resources

• Download the free Episode Guide
• Lyrics - New Release Today
• Blue Letter Bible ESV Introduction to the Book of Daniel
• Bible Project Introduction to the Book of Daniel - BibleProject.com
• Bible Interaction Roadmap Bible Study - videos and assignments that will equip you with habits you can use over and over in your own Bible Study - Learn More
• Learn more about my favorite Bible Study Software with a 30-day free trial and links to my favorite Bible resources - Logos Bible Software Affiliate Link

This Week's Challenge

Read Daniel 3 in context -- meaning start in chapter 1 and read all the way through chapter 3. Consider the historical context of this story. Perhaps even research the historical details further. Ask yourself how you would respond in this situation. Decide today that you will remain faithful even if God doesn't choose to rescue you in the manner you desire.

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