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How to Study Your Bible Series | The Higher Pursuit Podcast

What do a murderous king, a wild man in the desert, and two groups of religious leaders who despised each other have to do with your faith today?

More than you'd think.

In Week 3 of The Word Alive: How to Study Your Bible, Cecily takes you deep into Matthew Chapters 2 and 3 — and what unfolds isn't just ancient history. It's a mirror.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

• The chilling parallel between Herod and Pharaoh — and what Matthew is quietly saying about what Israel had become
• Why Jesus began His life as a refugee, and why that detail is far from incidental
• The truth about John the Baptist that most people overlook — including a fascinating connection to a mysterious desert community that may have shaped him
• Who the Pharisees and Sadducees really were, where they came from, and why they matter to your everyday spiritual life
• The one question from this passage that might make you uncomfortable — but could change how you see yourself as a believer

The Question This Episode Will Ask You:

Four hundred years of silence. Then a lone voice in the wilderness calls out the most powerful religious leaders in Israel and essentially says: You're not who you think you are.

The Pharisees had added 613 man-made rules on top of God's Word — and called it holiness.
The Sadducees had quietly traded their convictions for comfort and political safety.

John didn't let them hide behind their titles or their traditions.

He won't let you either.

After You Listen:

Open your Bible to Matthew 3. Read it slowly — and ask yourself these two questions:

1. Where have I added my own "fence laws" to my faith — elevating tradition or religious performance above what God actually requires?
2. Is there any area of my life where I've compromised my convictions to protect my comfort, my finances, or what others think of me?

Sit with the answers. Then bring them to God honestly. That's not just Bible study — that's transformation.

A New Place to Go Deeper

If this conversation resonates with you, Cecily is now sharing additional reflections, teachings, and spiritual insights on Substack — a space dedicated to helping believers pursue a deeper, more vibrant walk with God.

There you'll find both short reflections and longer teachings that expand on many of the ideas shared in the Livestream.

Follow along here

Connect with Cecily

Podcast: The Higher Pursuit Podcast Website: higherpursuitministries.com Substack: cecilylachapelle.substack.com

If this episode encouraged you, follow the podcast and share it with someone who might need this message today. Sometimes the simplest invitation can change more than we realize.

If The Higher Pursuit Podcast has blessed, encouraged, strengthened, or liberated you, would you consider partnering with Cecily to keep it going?

Every episode takes time, prayer, and financial resources — from hosting fees to equipment, editing, and beyond. Your monthly support helps cover these costs so she can continue bringing you life-giving, faith-building content.

Together, we can keep spreading the truth of God's Word and helping believers step into the fullness of their calling.

Sign up today and let's pursue higher together!

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🌟 Stay Connected & Go Deeper! 🌟

Loved this episode? There’s more where that came from! 🎧✨ Connect with me for more faith-filled encouragement, practical insights, and exclusive content:

Explore more + free resources here: https://linktr.ee/cecily.lachapelle

✅ Watch on YouTube
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✅ Follow on social media for more inspiration

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You've read the Bible. You've heard the stories. But do you ever feel like you're missing something — like there's a deeper layer you can't quite reach on your own?

Maybe you've wondered:
➡️Why does Matthew's gospel feel so different from the others?
➡️What did it actually mean for Jesus to be called "King of the Jews" — and why did that phrase carry so much weight?
➡️How do I study the Bible in a way that actually changes how I live?

This week on Word Alive (Week 2), we're going deeper into Matthew 1–2 — and the picture of Jesus that emerges is stunning.

We'll uncover why Matthew includes the details around Jesus' birth that he does, what the Magi's arrival really reveals about God's plan, and how one Hebrew word — shema — might completely reframe what it means to "hear" from God.

You'll walk away with: ✅ A clearer picture of Jesus as King and Messiah ✅ Practical Bible study tools you can use this week (BibleHub Interlinear, Atlas, cross-referencing) ✅ A deeper understanding of the 400 years of silence — and why everything breaks open in Matthew 2 ✅ Free resources, handouts, and a reading plan — all in one place

📂 Grab your resources & handouts: https://higherpursuitministries.com/r...

Bring your Bible, a journal, and colored pencils if you have them. This is a study session, not just a sermon — come ready to dig in.

🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/54417800...

Support the show

🌟 Stay Connected & Go Deeper! 🌟

Loved this episode? There’s more where that came from! 🎧✨ Connect with me for more faith-filled encouragement, practical insights, and exclusive content:

Explore more + free resources here: https://linktr.ee/cecily.lachapelle

✅ Watch on YouTube
✅ Dive into my website
✅ Follow on social media for more inspiration

Your journey doesn’t stop here—let’s keep growing together! 💛 Click the link now! 👆

✅ Please consider supporting the show with a monthly donation. 💛 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2138819/support

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to Word Alive: How to Study Your Bible!

In this new livestream series, we’re learning how to move beyond simply reading Scripture and begin truly studying it in a deeper, richer, and more meaningful way. My heart is to help you grow confident in studying the Word of God for yourself so that Bible reading becomes more exciting, life-giving, and transformational.

In Episode 1, we’ll begin in the Gospel of Matthew and cover:

An introduction to the Book of Matthew What to do BEFORE you study a passage How to find helpful study tools — even if you don’t own a study Bible How context changes understanding Why genealogies matter more than we think Hidden treasures found in Matthew Chapter 1

You’ll learn practical ways to dig deeper into Scripture, ask better questions, and discover the beauty woven throughout God’s Word.

Whether you’re brand new to Bible study or have been reading Scripture for years, this livestream will help equip you with tools and understanding that can completely change the way you approach the Bible.

Bring your Bible, a notebook, and a heart ready to explore the Word together.

Here is the link to the handout: https://higherpursuitministries.com/resources/

Support the show

🌟 Stay Connected & Go Deeper! 🌟

Loved this episode? There’s more where that came from! 🎧✨ Connect with me for more faith-filled encouragement, practical insights, and exclusive content:

Explore more + free resources here: https://linktr.ee/cecily.lachapelle

✅ Watch on YouTube
✅ Dive into my website
✅ Follow on social media for more inspiration

Your journey doesn’t stop here—let’s keep growing together! 💛 Click the link now! 👆

✅ Please consider supporting the show with a monthly donation. 💛 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2138819/support