Christianity
**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.

Latest Episodes:

#57: "Praise You In This Storm" by Casting Crowns Mar 23, 2015

Show notes

When you hear this week's song, "Praise You In This Storm" by Casting Crowns, do you think of your own storm? Perhaps you know the story behind the song and think of Erin, the little girl who inspired the song. Maybe you remember that the song was released on the radio just as Hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast, and you think of that storm. This week I want to lead you to the Garden of Gethsemane and the storm raging in Jesus before his arrest and crucifixion.

Perhaps by considering the storm that was raging in the life of our Messiah, we can learn how to better handle our own storms.

In this episode, I discuss:

A YouTube interview with Casting Crowns lead singer, Mark Hall, discussing the story behind the song
God's Word is living and active - Hebrews 4:12
God's Word can cut through our storm to reveal our thoughts and desires so we can take them captive to Christ - 2 Corinthians 10:5
We take our thoughts captive by changing the way we think - Romans 12:2
Jesus wanted God to calm the storm in His life - Mark 14:34-36
Where the phrase "He gives and takes away" comes from - Job 1:21
Jesus understands our storms because He faced them, too - Hebrews 4:15
The bridge of the song comes word-for-word from Scripture! - Psalm 121

Additional Resources

This Week's Challenge
Spending some time in Scripture highlighting the last days of Jesus' life and into His resurrection would be a great start. In fact, I have created a study resource that takes Psalm 22 and lists out cross-references to show you how Psalm 22 is linked to the crucifixion of Christ. Consider His time in the garden as you listen to this song in your playlist. Meditate on Psalm 22 using the resource or Psalm 121 that is quoted in this week's song.

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#56: "No Matter What" by Kerrie Roberts Mar 16, 2015

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"I think in music," a friend said to me this week. So do I! That is why I am so passionate about Christian Music and this podcast! Kerrie Roberts' song "No Matter What" has added phrases to the soundtrack of my mind and I can't wait to share where it led me this week!

My prayer for you is that the soundtrack running through your mind inspires you to pick up God's Word this week and let it change the way you think.

In this episode, I discuss:

Thinking in music
Running back to God's promises as a pattern of our lives
What God's Word says about His promises - 2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭3-13‬
How the Psalmist instructs his soul - Psalms‬ ‭62‬:‭5-8‬
The story behind the song in Kerrie's own words - YouTube Video
God has the power to save us from painful circumstances, but the circumstance should not dictate our walk with Him - Daniel‬ ‭3‬:‭16-18‬

Additional Resources

Lyrics

This Week's Challenge

Read Daniel chapters 1-3. Make note of everything you see about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Make a list and break it down into details. Then start drawing some conclusions, think critically about what you see to discover the characteristics in these servants of God that you want to emulate. Make the effort, you won't regret it.

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#55: "Soul On Fire" by Third Day Mar 09, 2015

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It's time to do the work. If you want to run to the heart of God, you must start with His Word. This week's song, "Soul on Fire" by Third Day, encourages us to run to the heart of God. As as we do every week through "More Than a Song", we run straight to God's Word as the starting line.

What moments in your life will you exchange to make time in God's Word a priority?

In this episode, I discuss:

Third Day's purpose behind the new album "Lead Us Back"
A discussion on the heart of God
How the version of God's Word you are reading may lead you to distraction and discouragement
Manna as a metaphor for God's Word - Deuteronomy 8:3
Another acrostic poem in Scripture using the Hebrew alphabet - Psalm 119
Introduction to Psalm 119 from Charles Spurgeon's "Treasury of David"
How God's Words consumed Jeremiah like a fire - Jeremiah 20:7-9

Additional Resources

Lyrics
CCM Magazine article on the purpose behind the album "Lead Us Back"
Keith Ferrin's podcast and blog post on which Bible translations he uses and why

This Week's Challenge

Read Psalm 119. Although it is like 22 psalms in one, it is time to do the work. If you want to run to the heart of God, you must start with His Word, and what better Psalm to start with than one about being passionate about God's Word? Read it in different versions. Get the YouVersion app and play it out loud while you're getting ready in the morning, on your morning

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#54: "Hurricane" by Natalie Grant Mar 02, 2015

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Perspective. When you change it, you can see the familiar in a whole new light. That is what this week's song, "Hurricane" by Natalie Grant, did for me as I listened to it and pondered the lyrics while exploring God's Word.

Spoiler alert! Sometimes, God calls you to journey out into the middle of the storm instead of calming it.

In this episode, I discuss:

Getting up close and personal with Natalie Grant recently
Avoiding the "checklist mentality" when it comes to your time in God's Word
Using perspective (and specifically a change in perspective) as a Bible interaction tool
Reading Matthew 14:22-33 from the perspective of Jesus
Jesus walked TOWARD the disciples in the midst of their storm
Jesus didn't hesitate to grab a hold of Peter

Additional Resources

This Week's Challenge

Wherever you are reading in God's Word, look for a new angle or perspective and focus on those details. If you need inspiration for where to start, pick up Matthew chapter 13 and read all the way through chapter 15, like I've been discussing today.

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#53: "Day One" by Matthew West Feb 23, 2015

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Are you at a place in your life where you wish you could have a do-over? This week, we will see the treacherous, discouraging captivity that the people of God had fallen prey to, but as our Scripture and this week's song, "Day One" by Matthew West, teaches us, God's mercies are new every morning.

Today is a new day...make it count!

In this week's episode, I discuss:

Matthew West's video on the story behind the song
The Scripture inspiration behind the song - Lamentations 3:22-23
His mercies are new every morning
Background study on the Book of Lamentations
Some of the tools I used in my background study that I share with you
The study tool of reviewing chapter and section headlines to get an overview of what is happening
Jerusalem's sin and our sin - Lamentations 1:7-9
Hope from the pit - Lamentations 3:55-57
Recalling the truth of who God is brings hope - Lamentations 3:19-26
God restores - Lamentations 5:21

Additional Resources

The Week's Challenge
Read Lamentations! Don't forget to read them as separate poems, and remember the tremendously emotional place the author is in when writing them. Then, while reading them, one poem at a time, highlight verses that bring conviction and hope.

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#52: "Lord I'm Ready Now" by Plumb Feb 16, 2015

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God: "Arise, go..." Us: "Uh, no, thank you." Cue the scene where we run away...far, far away. How is that working for you? Well, it didn't work for Jonah, and this week's song, "Lord I'm Ready Now" by Plumb, could almost be a soundtrack for the 48-verse story found in the Old Testament.

When we settle in to really watch the story, we see a God of second chances...even for us.

In this week's episode, I discuss:

Tiffany Arbuckle Lee's (aka Plumb) story behind this song
Reading the stories of the Bible like we watch movies...all the way through
Recap of the Book of Jonah
How it's impossible to run away from God - Psalm 139
Recognizing our own failures/shortcomings
Coming to a crisis of honest reflection
God as the one who lifts us from the pits of life
Drawing close to God for strength
Recommitting ourselves after a time of repentance and confession

Additional Resources

This Week's Challenge

Read Jonah! Read it often. Read it in various versions. Read it all the way through in one sitting. Listen to an audio version of it. Daily ponder what truth God might want to reveal to you!

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#51: "Who Am I" by Casting Crowns Feb 09, 2015

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A proper view of ourselves is key to our relationship with God and others. Casting Crowns' song, "Who Am I," extracts truth from Scripture and embeds it into our hearts and minds with memorable phrases and Biblical perspectives.

This week's journey takes us through the question of not only "Who am I?" but "Who am I in Christ?"

On this week's episode, I discuss:

Our need for identity
How others define who we are
Examples of how God's Word defines who we are through Christian music I've already used on this podcast
- We are overcomers - 1 John 5:5 - Episode #4
- We are wanted - Isaiah 41:9-10 - Episode #5
- We are children of God - 1 John 3:1 - Episode #13
- We are redeemed - Ephesians 1:7 - Episode #21
Even David asked this question in Psalms 8:4
I link back the lyrics to Scripture
- The Lord of all the earth - Psalms 24:1
- The Bright and Morning Star - Revelation 22:16
- Christ looking on sin and watching someone rise again - John 8
- Jesus calming the storm - Mark 4
- We are flowers quickly fading - 1 Peter 1:23-25
- We are tossed about like waves - Ephesians 4:13-15
- Our lives are like a vapor in the wind - James 4:14
A final encouraging reminder that we BELONG to Him! We are His!

Additional Resources

This Week's Challenge
Let's study Psalms 8 this week. It is a wonderful psalm that brings a balanced perspective of God's role and our role. It begins and ends with praise and giving God glory...the proper perspective. It also displays clearly our limits and weaknesses as humans. Finally, it acknowledges the responsibilities and privileges the Lord has given us. It's short but worth meditating on this week.

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#50: "Overwhelmed" by Big Daddy Weave Feb 02, 2015

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Why can one person be moved to tears by a sunset, and another never even notices it on the drive home? This week, we use Big Daddy Weave's song, "Overwhelmed," to lead us to many different Scriptures, but two major truths...we can see and not perceive...we can perceive and not delight.

Without delight, we cannot glorify God. This song leads us to remember how overwhelming God is...in a good way.

On this week's episode, I discuss:

A presentation by Francis Chan called "The Awe Factor of God"
How the heavens proclaim God's handiwork - Psalm 19:1
The voice of God
The voice of the Lord is powerful - Psalm 29:3-4
God wants us to hear AND obey - Jeremiah 7:23
The power of the cross - 1 Corinthians 1:18
We are forgiven - Ephesians 1:7-8
We are free - Romans 6:22-23
Choosing Christ for yourself
A quote by philosophical theologian Jonathon Edwards
We can see the work of God's hands - Romans 1:20-21
A discussion on God's beauty, wonder, and glory

Additional Resources

This Week's Challenge

Choose a Psalm of praise (I am choosing Psalm 19...but you can choose your own!) and stay in it all week. Read it every day, read it in different versions, and read it out loud. Write your favorite verses on sticky notes or note cards, and try reviewing them daily to tuck them in your heart. Use the Psalm you choose as a tool in your prayer time. Recite the words back to God.

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#49: "While I'm Waiting" by John Waller Jan 26, 2015

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We wait. We wait in grocery lines and at the bank. We wait for vacations and new jobs. We wait for opportunity, and we wait for healing. We spend a good portion of our life in the in-between times, so what should we do with all that waiting? That is what this week's song, "While I'm Waiting" by John Waller, and our Scripture emphasis in Psalm 40 both talk about.

Perhaps God is developing something in you in the wait that will be necessary in the arrival.

On this week's episode, I discuss:

The podcast episode with Michael Hyatt and Michele Cushatt that inspired me to choose the song
Major Biblical figures forced to wait long periods of time before God brought them to a place of success
How waiting does not just accompany faith; it is woven into the fabric of our faith because it is woven into the fabric of our lives
David's song of waiting - Psalm 40
How David waited and God's response - Psalm 40:1
The hardest part of waiting
How trouble and temptations can develop patience in us - James 1:2-4
How God steadies us even on solid ground - Psalm 40:2
Embracing the wait and learning what God has for us - Psalm 40:6
A quote from Jeff Goins' book, "The In-Between"
Worshiping in the wait - Psalm 40:5
Serving in the wait - Psalm 40:10
The good that can come out of the wait - Psalm 40:3
A reminder to TRUST GOD in the wait - Psalm 40:4
There will always be seasons of wait - Psalm 40:13, 17

Additional Resources

Lyrics

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#48: "Proof of Your Love" by For King & Country Jan 19, 2015

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There is so much to learn about how to love from Jesus. My prayer, and the prayer found in this week's song "Proof of Your Love" by For King & Country, is that my life will be the proof that God's perfect love is in me.

Meditating on what His Word says about love is a great place to start!

In this week's episode, I discuss:

How this song inspired my 11-year-old daughter to pick up her Bible and read!
Love is sacrificial - John 15:12-13
We can't lay down our lives for others when we think we're better than others
How did Jesus view Himself? Philippians 2:6-8
Paul's challenge to us - Philippians 2:3-5
The Bible interaction tool of placing yourself in the Scripture
1 Corinthians 13 in the New Living Translation and The Message

Additional Resources

This Week's Challenge

Spend some time in 1 Corinthians 13 and read for yourself what it says. Try reading it in various versions. Utilize the tool of placing your name in the Scripture itself and see what God might want to reveal to you. Read it in context! At least one time this week, read the chapters leading up to chapter 13 and following.

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