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

Picture the best friend you've ever had. Friendship with Jesus is nothing like that. It's deeper, richer, more meaningful, and more life-giving than the best friendship you've ever had. The effects of being Christ's friend will make you a better person and more useful to the Kingdom of God than you could ever imagine. Matt Maher's song, "What a Friend," inspired me to explore what Scripture has to say about being friends with Jesus. I learned something new this week. I can't wait to share it with you!

One of my favorite names of God is El Roi -- the God who Sees. While God’s sight is perfect, it’s our spiritual eyes that need attention. We’re going to talk about seeing God in everything using TobyMac’s song “Everything” as our inspiration and Scripture as our teacher. I pray that your eyes will be opened to recognize the magnificent in the midst of the mundane.

Trouble is inevitable, but I am strengthened by the knowledge that the Lord of Hosts is with us. Shane & Shane take Psalm 46 and help us sing it as a declaration of truth and praise in their song "Psalm 46 (Lord of Hosts)." Walk with me through this Psalm this week.

It is so easy for me to fall into the trap of allowing what others think of me to determine my identity. There is really only ONE who has the authority to tell me who I am...and that is my Creator. Lauren Daigle's new song "You Say" inspired a sort of scavenger hunt through Scripture to discover who we really are in HIM. Let's discover what God's Word has to say about it and stand in faith and belief on what it says.

I've always wondered how anyone who personally experienced the miracle of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead could just turn and live their lives as always -- some actually allowing it to fuel their hate and rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. How could they witness such immense power and not be changed? Chris Tomlin's song "Resurrection Power" reminds us that believers have this power living on the inside.

Some troubles God uses to help us grow and develop endurance. There are obstacles in our lives, however, that we need to overcome...not just endure.  Be sure that the message of Mandisa's song "Overcomer" is one that you can truly proclaim. In 1 John 5, John asks, "Who can overcome the world?"  I want to sing along with Mandisa on your behalf, "You're an OVERCOMER!" Join me as we discover how to truly be overcomers.

Passion. Zeal. Love. Light. These are all characteristics of my Savior, Jesus Christ. This passionate, zealous, loving, Light of the World comes into our hearts to drive out the darkness -- not to condemn us, but to save us. This truth is profound and eternal -- it's worth spending some time to slowly take it all in. Follow me to the gospel of John as we consider a familiar passage in light of the context of Scripture.

My daughter is in driver's education this week, and after riding with her a few times I can confirm...you steer where you stare. As you become a more seasoned driver you may be able to take your eyes off of the road and not immediately swerve, but you cannot stay straight without fixing your eyes on the path ahead. Scripture confirms this, and King's Kaleidoscope's song "Fix Your Eyes" helps up meditate on this truth. Let's fix our eyes this week on what Scripture has to teach us about our faith and more.

I was raised to dream big. It is part of our culture to want the next generation to have more than we had. So, when I heard the challenge offered by Josh Wilson in his song "Dream Small," I was inspired by the lyrics and this counter cultural idea. Join me in a chapter you may just be tempted to skim over in Nehemiah where we see the significance of individual obedience...no matter how small.

The new, fun song "Grace Got You" by MercyMe describes a person who has been taken over by grace and thus acts differently, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. Isn’t that what grace does for us? It changes us and then gives us a different perspective. Let's examine the change in us together by exploring the pages of a letter from Paul to Titus.

If I asked the Apostle Paul to examine my life, I'm pretty sure he would see blessings that I'm not seeing. I'm fairly convinced we're on the lookout for two different things. That has been confirmed for me this week as I've meandered through his letters looking for the blessings he counts. This quest was inspired by Rend Collective's song, "Counting Every Blessing." Join me on a journey through the epistles...it may just change the way you look at things, too.

Major decisions in life often determine our final destination. But what about our daily choices, like the attitudes we choose? For King and Country challenges us all in their song "joy." to choose joy in the midst of trials. Of course, they didn't come up with that on their own...it's all over Scripture. Let's consider what God's Word has to say on the matter on a journey from James to the Psalms to Romans.

Does it matter the position of our body if our heart is sincere in worship? I believe we can acknowledge things about God through our physical posture. Chris Tomlin's song "I Lift My Hands" leads us to consider one position mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. In fact, David often speaks of body position in the Psalms. Join me in Psalm 28 to see what we can discover about posture, worship, prayer, and God.

We all want the miracle, but are we willing to do our part? Are we willing to seek Him? Are we willing to walk in God's ways? Hawk Nelson reminds us that God is in the miracle business through their song "He Still Does." King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah experienced an amazing miracle one morning in the desert. The Lord was with King Jehoshaphat -- join me as we explore why.

God's goodness is unfathomable. David tries to explain it in Psalm 36 with really big metaphors as a witness to the awe he feels when considering God. Similarly, Jordan Feliz' song "Witness" calls us to testify to the virtues of our Father in heaven as well. Let's use the song to inspire us to read the Psalm and see what we learn, shall we?