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

CLICK HERE for the episode guide to help you connect with Scripture through this song. Do you know what you believe? Are you grounded in the knowledge and understanding of your faith? Our faith is not blind and unfounded. Rather, it is rooted in a Person Who brings all things from the darkness into light. Every once in a while, it's good to challenge yourself with what you believe -- relying on the truth of Scripture to weave together the tapestry of our faith. Phil Wickham's song, "I Believe," will guide us in discussing some very important details of what we believe as followers of Christ. Let's explore the Scripture behind some of the summary statements we sing along with in this song. In this episode, I discuss the following: Episode GuideAir1.com ArticleAdditional Resources NewReleaseToday.comAir1.com ArticleNewReleaseToday ArticleInternational Standard Bible EncyclopediaAmazon Paid LinkLogos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis Week's Challenge We end where we began. Use this song as a creed — a rehearsal of summary statements about what you believe. Shore up why you believe what you believe by using the Episode Guide Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE for the episode guide to help you connect with Scripture through this song. Can I give you some good news? God does not restrain His faithfulness. He doesn't hold back. TobyMac sings about it in his song "Faithfully," and David sings about it in Psalm 40. Tag along with me as we explore God's faithfulness together. In this episode, I discuss the following: Episode GuideYouTube VideoLogos Bible SoftwareAdditional Resources NewReleaseToday.comYouTube VideoWebinar Replay on YouTubeLogos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis Week's Challenge Spend some time in Psalm 40. Look for God's attributes, specifically His faithfulness. Then, take a trip to Hebrews 10 to see Jesus fulfilling parts of this Psalm. Finally, follow David’s lead and share what you’ve learned with a friend. Don’t keep the glad news of God’s deliverance to yourself. ‌ Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE for the episode guide to help you connect with Scripture through this song. To count our blessings is to name them and acknowledge our gratitude for the good things God has blessed us with. Seph Schlueter sings of this in his song "Counting My Blessings," and I use it to catapult us into the world of Jesus to see how He gave thanks in all circumstances. Let's explore Scripture together to deepen our knowledge as we practice giving thanks in our lives. In this episode, I discuss the following: Episode GuideAmazon Paid LinkYouTube Videoeucharisteo BibleHub Word Studyeucharisteo Additional Resources NewReleaseToday.comYouTube ShortAmazon Paid LinkYouTube VideoLogos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis Week's Challenge Spend some time in 1 Thessalonians. Make a list of what Paul is thankful for. Then, make your own list of things you are thankful for. Be imitators of Christ in your eucharisteo. Read about Christ giving Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE for the episode guide to help you connect with Scripture through this song. Have you ever had that moment when you realize you are on the other side? On the other side of trauma. On the other side of betrayal. On the other side of pain, you thought for sure you would NEVER endure? This happened to Joseph and was commemorated by the birth of his firstborn son. When Anna Golden sings "Manasseh," she vividly brings these shared feelings to life -- these feelings of a patriarch from long ago shared with those of us who are on the other side of deep wounding. Let's examine Joseph's life this week as we tickle the chin of his newborn son, Manasseh. In this episode, I discuss the following: Episode Guide DownloadYouTube Audio LinkThe Bible Reset: Simple Breakthroughs to Make Scripture Come AliveAmazon Paid LinkLogos Bible SoftwareRick Warren's Bible Study MethodsAmazon Paid LinkThe Bible Project PodcastAdditional Resources NewReleaseToday.comLogos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis Week's Challenge Read or listen to Joseph's story in Genesis 37-50. Read repetitively and add to your study each time. Write down your first impressions (including questions) the first time you read the narrative. The second time you read through it, jot down the chronological timeline of Joseph's life. The third time you read through it, consider any shared experiences you and Joseph may have had. Pray and ask God to reveal Himself in the midst of Joseph's story (and yours). Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE for the episode guide to help you connect with Scripture through this song. Have you ever re-watched a movie yet felt anxious during that scene where the obstacle seems too great to overcome? You know the end. You understand the main character overcomes that obstacle because you've watched the movie before, but it still keeps you on the edge of your seat. That's what I think of when I hear Shane & Shane sing "You've Already Won." I know Christ sits in heaven as the ultimate victor and that because I'm in Christ, I, too, am victorious. But I'm still swinging my sword in battles and sometimes wonder how it will all turn out. I want to add to your faith by diving deeper into Ephesians 1 with you in this episode. In this episode, I discuss the following: Episode Guide DownloadFriday With Friends InterviewBible Project VideoAmazon Paid LinkChristopher Hall Foundations 3 & 4Amazon Paid LinkAdditional Resources New Release Today ArticleGot Questions ArticleLogos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis Week's Challenge Read and re-read Ephesians. Read it out loud. Read it in the same physical Bible to help with retention and recall. Then, sit down with a notebook and make a list of all of God's actions. We've started in chapter 1, but feel free to keep adding to your list as you interact with the text. Your faith will be strengthened as you rehearse all God has done for you. Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE for the episode guide to help you connect with Scripture through this song. I've recently seen several videos online of children laying hands on siblings in prayer or praying with deep and passionate charisma. It's adorable because they are acts not normally seen in children who are more likely to swipe their friend's toy than lay hands on them in prayer. But I learned a long time ago that children are mirrors of the environment around them. When Benjamin William Hastings sings "Abandoned," he longs to mirror the complete abandon he sees in the life of Christ. As an adopted child into the family of God, I, too, want to mirror Christ's life of abandonment to the purpose and will of God. Let's explore the entire gospel of Mark together to see what acts we can emulate. In this episode, I discuss: Episode Guide DownloadAir1 ArticleAmazon Paid LinkAdditional Resources NewReleaseToday.comLogos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis Week's Challenge Read the gospel of Mark. Read with a highlighter and pen in hand. Don’t take apart every verse, but look for the pattern of the life of Christ — a life abandoned to the will of God above all else. Then pray as Jesus did in the garden. Call on your relationship with God, rehearse his character, make your request, and relinquish your will in exchange for His. You won’t regret it. Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

Welcome to Friday With Friends! I have the distinct privilege of meeting incredible followers of Christ who have amazing ministries, fascinating careers, and incredible hobbies and pet projects that flow out of their identity in Christ. While my podcast is a solo show, I still want a venue to introduce you to these friends as examples of the multifaceted ways God works in and through His people. In this episode, I have the privilege of hosting my friend, Keith Ferrin, to talk about his journey moving from "should" to "want" regarding reading and studying God's Word. We reminisce about the day we "met" over ten years ago when I reached out to him as a fellow believer in Christ to ask questions about podcasting. We were complete strangers, but he was generous with his knowledge and time. And while he moved on from podcasting to course creation, book authorship, speaking, and YouTube content creation, we've stayed in touch over the years. I can't wait for you to get to hear his story and glean from his wisdom. MEMORABLE MENTIONS Keith talks about his Bible Study for Beginners playlist on YouTube. If you've ever asked, "What translations should I use?" or "What book of the Bible should I start with?" or "How did we get the Bible?" or other Bible questions, this playlist is for you! During our chat, Keith discussed reading the Bible to hang out with Jesus. He also mentioned internalizing the Word of God. Keith offers two premiere online courses if you are interested in pursuing either of these things. AND he's offered a buy-one-get-one-free deal for my listeners! Head over to www.keithferrin.com/2courses and use the coupon code MICHELLEBOGO But the most generous offer is Keith's BibleLife Community membership. This membership includes access to ALL of Keith's books, courses, live teaching, and more. You can try it before you buy. Get the first four weeks for $4. CONNECT WITH KEITH www.keithferrin.comInstagramFacebookTwitterYouTubeChange your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE for the episode guide to help you connect with Scripture through this song. How can you get out of the mental pit you're in? If you do what Riley Clemmons did, you'll get away with God and focus on HIS plans to strengthen you. Riley's song, "Loved By You," inspired me to spend some time in Paul's letter to the Ephesians. In Ephesians, we'll learn together about the characteristics of God's "great love" for us. It's true -- you are loved by God. In this episode, I discuss: Episode Guide DownloadNew Release Today ArticleBibleHub.com Greek definitionWordHippo.com English definitionEpisode #478Additional Resources NewReleaseToday.comNewReleaseToday.comLogos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis Week's Challenge Dive into Ephesians. Read it all the way through. Read it out loud. Read it in various translations. Then, interact with the text to better understand God’s love. When you sing, “I am loved by You,” do you understand more about what kind of love God’s love really is? Finally, pray and ask God to grant you to be strengthened with power through the Spirit in your inner being so that you can comprehend and experience the love that He has for you and be rooted and grounded in that love. Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

Don't forget to download the Episode Guide for THIS episode HERE. While our feelings are not reliable, solid evidence of God, the evidence of God in our lives has the power to impact our feelings. That's what Caleb & John are singing about in their song "Hallelujah Feeling." The Holy Spirit can fill us with joy and peace based on our right relationship with God. Let's explore Scripture together to see what it teaches us about being "born again." In this episode, I discuss: Episode Guide DownloadYouTube VideoEpisode #482Amazon Paid LinkBeing born again is not something you can just profess. Merely professing to be saved does not save Additional Resources NewReleaseToday.comYouTube VideoLogos Bible Software LinkLogos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis Week's Challenge Study for yourself what the Scripture says about being born again. Start in John 3 and make your own observations from the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. Then head over to Ezekiel 36-37, where God includes the language Nicodemus should have recognized. In his first letter, note what Peter sa Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

Don't forget to download the Episode Guide for THIS episode HERE. A Chinese friend complained to me about how difficult learning English can be. For example, he lamented that the English word for "trunk" could reference the back of a car, a box, a part of an elephant, or men's swim shorts. Same word. Different meanings. I thought of this when listening to Brooke Ligertwood's song, "Fear Of God." In Scripture, the word for "fear" may mean something completely different depending on the context. Let's explore what it means to fear God, the results of fearing God, and how the fear of God can be expressed in our own lives. In this episode, I discuss the following: Episode Guide DownloadNew Release Today ArticleBibleProject.com VideoBibleHub.comAdditional Resources NewReleaseToday.comNew Release Today ArticleAmazon Paid LinkLogos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis Week's Challenge Read Peter's first letter to the believers scattered throughout the region of Asia Minor. Consider the context of suffering and persecution as you identify who the enemy is (for them and you). Meditate on what it is to fear the Lord, the r Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

Don't forget to download the Episode Guide for THIS episode HERE. It's Christmas! This is a season for giving, and I'm sure you have given gifts to those you love and maybe even some you don't even know. You have given the gift of your time, you have purchased gifts, and maybe even shared your talent. But were you GENEROUS? Naomie Raine sings of the generosity of God in her Christmas song, "Generous God (Gloria)." This week, I used it as inspiration to explore the generosity of God displayed in the birth story of Jesus. May we learn how to be more generous by looking deeply at our generous God. In this episode, I discuss the following: Episode Guide DownloadAdditional Resources New Release TodayLogos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis Week's Challenge Read Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. Consider reading the text aloud and in various translations. Read with a pen in your hand, making a list of how God displays His generosity in these passages of Scripture. Pray and ask God to reveal how you can better reflect His generous nature in your life. Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

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: Episode Guide DownloadAmazon Paid LinkGotQuestions.org ArticleAmazon Paid LinkAdditional Resources New Release TodayAmazon Paid LinkGotQuestion.org ArticleAmazon Paid LinkDiscover the Book Ministries ArticleLogos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis Week's Challenge 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, Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

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: Episode Guide DownloadYouTube Video LinkAmazon Paid Linkarticle linkWe should be slowing down and savoring God’s words more than we devour the words of others. Additional Resources New Release TodayKLove.com ArticleAmazon Paid Linkarticle linkLogos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis 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. Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

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: Episode Guide DownloadNew Release Today ArticleAmazon Paid LinkBibleProject.compowerperfectweaknessweakChange your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

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: Episode Guide DownloadNotability appFriday With Friends edition of More Than a Song When we share our test Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

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: Episode Guide DownloadEpisode 447Episode 455Episode 457Episode 464 Our transformation cannot happen apart from Christ. You cannot will yourself to become light without the life and light of Christ. Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

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: Episode Guide DownloadEpisode 103Episode 332Exalting Jesus in Psalms 101-150Amazon Paid Linkwordhippo.comChange your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE to download the free episode guide for THIS episode! "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 settle into Paul's first letter to Timothy to discover what we should and should not hold on to. In this episode, I discuss the following: Episode Guide Download1-minute video from the Museum of the BibleAmazon Paid LinkChange your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

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: The Bible Project on YouTube 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 Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

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: Episode Guide DownloadImmerse: Beginnings - Amazon Paid LinkBeginning at Moses: A Guide to Finding Christ in the Old Testament by Michael Barrett - Amazon Paid LinkExalting Jesus in Hebrews CommentaryChange your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.