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

Send us a textThere are many times when I am cemented by the enormity of the obstacles in front of me. I am terrified, or overwhelmed, or saddened or any other host of immobilizing emotions. This is why I enjoy the song, "Move (Keep Walkin')" by TobyMac. I use the song to deploy us to 2 Timothy, where we can get "unstuck" by simply following Paul's advice to Timothy.It may be simple, but it will be challenging. I hope you accept the assignment.On this episode I discuss:Setting goals using strong verbsTaking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - Bible Interaction Tool Exercises this week...Reading in contextMaking listsMaking a list of strong verbs found in 2 TimothyTraining your mind to be curious and ask questions while you're reading or listening to teachingThe strong verb, "share." Share what? - 2 Timothy 1:8The strong verb, "follow." Follow what? - 2 Timothy 1:13How I was inspired by the lyric "soldier keep movin' on" that led me to 2 Timothy 2

Send us a textThis week's song, "You Are Loved" by Stars Go Dim, has a simple but profound lyric that leads us to a conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus in John chapter 3. We don't stop there because Jesus uses an analogy that sends us scurrying to Numbers 21 and then back to John 3 to deepen our understanding of love and salvation.I was thrilled at the depth this week's study added to this song. It's so much richer every time I hear it now.On this episode I discuss:I know that God loves me because He tells me so in John 3:16 (and all through His Word)Tim Tebow and his influence on Google searches for John 3:16Taking B.I.T.E.s out of Scripture - Bible Interaction Tool Exercises this week...Reading in contextChasing down cross referencesNicodemus - who he was and how he saw JesusJohn Piper quote - "What happens in new birth is not merely affirming the supernatural in Jesus, but experiencing the supernatural in yourself." - SermonJesus comparing Himself to the serpe

Send us a textWhy is easier to trust God for some things than for others? Do we believe He is all powerful or not? Do we trust His authority over our circumstances or not? God sweeps Ezekiel into a valley to show him the most amazing resurrection scene. This week's song, "Come Alive (Dry Bones)" by Lauren Daigle sweeps us into Ezekiel chapter 37 to encounter God's sovereignty as well.I can't wait for you to ponder this scene and discover the ultimate power of God.On this episode I discuss:How Scripture can remind us of songs and songs can remind us of ScriptureHow those of us with dead relationships, dead churches and dead communities can come alive - I mentioned this in Episode 97, too!The story behind the song as told by co-writers Lauren Daigle and Michael Farren - YouTube VideoTaking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture with this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercise: Meditating on ScriptureReferential representation - imagining in our mind what the words on the page representMy pict

Send us a textHearing the stories of others can give us hope and encouragement in our own struggles. This week's song, "Worn" by Tenth Avenue North, describes what many of us feel in our wearying circumstances. This week, we meet up with Jacob in the book of Genesis. I start to feel worn just recapping his life's journey!Let's see what we can learn from Jacob's encounter with God.In this episode, I discuss:A video discussing the inspiration for writing the songA video journal of the lead singer of Tenth Avenue North examining a time in his life when he was wornStating our sorrows but rehearsing God's faithfulnessAdmitting our weariness in our circumstances but confessing God's greatnessTaking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture with this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercise of reading greater sections of Scripture to get the big pictureA recap of Jacob's life...I got wiped out just reading the highlights!Jacob's experience with God in Genesis 28:10-22Jesus is t

Send us a textHave you ever arrived at a familiar destination only to discover you don't remember experiencing the journey? Tim Timmons's "Awake Our Souls" is a cry for us to wake up and experience the Kingdom of God all around us! It inspires me to pick up God's Word and consider what it teaches about the Kingdom.God asks for our efforts to be focused on His agenda and His way of doing things. God's Word can teach us how.In this episode, I discuss:The story behind the song - Tim Timmons on YouTubeGetting to the heart...the true source of who we areTaking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture with the Bible Interaction Tool Exercise of a topical search - use this free resourceNot stopping at the short list of topical Scriptures...you must read them in CONTEXTCombating the lies of the enemy with the truth of ScriptureUsing commentaries AFTER you have read and considered God's Word for yourselfExperiencing the Fruit of the Spirit rather than just the fruit of my own laborThe story behin

Send us a textWhen the storms of life come out of nowhere and send us titling out of control, do we hang tight or let go? Casting Crowns encourages us to let go and "Just Be Held." This act of surrender and trust in God truly means we abandon our control, but it does not mean we will be out of control. God Himself can carry us through in His capable hands if we will let him.In Acts 27, Paul's sailing companions learned this the hard way. Let's see what we can learn from their experiences.In this episode, I discuss:Using published devotions to take a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture (Bible Interaction Tool Exercise)Casting Crowns' Thrive Challenge Devotion on this songB.I.T.E. of reading more ScriptureCommit to a daily devotion and read the referenced Scripture out loudProgress to reading the referenced Scripture in the context of the section it is included inProgress to reading the referenced Scripture in the context of the chapter it is included inProgress to reading the referenced Scriptur

Send us a textHave you ever gazed at a soaring eagle? The eagle flies high above the world with a peace and perspective that we "land dwellers" do not share. This week's song, "Soar" by Meredith Andrews, encourages us with the very words of Scripture. Let's swoop in to take a closer look at what else we can glean from Isaiah 40.Isaiah 40 begins the Book of Comfort. I pray that it brings you comfort today.In this episode, I discuss:Reading Isaiah 40 in context - Isaiah 36-39Taking a "bite" out of Scripture using Bible Interaction Tool Exercises - B.I.T.E.The children's book set in the prophet Isaiah's time, "The Prophet, the Shepherd and the Star" by Jenny CoteThe B.I.T.E. of reading with friendsMatthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 40:1-2The B.I.T.E. of chasing down cross-referencesHow Isaiah 40 is referenced in all four gospels referring to John the BaptistHow to straighten out a crooked path - Proverbs 10:9Following the cross reference from Isa

Send us a textIt is the time of year when the crystal ball drops and the calendar changes. This is definitely a season when we stop and reflect and consider what the new year will bring. JJ Heller's song "This Year (Happy New Year)" is a terrific song to help us leap into the new year while we internalize a cry from Hosea and a dramatic ending of a season in David's life in 2 Samuel 12.We can learn from David as he journeys through a difficult season.In this episode, I discuss:My cry to all of us for the new year - Hosea 6:1, 3RenewKnowStriveMy commitment to my third Bible Read Through...join me by signing up at KeithFerrin.com!The Bible Interaction Tool for reading unfamiliar translations...I like The Voice Translation this year!Seasons that you don't know have ended until they're goneSeasons you can see coming to an endA preview of some of the seasons in David's life - 2 SamuelA tragic season in David's life and how he walked it out - 2 Samuel 12:15-23David's fan

Send us a textWhen you drive up to a traffic circle and encounter a red triangular sign, it triggers a behavior to yield to traffic in the circle. If you're married and gaze upon your wedding band, it may trigger memories of your wedding day or perhaps just bring your spouse's face to mind. Signs and symbols everywhere prick our memories or guide our behaviors, especially at Christmas. This week, we will use "Noel," as Lauren Daigle sings on Chris Tomlin's new Christmas album, to point us to the symbols of Christmas and Scriptural truth we can take with us all year long.Invest some time learning Scripture references that the symbols of Christmas can spark in your mind for years to come.In this episode, I discuss:What the word "sign" means in the Greek - Luke 2:12The symbols of Christmas and what they can point to in ScriptureChristmas treeEvergreen tree points to everlasting life in Christ - John 17:3A tree reminds us to be rooted in Christ - Colossians 2:7A Christmas tree g

Send us a textReviewing the Christmas story can warm our hearts with the familiar, but examining the characters in new ways can enrich the story you may never have considered. Sidewalk Prophet's song, "What a Glorious Night," puts the shepherds (and their experience in the Christmas story) front and center. It gives us a unique opportunity to consider this repeated story in a fresh and exciting way.I pray my response to God's message will always be the same as the shepherds that glorious night.In this episode, I discuss:Several of my favorite Bible Interaction Tools that make covering familiar passages excitingRemembering the characters are realSlowing down to ponder and meditate on the detailsReading the same section of Scripture in a variety of translationsReading in contextReading/studying with othersConsidering the shepherd's five senses and what they may have experienced - Luke 2:8-12How to define the "radiance of the Lord's glory"AW Tozer devotionQuote from Nancy

Send us a textHow often have we missed the miracle because there was "no room" for the inconvenience? The birth of Jesus was messy, loud, and inconvenient, and yet some embraced it, and some, like the innkeeper sung about in Brandon Heath's song, "Just a Girl," missed out on welcoming the Savior of the World.How many miracles have we missed because we said "no" out of inconvenience?In this episode, I discuss:Traditions - how my family loves them and how they were instituted by GodThe perspective of this week's song as being sung by the innkeeper in the Christmas storyWhat Scripture really says about the inn - Luke 2:1-7A quote from Brandon Heath on his perspective of the song - New Release Today ArticleHow it was inconvenient for those in the inn to make room for Mary to have a babyWhat parts of God's plan for Mary's life were inconvenient - Luke 1:28-38How Joseph threw aside inconvenience to accept God's command - Matthew 1:18-25The inconvenience Jesus e

Send us a textThe message of this week's song, "Be One," by Natalie Grant, challenges us to be miracles in the lives of others. Instead of pointing our fingers at others and saying, "I need," we should raise our hands and say, "I will!" Deborah, in the Book of Judges, was this type of person. What can we learn from her story?Also, Deborah's story ends in a song. I always love that!In this episode, I discuss:Meditation and what Biblical meditation looks like - Psalm 119:15How Deborah is introduced in Scripture - Judges 4:4-5What it might have been like to be a woman in the social and political position she was inUnderstanding the environment Deborah served God in by reading in context - Judges 2:7, 10-16, 18-19That judges were placed in authority by God to rescue His peopleHow God left hardships in place to test and teach His people - Judges 2:22-23, Judges 3:1-2Barak and his inclusion in the "Hall of Faith" - Hebrews 11:32-33The story of how God used Deborah,

Send us a textCommunity. It's a place where we share interests and goals with other people. Once we are joined with other believers in Christ, we share the same Spirit and heritage. These truths are the foundation of the Scripture we will explore this week and are also found in the song "No Man Is An Island" by Tenth Avenue North.This week, we learn that we are not an island unto ourselves; we are part of something unique...the body of Christ.In this episode, I discuss:The poem by John Donne that the phrase "no man is an island" comes fromOne Body with Many Parts - 1 Corinthians 12:12-26The number and variety of the members of the body of ChristThe various duties represented in the body of ChristThe intimate connection the body sharesThe common importance of the members of the body of ChristAdditional ResourcesLyricsBehind the Song - Air 1 Behind the Music on YouTubeBehind the Song - New Release Today ArticleThis Week's ChallengeRead 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 for yourself. S

Send us a textMusic and lyrics have always played an important role in helping us to remember. Sometimes, I remember where I was in 1980-something, just by hearing a tune waft through the air in the grocery store. That's powerful! The Israelites used a song in Exodus 15 declaring their Deliverer's wondrous acts and mighty power to help them remember the details of that experience. We can use Matt Maher's song, "Deliverer," to direct us to study that same place in God's Word and then allow it to help us remember what we've learned!There are some powerful lessons in the song and this area of Scripture. Dive in today!In this episode, I discuss:How quickly the Israelites freaked out after they left Egypt - Exodus 14:11-12Moses' response - Exodus 14:13-14God's response - Exodus 14:15-18A verse-by-verse breakdown of the Song of Deliverance in Exodus 15The importance of celebrating what God has doneWhere the resistance in our lives comes fromOurselvesOur EnemyGod HimselfA

Send us a textThink about the person you love the deepest. Are you picturing that person in your mind? Now, think of the top three qualities you love about that person. What a great exercise to put into words why our feelings are so strong. A better exercise is to turn around and tell that person the top three qualities you thought of! This week's song, "Good Good Father," by Chris Tomlin, led me to consider why I think of God as my good, good Father.This song also leads us to Scripture to add more qualities to our own mental lists.In this episode, I discuss:My story and why I consider God my good, good FatherThe exercise I went through to describe God's qualities most precious to meMy list of God's characteristics and what they mean to meHow the song led me to this week's memory verse - Psalm 18:30Considering God's perfect ways, His trustworthiness, and His protectionAdding characteristics to my list from Psalm 18Additional ResourcesLyricsBehind the Song - Watch the YouTube

Send us a textAre you setting yourself up to experience God regularly with other believers? I got this from exploring a brief story in Acts 16 this week, inspired by the song "The River" by Jordan Feliz.Like Lydia, down by the river in Acts 16, I pray that you will have an open heart to the life-changing truth of God's Word.In this episode, I discuss:Some of the places in Scripture we could explore as it relates to "river"John 7 mentions rivers of living water flowing from within believers (this was the inspiration for Jordan Feliz, by the way)Psalm 46 speaks of a river whose streams make glad the city of GodRevelation 22 talks about a river of water of life flowing from the throne of GodWhy I was drawn to Acts 16Background of Acts 16 and the city of PhilippiThe story of Lydia and what we can learn from herShe made it her practice to gather with other believersShe had an open heart to the truth of God's Word and the gospel messageShe invited other believers to "do life"

Send us a textOur stories mirror the stories of old, so the words that brought comfort and direction to their lives can help us as we take each step of our own. "The Words I Would Say" by Sidewalk Prophets renders a tremendous amount of truth just in the chorus—some of the very words spoken by God Himself to Joshua.Join me as we consider Joshua's experiences and how they may mirror ours. What did God say to Joshua that we can learn from today?In this episode, I discuss:The story of the daughter of a friend that could have been my own...could have been yours, tooThe elements of story that affect us and Joshua in the Old TestamentTransitionIdentity developmentFailure of authority figuresFailure of friendsFaithful GuideMeeting Joshua in transition - Joshua 1:1-9The first mention of Joshua - Exodus 17:8-15The Bible interaction tool of referential representation - picturing in your mind what you are readingSeeing the disappointing actions of Aaron, an authority figure Joshua would have trusted and l

Send us a textHave you been abandoned? Rejected? Falsely accused? Let me encourage your heart...that's not God's style. In fact, His Word is filled with promises that He will never do any of those things...even if those closest to you do. Rend Collective's song, "You Will Never Run," reminds us of this promise and drove me to Psalm 27 this week to see how David responded in these same circumstances.Interestingly enough, David responded like Rend Collective in praise and singing, leaving us with a bundle of verses/truths to meditate on.In  this episode, I discuss:If God will never run away, then where is He? Consider Psalms 139:5, Psalms 103:19 and Psalms 34:18When Jesus discusses how we are "forever" HIS - John 10:27-29God is not into playing gamesEven if those closest to you abandon you, the Lord will hold you close - Psalm 27:10What I mean when I ask you to meditate on God's WordMeditating on Psalm 27 - I unpack it verse by verseAdditional ResourcesLyricsBehind the So

Send us a textFlashy sells. I get that. But consider a flash...it is a bright light that lasts for a moment. This week's song, "Glow in the Dark" by Jason Gray, sings about shining right where we are. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul gives us some practical ways to do that over time...not just in bursts.Use this week's song to inspire you to read Philippians. I know this world is a dark place, but we're in this struggle together, and God's Word can change us from the inside out.In this episode, I discuss:My process to write each podcast, which is what keeps me in God's Word each weekThe power of sharing what God is teaching you with othersThe verse in Philippians that inspired some of the lyrics in "Glow in the Dark" by Jason Gray - Philippians 2:15The value of vast amounts of resources that can assist us in our walk with ChristThe warning that comes with the vast amounts of resources designed to assist us in our walk with Christ that can actually lure us awa

Send us a textRight or wrong, I look at the world around me as if everyone sees it just as I do. I assume people know what I know. I expect people to react like I react...even God. This week's song, "Grace Wins," by Matthew West, directly touches on how we assign character to God that does not belong to Him. The song also points us back to Scripture, where we can see for ourselves the true characteristics of God.I constantly need a reminder from God's Word of Who He really is, lest I paint pictures of my Father that distort His true character.In this episode, I discuss:Assigning character to God that is NOT HisViewing God the way we respond vs. through the lens of the truth of ScriptureThe enemy's purpose is to deceive and keep you from God's truthThe parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15I look at this same story from a different angle in Episode 61Lost people are not a lost cause to GodThe story of the woman at the well in John 4God is willing to meet us even as we are trying t