More Than A Song - Discovering The Truth Of Scripture Hidden In Today's Popular Christian Music

Send us a textWe can see what a heart filled with expectation looks like when we observe children's faces on Christmas morning. May our hearts burst with childlike levels of anticipation for the return of Christ. "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus," as sung by Meredith Andrews, reminds us that while the Advent season may have come to a close for 2017, we still eagerly await Christ's return. We can learn quite a bit from two characters included in the story of Christ's birth and dedication to the Lord in Luke 2. Will you join me there? On this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Observe Reflect Respond How this hymn was originally written by Charles Wesley in 1744 The double nature of Advent as reflected in our song The story of Simeon and Anna in Luke 2:22-38 The historical context of why Joseph and Mary would come to the temple for this particular sacrifice - Ligonier Ministries Article on The Consolati

Send us a textI have been keeping Jesus small. I have found myself saying things like, "He started as a baby." Fortunately for me, I allowed Scripture to reshape my thinking this week. Inspired by downhere's song, "How Many Kings," I considered what sort of king Jesus is to emphasize the tremendous sacrifice it was for Him to come to earth as a human (much less a baby). But He did NOT "start" as a baby. Join me in Colossians 1 to put the magnifying glass on just a handful of characteristics of King Jesus. On this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Make a list Repetition Considering a familiar story from a new perspective Jesus was an "unlikely hero"...or was He? Jesus is anything but small - Colossians 1:15-20 Everything in our list was true of the baby lying in a manger Jesus was God Jesus holds the highest rank Jesus created His kingdom Before there was anything...King Jesus wa

Send us a textWhat if Jesus had come to earth in another way? He is God after all. He didn't HAVE to plan to come as a baby. Have you ever considered why? Jason Gray's song grapples with this idea in his song "I Will Find a Way" based on a short story, "An Advent Monologue," by Walter Wangerin Jr. Join me on a journey to Isaiah 43 where we hear the loving voice of our Father. On this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Context Reading aloud "Ragman: And Other Cries of Faith" by Walter Wangerin, Jr. A review of the song and the story it's based on God's "tone of voice" and how we interpret it The phrase in the song that leads us to Isaiah 43 All the ways God comforts us with his love in Isaiah 43 How we in turn burden and weary Him - Isaiah 43:22-24 The thieves, collectors, and looters displayed in the story, song, and Scripture - 2 Peter 2:17-19 How God handles our

Send us a textThere is such a sense of expectancy in the Christmas season. We hope our gifts for others are "just right," we hope everyone gets along at our various gatherings, we hope to make lasting and meaningful memories, and sometimes we hope for that perfect gift. Before Jesus came the first time, all of creation hoped for God to send the One that would rescue the world. Kari Jobe's song, "When Hope Came Down," calls us to examine Christ who "came down" to do the will of the Father. You and I are included in Father God's plan. This week we see the express purpose of Hope coming down. On this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Repetition Reading in a variety of translations Listening to an audio version of Scripture Reading aloud Sharing with friends Asking questions The account of the angels lifting up their voices  - Luke 2:1-21 The desperate plea for God to "rend the heav

Send us a textThere'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 awhile with the Source of all our fountains. On 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 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 Additional Resources Purchase the album or single on Ama

Send us a textSometimes 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. On 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 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:

Send us a textLet's develop a sense of wonder, shall we? The famous hymn "How Great Thou Art" leads us to consider God with a sense of "awesome wonder." I chose Carrie Underwood's rendition to meditate on Psalm 145. David sat in awesome wonder of God and gives us a host of truths to meditate on in just one Psalm. On 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 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

Send us a textFrom time to time 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 doctrine 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. On 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 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

Send us a textI've always wondered why it is more acceptable to express our joy over a touchdown (in my case an LSU Tiger touchdown) than in our salvation. MercyMe's new song, "Happy Dance," challenges us to let our joy out! Join me as we head over to 1 Peter to explore unspeakable joy. On this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Read in context Consult outside resources (I used Blue Letter Bible and Matthew Henry Commentary this week) Read in several translations Consider the opposite Reading epistles all the way through before taking them apart How this letter is really to all Christians Realizing my tendency to skip over the critical introduction to the letter - 1 Peter 1:3-5 Our hope is living because Jesus is living - 1 Peter 1:3 Our inheritance is given and protected for us - 1 Peter 1:4 Our salvation is only partially revealed - 1 Peter 1:5 Giving ourselves the margin to "greatly rejoice"

Send us a textThe waters of our soul are deep. The cry of the song "Oh My Soul" by Casting Crowns reminds us that we can bare our souls to the One who created us inside and out. If we spend some time tending to our souls, we can experience the faithfulness of God in the deepest places of our being. The Psalms include many soul-baring moments, and Psalm 42 contains and example of this. It won't be hard to relate to the psalmist this week! On this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Read in context Consult outside resources (I used Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem this week) Read in several translations Repetition The story behind the writing of the song "Oh My Soul" - YouTube Video The cry of the heart of David that inspired us to consider all of Psalm 42 - Psalm 42:11 My favorite lyric - "There's a place where fear has to face the God you know." What exactly is our soul? Some charac

Send us a textThere are some nights when the moon shines so brightly I don't even have to turn on the outside lights to pick my way across my back deck. It's like a spotlight in the sky. Except that the moon doesn't have any light of it's own. The moon merely reflects the light of the sun. When we sing Hillsong Worship's song, "This I Believe (The Creed)" or recite the statements found in the Apostles' Creed we realize that it is not Scripture, but a reflection of the truth found in Scripture. I hope you'll take on the challenge of exploring the Scriptural support for the statements of the Apostles' Creed with me. In fact, I've created a useful resource to help you. On this episode I discuss: How creeds summarize Biblical truth and can give us a concise overview of foundational beliefs as followers of Christ The B.I.T.E.s - Bible Interaction Tool Exercises - for the week include: Explore a topic Read in context Clarifying the purpose of the creeds

Send us a textGod's Word challenges and convicts, reveals and comforts. It is an amazing privilege to have access to the words God has preserved for us. Jeremy Camp's song, "Word of Life," sings of effects God's Word can have on our lives. Our efforts this week can bring that impact to life. Join me as we follow a repeatable pattern to interact with God's Word. On this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Read an introduction to the book you are going to study Make a list Write out Scripture Observe/Reflect/Respond Using the Blue Letter Bible Introduction to Psalm 119 - click here to access The structure of Psalm 119 and how best to read and interact with it The 8 basic words used in Psalm 119 to describe God's Word Observing Scripture by gathering information before jumping to application Reflecting on our observations to determine the meaning of the text Responding to what we've learn

Send us a textWhat doesn't kill us makes us stronger. This is not merely a cliche -- it is played out in every epic story in history. NEEDTOBREATHE's song "Hard Love" reminds us that the difficult obstacles just may be a part of God's design in making us stronger. We discover a valiant warrior in 2 Samuel 23. The real challenge is when we consider what he had to go through to become a valiant warrior. On this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Complete a character study Read in context Make a list Remember the characters you read about in God's Word are REAL The story of Benaiah - 2 Samuel 23:20-23 Considering the roles in his life and how it impacted him As the son of a valiant warrior As a man with feelings and sorrows Assuming that Benaiah was among the broken and sorrowful men when their wives and children were taken captive by the Amalekites - 1 Samuel 30:3-6 It was in Benaiah's DNA to be a

Send us a textThe Bible has a lot to say about functioning in vibrant relationships. While the song by Casting Crowns, "Broken Together" speaks of a couple dealing with brokenness in marriage, we will use it to uncover some gems that will help us in ALL of our relationships. Great relationships (especially great marriages) don't "just happen." Allowing Scripture to define how we should treat one another is definitely the way to go! Along with the podcast I've created a resource to challenge you to "one up" those most important to you. Check it out! On this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Explore a topic Follow the cross reference Ask questions The "mystery" of marriage - Ephesians 5:31 The Bible interaction tool of chasing down cross references Marriage is an illustration of Christ and the church The cross reference mentioned in Ephesians 5:31 that leads us to Genesis 2:2

Send us a textSometimes we try to dress up sin to make it acceptable, or even worse, don't address it at all. "Poison Tree" by Ghost Ship doesn't play that game. The song describes the poisonous and ugly nature of sin while contrasting it to the new life Christ offers. If we never inspect sin closely, we'll keep excusing it and miss out on the fruit our lives could bear instead. We'll stay in Galatians this week to explore the dirty rotten truths about the works of the flesh. On this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Study a topic The Color Method Complete a word study Make a list Read Scripture out loud Sin is dark Our culture is NOT going to call out sin - only God's Word can define it for us We should be offended by sin The warning God gave Adam and Eve - Genesis 2:15-17 Death spread to all through Adam's original sin - Romans 5:12 Focus area for the week - Galatians 5:16-26 A wor

Send us a textTragedy changes the way we see things. Most often in the midst of tragedy, what is MOST important rises to the surface. Unfortunately, that clarity is often temporary when the "new normal" takes over. Meredith Andrew's song, "Spirit of the Living God," calls on the Holy Spirit to change "what we see and what we seek." My prayer is that it will be a permanent correction. We see glimpses of truths related to the Holy Spirit in Galatians. We'll sit there this week. On this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Refer to an overview of the book Study a topic Narrow the area of Scripture and read in context The Color Method Observation Complete a word study Having a Biblical worldview (and what that means) Another episode where we learn specifically about the Holy Spirit - Episode #73 Favorite overviews provided by The Bible Project - The Bible Project: Galatians on YouTube New

Send us a textOld Testament Scripture is full of models and examples of the things to come -- things that are ultimately fulfilled in Christ. Hebrews even says they are "a shadow" not the "realities." Elevation Worship's song "O Come To The Altar" sent me on a journey to discover the significance of two altars found in the tabernacle of old. Come with me as we peek into the old covenant to better understand the new. I have a feeling it will affect the way you "come to the altar" in the future. On this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Consider a topic Historical context How bit by bit God is revealing the severity of sin to me God's charge to build a tabernacle for his dwelling among the people - Exodus 25:8-9 God's current dwelling place - 1 Corinthians 3:16 A description of the brazen altar - Exodus 27:1-8 A description of the animals to be offered on the brazen alta

Send us a textThere is a cultural gap between people grounded in the Christian faith and those who are discovering it for the first time, and the language we use contributes greatly to that gap. The lyrics of Selah's song "I Got Saved" may bring joy to the heart of some and confusion to the minds of others. Saved from what? Paul brings clarity to that question in the book of Romans. There is so much to take in this week, join me as we take a bite out of the first part of Paul's letter to the Romans. On this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Listen to an audio version of Scripture Read in context Ask questions A quote from Kyle Strobel, "What was I saved from? It seemed to me I was saved from God by God. I failed to see I was saved by God for God." The old hymn "There is a Fountain" by William Cowper written 1772 and the story behind that hymn Paul's introduction in his letter to

Send us a textToday's most popular songs, like the Psalms, are often reflective of the times. For King and Country's song "O God Forgive Us" reflects the issues of our time, but includes an age-old prayer of repentance. We see a cry for deliverance from a very desperate situation in Psalm 79 this week. Perhaps you are crying out from a place of desperation, too. You can reclaim your identity, cry out for deliverance, and promise praise right along with the psalmist. On this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Consider the big themes of the Psalm Write out Scripture Ask questions Use an outside commentary - "Treasury of David" by Charles Spurgeon Don't let Christian music be the only way you interact with God's Word Outline of Psalm 79 - Complain, Pray, Praise The invaders of our holy temple - Psalm 79:1 Finding our identity in Him - Psalm 79:1-2 Asking questions right alongside the psa

Send us a textI love it when God weaves memories, music, and Truth together to reveal a beautiful tapestry. I often step back and think to myself, "You've had this picture planned all along." Shane & Shane's rendition of "Psalm 91 (On Eagle's Wings)" takes me back in time. Only this time, God has something new to say through His Word in this season of my life. We may barely get past the first verse of Psalm 91 this week, but slowing down has its benefits. On this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Listen to an audio version Read in multiple translations Write out Scripture Ask questions Meditate on God's Word Discuss it with a friend Journal The main focus of my meditation this week - Psalm 91:1 What do you think of when you hear the word DWELL? A dwelling is an established place where we are settled and live A dwelling is NOT a guest house We do not dwell at work If I inhabit the