Matthew 2 shows us a side of the Christmas story we rarely talk about. When Jesus enters the world as the true King, not everyone celebrates. Herod panics. Power feels threatened. And violence follows.

In this episode, we walk through the real timeline of the Magi, why Herod reacted the way he did, and how God protected His Son in the middle of darkness. Christmas isn’t a neutral story. It confronts false kings and reveals who Jesus really is.

Scripture: Matthew 2:1–23 (ESV)

Affiliate Links
The Bible Knowledge Commentary
https://amzn.to/4iYX8Aw

Urban Legends of the New Testament
https://amzn.to/4p4E8Cf

Urban Legends of the Old Testament
https://amzn.to/4oVlywl

The ESV Study Bible I use
https://amzn.to/3Y08ieS

The Christmas story feels so familiar that we often stop noticing how surprising it really is. Angels lighting up the night sky. Glory filling a quiet field. And the very first people invited to meet the Messiah were not priests or rulers. They were shepherds.

In today’s episode, we slow down and ask an important question. Why them? Why would God choose ordinary shepherds as the first witnesses to the birth of Jesus?

We look at the historical context, challenge a few popular myths, and walk through Luke 2 verse by verse. If you have ever felt too normal or too unqualified to be used by God, this episode will encourage you.

Affiliate Links to My Bible Study Tools

The Bible Knowledge Commentary: https://amzn.to/4iYX8Aw
Urban Legends of the New Testament: https://amzn.to/4p4E8Cf
Urban Legends of the Old Testament: https://amzn.to/4oVlywl
The ESV Study Bible I use: https://amzn.to/3Y08ieS

In this episode, I’m kicking off the full stewardship series and sharing why God gave me the word “stewardship” for 2026, how He started preparing me for it months early, and why learning to manage what we already have is one of the most important parts of spiritual growth. This is a raw look at my life, my routines, my failures, and the real work God is doing in me. If you’ve been praying for “more” but feel overwhelmed with what is already in front of you, this episode is for you.

If you want to walk this out with me in real time, you can join my subscription on payhip! It’s only $5 a month and it’s where I share the behind the scenes of what this looks like in my actual life. My routines, my habits, my failures, the messy parts, and the practical steps. If you want accountability and encouragement without perfectionism, come hang out with me there. https://payhip.com/b/X97TQ

In this episode, we walk through Luke 2:1–7 and look at what Scripture actually says happened at the birth of Christ. We slow down at the details most of us skip, we break down the actual meaning of “no room at the inn,” and we look at first century Jewish culture so we can understand what Luke assumed his original readers already knew.

Resources Mentioned

The Bible Knowledge Commentary: https://amzn.to/4iYX8Aw
Urban Legends of the New Testament: https://amzn.to/4p4E8Cf
Urban Legends of the Old Testament: https://amzn.to/4oVlywl
The ESV Study Bible I use: https://amzn.to/3Y08ieS

Blog post version:
https://meandjesus.life/2025/12/17/why-jesus-had-to-come/

We don’t talk about this enough, but the Christmas story doesn’t begin in Luke 2.

Before there was a baby in a manger, there was a problem humanity couldn’t fix. And until we understand that need, the birth of Jesus will always feel smaller than it actually is.

In this first episode of our Christmas series, we go all the way back to Genesis to understand why Christmas was necessary in the first place. Christmas didn’t start with angels, shepherds, or a star. It started with sin, a broken world, and a promise God made in the garden.

You can read the blog post that goes with this:
https://meandjesus.life/2025/12/17/why-jesus-had-to-come/

Affiliate Links:

The Bible Knowledge Commentary:
https://amzn.to/4iYX8Aw

Urban Legends of the Old Testament:
https://amzn.to/4oVlywl

Urban Legends of the New Testament:
https://amzn.to/4p4E8Cf

The ESV Study Bible I use:
https://amzn.to/3Y08ieS

Today we are talking about five completely free tools that can help you study Scripture with more confidence and clarity. These tools never replace the Bible. They simply help you slow down, understand context, and see what is already there. We start with Proverbs 2:3 to 5 and walk through how to use each tool well.

Bible Gateway
https://www.biblegateway.com

YouVersion Bible App
https://www.youversion.com

Blue Letter Bible
https://www.blueletterbible.org

BibleRef
https://www.bibleref.com

The Bible Project
https://bibleproject.com

Enduring Word
https://enduringword.com

StudyLight
https://www.studylight.org

Verse by Verse Commentary
https://versebyversecommentary.com

Logos Free Tier
https://www.logos.com

Bible Study Starter Guide
https://meandjesus.life/studyguide

Website
https://meandjesus.life

Instagram
https://instagram.com/karleighwalkswithjesus

Podcast Home
https://meandjesus.life/podcast

Why does reading the Bible in context matter so much? In this episode, I talk about why verses get misinterpreted when we pull them out of their setting and how understanding the surrounding passage, the history, and the bigger story of Scripture helps us read God’s Word accurately. I walk through examples like Philippians 4:13 and Jeremiah 29:11 and explain what Paul meant when he called us to “rightly handle the word of truth” in 2 Timothy 2:15. This is part of the How to Study the Bible for Yourself series, where we’re building a foundation for deep, personal Bible study that leads to real transformation.

Resources Mentioned
Bible Gateway (ESV): https://www.biblegateway.com
The Bible Project: https://bibleproject.com
How to Study the Bible in Context: https://meandjesus.life/2025/11/18/how-to-study-the-bible-in-context/

Connect with me
Instagram: https://instagram.com/meandjesus.life
Website: https://meandjesus.life

We live in a culture that tells us our worth is measured by our reflection. But Scripture tells a different story.

In this episode, we talk about what it means to see your body through God’s eyes, why it matters, and how to care for it as an act of worship instead of control.

Scripture: Genesis 1:26–27, 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, Psalm 139:14, 1 Timothy 4:8, Romans 12:1–2

Key takeaway: You are not your body, but your body matters. It was designed by God, redeemed by Christ, and is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Free Resource: The 5-Day Prayer Journal
Find it at: https://meandjesus.life/prayerjournal