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.

In this chapter, Jesus’ genealogy is traced back to Abraham and David from the side of his adopted father, Joseph. The circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth are then described. Mary and Joseph were betrothed, which was similar to being engaged. In their culture, this was a serious commitment that was not taken lightly. They had probably exchanged vows, but the marriage ceremony had not yet occurred and could be months away. They did not live together or act as husband and wife.

Joseph was known as a just man, which some interpreted as a special holy man, while others believed he was just and faithful. When he found out that Mary was pregnant, he planned to divorce her quietly. He could have publicly accused her of adultery and ruined her reputation, but he chose not to.

However, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and called him “son of David”. The angel instructed Joseph not to divorce Mary but to take her as his wife because the child she was carrying was conceived of the Holy Spirit. This was a difficult situation for Joseph since it suggested that he was lying about his purity before marriage or that Mary had been unfaithful. Despite this, Joseph obeyed the angel and took Mary as his wife, but they abstained from relations until after the birth.

The child was named Jesus as instructed by the angel. This fulfilled prophecies from the Old Testament, including Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 8:8, and Isaiah 8:10.

Notion Chapter for this episode

https://thebibleinsmallsteps.com/matthew-1/

Download blank templates, schedules, and filled-out chapter notes here:
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“Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.”

Go From Self-Help to God’s Help

We’ll be discussing an amazing book by Father Jonathan Morris called “God Wants You Happy, From Self-Help to God’s Help”. Join me as we explore the concept of God’s desire for our happiness and how it differs from the self-help industry, which often promotes self-reliance rather than reliance on God.
We’ll contemplate being junior partners with God in our lives, acknowledging our weaknesses, and allowing God’s love to lead us. As we delve deeper, we’ll examine the virtues of faith, hope, and love as a means to achieving happiness.
Faith encourages us to focus on God, read the scriptures, and pray regularly. Hope is cultivated through acknowledging our wrongdoings, making amends, and holding ourselves accountable. Love is demonstrated by living a life of love, as Jesus did, and recognizing that we should love others because God loves them.
But the journey towards happiness isn’t always easy. There are potential hindrances, such as pride, vanity, and love of pleasure, that can manifest in our daily lives and impact our relationships. We also consider the external threats that could disrupt our relationship with God, such as failing to pray or taking God’s grace for granted.
That’s why we emphasize the necessity of an action plan to overcome these obstacles and threats. This involves admitting our powerlessness, turning our will over to God, making amends, and following a plan to hold ourselves accountable. We affirm that God wants us to be involved in our plan, using His guidance to navigate life.

While my website is being migrated, please use this to get the blank templates scheduled and the chapter updates.
https://schmern2.notion.site/schmern2/The-Bible-in-Small-Steps-b99ab90118b3433bab73c488ef44d4d1