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:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Study a topic
  • Slow down
  • Meditate on Scripture
• Episode Guide
• "I Believe" by Phil Wickham as a modern creed - Air1.com Article
• Defining creeds, confessions, and their uses
• One Salvation - Acts 4:10-12
• One Doorway that leads to life - John 10:7-9
• One Redemption - Hebrews 9:11-15
• One Way - John 14:6
• Where salvation comes from - Ephesians 2:8-10
• Reconciliation - Colossians 1:21-23
• Restoring a relationship with God means confessing our guilt and requesting forgiveness from Him - He gives us the terms to reconcile with Him.
• The crucifixion, as discussed in all four gospels and Galatians 3:13
• Christ's blood that has set us free - Revelation 1:4-6, 1 Peter 1:17-19
• The resurrection - 1 Corinthians 15:3-9
• Jesus' life is death's defeat - 2 Timothy 1:10
• Christ's victory is consummated in eternity - Revelation 21:4
• Jesus prepares a place for us in heaven - John 14:1-3
• This world is not our home - Philippians 3:20
• We cannot imagine what God has in store for us - 1 Corinthians 2:9
• Jesus will return - Acts 1:9-11, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
• Keeping the altar burning like the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25
• The marriage of the Lamb - Revelation 19:6-9
• Jesus as the Lion and the Lamb - Revelation 5:5-6
• Not being ashamed of the gospel - Romans 1:16

Additional Resources

• Lyrics - NewReleaseToday.com
• The faith behind the song "I Believe" by Phil Wickham - Air1.com Article
• Behind the song "I Believe" by Phihl Wickham - NewReleaseToday Article
• "Creeds and Confessions" - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• "The Compact Guide to World Religions" - Amazon Paid Link
• My favorite Bible Study Software - Logos Bible Software Affiliate Link

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:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Study a topic
  • Read in context
  • Define words
  • Complete a word study
  • Share with a friend
• Episode Guide
• The story behind the song "Faithfully" by TobyMac - YouTube Video
• The variety of Greek and Hebrew words used to describe God's faithfulness all closely linked to God's truthfulness (veracity)
• Looking up the word "faithful" in the English dictionary
• Recognizing that faithfulness is an attribute that we should display (communicable attribute of God) - God is faithful, and we are to be faithful
• Faithful and True as a name of Jesus - Revelation 19:11
• God's faithfulness saves us from the despair of our own unfaithfulness
• Using the Psalms Explorer in my Logos Bible Software to choose Psalm 40 to study the theme of God's faithfulness
• Exploring the idea that God "inclined" to David - a state of engagement in a relationship - the Lord really sees us in our pain and wants to engage with us
• God is ACTIVE in His engagement with us - Psalm 40:2-3
• What makes this Psalm a Messianic Psalm - Hebrews 10:5-7
• David's response to the faithfulness of God - Psalm 40:9-11

Additional Resources

• Lyrics - NewReleaseToday.com
• The story behind the song "Faithfully" by TobyMac - YouTube Video
• Exploring Logo Bible Study Psalms Explorer - Webinar Replay on YouTube
• My favorite Bible Study Software - Logos Bible Software Affiliate Link

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:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Reading in context
  • Listen to an audio version of the text
  • Repetition
  • Make a list
  • Complete a word study
  • Meditate on Scripture
  • Consider the opposite
• Episode Guide
• Reading all of 1 Thessalonians as inspired by 1 Thessalonians 5:18
• Making a list of what Paul is thankful for as an example of how to make a list of our own
• Asking the question, "What does giving thanks look like in Scripture?"
• "One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are" by Ann Voskamp - Amazon Paid Link
• An interview by Kirk Cameron with Ann Voskamp - YouTube Video
• Learning to be on the hunt for things to be thankful for
• Actually taking action -- to give thanks is a verb
• Greek word for "to give thanks" - eucharisteo - BibleHub Word Study
• The times Jesus eucharisteo
  • at the Last Supper - Luke 22:17-19, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Hebrews 12:2
  • at the Feeding of the 5000 - John 6:11-13, 23
  • at the resurrection of Lazarus - John 11:38-44
• How miracles, provision, fullness, resurrection, and life are on the other side of giving thanks
• Considering the opposite of how Jesus gave thanks
  • sinful people described as NOT giving thanks - Romans 1:21
  • hypocritical religious man giving thanks in a presumptuous and arrogant fashion - Luke 18:11
  • using our words to give thanks rather than foolish talk - Ephesians 5:4

Additional Resources

• Lyrics - NewReleaseToday.com
• The story behind the song "Counting My Blessings" by Seph Schlueter - YouTube Short
• "One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are" by Ann Voskamp - Amazon Paid Link
• An interview by Kirk Cameron with Ann Voskamp - YouTube Video
• My favorite Bible Study Software - Logos Bible Software Affiliate Link

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.