Stephanie here! We are in our Come to the Table series, and today is a bit of a surprise! I always find it fascinating to find fresh ways to worship Jesus Christ through the connections between different feasts and seasons. So today I invite you to delight in Christ through the unexpected juxtaposition of Purim and Lent.

We invite you into a delightful exploration of the divine tapestry that intertwines the ancient traditions of Purim with the solemn reverence of Lent, ultimately pointing to the redemptive Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Purim, a joyous and festive Jewish celebration, commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people as detailed in the book of Esther. The intricacies of the story, from the absence of God's name in the book of Esther to the sovereignty and deliverance of His people, provide a rich tapestry to explore. In the Christian tradition, Lent serves as a period of preparation and reflection leading up to Easter, encompassing forty days marked by fasting, sacrifice, and repentance. Both Purim and Lent share a dark background of struggle and the hope of a joyous feast, creating an intriguing juxtaposition.

Steeped in history and tradition, Purim and Lent leads us to worship Jesus at their intersection. It's compelling to note that while Purim is celebrated with joyful feasting and the giving of gifts to the poor, Lent involves fasting before the celebration of Easter. Both observances intertwine notions of hardship and hope, underscoring the resilience and faith exhibited by believers. Purim and Lent beckon us to seek and find Jesus in the heart of these sacred observances. So, join the conversation today!

Don’t forget to check out our essential workbook to accompany this study. Stephanie personally created the content to invite you deeper into study. Don’t miss out! It’s at https://www.gospelspice.com/store

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

What matters to us here at Gospel Spice is to create a place where people who seek deeper intimacy with Jesus, will find Him. We want a warm, welcoming atmosphere to journey ever deeper into the heart of God. We believe it is the ultimate calling of the Christian life, and I like to summarize it with my motto, God’s glory, our delight. That is why we invite you to “taste and see” that the Lord is good. And we have been doing this every day since 2019. We need YOU to keep Gospel Spice alive and growing.  

Financially speaking, we rely on people who understand this vision and who understand that we cannot function without a minimum budget. We run an extremely tight budget. For example, I work full time but don’t draw a salary. And yet, we have expenses – for example, the equipment and technology we use, and also the wonderfully gifted staff who make it possible to deliver high quality content all around the globe, and then the necessary occasional promotional budget to make it possible to be discovered by those who seek to live a life spiced with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need your help.  

So we would love for you to consider if this ministry is blessing you to pay gospel spice forward. You can partner with us monthly with 10, 25, 50, 100, a month, or you can make one donation, once.

And because we are a register nonprofit organization in the United States under the status of a 501c3 charity, it means that the amount that you pay to gospel spice is fully tax deductible. Completely tax deductible. So you're even saving money as you invest in gospel spice ministries. It is an eternal investment, and we are very grateful to you for it.

Now it's very important to us that we give back as much as possible from what you give us. And so we commit to giving the majority of what we receive, once all of our administrative costs are paid, to organizations that fight human trafficking on the front line. There are many worthwhile causes in the world, so why this one? Because I have always personally felt deep compassion for victims of human trafficking – maybe because I have never been its victim myself, so I feel a responsibility to help those less fortunate than me. Also, because Jesus tells us to love our neighbor. Human trafficking is modern day slavery, and that is something that revolts the heart of God. We want to play our part in raising awareness and then financially supporting those who fight this great evil.  

So, we do some due diligence. We pick organizations who have proven themselves trustworthy of our support. And then we give money to these Christians organizations that fight human trafficking.

So would you consider paying us forward at gospelspice.com/payitforward?

Your hard-earned money is always well used at Gospel Spice. Ultimately, you are giving back to the Kingdom, a portion of what Jesus has given you. We are well aware of the privilege to steward your partnership. And my prayer is always that you will find your own life spiced with the gospel as you partner with us to flavor the lives of those around us, near and far, with the spice of the gospel.

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

In our bustling, fast-paced world, the concept of stillness can often seem alien, if not downright impossible. But as we learn from Gretchen Saffles, embracing stillness and our weaknesses can bring us closer to God and foster a deeper sense of inner peace.

Gretchen and Stephanie discuss the challenge of being still and overcoming the need for constant productivity. Advised by her Christian counselor to be still before the Lord for just one minute, Gretchen discovered this simple exercise to be remarkably challenging, due to her ingrained belief in the importance of constant productivity. She realized that her busy life and the demands of various activities had clouded her mind and distanced her from a genuine relationship with God. Through this journey, she learned that stillness and simplicity are not just luxuries, but essential spiritual disciplines. Taking time to be still before the Lord is an act of submission, a recognition that God is in control.

Unlike some forms of secular meditation, which emphasize emptying the mind, biblical meditation involves filling the mind with God's truths. Gretchen found Christ in this practice, which helped her redirect her focus from worldly anxieties to divine wisdom. Gretchen is learning to take a slow, reflective approach to reading Scripture, often meditating on a single verse or passage for an extended period. This method allows her to absorb the Word deeply and apply it practically in her life. Currently, she is reading the Bible chronologically, finding fresh insights in the Beatitudes.

Stephanie and Gretchan talk about embracing weakness as strength, and finding God’s power in our weak moments.  In a culture that idolizes strength and self-reliance, embracing weakness can seem counterintuitive. Yet Gretchen and Stephanie both emphasize that true Christian strength shines brightest in our moments of weakness. They cite biblical examples like Moses and Paul, whose infirmities highlighted God's power and grace. This theology of suffering is rooted deeply in scripture, reminding us that sharing in Christ’s sufferings leads to a more intimate relationship with God. Philippians 3:10 encapsulates this truth: knowing Christ through both the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings brings us closer to Him.

Gretchen shares a poignant anecdote about her grandmother, who lived with severe rheumatoid arthritis. Despite immense physical pain, her grandmother's life radiated God's power, demonstrating that His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Wisdom is a treasure for life, made possible through a slow, meditative approach to Scripture reading. Gretchen’s insights into wisdom reveal it as a treasure that points to Christ, wisdom personified. Her slow, meditative approach to reading Scripture allows time for absorption and contemplation, fostering a deeper connection with God’s Word. This method reinforces the importance of letting the Holy Spirit guide our understanding of Scripture.

Gretchen attributes much of her wisdom and love for the book of Proverbs to her mother. Her upbringing in a busy ministry home showed her that all good works should stem from a profound relationship with God, not just from a sense of duty.

“Soul Scrubbing” is the work of the Holy Spirit, allowing the Word to cleanse and renew us. Gretchen uses the metaphor of "soul scrubbing" to describe how the Holy Spirit uses the Word to cleanse our minds and souls. This practice involves more than just a cursory reading of Scripture. It calls for a deep dive into God's truths, allowing them to renew and transform us. She has been focusing on meditating on God's love, recently finding new significance in John 3:16. Recognizing the necessity of mental, physical, and spiritual rest, she strives to rest in God’s love, which fosters deeper intimacy with Him.

For those feeling overwhelmed by life's demands, Saffles's book "Word Over World" offers a heartfelt guide to rediscovering intimacy with God. It's a reminder that even in our busiest moments, God's love and wisdom are always within reach, waiting for us in the stillness.

MORE ABOUT "WORD OVER WORLD"

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
When you think about your life and what you value, what would you put first? When you read God’s Word, are you doing so out of duty or out of a desire to delight in your Savior? When all we give Jesus is our leftovers, fear overwhelms our peace and worry clouds our vision.

Gretchen Saffles knows what it’s like to struggle to put Jesus first daily. During a season of spiritual discouragement, she learned that pursuing God is ultimately not a self-help journey, but rather it’s a Spirit-led surrender. This discovery led her to a simple phrase that helped her reframe how she desired to spend her time, start her days, and shape her mindset: Word before World. This three-word statement has become her morning manifesto, her afternoon anthem, and her evening comfort. When she practiced looking first to Jesus, she realized that while God’s Word never changes, yet it always changes us.

In Word before World you’ll discover ways to:

Conquer the daily distractions that get in the way of time with God

Develop a daily rhythm of seeking Jesus

Set aside your phone, lists, and plans in order to seek direction and nourishment in God’s Word instead

Transform your worldview, schedule, dreams, and desires to align with God’s purpose for your life.

Cultivate a deep love for God in this 100-day devotional journey to experience God’s faithfulness and goodness. Put God’s Word before the distractions of this world, believing that he will meet your every need.

MORE ABOUT GRETCHEN SAFFLES:

Gretchen Saffles is passionate about encouraging and equipping women to drink deeply from the well of God's Word and to find their identity and purpose in Christ. She is the founder of Well-Watered Women, an online ministry that reaches women worldwide with the hope of the gospel. She has written several Bible studies and is the creator of the Give Me Jesus journal, a tool to help women study Scripture daily. On any given day you can find her with a cup of coffee in hand, a message stirring in her soul, and a God-sized dream on her heart. Gretchen lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband, Greg, and her two sons, Nolan and Haddon.

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Today we discuss our sacred journey from mourning to joy, desolation to restoration. It is about the legacy of holy sorrow. In this new episode of our new series around the Jewish feasts, I invite you to travel into the historical and spiritual significance of Tisha B'Av, the 9th of Av in the Jewish calendar, and the hope it holds for the future. This day beckons us into a profound journey through grief, remembrance, and ultimately, hope. On the 9th of Av, also known as Tisha B'Av, the Jewish community commemorates the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem – not once, but twice. This day, while marked by deep mourning, also carries profound messianic overtones and a powerful message of hope.

🕊️ The 9th of Av invites us to embrace history and Scripture in a fresh way: By understanding the observance of the 9th of Av and its deep-rooted historical significance, we gain a fresh approach to our study of Scripture and history. It's a reminder to look beyond ourselves and explore the rich tapestry of faith and culture. Ultimately, it points to Jesus in unique ways that can nourish and maybe even transform our faith towards deeper intimacy.

🙏 It challenges us to find hope and patience in the midst of grief: The 9th of Av serves as a poignant reminder that grief is not forever and that there is always hope on the horizon. Sometimes it's challenging to see beyond personal struggles, but the day's significance encourages us to have patience and faith in understanding the deeper meanings of our studies.

🔍 It gives us permission to seek transformation in tragedy: Despite the sorrowful nature of the day, Tisha B'Av reveals an inspiring message – even the most tragic events can be transformed into occasions of joy and glory. It's a powerful testament to the resilience and hope that stems from faith, reminding us of the promise of future restoration.

WHAT IS THE 9TH OF AV?

Tisha B'Av is a day of fasting in the Jewish calendar, symbolizing a time of lamentation and remembrance. It is a day when the Jewish people reflect on the tragedies and calamities that have befallen their community throughout history, particularly the destruction of the first and second Temples in Jerusalem.

The 9th of Av isn't part of the Mosaic law but was instituted by the prophet Zechariah to commemorate the fall of Jerusalem. This day of mourning has deep historical and biblical roots, with connections to the Jewish exile and the prophet's message of hope and restoration.

Mourning on the 9th of Av also serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and failing to see His promises. It's a day to reflect on the loss of the promised land, the destruction of the Temple, and the exile of the Jewish people.

But amid the solemnity, there's a profound message of hope intertwined with the grief. The longing for the restoration of Jerusalem and the reconciliation of God with His people echo throughout history, pointing to a future where sorrow will be turned into joy and mourning into celebration in Christ.

The depth of historical significance behind Tisha B'Av invites us to look beyond our own struggles and sorrow, acknowledging that even in the most tragic events lies potential for transformation and a promise of hope. It calls for faith in the understanding that God can lead us from grief to glory in Christ.

So, as we reflect on the solemnity of Tisha B'Av, may we also hold onto the profound hope and promise of transformation we firmly possess in Christ Jesus. Throughout Scripture, we're reminded that even in the darkest times, God's power can turn mourning into joy and tragedy into triumph. 🌟

Do you enjoy Gospel Spice? Then let's deepen our relationship! There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do one (or more!) of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie Rousselle is joined by a special guest, Katie Reid, to dive into the topic of surrendering and finding strength in God. In this episode, Katie shares her insights on surrendering to God's will and finding identity in Christ. Together, Stephanie and Katie highlight the importance of recognizing our weaknesses and relying on God's guidance. Katie candidly reflects on her own journey of understanding the surrendered life, reminding us that surrender is not a one-time event, but a continuous process.

Stephanie and Katie explore the concept of being "all in" for God, irrespective of whether we are task-oriented or not. They discuss the struggle of wanting to be productive and achieve our to-do lists while staying grounded in our relationship with God. Katie's book, "Made Like Martha," offers practical wisdom on how to surrender and find peace in our busy lives.

They encourage listeners to trust God and seek Him first in every aspect of their lives, using the example of Jesus' disciples who followed Him wholeheartedly. They discuss how rushing through our relationship with Jesus is like grabbing a quick meal from a drive-thru, while settling in and savoring His presence is like enjoying a slow-cooked meal with loved ones.

They speak of Peter walking on water and the profound lesson it teaches about stepping out of our comfort zones with God's strength. They remind us that our value comes from God, not from our accomplishments, inspiring us to relinquish our striving and settle in the grace He freely gives.

The Gospel Spice podcast, with its unique blend of biblical teachings and modern-day application, is here to help you deepen your faith and grow in your understanding of who Jesus is and who we are in Him. We invite you to join us in this beautiful journey of surrender and discover the strength that comes from trusting in God completely.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS CONVERSATION

Stephanie and Katie discussed the beauty of surrendering and finding our true identity in Christ. Here are three key takeaways from this inspiring conversation:

1️⃣ Seek God's guidance: Katie emphasized the importance of seeking God first and trusting His leading in our lives. It's essential to be in God's Word and surround ourselves with other believers, as it is one of the founding elements our personal relationship with Him. Quieting ourselves, praying, and journaling can all help us hear from God and untangle our thoughts.

2️⃣ Enjoy God's presence: Rather than solely seeking solutions or checking off our to-do lists, it's more important to build a relationship with God and enjoy His presence. Being "all in" for Him, regardless of our personality traits or tendencies, is crucial. Remember, just like a slow-cooked meal nourishes our bodies and souls, being with Jesus as a family member nourishes our spirits.

3️⃣ Surrender and find strength in weaknesses: Surrendering to God's control can be challenging, but it's an opportunity for growth and experiencing His goodness. We don't need to rely on our own strength or accomplishments to please Him. Instead, we can bring our weaknesses to Him, trusting that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Just like Jesus surrendered to the Father's will, we can enter into a covenant with God and let Him do the heavy lifting.

BONUS! QUESTIONS TO GO DEEPER, ON YOUR OWN OR WITH A FRIEND

1. How has your understanding of surrendering to God's will evolved throughout your journey of faith?

2. What are some practical ways you can discern God's voice and guidance in your life?

3. How do you strike a balance between being a "doer" and finding your identity in Christ?

4. Have you ever struggled with feeling less spiritual because of societal pressures to be productive? How did you overcome it?

5. What areas of your life do you find it most challenging to surrender control to God? How can you invite Him into those areas more intentionally?

6. In what ways have you experienced the nourishment of a slow-cooked, intentional relationship with Jesus? How has that differed from a "drive-thru" kind of faith?

7. How can we shift our perspective from trying to impress God to simply enjoying Him and our relationship with Him?

8. What are some practical steps you can take to settle into your relationship with Jesus and savor the experience?

9. How can we find strength in surrendering to God's will and allowing Him to do the heavy lifting in our lives?

10. Reflecting on Jesus' statement "it is finished," how does it challenge your understanding of what it means to truly surrender and trust in God's all-sufficiency?

MEET KATIE REID

Katie Reid is a dynamic woman living in the heart of Michigan. She shares her life with her husband Adam, who serves as the lead pastor in their church. Together, they have raised five energetic children, spanning from age seven to nineteen. Boredom is never a word that describes Katie, as she is constantly engaged in various pursuits. She is notably recognized as the author of the book "Made Like Martha." Katie also dedicates her time to The Martha & Mary Show podcast, where she fervently encourages individuals to embrace their purpose while grounding themselves in the Word of God and embracing the freedom bestowed upon them by the Spirit. With her infectious enthusiasm and unwavering dedication, Katie Reid serves as an inspiring role model to all who cross her path.

You will find Katie at https://www.katiemreid.com/

DISCOVER THE GOSPEL SPICE MINISTRIES

The Gospel Spice Podcast is part of a larger range of tools given to you by Gospel Spice Ministries.

In a nutshell, we exist to inspire Christ-followers to delight in God.

In more details: we provide resources to empower Christian leaders across generational, social, ethnic and geographical boundaries towards more intimacy with Jesus Christ and discipleship effectiveness through a Biblical Christocentric foundation. The Gospel-Spice Ministries provide a safe environment for spiritual and community growth empowering people to know Christ more intimately, serve one another more powerfully, and reach the world for Jesus.

PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the link with friends and family.

PRAY IT FORWARD by praying for us and those you share it with!

PAY IT FORWARD!! Would you consider supporting this show today to help others enjoy it for free? It comes to you completely free, but is labor-intensive to produce, and we want to keep putting it in the ears of people!

Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status. Your donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170. We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. All donations above our minimal operating costs go to Christian organizations fighting human trafficking.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

(*ListenNotes ranking, 2023)

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie reflects on the concept of freedom and the idea of choosing our master. As she shares her personal journey of relinquishing control, Stephanie challenges the notion that we are the best masters of our own lives. Instead, she encourages us to look beyond ourselves and find a master who is infinitely better than us. Join us as we explore the true meaning of freedom and discover the power of putting our trust in a trustworthy God.

In our culture, the world tells us to follow our own hearts, to be the masters of our own destiny. But as Stephanie points out, our hearts are not always trustworthy guides. She admits her own shortcomings and realizes that she is not the best master for her own life. Can any of us truly claim to be? Stephanie challenges us to consider who or what we are following in our own lives.

Stephanie then invites us to shift our perspective and look outside of ourselves for guidance, for a master who is infinitely better than us and who has our best interests at heart. She highlights that true freedom lies in choosing the right kind of help. In this case, it is choosing God as our master, the master who loves us infinitely, who knows all and has ultimate power and control.

Faith, Stephanie reminds us, is not a step in the dark. It is about stepping out boldly because we know whose hand we are holding. It is trusting in a God who has proven trustworthy time and time again. Putting our faith in our own hearts would be misplaced faith, but putting our trust in God brings us freedom and a clearer view of reality.

So, dear friends, let us consider who or what is truly guiding our lives. Are we choosing to follow our own flawed and finite hearts, or are we surrendering to the loving and wise guidance of our Heavenly Father? Let us choose the master who knows our purpose, who guides us towards true freedom, and who transforms us into the best version of ourselves.

True freedom is not found in independence but in choosing whom we will follow. We all have a master, something or someone who controls our lives. So, who will you choose as your guide to true freedom?

Get ready for an episode that will captivate your heart and inspire you to embrace the gospel in a whole new way. Welcome to Gospel Spice. Let's dive in.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit alongside Jesus and his initial audience? To experience the fresh spiritual flavors that the Messianic Jewish culture weaves into the four gospels? Well, that's exactly what we here aim to do through this original series, JESUS RABBI AND LORD. Stephanie invites you to dig deep into Scripture, unearthing raw diamonds that may need a little cleaning up, but will ultimately shine brightly.

So get ready to embark on this enlightening and transformative journey with Gospel Spice. Prepare to encounter Jesus in a way that resonates with our modern world and discover the richness of the gospel through the lens of Jewish culture. Let's dig deep, uncover the hidden spices, and experience the beauty of the Scriptures together. Welcome to Gospel Spice!

Grab your headphones, hit play, and let Gospel Spice be the catalyst for encountering Jesus in a way you've never experienced before!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

DISCOVER THE GOSPEL SPICE MINISTRIES

The Gospel Spice Podcast is part of a larger range of tools given to you by Gospel Spice Ministries.

In a nutshell, we exist to inspire Christ-followers to delight in God.

In more details: we provide resources to empower Christian leaders across generational, social, ethnic and geographical boundaries towards more intimacy with Jesus Christ and discipleship effectiveness through a Biblical Christocentric foundation. The Gospel-Spice Ministries provide a safe environment for spiritual and community growth empowering people to know Christ more intimately, serve one another more powerfully, and reach the world for Jesus.

PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the link with friends and family.

PRAY IT FORWARD by praying for us and those you share it with!

PAY IT FORWARD!! Would you consider supporting this show today to help others enjoy it for free? It comes to you completely free, but is labor-intensive to produce, and we want to keep putting it in the ears of people!

Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status. Your donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170. We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. All donations above our minimal operating costs go to Christian organizations fighting human trafficking.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

(*ListenNotes ranking, 2023)

This month we are celebrating the anniversary of Gospel Spice! We launched our first episode in 2019, when we faithfully and haltingly followed God's pretty clear directions!

Would you please take a moment to celebrate with us? There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice 

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do 1 or more of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup 

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

Do you enjoy Gospel Spice? Then let's deepen our relationship! There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do one (or more!) of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

We offer high-quality, full color, gorgeous PDF downloadable workbooks to come alongside each episode of this original series of Gospel Spice, Jesus Rabbi and Lord. These workbooks allow you to build your library of in-depth Biblical studies and content to maximize your time in Scripture and amplify your intimacy with God. For each episode, we offer:

- an episode summary

- a listening guide

- key takeaways from the episode

- key quotes

- Bible verses to enhance your experience

- up to 10 questions per episode to take charge of your quiet time

- topics for further research, based on the episode content.

There are 3 workbooks, each containing over 10 episodes to cover the entire series. You can buy them separately, or as a bundle for an amazing price!

Go now to https://www.gospelspice.com/jesus for the details and to purchase your Jesus Rabbi and Lord workbooks!

What matters to us here at Gospel Spice is to create a place where people who seek deeper intimacy with Jesus, will find Him. We want a warm, welcoming atmosphere to journey ever deeper into the heart of God. We believe it is the ultimate calling of the Christian life, and I like to summarize it with my motto, God’s glory, our delight. That is why we invite you to “taste and see” that the Lord is good. And we have been doing this every day since 2019. We need YOU to keep Gospel Spice alive and growing.  

Financially speaking, we rely on people who understand this vision and who understand that we cannot function without a minimum budget. We run an extremely tight budget. For example, I work full time but don’t draw a salary. And yet, we have expenses – for example, the equipment and technology we use, and also the wonderfully gifted staff who make it possible to deliver high quality content all around the globe, and then the necessary occasional promotional budget to make it possible to be discovered by those who seek to live a life spiced with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need your help.  

So we would love for you to consider if this ministry is blessing you to pay gospel spice forward. You can partner with us monthly with 10, 25, 50, 100, a month, or you can make one donation, once.

And because we are a register nonprofit organization in the United States under the status of a 501c3 charity, it means that the amount that you pay to gospel spice is fully tax deductible. Completely tax deductible. So you're even saving money as you invest in gospel spice ministries. It is an eternal investment, and we are very grateful to you for it.

Now it's very important to us that we give back as much as possible from what you give us. And so we commit to giving the majority of what we receive, once all of our administrative costs are paid, to organizations that fight human trafficking on the front line. There are many worthwhile causes in the world, so why this one? Because I have always personally felt deep compassion for victims of human trafficking – maybe because I have never been its victim myself, so I feel a responsibility to help those less fortunate than me. Also, because Jesus tells us to love our neighbor. Human trafficking is modern day slavery, and that is something that revolts the heart of God. We want to play our part in raising awareness and then financially supporting those who fight this great evil.  

So, we do some due diligence. We pick organizations who have proven themselves trustworthy of our support. And then we give money to these Christians organizations that fight human trafficking.

So would you consider paying us forward at gospelspice.com/payitforward?

Your hard-earned money is always well used at Gospel Spice. Ultimately, you are giving back to the Kingdom, a portion of what Jesus has given you. We are well aware of the privilege to steward your partnership. And my prayer is always that you will find your own life spiced with the gospel as you partner with us to flavor the lives of those around us, near and far, with the spice of the gospel.

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Today I am welcoming my dear friend Heather Creekmore to talk about her radical solution to body image issues for Christian women who have tried everything. Heather and I talk about our truth vs. God’s Truth – things we think we know, but let’s be honest: when it comes to our bodies and how we perceive them, we are not always thinking straight or biblically. Or is it just me?

Heather talks about idolatry and how our culture has promoted the wrong kind of body image and fostered idolatry – right under our noses, and much to our confusion. We discuss the cultural rules around food, and the history of “eating best practices” – aka, dieting – in the past 40 years, and how they have wreaked havoc on our faith and confidence.

Now, this is not a conversation only for women! If you are a man, and have a wife, mother, daughter, sister or female friend, then chances are, one or more of them deal with body image issues – and you might not understand it, or know what to do to help. This conversation will be enlightening to you because it will give you insights into our female brain and emotions! You absolutely want to listen.

Heather is releasing a brand new book, titled “The 40-day body image workbook – help for Christian women who have tried everything.” And the title absolutely says it all! So, I think this book needs to make your Christmas wish-list.

So, make sure to grab your copy, in pre-order until December 12, here.

Also, Heather is offering a phenomenal online course which is a deep dive into all the core issues behind body image problems. You will find more at https://www.improvebodyimage.com/christian-body-image-course-coaching

You do not want to miss this!

MORE ABOUT HEATHER CREEKMORE

 “Hi! I'm Christian body image coach, Heather Creekmore. I was stuck in body image bondage for decades. Now, I want to help you feel more confident and peaceful about your body. I've learned that body image freedom is about so much more than mirrors or scales, it's about what digging in to our core beliefs about beauty, value, and where worth really comes from. As your coach, I want to help you re-frame the way you see yourself, your purpose, and your body. Using the lens of scripture as our guide, we'll journey to a land that may feel unfamiliar: the land of Christ-centered confidence. I can tell you first-hand, there's no better way to live. If you're tired of stressing over your weight or appearance, I get it. I know you're afraid that this won't work because nothing has worked before. But, I promise you, this time will be different.”

MORE ABOUT THE 40-DAY WORKBOOK

More than ever, you are bombarded with intense pressure to meet culture's elusive standards of beauty. And while you know theoretically that God loves and accepts you for what's on the inside, is that really enough to free a gal from the nonstop stress of body improvement?
With humor, grace, and biblical truth, nationally known body image coach Heather Creekmore leads you on a 40-day journey to stop stressing about your body. Full of hands-on exercises, self-inventories, quizzes, guided questions, biblical truth, and healthy tips, this one-of-a-kind workbook will help you:
· go deep to work through destructive beliefs and thought patterns
· feed your mind with God's truth
· release the pressures of image management
· reevaluate your relationship with food
It's time to stop comparing, start living, and find the rest that comes when you entrust your self-image to the Savior. So, make sure to grab your copy, in pre-order until December 12, here.

The perfect gift for everyone - apparel, drinkware, stickers and more for all the women, men and kids in your life!

https://www.gospelspice.com/merch

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Welcome to another episode of Gospel Spice, the podcast where we delve into the original flavors and spices of the Gospel. Stephanie invites us to explore the impact of culture on our faith.

Stephanie Rousselle takes us on a journey to understand how culture shapes our perspective of God and how we can learn from Christians in different times and places. Stephanie's unique background, living in three continents, four countries, and experiencing diverse cultures, gives her a fresh and insightful approach to Scripture.

She shares her recent cultural experiences across Europe, attending various worship services ranging from prominent evangelical settings to Catholic Masses to French-speaking worship services. She highlights how culture alters our approach to God, and she invites us to reflect on how culture has impacted our own faith journey.

Stephanie reminds us that culture greatly influences our approach to God and invites us to embrace the diverse flavors of worship. She also acknowledges the common struggles and challenges we all face in our faith journeys, offering practical wisdom and encouragement to keep our faith alive and vibrant.

She dives into everyday situations that we can all relate to, such as grappling with life's challenges, seeking God's guidance in singleness, struggling with infertility, navigating the roles we play in marriage, parenting, and more.

We all experience moments when our faith feels stagnant, and Stephanie recognizes this. She calls us to reintroduce the excitement of the spices as we taste and see that the Lord is good. Whether our quiet times have lost their fervor, our prayers have become dry, or our circumstances have drawn us away from that initial love for God, Gospel Spice is here to rejuvenate our walk with Him.

Through Gospel Spice, we will explore how to embrace the cumin, cinnamon, cilantro, cardamom, and fennel of Scripture instead of settling for an all-purpose salt faith. Stephanie provides practical and inspiring insights into remembering who God is and what He has done, allowing us to rediscover the depth of His love and the joy of living in His presence.

We invite you to join us on this exciting journey of rediscovering the original spices of the Gospel and allowing them to flavor our daily walk with God. Join us as we learn how to infuse our walk with God with excitement, joy, and deep intimacy.

Welcome to Gospel Spice!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit alongside Jesus and his initial audience? To experience the fresh spiritual flavors that the Messianic Jewish culture weaves into the four gospels? Well, that's exactly what we here aim to do through this original series, JESUS RABBI AND LORD. Stephanie invites you to dig deep into Scripture, unearthing raw diamonds that may need a little cleaning up, but will ultimately shine brightly.

So get ready to embark on this enlightening and transformative journey with Gospel Spice. Prepare to encounter Jesus in a way that resonates with our modern world and discover the richness of the gospel through the lens of Jewish culture. Let's dig deep, uncover the hidden spices, and experience the beauty of the Scriptures together. Welcome to Gospel Spice!

Grab your headphones, hit play, and let Gospel Spice be the catalyst for encountering Jesus in a way you've never experienced before!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

The perfect gift for everyone - apparel, drinkware, stickers and more for all the women, men and kids in your life!

https://www.gospelspice.com/merch

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

This month we are celebrating the anniversary of Gospel Spice! We launched our first episode in 2019, when we faithfully and haltingly followed God's pretty clear directions!

Would you please take a moment to celebrate with us? There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice 

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do 1 or more of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup 

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

Do you enjoy Gospel Spice? Then let's deepen our relationship! There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do one (or more!) of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

We offer high-quality, full color, gorgeous PDF downloadable workbooks to come alongside each episode of this original series of Gospel Spice, Jesus Rabbi and Lord. These workbooks allow you to build your library of in-depth Biblical studies and content to maximize your time in Scripture and amplify your intimacy with God. For each episode, we offer:

- an episode summary

- a listening guide

- key takeaways from the episode

- key quotes

- Bible verses to enhance your experience

- up to 10 questions per episode to take charge of your quiet time

- topics for further research, based on the episode content.

There are 3 workbooks, each containing over 10 episodes to cover the entire series. You can buy them separately, or as a bundle for an amazing price!

Go now to https://www.gospelspice.com/jesus for the details and to purchase your Jesus Rabbi and Lord workbooks!

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie and her guest Shadia Hrichi delve into the richness of messy stories and God's incredible redemption.

We have the privilege of welcoming back the brilliant and passionate Shadia Hrichi. Shadia is known for her love of messy stories and the people who have experienced pain and trials. Together with Stephanie, she uncovers the beauty of redemption in the lives of characters such as Hagar, Legion, Tamar, and Rahab.

Throughout the episode, you'll witness Shadia's deep personal connection to these stories, particularly the themes of sexual pain, betrayal, and heartache. But don't worry, redemption is the thread that weaves through it all, pointing to the transformative power of our Lord. Shadia also shares a powerful story of how she prayed a bold prayer during a conference, asking God to translate her Bible study, Hagar, into Arabic. Discover the amazing way God answered her prayer and be inspired to pray bold prayers too!

Shadia tackles the controversial topic of Rahab's profession. While some scholars try to paint her as an innkeeper, Shadia stands firm in highlighting Scripture's truth that Rahab was indeed a prostitute. Join us as we explore the redeeming power of God's grace in Rahab's life and how it symbolically reflects the story of the church body.

The conversation takes an even deeper turn when Shadia shares her personal experiences and challenges faced while writing her latest Bible study, Rahab. Prepare to be inspired by her powerful testimony of how the Lord met her in profound ways during this project.

Lastly, Stephanie and Shadia discuss the impact of our words and actions on others, even when we can't see the immediate fruit of our labor. Stay tuned as they dive into the incredible story of how God used Shadia's words to impact her own mother, leaving a lasting legacy of faith.

We encourage you to listen to this thought-provoking and faith-strengthening conversation. It's bound to ignite your passion for redeeming stories and remind you of the incredible work God is doing in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

Join us on this captivating journey of faith, redemption, and transformation!

NEW! Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1️⃣ God's redemption knows no bounds: Through the messy stories of Hagar, Tamar, Rahab, and Legion, we see how God can redeem the darkest of circumstances and bring beauty out of pain and trials.

2️⃣ Pray bold prayers: Shadia shares her personal experience of praying for the translation of Hagar into Arabic, a bold request that was answered six months later when she received a copy of the book being distributed in churches in Egypt and beyond. Let's be encouraged to pray bold prayers and trust that God can move mountains!

3️⃣ Embrace the true word: There is a temptation to alter Scripture for the sake of political correctness or to make it more palatable, but Shadia reminds us of the importance of not hiding from the true Word. Let's embrace the wisdom, goodness, and beauty of God's redemption, even when it challenges our preconceptions.

NEW! QUESTIONS TO GO DEEPER, ON YOUR OWN OR WITH A FRIEND

1. How do you personally define a "messy story" and why do you think the speaker is attracted to them?

2. How does the story of Rahab challenge your understanding of redemption?

3. In what ways do you relate to the experiences of pain, betrayal, and heartache mentioned in this episode?

4. Have you ever prayed a bold prayer? If so, what was the result? If not, what would a bold prayer look like for you?

5. How does the story of Hagar being translated into Arabic and distributed in churches in Egypt and beyond illustrate the beauty of redemption?

6. What are your thoughts on Shadia’s discussion about the word "zona" in the book of Joshua and the temptation to alter Scripture to fit certain narratives?

7. How does Rahab's story reflect the story of the church as a whole, with the church being the prostitute in need of rescue and redemption?

8. What are your thoughts on Shadia’s emphasis on not hiding from the true Word in scripture when it comes to Rahab being referred to as a prostitute?

9. How has your faith been challenged and nurtured through studying Scripture and personal experiences, as Stephanie and Shadia mentioned?

10. Can you think of a time when you doubted the impact of your words or actions in sharing Christ with others, only to later realize that God's grace was working through you?

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR A SIGNED COPY OF "RAHAB"

Signup here: https://kingsumo.com/g/mbmw1n/exclusive-rahab-media-tour-giveaway 

More about RAHAB here: http://rahabbiblestudy.com/ 

ABOUT SHADIA HRICHI

Shadia shares, "I never imagined I’d become an author, but I was certainly a bookworm, to which a shoebox full of “Reader of the Year” awards my mother saved can attest. I’ve always loved to read … and still do. But there was one Book I never opened until years later. Because I was not raised to believe in God, I was 30 years old the first time I began to read the Bible. And oh, what a treasure I found! If only I had found it sooner . . .

My teenage and young adult years were filled with both good and bad choices – triumphs and tragedies. Abortion, date rape, substance abuse, marital abuse and divorce left many wounds and scars. And yet, it is precisely these heartaches that God has gently used to invite me to know Him more—to deepen my faith and fall in love with Him again and again.

God gives me courage to share some of my stories in the Bible studies I’ve written, such as:

- RAHAB: Rediscovering the God Who Saves Me

- TAMAR: Rediscovering the God Who Redeems Me

- HAGAR: Rediscovering the God Who Sees Me

- LEGION: Rediscovering the God Who Rescues Me

- Worthy of Love: A Journey of Hope and Healing After Abortion

I love studying and teaching the Bible – especially the amazing, but messy, stories of real people who faced real problems. In addition to receiving a masters in biblical and theological studies from Western Seminary, I received a masters in criminal justice from the State University of New York (I’m a nerd at heart). But God’s Word is so beautiful, I’ll never tire of reading it. Even before I entered seminary, God opened the door to begin a speaking ministry to share the beautiful truths of Who He is and His power of redemption.

In the beginning, I was often invited to speak for pregnancy centers. While speaking for pregnancy centers remains a deep passion and joy, God has since broadened the ministry to have me speak at conferences, churches, and women’s retreats. From there, God has invited me to serve Him by serving writers. In fact, I have a whole page specifically for writers, complete with workshops, such as Am I Ready to Write a Bible Study?, as well as coaching and other services. But perhaps my favorite is serving women’s groups by joining them for virtual “Q&A and Get to Know the Author” zoom meetups.

The truth is that I love digging deep into the Bible and sharing what God teaches me. In fact, one reader compared me to a scuba instructor—gently guiding readers into the beautiful depths of God’s Word. I’ve only been scuba diving once (it was cool!), but my two favorite pastimes are studying the Bible and visiting the ocean. Perhaps it’s a suitable analogy after all."

Meet her at https://www.shadiahrichi.com/ 

DISCOVER THE GOSPEL SPICE MINISTRIES

The Gospel Spice Podcast is part of a larger range of tools given to you by Gospel Spice Ministries.

In a nutshell, we exist to inspire Christ-followers to delight in God.

In more details: we provide resources to empower Christian leaders across generational, social, ethnic and geographical boundaries towards more intimacy with Jesus Christ and discipleship effectiveness through a Biblical Christocentric foundation. The Gospel-Spice Ministries provide a safe environment for spiritual and community growth empowering people to know Christ more intimately, serve one another more powerfully, and reach the world for Jesus.

PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the link with friends and family.

PRAY IT FORWARD by praying for us and those you share it with!

PAY IT FORWARD!! Would you consider supporting this show today to help others enjoy it for free? It comes to you completely free, but is labor-intensive to produce, and we want to keep putting it in the ears of people!

Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status. Your donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170. We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. All donations above our minimal operating costs go to Christian organizations fighting human trafficking.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

(*ListenNotes ranking, 2023)

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit alongside Jesus and his initial audience? To experience the fresh spiritual flavors that the Messianic Jewish culture weaves into the four gospels? Well, that's exactly what we here aim to do. Stephanie invites you to dig deep into Scripture, unearthing raw diamonds that may need a little cleaning up, but will ultimately shine brightly.

We invite you to encounter Jesus in a culturally relevant way. In this first episode of our brand new Series, JESUS RABBI AND LORD, Stephanie Rousselle takes you on a journey to understand the gospel from the inside out. We will explore the big picture context of the Bible and uncover the purpose of our existence on Earth. Get ready to dive deep into the text as we seek to unearth raw diamonds and discover the hidden gems within the Scriptures.

In this episode, Stephanie emphasizes the importance of understanding the cultural context in which the Bible was written. Our generation, with its global cross-cultural interactions, has become acutely aware of the otherness of Jesus' culture. And that awareness fuels our desire to comprehend the culture of scripture in a new and profound way.

Stephanie encourages us to consider the global cross-cultural interactions we engage in every day, whether at work, home, or online. She highlights the importance of understanding the culture of Scripture, especially in our generation that effortlessly navigates a diverse and interconnected world. As we explore Jesus' initial audience and their Jewish culture, we will experience the fresh spiritual flavors woven into the gospels.

Drawing inspiration from Tim Keller, Stephanie emphasizes how cultural awareness is essential for authentic Christian living. She reminds us that the authors of the four canonical gospels never anticipated the gentile church that would emerge over the last 2000 years. Just as they navigated a different world, we must appreciate the nuances of their culture to fully grasp the essence of their teachings. Just as they wrote without knowledge of the centuries of gentile church that would follow, we must recognize the cultural nuances they embraced and unfold them within our modern context.

Join us on this guided tour through Scripture as we make the 1st-century Jewish culture accessible to our modern, gentile Western minds. Stephanie's deep knowledge and passion for Jewish culture, combined with her personal stories, will engage and enlighten you.

So join us on this adventure, as we unearth the spices that flavor the gospel and invite Jesus to weave His spirit into our own stories. Gospel Spice is the podcast that will challenge, inspire, and transform your understanding of the Scriptures.

Stephanie's own journey, from being an atheist in France to encountering Jesus and living a life of faith, adds a relatable and personal touch to the episode. Her experiences as a French atheist turned follower of Jesus, combined with her international travels, have sharpened her ability to decipher local cultures and understand the essence of each unique context.

So get ready to embark on this enlightening and transformative journey with Gospel Spice. Prepare to encounter Jesus in a way that resonates with our modern world and discover the richness of the gospel through the lens of Jewish culture. Let's dig deep, uncover the hidden spices, and experience the beauty of the Scriptures together. Welcome to Gospel Spice!

Grab your headphones, hit play, and let Gospel Spice be the catalyst for encountering Jesus in a way you've never experienced before!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit alongside Jesus and his initial audience? To experience the fresh spiritual flavors that the Messianic Jewish culture weaves into the four gospels? Well, that's exactly what we here aim to do through this original series, JESUS RABBI AND LORD. Stephanie invites you to dig deep into Scripture, unearthing raw diamonds that may need a little cleaning up, but will ultimately shine brightly.

So get ready to embark on this enlightening and transformative journey with Gospel Spice. Prepare to encounter Jesus in a way that resonates with our modern world and discover the richness of the gospel through the lens of Jewish culture. Let's dig deep, uncover the hidden spices, and experience the beauty of the Scriptures together. Welcome to Gospel Spice!

Grab your headphones, hit play, and let Gospel Spice be the catalyst for encountering Jesus in a way you've never experienced before!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

This month we are celebrating the anniversary of Gospel Spice! We launched our first episode in 2019, when we faithfully and haltingly followed God's pretty clear directions!

Would you please take a moment to celebrate with us? There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice 

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do 1 or more of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup 

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

We offer high-quality, full color, gorgeous PDF downloadable workbooks to come alongside each episode of this original series of Gospel Spice, Jesus Rabbi and Lord. These workbooks allow you to build your library of in-depth Biblical studies and content to maximize your time in Scripture and amplify your intimacy with God. For each episode, we offer:

- an episode summary

- a listening guide

- key takeaways from the episode

- key quotes

- Bible verses to enhance your experience

- up to 10 questions per episode to take charge of your quiet time

- topics for further research, based on the episode content.

There are 3 workbooks, each containing over 10 episodes to cover the entire series. You can buy them separately, or as a bundle for an amazing price!

Go now to https://www.gospelspice.com/jesus for the details and to purchase your Jesus Rabbi and Lord workbooks!

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie just came back from her first trip to Israel, and it made Scripture come alive for her like never before! So, this season, she is bringing you fresh spices to experience Scripture as if you are walking through its pages. Specifically? We will be tagging along with Matthew, because he was the most Jewish-centric of all Gospel authors.

Taste and see, indeed, that the Lord is GOOD! Make sure to sign up to receive value-packed monthly gifts straight in your inbox here.  It is a GREAT idea to subscribe, because you will receive truly value-packed content and gifts exclusively for you every single month. 

Check out gospelspice.com for more content. And, if you enjoyed this podcast, please make sure to rate and review it, so more people can be encouraged through God’s word.

Join us again next week for a new episode with your host, Stephanie Rousselle.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit alongside Jesus and his initial audience? To experience the fresh spiritual flavors that the Messianic Jewish culture weaves into the four gospels? Well, that's exactly what we here aim to do through this original series, JESUS RABBI AND LORD. Stephanie invites you to dig deep into Scripture, unearthing raw diamonds that may need a little cleaning up, but will ultimately shine brightly.

So get ready to embark on this enlightening and transformative journey with Gospel Spice. Prepare to encounter Jesus in a way that resonates with our modern world and discover the richness of the gospel through the lens of Jewish culture. Let's dig deep, uncover the hidden spices, and experience the beauty of the Scriptures together. Welcome to Gospel Spice!

Grab your headphones, hit play, and let Gospel Spice be the catalyst for encountering Jesus in a way you've never experienced before!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

Do you enjoy Gospel Spice? Then let's deepen our relationship! There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do one (or more!) of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Bonjour! Stephanie here. I just had the most fun and delightful, enthusiastic, encouraging conversation with my dear friend Jenny Cote. She has been on Gospel Spice before, but that was over 3 years ago, and I thought it was high time to invite her back because I believe she creates some of the very top resources we can use in our Christian walk – us, and kids of all ages! Jenny write historical fiction with a touch of delightful fantasy. I never have time to read fiction, which is one of the great sadness of my life! But I want to always make time for Jenny’s books. Her writing is deeply Biblical, and she will make you fall in love with Jesus more. And even though she writes for kids of all ages, I think I want to include myself in that bracket of kids of all ages – all of us grown ups have much to enjoy in her books. Like so many of her readers, I initially picked up her book for my son. But then I started reading… and I was hooked! You will be too. it’s still early to talk about Christmas, but I think this should make your list for your kids, grandkids, cousins, nieces and nephews – just don’t forget to read it for yourself first.

MORE ABOUT "THE MARQUIS, THE ESCAPE AND THE FOX"

Escape through a maze of deception, betrayal, and death is the key to survival for thirteen rebellious colonies that dare to fight against tyranny and win their independence. Powerful forces seek to cut off the head of their Don’t Tread on Me snake by assassinating General George Washington as the unstoppable British fleet sails into New York Harbor. The Epic Order of the Seven must identify and stop the assassin, or the epic Battle of New York will be over before it even begins. The Declaration of Independence rallies patriots to tear down the statue of King George III, but will its words be worth dying for? The Howe Brothers chase Washington and his dwindling Continental Army across New Jersey until he learns how to outfox them and lives to fight another day at Trenton and Princeton. The animal team knows those small victories won’t be enough to win a war and must convince France to covertly join the fight. They must help France’s wealthy Marquis de Lafayette sail for America to fight alongside Washington, but first he must escape King Louis XVI who has other plans for the reluctant courtier.

The third installment in the Epic Revolutionary saga, The Marquis, the Escape, and the Fox covers events from April 1776 to April 1777.

MORE ABOUT JENNY COTE

Award-winning author and speaker Jenny L. Cote, who developed an early passion for God, history, and young people, beautifully blends these three passions in her two fantasy fiction series, The Amazing Tales of Max and Liz® and Epic Order of the Seven®. Likened to C. S. Lewis by readers and book reviewers alike, she speaks on creative writing to schools, universities and conferences around the world.  Jenny has a passion for making history fun for kids of all ages, instilling in them a desire to discover their part in HIStory. Her love for research has taken her to most Revolutionary sites in the U.S., to London (with unprecedented access to Handel House Museum to write in Handel’s composing room), Oxford (to stay in the home of C. S. Lewis, ‘the Kilns’, and interview Lewis’ secretary, Walter Hooper at the Inklings’ famed The Eagle and Child Pub), Paris, Normandy, Rome, Israel, and Egypt. She partnered with the National Park Service to produce Epic Patriot Camp, a summer writing camp at Revolutionary parks to excite kids about history, research and writing. Jenny’s books are available online and in stores around the world, as well as in multiple e-book formats. Jenny holds two marketing degrees from the University of Georgia and Georgia State University. A Virginia native, Jenny now lives with her husband, Jock and Liz in Roswell, Georgia.

Find more at https://www.epicorderoftheseven.net/

MORE ABOUT MAX AND LIZ

The Amazing Tales of Max and Liz® is a two-book prequel series that begins the adventures of brave Scottie dog Max and brilliant French cat Liz.

Book One: The Ark, the Reed, and the Fire Cloud introduces Max and Liz, who meet on the way to the Ark and foil a plot by a stowaway who is out to kill Noah and stop his mission.

Book Two: The Dreamer, the Schemer, and the Robe brings Max, Liz, and friends to work behind the scenes in the life of Joseph in the land of Egypt. The Epic Order of the Seven® series picks up where the Max and Liz series left off.

Book One: The Prophet, the Shepherd, and the Star gives Max, Liz, and the gang their most important mission yet: preparing for the birth of the promised Messiah. Their seven-hundred–year mission takes them to the lives of Isaiah, Daniel, and those in the Christmas story.

Book Two: The Roman, the Twelve, and the King unfolds the childhood, ministry and passion of Jesus Christ with a twist – his story is told within the story of George F. Handel composing Messiah.

Book Three: The Wind, the Road, and the Way covers Acts 1-18 and Paul’s first two missionary journeys.

Book Four: The Fire, the Revelation, and the Fall concludes the story of Acts to the fall of Rome, showing the miraculous birth of the church amidst persecution by the Roman Empire.

Book Five: The Voice, the Revolution, and the Key begins a five book Revolutionary War saga featuring Patrick Henry and the Marquis de Lafayette.

Her latest release is The Declaration, the Sword, and the Spy (April 2020), covering events from Lexington and Concord through the Declaration of Independence.

Future books will feature C.S. Lewis and WWII. Jenny’s books have been developed into audiobooks (The Ark and The Voice) and VBS curriculum (Heroes of HIStory) with animation by Magnetic Dreams in Nashville, TN, and original music by Marco Randazzo.

DISCOVER THE GOSPEL SPICE MINISTRIES

The Gospel Spice Podcast is part of a larger range of tools given to you by Gospel Spice Ministries.

In a nutshell, we exist to inspire Christ-followers to delight in God.

In more details: we provide resources to empower Christian leaders across generational, social, ethnic and geographical boundaries towards more intimacy with Jesus Christ and discipleship effectiveness through a Biblical Christocentric foundation. The Gospel-Spice Ministries provide a safe environment for spiritual and community growth empowering people to know Christ more intimately, serve one another more powerfully, and reach the world for Jesus.

PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the link with friends and family.

PRAY IT FORWARD by praying for us and those you share it with!

PAY IT FORWARD!! Would you consider supporting this show today to help others enjoy it for free? It comes to you completely free, but is labor-intensive to produce, and we want to keep putting it in the ears of people!

Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status. Your donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170. We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. All donations above our minimal operating costs go to Christian organizations fighting human trafficking.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

(*ListenNotes ranking, 2023)

The perfect gift for everyone - apparel, drinkware, stickers and more for all the women, men and kids in your life!

https://www.gospelspice.com/merch

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Experience the peace and presence of Jesus like never before, by walking in His footsteps on this virtual, highly personable tour of first-century Israel! Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

DATES | anytime!

LOCATION | Online! 

Life is busy, and full of worry, anxiety, and stress. What if what we needed was a solid reminder of Jesus’ very real presence in our lives? What if walking in His footsteps for a few weeks might prove the cure to our endless challenges, so that we may view our life as He does?

It’s said that a visit to Israel will forever change your experience of Scripture. That statement is right. But more than that, it will forever change your experience of Jesus.

Here at Gospel Spice, our goal is to know Jesus more. It means deepening our theology, for sure, but what about discovering the little things Jesus enjoyed? Think of your best friends, or deeply loved ones. You know their favorite color, food, and scent. Not because it’s life-changing, but because it is about intimacy, and knowing one another well. So, how about discovering one of Jesus’ favorite childhood smells, or the Galilee skyline He woke up to every morning? It may not alter your theology, but it will help you know Him more.

Do you need a full measure of His peace and comfort? Do you need to be reminded of His love for you? Do you need His guidance to navigate your life right now? Stephanie just returned from the Holy Land and invites you to walk in the footsteps of Jesus on this virtual tour of first-century Israel from the comfort of your own home. We will be journeying through Scripture together to meet Jesus where He walked, taught, and fellowshipped with His friends in Galilee. We will encounter Him on the Passion walk, from the Upper Room to Golgotha. We will meet Him in the Garden Tomb.

So, pack your virtual sandals, along with a very real Bible and pen, to journey through Scripture in the footsteps of Jesus!

Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

In this final episode in our REST series, Stephanie invites us to examine the importance of not settling for anything less than the best when it comes to our relationship with God. Our hearts are designed to find true delight and worship in Him alone.

Stephanie reflects on Jesus' analogy of a snake and a stone, highlighting the dangers of settling for lesser things and the significance of choosing to love, worship, and find delight solely in God. Our restless souls are often a sign that God is inviting us into deeper intimacy and delight with Him.

Throughout the episode, Stephanie passionately explores the idea of true rest and how it goes hand in hand with finding delight in the glory of God. She shares practical insights on how our hearts can align with God's purpose for us, bringing peace and contentment even in the midst of life's challenges. She discusses the dangers of our culture's focus on self and how it hinders our ability to cling to God. She emphasizes the importance of cultivating intimacy with Him, surrendering ourselves entirely and experiencing the powerful love that He lavishes upon us.

If you are longing for a deeper connection with God and others, beyond the routines of organized Christianity, this episode is a must-listen. Join us as we journey together towards a restful soul that finds true delight in the presence of our Heavenly Father.

Remember, you can tune in to the Gospel Spice podcast on your favorite podcast platforms. Be sure to share this episode with friends, family, or anyone who may need a spiritual pick-me-up.

Stay connected with us on social media (@gospelspicelife) to receive updates, encouragements, and additional resources. We are grateful to have you as part of our Gospel Spice community.

Our prayer is that you may you find rest and delight in God's loving presence this week! Amen.

GOOD TO KNOW!

This is the sixth of 6 episodes on rest. Stephanie initially taught keynotes at several distinct events and, surprisingly, the event organizers asked her to speak on the topic of rest. They didn't know they were all asking for the same theme. Stephanie crafted unique talks for each event, and wondered how this serendipitous convergence on the theme of rest might apply to you, our beloved Podcast audience. So, here are the keynotes she gave on the topic of dwelling in the presence of God, and delighting in His glory, as the essence, goal and means of rest. 

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO PARTNER WITH GOSPEL SPICE TODAY!

First, PAY Gospel Spice Forward: Give a tax-deductible gift so others can experience our ministry for free, just like you! You can pay it forward with any debit, credit card, or via PayPal. See below for more details about your impact.

Also, PLAY Gospel Spice Forward: SHARE the podcast and the studies with your friends and family. FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW on your favorite podcast app (leave a comment + a star rating on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Pandora, IHeart, Google Podcast, etc…). It REALLY is the best way to help others find this content-rich podcast. 

And, last but not least, PRAY Gospel Spice Forward: We pray for you weekly. We covet your prayers for our ministry, the thousands we reach, and our team! Contact us to let us know you are praying for us!

NEW!

Another way to partner with us is to purchase our workbooks and online Bible studies. We keep them at the lowest possible cost, but they require a lot of work from us! For example,

- a complete Bible Study requires an average of 500 man-hours.

- a workbook for a series requires almost 100 man-hours.

MORE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US FINANCIALLY:

Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status.

Our goal is to provide in-depth, high-quality, free Bible resources for all. They are free, but expensive to create! We need your financial support to keep producing and distributing them. Please pay Gospel Spice forward today! For example, a podcast episode takes close to 10 hours of work (and we release 2 each week). They come to you completely free, but we would truly love your support.

We want the money to go to those who really need it. Once our operating costs are paid, 100% of your donation is redistributed to our partners who fight human trafficking. Each year, we aim to give as much as we can. For example, Stephanie works more than full time for Gospel Spice, entirely for free. All board members and volunteers are donating time. We limit our operational expenses to the bare minimum.

Your pay-it-forward donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170.

We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. Thank you!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Experience the peace and presence of Jesus like never before, by walking in His footsteps on this virtual, highly personable tour of first-century Israel! Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

DATES | anytime!

LOCATION | Online! 

Life is busy, and full of worry, anxiety, and stress. What if what we needed was a solid reminder of Jesus’ very real presence in our lives? What if walking in His footsteps for a few weeks might prove the cure to our endless challenges, so that we may view our life as He does?

It’s said that a visit to Israel will forever change your experience of Scripture. That statement is right. But more than that, it will forever change your experience of Jesus.

Here at Gospel Spice, our goal is to know Jesus more. It means deepening our theology, for sure, but what about discovering the little things Jesus enjoyed? Think of your best friends, or deeply loved ones. You know their favorite color, food, and scent. Not because it’s life-changing, but because it is about intimacy, and knowing one another well. So, how about discovering one of Jesus’ favorite childhood smells, or the Galilee skyline He woke up to every morning? It may not alter your theology, but it will help you know Him more.

Do you need a full measure of His peace and comfort? Do you need to be reminded of His love for you? Do you need His guidance to navigate your life right now? Stephanie just returned from the Holy Land and invites you to walk in the footsteps of Jesus on this virtual tour of first-century Israel from the comfort of your own home. We will be journeying through Scripture together to meet Jesus where He walked, taught, and fellowshipped with His friends in Galilee. We will encounter Him on the Passion walk, from the Upper Room to Golgotha. We will meet Him in the Garden Tomb.

So, pack your virtual sandals, along with a very real Bible and pen, to journey through Scripture in the footsteps of Jesus!

Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

This month we are celebrating the anniversary of Gospel Spice! We launched our first episode in 2019, when we faithfully and haltingly followed God's pretty clear directions!

Would you please take a moment to celebrate with us? There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice 

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do 1 or more of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup 

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

Summer is coming to an end, and busyness returns as the fall season settles upon us. We live in a fast-paced world where rest is elusive, and even frowned upon—especially once summer is over. What if, instead, intentional rest in Christ was the secret to launch a lifetime of delight in God, regardless of seasons? As summer makes way for the busyness of the fall season, Gospel Spice invites you to embrace a lifestyle of rest by experiencing the presence of God amidst your busy life.

Do you enjoy Gospel Spice? Then let's deepen our relationship! There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do one (or more!) of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

We are in our Gospel Spice REST series! We invite you to enhance your experience through the REST workbook, which contains listening guides to take notes during each episode, as well as optional bonus questions to reflect on your own or with a friend/group in order to truly enjoy the fullness of REST in Christ. Go to gospelspice.com/rest for all the details.

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Bonjour! Stephanie here. Welcome to today’s conversation! It’s an unusual one – I thought we’d start this new format every few weeks, where we are inviting you to join us for an informal chat about what is going on in our lives, and here at Gospel Spice. So today I am joined by Ros – some of you may remember that she has been on the show before! She will tell us a bit about her, and then our goal is to settle in, the way good friends do, with a cup of tea and maybe a bite to eat, to chat about what has been happening in our lives. We’ll also talk about things we are celebrating, and what is going on here behind the scenes at Gospel Spice.

One thing we do want to remind you of, is that we really do want to lavish you with free gifts throughout the year, and that means that you need to sign up for our newsletter! It’s free, and that’s how you get the best of Gospel Spice each month in your inbox. Our goal is to include a free, valuable gift each month for you. And I really don’t want you to miss out, so go to https://www.gospelspice.com/signup to sign up today!

Ros and I celebrate that this week is the 4th anniversary of Gospel Spice – it started very humbly in the fall of 2019 and has belonged to God from the first. So, we go down memory lane a little, and invite you to do the same! How has God met you the last 4 years?

We chat about two exciting upcoming studies – the first is an online Bible Study, “In the Footsteps of Jesus.” It is not too late to join! Check out https://www.gospelspice.com/footsteps for the details.

Our new podcast series starts next week with “Jesus, Rabbi and Lord” where we tackle the first century Jewish culture to provide precious context to our reading of Scripture. This has got to be one of my favorite topics ever, so I look forward to meeting our precious Lord there. He will not “show up” – He is already there in fullness of Presence because He is everywhere! The question is, will WE show up?

So, join us for this unusual episode – make sure to put the kettle on, or to brew yourself a cup of your favorite dark roast. It’s pumpkin spice season, and I cannot say I am sorry for it! Pumpkin spice is one of the greatest achievements of the American culture- and that is saying a lot.

Can’t wait to share that time with you today! And as always, please let us know how we can be praying for you. We take this very, very seriously as a high calling and a privilege. So, email us at contact@gospelspice.com or DM us on social media (we hang out on Insta and Facebook a lot).

Praying the Name of the Father over you – His holiness, His kingdom, and His will. In the mighty power of our unmatched Lord!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit alongside Jesus and his initial audience? To experience the fresh spiritual flavors that the Messianic Jewish culture weaves into the four gospels? Well, that's exactly what we here aim to do through this original series, JESUS RABBI AND LORD. Stephanie invites you to dig deep into Scripture, unearthing raw diamonds that may need a little cleaning up, but will ultimately shine brightly.

So get ready to embark on this enlightening and transformative journey with Gospel Spice. Prepare to encounter Jesus in a way that resonates with our modern world and discover the richness of the gospel through the lens of Jewish culture. Let's dig deep, uncover the hidden spices, and experience the beauty of the Scriptures together. Welcome to Gospel Spice!

Grab your headphones, hit play, and let Gospel Spice be the catalyst for encountering Jesus in a way you've never experienced before!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

This month we are celebrating the anniversary of Gospel Spice! We launched our first episode in 2019, when we faithfully and haltingly followed God's pretty clear directions!

Would you please take a moment to celebrate with us? There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice 

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do 1 or more of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup 

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie here! I have often found that, when I'm discouraged, or when I struggle to see things from the perspective that God might have on a situation, a relationship, maybe my own heart, I find it so useful to dig into Scripture and look at the stories of people in Scripture who may have experienced something similar. I also find that, beyond Scripture, it is useful to look at the lives of faithful men and women in history, saints who have really clung to God, and who have experienced so much of his goodness, his holiness, his beauty, his faithfulness, his kindness, his generosity. I love to spend time through biographies of these people of faith. I'm looking forward to meeting them in heaven and learning from them even more. Which means,  I love when a new book comes out that invites me to do just that. And the book Portrait of God by Jack Mooring does just that.

I'm welcoming Jack today. And he experienced the same thing that I'm describing to you. His book is a bit of a guidebook. It uses the stories of influential Christian figures like C.S. Lewis, Saint Augustine, Fanny Crosby, and so many more, to help us, believers, find stability in our faith amidst the chaos of this world. He and I chat about the fact that this world is pretty chaotic right now.

This book and this conversation hope to be one of the tools that equips us in this ever-changing turbulent world we live in. Now, to recognize God's goodness in the midst of chaos, well, I know it can be challenging. Our faith can so often seem like a roller coaster as a result of that. Jack says, “I've learned that the Christian life is less about learning and more about remembering. I wrote this book to remind myself and the rest of us, forgetful people, that this is God whom we love and he really is who he says he is.”

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK “PORTRAIT OF GOD

In an ever-changing, often turbulent world, recognizing God’s goodness can be challenging. Many Christians describe their faith as a rollercoaster, with seasons of feeling close to God and having a clear sense of His presence, and others where He seems distant.

Author Jack Mooring experienced this personally, and by reflecting on and learning from the lives of the faithful men and women in history, he uncovered powerful reminders of God’s unchanging truths.

Mooring’s new book, Portrait of God: Rediscovering the Attributes of God through the Stories of His People (David C Cook, August 6, 2024) serves as a guidebook, using the stories of influential Christian figures like C.S. Lewis and St. Augustine to help modern-day believers find stability in their faith amidst the chaos of the world. In Portrait of God, Mooring provides thought-provoking questions and a list of further readings about each faith leader, allowing readers to dig even deeper into the truths about the unchanging character of God.

“I’ve learned that the Christian life is less about learning and more about remembering,” writes Mooring. “I grew up in a rich tradition of truth, but life’s lies have often buried those true ideas about God. So I wrote this book to remind myself and the rest of us forgetful people that this God we love is really who He says He is. This book is an attempt to rediscover our wonder about who He is. For each attribute of God, I chose a person in church history who actually experienced that part of God’s nature. The goal is that, as we hear the stories of these people, we can get a glimpse of God through their eyes.”

Each chapter explores an attribute of God through a person in church history who radically

experienced His nature, applying it as a brushstroke to our portrait.

Readers will uncover:

●           Faith: How an all-powerful God worked miracles in the life of Kathryn Kuhlman.

●           Holiness: What Augustine of Hippo’s life in a secular world teaches us about God.

●           Compassion: How William and Catherine Booth’s service to others radiated God’s love.

MORE ABOUT JACK MOORING

Jack Mooring is a pastor, speaker, songwriter, and author. Beginning in ministry from an early age with his family, he and his brother went on to start the band LEELAND. Signing to Provident Music Group (A division of SONY BMG), the band released seven records, four of which received Grammy Nominations for “Best Contemporary Christian Music Album.” After touring full time and ministering around the world from 2005-2014, Jack left the band in order to pastor full time. For several years he served on the pastoral staff of two different churches before planting Celebration of Life Church: Nashville. Jack continues to make music as a songwriter signed with Integrity Music. As both a pastor and creative, Jack is passionate about communicating the gospel in a post-Christian culture. He resides in Franklin, TN with his wife Whitney and four children: Smith, Kate, Anthony, and Gabriel.

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie continues to unpack the concept of contentment in the context of rest, and how it relates to our restless souls. She begins by sharing a heartwarming story about her beloved grandmother’s endearing habit of leaving a bit of chocolate on their baguette, calling it the "Chocolate Queen" or, in French, "La Reine en chocolat." It is the little things like this that remind us of the simple joys in life and the importance of celebration.

Stephanie then delves into the transformation of our hearts and minds, emphasizing that the shape of our hearts and minds determines our perception and experience of contentment or discontent. Through her personal reflections and biblical insights, she invites us to allow God's transformative power to shape our lives, leading to inner contentment and rest for our souls, even amidst the challenges we face.

Stephanie questions why we often strive for achievement before finding rest and contentment. She reminds us that true contentment can be found in Christ's presence, without the need for conquest. The war has already been won! She invites us to examine our own restlessness and discontentment, urging us to find joy in what fits us and see it as enough. She shares practical tips on dealing with restlessness caused by discontent and emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and addressing our pain.

Stephanie highlights the deeper spiritual rest that can be found in God's presence, beyond just physical rest. She explores the concept of settling for the wrong "Promised Lands" in our lives and encourages us to identify and prioritize the right places where we can practice for Heaven.

GOOD TO KNOW!

This is the fifth of 6 episodes on rest. Stephanie initially taught keynotes at several distinct events and, surprisingly, the event organizers asked her to speak on the topic of rest. They didn't know they were all asking for the same theme. Stephanie crafted unique talks for each event, and wondered how this serendipitous convergence on the theme of rest might apply to you, our beloved Podcast audience. So, here are the keynotes she gave on the topic of dwelling in the presence of God, and delighting in His glory, as the essence, goal and means of rest. 

Experience the peace and presence of Jesus like never before, by walking in His footsteps on this virtual, highly personable tour of first-century Israel! Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

DATES | anytime!

LOCATION | Online! 

Life is busy, and full of worry, anxiety, and stress. What if what we needed was a solid reminder of Jesus’ very real presence in our lives? What if walking in His footsteps for a few weeks might prove the cure to our endless challenges, so that we may view our life as He does?

It’s said that a visit to Israel will forever change your experience of Scripture. That statement is right. But more than that, it will forever change your experience of Jesus.

Here at Gospel Spice, our goal is to know Jesus more. It means deepening our theology, for sure, but what about discovering the little things Jesus enjoyed? Think of your best friends, or deeply loved ones. You know their favorite color, food, and scent. Not because it’s life-changing, but because it is about intimacy, and knowing one another well. So, how about discovering one of Jesus’ favorite childhood smells, or the Galilee skyline He woke up to every morning? It may not alter your theology, but it will help you know Him more.

Do you need a full measure of His peace and comfort? Do you need to be reminded of His love for you? Do you need His guidance to navigate your life right now? Stephanie just returned from the Holy Land and invites you to walk in the footsteps of Jesus on this virtual tour of first-century Israel from the comfort of your own home. We will be journeying through Scripture together to meet Jesus where He walked, taught, and fellowshipped with His friends in Galilee. We will encounter Him on the Passion walk, from the Upper Room to Golgotha. We will meet Him in the Garden Tomb.

So, pack your virtual sandals, along with a very real Bible and pen, to journey through Scripture in the footsteps of Jesus!

Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

This month we are celebrating the anniversary of Gospel Spice! We launched our first episode in 2019, when we faithfully and haltingly followed God's pretty clear directions!

Would you please take a moment to celebrate with us? There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice 

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do 1 or more of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup 

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

Summer is coming to an end, and busyness returns as the fall season settles upon us. We live in a fast-paced world where rest is elusive, and even frowned upon—especially once summer is over. What if, instead, intentional rest in Christ was the secret to launch a lifetime of delight in God, regardless of seasons? As summer makes way for the busyness of the fall season, Gospel Spice invites you to embrace a lifestyle of rest by experiencing the presence of God amidst your busy life.

Do you enjoy Gospel Spice? Then let's deepen our relationship! There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do one (or more!) of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie welcomes pastor and author Jared C. Wilson for an intriguing conversation about what a true, authentic friendship with Jesus feels and tastes like. They talk about how it will transform your life, and your very identity. It is about knowing Christ, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship in His sufferings – as Paul tells us in Philippians 3:10, which is Stephanie’s favorite verse and lifelong quest! So, you are invited to join this conversation to embrace friendship with Christ in ways that will take you deeper than any other relationship on earth.

Stephanie and Jared talk about what friendship is – what is has been historically, and what our modern technologies have turned it into. They discuss the importance of a lifelong quest for humility as the key to ever-deepening intimacy with Christ. They talk about the danger and reality of staleness with Him and how to remedy. They talk about that “holy heartburn” the disciples on the way to Emmaus experienced when Christ gave them the greatest, most comprehensive Bible study ever – and how we can join in on the experience. Jared touches on the importance of suffering in the midst of life as a touchpoint towards Christ – much as we would rather avoid it.

Stephanie reads all the books whose authors she welcomes here at Gospel Spice (yes, that is a LOT of reading). But once in a while, a book draws her in so deeply, and resonates with her own longing so closely, that she finds herself lingering within its pages and relishing its flavors. So it was with Jared’s book, “Friendship with the Friend of sinners.” So, listen in, and then consider grabbing your own copy – for yourself and for a friend! Stephanie suspects you will be glad you did.

MORE ABOUT JARED C. WILSON

Jared C. Wilson is Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Author in Residence at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a pastor and Director of The Pastoral Training Center at Liberty Baptist Church in Kansas City, MO. An award-winning author of over 20 books, Jared also hosts the For The Church Podcast and co-hosts The Art of Pastoring Podcast, which is published by Christianity Today.

Jared is not a catalytic "agent of change" or a visionary anything. He is a failed church planter and once made a mess of his marriage. He likes food too much and worries way too much about what people think, and he's definitely not all that he's cracked up to be. After nearly 30 years of ministry, he's mainly learned that he's kind of a nincompoop. But he knows Jesus loves him.

Find more at https://www.jaredcwilson.com/

MORE ABOUT “FRIENDSHIP WITH THE FRIEND OF SINNERS”

Are you longing for true connection? The Bible calls Jesus the friend of sinners, but it’s hard to imagine what friendship with Jesus really looks like. How are we supposed to feel that close to a holy, perfect, and invisible God? How do we see Jesus as the real person he is? And how do we experience true friendship with him when we struggle to maintain true friendship on earth?

Join author Jared C. Wilson as he explores what it means to be a friend of Jesus. Through candid personal stories and insights into the Gospels, Wilson uncovers easily overlooked details of the close relationship Jesus had with his followers. He reveals the ways we often hold Jesus at arm’s length and shows how to draw close to him through radical honesty, consistent communication, and unconditional love.

DISCOVER THE GOSPEL SPICE MINISTRIES

The Gospel Spice Podcast is part of a larger range of tools given to you by Gospel Spice Ministries.

In a nutshell, we exist to inspire Christ-followers to delight in God.

In more details: we provide resources to empower Christian leaders across generational, social, ethnic and geographical boundaries towards more intimacy with Jesus Christ and discipleship effectiveness through a Biblical Christocentric foundation. The Gospel-Spice Ministries provide a safe environment for spiritual and community growth empowering people to know Christ more intimately, serve one another more powerfully, and reach the world for Jesus.

PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the link with friends and family.

PRAY IT FORWARD by praying for us and those you share it with!

PAY IT FORWARD!! Would you consider supporting this show today to help others enjoy it for free? It comes to you completely free, but is labor-intensive to produce, and we want to keep putting it in the ears of people!

Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status. Your donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170. We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. All donations above our minimal operating costs go to Christian organizations fighting human trafficking.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

(*ListenNotes ranking, 2023)

Experience the peace and presence of Jesus like never before, by walking in His footsteps on this virtual, highly personable tour of first-century Israel! Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

DATES | anytime!

LOCATION | Online! 

Life is busy, and full of worry, anxiety, and stress. What if what we needed was a solid reminder of Jesus’ very real presence in our lives? What if walking in His footsteps for a few weeks might prove the cure to our endless challenges, so that we may view our life as He does?

It’s said that a visit to Israel will forever change your experience of Scripture. That statement is right. But more than that, it will forever change your experience of Jesus.

Here at Gospel Spice, our goal is to know Jesus more. It means deepening our theology, for sure, but what about discovering the little things Jesus enjoyed? Think of your best friends, or deeply loved ones. You know their favorite color, food, and scent. Not because it’s life-changing, but because it is about intimacy, and knowing one another well. So, how about discovering one of Jesus’ favorite childhood smells, or the Galilee skyline He woke up to every morning? It may not alter your theology, but it will help you know Him more.

Do you need a full measure of His peace and comfort? Do you need to be reminded of His love for you? Do you need His guidance to navigate your life right now? Stephanie just returned from the Holy Land and invites you to walk in the footsteps of Jesus on this virtual tour of first-century Israel from the comfort of your own home. We will be journeying through Scripture together to meet Jesus where He walked, taught, and fellowshipped with His friends in Galilee. We will encounter Him on the Passion walk, from the Upper Room to Golgotha. We will meet Him in the Garden Tomb.

So, pack your virtual sandals, along with a very real Bible and pen, to journey through Scripture in the footsteps of Jesus!

Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Have you ever wondered about God's love for you? Before time even began, Jesus chose to adopt us into His family. It is a comforting truth to rest in, knowing that before we even existed, He looked forward to delighting in us. Moreover, this profound love extends beyond our actions and abilities – there is nothing we can do to deserve His approval.

The builders of Notre Dame Cathedral recognized the significance of Scripture, incorporating its symbolism into their architectural marvel. Discover how access to Scripture reveals God's identity, His actions, and our own identity and purpose. Jesus, the Son of God, humbled Himself to become a servant and died on a cross.

By recognizing God as the center of the universe, we find rest and shift the focus away from ourselves. Christ's ascension to heaven opened the door for all of us in Him to be filled with the living water of the Spirit. This abundant and infinite supply of water is available to each and every one of us who has placed our faith and trust in Him alone.

Once we receive the Holy Spirit, rest is modeled after Christ with childlike faith and a lifetime of faithfulness. Imagine the stunning sculptures adorning the hidden side of the stones that held up the ceilings of Notre Dame. Carved as an offering of worship to God, those sculptures remained unseen by human eyes but were known to God alone. Let us consider how we can present our lives as works of art in worship to God.

Adoption plays a significant role in understanding our identity in Christ. With three witnesses – the angelic realm, the world of humans, and our own hearts – we are marvelously adopted into God's family. In this new kingdom where Jesus reigns, we gain a new authority and embrace a new inheritance as sons and daughters of God.

Drawing from Paul's teachings in Romans, we explore the profound concept of adoption in contrast to Roman cultural practices. We invite you to ponder the transformative power of God's rest and satisfaction, as exemplified in the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well.

Stephanie gently but firmly challenges us not to overlook the deep spiritual truths we may have heard many times before. Let us guard against spiritual restlessness and find true rest in the richness of God's Word.

We hope you find this episode inspiring and thought-provoking. As always, if you're hungry for more spiritual nourishment, consider inviting Stephanie and the Gospel Spice team to speak at your church or women's ministry event. They bring a feast of practical, biblical truth, and genuine love and concern.

Our prayer is that this episode serve as a reminder of God's unwavering love for you, and invite you to explore the depths of rest that can only be found in Him. Amen!

GOOD TO KNOW!

This is the fourth of 6 episodes on rest. Stephanie initially taught keynotes at several distinct events and, surprisingly, the event organizers asked her to speak on the topic of rest. They didn't know they were all asking for the same theme. Stephanie crafted unique talks for each event, and wondered how this serendipitous convergence on the theme of rest might apply to you, our beloved Podcast audience. So, here are the keynotes she gave on the topic of dwelling in the presence of God, and delighting in His glory, as the essence, goal and means of rest. 

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

Experience the peace and presence of Jesus like never before, by walking in His footsteps on this virtual, highly personable tour of first-century Israel! Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

DATES | anytime!

LOCATION | Online! 

Life is busy, and full of worry, anxiety, and stress. What if what we needed was a solid reminder of Jesus’ very real presence in our lives? What if walking in His footsteps for a few weeks might prove the cure to our endless challenges, so that we may view our life as He does?

It’s said that a visit to Israel will forever change your experience of Scripture. That statement is right. But more than that, it will forever change your experience of Jesus.

Here at Gospel Spice, our goal is to know Jesus more. It means deepening our theology, for sure, but what about discovering the little things Jesus enjoyed? Think of your best friends, or deeply loved ones. You know their favorite color, food, and scent. Not because it’s life-changing, but because it is about intimacy, and knowing one another well. So, how about discovering one of Jesus’ favorite childhood smells, or the Galilee skyline He woke up to every morning? It may not alter your theology, but it will help you know Him more.

Do you need a full measure of His peace and comfort? Do you need to be reminded of His love for you? Do you need His guidance to navigate your life right now? Stephanie just returned from the Holy Land and invites you to walk in the footsteps of Jesus on this virtual tour of first-century Israel from the comfort of your own home. We will be journeying through Scripture together to meet Jesus where He walked, taught, and fellowshipped with His friends in Galilee. We will encounter Him on the Passion walk, from the Upper Room to Golgotha. We will meet Him in the Garden Tomb.

So, pack your virtual sandals, along with a very real Bible and pen, to journey through Scripture in the footsteps of Jesus!

Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

This month we are celebrating the anniversary of Gospel Spice! We launched our first episode in 2019, when we faithfully and haltingly followed God's pretty clear directions!

Would you please take a moment to celebrate with us? There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice 

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do 1 or more of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup 

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

Summer is coming to an end, and busyness returns as the fall season settles upon us. We live in a fast-paced world where rest is elusive, and even frowned upon—especially once summer is over. What if, instead, intentional rest in Christ was the secret to launch a lifetime of delight in God, regardless of seasons? As summer makes way for the busyness of the fall season, Gospel Spice invites you to embrace a lifestyle of rest by experiencing the presence of God amidst your busy life.

Do you enjoy Gospel Spice? Then let's deepen our relationship! There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do one (or more!) of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Bonjour! Stephanie here. You know how sometimes we love to have Christmas in July? Or, in this case, maybe in September? Today was such a special day for me. I just had the most delightful conversation with Max Lucado about the power of honesty and the grace of God. Here is what Max has to tell you: “Could you use a fresh reminder of God's grace? Do you need to be told, maybe for the first time, God never gives up on you? If so, join Stephanie and me for a delightful conversation about God's grace, about the beautiful city of Paris, about life in a world where forgiveness is abundant. Join us, please, on Gospel Spice.”

And, yes, we also did talk about Paris, about good food and all sorts of other fun things. And I'm honestly still processing the richness of our conversation. I cannot wait to share it with you. We're going to talk about the dangers of manipulation, and the hope that honesty brings into our lives. You're going to find yourself probably agreeing with us on the unmatched, though often misunderstood power of grace in Christ. We're laughing and we're almost crying together from sheer gratitude over God's goodness for us. And I'm sure you can relate. Have you ever wondered if you've had one too many stumbles for God to use someone like you? Or, have you asked if you could benefit from an encounter with God's unending, unbending, unswerving love and freedom? That is what Max talked about with me today—through the lens of Jacob’s life. And if your answer is yes, like Jacob, then Max invites you to see how God's grace transformed Jacob's life. Now, I really wish I couldn't relate to Jacob as much as I do because he's not the perfect hero by any means. If anything, he's quite the anti-hero. He's a manipulative cheat, and he doesn't understand grace until God literally smacks him with it, disabling his hip in the process. And so Max Lucado and I talked about that – and we invite you to join the conversation right now!

MORE ABOUT “GOD NEVER GIVES UP ON YOU.”

Ever wonder if you’ve had one too many stumbles for God to use someone like you? Could you benefit from an encounter with God’s unending, unbending, unswerving love and devotion?

If your answer is yes, it’s time for you to see how God’s grace transformed Jacob’s life. And if you feel undeserving of God’s grace, this book will serve as a refresher course on God’s perfect plan to use imperfect people to do great things.

God Never Gives Up on You is for the strugglers among us and the fumbler within us. For those of us who are part saint, part scoundrel; we mean well, but we don’t always do well. We have breakthroughs and breakdowns, often in the same hour. We need no reminder of our failures, but we could always use a refresher course on God’s perfect plan to use imperfect people to do great things. But where can we find examples of God’s steadfast grace?

No one is more suited to help assure you of God’s grace than Jacob. He was less a prodigy and more a prodigal. Strong on savvy. Weak on conscience. Jacob took advantage of his famished brother and pulled the wool over the eyes of his dying father, yet God never turned his back on Jacob. And he won’t turn his back on you. If you are ready to start counting on God’s grace and believe he never gives up on you, this book is for you.

Jacob’s story invites us to believe in a God who sticks beside the unworthy and underachievers and leads us safely home. If God can use Jacob to further his kingdom, he can use us too.

Buy the book HERE.

MORE ABOUT MAX LUCADO

Max Lucado is a pastor, speaker, and best-selling author who, in his own words, “writes books for people who don’t read books.” He serves the people of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, and his message is for the hurting, the guilty, the lonely, and the discouraged: God loves you; let him.

As a writer, Max is known for combining poetic storytelling and homespun humor with the heart of a pastor. All of his trade books began as sermon series at Oak Hills Church, and his sermons all begin with Max asking himself this question: “What can I say on Sunday that will still matter on Monday?” He’s been dubbed “America’s Pastor” by Christianity Today, and “The Best Preacher in America” by Reader’s Digest.

Max’s books have sold more than 145 million copies in over 50 languages worldwide. He published On the Anvil, his first trade book, in 1985. His 44th trade book, Help Is Here, was released in 2022. Max’s books regularly appear on bestseller lists, including The New York Times. His writing has also been featured in Bible studies, Bible commentaries, songs, greeting cards, and even plush toys. He is the recipient of the 2021 ECPA Pinnacle Award for his outstanding contribution to the publishing industry.

Max’s love for everyday people began during his childhood in the small town of Andrews, Texas. His father was an oilfield mechanic, his mother was a nurse, and Max spent a lot of his time either running from or running after his brother, Dee. Max grew rebellious in his teenage years, and after one specific drunken night, he began to wonder if there was more to life than parties and chasing girls. He now believes that if Jesus hadn’t found him and changed his heart, alcoholism would have been in his future.

After high school, Max attended Abilene Christian University and left with two degrees and a heart for following Jesus and helping others learn about him, too. He moved to Miami, Florida, and took a position as an associate pastor at a small church. This is where Max started writing about Jesus for the first time in the church’s monthly newsletter, and it’s where he developed his passion for people and ministry.

Florida was also where Max met his wife, Denalyn. Together, they lived first in Miami and then spent several years in Rio de Janeiro, helping plant churches. The newsletters Max wrote to family and friends while in Rio, along with the newsletters he wrote at his church in Miami, eventually formed the manuscript of his first book, On the Anvil.

Max and Denalyn now live in San Antonio, Texas. They have three grown daughters, three sons-in-law, and two grandchildren.

Find more at https://maxlucado.com/

DISCOVER THE GOSPEL SPICE MINISTRIES

The Gospel Spice Podcast is part of a larger range of tools given to you by Gospel Spice Ministries.

In a nutshell, we exist to inspire Christ-followers to delight in God.

In more details: we provide resources to empower Christian leaders across generational, social, ethnic and geographical boundaries towards more intimacy with Jesus Christ and discipleship effectiveness through a Biblical Christocentric foundation. The Gospel-Spice Ministries provide a safe environment for spiritual and community growth empowering people to know Christ more intimately, serve one another more powerfully, and reach the world for Jesus.

PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the link with friends and family.

PRAY IT FORWARD by praying for us and those you share it with!

PAY IT FORWARD!! Would you consider supporting this show today to help others enjoy it for free? It comes to you completely free, but is labor-intensive to produce, and we want to keep putting it in the ears of people!

Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status. Your donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170. We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. All donations above our minimal operating costs go to Christian organizations fighting human trafficking.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

(*ListenNotes ranking, 2023)

Experience the peace and presence of Jesus like never before, by walking in His footsteps on this virtual, highly personable tour of first-century Israel! Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

DATES | anytime!

LOCATION | Online! 

Life is busy, and full of worry, anxiety, and stress. What if what we needed was a solid reminder of Jesus’ very real presence in our lives? What if walking in His footsteps for a few weeks might prove the cure to our endless challenges, so that we may view our life as He does?

It’s said that a visit to Israel will forever change your experience of Scripture. That statement is right. But more than that, it will forever change your experience of Jesus.

Here at Gospel Spice, our goal is to know Jesus more. It means deepening our theology, for sure, but what about discovering the little things Jesus enjoyed? Think of your best friends, or deeply loved ones. You know their favorite color, food, and scent. Not because it’s life-changing, but because it is about intimacy, and knowing one another well. So, how about discovering one of Jesus’ favorite childhood smells, or the Galilee skyline He woke up to every morning? It may not alter your theology, but it will help you know Him more.

Do you need a full measure of His peace and comfort? Do you need to be reminded of His love for you? Do you need His guidance to navigate your life right now? Stephanie just returned from the Holy Land and invites you to walk in the footsteps of Jesus on this virtual tour of first-century Israel from the comfort of your own home. We will be journeying through Scripture together to meet Jesus where He walked, taught, and fellowshipped with His friends in Galilee. We will encounter Him on the Passion walk, from the Upper Room to Golgotha. We will meet Him in the Garden Tomb.

So, pack your virtual sandals, along with a very real Bible and pen, to journey through Scripture in the footsteps of Jesus!

Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie is on a mission to guide us closer to God through a unique blend of biblical flavors and French culture. In this season of Gospel Spice, she explores the theme of rest, inviting us to discover the profound joy and peace that comes from abiding in Christ. Stephanie encourages us to experience rest not merely as a physical break, but as a deep, life-altering encounter with the Living God.

In this particular episode, Stephanie shares her insights and personal discoveries on the crucial topic of experiential heart knowledge of Christ. She draws inspiration from the Apostle Paul, who wholeheartedly embraced the path of surrender and sacrifice for the sake of knowing and having fellowship with Christ. Stephanie reminds us that true righteousness stems from faith in Christ, unleashing the boundless wellspring of rest that He offers.

Stephanie references the pivotal passage in Romans 8:1-8. This Scripture serves as a guiding light in exploring the transformative power of rest in our lives.

In the upcoming weeks, you don't want to miss the next four episodes that revolve around a weekend retreat where Stephanie was a keynote speaker. During this powerful event, she delved into the essence of rest, sharing her knowledge and experiences with eager participants. Stephanie extends a heartfelt invitation to all listeners to join her in practicing rest, as she leads us on an inspirational journey to encounter the restorative presence of our mighty God.

Stephanie discusses the incredible concept of dwelling in God's presence and finding delight in His glory. She challenges us to examine why we often feel the need to fill ourselves up, reminding us that we have unlimited access to the infinite supply within us through Christ. Stephanie compassionately explores the struggle of believing that God provides only a limited supply when He promises us an abundance that knows no bounds.

Stephanie encourages us to bridge the gap between what we say we believe and what we truly believe. She shares her unique perspective as a bilingual individual, highlighting the richness of the French language that possesses two distinct words for "know." This linguistic nuance inspires us to pursue a deeper, more intimate knowledge of Christ, one that goes beyond mere intellectual understanding.

Rest is not a one-time event; rather, it is a continuous process of surrendering to God's will. Stephanie gently reminds us that when we find ourselves aligned with the perfect will of God, true happiness and peace fill our hearts. However, she acknowledges the challenges inherent in surrendering to God's will, even when we know it is ultimately what is best for us.

Drawing from Romans 8:26-28, Stephanie emphasizes the indispensable role of the Holy Spirit in helping us pray when we are at a loss for words. She invites us to tap into the wellspring of the Holy Spirit within us. This endless source of refreshment and guidance sustains and nourishes us on our journey of rest.

Let us embrace the life-giving rest found in Christ and strive to reduce the gap between what we claim to believe and what our lives genuinely reflect.

Before we conclude, we want to give a special shoutout to the Gospel Spice community. Your support and engagement have been a tremendous source of encouragement for Stephanie and the entire team. If you wish to dig deeper into the themes explored in Gospel Spice or are interested in booking Stephanie as a speaker for your next event, visit our website for more information or reach out to us directly.

Thank you for being a part of the Gospel Spice family. May this season of rest bring about a transformative encounter with God's presence, allowing you to experience true rest in your everyday life.

GOOD TO KNOW!

This is the third of 6 episodes on rest. Stephanie initially taught keynotes at several distinct events and, surprisingly, the event organizers asked her to speak on the topic of rest. They didn't know they were all asking for the same theme. Stephanie crafted unique talks for each event, and wondered how this serendipitous convergence on the theme of rest might apply to you, our beloved Podcast audience. So, here are the keynotes she gave on the topic of dwelling in the presence of God, and delighting in His glory, as the essence, goal and means of rest. 

Experience the peace and presence of Jesus like never before, by walking in His footsteps on this virtual, highly personable tour of first-century Israel! Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

DATES | anytime!

LOCATION | Online! 

Life is busy, and full of worry, anxiety, and stress. What if what we needed was a solid reminder of Jesus’ very real presence in our lives? What if walking in His footsteps for a few weeks might prove the cure to our endless challenges, so that we may view our life as He does?

It’s said that a visit to Israel will forever change your experience of Scripture. That statement is right. But more than that, it will forever change your experience of Jesus.

Here at Gospel Spice, our goal is to know Jesus more. It means deepening our theology, for sure, but what about discovering the little things Jesus enjoyed? Think of your best friends, or deeply loved ones. You know their favorite color, food, and scent. Not because it’s life-changing, but because it is about intimacy, and knowing one another well. So, how about discovering one of Jesus’ favorite childhood smells, or the Galilee skyline He woke up to every morning? It may not alter your theology, but it will help you know Him more.

Do you need a full measure of His peace and comfort? Do you need to be reminded of His love for you? Do you need His guidance to navigate your life right now? Stephanie just returned from the Holy Land and invites you to walk in the footsteps of Jesus on this virtual tour of first-century Israel from the comfort of your own home. We will be journeying through Scripture together to meet Jesus where He walked, taught, and fellowshipped with His friends in Galilee. We will encounter Him on the Passion walk, from the Upper Room to Golgotha. We will meet Him in the Garden Tomb.

So, pack your virtual sandals, along with a very real Bible and pen, to journey through Scripture in the footsteps of Jesus!

Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

This month we are celebrating the anniversary of Gospel Spice! We launched our first episode in 2019, when we faithfully and haltingly followed God's pretty clear directions!

Would you please take a moment to celebrate with us? There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice 

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do 1 or more of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup 

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

Summer is coming to an end, and busyness returns as the fall season settles upon us. We live in a fast-paced world where rest is elusive, and even frowned upon—especially once summer is over. What if, instead, intentional rest in Christ was the secret to launch a lifetime of delight in God, regardless of seasons? As summer makes way for the busyness of the fall season, Gospel Spice invites you to embrace a lifestyle of rest by experiencing the presence of God amidst your busy life.

Do you enjoy Gospel Spice? Then let's deepen our relationship! There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do one (or more!) of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

We are in our Gospel Spice REST series! We invite you to enhance your experience through the REST workbook, which contains listening guides to take notes during each episode, as well as optional bonus questions to reflect on your own or with a friend/group in order to truly enjoy the fullness of REST in Christ. Go to gospelspice.com/rest for all the details.

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

How well can you articulate your Christian belief system? How can you spot false theology? Who are trusted resources to interpret Scripture? The Nicene Creed is a fundamental element to understand and experience our faith and live out a high Christology. So, today Stephanie welcomes university professor and author Phillip Cary to discuss the significance of the Nicene Creed in Christian tradition. Phillip recently released a new book, The Nicene Creed: An introduction, which is one of Stephanie’s favorite reads this year- and this is saying a lot!

In the second half of the conversation today, Phillip and Stephanie touch on the Nicene Creed’s widespread usage among different denominations, how it serves as a boundary and center for the faith, how it was written to combat heresy about who Jesus is, and how it has served as a unifying factor for different Christian traditions.

this episode is part 2 of the conversation. Make sure you listened to part one, episode 235: 

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/243538/link/

They dive into what a creed is, with the Nicene Creed being the most widely used and recited by about a billion Christians every Sunday during liturgies. They explore the Creed's significance, how it establishes boundaries and centers our faith, and how it powerfully anchors our belief in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The conversation also delves into the infinite depth of the Christian faith, as well as more topics such as the significance of Mary's role in the birth of Jesus, the role of Pontius Pilate, who are both mentioned in the Creed, and the topic of who teaches the truth about Jesus Christ and how the Creed is the litmus test of sound Christian doctrine. This episode will anchor your faith in a proper high Christology in simple terms and offers important insights into the significance of the Nicene Creed for Christians of all traditions. If you're interested in the history and importance of Christian creeds, this episode is definitely worth a listen!

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK, THE NICENE CREED: AN INTRODUCTION

Understand and celebrate what we believe! For centuries, the Nicene Creed has been central to the church’s confession. The Nicene Creed: An Introduction by Phillip Cary explores the Creed’s riches with simplicity and clarity. Cary explains the history of the Creed and walks through its meaning line by line. Far from being abstract or irrelevant, the words of the Creed carefully express what God has done in Christ and through the Spirit. The Nicene Creed gives us the gospel. It gives biblical Christians the words for what we already believe. And when we profess the Creed, we join the global church throughout history in declaring the name and work of the one God—Father, Son, and Spirit. Gain a fresh appreciation for the ancient confession with Phillip Cary’s help.

Buy the book (Stephanie could not recommend it strongly enough!) here: https://lexhampress.com/product/224267/the-nicene-creed-an-introduction 

MEET PHILLIP CARY

Phillip Cary is a prolific writer of courses and books, professor of philosophy at Eastern University near Philadelphia. He is also the editor of Pro Ecclesia, a theology journal for Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox churches. Phillip has a doctorate in philosophy from Yale University, where he studied St. Augustine, one of the great church fathers. His favorite theologian is Martin Luther, and he writes about Luther's ideas. Phillip loves The Nicene Creed because it summarizes what Luther means by gospel - the story of who Jesus Christ is and what God has done in Christ for us and our salvation. He has been working on a book about this topic for a long time, so we gladly celebrate The Nicene Creed: An Introduction today.

NEW | GO DEEPER WITH THESE QUESTIONS, ALONE OR WITH A FRIEND!

1. How important is the Nicene Creed to your faith and why?

2. What is your experience with different types of Christian churches and how has it influenced your faith?

3. How do you think the Nicene Creed serves as a unifying factor among different Christian traditions?

4. Do you believe the Church is currently experiencing confusion and division, and if so, why?

5. How do you think studying the Nicene Creed can broaden one's understanding of the faith?

6. What is your interpretation of Mary's role in the birth of Jesus and the significance of her words "Be it unto me according to Your Word"?

8. What does the concept of translation mean to you in the context of Christianity?

9. How do you understand the meaning of the term "Catholic" in the Nicene Creed?

10. Why do you think the Nicene Creed was necessary for maintaining the faith in Christ and avoiding theological error?

IN A NUTSHELL | WHAT IS THIS EPISODE COVERING?

1. What is the Nicene Creed?

- The Nicene Creed is a confession of faith that comes from the Latin word credo, meaning "I believe." It is a widely used creed in the Christian tradition and is recited by about a billion Christians every Sunday during liturgies.

2. How has attending different types of churches influenced Stephanie’s approach to Scripture?

- Attending different types of churches has broadened Stephanie’s understanding of Scripture, as she has been exposed to different interpretations and perspectives.

3. What is the significance of the Nicene Creed for different Christian denominations?

- The Nicene Creed serves as a common source of unity for different Christian denominations, as it represents the DNA of those churches.

4. How does the Nicene Creed serve as a boundary and center for the faith?

- The Nicene Creed sets beliefs such as the full deity of Jesus and serves as a boundary and center for the faith by ensuring that those who recite it have a shared understanding of core beliefs.

5. What is the book discussed in this episode and what is its content?

- The book discussed in this episode is about the Christian faith and its creed. It explores the Nicene Creed and its significance in the Christian tradition.

6. What are the key beliefs outlined in the Nicene Creed?

- The Nicene Creed outlines the belief in one God, the Father, and in Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God who was crucified for our salvation and rose again on the third day. It also includes the belief in the Holy Spirit, one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection of the dead.

7. What does "Catholic" mean in the context of the Nicene Creed?

- In the context of the Nicene Creed, "Catholic" means universal, not just Roman Catholic.

8. What is the essence of High Christology?

- The essence of High Christology is the focus on who Jesus is.

9. What is the history behind the Nicene Creed and why was it written?

- The Nicene Creed was written to combat heresy about who Jesus is, specifically the belief held by Arius that the Son was created by God the Father and therefore not equal to him.

10. How does the Nicene Creed celebrate God's giving of Himself to us through Christ?

- The double focus on the double nature of Jesus in the Nicene Creed allows us to understand how God gives Himself to us in the flesh of Christ for our salvation, making the confession of the Creed a celebration of this understanding.

DISCOVER THE GOSPEL SPICE MINISTRIES

The Gospel Spice Podcast is part of a larger range of tools given to you by Gospel Spice Ministries.

In a nutshell, we exist to inspire Christ-followers to delight in God.

In more details: we provide resources to empower Christian leaders across generational, social, ethnic and geographical boundaries towards more intimacy with Jesus Christ and discipleship effectiveness through a Biblical Christocentric foundation. The Gospel-Spice Ministries provide a safe environment for spiritual and community growth empowering people to know Christ more intimately, serve one another more powerfully, and reach the world for Jesus.

PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the link with friends and family.

PRAY IT FORWARD by praying for us and those you share it with!

PAY IT FORWARD!! Would you consider supporting this show today to help others enjoy it for free? It comes to you completely free, but is labor-intensive to produce, and we want to keep putting it in the ears of people!

Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status. Your donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170. We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. All donations above our minimal operating costs go to Christian organizations fighting human trafficking.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

(*ListenNotes ranking, 2023)

Experience the peace and presence of Jesus like never before, by walking in His footsteps on this virtual, highly personable tour of first-century Israel! Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

DATES | anytime!

LOCATION | Online! 

Life is busy, and full of worry, anxiety, and stress. What if what we needed was a solid reminder of Jesus’ very real presence in our lives? What if walking in His footsteps for a few weeks might prove the cure to our endless challenges, so that we may view our life as He does?

It’s said that a visit to Israel will forever change your experience of Scripture. That statement is right. But more than that, it will forever change your experience of Jesus.

Here at Gospel Spice, our goal is to know Jesus more. It means deepening our theology, for sure, but what about discovering the little things Jesus enjoyed? Think of your best friends, or deeply loved ones. You know their favorite color, food, and scent. Not because it’s life-changing, but because it is about intimacy, and knowing one another well. So, how about discovering one of Jesus’ favorite childhood smells, or the Galilee skyline He woke up to every morning? It may not alter your theology, but it will help you know Him more.

Do you need a full measure of His peace and comfort? Do you need to be reminded of His love for you? Do you need His guidance to navigate your life right now? Stephanie just returned from the Holy Land and invites you to walk in the footsteps of Jesus on this virtual tour of first-century Israel from the comfort of your own home. We will be journeying through Scripture together to meet Jesus where He walked, taught, and fellowshipped with His friends in Galilee. We will encounter Him on the Passion walk, from the Upper Room to Golgotha. We will meet Him in the Garden Tomb.

So, pack your virtual sandals, along with a very real Bible and pen, to journey through Scripture in the footsteps of Jesus!

Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Following up on our previous episode (make sure to tune in!), Stephanie dives deep into the art and mystery of contentment, as discussed by the Puritans. They recognized that true contentment is an elusive concept, often misunderstood by a world that seeks fulfillment in the accumulation of material possessions and worldly success.

Stephanie explores how our discontent and restlessness can arise from striving for more, whether it be popularity, wealth, or approval. Drawing from the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, she highlights the dangers of self-promotion and seeking to make a name for ourselves. Instead, rest lies in surrendering to God's plan and finding delight in Him. Stephanie unpacks the powerful message of Matthew 11 in relation to finding rest and highlights the need for repentance, rest, quietness, and trust in our journey of salvation and strength. Throughout, she reminds us of the transformative power of delighting in God, especially in times of hardship and affliction.

Stephanie leads us on a journey to experience a fresh measure of rest and a deeper revelation of God's goodness. Discover how delighting in God, even in the midst of challenges, can bring true strength and victory.

GOOD TO KNOW!

This is the second of 6 episodes on rest. Stephanie initially taught keynotes at several distinct events and, surprisingly, the event organizers asked her to speak on the topic of rest. They didn't know they were all asking for the same theme. Stephanie crafted unique talks for each event, and wondered how this serendipitous convergence on the theme of rest might apply to you, our beloved Podcast audience. So, here are the keynotes she gave on the topic of dwelling in the presence of God, and delighting in His glory, as the essence, goal and means of rest. 

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

Experience the peace and presence of Jesus like never before, by walking in His footsteps on this virtual, highly personable tour of first-century Israel! Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

DATES | anytime!

LOCATION | Online! 

Life is busy, and full of worry, anxiety, and stress. What if what we needed was a solid reminder of Jesus’ very real presence in our lives? What if walking in His footsteps for a few weeks might prove the cure to our endless challenges, so that we may view our life as He does?

It’s said that a visit to Israel will forever change your experience of Scripture. That statement is right. But more than that, it will forever change your experience of Jesus.

Here at Gospel Spice, our goal is to know Jesus more. It means deepening our theology, for sure, but what about discovering the little things Jesus enjoyed? Think of your best friends, or deeply loved ones. You know their favorite color, food, and scent. Not because it’s life-changing, but because it is about intimacy, and knowing one another well. So, how about discovering one of Jesus’ favorite childhood smells, or the Galilee skyline He woke up to every morning? It may not alter your theology, but it will help you know Him more.

Do you need a full measure of His peace and comfort? Do you need to be reminded of His love for you? Do you need His guidance to navigate your life right now? Stephanie just returned from the Holy Land and invites you to walk in the footsteps of Jesus on this virtual tour of first-century Israel from the comfort of your own home. We will be journeying through Scripture together to meet Jesus where He walked, taught, and fellowshipped with His friends in Galilee. We will encounter Him on the Passion walk, from the Upper Room to Golgotha. We will meet Him in the Garden Tomb.

So, pack your virtual sandals, along with a very real Bible and pen, to journey through Scripture in the footsteps of Jesus!

Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

Summer is coming to an end, and busyness returns as the fall season settles upon us. We live in a fast-paced world where rest is elusive, and even frowned upon—especially once summer is over. What if, instead, intentional rest in Christ was the secret to launch a lifetime of delight in God, regardless of seasons? As summer makes way for the busyness of the fall season, Gospel Spice invites you to embrace a lifestyle of rest by experiencing the presence of God amidst your busy life.

Do you enjoy Gospel Spice? Then let's deepen our relationship! There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do one (or more!) of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

We are in our Gospel Spice REST series! We invite you to enhance your experience through the REST workbook, which contains listening guides to take notes during each episode, as well as optional bonus questions to reflect on your own or with a friend/group in order to truly enjoy the fullness of REST in Christ. Go to gospelspice.com/rest for all the details.

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

How well can you articulate your Christian belief system? How can you spot false theology? Who are trusted resources to interpret Scripture? The Nicene Creed is a fundamental element to understand and experience our faith and live out a high Christology. So, today Stephanie welcomes university professor and author Phillip Cary to discuss the significance of the Nicene Creed in Christian tradition. Phillip recently released a new book, The Nicene Creed: An introduction, which is one of Stephanie’s favorite reads this year- and this is saying a lot!

Over the course of two episodes (235 today and 237 in a few days), Phillip and Stephanie touch on the Nicene Creed’s widespread usage among different denominations, how it serves as a boundary and center for the faith, how it was written to combat heresy about who Jesus is, and how it has served as a unifying factor for different Christian traditions. They dive into what a creed is, with the Nicene Creed being the most widely used and recited by about a billion Christians every Sunday during liturgies. They explore the Creed's significance, how it establishes boundaries and centers our faith, and how it powerfully anchors our belief in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The conversation also delves into the infinite depth of the Christian faith, as well as more topics such as the significance of Mary's role in the birth of Jesus, the role of Pontius Pilate, who are both mentioned in the Creed, and the topic of who teaches the truth about Jesus Christ and how the Creed is the litmus test of sound Christian doctrine. This episode will anchor your faith in a proper high Christology in simple terms and offers important insights into the significance of the Nicene Creed for Christians of all traditions. If you're interested in the history and importance of Christian creeds, this episode is definitely worth a listen!

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK, THE NICENE CREED: AN INTRODUCTION

Understand and celebrate what we believe! For centuries, the Nicene Creed has been central to the church’s confession. The Nicene Creed: An Introduction by Phillip Cary explores the Creed’s riches with simplicity and clarity. Cary explains the history of the Creed and walks through its meaning line by line. Far from being abstract or irrelevant, the words of the Creed carefully express what God has done in Christ and through the Spirit. The Nicene Creed gives us the gospel. It gives biblical Christians the words for what we already believe. And when we profess the Creed, we join the global church throughout history in declaring the name and work of the one God—Father, Son, and Spirit. Gain a fresh appreciation for the ancient confession with Phillip Cary’s help.

Buy the book (Stephanie could not recommend it strongly enough!) here: https://lexhampress.com/product/224267/the-nicene-creed-an-introduction 

MEET PHILLIP CARY

Phillip Cary is a prolific writer of courses and books, professor of philosophy at Eastern University near Philadelphia. He is also the editor of Pro Ecclesia, a theology journal for Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox churches. Phillip has a doctorate in philosophy from Yale University, where he studied St. Augustine, one of the great church fathers. His favorite theologian is Martin Luther, and he writes about Luther's ideas. Phillip loves The Nicene Creed because it summarizes what Luther means by gospel - the story of who Jesus Christ is and what God has done in Christ for us and our salvation. He has been working on a book about this topic for a long time, so we gladly celebrate The Nicene Creed: An Introduction today.

NEW | GO DEEPER WITH THESE QUESTIONS, ALONE OR WITH A FRIEND!

1. How important is the Nicene Creed to your faith and why?

2. What is your experience with different types of Christian churches and how has it influenced your faith?

3. How do you think the Nicene Creed serves as a unifying factor among different Christian traditions?

4. Do you believe the Church is currently experiencing confusion and division, and if so, why?

5. How do you think studying the Nicene Creed can broaden one's understanding of the faith?

6. What is your interpretation of Mary's role in the birth of Jesus and the significance of her words "Be it unto me according to Your Word"?

8. What does the concept of translation mean to you in the context of Christianity?

9. How do you understand the meaning of the term "Catholic" in the Nicene Creed?

10. Why do you think the Nicene Creed was necessary for maintaining the faith in Christ and avoiding theological error?

IN A NUTSHELL | WHAT IS THIS EPISODE COVERING?

1. What is the Nicene Creed?

- The Nicene Creed is a confession of faith that comes from the Latin word credo, meaning "I believe." It is a widely used creed in the Christian tradition and is recited by about a billion Christians every Sunday during liturgies.

2. How has attending different types of churches influenced Stephanie’s approach to Scripture?

- Attending different types of churches has broadened Stephanie’s understanding of Scripture, as she has been exposed to different interpretations and perspectives.

3. What is the significance of the Nicene Creed for different Christian denominations?

- The Nicene Creed serves as a common source of unity for different Christian denominations, as it represents the DNA of those churches.

4. How does the Nicene Creed serve as a boundary and center for the faith?

- The Nicene Creed sets beliefs such as the full deity of Jesus and serves as a boundary and center for the faith by ensuring that those who recite it have a shared understanding of core beliefs.

5. What is the book discussed in this episode and what is its content?

- The book discussed in this episode is about the Christian faith and its creed. It explores the Nicene Creed and its significance in the Christian tradition.

6. What are the key beliefs outlined in the Nicene Creed?

- The Nicene Creed outlines the belief in one God, the Father, and in Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God who was crucified for our salvation and rose again on the third day. It also includes the belief in the Holy Spirit, one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection of the dead.

7. What does "Catholic" mean in the context of the Nicene Creed?

- In the context of the Nicene Creed, "Catholic" means universal, not just Roman Catholic.

8. What is the essence of High Christology?

- The essence of High Christology is the focus on who Jesus is.

9. What is the history behind the Nicene Creed and why was it written?

- The Nicene Creed was written to combat heresy about who Jesus is, specifically the belief held by Arius that the Son was created by God the Father and therefore not equal to him.

10. How does the Nicene Creed celebrate God's giving of Himself to us through Christ?

- The double focus on the double nature of Jesus in the Nicene Creed allows us to understand how God gives Himself to us in the flesh of Christ for our salvation, making the confession of the Creed a celebration of this understanding.

Experience the peace and presence of Jesus like never before, by walking in His footsteps on this virtual, highly personable tour of first-century Israel! Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

DATES | anytime!

LOCATION | Online! 

Life is busy, and full of worry, anxiety, and stress. What if what we needed was a solid reminder of Jesus’ very real presence in our lives? What if walking in His footsteps for a few weeks might prove the cure to our endless challenges, so that we may view our life as He does?

It’s said that a visit to Israel will forever change your experience of Scripture. That statement is right. But more than that, it will forever change your experience of Jesus.

Here at Gospel Spice, our goal is to know Jesus more. It means deepening our theology, for sure, but what about discovering the little things Jesus enjoyed? Think of your best friends, or deeply loved ones. You know their favorite color, food, and scent. Not because it’s life-changing, but because it is about intimacy, and knowing one another well. So, how about discovering one of Jesus’ favorite childhood smells, or the Galilee skyline He woke up to every morning? It may not alter your theology, but it will help you know Him more.

Do you need a full measure of His peace and comfort? Do you need to be reminded of His love for you? Do you need His guidance to navigate your life right now? Stephanie just returned from the Holy Land and invites you to walk in the footsteps of Jesus on this virtual tour of first-century Israel from the comfort of your own home. We will be journeying through Scripture together to meet Jesus where He walked, taught, and fellowshipped with His friends in Galilee. We will encounter Him on the Passion walk, from the Upper Room to Golgotha. We will meet Him in the Garden Tomb.

So, pack your virtual sandals, along with a very real Bible and pen, to journey through Scripture in the footsteps of Jesus!

Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Today, we want to address a topic that is all too familiar to many of us: weariness. Stephanie vulnerably shares her own experience of a recent, literal, physical nervous breakdown, caused by years of chronic pain and the wrongly placed belief that with enough faith, she could do it all. She warns against believing this lie, which can lead to shame and guilt. True faith is not about relying on our own abilities but placing our trust in God. Understanding our limits can help us truly understand what it means to have faith.

This is the first of 6 episodes on rest. Stephanie initially taught keynotes at several distinct events and, surprisingly, the event organizers asked her to speak on the topic of rest. They didn't know they were all asking for the same theme. Stephanie crafted unique talks for each event, and wondered how this serendipitous convergence on the theme of rest might apply to you, our beloved Podcast audience. So, here are the keynotes she gave on the topic of dwelling in the presence of God, and delighting in His glory, as the essence, goal and means of rest. 

We dive deep into the concept of weariness and how it affects our lives. Did you know that the word "weary" in Greek is closely related to "hard work"? Stephanie shares her personal journey of coming to Jesus for rest. She explains how weariness is not just physical exhaustion but also the accumulation of pain and anxiety. When we allow long-term stress to take hold, it can lead to snapping over small things and narrow our ability to cope with situations or people.

Stephanie reminds us that God has infinite strength, and He does not need us to carry the burdens of life in our own strength. Jesus, though He came in weakness, is the fullness of God and has no weakness. We are encouraged to bring our weaknesses to God, as they are the one thing He does not possess.

Worry and anxiety often stem from not fully embracing the truth that Jesus is in control. Stephanie shares powerful insights about how distractions like fear, shame, guilt, approval, expectations, and comparison can burden us and rob us of finding true rest. It's a timely message for our culture, where discontent seems to be prevalent.

Aside from the wisdom shared, we want to highlight Stephanie's availability for speaking engagements. If you're looking for a dynamic speaker to address various topics related to scripture study and seasonal events, make sure to check out Stephanie's page at gospelspice.com/speaking. Her passion for the gospel shines through in her speaking engagements, inspiring others to explore the rich depths of God's Word.

Just as Jesus condemned the Pharisees for putting heavy burdens on others without carrying them themselves, we aim to offer a fresh perspective on Matthew 11, where Jesus invites us to come to Him for rest.

Scripture challenges us to take this invitation to rest seriously. We pray that the Holy Spirit will bring transformative rest into your life. Our desire is for you to experience the peace and freedom that comes from surrendering your burdens to Jesus.

If you're currently facing restlessness, discontent, or anxiety, don't fret or worry. Remember that God is in control, and He is not surprised by whatever challenges you face. Trust in Him and find rest in His love and provision.

Experience the peace and presence of Jesus like never before, by walking in His footsteps on this virtual, highly personable tour of first-century Israel! Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

DATES | anytime!

LOCATION | Online! 

Life is busy, and full of worry, anxiety, and stress. What if what we needed was a solid reminder of Jesus’ very real presence in our lives? What if walking in His footsteps for a few weeks might prove the cure to our endless challenges, so that we may view our life as He does?

It’s said that a visit to Israel will forever change your experience of Scripture. That statement is right. But more than that, it will forever change your experience of Jesus.

Here at Gospel Spice, our goal is to know Jesus more. It means deepening our theology, for sure, but what about discovering the little things Jesus enjoyed? Think of your best friends, or deeply loved ones. You know their favorite color, food, and scent. Not because it’s life-changing, but because it is about intimacy, and knowing one another well. So, how about discovering one of Jesus’ favorite childhood smells, or the Galilee skyline He woke up to every morning? It may not alter your theology, but it will help you know Him more.

Do you need a full measure of His peace and comfort? Do you need to be reminded of His love for you? Do you need His guidance to navigate your life right now? Stephanie just returned from the Holy Land and invites you to walk in the footsteps of Jesus on this virtual tour of first-century Israel from the comfort of your own home. We will be journeying through Scripture together to meet Jesus where He walked, taught, and fellowshipped with His friends in Galilee. We will encounter Him on the Passion walk, from the Upper Room to Golgotha. We will meet Him in the Garden Tomb.

So, pack your virtual sandals, along with a very real Bible and pen, to journey through Scripture in the footsteps of Jesus!

Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

Summer is coming to an end, and busyness returns as the fall season settles upon us. We live in a fast-paced world where rest is elusive, and even frowned upon—especially once summer is over. What if, instead, intentional rest in Christ was the secret to launch a lifetime of delight in God, regardless of seasons? As summer makes way for the busyness of the fall season, Gospel Spice invites you to embrace a lifestyle of rest by experiencing the presence of God amidst your busy life.

Do you enjoy Gospel Spice? Then let's deepen our relationship! There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do one (or more!) of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

We are in our Gospel Spice REST series! We invite you to enhance your experience through the REST workbook, which contains listening guides to take notes during each episode, as well as optional bonus questions to reflect on your own or with a friend/group in order to truly enjoy the fullness of REST in Christ. Go to gospelspice.com/rest for all the details.

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie welcomes Benjamin Windle for a conversation about making sense of pain, affliction, and suffering. Is God allowing it in your life? Why? Is He punishing you? Is He enjoying inflicting pain? Seasons of difficulties will come to all of us - and our faith is no shield against pain. Our faith can however inform our approach and understanding of pain and suffering. Harder still, when our loved ones go through seasons of pain. How can we encourage them, help them see God at work, and not serve them cliched platitude that offer no relief from the agony? How can we have a God-centered approach to suffering?
Loss of a loved one, of a dream or of a meaningful relationship. Physical pain. Depression. Loneliness. Shame. Affliction. Mental illness. Job loss. Grief is your reality today, in one form or another. And if it isn't, it might be, tomorrow. Benjamin Windle offers fresh insights to those who are experiencing pain and affliction today. Stephanie recommends his new book, Good Catastrophe, to Christians who seek an understanding of pain through the lens of faith, especially if they are relatively new to the Christian faith. 

MEET BENJAMIN WINDLE

As a Pastor for over 20 years, Benjamin Windle has walked with many people through the dark shadows and valleys of the human experience. He has dedicated his life to helping people overcome life’s challenges by growing deeper in their faith and reaching higher in life. Benjamin is a new-generation content creator for some of the most respected Christian brands in the world. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Cindi, and they have three sons. He has a Bachelor of Theology, an MBA from Deakin University, and Executive Education at Stanford University and the MIT Sloan School of Management.

more at https://www.benjaminwindle.com/ 

get the book: https://www.goodcatastrophe.com/

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

We are spending one whole month having conversations with inspiring guests about parenting at different stages of life - from newborns to adult children, and every stage in between! And then, we spend another whole month discussing essentials of physical, mental, and emotional wellness with a wide range of Christ-centered experts. 

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

We need our eyes on Jesus. We need to train ourselves to see Him even where it is not obvious. Because He is here. He is in the middle of every detail we are going through. We just forget.

So, Stephanie invites you to join us as we train ourselves to see Him.

There is something profound in seeking Jesus in the routine of daily life and also in the unusual moments of our years. To find him through our feasts and our fasts – our joys and our sadnesses, our happiness and our grief.

Through the series and in this episode, Stephanie hopes to provide an overview of the Jewish and Christian feasts and how, for example, some of them were fulfilled by the death and resurrection of Jesus, and then the birth of the church in the first coming of Jesus. The remaining feasts are yet to be fulfilled in the second coming of Jesus. This broad perspective allows us to see the feasts as part of a larger narrative under the sovereignty of God, pointing to the continuing, redemptive work of Christ. The Jewish and Christian liturgical calendars remind us to keep our focus on eternal things as we await the fulfillment of the remaining feasts.

Stephanie invites us into Jesus' interactions with his people through feasts, fasts, and daily life, focusing on the 17 special days in the Jewish and Christian liturgical calendars. Scripture and the communal aspect of faith urge us to explore ancient Jewish and Christian celebrations together as the body of Christ. Understanding the significance of feasts is not just an individual pursuit, but an opportunity to grow together as a community of believers.

Scripture points to Jesus as the fulfillment of the law of Moses and the covering provided in the Garden of Eden. Jesus perfectly fulfilled the requirements of the Mosaic Law, bringing a new covenant through his death and resurrection. The sacrifices in the Old Testament, as described in Leviticus and the Mosaic Law, were valid in the eyes of God because they pointed to the future death of Jesus Christ, first highlighted in Isaiah. The sacrifices in the Old Testament did not remove sin, but worked to restore covenantal relationships and forgive particular sins. This is a crucial aspect to understand, as it lays the foundation for Jesus' role as the ultimate sacrifice for the complete removal of sin.

By understanding the significance of feasts in both traditions and how they point to the work of the Messiah, we are invited to deepen our worship and grow in likeness to Jesus, the King of Kings. As we come to the table of God’s goodness and presence through the series, may we embrace these feasts as a fresh way to connect with our Savior, to fall in love and worship of Him ever deeper. Amen.

Don’t forget to check out our essential workbook to accompany this study. Stephanie personally created the content to invite you deeper into study. Don’t miss out! It’s at https://www.gospelspice.com/store

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

This series is an invitation to immerse yourself in the various ways God communicates to us, and us to Him. So pay attention, He is here and willing to whisper in your ear.

A word of caution: don’t come to Scripture with the agenda of finding yourself there. Right now we are going to take Scripture in. Like breathing, like eating, like smelling a flower. Don’t come to Scripture with the agenda of finding yourself there. Come with the firm intention of discovering God instead. And then Scripture will never disappoint. God promises to be found in the places where He dwells – His Word especially. And in the process, you will undoubtedly find yourself as you find Him. So as we enter the hallowed pages of Scripture together, through a humble doorway and a very simple story, ask yourself: what is this telling me about Jesus?

THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO PARTNER WITH GOSPEL SPICE TODAY!

First, PAY Gospel Spice Forward: Give a tax-deductible gift so others can experience our ministry for free, just like you! You can pay it forward with any debit, credit card, or via PayPal. See below for more details about your impact.

Also, PLAY Gospel Spice Forward: SHARE the podcast and the studies with your friends and family. FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW on your favorite podcast app (leave a comment + a star rating on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Pandora, IHeart, Google Podcast, etc…). It REALLY is the best way to help others find this content-rich podcast. 

And, last but not least, PRAY Gospel Spice Forward: We pray for you weekly. We covet your prayers for our ministry, the thousands we reach, and our team! Contact us to let us know you are praying for us!

NEW!

Another way to partner with us is to purchase our workbooks and online Bible studies. We keep them at the lowest possible cost, but they require a lot of work from us! For example,

- a complete Bible Study requires an average of 500 man-hours.

- a workbook for a series requires almost 100 man-hours.

MORE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US FINANCIALLY:

Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status.

Our goal is to provide in-depth, high-quality, free Bible resources for all. They are free, but expensive to create! We need your financial support to keep producing and distributing them. Please pay Gospel Spice forward today! For example, a podcast episode takes close to 10 hours of work (and we release 2 each week). They come to you completely free, but we would truly love your support.

We want the money to go to those who really need it. Once our operating costs are paid, 100% of your donation is redistributed to our partners who fight human trafficking. Each year, we aim to give as much as we can. For example, Stephanie works more than full time for Gospel Spice, entirely for free. All board members and volunteers are donating time. We limit our operational expenses to the bare minimum.

Your pay-it-forward donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170.

We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. Thank you!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

The perfect gift for everyone - apparel, drinkware, stickers and more for all the women, men and kids in your life!

https://www.gospelspice.com/merch

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Do you enjoy Gospel Spice? Then let's deepen our relationship! There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do one (or more!) of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

On this episode of Gospel Spice, Stephanie welcomes Laura Acuña to dive deep into the world of body image issues. They discuss Laura's personal story of how God set her free from her negative relationship with food, negative body image, and a pattern of yo-yo dieting. They also explore how the accumulation of little traumas can have a significant impact on a person's life. The episode emphasizes the importance of stewarding our bodies well, self-compassion, and allowing God's grace to come into our lives. Laura affirms that shame doesn't come from God and offers a prayer for listeners, asking God to help them understand their true relationship with their bodies, remove shame from their lives, and replace lies about beauty and body image with truth.

Stephanie and Laura talk about:

- Laura's own story of gaining one hundred pounds as an eleven-year-old and finally being set free fifty years later.
- How to re-think your thinking regarding food, body image and dieting through the lens of self-compassion, God’s grace and His word.
- The surprising truth that you can be free from food and body image issues before ever losing a pound.
- Why so many women who struggle with these strongholds need to recover their voice.
- The importance of to learning to show up as your true female self and being comfortable in your own skin.
- How to walk away from what has never worked and embrace the important mind-shift of accepting you need God’s healing instead of relying on dieting to fix what is broken inside.
- Why rejecting shame in all of its forms is crucial for healing and peace.
- The importance of stopping legalism (fire the food police!) regarding what you eat and how you treat your body.
- Our culture’s negative view of a woman’s aging body and how, as Christians, we can resist falling for this toxic and impossible standard.

In her 31-day devotional, Still Becoming, Laura shares her personal experience of struggling with body image and dieting for almost 50 years until she found freedom. We learn about how disordered eating and body image issues are often responses to the broken parts inside us, and people often use food to numb, distract, or hide their emotions. We also address how the dieting mindset can lead to shame and legalism. Laura emphasizes the importance of giving ourselves self-compassion and allowing God's grace to come into our lives. Additionally, we discuss the importance of stewarding our bodies well for maintaining mobility and allowing us to do the things we want to do, regardless of our physical appearance. We also dive into the cultural obsession with youth and beauty, and how Christians can embrace aging as a virtue. So sit back and enjoy as we explore how to overcome body image issues with God's help.

BONUS - QUESTIONS TO GO DEEPER (ON YOUR OWN OR WITH A FRIEND)

1. How does Laura Acuna's personal story impact the way you view body image and dieting?

2. Do you believe that emotional eating and body image issues are often responses to broken parts within us? Why or why not?

3. What are some of the traumas in your life that you might have been using food to numb, distract, or hide?

4. Have you ever struggled with legalism or shame when it comes to dieting or fitness? How can you break free from that mindset?

5. What are some small steps that you can take to take better care of your body on a day-to-day basis?

6. Do you believe that the aging process is an underestimated virtue in our culture? Why or why not?

7. How can we as a society work to shift the focus away from the physical appearance and towards other qualities like wisdom and character?

8. In what ways can we show love to others regardless of their physical appearance or status?

9. How does scripture help us replace lies about beauty and body image with truth from God's word?

10. How can we support the men in our lives who may not understand or know how to support women who struggle with body image issues?

MEET LAURA ACUNA

Laura Acuña is a speaker, author, Bible teacher, and coach. She’s served as a women’s ministry leader for over 22 years. A graduate of Liberty University, she earned a degree in Christian Counseling and a minor in Biblical Studies. She’s the co-founder of Sisters In Faith Ministries, a non-profit ministry to women in the Damascus, Maryland, area. Married to Pat, the two are the parents of three sons, and one daughter-in-love. They became first-time grandparents to Evelyn Grace (finally a girl!) in July 2021. Laura challenges her sisters to grow up to become spiritually and emotionally mature. Her new book Still Becoming: Hope, Help and Healing for the Diet-Weary Soul was published in December 2022.

Laura Acuna's life changed drastically when she was just 11 years old and experienced a significant weight gain, leading to yo-yo dieting and a negative body image. She struggled with disordered eating and shame for years until a series of tragic events - the sudden loss of her mother and best friend - led her to seek help from a therapist. Through years of therapy and her faith, Laura learned about trauma and its impact on her mental health, including how little T traumas can accumulate and have just as much of an impact as larger ones. With this knowledge, she was able to overcome her disordered eating and negative body image and use her experience to help others through her book.

Fina Laura at https://laura-acuna.com/

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

We invite you to enjoy a Christ-centered summer by experiencing Jesus through the lens of the body of Christ. We bring you a diversity of viewpoints on several issues, and invite you to discover Jesus through their own journey with Him.

Our Summer series invite you to ponder important topics for daily living. Stephanie and her occasional guests tell us about the importance of our definition of success, the key elements of leadership roles, the traps of comparison, the importance of theology, and much more! These stand-along episodes are meant to encourage you and challenge you to experience deeper fruitfulness in your various roles and ministries, in all the relationships and areas of your life. The topics we discuss are eternal and apply to both genders, across time and space and culture and age. So, join us for deep conversations with inspiring Christ-followers, conversations that will flavor your summer with the Gospel.

Conversations about culture, leadership, success, dating, gender, and struggles with comparison, pride, and more: that is your Gospel Spice summer!

We are spending one whole month having conversations with inspiring guests about parenting at different stages of life - from newborns to adult children, and every stage in between! And then, we spend another whole month discussing essentials of physical, mental, and emotional wellness with a wide range of Christ-centered experts. 

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

As Stephanie invites you to continue your exploration of reading and interpreting the Scriptures correctly, we delve into the importance of seeking Jesus in the Bible and warn against misinterpreting the Scriptures. We are continuing our exploration of Jesus’ question, “Have you not read the Scriptures” with a focus on personal application.

Come and learn about the dangers of seeking to find ourselves in the Bible rather than seeking Jesus. Together, we also highlight how the Holy Spirit guides us to see Jesus in the Old Testament. For example, Stephanie suggests that you randomly flip open the Bible and let the Holy Spirit guide you to a passage where you will sit until the Holy Spirit shows you Jesus through the words on the page. We invite you to glorify the Father through the Son! So, today, pursue the beauty of finding Jesus in the Old Testament!

As always, the Gospel Spice podcast infuses deep biblical teachings with a dash of French culture to help listeners grow in their relationship with God and taste the different spices the Gospel has to offer.

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE

1. The importance of discipline in reading and interpreting the Scriptures

- Three levels of misinterpreting the Scriptures: ignorance, unbelief, and rebellion

- Rebellion as the worst sin because it is a conscious decision to reject God

- Role of the Holy Spirit in interpreting Scripture and convicting us of our sin

2. Seeking Jesus in the Bible rather than just ourselves

- If we approach the Scriptures to find ourselves, we will miss Jesus

- If we seek Jesus, we will find ourselves in the process

- Pursuing the beauty of finding Jesus in the Old Testament

- Recommending randomly flipping open the Bible and asking the Holy Spirit to guide to a passage where they can see Jesus

- The goal of glorifying the Father through the Son by allowing the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to see the goodness of the Lord in our lives through the pages of Scripture

NEW BONUS | QUESTIONS TO GO DEEPER ON YOUR OWN OR WITH A FRIEND

1. Why is it important to approach the Scriptures from a perspective of seeking Jesus instead of just finding ourselves?

2. What role does the Holy Spirit play in understanding and interpreting Scripture?

3. How can we avoid the sin of rebellion in our interpretation of the Scriptures?

4. What are some practical ways to seek and find Jesus in the Old Testament?

5. How can we cultivate discipline in our daily reading and study of the Bible?

6. Have you ever randomly opened the Bible and the pages led you to a specific passage that spoke to your current situation? Share your experience.

7. Do you agree with Stephanie’s assertion that rebellion is worse than ignorance or unbelief? Why or why not?

8. What can we do to ensure that we are not using the Scriptures to justify our own desires or agendas?

9. How can we balance knowledge and faith when studying Scripture?

10. Can you share a Bible passage that has recently impacted your life? How did it affect you?

This series is an invitation to immerse yourself in the various ways God communicates to us, and us to Him. So pay attention, He is here and willing to whisper in your ear.

A word of caution: don’t come to Scripture with the agenda of finding yourself there. Right now we are going to take Scripture in. Like breathing, like eating, like smelling a flower. Don’t come to Scripture with the agenda of finding yourself there. Come with the firm intention of discovering God instead. And then Scripture will never disappoint. God promises to be found in the places where He dwells – His Word especially. And in the process, you will undoubtedly find yourself as you find Him. So as we enter the hallowed pages of Scripture together, through a humble doorway and a very simple story, ask yourself: what is this telling me about Jesus?

DISCOVER THE GOSPEL SPICE MINISTRIES

The Gospel Spice Podcast is part of a larger range of tools given to you by Gospel Spice Ministries.

In a nutshell, we exist to inspire Christ-followers to delight in God.

In more details: we provide resources to empower Christian leaders across generational, social, ethnic and geographical boundaries towards more intimacy with Jesus Christ and discipleship effectiveness through a Biblical Christocentric foundation. The Gospel-Spice Ministries provide a safe environment for spiritual and community growth empowering people to know Christ more intimately, serve one another more powerfully, and reach the world for Jesus.

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PAY IT FORWARD!! Would you consider supporting this show today to help others enjoy it for free? It comes to you completely free, but is labor-intensive to produce, and we want to keep putting it in the ears of people!

Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status. Your donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170. We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. All donations above our minimal operating costs go to Christian organizations fighting human trafficking.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

(*ListenNotes ranking, 2023)

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie welcomes Rebecca George to discuss the power of embracing weakness as part of our Gospel Spice Wellness series. They share their experience with the “curse of the capable woman”, as Stephanie calls it, and how surrendering our weaknesses to God allows Him to turn them into His strengths. They discuss the tension between achieving for God's glory while avoiding self-sufficiency and how we can open our hands and offer ourselves to God. The conversation shifts to the ultimate calling of a Christ follower to make disciples, and the importance of surrendering one's life to God. The episode also touches on the dangers of constantly doing and the importance of trusting God's timing. Together Stephanie and Rebecca emphasize that embracing weakness is the path to success and encourage YOU to focus on God in moments of brokenness. Rebecca shares her personal experiences with being an overachiever and how surrendering our weaknesses to God can transform them into strengths. Rebecca also talks about the importance of balancing grace and self-discipline in our lives and the ultimate calling of a Christ follower to make disciples wherever we are and in whatever season we are in. They also discuss the Great Commission and the ongoing behavior of making disciples without striving or burnout. Tune in to gain valuable insights on living a life of surrender and obedience to God!

Some key takeaways for this conversation include,

- We can feel like we have to rely on our own strength to get things done.

- Weakness is what God wants from us, because He already has plenty of strength!

- Surrendering our weaknesses to God allows Him to turn it into His strength. That is the goal!

- Embracing weakness is actually the path to success, because we learn to trust Him.

Stephanie and Rebecca invite you to focus on God:

- Have an eternal perspective

- Fix your eyes on Jesus and worship Him for His character

- In moments of struggle and brokenness, invite God into our weaknesses and ask Him to transform them into strengths.

- The outcome belongs to God, and the obedience belongs to humans.

They also inspire you to balance grace and self-discipline with the following:

- Strive to do everything with excellence for the glory of God;

- Hold both grace and self-discipline closely and not see them as opposing forces.

Making disciples is the ultimate calling of a Christ follower. Together, they add:

- a calling is not necessarily to have a public ministry.

- We can make disciples wherever we are and in whatever season we are in.

- Making disciples is an ongoing behavior, not a one-time task or something to be added to a to-do list.

- Striving to make disciples all the time can lead to burnout.

- Different seasons may require a shift in our time and capacity, and it is important to have ongoing conversations about where we feel called to spend our time.

To conclude, surrender to God is the key! You have heard it before, but it is important to remember:

- Surrendering one's life to God on a regular basis is important.

- It means not producing results on one's own strength or measuring one's own performance.

- True freedom comes from allowing God's spirit to produce the fruit.

NEW! GO DEEPER WITH QUESTIONS, ON YOUR OWN OR WITH A FRIEND:

1. How do you relate to the “curse of the capable woman,” (even if you are a man!) and how have you experienced it in your life?

2. Do you struggle with self-sufficiency or overachievement? How does this conversation resonate with you?

3. What is your view on grace and self-discipline, and how do you balance the two in your life?

4. How do you feel about the importance to fight striving? Do you agree with her stance against “Girl Wash Your Face”?

5. Have you ever experienced a moment of surrender to God in your weakness? How did that change your perspective?

6. What does it mean to you to make disciples as you go about your daily life? How can you apply this principle to your own life?

7. Have you experienced moments of burnout? What do you do to avoid it?

8. How does your personal view of success align or differ from Rebecca’s and Stephanie’s perspective?

9. How do you remind yourself of God's unconditional love for you and the fact that nothing you do can make Him love you more or less?

10. In moments of struggle and brokenness, how do you invite God into your weaknesses and ask Him to transform them into strengths?

MEET REBECCA GEORGE

Rebecca George is an author, a speaker, and the host of the popular podcast Radical Radiance. Her greatest joy is helping women pursue their passions in a way that builds God’s kingdom. In her free time, she loves running outside or trying a new recipe with Garth Brooks playing in the background. You can connect with her @rebeccageorgeauthor on Instagram or at radicalradiance.live.

MORE ABOUT HER BOOK, DO THE THING

What is your “thing”? Surely there’s a better way to view it than through a lens of striving and worldly achievement.

You may have a special cause, project, or talent you feel called to develop. Fear and lack of clarity often make it easier to avoid the “thing” than risk failing at it.

Rebecca George is an encouraging voice in your ear to say, “Let’s not waste another minute of the all–too–brief time we have on this side of eternity.” She shows you how to pursue your goal with grace and confidence.

Part guide, part manifesto, Do the Thing beckons you to pursue the passions that stir your soul.

On this journey, you will discover how to:

See your gifts and talents from a gospel-centered perspective.

Prioritize goals related to your calling as you move forward with gumption and grace.

Overcome negative thought patterns so you can brainstorm, develop, and create with the confidence of a go-getter girl!

Today is the day to take a brave step in a purposeful direction, using God’s Word as your compass to do the thing He has designed for you to do. After all, if not now … when?

Find the book here: https://davidccook.org/books/do-the-thing/ 

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

The perfect gift for everyone - apparel, drinkware, stickers and more for all the women, men and kids in your life!

https://www.gospelspice.com/merch

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

We are spending one whole month having conversations with inspiring guests about parenting at different stages of life - from newborns to adult children, and every stage in between! And then, we spend another whole month discussing essentials of physical, mental, and emotional wellness with a wide range of Christ-centered experts. 

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie dives into the question asked by Jesus, "Have you not read the Scriptures?" and how it emphasizes the importance of looking for Jesus in every passage of the Old Testament. She invites you to take an in-depth look at all five instances where Jesus asks this question in the Gospel of Matthew and encourages you to find Jesus in the Old Testament. The episode highlights how Jesus used the Old Testament to point to himself as the answer to all things, with specific examples of his interactions with the Pharisees, chief priests, and the Sadducees. 

Look for Jesus in every passage and discover how even the Pharisees, who were highly familiar with the Scriptures, failed to see the significance of Jesus' statement. Tune in for a quiet and centered experience with in-depth biblical flavors, along with a touch of French culture.

COMING UP SOON!

Stephanie mentions our two upcoming series: Starting soon, we will dive deep into the meaning and practice of REST. Then, in October, we will enter the Gospel of Matthew through the lens of the first century Jewish culture. You will be invited to experience fresh flavors for a spiritual explosion of delight in Christ! Stay tuned and make sure to follow and subscribe to access every new episode.

GO DEEPER AND STUDY ON YOUR OWN | ADDRESSES AND REFERENCES STEPHANIE USES IN THIS EPISODE

Matthew 12:3 and 5 - referencing 1 Samuel 21:1-6 - also described in luke 6:3

Matthew 19:4 - quoting Genesis 2:24

Matthew 21:16 - quoting Psalm 8:2

Matthew 21:42 - quoting Psalm 118:22-23 - also described in Mark 12:10

Matthew 22:31 - quoting Exodus 6, 15-16 - also described in Mark 12:26

NEW BONUS | QUESTIONS TO GO DEEPER ON YOUR OWN OR WITH A FRIEND

1. How can we train ourselves to see Jesus in every passage of the Old Testament?

2. What was the significance of Jesus asking the Pharisees "Have you not read the Scriptures?" What did it reveal about them and their understanding of Scripture?

3. How does understanding the Old Testament better help us understand and appreciate the New Testament?

4. How can we use Scripture to point to Jesus like he did in his interactions with the Pharisees, chief priests, and the Sadducees?

5. How does understanding marriage as a human analogy help us understand our relationship with God?

6. Are there other human analogies we can use to help us understand our relationship with God?

7. How can we make sure we are reading Scripture through the lens of Jesus' teachings and example?

8. Can you share a personal experience of when reading the Old Testament helped you better understand the teachings of Jesus?

9. What is the significance of the question "Have you not read the Scriptures?" in Matthew's Gospel as a whole?

10. How can we continue to deepen our understanding of Scripture and our relationship with God beyond the fall series focused on the Gospel of Matthew?

This series is an invitation to immerse yourself in the various ways God communicates to us, and us to Him. So pay attention, He is here and willing to whisper in your ear.

A word of caution: don’t come to Scripture with the agenda of finding yourself there. Right now we are going to take Scripture in. Like breathing, like eating, like smelling a flower. Don’t come to Scripture with the agenda of finding yourself there. Come with the firm intention of discovering God instead. And then Scripture will never disappoint. God promises to be found in the places where He dwells – His Word especially. And in the process, you will undoubtedly find yourself as you find Him. So as we enter the hallowed pages of Scripture together, through a humble doorway and a very simple story, ask yourself: what is this telling me about Jesus?

THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO PARTNER WITH GOSPEL SPICE TODAY!

First, PAY Gospel Spice Forward: Give a tax-deductible gift so others can experience our ministry for free, just like you! You can pay it forward with any debit, credit card, or via PayPal. See below for more details about your impact.

Also, PLAY Gospel Spice Forward: SHARE the podcast and the studies with your friends and family. FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW on your favorite podcast app (leave a comment + a star rating on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Pandora, IHeart, Google Podcast, etc…). It REALLY is the best way to help others find this content-rich podcast. 

And, last but not least, PRAY Gospel Spice Forward: We pray for you weekly. We covet your prayers for our ministry, the thousands we reach, and our team! Contact us to let us know you are praying for us!

NEW!

Another way to partner with us is to purchase our workbooks and online Bible studies. We keep them at the lowest possible cost, but they require a lot of work from us! For example,

- a complete Bible Study requires an average of 500 man-hours.

- a workbook for a series requires almost 100 man-hours.

MORE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US FINANCIALLY:

Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status.

Our goal is to provide in-depth, high-quality, free Bible resources for all. They are free, but expensive to create! We need your financial support to keep producing and distributing them. Please pay Gospel Spice forward today! For example, a podcast episode takes close to 10 hours of work (and we release 2 each week). They come to you completely free, but we would truly love your support.

We want the money to go to those who really need it. Once our operating costs are paid, 100% of your donation is redistributed to our partners who fight human trafficking. Each year, we aim to give as much as we can. For example, Stephanie works more than full time for Gospel Spice, entirely for free. All board members and volunteers are donating time. We limit our operational expenses to the bare minimum.

Your pay-it-forward donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170.

We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. Thank you!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Do you enjoy Gospel Spice? Then let's deepen our relationship! There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 

1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup

2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!

So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do one (or more!) of the following suggestions:

1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup

2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice

3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!

4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

A serious diagnosis took Lori Ann Wood on a faith detour she never saw coming. As a lifelong believer, she felt profound disappointment in the God she thought she knew. Wanting answers, but more than anything, needing permission to ask the questions, she took the risky decision to embrace those difficult questions. She shares her hard-won insights today on Gospel Spice.

Lori Ann was raised by a mother who strongly believed in God, but she didn't initially feel the same conviction towards faith. Lori Ann compared faith to how people have different tastes and preferences with cilantro, with some believing without a doubt, while others may come to faith through questioning. Lori Ann embraced her unique perspective and believes that God does not think less of her for it.

Lori Ann’s journey towards faith began after she was diagnosed with heart failure. She was given a journal to write out questions and complaints to God during uncertain and difficult times, and it eventually turned into a blog where she started sharing spiritual content. People related to her spiritual struggles, and Lori Ann saw a connection between her questions and Jesus' temptations in the desert, which helped frame the content of her book, Divine Detours, into three questions to deepen one's faith.

During the episode, Lori Ann discussed three important questions related to faith: the question of worry, the question of doubt, and the question of control. She admitted to struggling with the latter due to her natural tendency towards planning and control. However, she believes that Jesus is the perfect companion, friend, savior, and God who can help us through our unbelief.

Lori Ann also reflected on the value of asking questions and how they wish they had instilled this value in their younger self and their own children. Lori Ann believes that questions are an important part of their faith journey, referencing how Jesus used questions in his teachings.

BONUS | GO DEEPER WITH QUESTIONS, ALONE OR WITH A FRIEND.

Lori Ann invites us to ask deep questions fearlessly. Here are a few to come alongside your own journey!

1. What was your biggest takeaway from Lori Ann Wood's story?

2. Do you relate more to the idea of faith coming easily or through questioning? Why?

3. How do you think Lori Ann’s struggle with illness impacted her faith journey?

4. Have you ever struggled with any of the three questions Lori Ann posed (worry, doubt, control)? How did you overcome them?

5. What do you think it means to "ask questions" in relation to faith? How can questioning faith strengthen it?

6. What insights did you gain from Lori Ann’s reflections on her book and her journey as an author?

7. How do you feel about the comparison between faith and cilantro? Do you see any parallels between the two?

8. Have you ever felt like the woman who touched Jesus's cloak and was healed? What parallels do you see between that story and your own faith journey?

9. Do you agree with the idea that asking for healing (spiritual, emotional, relational, or physical) is important and that God is not afraid of people's questions?

10. In what ways can we cultivate a closer relationship with God and deepen our faith? How do you plan to do this?

DISCOVER LORI ANN’S BOOK, DIVINE DETOUR

WHAT – Divine Detour is a book of relatable essays that gently guides the reader to confront the three most important questions of her life—the three questions every life must answer.

WHEN – Divine Detour is an invitation to explore the questions of worry, doubt, and control that always surface when a Christian finds himself on a path he didn’t choose.

WHO – Divine Detour is for the believer who hits a snag in her careful life plan and starts to wonder if her faith is any good at all: the career has evaporated overnight, the adult child has turned his back on his family, the marriage vows have worn paper thin.

WHY – Heart failure patient and award-winning essayist Lori Ann Wood confronts faith’s three most menacing questions of worry, doubt, and control, and discovers hope for anyone on an unexpected path.

Buy the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Divine-Detour-choose-always-wanted/dp/1936501759/ 

MEET LORI ANN WOOD

LORI ANN WOOD lives in the shadow of the Ozark Mountains in beautiful Bentonville, Arkansas, with her husband, the unsuspecting guy she chased all the way from ninth grade to grad school. She is mom to three world-changing young adults, one impressive son-in-law (who all live too far away) and a miniature dachshund named Pearl (who threatens to never leave). Her new favorite role is appropriately spoiling her granddaughter Hazel.

Read more from her at loriannwood.com.

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

We are spending one whole month having conversations with inspiring guests about parenting at different stages of life - from newborns to adult children, and every stage in between! And then, we spend another whole month discussing essentials of physical, mental, and emotional wellness with a wide range of Christ-centered experts. 

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Do you feel restless, anxious, overwhelmed, stressed, fearful, ashamed? Are you currently traversing a desert of despair? Or, are you in a season of plenty, joy, fullness and harvest? Whenever we experience life crises and difficulties, we can choose to pursue God deeper, or the relentless drift of events will cause us to move away from Him. It's a matter of perspective. Knowing Jesus is the only way to survive life. He invites us to experience Him in seasons of rest, summer, and plenty - where we hope you find yourself today - as well as in seasons of loneliness, desert, hardship and failure - where we have all been, and where we will probably find ourselves again at some point. Stephanie invites you to consider another angle to your pain and suffering during your pilgrimage on earth: what if seeking deeper intimacy with God was the secret to living life to the fullest? And, if you have heard this a million times and it sounds stale to you, what if this episode rekindled your perspective on your current life today?

We need to learn how to cling to Jesus, because He alone can carry us through the inevitable hardships of life. The presence of God is the reason why we seek to know Jesus, and the way we experience Him in our lives. God created us to experience intimacy with Him, and to enjoy Him. So, today, Stephanie invites us to ponder Moses' statement, "Show me Your glory" as an unexpected answer to Jesus' question, "Who touched Me?" which we experienced in our previous episode (see episode 224). Stephanie uses several insights from C.S. Lewis to draw us into deeper understanding of ourselves, our world, and ultimately, God Himself. We are living in the "shadowlands" and Jesus invites us, through Him, to get a glimpse of "real life" as defined by Heaven. 

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

GOD'S GLORY, OUR DELIGHT | THE GOSPEL SPICE SERIES

Delighting in the glory of God. Does this concept strike you as reserved for spiritual contemplatives? What if, instead, it proved the highly practical, deeply foundational perspective you need right now?

Why does God’s glory even matter in our day and age? How can we learn from Jesus to make His glory our true North and lifelong quest? What keeps us from fully stepping into this God-ordained purpose for our life? How do we kindle delight for God on a daily basis? And, once we have embraced God’s glory as our heart’s true delight, how can we then come alongside others?

Join us to cultivate a sincere delight for God’s glory, rooted in an honest, hard look at the depth of our need, and in the much deeper Reality of His grace. Trace the glory of God through Scripture and in your own life. Behold the exact radiance of God’s glory, revealed in Jesus. Learn to see yourself as Christ does—through the lens of the Father’s love at the cross. Jesus offers to overwhelm our deadly self-centeredness with His resurrection power. He carries us every step of the way, even as He calls us to true humility on the path to glory.

Who has time to cultivate the delight that comes from pondering the glory of God? And yet, nothing could be more urgent today. Marthas and Marys, Peters and Johns—we are all invited to dare to dream of a lifestyle of God-centered delight. Nothing could be more practical.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Do you feel like other moms have it all together, while you struggle silently? Are you really enjoying the journey of parenthood… or are you just trying to survive? You are not alone! You want so much to be a "good" mom. Yet, you're afraid you aren't. There's hope. You are on the right track. Alli Worthington joins Stephanie today to address the mom who is ready to live a life outside the unachievable cliche of “Supermom” – regardless of the season of life you are in. This is NOT a conversation about parenting – this is a conversation about your personal wellbeing as you navigate motherhood. It is about your own wellness, so that you can love others well. It is about embracing a healthy mom mindset.

So, whether you are considering starting a family, or whether your adult children are now raising their own babies, this conversation is for you! Also, this conversation will be eye-opening to all the men who want to understand how the moms in their lives struggle to hold it all together. Do you have a sister, daughter, or wife who is a mom too? This is for you!

If you’ve forgotten what it means to care for yourself while caring for others, this conversation is for you.

If you want to feel energized by motherhood, this conversation is for you.

If you constantly feel weighed down by mom guilt, this conversation is for you.

If you can’t stop comparing yourself to other moms, this conversation is for you.

If you’re looking for ways to protect your emotional, spiritual, and physical health, this conversation is for you.

If you can’t break the cycle of pleasing others, this conversation is for you.

If you crave more meaningful relationships with your children, this conversation is for you.

Alli tells us, “Drop the “good mom” myths that have been stealing your happiness. Rediscover the beautiful, joy-filled, sacred and secret art of confident motherhood.” If you’re ready to rewrite the parts of motherhood that are stressful and exhausting so you can raise your little–or not-so-little–humans with a healthy mom mindset, it’s time to discover the secret art of confident motherhood.

MORE ABOUT “REMAINING YOU WHILE RAISING THEM”

You’re allowed to enjoy motherhood- and pursue it in your own unique way.

Remaining You While Raising Them will give you tools and a framework you can return to over and over as you pursue a life you love while raising children you love.

Alli says, “I know you want to be a wonderful mother. And you're worried you aren't. Whether you arrived at motherhood by birth, adoption, or marriage, you want to get it right. Me too. I spent too many years caught in the trap of lies that surround modern motherhood. I want more for you than that. You're worth it! This book will reassure you that you ARE worth it and give you the tools to enjoy motherhood more! Remaining You While Raising Them, may just change your life.”

PREORDER TODAY FOR ALL SORTS OF BONUS CONTENT

More at https://alliworthington.com/remaining-you-while-raising-them

BONUS | QUESTIONS TO GO DEEPER, ON YOUR OWN OR WITH A FRIEND

1. Have you ever felt overwhelmed or guilty after reading parenting books? How did it affect your parenting approach?

2. How do you think our own emotional and spiritual health as mothers impacts our relationship with our children?

3. Have you ever felt pressure to live up to societal expectations as a mother? How did you navigate through that pressure?

4. What have been some of the challenges and joys you've experienced as your children have grown older?

5. How do you define "mom guilt" and why do you think so many mothers experience it? How can we combat mom guilt in our own lives?

6. What are some ways that we unintentionally hinder our children's development by trying to do everything for them?7. How can we find a balance between being a supportive parent and allowing our children to experience their own struggles and failures?

8. Alli and Stephanie discuss the importance of experiencing God's love and understanding in the midst of pain. Have you ever gone through a period of feeling abandoned by God? How did you work through that?

9. How can we create a safe space for our children to be honest about their own doubts, disappointments, and feelings towards God?

10. How can we model resilience and faithfulness to our children, even in the midst of challenging circumstances?

ALLI WORTHINGTON SHARES HER STORY

“Who doesn’t love a good rags to riches story? Yep, that’s how it started for me. Ten years ago, we lost everything when my husband’s job came to a sudden and drastic end. That’s when I got very, very serious about figuring out how to create a business on the Internet and started my own online business. I have co-founded BlissDom and BlissDom Canada, the single largest international women’s small business conference in the world (now that was a mouthful!) I also co-founded and served as the CCO (Chief Creative Officer) of Blissful Media Group. And it all started when I founded the magazine for women, Blissfully Domestic. Through these major events, I’ve helped thousands of men and women start successful businesses online. I was a consultant and strategist who has worked with and advised Fortune 500 companies and small businesses, from tech companies to your favorite household brands. My book, Breaking Busy, has helped thousands of women break out of cycles of busyness and find purpose and happiness in this crazy world.Fierce Faith: A Woman's Guide to Fighting Fear, Wrestling Worry, and Overcoming Anxiety launched January 2018. I served as the founding COO for Propel Women from 2014-2018…”

More at https://alliworthington.com/

We are spending one whole month having conversations with inspiring guests about parenting at different stages of life - from newborns to adult children, and every stage in between! And then, we spend another whole month discussing essentials of physical, mental, and emotional wellness with a wide range of Christ-centered experts. 

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie invites you to explore a fascinating question posed by Jesus: "Who touched Me?" She discusses the importance of physical touch and using the five senses to bridge theory and reality. Starting with the healing of the woman who touched Jesus' garment to heal herself, Stephanie invites us to ponder the ramifications of this woman’s state when she subsequently found herself being questioned by Him as to who had touched Him.

Stephanie invites you into a life that emphasizes the power of faith in Christ, drawing a connection between the shame linked to the woman's blood discharge and the shame Jesus endured on the cross while his blood was poured out for the many. She encourages you to build public declaration of faith, to place faith in the right person, namely, Christ, and to not oversimplify the issue of faith and healing. She discusses how not everyone is healed and how Jesus forced the woman seeking healing to publicly acknowledge herself, which is related to the healing process and overcoming shame. 

The symbolic significance of Jewish garments is also highlighted, especially the iconic tassels that Jewish men still wear today at the four corners of their garment. What does it tell us about God, heaven, and ourselves in Christ?

NEW BONUS | QUESTIONS TO GO DEEPER ON YOUR OWN OR WITH A FRIEND

1. What role does Jesus' question "who touched me?" play in the story?

2. How does the woman’s act of touching the hem of Jesus’ garment demonstrate her faith?

3. What do the tassels on Jewish garments symbolize in the context of this story?

4. What is the significance of public acknowledgement and confession in relation to healing and overcoming shame?

5. How does physical touch play a role in the healing process?

6. Why do you think not everyone is healed?

7. What does placing faith in the right person mean in the context of this story?

8. In what ways can our five senses help us bridge the gap between theory and reality in our faith journey?

9. What is the connection between the woman’s healing and receiving the Holy Spirit?

10. How can we apply the lessons from this story to our own lives and experiences with faith and healing?

This series is an invitation to immerse yourself in the various ways God communicates to us, and us to Him. So pay attention, He is here and willing to whisper in your ear.

A word of caution: don’t come to Scripture with the agenda of finding yourself there. Right now we are going to take Scripture in. Like breathing, like eating, like smelling a flower. Don’t come to Scripture with the agenda of finding yourself there. Come with the firm intention of discovering God instead. And then Scripture will never disappoint. God promises to be found in the places where He dwells – His Word especially. And in the process, you will undoubtedly find yourself as you find Him. So as we enter the hallowed pages of Scripture together, through a humble doorway and a very simple story, ask yourself: what is this telling me about Jesus?

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie welcomes Catherine Larson to discuss how we can learn from children to nurture a sense of wonder in our own lives, a Christlike childlikeness, even amidst the busy lives of parenting and everyday life with children. This conversation invites all of us, whether we have young children at home or not, to cultivate the wonder that will allow us to enter deeper in intimacy with God every day.

A busy author, homemaker, and mother of six young boys, Catherine invites us to enjoy how children use their five senses to enter their appreciation for God's creation. She challenges us to use playfulness to enter the world as children, focusing on positive moments instead of frustrations. She shares her own tips to nurture wonder in our kids and in ourselves, like for example the creation of personal space for children to experience quiet time, and taking a Sabbath day for rest and renewal. She reminds us of our God-given need for church community and connection, and the paradoxical use of technology in connecting and isolating people.

BONUS | QUESTIONS TO GO DEEPER, ON YOUR OWN OR WITH A FRIEND

1. What are some ways in which children can help us grow in our faith and relationship with God?

2. How can play and experiencing the world through a child's eyes help us release our worries and be more present in the moment?

3. What is your opinion on taking a Sabbath day for rest and renewal as suggested by the speaker?

4. In what ways has technology both isolated and connected you with others, and which of these have you found to be more helpful?

5. How has COVID-19 impacted your sense of community and the importance of fellowship?

6. In what ways do you intentionally seek out opportunities to connect with others and build relationships?

7. Have you ever considered journaling and recording prayers and love notes for your child during pregnancy or the first year of their life? Why or why not?

8. How do you intentionally cultivate wonder in your daily life and with those around you?

9. What does it mean to you to be childlike rather than childish, and how can you practice this in your relationships and daily life?

10. Have you read any books or used resources that have been particularly helpful in your spiritual journey as a mother or caretaker? If so, which ones and how have they impacted you?

MEET CATHERINE LARSON

“Hi! I’m Catherine, lover of dappled light, and Blue Ridge hues, of closing my days nestled in my husband’s prayers, and of mornings which bud with baby coos and the voices of my sweet boys calling for mama (that name I wondered if I’d ever get to wear). I’m a collector of words, a cataloger of wonders, and a curator of grace stories. Once upon a time (how can a few years ago seem like a lifetime?) I worked full-time writing, but these days you can find me vrooming toy cars across the red rug, slathering peanut butter and jelly on wheat, and carrying baby boy close to my heart. Once bedtime prayers are aloft, I cozy up with my laptop and labor in love to exalt the One who is the most important part of my life. Because if I could tell you only one thing about me I’d want you to know how passionately I seek to love a nail-scarred and risen Savior. It’s this love that leads me here, hoping for you, expecting you. Because here’s the thing; you matter. You matter so much more than you know. His eyes light up at the thought of you. And He loves you enough that He will not leave you where you are. And no matter where you are, He beckons. We live expectantly. Expecting grace, expecting mercy, and yes, expecting trials, pain, and suffering. But we also expect that evil will not have the final say, but that love will prevail, transforming even the bitterest moments into sweetest grace. We live expecting His presence, one day His appearing, and ultimately His absolute reign.”

Meet Catherine at catherineclairelarson.com

MORE ABOUT HER BOOK, WATCHING IN WONDER

Watching in Wonder: Growing in Faith During Your Baby's First Year by Catherine Claire Larson is a weekly devotional journal that will inspire you to record stories and prayers for your newborn as you create a memory book that you (and they) will treasure for years to come. Get it here: https://www.amazon.com/Watching-Wonder-Growing-Faith-During/dp/140023610X/ 

“I hope women will walk away from Watching in Wonder with a deeper understanding of who God is and how He meets and cares for them in these days of early motherhood,” said Catherine. “A recurring theme in the book is that motherhood is a high and holy calling and that women are nurturing a human soul of inestimable importance.”

Embrace the exhilarating, exhausting, and joy-filled first year of motherhood in the pages of Watching in Wonder as you marvel anew at His goodness and the miracle of life that is growing day by day before your eyes.

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

We are spending one whole month having conversations with inspiring guests about parenting at different stages of life - from newborns to adult children, and every stage in between! And then, we spend another whole month discussing essentials of physical, mental, and emotional wellness with a wide range of Christ-centered experts. 

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Have you ever felt the need to belong to a particular group or tribe? Have you ever felt like you didn't belong somewhere? I believe we have this deep wired, this God-wired need to belong. And I believe all of us have at some point experienced the absence of that belonging. And that hurts deeply.

The longing to belong is one of my greatest needs, personally. So, when my friend, Michelle Lee Barnewall, wrote a book literally called A Longing to Belong, I was very intrigued. What I love in her book, is that she uses her own personal story of being Asian and growing up in an extremely white neighborhood. She describes how that taught her that she did fit in because she was really American, but then she didn't really. Her book is part memoir, part eloquent theological treatise to challenge us to reconciliation in the name of belonging, in the name of unity in the body of Christ.

It is about ethnic reconciliation. It's about belonging together to the family of God. Our conversation today is very honest. There's nothing Pollyanna or sugarcoated about this, and we're not drawing a black and white picture at all. Actually, I think her book is extremely subtle, balanced, challenging and beautiful at the same time. So, we discuss the deep longing to belong that we each carry, deep inside.

Michelle doesn't mind the ambiguity of not having black and white answers. Her book, A Longing to Belong, really fits in the same category. She has a PhD from the University of Notre Dame. She is a professor of New Testament at Biola University. She brings a level of nuance and a comfort in ambiguity that I find much needed in our generation, in our culture today. So, join us today!

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

"Here I am, Lord." These are familiar words. We have heard them from the lips of ancient heroes of the faith -- Abraham, Moses, Samuel, and more. But what did they really mean? What do WE mean when we dare speak them? Or do we know them to be so dangerous, we are not sure we are ready to whisper them under our breath, to the One who listens?

Stephanie guides us through Scripture to find the geographical, emotional and mental places where these words are spoken. She then takes us to modern-day Hebrew language and religious culture through the Hebrew word for "here I am" -- heenani. It means more than catches the eye, and points to Jesus. Of course, it does - it is part and parcel of Scripture, the Word who points to the One. This episode is an invitation to experience Jewish insights into Messiah that only make sense in Christ. It is an invitation to worship afresh the One who is our King, our God, our Savior, our Intercessor, our Friend - the One who, ultimately, comes to us, saying, "Here I am."

NEW BONUS | QUESTIONS TO GO DEEPER ON YOUR OWN OR WITH A FRIEND

1. What can we learn from the story of Samuel's calling and how can we apply it in our lives?

2. How did Abraham's response of "Here I am" to God's call change the course of his life and what can we learn from it?

3. What is the significance of the Hinani prayer in Jewish Orthodox theology and how does it relate to our Christian faith?

4. How can we practice humility and acknowledge our unworthiness before God, as expressed in the Hinani prayer?

5. How does the role of a worship leader, such as a Chazan, differ between Jewish Orthodox and Christian communities?

6. How can we love God and others with both Agape and Phileo love, as discussed in the episode?

7. How does the concept of communal prayer in Judaism compare to what we see in Christian worship services?

8. How can we ensure that our own inadequacies don't hinder the prayers we offer on behalf of others?

9. How can we respond with "Here I am" to Jesus's call to love and follow him?

10. In what ways can we grow in intimacy with God through our own research and study of Scripture?

This series is an invitation to immerse yourself in the various ways God communicates to us, and us to Him. So pay attention, He is here and willing to whisper in your ear.

A word of caution: don’t come to Scripture with the agenda of finding yourself there. Right now we are going to take Scripture in. Like breathing, like eating, like smelling a flower. Don’t come to Scripture with the agenda of finding yourself there. Come with the firm intention of discovering God instead. And then Scripture will never disappoint. God promises to be found in the places where He dwells – His Word especially. And in the process, you will undoubtedly find yourself as you find Him. So as we enter the hallowed pages of Scripture together, through a humble doorway and a very simple story, ask yourself: what is this telling me about Jesus?

THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO PARTNER WITH GOSPEL SPICE TODAY!

First, PAY Gospel Spice Forward: Give a tax-deductible gift so others can experience our ministry for free, just like you! You can pay it forward with any debit, credit card, or via PayPal. See below for more details about your impact.

Also, PLAY Gospel Spice Forward: SHARE the podcast and the studies with your friends and family. FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW on your favorite podcast app (leave a comment + a star rating on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Pandora, IHeart, Google Podcast, etc…). It REALLY is the best way to help others find this content-rich podcast. 

And, last but not least, PRAY Gospel Spice Forward: We pray for you weekly. We covet your prayers for our ministry, the thousands we reach, and our team! Contact us to let us know you are praying for us!

NEW!

Another way to partner with us is to purchase our workbooks and online Bible studies. We keep them at the lowest possible cost, but they require a lot of work from us! For example,

- a complete Bible Study requires an average of 500 man-hours.

- a workbook for a series requires almost 100 man-hours.

MORE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US FINANCIALLY:

Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status.

Our goal is to provide in-depth, high-quality, free Bible resources for all. They are free, but expensive to create! We need your financial support to keep producing and distributing them. Please pay Gospel Spice forward today! For example, a podcast episode takes close to 10 hours of work (and we release 2 each week). They come to you completely free, but we would truly love your support.

We want the money to go to those who really need it. Once our operating costs are paid, 100% of your donation is redistributed to our partners who fight human trafficking. Each year, we aim to give as much as we can. For example, Stephanie works more than full time for Gospel Spice, entirely for free. All board members and volunteers are donating time. We limit our operational expenses to the bare minimum.

Your pay-it-forward donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170.

We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. Thank you!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Dare to dream about living a big life for the glory of God! That is our theme today, through seemingly mundane examples of daily faithfulness and stewardship. Today, Stephanie welcomes Janell Wood, who was inspired to host exchange students and turn it into a ministry. Hosting these students has not only impacted their lives but has also transformed Janell's life in the process. Stephanie was a foreign exchange student from France when she was 17 (30 years ago this year!) and, as you may know, she gave her life to Jesus at the end of her  year there. She is a living proof example of the power of faithfulness when a family welcomes a student in their home and shares Christ faithfully--albeit imperfectly. Being real and authentic is what matters. Janell therefore encourages us to be authentic and to ask God for guidance in making decisions that might affect our lives. Together, Stephanie and Janell talk about faith and daring to trust God to live a big life for His glory. Janell also discusses the importance of exposing her kids to different worldviews and traditions through hosting exchange students. In her ministry, Janell interviews young women who have questions about God and belief, and they speak with various Christian apologists to address these questions. Janell emphasizes the importance of being faithful in one's spiritual walk, and of loving God and our neighbors.

BONUS | QUESTIONS TO GO DEEPER

1. How has Janell's experience hosting exchange students challenged and transformed her faith in God?

2. Janell talks about embracing change and stepping out in faith. What are some examples of where you see this in your own life?

3. Janell emphasizes the importance of being authentic and seeking God's guidance. How do you remain authentic in your relationships and life experiences?

4. How has apologetics helped you to address your own doubts and uncertainties about faith?

5. What can we learn from Janell's approach to sharing her faith with others she meets in her work?

6. How has traveling and experiencing different cultures impacted your worldview and faith?

7. Janell's family intentionally exposes their children to different worldviews. Have you had conversations with your own family, friends, or colleagues about faith differences and how to love others well through those differences?

8. What can we do to "offer our lives" to God and be obedient to His call in our lives, even when we don't necessarily see the results?

9. How do you handle fear or doubt when stepping out in faith to do something new or challenging?

10. How can we seek God's guidance in making decisions that might impact our lives or the lives of those around us?

MEET JANELL WOOD

Janell Wood is a devoted wife and mother of four children who grew up in a Christian household and gave her life to Christ at an early stage. Although she experienced her own doubts and struggles with faith, she felt a nudge to go all-in for the Lord after reading Francis Chan's book, Crazy Love. Fueled by this call to action, Janell and her husband decided to do something extraordinary and ended up hosting exchange students from different parts of the world. Starting from the Netherlands, they now have hosted five exchange students and hope to host more! The experience has been life-changing for Janell, who now views this ministry as a way of opening her heart up to young women from different backgrounds who have never known someone who deeply loves the Lord. The journey has not been without its challenges, but Janell has found that God has been working in her life along the way.

Find Janell at https://www.janellmwood.com/

If you want more info about hosting foreign exchange students, go to www.efexchangeyear.org

If you want to get connected with Janell directly on this topic, meet her at https://efexchangeyear.org/iec/janell-wood/ or email her at  janellmwood@gmail.com

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

We are spending one whole month having conversations with inspiring guests about parenting at different stages of life - from newborns to adult children, and every stage in between! And then, we spend another whole month discussing essentials of physical, mental, and emotional wellness with a wide range of Christ-centered experts. 

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

We are so glad to welcome you for this latest episode! Stephanie is in France this summer so make sure to follow her on social to stay up to date. Enjoy todays episode!

also… there is a long musical pause at the beginning - a technical error that Stephanie can’t fix from France… please excuse us!

NEW BONUS! REFLECTION QUESTIONS TO GO DEEPER, ALONE OR WITH A FRIEND

1. How does the understanding of the commandment to love God and love neighbor as yourself impact our daily lives?

2. How do you interpret the repeated questioning of Peter's love by Jesus in the Gospel of John?

3. How can we use our weaknesses to become stronger in our faith?

4.  How can we share the love of Christ with others around us?

6. What does the passage in John 21 teach us about our calling to serve God?

7. What can we learn about loving and serving God from Peter's journey?

8. How can we practically apply Micah 6:8 in our daily lives?

9. What are some examples of ways we can tend to God's sheep today?

10. What are some effective ways we can share our faith with those who don't know Jesus?

THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO PARTNER WITH GOSPEL SPICE TODAY!

First, PAY Gospel Spice Forward: Give a tax-deductible gift so others can experience our ministry for free, just like you! You can pay it forward with any debit, credit card, or via PayPal. See below for more details about your impact.

Also, PLAY Gospel Spice Forward: SHARE the podcast and the studies with your friends and family. FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW on your favorite podcast app (leave a comment + a star rating on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Pandora, IHeart, Google Podcast, etc…). It REALLY is the best way to help others find this content-rich podcast. 

And, last but not least, PRAY Gospel Spice Forward: We pray for you weekly. We covet your prayers for our ministry, the thousands we reach, and our team! Contact us to let us know you are praying for us!

NEW!

Another way to partner with us is to purchase our workbooks and online Bible studies. We keep them at the lowest possible cost, but they require a lot of work from us! For example,

- a complete Bible Study requires an average of 500 man-hours.

- a workbook for a series requires almost 100 man-hours.

MORE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US FINANCIALLY:

Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status.

Our goal is to provide in-depth, high-quality, free Bible resources for all. They are free, but expensive to create! We need your financial support to keep producing and distributing them. Please pay Gospel Spice forward today! For example, a podcast episode takes close to 10 hours of work (and we release 2 each week). They come to you completely free, but we would truly love your support.

We want the money to go to those who really need it. Once our operating costs are paid, 100% of your donation is redistributed to our partners who fight human trafficking. Each year, we aim to give as much as we can. For example, Stephanie works more than full time for Gospel Spice, entirely for free. All board members and volunteers are donating time. We limit our operational expenses to the bare minimum.

Your pay-it-forward donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170.

We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. Thank you!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

On this episode of Gospel Spice, Elizabeth Urbanowicz joins us for a discussion on equipping children with a biblical worldview. She shares about her organization, Foundation Worldview, which provides resources for parents and Christian leaders to teach children how to evaluate ideas through the lens of Scripture. We discuss the importance of discipleship within the home, stewardship of time and activities, and how to find a local church. Elizabeth also shares about her new curriculum, Attributes of God, for kids 4 and up, as well as the importance of teaching children to think well and critically. She and Stephanie talk about on the importance of role modeling rest and balance, and teaching children the gospel from an early age. The episode ends with an emphasis on the importance of investing in what matters and assessing how we invest our time and activities. Tune in to discover how you can help equip the next generation to follow God's plan and resist cultural pressures.

Children are constantly exposed to false ideas. They are constantly bombarded with content from various sources, shaping their young minds in a rapidly changing world. As a parent or any Christian working with kids, it's essential to equip them to pursue truth and embrace a biblical worldview. Does the child in your care know how to discern what is true and what is false? Today, Stephanie welcomes Elizabeth Urbanowicz, founder of Foundation Worldview, to discuss the essential role of adults in raising children with the tools to critically approach the surrounding culture. Elizabeth helps Christian parents equip their children to think biblically and to carefully evaluate every idea they encounter. Foundation Worldview serves children as young as 4 years, and until they reach High School.

This month, Gospel Spice offers a parenting series for all adults who have children in their lives – as parents, aunts and uncles, family members and friends, as well as youth group leaders, children ministry leaders, and more. With each episode, we tackle a different aspect of the essential stewardship of the children in our lives so that we will equip the next generation with the right tools to embrace fullness of faith in a changing world. Join us as we explore practical ways to raise children to have a strong foundation in Christ and be equipped to evaluate ideas that come their way.

The interview covers topics such as the importance of fulfilling the command to be fruitful and multiply, how to role model rest, and the importance of giving children a firm foundation in the gospel. Elizabeth shares her own journey starting from an afterschool class for third through sixth graders and how Foundation Worldview grew from there. Listeners are encouraged to invest in what really matters, practice biblical hospitality, and assess how they invest their time.

Discover Foundation Worldview: https://foundationworldview.com/about

BONUS | QUESTIONS TO GO DEEPER (ALONE OR WITH A FRIEND!)

1. What are some of the biblical promises that Elizabeth and Stephanie reference that can help alleviate the fear associated with raising children?

2. How can raising children be seen as fulfilling God's mission, and what are some of the risks and rewards involved?

3. What are some of the key attributes of God that Elizabeth Urbanowicz's curriculum for kids focuses on? Why do you think these are essential?

4. Why is it important to introduce children to the gospel at a young age, and how can parents and influencers of children help them think critically from Scripture?

5. What are some of the challenges associated with discipling children in today's culture, and how can families prioritize discipleship across other activities or entertainment?

6. Why is commitment to a local church important, and how can families foster unity within the church through hospitality and community involvement?

7. What are some of the societal norms that the conversation urges listeners to reevaluate in light of biblical values, particularly with regards to children's education and extracurricular activities?

8. How can teaching foundational skills in critical thinking and evaluating ideas help prepare children for facing cultural issues related to gender and sexuality?

9. What inspired Elizabeth Urbanowicz to start Foundation Worldview, and what does the organization aim to provide for parents and educators?

10. What can be gained through family-led spiritual growth and learning together?

MEET ELIZABETH URBANOWICZ

Elizabeth Urbanowicz is a follower of Jesus Christ who is passionate about equipping kids to understand the truth of the Christian worldview.

She holds a B.S. from Gordon College in Elementary Education and Spanish, an M.S.Ed. from Northern Illinois University in Literacy Education, and an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Elizabeth began her professional career as an elementary teacher in a Christian school.

Several years into her teaching experience, Elizabeth realized that despite being raised in Christian homes, attending a Christian school, and being active in church, her students thought more like the culture than like Christ. Elizabeth began searching for curricular materials that would equip her students to think critically, helping them discover that Christianity is the worldview that lines up with reality. After not finding any materials that met this need, she began creating a curriculum for her students.

Elizabeth first taught Foundation Comparative Worldview Curriculum as an after-school class for third through fifth graders, and the results were incredible! Students were transformed from passive recipients of information to active evaluators of every message they receive. Parents and teachers alike noticed the impact these materials had on students’ media consumption, academic achievement, and everyday habits. This transformation lasted beyond the elementary years and guided students’ thinking in junior high and beyond.

Elizabeth now works full-time on developing comparative worldview and apologetics resources for children. Her goal is to prepare the next generation to be lifelong critical thinkers and, most importantly, lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ.

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

We are spending one whole month having conversations with inspiring guests about parenting at different stages of life - from newborns to adult children, and every stage in between! And then, we spend another whole month discussing essentials of physical, mental, and emotional wellness with a wide range of Christ-centered experts. 

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Children are constantly exposed to false ideas. They are constantly bombarded with content from various sources, shaping their young minds in a rapidly changing world. As a parent or any Christian working with kids, it's essential to equip them to pursue truth and embrace a biblical worldview. Does the child in your care know how to discern what is true and what is false? Today, Stephanie welcomes Elizabeth Urbanowicz, founder of Foundation Worldview, to discuss the essential role of adults in raising children with the tools to critically approach the surrounding culture. Elizabeth helps Christian parents equip their children to think biblically and to carefully evaluate every idea they encounter. Foundation Worldview serves children as young as 4 years, and until they reach High School.

This month, Gospel Spice offers a parenting series for all adults who have children in their lives – as parents, aunts and uncles, family members and friends, as well as youth group leaders, children ministry leaders, and more. With each episode, we tackle a different aspect of the essential stewardship of the children in our lives so that we will equip the next generation with the right tools to embrace fullness of faith in a changing world.

Discover Foundation Worldview: https://foundationworldview.com/about

MEET ELIZABETH URBANOWICZ

Elizabeth Urbanowicz is a follower of Jesus Christ who is passionate about equipping kids to understand the truth of the Christian worldview.

She holds a B.S. from Gordon College in Elementary Education and Spanish, an M.S.Ed. from Northern Illinois University in Literacy Education, and an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Elizabeth began her professional career as an elementary teacher in a Christian school.

Several years into her teaching experience, Elizabeth realized that despite being raised in Christian homes, attending a Christian school, and being active in church, her students thought more like the culture than like Christ. Elizabeth began searching for curricular materials that would equip her students to think critically, helping them discover that Christianity is the worldview that lines up with reality. After not finding any materials that met this need, she began creating a curriculum for her students.

Elizabeth first taught Foundation Comparative Worldview Curriculum as an after-school class for third through fifth graders, and the results were incredible! Students were transformed from passive recipients of information to active evaluators of every message they receive. Parents and teachers alike noticed the impact these materials had on students’ media consumption, academic achievement, and everyday habits. This transformation lasted beyond the elementary years and guided students’ thinking in junior high and beyond.

Elizabeth now works full-time on developing comparative worldview and apologetics resources for children. Her goal is to prepare the next generation to be lifelong critical thinkers and, most importantly, lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ.

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

We are spending one whole month having conversations with inspiring guests about parenting at different stages of life - from newborns to adult children, and every stage in between! And then, we spend another whole month discussing essentials of physical, mental, and emotional wellness with a wide range of Christ-centered experts. 

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie delves deeper into Jesus' question of "Have you here anything to eat?" and how it invites us to perceive and know Him more deeply. One possible answer to His question is today's statement, "I believe, Lord, overcome my unbelief!" Stephanie reflects on the challenge of waiting for answers in prayer and the power of true, humble prayer. She tackles deep topics like self-awareness, humility, and weakness, reflecting on her own experiences with chronic pain and broken relationships. Together, she invites us to emphasize the importance of acknowledging weakness and surrendering to God. Additionally, she provides insight on Tim Keller's famous statement that it is better to have a weak faith in a strong Christ than a strong faith in a weak Christ, and how true faith comes from God's invitation to grow within us. She also discusses the power of true prayer and how it requires confession, humility, and surrender to God.

In this episode, we cover the following topics, and more:
- The true meaning of Jesus' question "Have you here anything to eat?"

- Perception and knowing Jesus more truly

- The density and reality of Jesus' glorified body

- Overcoming unbelief with self-awareness, humility, and ambition

- Acknowledging weakness to allow God to make Himself strong through us

- The challenge of waiting for answers in prayer- Power of true prayer: confession, repentance, humility, and surrender to God

- Importance of having a weak faith in a strong Christ

- True faith coming from God's intervention to plant, water, and grow the seed of faith in us

- Daring to disassociate from public opinion and choose Jesus, trusting Him to sort out mixed motives

BONUS CONTENT | QUESTIONS TO GO DEEPER, on your own or with a friend

1. How does Stephanie Rousselle relate to the story of the desperate father seeking a miracle for his sick child?

2. In what ways do you struggle with belief and doubt, and how have you sought to overcome your unbelief?

3. How can acknowledging our weakness help us to draw closer to God and experience His strength in our lives?

4. What are some of the challenges of waiting for answers in prayer, and how can we maintain faith and hope during these times?

5. Why is prayer important, and what are some of the key elements of true prayer that Stephanie emphasizes?

6. How might we cultivate humility, vulnerability, and honesty in our relationship with God through prayer?

7. What are some of the benefits of choosing Jesus even when we have mixed motives or face opposition from others?

8. What role does self-awareness and ambition play in nurturing our faith and relationship with God?

9. How might we apply the concept of faith being a seed that God plants, waters, and grows in our own lives?

10. What steps might we take to live out our faith in a way that invites the world around us to experience the love and truth of Jesus?

This series is an invitation to immerse yourself in the various ways God communicates to us, and us to Him. So pay attention, He is here and willing to whisper in your ear.

A word of caution: don’t come to Scripture with the agenda of finding yourself there. Right now we are going to take Scripture in. Like breathing, like eating, like smelling a flower. Don’t come to Scripture with the agenda of finding yourself there. Come with the firm intention of discovering God instead. And then Scripture will never disappoint. God promises to be found in the places where He dwells – His Word especially. And in the process, you will undoubtedly find yourself as you find Him. So as we enter the hallowed pages of Scripture together, through a humble doorway and a very simple story, ask yourself: what is this telling me about Jesus?

THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO PARTNER WITH GOSPEL SPICE TODAY!

First, PAY Gospel Spice Forward: Give a tax-deductible gift so others can experience our ministry for free, just like you! You can pay it forward with any debit, credit card, or via PayPal. See below for more details about your impact.

Also, PLAY Gospel Spice Forward: SHARE the podcast and the studies with your friends and family. FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW on your favorite podcast app (leave a comment + a star rating on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Pandora, IHeart, Google Podcast, etc…). It REALLY is the best way to help others find this content-rich podcast. 

And, last but not least, PRAY Gospel Spice Forward: We pray for you weekly. We covet your prayers for our ministry, the thousands we reach, and our team! Contact us to let us know you are praying for us!

NEW!

Another way to partner with us is to purchase our workbooks and online Bible studies. We keep them at the lowest possible cost, but they require a lot of work from us! For example,

- a complete Bible Study requires an average of 500 man-hours.

- a workbook for a series requires almost 100 man-hours.

MORE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US FINANCIALLY:

Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status.

Our goal is to provide in-depth, high-quality, free Bible resources for all. They are free, but expensive to create! We need your financial support to keep producing and distributing them. Please pay Gospel Spice forward today! For example, a podcast episode takes close to 10 hours of work (and we release 2 each week). They come to you completely free, but we would truly love your support.

We want the money to go to those who really need it. Once our operating costs are paid, 100% of your donation is redistributed to our partners who fight human trafficking. Each year, we aim to give as much as we can. For example, Stephanie works more than full time for Gospel Spice, entirely for free. All board members and volunteers are donating time. We limit our operational expenses to the bare minimum.

Your pay-it-forward donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170.

We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. Thank you!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

"Have you here anything to eat?" Jesus asks of His disciples on Resurrection Sunday, late in the evening of that glorious first day. Such an unexpected question! Did He need food? Or rather, how were they in need of beholding His glorified body ingesting a simple piece of broiled fish? How are we in need of the revelation that comes from pondering the extent of His question?

Stephanie invites us to cozy up to the eleven disciples who "disbelieved with joy" when they first saw their risen Lord on that glorious evening, shut in as they were behind closed doors. He walked through walls of stone and doors of solid wood. He ate fish, and later even cooked some for them! Fully God and fully Man, and never more than in this moment of intimate self-disclosure. So scoot on in, there is a seat for you by the fire.

This series is an invitation to immerse yourself in the various ways God communicates to us, and us to Him. So pay attention, He is here and willing to whisper in your ear.

A word of caution: don’t come to Scripture with the agenda of finding yourself there. Right now we are going to take Scripture in. Like breathing, like eating, like smelling a flower. Don’t come to Scripture with the agenda of finding yourself there. Come with the firm intention of discovering God instead. And then Scripture will never disappoint. God promises to be found in the places where He dwells – His Word especially. And in the process, you will undoubtedly find yourself as you find Him. So as we enter the hallowed pages of Scripture together, through a humble doorway and a very simple story, ask yourself: what is this telling me about Jesus?

The perfect gift for everyone - apparel, drinkware, stickers and more for all the women, men and kids in your life!

https://www.gospelspice.com/merch

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

On this episode of Gospel Spice, join Stephanie Rousselle in part two of her conversation with Professor Nancy Pearcey about toxic masculinity and the decline of the secular script for men. They explore Pearcey's book and discuss the cultural shifts and societal pressures that affect men today. They also share insightful research on the positive impact of Christianity on family dynamics and gender roles around the world. Finally, they discuss practical solutions for workplaces to promote better work-life balance for fathers and mothers alike. Listen in to learn more!

Nancy Pearcey is an author and speaker who focuses on cultural, philosophical, and religious issues. She believes that toxic behavior in men can be reduced with better fathers. This is because the father-son relationship is crucial to the development of healthy masculinity, and currently, 40% of children in the United States are growing up without their natural fathers. Pearcey also explains that fathers are often mocked and ridiculed in the media, leading to a decline in men's motivation to become fathers. The Industrial Revolution disrupted the male-female and father-child relationships since fathers had to follow their work out of the home. This led to fathers being portrayed as irrelevant and incompetent parents. Pearcey suggests that practical solutions could involve tweaking the workplace to allow men to work from home more. During the pandemic, many fathers got closer to their children and discovered they enjoyed working from home, leading them to desire more balance between work and home life. Pearcey indicates through anecdotes that finding alternatives to the traditional industrial work situation is possible and necessary to achieve this balance.

It has become socially acceptable to express open hostility against men even in respected media outlets. "Why Can't We Hate Men?" asks the Washington Post. Almost half of American men agree with the statement, “These days society seems to punish men just for acting like men.” In her new book, the bestselling author of LOVE THY BODY Nancy R. Pearcey explains how secularism has villainized the concept of masculinity.

Toxic masculinity. You have heard the term. Where does it come from? What does it mean? What is the Biblical framework we need today as Christian men and women to tackle this hot button in our culture wars? Stephanie welcomes Professor Nancy Pearcey to discuss the history, context, and biblical solutions for our generation. One of Stephanie’s favorite quotes from Professor Pearcey is found in the book they are discussing today: “Christians should read with their worldview antennae poised to pick up underlying messages.”

Stephanie welcomes Professor Pearcey in a two-part interview and, together they discuss topics that Stephanie chose from the book, and from Nancy’s whole message throughout her many books:

1.       How have the roles of men and women have fluctuated throughout human history? How is this essential context to understand where we are today?

2.       Scientific Darwinism is mostly discredited today. How about social Darwinism? How is this generation equipped to handle it?

3.       How is the history of fatherhood relevant to the ruse of toxic versions of masculinity?

4.       What did men lose through the industrial revolution that they have not yet regained? What about women?

5.       How much do you think that your analysis applies to cultures outside the framework of Western thought?

6.       Tell us about the role of the workplace in making men more present fathers.

7.       How did culture occasionally take men “off the hook” and demand of women to “tame” them? How is this influential today?

8.       What about the response of the church in centuries past, and today?

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK

Purchase the book here: The Toxic War on Masculinity

In three parts, “The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes” reveals the surprising answers to questions such as:

• Where did the idea come from that masculinity is “toxic”?
• What impact did secularism have on the script for masculinity?
• How do Christian men shatter the negative stereotypes?

Let’s face it: When people complain that masculinity is toxic, they often point to evangelical men as their prime example. But findings from the social sciences debunk those charges. Research shows that committed Christian men who attend church regularly test out as the most loving and engaged husbands and fathers.

These facts show that Christianity has the power to overcome toxic behavior in men and reconcile the sexes—an unexpected finding that has stood up to rigorous empirical testing. We should be bold in bringing it into the public square.

“Masculine traits are not intrinsically toxic. They are good when directed to virtuous ends,” Pearcey writes. “The Bible calls men to be both tough and tender, both courageous and caring. Men who know they are made in God’s image can be full persons, reflecting all the rich dimensions of God’s own character.”
 

MORE ABOUT PROFESSOR PEARCEY

Nancy Pearcey is the author of the upcoming book The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes. Her most recently published book is Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality. Her earlier books include The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and two ECPA Gold Medallion Award Winners: How Now Shall We Live (coauthored with Harold Fickett and Chuck Colson) and Total Truth. Her books have been translated into 19 languages. She is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. A former agnostic, Pearcey has spoken at universities such as Princeton, Stanford, USC, and Dartmouth. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual."

More at www.nancypearcey.com/

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Toxic masculinity. You have heard the term. Where does it come from? What does it mean? What is the Biblical framework we need today as Christian men and women to tackle this hot button in our culture wars? Stephanie welcomes Professor Nancy Pearcey to discuss the history, context, and biblical solutions for our generation. One of Stephanie’s favorite quotes from Professor Pearcey is found in the book they are discussing today: “Christians should read with their worldview antennae poised to pick up underlying messages.”

On this episode of Gospel Spice, host Stephanie Rousselle interviews best-selling author and speaker Nancy Pearcey about her upcoming book, "The Toxic War on Masculinity." Pearcey shares her personal journey from questioning her faith in high school to becoming a Christian through Schaefer's cultural apologetics approach. They explore the impact of Darwinism on our concepts of masculinity, the importance of understanding the worldview expressed in literature, and the value of a biblical approach to apologetics. Pearcey's writing focuses on cultural apologetics to address questions and provide answers for young people today, and her upcoming book provides insightful theological answers to the issue of toxic behavior in men. This episode is full of thought-provoking insights that will challenge listeners to think deeply about their faith and the culture around them.

It has become socially acceptable to express open hostility against men even in respected media outlets. "Why Can't We Hate Men?" asks the Washington Post. Almost half of American men agree with the statement, “These days society seems to punish men just for acting like men.” In her new book, the bestselling author of LOVE THY BODY Nancy R. Pearcey explains how secularism has villainized the concept of masculinity.

Stephanie welcomes Professor Pearcey in a two-part interview and, together they discuss topics that Stephanie chose from the book, and from Nancy’s whole message throughout her many books:

1.       How have the roles of men and women have fluctuated throughout human history? How is this essential context to understand where we are today?

2.       Scientific Darwinism is mostly discredited today. How about social Darwinism? How is this generation equipped to handle it?

3.       How is the history of fatherhood relevant to the ruse of toxic versions of masculinity?

4.       What did men lose through the industrial revolution that they have not yet regained? What about women?

5.       How much do you think that your analysis applies to cultures outside the framework of Western thought?

6.       Tell us about the role of the workplace in making men more present fathers.

7.       How did culture occasionally take men “off the hook” and demand of women to “tame” them? How is this influential today?

8.       What about the response of the church in centuries past, and today?

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK

Purchase the book here: The Toxic War on Masculinity

In three parts, “The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes” reveals the surprising answers to questions such as:

• Where did the idea come from that masculinity is “toxic”?
• What impact did secularism have on the script for masculinity?
• How do Christian men shatter the negative stereotypes?

Let’s face it: When people complain that masculinity is toxic, they often point to evangelical men as their prime example. But findings from the social sciences debunk those charges. Research shows that committed Christian men who attend church regularly test out as the most loving and engaged husbands and fathers.

These facts show that Christianity has the power to overcome toxic behavior in men and reconcile the sexes—an unexpected finding that has stood up to rigorous empirical testing. We should be bold in bringing it into the public square.

“Masculine traits are not intrinsically toxic. They are good when directed to virtuous ends,” Pearcey writes. “The Bible calls men to be both tough and tender, both courageous and caring. Men who know they are made in God’s image can be full persons, reflecting all the rich dimensions of God’s own character.”
 

MORE ABOUT PROFESSOR PEARCEY

Nancy Pearcey is the author of the upcoming book The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes. Her most recently published book is Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality. Her earlier books include The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and two ECPA Gold Medallion Award Winners: How Now Shall We Live (coauthored with Harold Fickett and Chuck Colson) and Total Truth. Her books have been translated into 19 languages. She is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. A former agnostic, Pearcey has spoken at universities such as Princeton, Stanford, USC, and Dartmouth. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual."

More at www.nancypearcey.com/

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie shares what happened as she researched for this episode: "Let me tell you. I was NOT expecting what happened when I did my research. I think the Lord kindly likes to surprise us with glimpses of glory when we don’t expect them. So let’s say I wasn’t expecting to find myself in tears, flat on my face in my dining room, and almost breathless in awe of who Jesus is, as I saw Him through the research I did around this statement, "Behold the Lamb." I discovered fresh from the familiar pages of the New Testament an angle, a new depth that took my breath away. And I want to share the holiness of this moment with you today." Stephanie aims today to show us that, when we proclaim Jesus as the Lamb of God, from the standpoint of the New Testament, we proclaim his glory as the Lamb of God that will be revealed in the future. There is a future dimension that is clearly stated, but somehow overlooked. And it is glorious. So, let's dig together into Scripture for fresh tastes of glory!

What do you think of when you hear the statement, “Behold the Lamb of God”? If you are somewhat familiar with the Old Testament and the history of Scripture, you know it’s a reference to the Passover lamb that was sacrificed annually as a covering for sins. Since they exited Egypt in about 1600BC, Moses and the Israelites were commanded by God to remember His salvation which He made happen by protecting all the people who had the blood of a freshly killed lamb on the door of their house. If there was blood on your door that night, the angel of death would pass over your house – thus the name “pass-over” – and would not come in to kill the firstborn male of your household. If you didn’t have that blood, then the firstborn male was killed. It didn’t make sense except by faith because God said so. And God did so.

We love to remember that Jesus is the Lamb of God – meaning at least two things. First, He is fully God. And second, He willingly, voluntarily did this. God the Father didn’t force God the Son in some kind of cosmic tyranny to suffer for us. This was a decision that the Son made in full knowledge, and full power and love for us. “For the JOY set before Him He endured the cross” – that’s Hebrews 12:2. This is true power. Only absolute, ultimate power that has nothing to prove can so excruciatingly disrobe itself of power and become a helpless lamb. Philippians 2:5-8 tells us that He humbled Himself by going from heights of power we cannot even begin to remotely have a faint wisp of an idea of, to depths of humility that, similarly, we just cannot fathom because these depths are literally fathomless, bottomless, infinite – only an infinite being can go from infinite height to infinite depth and retain His wholeness. That is Christ. That is the Lamb of God. And it is glorious. And that is where we usually stop. For most of us, this is the meaning of the Lamb of God. And it is awesome and should cause us to fall in worship, to be sure. But there is more.

Stephanie adds, "my most sincere prayer is that I can somehow convey what I saw and that you too will find yourself worshipping. I usually have it as a rule to never ever hype a lesson, so here is me breaking my own rules but then it’s not about me, it’s about you and the very Spirit of God at work in you to reveal to you unspeakable beauties about the One He delights in, the Son of God, our very precious Lord."

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO PARTNER WITH GOSPEL SPICE TODAY!

First, PAY Gospel Spice Forward: Give a tax-deductible gift so others can experience our ministry for free, just like you! You can pay it forward with any debit, credit card, or via PayPal. See below for more details about your impact.

Also, PLAY Gospel Spice Forward: SHARE the podcast and the studies with your friends and family. FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW on your favorite podcast app (leave a comment + a star rating on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Pandora, IHeart, Google Podcast, etc…). It REALLY is the best way to help others find this content-rich podcast. 

And, last but not least, PRAY Gospel Spice Forward: We pray for you weekly. We covet your prayers for our ministry, the thousands we reach, and our team! Contact us to let us know you are praying for us!

NEW!

Another way to partner with us is to purchase our workbooks and online Bible studies. We keep them at the lowest possible cost, but they require a lot of work from us! For example,

- a complete Bible Study requires an average of 500 man-hours.

- a workbook for a series requires almost 100 man-hours.

MORE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US FINANCIALLY:

Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status.

Our goal is to provide in-depth, high-quality, free Bible resources for all. They are free, but expensive to create! We need your financial support to keep producing and distributing them. Please pay Gospel Spice forward today! For example, a podcast episode takes close to 10 hours of work (and we release 2 each week). They come to you completely free, but we would truly love your support.

We want the money to go to those who really need it. Once our operating costs are paid, 100% of your donation is redistributed to our partners who fight human trafficking. Each year, we aim to give as much as we can. For example, Stephanie works more than full time for Gospel Spice, entirely for free. All board members and volunteers are donating time. We limit our operational expenses to the bare minimum.

Your pay-it-forward donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170.

We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. Thank you!

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie and Liz Bell Young invite you to join them for another deep, heart-to-heart conversation about Liz's book, "Let There Be Havens." Truly, it’s more about Liz’ heart and how we too can open up our homes in simple ways to welcome everyone in the name of Christ.

Liz shared her childhood memory of her mom getting a blade of grass back for her, which became a beautiful symbol of self-sacrificial love and care. They also chatted about the importance of starting small, creating little havens for others, and how it's all about making people feel loved and cherished.

They discussed how readers can engage with the book as a sort of companion in their daily lives, using it bit by bit and making it a part of their routine. It's all about fostering comfort and gentleness in everyday life, which is so important, right?

And then they delved into some deep stuff about self-worth and grace. Liz shared her personal experience of burnout and the struggle of embracing brokenness, and Stephanie totally got where she was coming from. They talked about how finding grace in Christ and from the faith community is such a game-changer. The way Liz illustrated her habit of always taking the worst eggs for herself was just so relatable. It became this symbol of self-acceptance and vulnerability, which I found really powerful.

To wrap it up, they ended with a lovely prayer and some seriously inspiring words. The whole conversation was a beautiful reminder of the transformative power of love, the journey of embracing brokenness, and the profound resonance of Liz Bell Young's message in her book. It's definitely a must-listen!

ABOUT “LET THERE BE HAVENS”

 Discover the gentle lifestyle and deep satisfaction of practicing hospitality with what you have.

We all need people, places, and experiences that bring us home, feed our hope, rock us to sleep, then wish us well in the morning when we go back into the world and find others who need what we were just given. We long for these warm welcomes—and the ability to offer them to others without pretension or stress.

In this exquisite tapestry of stories, beautiful photography, and both practical and creative resources, writer and designer Liz Bell Young gives us a new vision for hospitality—one where we can both create space and give space at the same time. In Let There Be Havens, she shows us how anyone and any space can be part of this gentle and hospitable way of life.

Threading her life experiences in Italy, California, and Ohio—including camping events in fields and hosting friends in a van parked in the driveway—Young reveals the secrets of cultivating havens right where we are. She’ll inspire you through stories to open the heart; easy-to-follow guides for creating haven-like spaces; creative how to’s for everyday generosity and contentment; and beautiful recipes and simple menu ideas.

Page by page, this powerful manifesto will give what you need to build meaningful moments, draw people in, and offer more beauty to the world—piece by piece, life by life.

 In Let There Be Havens, Liz Bell Young  shares stories that will inspire readers to show love to their neighbors; offers encouragement for those who want to live a creative and generous life; and discusses how to replace fear and anxiety with calmness and kindness.

What is a haven?

A door held open.
A lamp turned on.
A place prepared.

This is haven: gentle hospitality.
When one person reaches for another, makes an offering, and believes we all hold such worth. No matter what we have in our pockets or where we’ve been up until now, we take care of each other―whether we’re strangers on a sidewalk or families around a table. Each day, we create trails of beauty and connection. One open door opens the next. And then it happens: our streets fill with lamplight, our lives lift with spirit, and our homes become circles of gold.

Let there be havens.

CONNECT WITH LIZ BELL YOUNG

https://www.lizbellyoung.com/

Liz Bell Young is a writer, experience designer and collaborator in the Midwest. Her work appears in Magnolia Journal on the shelves, Artifact Uprising and Darling on the sites, Procter & Gamble in the studios, and Woman Camp in the woods. A grad of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago + University of Cincinnati, LBY takes a multidisciplinary approach to her work and home. Favorite pairings: words on index cards, words next to rolling film, words covering real paper inside real books. She also adores rocks, oyster shells, the smell of hay and gasoline, old Austrian boots, coffee in small cups. But above all: her life with Ryan and their children.

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

“Who do YOU say that I am?” Jesus asks this powerful question to His disciples in Matthew 16. It is the most important question any of us is called to answer - and make no mistake. We are all to answer it. 

The question unpacks a lot about who we are, and how we define our lives. We do not get to tell Jesus who He is -only acknowledge it. But He defines us. That is true freedom. 

Stephanie shares, "He doesn’t need to know who he is to you. And he surely doesn’t need us to tell him who he is. So, How do you feel, knowing he is actively seeking out your very own personal answer? Does it feel like it’s a quiz? Is this a test of your theology? Is this a test of your bible knowledge or your relationship with Him? Is this a test you may fail? Or could it be more like an invitation to unearth one of the most meaningful treasures in the world?"

Jesus told a parable one day. Matthew records it just a few paragraphs before this question, in chapter 13. Here is what Jesus says. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Our understanding of Jesus’ identity is like that treasure. It will change our lives.

Let’s go back to the context in the original text. First he asked what others were saying about him. Again, obviously he knew. He wasn’t seeking information. He was seeking relationship – as always. Being Jewish through and through, he asks questions to enter into relationship, into dialogue. Who do others say He is? The disciples can answer this one easily, there is nothing personal. And the answer is rather positive, it tells us about the people’s perception of who Jesus was at that point in his ministry. But you can quickly tell, this is not Jesus’ goal. He is only getting started. Then he asks the real question – the other one was just a primer. Who do YOU say that I am? Now that is completely different. Now they are in the spotlight. Now it’s their turn.

Who we understand Jesus to be, determines who we are. Please hear this. Knowing who Jesus is, will determine the course of your life on earth, in heaven, and every moment spent here and there. Knowing who Jesus is tells you who you are. Jesus’ identity defines your identity – and this cannot be said of any one else. He alone claims this level of power, authority, and utter allegiance.

Who your kids are doesn’t determine who you are. Who your parents or husband or best friend is, doesn’t determine who you are. Your enemies or your friends or your colleagues or your neighbors or your boss don’t define you.

Jesus defines you.

Where you were born, where you live, your ethnicity or your nationality, your income or your health, your size or your looks – these don’t define you.

Jesus defines you.

You don’t define yourself. If you are His disciple, then you have effectively renounced the right to define yourself. It means you don’t get to choose the criteria that define you. None of the above.

Jesus defines you.

This is truly the most freeing thing anyone can tell you.

Who Jesus is defines who you are, because you are IN Christ. You cannot be apart from Him. That is the whole purpose of relationship.

If Jesus is truly the King of all kings, and the God of the universe who can hold everything you can see and touch and feel, and everything you can’t, just by the power of His word, then being defined by Him is the most glorious thing and the highest possible calling.

It is not reductive. It is enlarging. It is not confining. It is freeing. It is not limiting. It is boundless.

You are who you are, because Jesus is who He is. And who He is to you, determines who you are.

Ground yourself in Him. The greatest quest you can ever embark on is to take Him at His word when he promises to make Himself your greatest treasure and reward.

Make sure to listen to get all the treasures and nuggets of wisdom from this episode.

In this series, Stephanie takes us deep in Scripture through three powerful Greek words today. God is inviting you to capture your imagination, heart, soul and spirit through a deeper longing for Him. It is an intellectual search, a deep desire for Him, and also a need of our body. We will connect the dots and find that Jesus gives us the blueprint to answer this question the way the Father would invite us to. Let’s embrace Jesus’ invitation to ask, seek and knock – only to receive, find and have the door be opened. It is the same trio of Greek words, and it will inspire us to answer His question in the way that will bring us delight, for His glory.

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/

Malachi: Messenger to Messiah

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/

Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/

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Another way to partner with us is to purchase our workbooks and online Bible studies. We keep them at the lowest possible cost, but they require a lot of work from us! For example,

- a complete Bible Study requires an average of 500 man-hours.

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MORE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US FINANCIALLY:

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Our goal is to provide in-depth, high-quality, free Bible resources for all. They are free, but expensive to create! We need your financial support to keep producing and distributing them. Please pay Gospel Spice forward today! For example, a podcast episode takes close to 10 hours of work (and we release 2 each week). They come to you completely free, but we would truly love your support.

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Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

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Amanda Jenkins shares about the 25th wedding anniversary she and Dallas are celebrating TODAY, JUNE 13, 2023! Happy anniversary to one of our favorite couples out there. Twenty-five years is a beautiful milestone and a testament to God's faithfulness through and in you! We love you and honor the Lord alongside you.

Amanda and Stephanie talk about the crucible of suffering as the unavoidable process which our gentle Lord uses to refine us and keep us closely tied to His side, for our protection and growth. She explains how recent intense pain has led her to write the Bible Study that will soon release alongside season 4 of the show. She explains how she has discovered how God's goodness truly can eclipse our suffering - not in a pollyanna way at all, but through the pain and the daily releasing to Him who is more than able to bear it. We can only endure suffering when we are deeply rooted in who God is. As Amanda shares some of the recent personal struggles and sufferings she and her family have endured, she reveals how they have grown in the Lord through it, and what she has learned about herself and, more essentially, about God.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ziOcbz1ny9U

In our previous episode with Amanda, she talked with Stephanie about discovering new dimensions of relationship with Jesus, and the importance of experiential knowledge and resting in Him. Amanda told us how her family is faring through seasons of The Chosen, with a focus on discipling older children. She and Dallas have four children, aged 22, 20, 18 and 16. How are they parenting through the show, and towards intimacy with Christ? Amanda shared the power of intentionality and the necessity of embracing mistakes to grow from them. She told Stephanie how she and Dallas have nurtured a family culture for open conversations and for making God the center of their daily lives. She shared what it looks like to surrender your children to God at every age.

We also invite you to watch this conversation on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice 

DISCOVER THE CHOSEN

Best show of the century. Everything is at https://new.thechosen.tv/

We cannot recommend Amanda's Bible Studies enough. Get all of them today at https://new.thechosen.tv/collections/books 

NEW BONUS! GO DEEPER WITH OUR REFLECTION QUESTIONS ON THIS EPISODE

1. What does it mean to abide in Christ? How does this look different for each individual?

2. How can we grow our relationships with our children and disciple them as they grow older?

3. How do different families approach nightly devotionals or Bible study time?

4. What can we learn from David's practice of turning his attention to God's character in times of lament? How can we apply this to our own lives?

5. How does suffering impact our relationship with God? Can it draw us closer to Him or drive us away?

6. How can we release control and trust God with our children's emotional development and spiritual growth?

7. What are some natural challenges to reentry after a spouse has been away, and how can intentional conversations help with the transition back to normalcy?

8. In what ways can we seek God when things are going smoothly and not get complacent in our faith?

9. How can we avoid the temptation to seek validation from people instead of God? What are some practical ways to focus on abiding in Christ instead of looking to others for approval?

10. How have our standards and priorities changed as we have matured in our relationship with God? What helps us to recognize what is worth fighting for and what is not?

DISCOVER THE GOSPEL SPICE MINISTRIES

The Gospel Spice Podcast is part of a larger range of tools given to you by Gospel Spice Ministries.

In a nutshell, we exist to inspire Christ-followers to delight in God.

In more details: we provide resources to empower Christian leaders across generational, social, ethnic and geographical boundaries towards more intimacy with Jesus Christ and discipleship effectiveness through a Biblical Christocentric foundation. The Gospel-Spice Ministries provide a safe environment for spiritual and community growth empowering people to know Christ more intimately, serve one another more powerfully, and reach the world for Jesus.

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PAY IT FORWARD!! Would you consider supporting this show today to help others enjoy it for free? It comes to you completely free, but is labor-intensive to produce, and we want to keep putting it in the ears of people!

Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status. Your donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170. We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. All donations above our minimal operating costs go to Christian organizations fighting human trafficking.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

(*ListenNotes ranking, 2023)

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Amanda Jenkins returns on the Gospel Spice Podcast today for a deep dive into what it means to abide in Christ in ever-growing ways. She talks with Stephanie about discovering new dimensions of relationship with Jesus, and the importance of experiential knowledge and resting in Him. Amanda tells us how her family is faring through seasons of The Chosen, with a focus on discipling older children. She and Dallas have four children, aged 22, 20, 18 and 16. How are they parenting through the show, and towards intimacy with Christ? Amanda shares the power of intentionality and the necessity of embracing mistakes to grow from them. She tells us how she and Dallas have nurtured a family culture for open conversations and for making God the center of their daily lives. She shares what it looks like to surrender your children to God at every age. She also shares with us, in a fun, whimsical ways, what plans she and Dallas have to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary this week!

We also invite you to watch this conversation on our YouTube channel: 

In the second half of the conversation, which will air as our next episode, Amanda shares some of the recent personal struggles and sufferings she and her family have endured, how they have grown in the Lord through it, and what she has learned about herself and, more essentially, about God.

DISCOVER THE CHOSEN

Best show of the century. Everything is at https://new.thechosen.tv/

We cannot recommend Amanda's Bible Studies enough. Get all of them today at https://new.thechosen.tv/collections/books 

NEW BONUS! GO DEEPER WITH OUR REFLECTION QUESTIONS ON THIS EPISODE

1. What does it mean to abide in Christ? How does this look different for each individual?

2. How can we grow our relationships with our children and disciple them as they grow older?

3. How do different families approach nightly devotionals or Bible study time?

4. What can we learn from David's practice of turning his attention to God's character in times of lament? How can we apply this to our own lives?

5. How does suffering impact our relationship with God? Can it draw us closer to Him or drive us away?

6. How can we release control and trust God with our children's emotional development and spiritual growth?

7. What are some natural challenges to reentry after a spouse has been away, and how can intentional conversations help with the transition back to normalcy?

8. In what ways can we seek God when things are going smoothly and not get complacent in our faith?

9. How can we avoid the temptation to seek validation from people instead of God? What are some practical ways to focus on abiding in Christ instead of looking to others for approval?

10. How have our standards and priorities changed as we have matured in our relationship with God? What helps us to recognize what is worth fighting for and what is not?

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!