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

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#77: "Do Everything" by Steven Curtis Chapman Aug 10, 2015

Show notes

There are many more mundane moments in our lives than magnificent. This week, we will take Steven Curtis Chapman's song, "Do Everything," to point us to the book of Colossians and ponder what it may look like to "do everything as unto the Lord."

How do you relate to my personal ponderings this week?

In this episode, I discuss:

The story behind the song "Do Everything" by Steven Curtis Chapman - New Release Today Article
Steven Curtis Chapman's inspirational verse for this song - 1 Corinthians 10:31
Why I chose to study the book of Colossians instead
Unpacking the lyrics of "Do Everything" to discover if you can see yourself in the lyrics or if they inspire you to evaluate how you "see" life
Doing everything for the Lord and not for men - Colossians 3:23
The context of this instruction...it was directed to slaves - Colossians 3:22-24
Feeling trapped by our commitments (chosen or not)
Oswald Chambers teaching on the "shallow aspects of life"...what I am calling the mundane moments
Scripture as the "movie version" of our favorite stories
Will we be able to appreciate the magnificent moments if we can't see the value in the mundane?
The confident hope that we have that brings meaning to the everyday - Colossians 1:4-5
Recognizing what we learn and how we grow through the mundane moments of life - Colossians 1:9-10
How these thoughts/teaching extends to what we SAY as well as what we do - Colossians 3:17

Additional Resources

This Week's Challenge

Spend some time in Colossians this week. It is just four chapters and has a WHOLE lot to say. Don't just skim it. I don't think it brings Him glory to read it and not remember what we've read 5 seconds later. So slow down and use three Bible interaction tools this week. The first tool is repetition. With a short book like Colossians, you can EASILY read it in one sitting so that you can read it over a week several times. This leads us to the following tool to support the first - put on an audio version of Colossians as you're getting ready in the morning, on your commute, or during a mundane moment like a household task. Finally, after you have listened and read all week and made yourself highly familiar with the text, then reread it in a different translation.

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#76: "Impossible" by Building 429 Aug 03, 2015

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The song "Impossible" by Building 429 reminds us of an amazing characteristic of God...that He is all-powerful. In fact, Scripture makes it very clear that nothing is impossible to God.

Let's ensure we fully understand Scripture and what it is not saying about this. I can't wait to discover what it might mean for you in the midst of what you are dealing with right now in your life.

In this episode, I discuss:

How our hearts are full of plans, but God's purpose prevails - Proverbs 19:21
Some bad advice about what is and is not impossible and why
How it was not impossible for God to make an old barren woman bear a son - Genesis 18:14
How it was not impossible for God to fill an empty stream bed with water for a thirsty army - 2 Kings 3:18
How it was not impossible for God to have a young virgin bear the Son of God - Luke 1:37
How with man there are things that ARE impossible - Matthew 19:23-26
How with God NOTHING is impossible - Matthew 19:23-26
Jeremiah's confession to God that nothing is too difficult for Him - Jeremiah 32
God's confirmation that Jeremiah is right...nothing is too hard for Him - Jeremiah 32:27
Jeremiah's circumstance that seemed impossible that God declared possible for Him and a detailed description of how He was going to handle it

Additional Resources

This Week's Challenge

Choose the story of Sarah and Abraham, the thirsty army, Mary, the mother of Jesus, or the rich young ruler to ponder the details of just how impossible their situations seemed and how God responded. Or dive deeper into Jeremiah 32. I gave you the highlights, but Jeremiah's situation was dire. His prayer is a great example to us, and we learn a lot about God from His response. Just remember to align your purposes with God's. Then, no matter how dire your circumstances seem to be, you can be sure nothing is impossible.

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#75: "Broken Together" by Casting Crowns Jul 27, 2015

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The 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 here!

In this episode, I discuss:

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 2:24
Asking questions like "What explains why?" and reading Genesis 2:18-24 to discover the answer
Finding a wife is a good thing - Proverbs 18:22
Be sure to partner with fellow Christ followers in your most intimate relationships - 2 Corinthians 6:14-16
What happens if you are married to a non-believer? Read 1 Corinthians 7
Marriage is more than a promise or a contract...it is a covenant
An example of God making a covenant with Abram - Genesis 15:7-18
The history of the covenant
What "made the difference" in my marriage
The idea of outdoing one another in love (I've even created a free resource to explore this further...download it here)
How we should treat each other - Philippians 2:1-4
Allowing God's Word to define what marriage should be...not popular media (movies, songs, and more)

Additional Resources

This Week's Challenge

Allow God to change your mind...let His Words transform the way you think AND the way you act. To help us in this endeavor, I have created a free resource this week called "One Up: Outdoing Others in Love." This resource will walk you through sections of Scripture in Philippians and Ephesians and help you identify the ONE THING you will choose to "One Up" the ones you love. It's a game of the heart...allowing God to change your mind.

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#74: "Flawless" by MercyMe Jul 20, 2015

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My thoughts looked like frayed rope after a hard game of tug-of-war as I sought what Scripture would tell me about my sin-nature vs. Spirit control. This all came about after choosing "Flawless" by MercyMe as my inspiration song this week.

How can I be flawless when, just this week, I've proven that I'm flawed? Let's find out together! Along with the podcast, I've created a resource to challenge you to seek truth in context. Check it out!

On this episode, I discuss the following:

Team Grace vs. Team Sin-Nature
An example of Paul's own tug-of-war - Romans 7:18-20
The war waged in our minds - Romans 7:23 and Galatians 5:17
Team Grace says, "It's paid for," while Team Sin-Nature says, "I'm still in charge."
Truth is defined by God regardless of perception or observation
Sin-Nature is NOT in charge if the Spirit of the Living God lives in me - Romans 8:9
Don't fall prey to our drive-through, fast-food, sound-bite society
A great article by Rachel Barach - specifically her point that "The Bible Is Not Easy"
The resistance of "I don't get this!"
Taking a statement out of context because we fail to read past chapters or section headings - Romans 7:25 vs. Romans 8:1-4
If I am tempted to give into my sinful desires, I need to instead give myself completely to God

Additional Resources

Free episode resource - "Junk in the Trunk: A Quest for Context"
Lyrics
Making of the Video - Flawless - YouTube
Bart Millard shares the story and heart behind MercyMe's song "Flawless" on YouTube here

This Week's Challenge
Spend some time in Romans 5-8 like I did this week. Just for fun, I'm going to send you on a quest. I'm calling it Junk in the Trunk: A Quest for Context. I gave you one example today in Romans where if you had failed to keep reading or taken a statement out of context, you would have misinterpreted Scripture. Through a story and activity, I will help you think critically about God's Word and ensure that you read in context!

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#73: "Holy Spirit" by Francesca Battistelli Jul 13, 2015

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This week's song, "Holy Spirit," as performed by Francesca Battistelli, gets me so excited! I can't wait to talk about one of my most precious relationships...my relationship with the Holy Spirit. I have personally only begun to scratch the surface of Who He is, and so I cherish every chance I get to dig in deeper.

The Holy Spirit is mysterious and powerful yet revealing and intimate. Don't you want to learn more about Him, too? Along with the podcast, I've created a resource to help you dig into Scripture in a fresh way.

In this episode, I discuss:

A sweet memory that comes to mind when I hear this song
Welcoming the Holy Spirit here (cue thumb pointing to your own chest)
Why I don't consider this a worship song
A discussion about confession (as it relates to the ACTS pattern for prayer...see Episode 17 for more details)
The difference between inviting the Holy Spirit over and declaring Him welcome
Francis Chan's book, "Forgotten God - Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit"
Defining Who the Holy Spirit is
Considering just a few aspects of the Holy Spirit in our lives
- We are born again through the Holy Spirit - John 3:5-8
- The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin - John 16:7-8
- The Holy Spirit sets us free from the sins we cannot get rid of on our own - Romans 8:1-2
- Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can overflow with confident hope - Romans 15:13
- Through the Holy Spirit, we are empowered with inner strength - Ephesians 3:16-17
- The Holy Spirit prays for us - even pleads for us - in harmony with God's own will - Romans 8:26-27
- The Holy Spirit gives us the power to be God's witnesses - Acts 1:8
- The Holy Spirit helps us speak and defend at just the right time - Luke 12:11-12

Additional Resources

Lyrics
Francesca shares her own thoughts behind the song on YouTube here

This Week's Challenge

Increase your understanding of the Holy Spirit by reading chunks of Scripture (in context) where there is teaching about the Holy Spirit. A good place to do this is in John chapters 14-16. However, instead of just reading this section of Scripture, interact with it by using an interaction tool I call "Circle Up!" Circle every mention of the Holy Spirit in this section of Scripture and then answer the question, "What did I learn from circling this reference of the Holy Spirit?" This means you will have to pull out your study journal or write in the wide margins of your Bible...but it WILL BE WORTH IT!

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#72: "The Unmaking" by Nichole Nordeman Jul 06, 2015

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Even though the phrase "the unmaking" does not appear in Scripture, you can vividly see various characters in God's Word go through deconstruction, and we can learn from their journey. This week, I take Nichole Nordeman's song, "The Unmaking," and use it to examine Naomi's journey found in the Book of Ruth.

God really used Naomi's journey to teach me what should stay and what should go in my own rubble pile; perhaps He will do the same for you. I even created a resource to help walk you through that process.

In this episode, I discuss the following:

Nichole Nordeman's story behind the song - YouTube
Nichole Nordeman's story behind the song written thoughts
Discovering strength and vulnerability in recognizing we all need to go through the unmaking
Unpacking the story of Naomi found in The Book of Ruth
Every good and perfect gift comes from God, but not every tragedy can be interpreted as God turning against you
Coming to a new and renewed perspective of WHO God is by what He says about Himself
Jesus' question about what is really important - Matthew 16:26
The difference between human point of view and God's point of view
Using Naomi as an example, sort through "what should go and what should stay" - use this tool to help
Not elevating other's thoughts and revelations above Scripture
Always returning to God's Word, but growing through both God's Word and the revelation He gives through others

Additional Resources

Lyrics

This Week's Challenge

Read the Book of Ruth several times this week. Ponder the lyrics of this song and the idea of allowing God to unmake us before rebuilding us. Focus on Naomi as an example and use the resource I've created to help you process what should stay and what should go in your own life.

Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today!

#71: "That Was Then, This Is Now" by Josh Wilson Jun 29, 2015

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Our culture seems to be addicted to extreme makeovers. Whether it is a house or a person, we LOVE to see dramatic pictures of before and after. This week's song, "That Was Then, This Is Now" by Josh Wilson, leads us to Ephesians, where we discover a dramatic picture of us before Christ and after Christ.

I introduce a pretty neat tool to help you visualize this contrast clearly. I hope you try it for yourself!

In this episode, I discuss:

Listening to Scripture using YouVersion
Reading the entire letter to the Ephesians
The contrast of who we were before and after Christ - Ephesians 5:8
The Bible Interaction Tool - "Pick a Side: Charting Contrasts in Scripture"
Unpacking Ephesians 4 to discover "that was then" vs. "this is now"
Reading in unfamiliar translations for things to jump out at you
Not allowing anger to control us
The poverty spirit and what it is contrasted with
How God's characteristics spans both columns

Additional Resources

This Week's Challenge

Read/listen to Ephesians daily...that's my 19-minute-a-day challenge to you! Make time on one day this week to choose a section or chapter of Ephesians to chart the contrasts you see. Here's a final challenge: I do not currently wear all of the characteristics of my new wardrobe in the "this is now" column. Join me in highlighting or circling one thing you will work on to ensure it is in your life's "this is now" column (see mine here). This won't happen through willpower but through the power of the Holy Spirit living in you.

Download the free resource - "Pick a Side: Charting Contrasts in Scripture"

Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today!

#70: "Shoulders" by For King & Country Jun 22, 2015

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When such a short Psalm reveals so many inspiring characteristics of God, it's worth spending some time in it. This week's song, "Shoulders" by For King & Country, leads us right to Psalm 121. In fact, the song begins by quoting the opening verses of Psalm 121!

We will try something new this week to keep your Bible reading engaging! Let's dive in!

In this episode, I discuss:

Reading Scripture out loud
Using background music to keep it interesting
Ask questions...out loud! (And then write them down in your journal)
Psalm 121
The significance of the mountains to the Psalmist
Comparing and contrasting the characteristics of home with the characteristics of God
Reading individual verses in the parallel setting using BibleHub.com
This picture...you'll have to visit my website and listen to understand!
The difference between the Hebrew word for sleep and slumber in Psalm 121:4
Making sense of the idea that the Lord keeps us from all harm
If our enemy is relentless, God's mercy is more so

Additional Resources

Lyrics
The story behind the song - New Release Tuesday

This Week's Challenge

Pull out Psalm 121 and read it every day. Try reading it in different translations and read it out loud...maybe with some epic background music. Come on! Try it! God isn't stale...your interaction with His Word shouldn't be either! I didn't mention it in the body of the podcast today, but journal your journey! You will be amazed at what will come out when you take the time to do that. The Psalmist asked a question...if nothing else, follow the Psalmist's example and ask a few questions.

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#69: Keeping It Real - Most Downloaded Episode Revisited Jun 15, 2015

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Do you fully understand the POWER that lives inside of you? If you are a follower of Christ, the SAME Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in you! And just like Mercy Me, I'm here to tell you that He is GREATER than he that lives in the world! This is my most popular episode, and I can't wait to revisit it and the Truth it leads us to.

This song contains truths that are so prevalent in many of the songs I've already used to launch into God's Word in previous episodes. There is such unity in the Spirit.

In this episode, I discuss:

The script the enemy uses to keep us useless
1 John 5:19
Our memory verse, 1 John 4:4
Story behind the song with Bart, the lead singer of Mercy Me
1 Corinthians 6:19 - we were bought with a price
Romans 7:21-23 - the war we are in
Ephesians 1:13-14
A discussion on how much GREATER God is than he who is in the world
Episode 13 - Hello My Name Is
Episode 10 - My Lighthouse
Episode 4 - Overcomer

Additional Resources

If you have never heard this song before, you can listen to the official lyric video from Mercy Me on YouTube.
Download the single or the entire album from Amazon
Lyrics

This Week's Challenge

Read 1 John. Alternate reading all the way through (all five chapters) and meditating on key Scriptures that God leads you to.

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#68: "Through All Of It" by Colton Dixon Jun 08, 2015

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We all love a good story. I especially love stories that grab my attention from the beginning. I don't even mind reading long stories when they have lots of twists and turns, unexpected developments, climactic moments, and where the good guy wins in the end. Allow me to introduce you to a story like this in the Bible. It is the story of Abraham, and we will use Colton Dixon's song "Through All Of It" to explore Abraham's journey.

By closely observing Abraham's life journey, we can learn about him, God, and ourselves.

In this episode, I discuss:

Listening carefully to the lyrics of the music you listen to most frequently
Using a song not only to inspire us to read God's Word but to bring back to mind the stories we are reading
Abraham's story in Genesis 11-25
Taking Keith Ferrin's advice in his book, "How To Enjoy Reading Your Bible" to "watch the whole movie"
The Bible interaction tool of reading more
Using the lyrics of our song to identify with the journey of Abraham
Abraham's heritage
Your circumstances don't change God
There is power in a story
The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given - Mark 4:24

Additional Resources

Lyrics

This Week's Challenge

Read Abraham's story! Genesis 11-25 is a healthy section of Scripture, but I think if you try, you will enter the story and get lost in it. We are blessed as children of Abraham because of our faith in God and because we received the ultimate promised Son through Abraham. Abraham's story resonates throughout all of eternity. Maybe it's time we become familiar with it. Don't just read it once. Spend all week reading it over and over and see what happens!

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