More Than a Song – Discovering the Truth of Scripture Hidden in Today’s Popular Christian Music
More Than a Song is a bi-weekly podcast dedicated to helping you discover the truth of Scripture hidden in today’s popular Christian music. Each episode teaches you to connect portions of God’s Word with the songs you’re singing along with on the radio to help you meditate on Truths that will transform your way of thinking and, ultimately, your life.
When God created the universe, He did not wind it up like a watch and cast it aside until time ran out. Instead, God has been working and continues to work. God has plans. Rend Collective sings of God's continued participation in their song "Plans."
We'll explore evidence of God's plans for some key people in history. Without God's plans for these critical people coming to pass, His eternal plans for us would never be fulfilled. Come! Let's explore God's plans 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:
Share with a friend
Read the text aloud
Read for a set amount of time
Read and keep on reading
Read with a pen/highlighter in hand
Ask questions
Write in a journal
Make a list
How Rend Collective said this song reflects "the grey space between faith and fear" - CCM Magazine Article
My morning Bible routine with my daughter, who is homeschooling this year (I share all the BITEs we use and how we use them)
Looking at the song through the lens of Scripture versus finding Scripture as inspired by the song
Considering the plans of God for:
Zechariah and Elizabeth
Mary and Joseph
John, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth
and Jesus, the son of Mary
How God's plans for Zechariah and Elizabeth took time to come to pass - Luke 1:11-17
Pondering what it would be like for God's plans to include you raising the forerunner of Christ
God's plans for Mary - Luke 1:28-33
Mary's interpretation of God's plans for her - Luke 1:46-55
Considering how Mary will feel about God's plans when the reality sets in that they are both powerful and painful, hopeful and harrowing
Seeing that people surrendered to God's plans for them do not live pain-free lives
How a consecrated journey is woven into eternity in ways that cannot be measured
Mary believes God's plans for her are GREAT, but how will she feel when Joseph doesn't believe her, or she is an unwed mother in a culture that stoned such women to death? You see, God's plans for Mary were both powerful and painful -- hopeful and harrowing.
Stepping out into the unknown with God is made possible through His grace bestowed upon us, and the evidence of His faithfulness He gives us. "Build A Boat" by Colton Dixon sings about walking with God to do the impossible. This is reflected in the life of Noah -- a man of great faith whose life is worth exploring.
Join me as we dig in and think deeply about the lessons we can learn from the life of Noah in the Old and New Testaments.
In this week's episode, I discuss:
Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
Meditate on Scripture
Use your imagination
Share with a friend
Consult an outside resource
Define words
Read in context
Remember the people reflected in the Bible were real
Where to read about Noah - Genesis 6-9; Hebrews 11
The favor of the Lord allowing Noah to be described later as righteous, blameless in his generation, and a man who walked with God
Thinking through the benefits of walking with someone
How God thinks it's important that we walk with Him - Micah 6:8
Reflecting the character of God the more we walk with Him
Noah's role in saving his family - "One factor which possibly helped was that their father probably kept them busy for many years in building the ark and making preparations for the flood." - Henry Morris - The Genesis Record - Amazon Paid Link
How the record shows Noah's actions over Noah's words
Recognizing that Noah was not silent in his generation, but was a "herald of righteousness" - 2 Peter 2:5
Colton Dixon's own words as it relates to the song and Scripture, "When God asks you to step out and do something big, He’s not trying to rob you of anything. He wants to give you something greater." - New Release Today Article
Seeing Noah's faith celebrated in the New Testament - Hebrews 10:32-Hebrews 11:7
"True Bible faith is confident obedience to God's Word in spite of circumstances and consequences." - Warren Wiersbe's Hebrews Commentary - Amazon Paid Link
Growing in our faith by walking with the faithful -- both God and His faithful followers
When walking with God, He never runs ahead, leaving me behind. Sometimes I like to run ahead of God. But then that ceases to be walking with Him.
The best way to explore deeper water fast is to dive in. You would never dive in the shallows -- that's dangerous. There's no place to dive in the shallows. You can pretty much see everything from the surface. But God calls us to deeper waters as it relates to exploring His Word. This week I use Stephen Curtis Chapman's 90's hit "Dive" to inspire us to dive into the book of Hebrews.
Are you ready to go deeper? Hebrews offers deep waters that lead to endless opportunities to explore many other areas of God's Word.
In this week's episode, I discuss:
Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
Stephen Curtis Chapman's Scriptural inspiration from his liner notes
Romans 11:33-36
Ephesians 3:16-19
The area of Scripture I was first inspired to explore - Hebrews 5:11-14
How Hebrews may raise more questions at first, especially if you are not deeply acquainted with the first five books of the Bible
The reminder that Hebrews was originally written to real people with real struggles, real questions, and real tendencies to turn from truth to their own ways
The accusation that the audience no longer tries to understand the deep truths of Scripture
Comparing and contrasting
Student/teacher
Infant/mature
Lazy/diligent
Foundational teachings - Hebrews 6:1-3
Final encouragement and warnings - Hebrews 6:9-12
Remember that the audience this letter was originally written to was made up of real people with real struggles, questions, and real tendencies to turn from truth to their own ways.
For the first time in over 430 weekly episodes of More Than a Song, I will be taking a brief break from the podcast.
I'll be diving back in with fresh episodes on August 15th using 90's Christian throwback song "Dive" by Steven Curtis Chapman. (See what I did there?) I'll also be over at Mixtape Theology (a fellow New Release Today Podcast Network member) for a partner episode on that same day.
In the meantime, subscribe to my email list and follow me on social media platforms (specifically Instagram @michellenezat), as my daughter Emily will be highlighting a weekly featured episode from the archives you may have missed. We will also be producing a series of reels on my Bible Interaction Tool Exercises (BITEs) -- the exercises I use to keep my time in God's Word varied and effective. This way, you can keep reading God's Word for yourself and catch up on forgotten or missed episodes from the archives.
Why take a break?
In the past, if I've needed to take some time off, I've always played Encore Episodes, so why the break?
In a nutshell? Obedience and a big assignment. Listen to this episode to hear a brief description of both.
Why have I never done this before?
My shiny reasons? I'm dedicated to creating fresh content each week, and God keeps meeting me in it!
My not-so-shiny reasons? Fear and pride. Listen to this episode to hear my full confession. (I'm not the only one who struggles with this, right?)
Until next time, take time to meditate on God's Word and consider His ways.
Resource Mentioned in This Episode
I mentioned Compel Training - a Proverbs31 membership site for writers. I am a volunteer leader in their Podcasting Community Group and have learned SO much from this community. Check it out if you are a writer or speaker (or want to become one).
I think it's an excellent problem to have. The problem that Zach Bolen, lead singer of Citizens, shared with me as the foundation for the song "Everything And More" by Citizens. The problem is that words don't seem to express our God accurately. Any descriptor we can come up with God is all that and more.
Join me as we explore the Old Testament book of Job this week to see a group of friends giving their best effort to figure God out. Spoiler alert -- they fail.
In this week's episode, I discuss:
Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
How the author of Job raises the question: "Where is wisdom found?"
How God's answer to Job's questions is more of Himself
Job's profound suffering - Job 3:11-13, Job 6:2-3
Job's friend's truthful but unhelpful response - Job 5:9-11
Discovering a truth like we discovered last week -- God may have a purpose for your suffering -- and sometimes that is so hard to accept
Job's poetic discussion about how wisdom comes from God alone - Job 28
Following the cross-references that lead to more verses about the wisdom of God
Deuteronomy 4:5-6
Psalm 111:10
Proverbs 9:10
God's revelation of Himself to Job - Job 38-41
Making a list of the characteristics of God's wisdom found in Romans 11:33
We want insight, do we not? Then we need to set our faces and our efforts toward gaining knowledge of the Holy One. And where is the best place for that? In His revealed Word.
Welcome to Friday With Friends! I have the distinct privilege of meeting incredible followers of Christ who have amazing ministries, fascinating careers, and incredible hobbies and pet projects that flow out of their identity in Christ.
While my podcast is a solo show, I still want to have a venue to introduce you to these friends as examples of the multifaceted ways God works in and through His people.
Today I have the privilege of hosting Zach Bolen, lead singer with Citizens to talk about their new song "Everything And More," his Bible study habits, Contemporary Christian Music as art, and more. Of course, I get him to share his favorite Bible Interaction Tool Exercises, too.
There are truths in Scripture that make us feel uncomfortable. Sometimes we don't think they make sense. Other times they bump up against a belief we hold that doesn't align with Scripture itself. Riley Clemmons' song "Godsend" sent me to 2 Corinthians, where Paul describes something that seems a little "thorny" on the surface.
Join me on the journey this week as we allow Scripture to change how we think -- despite the discomfort.
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 in context
Consult an overview
Utilize an outside resource
Follow the cross-reference
Look up words in the dictionary
Read in a variety of translations
Historical context
Meditate on Scripture
The elements of our feature verse reflected in the lyrics - 2 Corinthians 12:7
How God may send painful circumstances to protect us
How 2 Corinthians is tricky to read
Consulting an overview
The Bible Project Overview of 2 Corinthians - YouTube Video
"How to Read the Bible Book by Book" by Fee and Stuart - Amazon paid link
Reformation Study Bible Introduction to 2 Corinthians - Amazon paid link
What those in opposition to Paul value vs. what Paul values
Paul's bold speech to the Corinthian believers
Paul's argument against the "super-apostles"
Considering what the Christian culture of our day values and celebrates and lining it up against Scripture
How the thorn in Paul's flesh was a Godsend - 2 Corinthians 2:9
How "we can't receive God's strength until we know our weakness. We can't receive the sufficiency of God's grace until we know our own insufficiency." - David Guzik, BlueLetterBible.org
As long as we are operating in our own sufficiency we don't truly believe God's grace is sufficient. Our self-exalting actions scream that we don't need God's grace.
The names of God reveal aspects of His character. I identified two names of God to explore using this week's song "Jireh" by Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music as inspiration.
Come with me to Genesis to learn more about Yahweh Yireh and El Shaddai.
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 in context
Remembering the people described in the Bible were REAL
"Jireh" in our song refers to Jehovah Jireh, the King James Version translation of the Hebrew name for God Yahweh Yireh, meaning "The Lord Will Provide"
"You are enough" in our song refers to the name for God El Shaddai, meaning All-Sufficient One
Where God reveals His name El Shaddai - Genesis 17
Considering the multiple cross-country moves Abram and his family made
How Abram responded to God's "enoughness"
How El Shaddai steps into our not-enoughness with His all-sufficiency
Continuing to read through Genesis 22 to the story of Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac
God's provision of a substitutionary sacrifice in Genesis 22 and again in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus
It's not letting God down we should be worried about. It's lifting ourselves up that gets us into trouble. Like Abram, I want to get LOW in light of God's all-sufficiency.
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 in this episode.
Explore a familiar story with me in John 11.
In 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
Reading the account of Christ's resurrection in all four gospels
Choosing the rolling stone incident in John 11 - John 11:39
Our convictions govern our behavior. You will need deep convictions to stand for your faith in the culture today. This is just what Newsboys sings about in their new single "STAND."
I hope to inspire you to read your Bible for yourself this week. Submitting to God's Word as true will develop deep convictions. This is just the foundation you need to stand on when the waves of culture come crashing upon your shore.
In this week's episode, I discuss:
Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
Meditate on Scripture
Read and keep on reading
Read in context
Two college-aged girls who have taken a stand for the unborn
The Ethics 101 article in the Maxwell Leadership Bible - Amazon Paid Link
How Uriah's convictions determine his behavior, and ultimately his fate - 2 Samuel 11
John Maxwell's definition of conviction - "A strong belief that so governs your decisions that you are willing to die for it."
The progression from idea to opinion to belief to commitment to conviction
Developing convictions in our lives through:
Acknowledging the Bible as the truth source from which we will live
Choosing to apply truth from that source to our daily life
Exposing ourselves to a relevant need or crisis
Determining ahead of time where we stand
Uncovering Paul's call to stand in his letter to the Philippians - Philippians 1:27, Philippians 4:1
Counting the cost with Paul in Philippians 1:20-21
Discovering how Paul was willing to die for the magnification of Christ - Philippians 1:24-36
How Paul was willing to die for the gospel, and it is in light of this deep conviction that he calls on
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