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

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Loneliness may be a time when we long to huddle close to to the love of God. We Are Messengers sings a message from God to the lonely in their song "Love." The apostle John issues a challenge to believers when it comes to the love of God. The song and Scripture come together on this week's podcast.

Let's dive into 1 John and see what we can learn together.

On this week’s episode I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Read in context
  • Read and keep on reading
  • Read an overview/introduction to the book
  • Repetition
  • Read in a variety of translations
  • Complete a word study
  • Consider the opposite
• The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE
• The story behind the song - YouTube
• Knowing and believing the love the God has for us - 1 John 4:16
• Learning about how the apostle John centers his message on "the application of basic tests in one's life to confirm that salvation has truly occurred" - BlueLetterBible.org Introduction
• Focusing in on 1 John 4:7-21
• Recognizing the link between loving God and loving others - 1 John 4:7-12
• A discussion of how God's love was revealed
• A word study on "propitiation" - BibleHub.com
• Considering the opposite of God's love - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
• Following John's reasoning regarding abiding
• Understanding that our unbroken re

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The Bible says God is not a God of fear. The Bible says that God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. It is the peace of God we need, but it is the Prince of Peace who must rule in our hearts and minds to defeat fear. God brings healing through His Word and that is what we will be exploring using Hope Darst's song "Peace Be Still" as a point of inspiration.

We see God calming the waves in Psalm 107. Let's explore it together!

On this week’s episode I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Following the cross reference
  • Reading in context
  • Read repetitively
  • Start with God
  • Compare and contrast
• The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE
• The story behind the song - YouTube
• How God's peace isn't a promised feeling or state of mind, but a Person -- and we meet the person of Jesus Christ in the revealed Word of God
• Getting inspiration from our lyrics that lead to Mark 4 and then following the cross reference to Psalm 107 - Psalm 107:29
• Understanding the genre of Psalm 107 to help us read it properly
• Ditching the "what's in it for me" mentality and starting with God
• Comparing and contrasting the four types of redeemed and where God gathered them from
• How all four types of people described in Psalm 107 got t

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What constitutes a miracle to you? How about raising a dead man to life? Of course! Did you know that miracle is available to us as well? That's what Lauren Daigle sings about in her song, "Still Rolling Stones." We learn straight from the words of Jesus on this episode.

Explore a familiar story with me in John 11.

On this week’s episode I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Repetition
  • Read in a variety of translations
  • Write in your Bible
• The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE
• Reading the account of Christ's resurrection in all four gospels
• Choosing the stone rolling incident in John 11 - John 11:39
• Why I use the English Standard Version to study - Bonus article by Wayne Grudem
• Letting things "rise to the surface" by reading repetitively
• Doing the work of interacting with God's Word to get results
• Focusing on what we DO understand before getting thrown off by what we don't understand in a text
• Exploring some "so" and "so that"s in the text
  • Lazarus' illness was for God's glory SO THAT the Son of God may be glorified - John 11:4
  • Jesus loved the sisters and Lazarus, so he waited to go meet them in their grief - John 11:5
  • Jesus was glad he wasn't there so that they would believe - John 11:14-15
• Recognizing that we don't always know God's motive and big-picture plan (even though we often ascribe motive to Him anyway)
• Exploring exactly what J

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One way to gain perspective in a dark and confusing time is to consider eternity. Let an old hymn guide your thoughts like "Absent From Flesh" written by Isaac Watts, but brought back to life by Sojourn and Jamie Barnes. Our suffering here is temporary, but God has a permanent home all planned out for His children.

Let's explore this together by diving in to Scripture in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians.

On this week’s episode I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Read in context
  • Read and keep on reading
  • Read the introduction
  • Consult an outside resource
  • Ask questions
• The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE
• Isaac Watts, the original author of this hymn
• Our inspiration verse in the King James Version uses the word "absent" - 2 Corinthians 5:6-7
• Reading in context by starting at the beginning of 2 Corinthians 5
• Discovering the confusing nature of 2 Corinthians when consulting an outside resource that confirms our feeling
• Gaining perspective by reading the historical context found in an introduction of a study Bible or a resource like "How to Read the Bible Book by Book" by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart
• Discovering what circumstances motivated Paul to write about being absent from our earthly flesh and present with the Lord - 2 Corinthians 4

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To know if something is “better” than something else, you need to understand both sides completely. Elevation Worship’s song “Better Word” sends us to the Old Testament and the New to see why the blood of Christ speaks the better word.

I can’t wait to journey from Genesis to Hebrews with you this week.

On this week’s episode I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Compare and contrast
  • Follow the cross reference
  • Read in context
  • Make a list
• The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE
• The inspiration verse that speaks of the “better word” - Hebrews 12:24
• Following the cross reference to read the story of Abel - Genesis 4:1-12
• How Scripture uses personification to help us understand the comparison and contrast between the blood of Christ and the blood of Abel
• How Abel's blood cries out for vengeance while Christ's blood cries out for forgiveness for the children of God
• Reading Hebrews 12 in context while consider the story of Cain and Abel
• Making a list comparing and contrasting the old and new covenants described in Hebrews 12

Read Hebrews 12 in context. There are so many things to compare and contrast in this chapter. When there is an Old Testament reference like Abel and Esau, track down the cross reference and study up on those accounts as well. Make a list of the characteristics of the old covenant and the new covenant as described in Hebrews 12.

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Does it matter the position of our body if our heart is sincere in worship? I believe we can acknowledge things about God through our physical posture. Chris Tomlin's song "I Lift My Hands" leads us to consider one position mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. In fact, David often speaks of body position in the Psalms.

Join me in Psalm 28 to see what we can discover about posture, worship, prayer, and God.

On this week's episode I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Read in context
  • Consider a topic
  • Make observations
  • Refer to an outside resource (this week...a sermon)
• The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE
• The "rest of the story" behind the song - A sermon by Louie Giglio, "I Lift My Hands"
• The progression of engaging God's Word
  • Skip over the parts you don't understand
  • Dig a little deeper into the meaning/definitions/stories - a Cliff's Notes of sorts
  • Read the original texts for yourself
  • Study and engage with the text for it to sink in
• Will the sermon or devotional that really "touches your heart" be less meaningful because you've never taken the time to read the reference in context? Yes.
• How the lifting of hands means different things in different contexts
• David's cry to the Lord with his hands raised - Psalm 28:1-2
• T

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God is unlimited in His resources. I know this in my head, but for some reason I believe the lie that He will limit His mercy to me. As if one day I will reach my limit and get cut off. Micah Tyler in his song "New Today" reminds us of the truth found in Scripture -- His mercies are new every morning.

Let's explore the steadfast love of the Lord in Lamentations this week.

On this week's episode I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Read in context
  • Consider the historical context
  • Read the introduction in a study Bible or other type resource
  • Follow the cross references
  • Meditate on what you're reading
• The 30 Day Music Challenge - SIGN UP HERE
• How I was inspired to head over to Lamentations by the lyrics of the song - Lamentations 3:22-23
• Reading all of Lamentations in one sitting and feeling a little confused
• Discovering the literary style of the book is poetry and the chapter I was studying is a stand-alone acrostic poem
• Exploring the historical narrative behind what the poet is lamenting about in 2 Kings 24-25
• How sometimes our view of God gets distorted in our sorrow
• The value of putting our sorrows into words, and then lifting our eyes to the Father
• Discovering that if you know how to worry, you know how to meditate
• How God doesn't have a limited supply of mercy
• The elements in the poem that will help us process our own laments

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We live in the now and the not yet. So many promises of God are available to us now, but will be completely fulfilled in the future promise of the new heavens and new earth. Elevation Worship sings of God's ultimate triumph in their song "See a Victory." It sent me to the prophecies of Isaiah where we learn much about God and His promises.

Followers of Christ can find themselves in this text. Let's dive in!

On this week's episode I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Read in context
  • Consider the historical context
  • Consult outside resources
  • Repetition
  • Follow the cross references
  • Ask questions
• The 30 Day Music Challenge - SIGN UP HERE
• Getting inspired by a song lyrics, a phrase, a sermon, or a devotion and letting it send you to sections of Scripture where you can stay and interact awhile
• My pattern of study this week
  • Read Isaiah 52-55 daily
  • Read in different translations
  • Ask questions along the way
  • Consult outside resources last
• The Bible Project overview of Isaiah
• Utilizing the resource, "How to Read the Bible Book by Book" by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart - Amazon Link
• Exploring Isaiah 55 - Episode 124 of More Than a Song
• The glorious future of God's people after the suffering servant completes His purpose
• The old covenant people as the barren woman in Isaiah 54:1-3
• Following the cross reference to Galatians 4:21-28
• Recap of the stories of Abraham, Hagar, and Sarah - Genesis 16, 21
• As followers of Christ we are children of the Spirit, and thus children of the promise<

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Have you ever heard something that sounded like it came from the Bible, but in fact, didn't? Casting Crowns song "Love Moved First" reminded me of a phrase I sometimes hear that is just flat out wrong. In this case, the truth is so much more amazing.

Join me on a quest for truth in the book of John.

On this week's episode I discuss:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Read in context
  • Follow the cross references
  • Complete a word study
• The 30 Day Music Challenge - SIGN UP HERE
• The error in the phrase "I found God"
• That salvation belongs to the Lord - John 6:44
• "The reason we think people are seeking after God when they’re not is that they are desperately and earnestly seeking for those things that only God can give them..." - Thomas Aquinas, a theologian from the middle ages
• Reading the context of John 6:45 by reading John 5-7
• Finding out "there is no one who seeks God" - Romans 3:10-12
• Following the cross references to Psalm 14 and Psalm 53
• How every aspect of man’s salvation is from God and is entirely dependent upon God -- the only work of God for us is to believe in the one he has sent - John 6:29
• Completing a word study on the word "believe" from John 6:29 - BibleHub.com
• God's will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life

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Today has not caught God off-guard. No matter the circumstance you find yourself in, He's already there and He already knows what will happen next. JJ Heller's new song, "You Already Know," reminds us of God's omniscience -- the attribute of God that means He is all-knowing.

Join me in exploring this attribute of God in Scripture this week.

On 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
  • Follow the cross-reference
  • Consider the opposite
  • Meditate on truth
  • Pray Scripture
• God knows everything - 1 John 3:20
• Trusting man (or our own hearts) is not a good idea - Jeremiah 17:5-10
• God has never learned and cannot learn - Isaiah 40:13-14
• God's knowledge is unfathomably deep - Romans 11:33-36
• Meditating on the depth of the knowledge of God
• AW Tozer's book, "Knowledge of the Holy"
• God's deep and purposeful knowledge - Isaiah 46:8-11
• The deeply personal nature of God's knowledge - Psalm 90:8
• Our inability to "hide" from our all-knowing God - Psalm 139:7-12
• God's steadfast love (despite knowing everything about us) - Isaiah 54:10
• Jen Wilkin's book, "None Like Him"
• Praying for God to reveal and enlighten our hearts - Ephesians 1:16-21

• Lyrics - genius.com
• "What does it mean that God is omniscient?" - GotQuestions.org
• "The Knowledge of the Holy" by AW Tozer - Amazon.com
• "None Like Him" by Jen Wilkin - Amazon.com

Meditate on God’s omniscience this week — we’ve only scratched the surface. Follow-up on the listing of Scriptures found in the show notes to read them for yourself in context. Perhaps even consider reading one of the outside resources I referenced to increase your understanding of the attributes of God.

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