Hi, this is Jill from the Northwoods. Welcome to The Bible in Small Steps, where we will explore the Bible one chapter at a time. Whether you’re a long-term believer, just curious about the scripture, or just someone like me who wants to do a deeper dive and understand the most important text ever written, that’s what we’re going to talk about.
Three times a week, we’re going to read a chapter a day. We’re going to start with the New Testament, and then eventually, we’ll get to the Old Testament, look at the rich and complex story, and investigate what’s going on. Who wrote these books of the Bible? Where were they written? Who was the audience? And some historical context.
I’m not a pastor or formally trained, but I am a passionate seeker of wisdom and truth. I love the Bible, and I have a stack of books. And I use the powerful Logos software. Together, we will look at the historical context, the timeless messages in each chapter, and the places where they’re cross-referenced and referenced. We’ll talk about the places and people who are in these chapters so that we have a better understanding.
With each episode, we will break down the chapters, discuss the themes, and see how they connect to our daily lives and how they should change our activities, prayer life, and meditation. We’ll learn much about what God expects from us and what we can expect from Him. And whether you’re listening at home, in your car, or on a break, it’ll be short enough and concise enough to enjoy it anywhere.
This podcast will be a companion in discovering the Bible at a pace where we can truly absorb and go through things. This will be such a slow crawl through the Bible we’ll be able to understand each point thoroughly. There will be new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, meaning you will read the next chapter on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. So, I even give you time to stay current with the podcast so you can also do a deep dive with me. And if we hit a topic that deserves a little more attention, I
So please subscribe. You can go to thebibleandsmallsteps.com, which will show you how to connect to this podcast. So, let us embark on this great new path together and find out what we can learn by studying God’s Word.
I look forward to sharing those joyful moments, the tearful moments, and the inspirational moments that come with reading God’s Word. See you next time.

81 - From Busy to Serenity

Welcome to today's episode where we review Joanna Weaver's transformative book, "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World." This episode explores how we can find intimacy with God amidst the busyness of life, drawing from the biblical story of Mary and Martha. Why this book is a must-read for those feeling overwhelmed by life's demands.

The Mary and Martha Dilemma: Contrast between Mary's choice to focus on Jesus and Martha’s preoccupation with tasks. Reflections on how this story mirrors our modern struggle with busyness and spiritual neglect

Lessons from the Living Room vs. the Kitchen: The symbolism of the living room as a space for spiritual nourishment versus the kitchen, a place of work and worry
How to prioritize what truly matters without getting lost in the hustle
Transformative Insights:

Discussing key lessons on how to shift from anxiety and busyness to a peaceful and purposeful spiritual life. Practical tips from the book on realigning daily tasks to enhance spiritual growth.

Recap of the main takeaways and how they apply to our daily lives
Encouragement to choose the 'better part' as Mary did, focusing on being present with God. Set aside daily time for reflection and communion with God
Identify tasks that can be simplified or eliminated to reduce busyness.

Join us as we explore how Joanna Weaver’s insights can help us navigate the challenges of a busy life while deepening our relationship with God. Remember, it's not about doing more, but being more.

https://smallstepswithgod.com/81-from-busy-to-serenity/

https://www.joannaweaverbooks.com/2016/09/07/having-a-mary-heart-in-a-martha-world-a-special-invitation/

Jill’s Links
https://affiliate.notion.so/NorthwoodsJill

https://affiliate.notion.so/NorthwoodsAI

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/smallstepspod

https://twitter.com/SmallStepsPod

https://www.youtube.com/@smallstepswithgodpodcast

Email the podcast at mailto: jill@startwithsmallsteps.com

72- The Significance of His Death and Resurrection
We look into the significance of the anointing of Jesus by Mary, a moment that marked both a royal and a burial ceremony. The apostles misunderstood this moment. We also discussed the Passover meal, where Jesus announced the new covenant and instituted communion. He also announced the new covenant from God to his people. We see that Jesus' foretelling of Peter's denial came true as Peter denied knowing Jesus three times.

Failing to follow the normal trial procedures, the trial was nothing more than trumped-up charges against Jesus. Despite the lack of evidence, Jesus was condemned to death. On Good Friday, Jesus was brought to Pilate by the chief priests. In a cruel mockery, Jesus was crucified as the "King of the Jews".

The faithfulness of the women who followed Jesus stood in stark contrast to the apostles who had fled. After Jesus' death, Joseph of Arimathea requested Pilate for Jesus' body, which was then placed in Joseph's tomb. Lastly, we discussed Jesus' resurrection. Upon finding the empty tomb, the women were told by a man in a white robe that Jesus had risen and that they should tell the disciples and Peter to meet him in Galilee. This is where the Book of Mark ends, leaving us to ponder on the significance of Jesus' death and resurrection in relation to our salvation.

https://smallstepswithgod.com/72-the-significance-of-his-death-and-resurrection/

https://marcusjborg.org/books/the-last-week-2/

Jill’s Links
https://affiliate.notion.so/NorthwoodsJill

https://affiliate.notion.so/NorthwoodsAI

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/smallstepspod

https://twitter.com/SmallStepsPod

https://www.youtube.com/@smallstepswithgodpodcast

Email the podcast at mailto: jill@startwithsmallsteps.com