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

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#480: "Wonderful" by CAIN Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

Don't forget to download the Episode Guide for THIS episode HERE.

Read the prophecy in Isaiah 9 and then read the birth account of Christ in Luke 1 and 2. Meditate on the name Wonderful Counselor. Consider the compassion of Christ. Seek the wisdom hidden in the robes of your Prince of Peace. Allow His words to be your counselors. Allow them to probe, confront, clarify, and guide you in paths of righteousness.
We'll discover the first time the name Wonderful Counselor is prophesied and its fulfillment in the child born in a manger.
In this episode, I discuss the following:

Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
- Historical context
- Consult an outside resource
- Follow the cross-references
- Consider the opposite
Episode Guide Download
Nine years of featuring Christmas songs in December on More Than a Song!
Isaiah's prophecy that shares the name Wonderful Counselor (among other names) for the coming Messiah - Isaiah 9:1-7
Historical context of this Messianic prophecy in Isaian 9 - Jon Courson's Application Commentary: Volume 2, Old Testament (Psalms - Malachi) - Amazon Paid Link
Linking this prophecy to Christ as the fulfillment - Luke 1:78-79, Matthew 4:14-16
Definitions of "wonderful" and "counselor" - GotQuestions.org Article
The type of counsel we can expect from our Wonderful Counselor
- Isaiah 28:29
- Colossians 2:3
- Psalm 119:24
- Proverbs 2
Considering the opposite of Wonderful Counselor by examining the type of counsel Job's friends gave - Exalting Jesus in Job (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) - Amazon Paid Link
Recognizing Jesus' compassion as a key component of His counsel
Considering our Wonderful Counselor's techniques
- Probing questions - Mark 10:18
- Gentle confrontation - John 4:16-18
- Seeking agreement on the purpose or goal of the encounter - Mark 10:51, John 5:6
- Answering questions with questions to clarify the intent of the questioner - Luke 10:25-37

Additional Resources

Lyrics for "Wonderful" by CAIN - New Release Today
Exalting Jesus in Job (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) - Amazon Paid Link
"What does it mean that Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6)?" - GotQuestion.org Article
Jon Courson's Application Commentary: Volume 2, Old Testament (Psalms - Malachi) - Amazon Paid Link
"Deity Distilled - His Name Shall Be" - Discover the Book Ministries Article
My favorite Bible Study Software - Logos Bible Software Affiliate Link

This Week's Challenge

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#479: "Lead On Good Shepherd" by Patrick Mayberry Nov 27, 2023

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Don't forget to download the Episode Guide for THIS episode HERE.

Did you ever get separated from your parents as a child? It's a terrifying experience as a mother to turn and realize your child has slipped away and is nowhere in sight. I've read stories where the child was so frightened they would hide in clothes racks until they heard their mother's call. Patrick Mayberry sings about our Good Shepherd in his song "Lead On Good Shepherd." Our Good Shepherd calls out for us like a mother for her lost child. He searches for us, listening for our response to His call. Then, he gathers our trembling bodies and carries us back to safety.

The picture of a Good Shepherd is a thread woven throughout the Old and New Testaments. Let's pull on this thread together in this week's episode.

In this episode, I discuss the following:

Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
- Meditating on Scripture
- Repetition
- Consult an outside resource
Episode Guide Download
Savoring God's words -- especially those most familiar to us
- Here is the YouTube video of the Tootsie Pop commercial I mentioned - YouTube Video Link
"The Good Shepherd: A Thousand-Year Journey from Psalm 23 to the New Testament" by Kenneth Bailey - Amazon Paid Link
Images of the Good Shepherd in the earliest catacombs - article link
Comparing the texts of Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34, and Luke 15
Uncovering a better translation for Psalm 23:3 -- rather than "he restores my soul," it's better translated as "he brings me back" -- a common thread in Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34, and Luke 15
Responding to the Shepherd's call and accepting being found

We should be slowing down and savoring God’s words more than we devour the words of others.

Additional Resources

Lyrics for "Lead On Good Shepherd" by Patrick Mayberry - New Release Today
The story behind the song "Lead On Good Shepherd" by Patrick Mayberry - KLove.com Article
"The Good Shepherd: A Thousand-Year Journey from Psalm 23 to the New Testament" by Kenneth Bailey - Amazon Paid Link
Images of the Good Shepherd in the earliest catacombs - article link
My favorite Bible Study Software - Logos Bible Software Affiliate Link

This Week's Challenge

Read Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34, and Luke 15 this week. I’ve thrown out a pile of threads for you to examine in light of the whole. Take one thread, untangle it from the rest, and view it under the microscope of each of these texts. Look for the role of the Good Shepherd and follow wherever He leads you.

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#478: "Strong" by Anne Wilson Nov 13, 2023

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Don't forget to download the Episode Guide for THIS episode HERE.

I don't particularly appreciate feeling limited and weak. I'm not too fond of it when what is required of me exceeds my qualifications. I prefer feeling capable and in control. Unfortunately, this preference of mine runs directly opposed to Christ's power resting on me. I learned this and more in my study of Scripture inspired by Anne Wilson's song "Strong."

Together, we'll look closely at keywords in a letter from Paul, uncover truths, and then see them played out in an Old Testament narrative.

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
- Review section titles
- Consult an overview
- Complete a word study
- Study with a friend
Episode Guide Download
The story behind the song "Strong" by Anne Wilson - New Release Today Article
Inspired to explore Paul's thoughts about strength and weakness in 2 Corinthians 12
Recognizing 2 Corinthians may be hard to follow as you read in context. "Reading 2 Corinthians is something like turning on the television in the middle of a very complicated play. People are talking, and things are happening, but we’re not at all sure who some of the characters are or what the plot is.” - "How to Read the Bible Book by Book" by Fee and Stuart - Amazon Paid Link
Watching the Bible Project Overview Video - BibleProject.com
Taking in the context of all of Paul's weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. - 2 Corinthians 12:10
From 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, completing a word study on:
- power
- perfect
- weakness
- weak

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#477: "Trust In God” by Elevation Worship Oct 30, 2023

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

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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#476: "What Are We Waiting For" by for KING + COUNTRY Oct 16, 2023

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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

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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#475: "Praise The Lord" by Micah Tyler Oct 02, 2023

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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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#474: "Hold On” by Katy Nichole Sep 18, 2023

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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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#473: "Preference" by Rachel Morley Sep 04, 2023

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CLICK HERE to download the free episode guide for THIS episode!

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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#472: "Jesus Does" by We The Kingdom Aug 21, 2023

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Download the free Episode Guide for THIS EPISODE now!

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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#471: "To Not Worship You" by Mercy Me Aug 07, 2023

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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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