I dropped a glass casserole lid on my tile kitchen floor the other day. It shattered into a host of small pieces. I'm still finding pieces of glass here and there. There's a difference between being broken and shattered. Shattered seem so irreparable. In Blanca's song "Shattered" she reminds us that the task of putting the shattered pieces back together is not too big for God. Scripture offers many examples of shattered lives that God touches. We'll look at one example together this week. In this episode, I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Reading in context Make observations Ask questions Consult a map Remembering the people described in the Bible were real Consult section headings Read in a variety of translations Make a list Define words The 30 Day Music Challenge How we can comfort others because of our own experiences - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 The daily practice of being washed in the Word as an act of worship - Ephesians 5:26-27 The story of the widow of Nain - Luke 7:11-17 Asking questions like, "Soon after what?" and "Where did he come from?" Looking up the towns mentioned in God's Word on a map...or even Google earth (after all, they are real places, and many still exist today) Picturing the crowd with Jesus and the crowd with the widow Defining a bier while considering the funeral customs of the day Making a list of the people depicted in this short story REALLY looking at the widow of Nain and considering the shattered pieces of her story Coming face to face with how Jesus RESPONDED He saw her He had compassion for her He spoke to her He came up to the bier He touched the bier He spoke to the dead man He gave him to his mother The Japanese art of Kintsugi - Lifegate Article Weekly Challenge Read Luke 7 for yourself. You might even take the challenge of reading in context — reading chapters 6 through 8 for yourself. Take a close look at Jesus in these stories. Identify the characteristics of your Savior that you may have glossed over in the past. Interact with the Word! Make observations, write them in lists, look up words you don’t understand, and enjoy your time being washed with the water of the Word.

What does it mean to live by faith? I'm not sure there's a simple answer to that question, but one practice may provide evidence. Tye Tribbett sings about it in his song "Anyhow" -- trusting and praising God no matter what comes our way. Let's explore the life and times of a prophet whose complaint to God could have been written this morning, and whose prayer we can mimic in our own lives. In this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Reading in context Read and keep on reading Repetition Consult an overview Follow the cross-reference Our circumstances can cloud our view of God - "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby An introduction to the prophet Habakkuk Habakkuk's "hallelujah anyhow" conclusion - Habakkuk 3:17-19 How we "need to appreciate how {Habakkuk's conclusion} derives from a serious engagement with the issues of God's justice if {we} are to appreciate just how radical it is." - ESV Expository Commentary: Daniel–Malachi (Volume 7) Getting our bearings with a brief introduction to the book of Habakkuk - BlueLetterBible.org Gaining clarity through a deeper overview - TheBibleProject.com Habakkuk's complaint that could have been written today - Habakkuk 1:2-4 God's astounding response - Habakkuk 1:5-11 Habakkuk's concern with how God's response seems opposed to His character - Habakkuk 1:12-13 God's introduction to the phrase "the righteous will live by faith" - Habakkuk 2:2-4 Following the cross-references Romans 1:16-17 Galatians 3:2-3, 11 Hebrews 10:32-39 If God chooses to answer in a way that doesn't seem right to us, may we live by faith and sing hallelujah anyhow, trusting in our faithful God. Additional Resources Lyrics Story Behind the Songs - Tye Tribbett - YouTube Video (start at 28:30 to hear specifically about "Anyhow" Weekly Challenge Read the entire book of Habakkuk (all three chapters) several times. Then watch an overview video or read the introduction in your study Bible. Identify the comparisons to our own time and carefully observe how God replies. Track down the cross-references we mentioned in Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews. Finally, spend some time internalizing Habakkuk’s conclusion — singing hallelujah anyhow.

There are a lot of solutions offered in the world today. Unfortunately, most worldly solutions don't identify the root problem -- sin. In her song "Look No Further," Evvie McKinney reminds us that we don't have to look any further than Jesus for the salvation we seek. Her response of "look no further than Jesus" feels like an answer to a question posed in Scripture. Join me as we take a closer look at the life of John the Baptist and a key question he asks from prison. In this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Remember the people described in the Bible were real Ask questions of the text Explore the cross-references Read with friends The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE Looking in all the wrong places to find hope John's question to Jesus - Matthew 11:3 Understanding John's history by reading/studying Luke 1 Zechariah's prophecy over John - Luke 1:76-80 Learning even more about John the Baptist's ministry in Matthew 3 John was set apart John was different John was bold John knew his purpose The context of what was going on in the ministry of Jesus between being baptized by John and John's imprisonment Pondering why John may have asked the question in Matthew 11:3 Reading the cross-references related to Jesus' response to John's question Isaiah 19:18-19 Isaiah 35:5-6 Isaiah 61:1 Isaiah 8:11-15 Jesus responds with Scripture to encourage John to "look no further." He is the promised one. The key for John here is that he must know the Scripture to be encouraged by it. Weekly Challenge Read Matthew 11 and let it inspire you to explore all of the Scriptures related to John the Baptist in both the New and Old Testaments. Then go back to John's question to ponder how such a man of God could end up in such a season of doubt. But don't ponder alone! Enlist a friend to study this with you to broaden your perspective.

As our trust in the Lord grows, our patience grows. We can rest in His timing because we can point to God's faithfulness over and over again in the accounts recorded in His Word. Not only that, but we have our own experiences we can point to in our own lives. Fred Jerkins' song "Patiently Praising" not only points us to promises we can cling to in Scripture but serves as a challenge in our own lives to praise while we await a resolution to painful parts of our lives. I didn't have to look any further than specific references to Scripture right in the song to get inspired to dive into God's Word. Join me! In this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Read in context Repetition Write out Scripture by hand Ask questions of the text Utilize outside resources Internalize Scripture (often known as memorization) Consult various translations Read with friends The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE Spending a good deal of time discovering what the Bible actually says before jumping to meaning and application The lyric in the song that led me to Psalm 34:19 Internalizing God's Word by committing it to memory Keith Ferrin's quote, "The goal isn't to know the words. It's the know the Word." - "How To Enjoy Reading Your Bible" by Keith Ferrin Studying Psalm 34 verse by verse Reading the account in 1 Samuel 21:10-15 that the psalm declares was the inspiration for David's words Recognizing that the psalm was written as an acrostic, with each verse beginning with a subsequent letter of the Hebrew alphabet Seeing the theme of affliction throughout the psalm Referring to our study of this psalm in Episode 358 Discovering potential answers to our questions of the text through commentaries at BibleHub.com     Additional Resources Article revealing the music project was around cancer awareness - Billboard.com Lyrics Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers on Psalm 34 at BibleHub.com   Weekly Challenge Work through Psalm 34 on your own. As we saw on today's podcast, this is an ideal psalm to commit to memory. If internalizing the entire psalm feels too intimidating, pick a few verses to read, reread, and repeat until you can write them out on your own, speak them out to others in common day conversation, and lift them back up in prayer to your heavenly Father. And here's a teaser...there's another direct Scripture reference in our song this week that could send you off to another section of Scripture in the New Testament to study.

There's a shortage of truth in the world today. Of course, the definition of truth seems to up for grabs for some, but today we're talking about sincerity in action without pretense. Matthew West sings about this in his song "Truth Be Told." Jesus teaches about it in the Gospel of Matthew. Spend some time this week examining the words of Jesus with an open heart. In this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Consider the historical background Follow the cross-references Utilize a trusted outside resource (like a commentary or Study Bible) Read in context Summarize the text in your own words Ask questions of the text Remember, the people in the Bible were real The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE Matthew West's story behind the song - YouTube Video The book Matthew West wrote that he mentioned in the video - "Hello My Name Is" by Matthew West The verse in Isaiah Matthew West refers to in the video - Isaiah 29:13 How Jesus uses two metaphors to talk about what He thinks of being clean, put together, and FINE only on the outside - Matthew 23:27-28 The historical context of why touching tombs would have been a big deal to Christ's audience - Numbers 19:16 Why it was their practice to whitewash tombs - Douglas Sean O'Donnell "Preaching The Word" Commentary on Matthew Really considering the root of what Jesus is teaching and how it may apply to our own "clean on the outside and a hot mess on the inside" moments Zooming out all the way to Matthew 21 to see the context of our focus teaching Summarizing Matthew 23:1-11 in our own words Recognizing the seven "woe"s in Matthew 23 Checking out another "woe" from the Old Testament - Hosea 7:13 Hearing the "rolling thunder of Christ's wrath" in the text Recognizing the hypocrisy in our own lives and treating it with the weight Christ demands Additional Resources Matthew West makes the case for honesty - KLove Blog Lyrics - WGBL.org "Truth Be Told" by Matthew West Story Behind the Song - YouTube Article on the seven "woe"s in Matthew 23 - GotQuestions.org Article on what "woe" means in Scripture - Patheos.com Commentary on the book of Matthew - Amazon.com Weekly Challenge Read Matthew 21-25 to understand the complete context of Jesus' teaching. Focus in on Matthew 23 and really study it (I've included resources I used "Additional Resources" above). Identify and write down summaries of the seven woes. Hear the rolling thunder of Christ's wrath and take His rebuke seriously. Pray and ask the Lord to reveal any hypocrisy in your life.

We spend so much time trying to make things happen in our lives. This last year has shown us on a global level how little control we have. Elevation Worship's song "Graves Into Gardens" reminds us that God does transformational things -- and He's the only One Who can. Let's use this song to send us to the words of a prophet and a king to learn more about our transformational God. In this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Consider the historical background Start with God Ask questions Make a list The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE My prayer for my listeners -- that God will give you an unreasonable desire for His Word that leads to an unsurpassable relationship with Him God, Himself is our goal, and our priority must be our Father and His kingdom Spending time in Isaiah 61 in Episode 282 Our starting-point verse that uses the phrase "mourning to dancing" - Psalm 30:11 Gaining historical perspective by consulting my study Bible - ESV Study Bible Observing concrete details in the life of David, empathizing with those details, and translating that into worshiping God from the same place Starting with God by asking questions of the text that lead us to Him A trusted resource to teach us how to ask questions of the text - "Asking the Right Questions" by Matthew Harmon Making lists of God's character, conduct, and concerns revealed in Psalm 30 Discovering more transformations in Isaiah 61 Weekly Challenge Spend some time in Psalm 30 and Isaiah 61 this week. Try starting with God as you interact with the text. Seek where you can learn more about His character, His conduct, and His concerns. Identify some of the transformations we sing about in our song that are directly reflected in the text but don't stop there! Pray and listen for what God wants you to learn from His Word.

It doesn't matter how thick the walls are to us; it only matters how thick the walls are to God. When Andrew Ripp sings of our fears coming down like Jericho walls in his song "Jericho," I was inspired to study the story leading up to that moment. I learned a lot about Joshua and what God commanded him. {Spoiler alert: God speaks directly to his fear.} Join me on the journey this week! In this episode, I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Context Read larger chunks of Scripture Consider the opposite Use section headings to get your bearings Read/watch an overview of the book you're studying Consider the historical context Meditate on God's Word Follow the cross-reference The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE Not overcomplicating our time in God's Word Taking in the whole story - Joshua 1-6 Considering that "courage" is the opposite of "fear" An overview of the book of Joshua - BibleProject.com Taking on Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy to gain historical context (look for Joshua in these texts as well) God's four calls for Joshua be strong and courageous - Joshua 1:1-9 One more call to courage from Joshua's fellow Israelites - Joshua 1:16-18 Trusting God and letting fear crumble to the ground because He's trustworthy Following the cross-reference to see Moses sending out spies - Numbers 13:18-20 Reading on to Numbers 14:7-9 to hear Joshua's own words in the face of fear the first time they pulled up to the promised land   Additional Resources Lyrics - mykits.com Individual song - Amazon Weekly Challenge Read Joshua 1-6. Consider reading it multiple times in various versions. Note the repeated call to courage and meditate on the details surrounding each call. Follow the cross-reference to Numbers 13 and 14 and compare and contrast the sending of spies into the promised land.

Words cannot describe how worthy God is of our adoration and thanksgiving. Sarah Kroger's song, "A Thousand Thank Yous," gives God all of the glory as He deserves. It also inspired me to soak in some psalms of gratitude this week. Incorporate more adoration and thanksgiving into your prayer life this week. In this episode, I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Praying the Scripture Journal your interactions with Scripture and God Choose one word to meditate on Read the text aloud Slow down The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE Utilizing the resources over at TheBereanTest.com - A Thousand Thank Yous Review Choosing Psalms of Gratitude with the help of SheReadsTruth.com - Psalms of Gratitude Using the prayer model of A.C.T.S. and focusing on adoration and thanksgiving Logging our interactions with God's Word in a journal Acknowledging the authority, validity, and claims of God in Psalm 100 Asking God to help me tame my tongue so that the words of my mouth are acceptable to Him - Psalm 19:14, James 3:10 Filling my heart with God's Word so that the meditations of my heart are acceptable Looking to the Lord to visibly reflect radiant joy - Psalm 34:4-7 Recognizing that God's plans for and works in my life do not compare to HIM - Psalm 40:5 Renewing my sense of awe and wonder in Psalm 66   Additional Resources Lyrics Individual song - Amazon Weekly Challenge Grab your Bible, thank God for His Word, and dive into five Psalms of gratitude and praise this week -- Psalm 100, Psalm 19, Psalm 34, Psalm 40, and Psalm 66. If you find yourself distracted, read the text out loud. Look for one word that jumps out at you in each psalm. Ponder the word and the context of the verse it's found in. Incorporate your thoughts into your prayers. Discover what you can learn about who God is and what His great acts include. Log your findings in a journal or a notebook as prayers of adoration and thanksgiving. Use this week's song as a soundtrack for your prayerful efforts this week.

Happy New Year! Each new year brings with it an opportunity to set new goals and consider what your focus will be before life gets in the way. Kings Kaleidoscope has a song set to the tune of the traditional new year’s song "Auld Lang Syne." Their song “All Glory Be To Christ” reminds us ultimately what each new year is about…Jesus. The song leads us to Psalm 127 where we are reminded that we are nothing without the Lord. In this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Context Ask questions Make observations The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE The Rapid Bible Read Through that I do every year with my friend, Keith Ferrin - information about year's read through can be found here RBRT2021 The Psalms of Ascent - Got Questions Article Focusing more on the Architect than the house plans - Psalm 127:1 The role of a watchman - Psalm 127:1 Keeping in context the warning in verse 2 - Psalms 127:2 Not separating the "in vain" section from the "family" section of Psalm 127 Our duty to smooth and prepare our arrows (children) to be shot into the battle - Psalm 127:4 How I don't want to do anything this year in vain...with my family, ministry, or career   Additional Resources Lyrics and chords Individual song or full album - Amazon Weekly Challenge Read Psalm 127 for yourself. While you do, make sure you don't take each verse out of context…it is one song, after all. Ask questions, make observations, and fix your eyes on the Lord. Pray and ask Him to be the architect of your life this year. Determine in your heart to bring Him glory.    

Here are a few resources I use in storing up God's Word in my heart. I sprinkle them throughout my podcast episodes, but I thought this would be a great time to put them all down in a list. In fact, you can download a free pdf with live links HERE.

God's names help us get to know him better. Matt Maher's Christmas song, "He Shall Reign Forevermore," points us to an area of Scripture that reveals four powerful names of Jesus. It is at Christmastime we are reminded, "To us, a child is born." Let's get to know Him better through his names. In this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - our Bible Interaction Tool Exercises this week are: Consulting an outside resource Reading in context Completing a word study Following the cross-references The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE Getting really good at reading, studying, and understanding Scripture so I'm prepared for quality life application Soaking in Isaiah 9:1-7 inspired by our song Exploring Christ's kingdom, government, and eternal reign in Scripture He will reign forever and ever - Revelation 11:15 Parables of what the kingdom of heaven is like Wheat and weeds growing together until sorted out at the harvest - Matthew 13:24-30 A huge tree growing from a small start - Matthew 13:31-32 Like yeast, a little bit, growing from within permeates the entire loaf - Matthew 13:33 A hidden treasure worth selling everything for - Matthew 13:44 A jewel of inestimable value - Matthew 13:45 A fishing net catching good and bad fish to be sorted out later - Matthew 13:47-50 Filled with teachers who bring out new and old gems of truth - Matthew 13:52 A forgiving king who expect those who have been forgiven a great debt to "pay it forward" - Matthew 18:23-25 The vineyard workers who are last receive the same blessing/payment as those who are first - Matthew 20:1-16 The wedding feast where all are invited, but few responded - Matthew 22:2-14 A bridegroom who may return at any time and we must be ready - Matthew 25:1-13 The servants who invested what the Lord had given them and were entrusted with more - Matthew 25:14-30 JD Greear's book "Searching for Christmas: What if There's More to the Story Than You Thought" - Amazon Link JD reading his short book for free on his podcast - Spotify Link Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor, instructs and guides us with authority so great it is beyond our understanding God's ways are higher - Isaiah 55:8 What we can know of God is just the fringe - Job 26:14 Jesus understands what we're going through - Hebrews 4:15 Jesus is our Mighty God -- our El Gibbor Scanning the 159 times "gibbor" is used in Scripture to discover when it is applied to God - BibleHub.com Following the cross-reference to Psalm 45 Recognizing that our Everlasting Father is the PERFECT Father He's engaged and full of love - Psalm 103:8 His love is sacrificial - John 3:16 He loves lavishly - 1 John 3:1 His love rejoices over us with singing - Zephaniah 3:17 A little gem hidden in Zephaniah 3:17 that is uncovered by our study this week Understanding more about Biblical peace to better understand how Jesus is our Prince of Peace - BibleProject.com How Jesus makes everything whole - Ephesians 3:12-14 I just want to be really good at reading, studying, and understanding God's Word so that I know my conclusions (or the conclusions of pastors and teachers I sit under) are rooted in truth and understanding. Trust me, when that happens, the application is all the richer. Additional Resources Lyrics and chords - EssentialWorship.com Story behind the song "He Shall Reign Forevermore" - YouTube Video Chris Tomlin sharing "He Shall Reign Forevermore" in the New Song Cafe - WorshipTogether.com Weekly Challenge Read all about the promised Christ child in Isaiah 9. Meditate on the names given to Jesus in this text. Consider the significance of what we learn about Him through these names. Try exploring one of His titles further in Hebrew through an online resource. Chase down a few cross-references -- you never know where they may lead. Respond to God's lavish love by placing your faith in our Wonderful Counselor, our Mighty God, our Everlasting Father, our Prince of Peace.

Sitting in a dark room, even the flame from the smallest candle can invade. No wonder Isaiah describes the impact of Christ on our dark world as a "great light." Inspired by We The Kingdom's song "Light of the World" I explore what we can learn about Jesus as the Light of the world. Come along for the journey as we sit in a large chunk of Scripture and then explore the theme of "light" this week. In this episode, I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - our Bible Interaction Tool Exercises this week are: Studying a theme Reading in context Reading larger chunks of Scripture Making observations of the text Making a list Consulting an outside resource Considering the historical context The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE Using Christmas lights to remind us that Christ is the "Light of the world" Studying the context of John 1:1-18 because of verse 9 - John 1:9 Observing the details in the text "Light" is repeated 7 times "Word" is introduced and repeated four times "He/Him" is repeated 18 times Using an outside resource to deepen my understanding of why John used the Greek word "logos" to describe Jesus - GotQuestions.org Article Listing out the times John talks about Jesus being "the Word" and what we learn about Him Jesus is eternal Jesus was with God before coming to earth Jesus is God Jesus is Creator Jesus is the giver of life Jesus became human The theme of light pointing to Christ throughout Scripture Creation of the first light - Genesis 1:3-4; with the Jesus connection in 2 Corinthians 4:6 God is the source of Israel's light - Exodus 13:21-22 God is the source of our individual light - Psalm 27:1 and Psalm 18:28 God's Word is our source of light - Psalm 119:105 and Psalm 119:130 Jesus is the greatest light of all - John 1:4-5 Jesus declares himself the "light of the world" - John 8:12 The prophet Isaiah speaks of the future glory of a restored Israel - Isaiah 60:1-3 Jesus is the lamp for all eternity in the New Jerusalem - Revelation 21:22-27 How we, too, are to shine with the light of Christ - Matthew 5:14-16 I know you may feel like the darkness is overtaking you but cling fast to the hope of the truth that the darkness will not overcome the light.     Additional Resources Lyrics and chords - WorshipTogether.com Performance and story behind the song "Light of the World" by We The Kingdom - YouTube Video What do John 1:1,14 mean when they declare that Jesus is the Word of God? - GotQuestions.org Article The meaning of the candles in the Messianic Jewish Candle Lighting Ceremony - Yeshua Ha'Mashiach Ministries Article Weekly Challenge Dive into John 1. Read all about Jesus the Word and the light of the world. Make observations. Make lists. Go on a scavenger hunt throughout the Bible to see references to light and ponder their connection to God's revelation of His Son as the Light of the World.    

Joseph was faced with a life-altering, gut-wrenching situation, yet he didn't question when God spoke. Rather, Joseph trusted and obeyed. for King & Country inspired me to ponder the details of Joseph in the Christmas account through their song, "The Carol of Joseph (I Believe In You)." Join me as we continue pondering the details of Christ's birth. In this episode, I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - our Bible Interaction Tool Exercises this week are: Repetition Remember, the people described in these accounts are real Make a list Observation Meditation The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE Searching the Scriptures for what we can learn about Joseph How remembering the people described in the Bible were real helps Scripture come to life Making a list of times Joseph was mentioned or most likely present in documented events Looking back at Episode 149 to explore the genealogy of Christ The first mention of Joseph - Matthew 1:16 Meditating on the emotional turmoil of Joseph during this time My friend Chris Syme's new Bible study coming out - womenfinishingwell.com Considering the contrast of Moses' response to the Lord in Exodus 3 What about you? Are you a "wake up and do what God said" kind of person or a "please pick someone else" kind of person? Additional Resources Lyrics and chords What was a betrothal in biblical times? - GotQuestions.org Article Watch the fantastic Official Picture-Story Lyric Video Playlist - YouTube Weekly Challenge Use repetition, observation, and meditation to learn and consider more about Joseph. Compare and contrast Joseph's recorded responses to the Lord with Moses in Exodus 3. Interact with God's Word and while you do, ask yourself, "Will I be a 'wake up and do what God said' kind of person or a 'please pick someone else' kind of person?"    

There is a difference between optimism and hope that is displayed in the Bible. Before the birth of Christ, there was a tension in the waiting as all of creation anticipated the coming Messiah. Because of Jesus, we live in an age of hope. Building 429 sings about this in their new Christmas song, "Hope is Here (Do Not Fear)." Jesus is our hope of salvation. Let's celebrate Him this week. In this episode, I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - our Bible Interaction Tool Exercises this week are: Read in context Repetition Listen to an audio version Read in a variety of translations Read the text aloud Study with a friend Remember, the people described in these accounts are real Make a list Utilize outside resources - Bible Project The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE How the angel told Joseph, "Do not fear" - Matthew 1:18-25 Reading the details of Jesus' birth repetitively for Increased comprehension Increased comfort with the text Richer conversations around the text A deeper understanding of the characters Noticing new things in the story Shifting your focus to big ideas Increased ability to make more associations Making a list of what the angel told Joseph about Jesus He came from the Holy Spirit He would save his people from their sins He will be called Immanuel (which means God with us) Recognizing the difference between optimism and biblical hope - Bible Project Resources Beginning with the end in mind - Romans 5:1-11 Making Old Testament connections with Paul in Romans 15:8-13 From the beginning, God had a plan. He didn’t get to Matthew chapter one and say, “I wonder what I’m going to do to redeem my people?” Everything up to this moment was pointing to Jesus. Additional Resources Song release article - FreeCCM.com This Week's Challenge Start this week by diving into the texts describing the birth of Christ in Matthew and Luke chapters 1 and 2. Consider that this was the beginning of Christ’s earthly life but was by no means the beginning. Think about the difference between optimism and biblical hope. Read and meditate on Romans 5, and the salvation described there that was promised through the angel’s words to Joseph.

Is it possible to actively serve Christ and miss Him all at the same time? It sure is! I don't want to miss Him, though. Cody Carnes' song, "Nothing Else," inspired me to consider what it looks like to sit at the feet of Jesus, taking in his preeminence, and ultimately repenting for where I've gone off track. Join me in exploring a few Scripture areas as we discover that "nothing else will do" besides Jesus. In this episode, I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - our Bible Interaction Tool Exercises this week are: Remember, the people described in the Bible were real Compare and contrast Make observations Utilize outside resources (this week, it was my study Bible) Meditate on Scripture The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE Sitting at the feet of Jesus - Luke 10:38-42 The "good portion" discussed in the Old Testament - Psalm 73:26, Psalm 16:5 How the preeminence of Christ inspires us to sit at his feet as disciples - Colossians 1:15-20 Returning to our first love - Revelation 2:2-7 How we can get so much right and so much wrong at the same time -- requiring our repentance - Revelation 2:5 The three steps we should take Remember Repent Return Christ's preeminence in our lives should reflect a centrality that emanates, impacts, and rules every other part of our lives.   Additional Resources Lyrics and chords - WorshipTogether.com The story behind the writing of the song "Nothing Else" by Cody Carnes - YouTube ESV Study Bible - Amazon This Week's Challenge Read and ponder the account of Mary and Martha in Luke 10. Don't forget that these ladies were real, not merely an object lesson. Make observations and compare and contrast as you interact with this section of Scripture. Head over to Colossians 1 to meditate on the preeminence of Christ. Finally, get your marching orders on how to return to your first love in Revelation 2. Only after you've studied these sections of Scripture on your own should you enhance your study time through outside resources like commentaries or study Bibles.  

Do you know what God is famous for? I mean, can you describe some of the wondrous deeds of the Lord that He is most famous for? Tauren Wells sings out a list in his song "Famous For (I Believe)." Being able to remember and recount the miracles and judgments of God is required by Scripture.   Let's get better at remembering and recounting by reading and interacting with God's Word this week. In this episode, I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - our Bible Interaction Tool Exercises this week are: Read in context Mark up the text Make observations Repetition Ask questions Make a list Start with God The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE Some of the areas of Scripture the song describes Making a way through the waters in Exodus 14 Walking in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3 Shutting the mouths of lions in Daniel 6 Bringing bones back to life in Ezekiel 37 Using Psalm 105 as a pattern to declare praise and recounting specific works of the Lord Marking up the text - click here for my rudimentary example (ignore my poor handwriting) Circling verbs and noticing repeated words Stopping to ask what we can learn about God before seeking to apply the text to ourselves He performs deeds He performs wondrous works His name is holy He offers strength He offers His presence He performs miracles He proclaims judgment He remembers His covenant forever What our response should be Give thanks Call upon His name Make known His deeds Sing praises to Him Tell of all his wondrous works Glory in his holy name Let our heart rejoice Seek the Lord Seek His strength Seek His presence Remember the wondrous works He has done Remember His miracles Remember His judgments Remembering that when we call on God to do what He is famous for, it includes both miracles and judgments -- and both are wondrous The "so what" of the Psalm - Psalm 105:43-45 He brings us out of captivity into freedom and promise so that we can live the way He designed When we call on God to do what He is famous for, it includes both miracles and judgments...and both are wondrous. Additional Resources Lyrics and chords - EssentialWorship.com The story behind the song "Famous For (I Believe)" by Tauren Wells - WCICfm.org What is the New Covenant? - GotQuestions.org Article This Week's Challenge Try printing out a copy of Psalm 105 to mark up the text without fear. Read the Psalm repetitively and then begin to make some observations. Mark up verbs and note words that are repeated. Start by asking yourself what you learn about God from this psalm. Move into asking yourself how you are to respond. Perhaps use this psalm (or this week's song) to inspire you to read about the accounts recorded in God's Word that the songs are summarizing.

I had a conversation with a friend this week. She described herself as "full up." I get it. This year isn't cutting any of us any breaks, is it? It keeps pouring out the stress, and we're "full up." What we need is a peace that passes understanding. That's what Hillsong Young & Free sings about in their song "P E A C E," and it is promised to us in Scripture.   Join me as we explore what it takes to secure the peace we so desperately desire. In this episode, I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - our Bible Interaction Tool Exercises this week are: Read in context Repetition Read in several translations Read an overview of the book you are studying Journal your dialogue with God Make a list The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE Understanding the anxiety, I address in this episode is circumstantial, not clinical Why the song inspired me to study Philippians - Philippians 4:6-7 Making it your habit to read the epistles all the way through My favorite resource for overviews of each book of the Bible along with advice on how to read each book - "How to Read the Bible Book by Book" by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart - Amazon link Highlighting the emphases of the letter to Philippians so as not to study a smaller section ignoring the whole Identifying areas of anxiety in your own life Discovering potential sources of anxiety for the Philippians Specific instructions that lead to peace - Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice Pray Refocusing our minds during times of anxiety - Philippians 4:8 Practicing what we've learned today - Philippians 4:9 Practice rejoicing. Practice praying with thanksgiving. DO THESE THINGS. Don't just read about them. Do them. Practice them. Additional Resources Lyrics and chords - WorshipTogether.com The story behind the song "P E A C E" by Hillsong Young & Free - YouTube Video This Week's Challenge Read all of Philippians multiple times this week. Try reading in a variety of translations. Look for hints at what might cause anxiety in the lives of the church members at Philippi and discover if anything you discover compares to what you are dealing with. Follow Paul's instructions as it relates to your anxiety; rejoice, and pray. Practice these things, and you will not only get God's peace but God Himself.

I love it when someone takes something complex and boils it down for me. Jesus does that when asked about the greatest commandment, and Danny Gokey sings about it in his song, "Love God Love People." There's no greater power than really understanding the Scripture, inspiring the summary statement found in our song, and the words of Christ. In this episode, I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - our Bible Interaction Tool Exercises this week are: Read in context Reference section headings to get your bearings Follow the cross-references Compare and contrast Make a list Utilizing outside resources (after you are familiar with the text) The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE Jesus command to love God and love people - Matthew 22:22-40 Reading Matthew 21-23 to get the context of what was going on leading up to this scene and what happens after Understanding that the question that was asked of Jesus was intended to trip him up Resisting the temptation to "fill in the blanks" when we read a similar account in multiple gospels - "How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth" by Gordon and Fee Reading the same account in the Gospel of Mark - Mark 12:28-34 Comparing and contrasting the details of each account Following up on discoveries with further research (i.e., reading up on scribes vs. lawyers using a Bible Dictionary found at BibleStudyTools.com) How Jesus is quoting the Shema as found in Deuteronomy 6:30 Learning more about the Shema through outside resources - Bible Project Shema Series Heading over to Leviticus 19 to see when "love your neighbor as yourself" was first mentioned - Leviticus 19:1-17 Making a list of instructions that lead to personal holiness - Leviticus 19:1-17 Finding the instruction to love our neighbor as ourself again in Paul's letter to the Galatians - Galatians 5:13-15 When we love others rightly, we are automatically fulfilling the guidance detailed by the law. The law shows us what sin is - Romans 7:7 Our personal holiness is in direct relationship to how we interact with God and others. Additional Resources Lyrics and chords - PraiseCharts.com A Conversation with Danny Gokey About His New Song “Love God, Love People” - Spirit1053.com This Week's Challenge Read Matthew 22 and Mark 12 in context. Read the context of Deuteronomy 6 and Leviticus 19, where Jesus pulled his summary from of the greatest commandments in Scripture. Make a list of what steps that will contribute to your personal holiness. Contemplate how those two simple phrases sum up the law and the prophets. Take some time to learn more about the Shema.

I need a reset sometimes. Instead of looking at myself, I need to look up. Perhaps when I do, I can reset my perspective as I consider God's greatness and my insignificance in comparison to Him. And yet, as NEEDTOBREATHE sings about in "Who Am I?", and David writes about in the Psalms, God thinks of me and cares for me. Mind blown.     Let's look up together and consider the heavens and the work of God's fingers in Psalm 8. On this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - our Bible Interaction Tool Exercises this week are: Read the text aloud Repetition Meditation Consult outside resources Follow the cross-references The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE How King David asks the same question found in our song in Psalm 8 Letting Scripture speak louder than any lyric in our lives If you know how to worry you know how to meditate David "considering" the heavens and the work of God's fingers Allowing God's creation to lead us to worship of God's splendor and majesty - Psalm 8:1, Psalm 8:9 Louie Giglio's presentation "Indescribable" - YouTube Video A shorter option - Louie Giglio on the Star Maker - YouTube Video "What if the primary purpose of the universe is to display the splendor of God?" - Louie Giglio How God calls every star by name - Isaiah 40:25-26 How God measures the universe in His hand - Isaiah 40:12 How God reminds Job that he has no agency in the creation of, sustaining of, or future of the universe - Job 38:31 Additional Resources Lyrics and chords - Tabs For Worship Story Behind the Song "Who Am I?" by NEEDTOBREATHE - New Release Today Article Louie Giglio "Indescribable" - YouTube Video Louie Giglio "Star Maker" - YouTube Video This Week's Challenge Read Psalm 8 out loud. Read it repeatedly. Go outside at night and look up. Take in the majesty of the heavens and consider the work of God's fingers. Watch the message by Louie Giglio to give you even greater perspective and images to consider as you meditate on the splendor of God and His creation. Only then should you look toward yourself and ask, "What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?"

What if Lazarus never came out of the tomb? When Jesus made Lazarus alive again it wasn't so that he could lie there wrapped in burial clothes, it was so he could walk in newness of life. The CAIN band sings of this in their song "Rise Up (Lazarus)". We, too, are called to walk in newness of life.     Join me on a journey through the New Testament to explore what we are to "rise up" to do. On this episode I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - our Bible Interaction Tool Exercises this week are: Explore a theme/topic in Scripture Reading in context Following the cross-references Slowing down The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE How we are dead in sin apart from Christ - Ephesians 2:1-10 Considering ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus - Romans 6 Dying to sin IN ORDER THAT we might walk in newness of life - Romans 6:4 Slowing down in Romans 6 to see God's grace, what's on the other side of walking in newness of life, freedom, fruit, and eternal life in Christ Being crucified with Christ - Galatians 2:20 Opposition to walking in newness of life - Galatians 5:16-25 Putting off our old self - Ephesians 4:17-24 Reading the story of Lazarus' resurrection in John 11 in light of all we've studied Additional Resources Lyrics and chords - Essential Worship The story behind the song "Rise Up (Lazarus)" by CAIN - YouTube Video "What Does it Mean That a Christian is a New Creation?" - GotQuestions.org Article This Week's Challenge Take the journey we took on this week's podcast episode from death to life. Start in Ephesians 2, stop off in Romans 6 before heading to Galatians 2 and 5, and put on your new self in Ephesians 4. Once you have studied all of this, take in the story of Lazarus' resurrection in John 11 -- it will sparkle in new ways.