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

• #514: "Calvary’s Enough” by Brooke Ligertwood

  Send us a textDownload the Episode Guide!How can we boldly proclaim that Calvary is enough in a world constantly demanding more? In this episode, let me take you on a rich, multi-layered journey from Golgotha to your heart as we explore the power and meaning behind the place, the sacrifice, and the impact of Jesus’ crucifixion. Anchored in Scripture and inspired by Brooke Ligertwood’s compelling lyrics in her song "Calvary's Enough," we will slow down and soak in the truth of what happened on the cross—and why it still matters today.Key Points"Calvary" is a Place and a Symbol: The word Calvary is Latin for Golgotha, meaning the skull. While we often refer to it symbolically, it’s helpful to remember it is an actual location where Christ was crucified.The Power of the Sacrifice: The episode guides listeners from the literal place of Calvary, through the crucifixion event, to the profound spiritual implications of Christ's sacrifice.Learning for Learning’s Sake: It’s okay to explore Scripture with curiosity even when there’s no immediate application—this builds a foundation for future understanding.Jesus's Last Words Matter: “It is finished” (John 19:30) refers to the completed work of atonement—the payment of our sin debt.Christ Our High Priest: The Gospels and Hebrews reference Jesus seated at the right hand of God, which shows the fulfillment of His role post-Calvary.Response Matters: Like Paul, we are called to "resolve to know nothing but Christ crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). This is a deliberate decision to center our lives on the gospel.Don’t Idolize Messengers: Paul confronted the church in Corinth about elevating personalities over the message of Christ crucified, a reminder that is still relevant today.Bible Interaction Tool Exercises (BITEs)Listen to ScriptureRepetition Cross-referencing Compare & ContrastUse Your Imagination Ask QuestionsStudy in ContextAdditional ResourcesLyrics - New Release TodayWhat did Jesus mean when He said, “It is finished”? - GotQuestion.org ArticleBaker Encyclopedia of the Bible - Place of the Skull Article - Logos Bible Software Affiliate LinkLearn more about my favorite Bible Study Software with a 30-day free trial and links to my all-time favorite Bible resources - Logos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis Week's ChallengeRead or listen to all four accounts of the scenes leading up to and at Calvary. Use the Episode Guide to help. It’s free and uncomplicated. It’s just a one-page PDF to guide you. After you’ve read or listened to the gospels a time or two, consider what details pop out to you. This is a good place to meditate, follow cross-references, and jot down observations. Make observations about the place of Calvary, the details of what happened there, its significance and meaning, and potential responses to it. At some point, hop over to 1 Corinthians chapters 1-2 to see why Paul resolved to know nothing but Christ and Him cPurchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today! Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

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• #513: "Fear Not" by Hannah Kerr

  Send us a textGrab your Episode Guide!“It’s hopeless.” That’s what fear whispers in the middle of the night when anxiety tightens its grip and your heart pounds with uncertainty. But what if you could argue back? Inspired by Hannah Kerr’s “Fear Not,” we learn the powerful truth that God’s presence isn’t just near—it’s active, bringing comfort, consolation, and even delight amid chaos. Let’s uncover how Scripture teaches us to confront fear, embrace God’s comfort, and step into the peace only He can provide. We'll see how a suffering poet's words reflect our fears and anxieties and where to go from there.In this episode, I discuss:Song insight: How Hannah wrote this song to express her struggles with anxiety and to remind listeners that they are not alone.Biblical lament: Acknowledging fear and anxiety is the first step before moving toward truth and comfort.Lifting our eyes: Calling to mind the "capital T" Truths about God and what that means for usKey Scripture Passages:Psalm 34:4 - "I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears."Psalm 94:19 - "When anxiety overwhelms me, Your consolation delights my soul."John 14:16, 25-27 - Jesus promises the Holy Spirit as our Comforter.Lamentations 3 - The poet expresses deep despair but shifts to hope in God’s faithfulness.Bible Interaction Tools (BITEs) for Personal Study:Word Study – Explore the meaning of consolation in Psalm 94:19.Read in Context – Study all of Lamentations to see the pattern of grief, confession, and hope.Consult an outside resource - Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark VroegopEngage in Biblical Lament – Journal your fears before turning to God’s truth.Community Prayer – Instead of saying, “I’ll pray for you,” ask, “Can I pray with you now?”Compare and contrastMake observationsExplore a themeRead and keep on readingAdditional ResourcesLyrics - New Release TodayBehind the song "Fear Not" by Hannah Kerr - Behind the Song with Kevin Davis - New Release Today ArticleDark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop - Amazon Paid LinkLearn more about my favorite Bible Study Software with a 30-day free trial and links to my all-time favorite Bible resources - Logos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis Week's ChallengeRead Lamentations. Read it as intended — as poetry reflecting great emotion amid great tragedy that ultimately turns toward hope in the Lord. Observe any emotions or feelings that feel familiar to you. Pattern the freedom of the author of Lamentations and journal your own crazy out. Write down all of your complaints and how you are feeling. Don’t hold back. Then, unfurl your soul to lift your eyes to Jesus and rehearse the goodness of God. Speak the truths of Lamentations. Speak the truths of other verses you know. Use the Episode GuPurchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today! Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

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• #512: "Constant" by Anthony Gargiula, Jordin Sparks, and Maverick City Music

  Send us a textIn a world filled with uncertainty, it’s comforting to know that we serve an unchanging God. "Constant" by Anthony Gargiula, Jordin Sparks, and Maverick City Music reminds us of this powerful truth—God is constant. This episode explores the biblical foundation of God’s immutability and how it affects our faith and daily lives.Explore this attribute of God with me and then settle in to a Psalm.In this episode, I discuss:Episode Guide Available: – Download your free Episode Guide at michellenezat.com/512download to help you interact with Scripture.God’s Immutability: Unlike humans, who change constantly, God remains the same. His attributes, promises, and purposes never shift.Communicable vs. Incommunicable Attributes: God shares some of His attributes (like love and mercy) with us, but others (like omniscience and immutability) belong to Him alone.Implications of God’s Unchanging Nature: Because God is constant, His love, promises, and salvation are secure. We don’t have to fear that He will change His mind or go back on His word.Practical Application: How understanding God’s immutability can bring peace and stability to our lives.Key Scriptures:Malachi 3:6 - “For I the Lord do not change.”Hebrews 13:8 - “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”Numbers 23:19 - “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind.”James 1:17 - “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”Psalm 102:25-28 - A declaration of God’s eternal nature.BITEs (Bible Interaction Tool Exercises) Used:Read in contextMake observationsRead in various translationsStudying a topicMeditate on ScriptureCompare and contrastAdditional ResourcesLyrics - New Release TodayDoes God’s Immutability Need to Change? - Credo PodcastDoes God Suffer? - Credo PodcastThe Immutability and Impassibility of God - The Gospel Coalition EssayWhat are the communicable and incommunicable attributes of God? - GotQuestions.org ArticleLearn more about my favorite Bible Study Software with a 30-day free trial and links to my all-time favorite Bible resources - Logos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis Week's ChallengeExamine the Scriptures that declare the immutability of God in their context. (Use the Episode Guide to help.) Malachi 3:6, James 1:17, Hebrews 13:8, Numbers 23:19, Hebrews 6:15-18. Then with all you’ve learned about God’s unchanging nature, head over to Psalm 102 to read in context, make observations, compare and contrast, and meditate. In the end, lift your eyes from your turbulent circumstances to our constant God.Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today! Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

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• #511: "Flowers” by Samantha Ebert

  Send us a textI don't know if you've ever lifted a desperate prayer that asked, "Lord, why are you keeping me here?" but that line in Samantha Ebert's song "Flowers" gets me every time. That one that acknowledges the valley I'm in but reminds me that God has something beautiful in mind that will bloom from the soil of suffering.Scripture details what good comes from suffering. Join me as we explore part of a letter from Paul to the Romans together.In this episode, I discuss:Episode Guide Available – Download your free Episode Guide at michellenezat.com/511download to help you interact with Scripture.Personal Connection to the Song – I share how Flowers ministered to me during my waiting season.Mountaintop vs. Valley Perspective – Drawing from personal experiences hiking in the Smoky Mountains and biblical wisdom from Henry Blackaby’s Experiencing God, I discuss how our circumstances can cloud our view of God, but seeking His perspective brings clarity.Romans 5:3–5 Breakdown – Exploring how suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope—the flowers that grow in the valley.Cross-References & Biblical Themes: Psalm 126:5–6 – Sowing in tears, reaping in joy.James 1:2–4 – Trials produce steadfastness, leading to spiritual maturity.2 Corinthians 2:9-10 – Proven character results in obedience and forgiveness.Romans 4:18-25 – Abraham’s unwavering hope in God’s promises.BITE (Bible Interaction Tool Exercises) Used:Following cross-referencesStudying words in original Greek (hypomone – endurance, dokime – character, elpis – hope)Reading in context (Romans 4–6)Making lists (evidence of faith and hope in Scripture)Comparing and contrasting passagesTakeaways:God is growing something beautiful even in your suffering.Biblical hope is not wishful thinking—it’s a well-grounded expectation in God’s faithfulness.Viewing your circumstances through God’s perspective changes everything.Additional ResourcesLyrics - New Release TodayExperiencing God by Henry Blackaby - Amazon Paid LinkBibleHub.com for cross-referencesLearn more about my favorite Bible Study Software with a 30-day free trial and links to my all-time favorite Bible resources - Logos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis Week's ChallengeRead Romans 4-6 before focusing in on Romans 5:3-4. Look for the flowers that grow in the valley of our suffering. Make lists, define words, and complete word studies. Follow the cross-references and take time to meditate on what you are reading and studying. Use the Episode Guide to help.Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today! Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

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• #510: "The Truth" by Megan Woods

  Send us a textGet the Episode Guide at https://michellenezat.com/510downloadWe have an enemy known as the Father of Lies, so it makes sense that one of his tactics is to convince us to believe lies about ourselves AND lies about how God sees us. We combat these lies with the truth from Scripture, and Megan Woods sings about this in her song "The Truth."Let's take the message from this song and see where it comes from in Scripture. And let's take it a step further to examine the WHOLE truth.Key Points Covered in This Episode:Song Introduction - "The Truth" by Megan WoodsA powerful song that speaks against negative self-talk and replaces lies with biblical truth.Michelle’s initial hesitation in using this song on the podcast and how she overcomes it.The Dangers of Misapplying ScriptureThe fine line between biblical encouragement and self-centered theology.How the church can sometimes distort Scripture to make it more about us than about God.A snippet from Michelle's novel, "A Seat at the Table" - Purchase on AmazonBreaking Down the Lies vs. The Whole TruthLies we tell ourselves: I’m not enough, I’m unlovable, I’m a failure.The enemy’s tactics: Repeating accusations that become deeply ingrained.The exercise of writing down accusations to recognize patterns.Developing a Biblical WorldviewWhy knowing Scripture for yourself is crucial.The balance between focusing on God and understanding our identity in Him.Scripture’s direct response to self-doubt and identity crises.Song Lyric Analysis & Supporting Scriptures"The truth is I am my Father’s child. I make Him proud, and I make Him smile."1 John 3:1 – We are called children of God.Romans 8:16 – The Spirit testifies that we are God’s children.Numbers 6:24–26 – God's face shines upon His people.Psalm 18:19 – God delights in us."I was made in the image of a perfect King."Genesis 1:26-27 – Created in God’s image."He looks at me and wouldn’t change a thing."Ephesians 2:4-5 – God loved us even when we were dead in sin.God’s love is unconditional, but it transforms us (Galatians 2:20, Colossians 3:9-10)."The truth is I am truly loved by a God who’s good when I’m not good enough."A reminder that our worth isn’t found in ourselves but in the goodness of God."I don’t belong to the lies; I belong to You."John 8:44 vs. Galatians 5:24 – The contrast between belonging to the enemy and belonging to Christ.This Week's ChallengeRead Psalm 139, but look for what you learn about God more than what you think it says about you. Read 1 John and the context of Romans 8 and observe what you learn about God’s love and our status as God’s children. Make two columns - the first column should list truths about God’s love toward us, and the second column should list the truths of how we respond to that love.Catch Me On Tour - https://michellenezat.com/unlockPurchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today! Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

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