Small Steps with God

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 d...

62 - Wise Men Go Home By Another Way In this episode, we explore the story of the Magi, the wise men mentioned in the Bible, and their significance in the birth of Jesus. The Magi were highly educated individuals who studied various religions and had access to a wealth of science, mysticism, the occult, and knowledge. They were drawn to Jesus' birth by a star and their understanding of the prophec...

61 - Unveiling the Stories Behind Christmas Hymns In this episode, I'll explore the messages and meanings behind Christmas hymns. We'll be discussing the importance of singing hymns during the Christmas season and how they can deepen our understanding of the true meaning of Christmas. I'll be referencing the book "Come, Let Us Adore Him! Stories Behind the Most Cherished Christmas Hymns" by Robert...

60 - Charlie Brown Discovers the Meaning of Christmas I explore the significance and underlying message of the beloved holiday special "A Charlie Brown Christmas." As we dive into the show, I reflect on how a religious message found its way into a kids' show and why it stands out from other children's Christmas stories. Charlie Brown's struggle to understand the true meaning of Christmas amidst co...

59 - Faith in the Christian Journey Today, I'll discuss various aspects of faith and finding peace with God. As I explore these topics, I want to remind you of the importance of understanding sin and its consequences, as well as the temptations that the world. I talk about the book by Billy Graham Peace with God which says to reject sinful behaviors and strive for a life focused on God's teachings...

58 - Finding Lasting Peace Today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the book “Peace with God” by Billy Graham and the impact on all of us who are seeking to understand and draw close to God. I found it incredible and inspiring. It helped me understand what God wants from us and how to navigate an age of anxiety. While politics and science and our own efforts have their place, they are not the ultimate so...

57 -Creating a Peaceful Atmosphere I dive deeper into the meaning of hygge beyond just creating a cozy atmosphere in our homes. We take inspiration from Jamie Erickson's book, "Holy Hygge: Creating a Place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow," and discuss how we can cultivate gratitude and contentment in all aspects of our lives. We explore how aspects of hygge is inspired by Jesus' exampl...

56 - Finding Peace and Hospitality through Hygge Today, we will explore the Danish practice of hygge and how it can bring comfort and warmth to our Christian lives. We'll dive into Jamie Erickson's book, "Holy Hygge: Creating a Place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow," and examine how we can incorporate hygge into our daily routines. Creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere allows us to s...

55 - The Power of Words Spoken with Authenticity We're going to explore the power of our words and the responsibility we have in presenting God's message. In his book Don’t Drop the Mic, TD Jakes emphasizes the importance of making our presentations timeless, relatable, and authentic, ensuring that our message resonates with people of all ages and backgrounds. It's not about the size of our audien...

54 - Communicating the Word of God with Impact Today we discuss the book Don't Drop the Mic, The Power of Your Words Can Change the World by T.D. Jakes and Dr. Frank Thomas, where we're diving into the art of public speaking and how it can be used to communicate the Word of God in a powerful way. We'll be exploring the importance of building connections and trust with your audience, adapting your...

53 - Harnessing the Power of Speech to Change the World We dive into the fascinating world of communication. We draw inspiration from T.D. Jakes' book "Don't Drop the Mic" and explore the power of words and their impact on the world. In today's world, where our voices are our primary means of communication and now, it's more important than ever to articulate our thoughts effectively. We also discu...

52 - A Recap of the Past Year I want to take a moment to reflect on the past year of our podcast and share some of the main concepts and lessons we've discussed. First off, let me say THANK YOU! I appreciate you being on a journey of exploring the Bible and learning more about it. It's been a great adventure with God's help! 2 - Better Than Eden - https://smallstepswithgod.com/?p=65 3 - Going Home...

51 - Transforming Your Life Through Bible Study We explore the importance of studying the Bible and how it can deeply impact our lives. God wants to communicate with us through His written word even in the 21st century. Studying the Bible helps us grow personally, mature spiritually, and equip ourselves to fulfill God's purposes. We reference the book "10 Principles for Studying Your Bible" by Cha...

50 - The Emotions of God and How They Impact Our Relationship with Him Today, we're going to dive deep into the emotions of God and how they impact our relationship with Him. You'll learn that God experiences a range of emotions, just like we do, including anger, compassion, joy, grief, and even jealousy. These emotions reveal God's deep involvement and care for humanity, and it's fascinating to e...

49 - Lead Like Jesus: Embracing Humility, Love, and Connection Today we're diving deep into the concept of leadership through the lens of Jesus' teachings. In this episode, we're going to be exploring the book "Lead Like Jesus, Revisited" by Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges, and Phyllis Hendry. We'll be examining the qualities and characteristics that make Christian leaders effective, with a particular...

48 - The Challenge of Dangerous Prayer We dive deep into the concept of prayer and how we can take it to the next level by embracing dangerous prayers. Let's be honest, prayer is not about being good or performing, but rather about being present and honest with ourselves and with God. So, what does it mean to pray dangerously? It means going beyond the safe and comfortable prayers we're used to an...

47 - Exploring the Names of God & Jesus Today, we're going to dive deep into the different names of God found in the Old Testament. Name changes in the Bible signify roles and relationships with God. God's names also indicate roles and relationships with us. For example, "El" meaning God Most High and "Elohim" denotes the completeness and essence of God. They reflect different aspects and char...

46 - The Power of Letting Go and Moving On Today we're diving into the essential steps of truly forgiving someone and walking down that path. Our focus is on the inspiring story of Joseph, who forgave his brothers despite being sold into slavery by them. It's a powerful reminder of the importance of forgiveness and how it can break the chains of bitterness and selfishness. We also talk about the L...

45 - Exploring the Biblical Experience of Forgiveness In this episode, I will talk about something really important: forgiveness. It's a concept that can be difficult to grasp and even harder to put into practice, but it's crucial for our own well-being and for building healthy relationships with others. We'll be drawing heavily from the book "Total Forgiveness" by R.T. Kendall, which explores the...

44 - Worship of Idols in the Bible We're talking about paganism in the Bible and how it still affects us today. Have you ever wondered about the gods mentioned in the Bible and how they were worshipped in the polytheistic religions of their time? Or how the concept of idolatry can manifest in our lives today, even in seemingly secular practices? We're also going to examine the resurgence of pagani...

43 - Exploring Cancel Culture and Authenticity Today we’re diving deep into the world of cancel culture and social media. We’re going to explore how your public image can impact your sense of self and how cancel culture can lead to mob mentality. We’re also discussing Sadie Robertson Huff’s incredible new book, “Who Are You Following? Pursuing Jesus in a Social Media Obsessed World.” It’s an amazi...

42 - Navigating Social Media as a Christian We talk about all things social media and how it impacts our lives as Christians. Today, we’re diving into Sadie Robertson Hough’s book “Who Are You Following?” and discussing the dangers of social media. Let’s face it, social media can be a pretty toxic place. The constant comparison game, the pressure to gain followers and likes, it can all be pretty o...

41 - Pursuing Jesus in a Social Media Obsessed World In this episode, we discuss the impact of social media on our lives and the importance of following Jesus in a social media-obsessed world. Our guest, Sadie Robertson Hough, shares her insights from her book, "Who Are You Following? Pursuing Jesus in a Social Media Obsessed World." Sadie talks about the impact of social media on our lives, espec...

40- Embracing God's Love In this episode, we explore the true meaning behind John 3:16 and how we can take away hope and love from this passage. We continue our conversation about Max Lucado's book, John 3:16, where he delves into the significance of God giving his only Son to save the world. The word "whoever" is explored in depth, and we learn that it means every human being, regardless of their...

39 - 3:16 The Numbers of Love I discuss Max Lucado's book "316: The Numbers of Hope" and how it explores the significance of one of the most famous bible verses, John 3:16. The message of God's unconditional love for us, flaws and all. It's easy to get caught up in our own imperfections and doubts, but John 3:16 reminds us that God loves us no matter what. That's a powerful message that we can all...