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:
Additional Resources
This 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:
Additional Resources
This 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:
Additional Resources
This 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:
Additional Resources
This 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:
Additional Resources
This 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:
Additional Resources
This 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
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.
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:
Additional Resources
This 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:
Additional Resources
This 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:
Additional Resources
This 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:
Additional Resources
This 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.
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