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Have you ever loved a song and found that learning its story made it even more meaningful? That happened to me this week. I was inspired to study Psalm 34 after listening to "Trust In God" by Elevation Worship. Only the story behind the song that I studied isn't the story behind "Trust in God." It's the story behind David's song in Psalm 34.

Join me as we read and meditate on Psalm 34 and watch it come to life while studying the "story behind the song."

In this episode, I discuss the following:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: 
  • Read in context
  • Repetition
  • Meditate on Scripture
  • Read the text aloud
  • Listen to an audio version
  • Study/listen in various translations
  • Start with God
  • Make a list
  • Follow cross-references
• Episode Guide Download
• Trust in God because He's trustworthy, not because He gives you what you want
• Sit and soak in Psalm 34 before interacting with the text
• Recognize that when you seek the Lord, He will answer, but not always in the way you are seeking
• Marking up the text on my tablet - I love the Notability app
• Starting with God before highlighting what we learn about people in Psalm 34
• Using the bookmark Dr. Matthew Harmon shared on the special Friday With Friends edition of More Than a Song
• Remembering that while the Bible was written for you, it wasn't originally written to you
• Exploring the "story behind the song" by reading 1 Samuel 20-22
• Looking closer at the original audience of this song - 1 Samuel 22:1-2
• Rereading Psalm 34 now that you have the historical background
• Trust in our Redeemer and take refuge in Him, and you will not be condemned 
  • Psalm 34:22
  • John 3:17
  • Romans 8:1

Additional Resources

• "Trust In God" by Elevation Worship - NewReleaseToday.com
• My favorite Bible Study Software - Logos Bible Software Affiliate Link

This Week's Challenge

Read Psalm 34 until you have a solid foundation of what the words say. Then, mark up the text as you look for God's character, conduct, and concerns before considering what we learn about people and how we respond to God. Read the story behind the song starting in 1 Samuel 20 and read through chapter 22. Meditate on what this song may have meant to the first audience

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Don't forget the Episode Guide Download for THIS episode! Download it for free to interact with Scripture for yourself.

Something is keeping us from being a light in our world. A question asked in for KING+COUNTRY's song "What Are We Waiting For?" inspired me to explore what the Bible says about light and our identity as Christ followers to be light.

Join me on a journey through the Old and New Testaments to glimpse what we're up against as children of light and how to overcome the darkness. What are you waiting for?  

In this episode, I discuss the following:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Read in context
  • Study a topic
  • Review section titles
• Episode Guide Download
• Looking at "light" from a biblical worldview
• God made a distinction between light and darkness in creation - Genesis 1:2-5
• God made a spiritual distinction between light and darkness - Isaiah 60:1-3
• Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness - John 1:4-5, John 1:12
• The darkness doesn't want to be overcome - John 3:19-20
• Before Christ, not only did we love darkness, we WERE darkness - Ephesians 5:8-9
• We have an enemy that stands against the light - 2 Corinthians 4:4-6
• In Christ, we are delivered from the domain of darkness - Colossians 1:13
• How should we respond?
  • Shine - Luke 8:16
  • Walk as children of light - Ephesians 5:8-9
  • Confess our sin - 1 John 1:5-10
• Other episodes that study 1 John
  • Episode 447
  • Episode 455
  • Episode 457
  • Episode 464

 

Our transformation cannot happen apart from Christ. You cannot will yourself to become light without the life and light of Christ.

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Don't forget the Episode Guide Download for THIS episode! Download it to interact with Scripture for yourself.

I see a lot of conversation in the media about positive self-talk. And I get it. Talking negatively about yourself to yourself is not helpful. Inspired by Micah Tyler's song "Praise The Lord," I meditated on King David's self-talk in the Psalms. He pumps himself up by telling his soul to praise the Lord.

Biblical self-talk is WAY better than anything you'll read about anywhere else. Let's learn about it together in Psalm 103 this week.

In this episode, I discuss the following:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Read in context
  • Repetition
  • Consider the opposite
  • Mark up the text
  • Meditate on Scripture
  • Complete a word study
• Episode Guide Download
• Theology leads to doxology
• As you learn and grow and then approach Scripture again, you will see new things because YOU are new
• Studying Psalm 103 in previous episodes - Episode 103 and Episode 332
• Psalm 103 is the first in a series of praise psalms (Psalms 103-107)
• David's self-talk about praising the Lord as bookends of Psalm 103
• "If we aren't praising God truly, we aren't thinking about God rightly and deeply." - Exalting Jesus in Psalms 101-150 - Amazon Paid Link
• Biblical self-talk focuses our words on God and not on ourselves
• Considering the opposite of "praise" - wordhippo.com
• Turning truths learned in Scripture into phrases of praise that your soul declares back to God
• Following the cross-reference regarding God's treatment of our sin
  • Isaiah 38:17-19
  • Isaiah 43:24
  • Micah 7:19
  • Romans 4:7
  • Ephesians 2:5
• Completing a word study on the word translated "soul"

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"Hold on just a little bit longer" is the appeal Katy Nichole says God gives us in her song "Hold On." Does God entreat us to hold on in Scripture? And if so, what are we to hold on to? And what does it look like when we let go? Believe it or not, I got answers to all of these questions and more in my study of God's Word inspired by this song. 

Join me as we delve into Paul's first letter to Timothy to discover what we should and should not hold onto. 

In this episode, I discuss the following:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: 
  • Consider the opposite
  • Mark up the text
  • Read in context
  • Repetition
  • Compare and contrast
  • Make a list
• Episode Guide Download
• Various places in Scripture where we are instructed to "hold on" 
  • Proverbs 4:13 (NIV)
  • 2 Timothy 1:13 (NLT)
  • Revelation 3:11 (NIV)
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22 (NIV)
  • Hebrews 3:6 (CSB)
  • 1 Timothy 1:19 (ESV)
• Making a list of what we are to hold on to
• Considering the opposite by taking our list and turning it into "let go" statements
• An example from Jesus where the Pharisees let go of God's ways to hold on to human tradition - Mark 7:8-13
• Choosing 1 Timothy to spend more interaction time
• The history of illuminated manuscripts - 1-minute video from the Museum of the Bible
• The Illuminated Scripture Journal as a resource for Bible interaction - Amazon Paid Link
• Marking repeated words or phrases 
  • faith and conscience - 1 Timothy 1:5, 1 Timothy 1:18-20
• The doctrine Paul wants Timothy (and us) to hold on to 
  • 1 Timothy 6:2-4
  • Galatians 1:6-7
  • 1 Timothy 1:6-7
• Making a list of things contrary to sound doctrine - 1 Timothy 1:8-10
• Remembering that when you don't hold on to truth, it is not a neutral decision - you will cling to something else - 1 Timothy 4:1-3

Additional Resources

• The story behind the song "Hold On" by Katy Nichole plus lyrics - 95thefish.com
• The Illuminated Scripture Journal as a resource for Bible interaction - Amazon Paid Link
• My favorite Bible Study Software - Logos Bible Software Affiliate Link

This Week's Challenge

 Read and reread Paul’s first letter to Timothy. Use this episode as a springboard to interact with the text for yourself. There’s so much more to explore. Mark up the text, make lists, and compare and contrast. 

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What happens when our preference doesn't line up with God's preference? How can we even know God's desires? I've asked these questions since I was introduced to Rachel Morley's song "Preference."

Join me as we explore a time when God's servants did something they 100% thought was right but did not line up with God's preference.

In this episode, I discuss the following:

• 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
  • Ask questions
  • Follow the cross-references
  • Meditate on God's Word
  • Read in different translations
  • Refer to an overview of the book you're studying
  • Remember the people were REAL
  • Repetition
  • Consult an outside resource
• Episode Guide Download
• How God challenged me with my own thoughts
• An overview of Chronicles - The Bible Project on YouTube
• Reading the genealogies and making notes along the way
• Meditating on the details of 1 Chronicles 13
• Learning more about the Ark of God
  • Exodus 25
  • Numbers 4
  • Leviticus 16
• Pondering the unique details of the narrative
• Discovering the previously abandoned plan to move the ark fulfilled in 1 Chronicles 15
• Considering how David and the people should have known how to fulfill God's preference
• Finding time to build a life of knowing God and His ways

 

We won’t get a pass, because we SHOULD have known His preferences — God provided a way for us to know and we leave it sitting on our shelves or unopened on our phones.

Additional Resources

• Lyrics to "Preference" by Rachel Morley -

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Do you have a favorite singer? Can you recognize their voice even if you're not familiar with the song? I have a friend who is a photographer. I can spot her work right away on social media. Her photos have something about them that acts as a type of signature on her work. When we examine the works of Jesus and get to know them really well, it will be easier to spot Him in places like the Old Testament Scriptures or even daily life. We The Kingdom's song "Jesus Does" inspired me to study the works of Jesus.

 

Join me as we study what Jesus did, does, and will do in the book of Hebrews.

 

In this episode, I discuss the following:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Context
  • Read and keep on reading
  • Repetition
  • Listen to an audio version of the text
  • Read various translations
  • Make a list
  • Meditation
  • Follow the cross-references
  • Define words
  • Complete a word study
• Episode Guide Download
• Reading the first five books of the Bible using the reader's Bible - Immerse: Beginnings - Amazon Paid Link
• Learning how to look for Jesus in the Old Testament - Beginning at Moses: A Guide to Finding Christ in the Old Testament by Michael Barrett - Amazon Paid Link
• Jesus himself says that the law and the prophets point to him - Luke 24:25-27
• Studying the works of Jesus enables us to see him in other areas of Scripture
• Reading through Hebrews, looking for what Jesus does
• Seeing the Old Testament quoted in Hebrews as evidence of Christ
• "The Old Testament must be read in light of its fulfillment in Christ" - Exalting Jesus in Hebrews Commentary

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Have you ever experienced a heartwarming moment that evokes an irresistible response? Like how can you resist petting a puppy sitting at your feet gazing at you with big round eyes? MercyMe's moving anthem, "To Not Worship You," reminds us of an irresistible response as we contemplate and rehearse God's greatness.

Join me as we study Psalm 89 to shift our perspectives and transform the way we think and worship our almighty God.

In this episode, I discuss the following:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Make a list
  • Meditate on God's Word
  • Repetition
  • Complete a word study
  • Read the text aloud
  • Start with God
• Episode Guide Download
• Reasons why I chose Psalm 89 to study this week
• Examples of areas I made note of that I could explore further:
  • Study "steadfast love" - like I did in Episode 441 and Episode 461
  • Explore the covenant language
  • Study the various names of God
  • Study the references to creation
  • Explore the messianic nature of the Psalm
  • Examining the cry of lament - as I did in Episode 381
  • Make note of repeated words
• Starting with God and listing His character, conduct, and concerns as shown in Psalm 89 (hint: I came up with over 33)
• The ACTS model for prayer (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication)
• Taking one characteristic a day to meditate on and adore God
• Completing a word study on the use of the word "faithfulness" - BibleHub.com
  • Psalm 89:1
  • Psalm 89:2
  • Psalm 89:5

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Putting first things first is a habit of highly effective people. But what are the "first things" for a follower of Christ? How does God rank the things you should be prioritizing above others?

Let's allow Scripture to mold how we interpret the world.

In this episode, I discuss the following:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Read in context
  • Meditate on Scripture
  • Define words
  • Read/study various translations
  • Compare and contrast
• Episode Guide Download
• Reading the entire Sermon on the Mount
• Recognizing that there's value in continuing to read and keep on reading and a time to stop and explore when interacting with Scripture
• Our focus area of Scripture in the "do not" section of the sermon - Matthew 6:19-34
• How our inspiration song restates what Jesus is teaching
• Three areas we can rank higher than God wants us to
  • Stuff
  • What we watch (look at)
  • Money
• Considering the original audience and still applying the principles Jesus is teaching to our current time
• How the world may teach that "first things first" is doing the things you have to do before you do the things you want to do, but as believers, we want God to change our priorities, not just the order of our actions
• Thinking about what "first" means, especially in light of Jesus, our preeminent One - Colossians 1:18
• How God wants a worldview change, but just obeying a commandment taught by men - Isaiah 29:13
• Further teaching on how "first" plays out in God's kingdom - Matthew 20:1-16, Matthew 20:20-28, Philippians 2:6-7

 

What you value will show up in how you live — where you spend your time, talents, and treasure.

 

Additional Resources

• Lyrics to "First Things First" by Consumed By Fire -

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Do you praise God amid deep distress? When your circumstances don't change, when the pain doesn't let up, when you feel like you're underwater and can't catch your breath, can you muster a song of praise to God? Rend Collective challenges us to do that in their song "Hallelujah Anyway."

A man in Scripture found himself in deep distress and tragic loss and gave a hallelujah anyway. Let's spend some time exploring Job's story this week.

In this episode, I discuss the following:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Listen to an audio version of the text
  • Read in context
  • Read for a set period of time
  • Read and keep on reading
  • Remember that the people in the Bible were real
• Episode Guide Download
• Don't get stuck in one way of interacting with God's Word - Job 33:14
• Stay curious as you interact with God's Word
• The story behind the song "Hallelujah Anyway" by Rend Collective - New Release Today Article
• Why this week's song inspired me to read Job
  • Job 1:21
  • Job 2:10
  • Job 13:15
• Some exercises to help you read this long story in context
• The power of biblical historical fiction to put flesh on the people described in Scripture
• "This book is all about calling into question the reader's views of God and the world" - The Bible Project Podcast
• While Job wants to know why he's being afflicted, God just gives him more of Himself - Job 38:1-7
• "Love Amid the Ashes: A Novel" by Mesu Andrews - Amazon Paid Link
• Job talking about what his life was like before his affliction - Job 29
• Words really do hurt - Job 19:2
• Job's friends did not characterize God properly - Job 42:8
• Keeping your antenna up for "light" and "darkness" language as we talked about in Episode 467

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The effects of sin are ravaging our world. Like the devastating locusts stripping the land bare in the book of Joel, we are stripped of meaningful worship owed to Father God. Let Andrew Ripp's song "For The Love Of God" remind you of God's love and his call to action displayed in this minor prophet book.

And let the text lead us to action in our own devastated land.

 

In this episode, I discuss the following:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Share with a friend
  • Read the text out loud
  • Read in context
  • Consult section headings
  • Make observations
  • Make a list
  • Consult an overview
  • Pray
• The Episode Guide for continued self-study
• Overcoming the obstacle of feeling inadequate when it comes to discussing Scripture
  • Read the text together
  • Get your bearings of the context using section headings
  • Make some observations
  • Write down any questions
  • Pray and ask God to reveal what He wants you to see
  • Learn from trusted outside resources
• Taking advantage of the "now"
• The Bible Project Overview of Joel - YouTube Video
• The importance of using even devastating circumstances as launching pads to share with our children - Joel 1:3
• How tragedy impacted worship - Joel 1:9
  • The symbol of drink offerings - Holman New Testament Commentary - Amazon Paid Link
  • The symbol of grain offerings - GotQuestions.org Article
• How Joel paralleled the joy of the people drying up like the land drying up - Joel 1:12
• The action words God uses toward His people found in Joel 1
• Rescue coming through repentance
• The references to the "day of the Lord" in Joel
  • Joel 1:15

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