Gospel Spice | Awaken Delight in God through faith in Jesus Christ

Welcome to today’s “Identity in the Battle” series, where we continue our exploration of the powerful image Paul gives us in Ephesians 6: the Armor of God. Stephanie Rousselle dives into the spiritual realities of our identity in Christ and how we’re equipped to stand strong in spiritual warfare. In our previous episode, (episode 415) we looked at the first few pieces of this armor. So, how do we live victoriously through our spiritual battles? Let’s see what Paul has to teach us through his letter to the Ephesians. Context and Purpose Paul sets the stage by reminding us that as followers of Christ, we’re engaged in a real, everyday spiritual battle. The “Armor of God” is not just a metaphor; it’s a God-given resource to ground us in our identity, empower us, and unite us as the body of Christ. The Shield of Faith Paul’s words to the Ephesians brings the shield to life. In Greek, the word is literally “door,” emphasizing its large, protective nature—big enough to hide a soldier entirely. Roman soldiers would lock shields together, signifying unity and teamwork. Alone, we may stand vulnerable, but joined with others in faith, we’re nearly impenetrable. The shield also features hinges—faith is “active,” meant to be flexible, adapting to every circumstance. The shield extinguishes “all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” These arrows primarily serve as distractions. Satan often uses “fiery darts” not just to harm, but mostly to divert our attention, separating us from our main purpose and leaving us vulnerable to further attacks. Stephanie reminds us to recognize life’s distractions and stay focused—don’t mistake the fire for the real enemy! We are challenged to take stock of how many times our faith has shielded us from attack, and to recognize each as a testimony to God’s faithfulness. The Helmet of Salvation Just as medicine must be applied—not merely owned—salvation transforms us when we “put it on” daily. The helmet protects our minds from the enemy’s lies, renewing our thoughts through daily application. Our salvation is both a present reality and a future inheritance; we’re called to live now with the confidence, hope, and abundance Christ offers, not a mindset of spiritual scarcity. The Sword of the Spirit The “sword” is the Word of God—both Scripture and Jesus Himself. Scripture is not merely ink on paper, but alive and active, shaping us as we wield its truths. So, memorizing, speaking, and applying Scripture is our offensive weapon, capable of cutting through lies, confusion, and spiritual strongholds. Prayer as Our Ultimate Weapon Finally, Paul underscores prayer as the glue of our spiritual arsenal. Prayer is not a formality; it’s the relational heartbeat with our Commander-in-Chief, Jesus. To kneel in prayer is the only way to stand firm against the enemy. Conclusion: Victory and Identity As believers, we’re not called to fight alone. Armor is meant to be worn in unity, our eyes fixed on Jesus, our victorious leader. We’re warriors today—clothed for battle—but one day, we’ll trade our armor for bridal garments, celebrating our eternal victory in Christ. Until then, let’s stand firm, united, and equipped with every spiritual blessing, living out our new identity in Him. Reflection: What distractions (flaming arrows) are keeping you from focusing on your true spiritual battle? Where do you need to “lock shields” with others? How can you apply the helmet of salvation and wield the sword of the Spirit more intentionally this week? Enjoying these reflection questions? Consider the accompanying workbook as a resource to go deeper, at https://www.gospelspice.com/identity  ----- IDENTITY IN THE BATTLE WORKBOOK ------ You have the option to go beyond listening to this series, and to participate actively. This exclusive Gospel Spice Ministries resource is available at gospelspice.com/identity . You will receive a downloadable, printable workbook containing listening guide for each of the 6 episodes in this series, space for note taking, and discussion questions if you want to do this study with a friend! What better way to enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend this season, than to discuss your identity in the battle together? So, grab a friend or family member, or someone to mentor or be mentored by, and signup together.  Every week, Stephanie shares truth from Scripture and invites you to dig deeper in your faith to delight in the glory of God. PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the link with friends and family PAY IT FORWARD by supporting us financially PRAY IT FORWARD by praying for us and those you share it with! Find out more at gospelspice.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/ 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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 https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie interviews Elise Tegegne, author of In Praise of House Flies. They discuss finding God’s presence, grace, and growth in the ordinary and sometimes challenging moments of daily life. Spiritual growth is cultivated not by spectacular moments, but by surrender, humility, dependence, and wonder woven into the fabric of everyday life. As Elise’s experience, book, and wisdom reveal, God meets us in the little things—if we will simply open our eyes and hearts to Him. Elise’s story begins with her call to serve as a missionary teacher in Ethiopia—an experience that brought her, for the first time, into the depths of her own inadequacy. Far from home and outside her comfort zone, she quickly realized she could not succeed on her own. Failure and discomfort became a means by which she experienced true intimacy with God. When everything felt overwhelming, the only option was to get “on her knees,” literally and figuratively, praying for help. Elise discusses how being confronted with her own limits brought a new kind of freedom. Growing up as a high-performing student, she hadn’t needed to rely on anyone but herself. But in Ethiopia, humility was forced upon her—and it led to spiritual liberation. Humility is the posture that opens us to God’s grace. It’s not natural or easy—especially for those of us wired for achievement or “Martha” types—but it’s essential. Elise points out that praying for humility is scary, but necessary, and God has ways to gently answer that prayer. True humility is not self-deprecation but a realistic acknowledgment of need—opening the way for grace. God “gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). Cultivating humility by embracing moments that challenge our sense of control, happens by asking Him for a gentle, transforming touch. Motherhood and daily life made Elise redefine prayer. No longer only reserved for a quiet hour, prayer became integrated into every moment: while nursing her baby, washing dishes, or shopping with her in-laws, who taught her to pray over even the smallest activities. Prayer can permeate our entire day. Turn every activity—however small—into a moment of connection and dependence on God. “In everything, by prayer and supplication, make your requests known to God.” The title of Elise’s book, In Praise of House Flies, inspires us to look for God’s presence even in the annoyances and the mundane: the “house fly” moments we’d rather swat away. Life is lived not just in the big events, but in myriad little acts of faithfulness, wonder, and surrender. Adopting a childlike wonder, Elise encourages us to practice gratitude, see the holy in the everyday, and recognize God’s gifts everywhere. Resist waiting for the “next big thing.” Instead, let’s train our attention on the daily opportunities God gives for transformation, gratitude, and worship. Like children, we marvel at the beauty and sacredness embedded in the ordinary. MORE ABOUT ELISE TEGEGNE AND HER BOOK, “IN PRAISE OF HOUSEFLIES” Through the lens of personal experience, Elise Tegegne reflects on the redemptive glimmers in ordinary challenges ranging from canceled flights to insomnia. In Praise of Houseflies gives readers an opportunity to listen for what their own everyday quandaries can teach and to delight in the abundant graces blossoming within them. It is an essential message of hope, joy, and redemption imparted through deep, nourishing reflection. Elise says of herself, “Living alone and young as a high school French teacher in Ethiopia, I found a world that beautifully upended mine. I found God with skin and bones. And I found the one my soul loves. After giving birth to my son, I left my teaching career to pursue the delights of motherhood and writing. Since then I’ve been listening for God’s voice in the rhythms of everyday life, keeping my eyes open for abundant graces—and seeking to capture what I find in words. My first book In Praise of Houseflies: Meditations on the Gifts in Everyday Quandaries (Calla Press) is now available wherever books are sold. I received a BA in Creative Writing and French from Indiana University and hold an MFA from Seattle Pacific University. “ More at https://www.elisetegegne.com/  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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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 https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

We invite you this week to focus on understanding our identity in Christ as we engage in spiritual battle, highlighting the practical meaning and Old Testament roots of the armor God equips us with. Based on Ephesians 6:13-17, let’s consider our identity and readiness in spiritual battle! We invite you to consider purchasing the accompanying workbook here: https://www.gospelspice.com/identity  Context: Identity in the Midst of Battle The Christian life necessarily involves a spiritual battle. The Apostle Paul calls believers to “stand”—not in our own strength, but grounded in our new identity in Christ. Paul’s instruction to put on the “full armor of God” isn’t new; its roots run deep in the Old Testament, with key imagery borrowed from books like Isaiah and Deuteronomy. In Isaiah 11:5 and 59:17, righteousness, faithfulness, and salvation appear as God’s own armor. This armor is now given to us, His adopted children, not as a child’s imitation set but as the genuine armor of our commander. Why the Armor Fits—Old and New Testament Connections Paul isn’t inventing something new for the church in Ephesians. The same armor God Himself wears in Isaiah—righteousness as a breastplate, salvation as a helmet—is now available to every believer, thanks to our adoption in Christ. In God’s army, the commander and soldiers wear the same “colors”—we share in God’s strength and righteousness. The armor is also prophetic: Isaiah 59 speaks of the coming of the Messiah like a rushing stream (an echo of Pentecost) and describes how God’s Spirit will seal and empower His people. This sealing (see Ephesians 1:13) corresponds with being clothed in God’s armor. Seven Elements of the Armor While many list six pieces, Ephesians points to seven, symbolizing fullness and perfection: Belt of Truth: Truth is both light and freedom. It’s the foundation that supports all other pieces, anchoring our identity in what God has said and done, not our own perception or the world’s lies. Breastplate of Righteousness: This isn’t self-righteousness but Christ’s righteousness. It’s described as a “heart protector,” guarding us against accusations—whether from the enemy or our own self-doubt. Standing in Christ’s righteousness, not our own, keeps us from the traps of pride or despair. Shoes of the Gospel of Peace: These boots provide both stability (standing firm) and mobility (readiness to move). They symbolize preparation and the peace rooted in the gospel, enabling us to stand and advance as one body with other believers. Shield of Faith Helmet of Salvation Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) Prayer—the element that undergirds and animates all the others, keeping us connected to God and alert in the battle. Application: Standing Ready God calls us to “put on” and “take up” these elements daily—not hastily when the enemy attacks, but as preparation for victorious living. The Christian walk is not passive; it’s a team endeavor, fought best in community, by truthfully embracing our identity and actively trusting God’s provision. The full armor of God is a gift of grace, perfectly suited for each believer, grounding us in truth, righteousness, and peace, and continually energized by prayer. This is how we stand firm and advance in the spiritual battle, secure in our identity as children of God. ----- IDENTITY IN THE BATTLE WORKBOOK ------ You have the option to go beyond listening to this series, and to participate actively. This exclusive Gospel Spice Ministries resource is available at gospelspice.com/identity . You will receive a downloadable, printable workbook containing listening guide for each of the 6 episodes in this series, space for note taking, and discussion questions if you want to do this study with a friend! What better way to enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend this season, than to discuss your identity in the battle together? So, grab a friend or family member, or someone to mentor or be mentored by, and signup together.  Every week, Stephanie shares truth from Scripture and invites you to dig deeper in your faith to delight in the glory of God. PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the link with friends and family PAY IT FORWARD by supporting us financially PRAY IT FORWARD by praying for us and those you share it with! Find out more at gospelspice.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/ 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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 https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie welcomes Elizabeth Urbanowitz to discuss how we can equip our children with a biblical understanding of sexuality and gender. Discover the tools you need to disciple your child with purpose and grace! Helping Your Kids Know God’s Good Design is a thoughtful, timely, and practical resource that will coach you through some of the most foundational conversations you can have with your children. It’s more crucial than ever to talk with our children about God’s design for sexuality and gender. As our culture’s understanding of human identity shifts, Christian parents, grandparents, and mentors are called to be the primary voices shaping the next generation’s worldview on these sensitive topics. Ten years ago, few would have imagined discussing sexuality or gender identity with young children. However, today’s culture often defines people by their desires and feelings, leading to confusion over what it means to be human. The Christian response is to provide clarity rooted in God’s Word—especially around key biblical themes such as being made in God’s image (Psalm 139) and understanding redemption through Christ. Elizabeth Urbanowitz emphasizes starting conversations on sexuality and gender with children as young as four or five years old. The earlier parents introduce these topics, the more their children see them as trustworthy “experts” (she calls this the “Founder’s Effect”). Just as a child memorizes basic math facts before tackling algebra, simple biblical truths learned early become anchors for discerning truth from cultural messages later in life. Children encounter issues like sexual abuse, pornography, and gender confusion younger than ever. Even adults without children are likely to influence young people as teachers, mentors, or relatives. It’s essential to have clear, simple language to explain: Bodies are valuable and designed by God. Private parts deserve protection and privacy. If children disclose uncomfortable experiences, adults should listen, seek understanding, and reinforce these truths with compassion. Elizabeth draws everything back to scripture. The Bible presents God as our Designer, and His design (for our bodies, marriage, sexuality) is the wise and loving blueprint for human flourishing. When addressing hard questions—like same-sex marriage, gender identity, or masturbation—parents are encouraged to reference what God has revealed, not just their opinions. To help children remember key truths, parents can teach simple catechism-like phrases. For example, “Marriage is one man and one woman becoming one flesh for life,” or “God designed us as male or female—God’s design is good.” These become invaluable tools when children are confronted with cultural lies. A major point is that kindness doesn’t mean agreement. Being compassionate means loving others and telling the truth (not just making them feel good). Children should be taught to respect and care for everyone, including those living differently, without affirming what’s unbiblical. For parents of older children or teens, start with prayer, then listen to what they’ve already learned. Acknowledge any shortcomings, gently offer biblical truths, and focus on building a trusting, ongoing dialogue. God’s Word is sufficient for every generation. Parents, family members, and the faith community play vital roles in helping kids navigate a confusing world. Start early, speak simply, root everything in scripture, and model truth with kindness and courage. Take time this week to consider what “building a biblical foundation” practically looks like for the children in your life. What is one conversation you can start, or one phrase you can teach, to prepare them for these challenging but crucial topics? MORE ABOUT “HELPING YOUR KIDS KNOW GOD’S GOOD DESIGN” Discipling Your Child One Conversation at a Time In today’s pervasively secular culture, it’s more essential than ever to guide your children toward a biblical worldview on all issues―including the complex topics of sexuality and gender. But as a parent, how do you have these discussions in an informed, age-appropriate, and Christ-centered way?  This how-to handbook equips you to talk about sex, gender, and the Bible with children between the ages of 4 and 12 with confidence and nuance. Inside you’ll find biblically grounded answers to some of Christian parents’ most common questions, including When should I first have the sex talk with my child? How do I explain sexual sin to my child? How do I teach my child to love others without affirming another person’s sin? How do I talk with my child about what the Bible teaches about same-sex relationships? How do I handle the fear that I’ll have these conversations the wrong way? Discover the tools you need to disciple your child with purpose and grace! Helping Your Kids Know God’s Good Design is a thoughtful, timely, and practical resource that will coach you through some of the most foundational conversations you can have with your children. MORE ABOUT ELIZABETH URBANOWITZ 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. https://foundationworldview.com/about/meet-the-founder  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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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 https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Welcome to this episode of our “Identity in the Battle” series, based on an exploration of Ephesians 6:10-13. The focus is on understanding our identity as followers of Christ and what it means to engage in spiritual warfare by putting on the full armor of God. We invite you to consider purchasing the accompanying workbook here: https://www.gospelspice.com/identity  Let’s break down the main themes and lessons from this episode: Context: Our Identity and the Reality of Battle Stephanie begins by grounding us in the overall theme of the series: Identity in the Battle. She reminds listeners that Paul’s letter to the Ephesians moves from teaching about who we are in Christ (chapters 1-3) to how we act because of our identity (chapters 4-6). As Paul closes his letter, he introduces the imagery of spiritual armor, summarizing the main points and equipping believers for spiritual warfare. Paul’s message isn’t just for specific groups—it’s for everyone who claims Christ, regardless of gender, age, or role. If you are in Christ, you are called to be a warrior, not fragile china hidden away. This call is universal across the body of believers. Understanding the Battle Paul urges us to "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power,” highlighting that our strength comes not from ourselves, but from being in Christ. This is not a battle for our salvation—Christ has already won that war on the cross—but a fight for our effectiveness and witness as believers. Satan cannot take our salvation, but he can undermine our impact if we’re unprepared. Stephanie emphasizes that the true battle is spiritual—not against flesh and blood, but against unseen spiritual forces. Personal struggles, relationship challenges, or internal battles are surface-level; behind them is a deeper spiritual conflict. Recognizing this shifts our focus from blaming people or circumstances to standing guard against spiritual opposition. Equipping Ourselves: The Armor of God Paul uses two key actions: “put on” and “take up” the full armor of God. At salvation, we “put on” this armor permanently (sealed with the Holy Spirit), but we must also “take it up” daily, making a conscious choice to stand firm each day. The armor equips us to resist the devil’s schemes, knowing the victory is assured through Christ. Stephanie illustrates that we should not wait until the enemy is upon us to prepare; the armor must be worn in readiness. Just as Roman soldiers were only as effective as their preparation, so we must be spiritually ready. Our Posture: Standing by Kneeling The repeated exhortation from Paul is to “stand.” Stephanie challenges us to see that the only way to stand against spiritual attacks is first to kneel before God in submission. Standing in the Lord’s strength means a posture of dependence on Him, not self-reliance. If we kneel to God, we can stand against the enemy. If we refuse, we risk kneeling to the enemy by default. Victory and Intentional Living Finally, know that the war is already won. Satan has lost, though he fights to claim small victories day-to-day. We cannot lose our salvation, but we must fight to maintain our effectiveness. The invitation is to daily put on the armor, resist the enemy, and live out our victorious identity in Christ—standing firm in faith and ready for spiritual battle. Takeaway: As a believer, you are a spiritual warrior. Your true battle is not against people or circumstances, but against spiritual forces seeking to undermine your effectiveness. The key to standing strong is daily surrender to God, putting on His armor, and living confidently in the victory Christ has secured. ----- IDENTITY IN THE BATTLE WORKBOOK ------ You have the option to go beyond listening to this series, and to participate actively. This exclusive Gospel Spice Ministries resource is available at gospelspice.com/identity . You will receive a downloadable, printable workbook containing listening guide for each of the 6 episodes in this series, space for note taking, and discussion questions if you want to do this study with a friend! What better way to enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend this season, than to discuss your identity in the battle together? So, grab a friend or family member, or someone to mentor or be mentored by, and signup together.  Every week, Stephanie shares truth from Scripture and invites you to dig deeper in your faith to delight in the glory of God. PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the link with friends and family PAY IT FORWARD by supporting us financially PRAY IT FORWARD by praying for us and those you share it with! Find out more at gospelspice.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/ Bonjour! Gospel Spice exists to inspire our generation to delight in God. We do this through the podcast, online Bible studies, leadership trainings, and more. We want to serve Christ-followers who seek to live a life spiced with the gospel. We want to love God, because He first loved us. We want to experience the fullness of life with Him—and not be content with stale, boring, leftover faith. Jesus tells us that the most important thing is to love the Lord our God, so we take Him seriously. He adds that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Now, there are many ways to do that, but I have always personally felt deep compassion for victims of human trafficking – it is modern day slavery, and it revolts the heart of God. And so, they are our particular neighbors here at Gospel Spice. We want to play our part in raising awareness and then financially supporting those who fight this great evil.   Now we would love to invite you to join the team in one of three ways: 1, pray Gospel Spice forward – pray for our guests, our listeners and participants, and for us too! 2, play Gospel Spice forward by telling your friends about us, and by please leaving positive reviews and comments on your podcast listening app; and 3rd, PAY GospelSpice forward. Less than 1% of our listeners are supporting us financially. We need your help! Please pay Gospel Spice forward today. It can be a one-time donation, or a monthly one, for the amount of your choice. Your donation is fully tax-deductible in the US. Plus, once we cover our costs, a significant portion of your donation will be given back to Christian organizations that fight human trafficking, and that we vet thoroughly. So, you can know that every dime you give is used for the Kingdom of God. Every little bit helps. So, be part of the spice of the gospel by becoming a financial partner today! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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 https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie presents a heartfelt reflection on how Christians are called to respond to today’s challenging cultural landscape. She offers both a personal confession and a rallying cry, urging believers to re-center their lives on Christ and to actively engage with the world from a biblical foundation. Stephanie begins by clarifying the podcast’s aim: Gospel Spice is not about political commentary or deciphering world events, but about grounding listeners in the timeless truth of Scripture and seeking Jesus on every page. She emphasizes a deeply Christological approach—fixing our eyes on Jesus as revealed throughout the Bible and learning how to live in His likeness. Acknowledging recent global and societal upheavals, Stephanie shares her personal struggles with understanding “the times.” She admits to the temptation of silence to avoid conflict, but recognizes this as spiritual cowardice. She confesses her reluctance to speak boldly in the past and asks forgiveness for failing to set a courageous example. One month to the day after the murder of Charlie Kirk, Stephanie notes the growing chasm and polarization she witnesses online and offline. Rather than succumbing to either despair or division, she calls Christians to ask: “What would the Lord have me do?” The answer is rooted in Scripture, humility, and prayer—equipping ourselves to discern and respond with Christlike wisdom. Drawing from her own life—Her journey from atheism, her experience as a legal immigrant in the US, and her years living in a Muslim country—Stephanie unpacks three ideological battlegrounds facing Western Christians today, following the thoughts Os Guinness shared last week on Gospel Spice: Cultural Marxism: ideologies rooted in atheism and humanism have evolved from economic Marxism to newer cultural forms, where identity and power dynamics overshadow biblical truth.  The Importance of Lawful Citizenship: Sharing her and her husband’s story of legal immigration, Stephanie underscores biblical obedience to governmental laws unless they directly contradict God’s commands.  Radical Extremism: Reflecting on her time in North Africa, she distinguishes between ordinary Muslims and radical ideologues, warning that even small minorities bent on evil can shape history, as seen in 20th century tragedies. Stephanie issues a stirring challenge: If a 15% minority, committed to evil or error, can transform societies, what could God do with a dedicated 15% of Christians boldly living out their faith? She calls listeners to be part of that faithful remnant—praying, embodying Christ’s truth and love, and reaching out in kindness. Stephanie points to prayer as the most powerful tool available to believers, even announcing the latest Gospel Spice prayer course as a resource (with proceeds going to anti-trafficking ministries). Go to gospelspice.com/prayer for more. If you cannot afford to pay the full price of the course, use coupon code PRAYER50 for 50% off. If you can afford to, please consider making a donation to help others get the course for less, and to support victims of human trafficking. Also, Stephanie encourages listeners to anonymously practice kindness, share the gospel, and avoid the distractions of political rage or the pursuit of comfort. Stephanie closes with a prayer for boldness, discernment, and repentance. She urges each listener to resist complacency, embrace spiritual battle with wisdom and humility, and to become agents of change and hope in the world—“the 15%” who make a difference for Christ. Reflection: How can you daily center your life on Christ, courageously discern the times, and practice prayerful kindness, becoming part of the 15% who bring light and transformation to your community? 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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 https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie welcomes Lynn Rosenberg, an American Bible teacher and non-profit founder living in Jerusalem. Lynn is also married to Joel Rosenberg, a NYT bestselling author who's been featured on Gospel Spice before. Lynn tells us what it’s like to live in Jerusalem today – and what it’s been like since October 7, 2023. Lynn’s story is a testament to faith enduring through turbulence, the importance of spiritual and practical community, and the power of everyday obedience. Her journey challenges us to find courage, unity, and hope in Christ, to love sacrificially, and to embrace the unique callings God has set before us—whatever our context may be. Lynn Rosenberg’s journey begins with her upbringing in New Jersey in a church-going but not deeply faith-rooted family. Her personal faith ignited at Syracuse University, where she met both her husband, Joel, and Christ. From early on, Lynn and Joel felt called to cross-cultural missions, particularly with a heart for Israel, inspired by Joel’s Jewish background and Lynn’s close friendships with Jewish neighbors. After years of preparation and service in Washington, D.C., they moved to Israel 11 years ago with their four sons. They became Israeli citizens, and transitioned to life in Israel to fulfill their call to ministry. The Israeli culture, while appearing Western, is deeply Middle Eastern, characterized by tribal mentalities, bureaucracy, and a need to assert oneself daily. Navigating systems, integrating children into small believing communities, and language barriers all proved significant challenges. Church community, both Israeli and international, became a lifeline for practical and spiritual support, nurturing friendships and communal prayer. Lynn recounts the days surrounding October 7, 2023—a day that marked unprecedented violence and upheaval in Israel. Despite a sense of increasing peace before the attack, the reality of war shattered normalcy. With sirens wailing, families hunkered down in bomb shelters, and friends on the frontlines. The Joshua Fund, the nonprofit organization Lynn and Joel founded, rapidly mobilized, prioritizing humanitarian aid particularly for vulnerable populations near the Gaza border. Believers displayed extraordinary courage, continuing to deliver aid even under rocket fire, standing as beacons of light in darkness. A central focus of the Joshua Fund is supporting both Israel and her neighbors—including Arab Israelis and Palestinians. By investing in local churches, training, and humanitarian aid, they work to build unity and break down suspicion. The war has intensified collaboration among denominations, bringing unprecedented unity, generosity, and boldness among believers. Despite barriers, including limited access to Christians in Gaza, the Joshua Fund continues to support those in need, relying on partnerships and prayer. Personally, Lynn highlights the importance of seeking God’s will daily and recognizing that each day holds prepared “good works” for us to walk in. She encourages abiding in prayer and Scripture, trusting God’s sovereignty amidst uncertainty, and fostering radical hospitality and simple, loving neighborliness. For the next generation, she underscores the vital need for biblical wisdom and discernment, especially in an era of increasing complexity and deception. Simplifying faith to loving God and loving one’s neighbor becomes both a countercultural and effective response. MORE ABOUT THE JOSHUA FUND https://joshuafund.com/ In this famous passage from the book of Genesis, the Lord promised to bless those who bless the children of Abraham and curse those who curse them. In Matthew 19:19, Jesus instructed His followers to “love your neighbor as yourself.” In Matthew 5:44, Jesus told His disciples to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus exhorted His followers to feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, care for strangers, clothe the naked, care for those who are sick, and visit those in prison. Seeking to obey these biblical commands, the Rosenbergs established a non-profit educational and charitable organization that works closely with Jewish and Christian allies in Israel and the Middle East, as well as Christian allies around the world. As an educational organization, The Joshua Fund has sought to engage Christians globally about God's love and plan for Israel and her neighbors. The Joshua Fund has also worked in the Palestinian Territories, as well as in Israel's neighboring countries. 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) 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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 https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

In this episode of Gospel Spice, Stephanie Rousselle invites us to explore the theme of identity and belonging, centered on what it means to be “in Christ.” Building upon the previous episode on adoption (See Episode 409), we ponder how our sense of self is transformed and anchored by God’s love, the work of Christ, and the sealing of the Holy Spirit. The Seal of the Holy Spirit: Marked as Belonging In Ephesians 1:13, Paul writes that believers are “sealed with the Holy Spirit.” Stephanie invites us to consider a seal as it was in ancient times—a stamp pressed into soft wax, leaving a permanent imprint. In this analogy, we are like the wax, transformed and marked by the very nature and authority of God Himself. This seal signifies both our identity—we are marked as God’s own—and our security. Just as a sealed envelope is protected and identified by its seal, we are both set apart and protected through the Spirit. Satan may attempt to attack or tempt us, but he cannot invade what has been sealed by God. The Intimacy and Assurance of the Spirit The Holy Spirit is the real, tangible presence of God in us—a downpayment of our future inheritance with Him. Stephanie encourages us to let the Spirit guide and comfort us, reminding us of God’s love, providing peace in hardship, and strengthening us with God’s own power. The assurance that God delights in us isn’t because of our greatness, but because of His extravagant love and the transformation He accomplishes within us. The Spirit teaches us not only of God’s love for us, but enables us to truly love Him in return. Belonging and the Two Dimensions of the Gospel Paul describes our identity as involving both a vertical and horizontal dimension: our faith in Christ (vertical) and our love for one another (horizontal), forming a cross-shaped understanding of the gospel. In Christ, we belong not only to God, but also to one another as members of His body, the church. This new community is called out, sealed, and set apart for God’s purposes. Seated with Christ: Rest and Purpose A powerful image throughout Ephesians is that we are “seated with Christ” (Ephesians 2:6). In the ancient temple, priests never sat because their work was unfinished. By contrast, Christ, having completed His redemptive work, sits at God’s right hand. Astonishingly, we are invited to sit with Him—not striving for salvation, but resting in what He has accomplished. This gives us assurance: nothing can add or take away from our salvation. We are saved by grace, freed for good works—expressions of thanksgiving and calling, not requirements to earn favor. The “But God” Moment Paul paints the “before and after” of our lives: once alienated, separated, and without hope, “but God” intervened in mercy, bringing us near by the blood of Christ. Our past no longer defines us; our new status as beloved, adopted children of God does. Takeaway: Becoming Who You Are in Christ Paul encourages us to hunger for deeper intimacy with God and to rest in the truth that our core identity is found in Christ, sealed by the Spirit, and expressed in loving Him and others. Our calling and purpose flow from being secure in this identity. As Stephanie reminds us, nothing beats knowing Christ and growing daily into the fullness of who we are in Him. ----- IDENTITY IN THE BATTLE WORKBOOK ------ You have the option to go beyond listening to this series, and to participate actively. This exclusive Gospel Spice Ministries resource is available at gospelspice.com/identity . You will receive a downloadable, printable workbook containing listening guide for each of the 6 episodes in this series, space for note taking, and discussion questions if you want to do this study with a friend! What better way to enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend this season, than to discuss your identity in the battle together? So, grab a friend or family member, or someone to mentor or be mentored by, and signup together.  Every week, Stephanie shares truth from Scripture and invites you to dig deeper in your faith to delight in the glory of God. PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the link with friends and family PAY IT FORWARD by supporting us financially PRAY IT FORWARD by praying for us and those you share it with! Find out more at gospelspice.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/ Bonjour! Gospel Spice exists to inspire our generation to delight in God. We do this through the podcast, online Bible studies, leadership trainings, and more. We want to serve Christ-followers who seek to live a life spiced with the gospel. We want to love God, because He first loved us. We want to experience the fullness of life with Him—and not be content with stale, boring, leftover faith. Jesus tells us that the most important thing is to love the Lord our God, so we take Him seriously. He adds that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Now, there are many ways to do that, but I have always personally felt deep compassion for victims of human trafficking – it is modern day slavery, and it revolts the heart of God. And so, they are our particular neighbors here at Gospel Spice. We want to play our part in raising awareness and then financially supporting those who fight this great evil.   Now we would love to invite you to join the team in one of three ways: 1, pray Gospel Spice forward – pray for our guests, our listeners and participants, and for us too! 2, play Gospel Spice forward by telling your friends about us, and by please leaving positive reviews and comments on your podcast listening app; and 3rd, PAY GospelSpice forward. Less than 1% of our listeners are supporting us financially. We need your help! Please pay Gospel Spice forward today. It can be a one-time donation, or a monthly one, for the amount of your choice. Your donation is fully tax-deductible in the US. Plus, once we cover our costs, a significant portion of your donation will be given back to Christian organizations that fight human trafficking, and that we vet thoroughly. So, you can know that every dime you give is used for the Kingdom of God. Every little bit helps. So, be part of the spice of the gospel by becoming a financial partner today! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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 https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stéphanie welcomes Os Guinness back again on the Gospel Spice podcast. Os offers his analysis of the critical juncture facing Western civilization, particularly America, and provides a trustworthy framework for Christians to understand and thoughtfully respond to today’s unique social, cultural, and political challenges. Os Guinness’s recent book, Our Civilizational Moment, gave Stephanie a framework to understand the current news headlines, including the assassination and memorial service of Charlie Kirk, a devoted follower of Jesus who died for his beliefs. She and Os discuss the events as Os provides a uniquely courageous and nuanced perspective. Os urges Christians to think deeply, be courageous, and avoid simple partisanship. He advocates looking back to the biblical foundations—faith, family, education—and promoting them through partnership with like-minded individuals, including Jews. Christian maturity means engaging with nuance, confession, and humility, rather than tribalism or reactionary politics. He also hopes for a significant national conversation and rededication, especially approaching America’s 250th anniversary, rooted in prayer, repentance, and recommitment to core biblical principles. THE CONVERSATION MORE IN DEPTH Os Guinness defines the concept of a “civilizational moment,” which is a critical point in a civilization’s history when its foundational principles are either renewed, replaced, or lost, leading to decline. For the West, this moment involves deciding whether to return to its Judeo-Christian roots or continue on a path shaped by secular Enlightenment thought and radical ideologies. Every civilization faces a time when it must choose—renew what made it great, replace it with something else, or decline and fall. Os describes four major “waves” or movements currently undermining the West from within: ·         The Red Wave: Rooted in cultural Marxism, this movement has transitioned from economic revolution to influencing culture and institutions over decades. ·         The Rainbow Wave: The sexual revolution, driven not just by recent pop culture but by deep philosophical roots aiming to overturn centuries of Judeo-Christian and Jewish values about humanity and sexuality. ·         The Black Wave: Radical Islamism, which has allied itself with the other movements to destabilize Western civilization. ·         The Gold Wave : A nod to economic and technological factors, less emphasized during the conversation, but brilliantly explained in the book. Os explains their convergence—especially the surprising alliance between radical left movements and Islamism—as an effort to dismantle the traditional Western order. These movements often work together, despite their differences, because they share a goal of undermining the Christian-influenced foundations of Western civilization. Guinness reminds listeners that the West owes its structure to the Christian faith, rooted in Judaism. Other influences (Greek, Roman) contributed, but it was the biblical worldview—especially covenantal thinking from the Old Testament—that shaped institutions and ideals. A loss of conviction in these roots leads to confusion about identity and direction, both culturally and politically. America in particular is experiencing: ·         Ideological Polarization: A deep divide between visions anchored either in the American Revolution (biblical) or the French Revolution (secular, Enlightenment). ·         Institutional Polarization: Growing distrust between elites and ordinary citizens. ·         Crisis of Words: The breakdown of truthful, respectful communication, leading to increased violence and mistrust. Os cautions against seeking solutions purely through power or politics, whether from the left or right. Both extremes, if detached from biblical truth and justice, are dangerous. Hope is found in trusting God, returning to biblical truth, and joining together, beyond politics, to seek the good of society and witness to the gospel. Our  “civilizational moment” requires discernment, wisdom, and Christ-centered courage. Christians are called to be salt and light—engaging culture thoughtfully, grounded in truth, and seeking both the renewal of their nation and the flourishing of humanity worldwide. Os helps us identify the key cultural forces at play, and explore how Christians can wisely and courageously navigate this pivotal time. MORE ABOUT “OUR CIVILIZATIONAL MOMENT” Purchase the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Our-Civilizational-Moment-Waning-Worlds/dp/B0DL3LW558/  Where do you find the great civilizations of the world? In ruins, in museums, and in history books. Each one in its time rose, flourished, and then declined and fell. Is the West facing its own civilizational moment today? A civilizational moment is a critical transition phase in the rise, course, and decline of a civilization when a civilization loses its decisive connection with the dynamic that inspired it. Such a moment must then issue in one of three broad options: a renewal of the dynamic that inspired the civilization in the first place, a successful replacement of the original dynamic by another, or the decline of the civilization. In sum, the issue for a civilization in a civilizational moment is its vision of ultimate reality: Is the civilization in living touch with the ideas, ideals, and inspiration that created it in the first place and that it needs to continue to flourish? Or, with its roots severed, is it destined to decline and die? Guinness’s analysis is wide-ranging and hard-hitting, but he ends with hope. This book is for all who care about the state of the world, who strive for a human-friendly future, and who are ready to make a stand for what matters. MORE ABOUT OS GUINNESS Os Guinness is an author and social critic. Great-great-great grandson of Arthur Guinness, the Dublin brewer, he was born in China in World War Two where his parents were medical missionaries. A witness to the climax of the Chinese revolution in 1949, he was expelled with many other foreigners in 1951 and returned to Europe where he was educated in England. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of London and his D.Phil in the social sciences from Oriel College, Oxford. Os has written or edited more than thirty books, including The Call, Time for Truth, Unspeakable, A Free People’s Suicide, and The Global Public Square. His latest book, Last Call for Liberty: How America’s Genius for Freedom Has Become Its Greatest Threat, was published in 2018. Since moving to the United States in 1984, Os has been a Guest Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Studies, a Guest Scholar and Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution, and Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum and the EastWest Institute in New York. He was the lead drafter of the Williamsburg Charter in 1988, a celebration of the bicentennial of the US Constitution, and later of “The Global Charter of Conscience,” which was published at the European Union Parliament in 2012. Os has spoken at many of the world’s major universities, and spoken widely to political and business conferences across the world. He lives with his wife Jenny in the Washington DC area. 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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 https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie welcomes singer-songwriter Melanie Penn for a heartfelt conversation about faith, creativity, and the power of redemptive storytelling through music. Faith, worship, and creativity are deeply intertwined. Whether through music, storytelling, or daily life, God calls us to partner in bringing beauty from brokenness, to be honest in our journeys, and to recognize His redemptive hand at work even in the darkest moments. Melanie Penn shares her unique journey as a worship leader, pointing out that this role can mean different things in different church settings. While she served in a traditional PCA church, at Redeemer Presbyterian under the leadership of late Tim Keller, where the “worship leader” guides congregational singing and scripture, Melanie emphasizes that her primary calling has become storytelling through faith-driven songwriting. She encourages us to widen our understanding of worship leadership—it extends beyond church walls and formal titles, and anyone whose art or actions point others to God partakes in worship leading. Every song Melanie writes is an act of faith. She explains that there’s an element of doubt in the creative process, but she repeatedly experiences the Holy Spirit’s presence as inspiration and ideas unfold. She calls creativity a “faith-building experience,” mirroring how God brings something tangible from nothing. Melanie invites us all to see all life’s creative acts, whether songwriting or problem-solving, as incarnational—reflecting God’s own creative nature. Drawing on her earlier album “Immanuel,” Melanie shares how God transformed her loneliest, most painful Christmas into a season of inspired songwriting. It’s a personal testament to how God brings beauty from brokenness. However, she wisely cautions against oversimplifying suffering, acknowledging that some redemption stories are not resolved in this life—but faith keeps us trusting. Melanie’s latest album, “The Rising,” is a musical journey from Christ’s burial to Ascension, told through first-person narratives of biblical characters. The creative sequencing is intentional: each song not only unfolds chronologically but also layers meaning—from Creation to New Creation, as Stephanie observes. Songs like “The Morning” (personifying the resurrection dawn) and “The Man on the Middle Cross” (based on the thief’s encounter with grace) invite listeners to see themselves in the redemptive story. Songs spotlighting characters like Peter, Mary Magdalene, and Thomas reflect deep emotional truths. Melanie explores Peter’s restoration with gentleness, suggesting Jesus’s threefold question—“Do you love me?”—is not punitive but restorative. In the story of Mary Magdalene encountering the risen Christ, the intimacy of Jesus calling her by name is set to music that leaves sacred space for silence and wonder. Thomas's doubt gives voice to modern “deconstruction” struggles, reminding us that doubt and faith often walk hand-in-hand. Melanie’s creative process is prayerful and open, often sparked while walking and reflecting with God. She emphasizes the importance of discernment—knowing which ideas to share or hold private—and the value of collaboration in shaping the final message. As Melanie Penn’s music invites us, let us step into the biblical narrative, find ourselves in its grace, and join the ongoing song of resurrection and hope. MORE FROM MELANIE PENN Melanie Penn is a classically trained vocalist and songwriter now based in Nashville, TN. For many years she was part of New York’s theater scene, and portrayed Sandy in the Broadway national tour of Grease! where she starred alongside legendary actor and entertainer Frankie Avalon. Penn also served as a worship leader at the city’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church under the leadership of the late bestselling author and theologian Tim Keller. Penn has released multiple albums in collaboration with producer Ben Shive, including Wake Up Love (2010), Hope Tonight (2015) and More Alive Volume 1 and Volume 2 (2020/2022). Her critically acclaimed 2017 concept project, Immanuel, a journey through the Christmas story, reached #1 on Amazon’s Christian, Worship and Holiday Download charts. The Rising: A Resurrection album is her latest project and expected to release throughout 2025. Here is her Christmas worship album (one of Stephanie’s favorites!): https://www.melaniepenn.com/immanuel  More about Melanie and her latest album, “the Rising”: https://www.melaniepenn.com/  "The Rising" presents a unique artistic approach to one of history’s most significant events, with each song written from the first-person perspective of biblical figures who witnessed the resurrection firsthand. Through the voices of Peter, Thomas, Mary Magdalene, and others, Melanie crafts an intimate musical narrative that brings ancient accounts into contemporary focus. The album draws exclusively from Gospel writings, offering listeners an immersive experience that bridges the gap between biblical history and modern worship. Melanie’s approach transforms familiar resurrection accounts into personal testimonies, allowing listeners to experience these pivotal moments through the eyes of those who lived them. The Rising features eleven songs, including: Man of Sorrows, Roll That Stone Away, Let There Be Light, Man on the Middle Cross, The Gardener, and I will Come Back for You. Website: https://www.melaniepenn.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melaniepenn/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melaniepennsings/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/melaniepennnyc Album: The Rising – A Resurrection Album, releasing September 19, 2025 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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 https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Welcome to the first week of the Gospel Spice Podcast's series, "Identity in the Battle," where we embark on a journey through the book of Ephesians. In this lesson, we'll dive into the heart of Ephesians chapter 1, focusing on what it means to have our identity rooted "in Christ." As we walk through Ephesians, we’re encouraged to "taste and see that the Lord is good"—embracing the variety and richness that God offers. Overview of Ephesians Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians while in prison around AD 60–62. The key purpose of this letter is to urge believers to walk as fruitful followers of Christ, serving in unity and love, particularly in challenging times. Paul’s guidance in Ephesians is deeply relevant to our own spiritual journeys today. The book can be split into three main parts: Chapters 1–3: Who we are in Christ (our identity). Chapters 4–5: How to walk out our calling (practical Christian living). Chapter 6: How to face spiritual battles with the armor of God. Identity: In Christ, Adoption, and the Holy Spirit Paul uses the expression “in Christ” (or similar) ten times in the first fourteen verses of Ephesians. This repetition emphasizes that our identity is rooted not in our achievements, background, family, or appearance—but solely in who Jesus says we are. What matters is God’s perspective of us, not the world or even those closest to us. Stephanie highlights that understanding our identity is a lifelong process, with four main steps: Discovery: Learn who God is, what He’s done, who He says you are, and what He calls you to do. Acceptance: Move from mere head knowledge to heart-level acceptance. Truly taste and see that God is good. Transformation: Let your understanding of God begin to change you from the inside out—your thoughts, your self-image, and your relationships. Daily Living: Live in your new identity daily, relying on the Holy Spirit and the Christian community for support. Adoption into God’s Family Paul employs the metaphor of adoption—a process which, in both Roman law and today, requires moving from one family to another, with full legal recognition and new rights. As Christians, we were once “children of wrath,” but God chose to bring us into His family, giving us full rights as His sons and daughters. This legal and spiritual transformation means that our old “family” (the world and sin) no longer defines us, and we now receive an eternal inheritance with Christ. The Holy Spirit: Our Seal and Guarantee Paul says we are “sealed by the Holy Spirit,” who is the guarantee of our inheritance. This sealing means we belong to God forever, and the Spirit empowers us to live out our new identity and purpose. Application and Encouragement As new members of God’s family, we are called to let go of old habits and embrace the rights, intimacy, and inheritance God offers us in Christ. This transformation is possible because of the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, who assures us that we are deeply loved, accepted, and called. Take time this week to reflect on these truths. Discover, accept, and step into your identity in Christ—chosen, adopted, and sealed for a purpose far greater than you ever imagined. Discussion Questions: What does it mean to you to be “in Christ”? How does understanding spiritual adoption change how you see yourself? In what ways do you need to daily embrace your new identity and release your old one? Join the Gospel Spice community for resources, Bible studies, and deeper fellowship as you walk out your true identity in Christ! ----- IDENTITY IN THE BATTLE WORKBOOK ------ You have the option to go beyond listening to this series, and to participate actively. This exclusive Gospel Spice Ministries resource is available at gospelspice.com/identity . You will receive a downloadable, printable workbook containing listening guide for each of the 6 episodes in this series, space for note taking, and discussion questions if you want to do this study with a friend! What better way to enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend this season, than to discuss your identity in the battle together? So, grab a friend or family member, or someone to mentor or be mentored by, and signup together.  Every week, Stephanie shares truth from Scripture and invites you to dig deeper in your faith to delight in the glory of God. PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the link with friends and family PAY IT FORWARD by supporting us financially PRAY IT FORWARD by praying for us and those you share it with! Find out more at gospelspice.com 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 Bonjour! Gospel Spice exists to inspire our generation to delight in God. We do this through the podcast, online Bible studies, leadership trainings, and more. We want to serve Christ-followers who seek to live a life spiced with the gospel. We want to love God, because He first loved us. We want to experience the fullness of life with Him—and not be content with stale, boring, leftover faith. Jesus tells us that the most important thing is to love the Lord our God, so we take Him seriously. He adds that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Now, there are many ways to do that, but I have always personally felt deep compassion for victims of human trafficking – it is modern day slavery, and it revolts the heart of God. And so, they are our particular neighbors here at Gospel Spice. We want to play our part in raising awareness and then financially supporting those who fight this great evil.   Now we would love to invite you to join the team in one of three ways: 1, pray Gospel Spice forward – pray for our guests, our listeners and participants, and for us too! 2, play Gospel Spice forward by telling your friends about us, and by please leaving positive reviews and comments on your podcast listening app; and 3rd, PAY GospelSpice forward. Less than 1% of our listeners are supporting us financially. We need your help! Please pay Gospel Spice forward today. It can be a one-time donation, or a monthly one, for the amount of your choice. Your donation is fully tax-deductible in the US. Plus, once we cover our costs, a significant portion of your donation will be given back to Christian organizations that fight human trafficking, and that we vet thoroughly. So, you can know that every dime you give is used for the Kingdom of God. Every little bit helps. So, be part of the spice of the gospel by becoming a financial partner today! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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

Stephanie sits down with author Hannah Brencher to discuss the practical power of unplugging from technology to deepen our connection with God, others, and oneself. Drawing from her book, The Unplugged Hours, and her personal journey, Hannah shares practical insights and spiritual wisdom that offer a clear pathway for anyone feeling overwhelmed, distracted, or disconnected. Unplugging is less about abandoning technology and more about reclaiming the present, deepening contentment, and embracing our true identity in Christ. Through practical disciplines, humble self-awareness, and a commitment to delighting in God right where we are, we find the spacious, unhurried lives that our souls crave. 1. Recognizing the Need to Unplug Hannah recounts her realization that constant connection to her phone was leaving her exhausted, burnt out, and spiritually depleted. She felt a persistent need to always be “on,” a sensation many people can relate to in today’s always-online world. Symptoms that signal it might be time to unplug include: Feeling tired and perpetually “on” Burnout and lack of creativity Scattered attention and apathy towards loved ones False sense of control by consuming endless information Numbing and anxiety, worsened by exposure to social media algorithms designed to keep us engaged through fear or desire Unplugging, for Hannah, didn’t mean abandoning her phone entirely, but initiating a conscious journey toward better habits and rhythms. 2. The Power of Contentment and Presence Hannah acknowledges and embraces the struggle—and ultimately, the spiritual discipline—of contentment. Social media and the internet constantly convince us that fulfillment is elsewhere, which removes us from both the present moment (time) and from our current environment (space). Hannah draws from the Apostle Paul’s words about learning contentment, framing it as a dance that takes practice and humility. For example, Hannah’s practice of “grounding” by jotting down details of the present moment (in a notebook, not a phone) helps her drop into her actual life, savoring little joys, and affirming that “this is enough.” Unlike capturing moments for others to see on social media, this form of slow documentation, she says, nurtures personal satisfaction and removes the compulsion for outside validation. 3. Rethinking Productivity and Success Stephanie and Hannah highlight the toxicity of equating productivity with worth. Hannah shares how unplugging redefined her sense of value from accomplishment and approval to simply being present with God. True productivity, she discovered, isn’t about checking boxes, but about what God is cultivating within us through periods of stillness—patience, peace, faithfulness. Success, then, transforms from external achievement to delighting in God and being aware of His presence. Hannah echoes Stephanie’s insight that “a successful life is a succession of days and moments where I’m delighting in God.” 4. Practicing Stillness and Receiving God’s Presence Jesus’ example comes alive as the epitome of unhurried purpose—accomplishing all the Father’s will without rushing. Unplugging isn’t just for personal peace, but to become truly available to God, hearing His voice and responding with readiness and openness (“Here I am, Lord”). Through intentionally slowing down and savoring “vegetable moments”—Hannah’s metaphor for embracing the slow, nourishing parts of life—we open ourselves to the real rewards: deeper relationship with God and others. MORE ABOUT HANNAH BRENCHER Hannah Brencher says,  “I love teaching individuals how to build intentional lives they love through the power of habit and meaningful routines. I am the founder of The World Needs More Love Letters, author of 4 books, a TED Speaker, and an online educator teaching others how to establish important disciplines within their lives. Words are my everything and nothing fires me up more than getting to teach people about the power of discipline. Establishing better discipline was an essential piece in dealing with depression and I love seeing the freedom it unlocks in others as they establish better habits and rhythms in their own life. I’m a proud New Englander living in city of Atlanta with my husband Lane and our little girl Novalee. You can find us trying out new restaurants across the city, getting dangerously cutthroat over playing Battleship, playing at the park, and cozying up to watch a thriller (or Moana if Novi gets to pick) with our rescue pup Tuesday.” More at https://hannahbrenchercreative.com/  MORE ABOUT “THE UNPLUGGED HOURS” Join the Challenge: One Thousand Unplugged Hours in One Year Former social media addict, Hannah Brencher discovered first-hand that turning off her phone had a substantial impact on her mental health, relationships, time management, and outlook on the world. Like so many of us, Hannah had been turning to her phone to cope with life in a time of isolation and uncertainty. But those coping mechanisms had become habits she didn't know how to break until she truly committed herself to one simple yet profound act: log 1,000 phone-free hours in a year. Now, in The Unplugged Hours, she demonstrates how the act of powering down and reducing the habit of a constantly plugged-in lifestyle can change your entire life. No matter what you do for a living, how much time your apps save you, or how much entertainment your phone brings, it is possible to unplug—and rediscover the richness of life on the other side. A powerful weaving of memoir, cultural commentary, and spiritual insights, this life-changing book will help you: Reclaim your ability to be present and engaged with the world around you. Swap the hurried, constant pace of technology for a steadier, more rooted way of living. Establish your own unplugged rituals and rhythms in daily life. The Unplugged Hours gives you the practical ideas and spiritual inspiration you need to stop scrolling and start living. So join the challenge: put your phone down and live your life. 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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 https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Welcome to our final lesson in the Book of Malachi! We explore the myriad questions posed in the book, that feel a bit like a courtroom-like dialogue between God and the Israelites. The timeless nature of Malachi’s message resonates across eras by highlighting Israel's pattern of unfaithfulness and connecting it to our own lives. The dense concentration of questions throughout Malachi, up to chapter 3, starkly contrasts with chapter 4 which contains no questions, signaling a shift from inquiry to God’s final judgment. Acknowledging God’s love, as outlined in Malachi, encourages us to see the ongoing work of God in our lives and the world around us. The Israelites questioned God’s love and justice, despised worship practices, and failed to honor God in their daily lives. The answers to the questions in the book of Malachi reveal their shortcomings and guide us towards a faithful relationship with God. The book of Malachi further explores the theme of justice versus grace; as Scripture teaches us, true justice is met only through the grace offered by Jesus. Repentance and confession are essential to understand God’s grace. Justice is found through Jesus. The crucial question “How shall we return to You, Lord?” encapsulates the hope of returning to God by recognizing His unchanging nature and engaging with scripture. Stephanie discusses the path to God through spiritual disciplines, offering a free video course, "Pathways to God's Presence,” to deepen this understanding. Make sure to grab your full video course at https://www.gospelspice.com/pathways In the context of the intertestamental period, Malachi’s teachings reverberated through four hundred years until John the Baptist's emergence. Stephanie reminds us of historical insights, drawing parallels with significant events and figures like Alexander the Great and the Roman conquest, to contextualize Malachi’s message within the fabric of time. Through Malachi 4, God promises ultimate justice and restoration, symbolized by the "sun of righteousness." Here, the imagery of wings is a protective symbol throughout Scripture, which we will compare it to Jesus’ teachings. The notion of God’s impending judgment is juxtaposed with the promise of protection and healing for those who revere God’s name. In the context of the upcoming silence of four hundred years, God’s last words offer a solemn warning blended with hope. Through Jesus, who embodied the curse and offered grace, our path was paved for redemption. Malachi invites us to ponder whether we stand beneath the protective wings of the Savior, or risk facing the blazing sun of righteousness without His grace. Malachi today challenges us to live as messengers of faith, rooted in grace through Christ, and eager to spread God’s 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) 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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 https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie Rousselle welcomes Elle Cardel, author of “She Delights”, a book about experiencing delight in God, even during seasons of suffering. Elle offers insight into cultivating deep faith, biblical joy, and intimacy with God. True delight in God is cultivated through deep engagement with Scripture, honest and continuous prayer, and a perspective of gratitude. The spiritual strength to endure hardship flows from knowing God delights in us, not for what we do, but because of Christ. The legacy the believer leaves is a testimony that “nothing satisfies like Jesus”—a lesson to pass on in both word and life. Elle Cardel emphasizes that shallow faith—one reliant on mere Sunday attendance, occasional Bible verses, or inspirational talks—cannot sustain us through life’s inevitable hardships. True resilience in faith comes from immersing ourselves in God’s Word, not just secondhand knowledge from others. Elle describes this as becoming “Bible geeks”—students eager to soak up the living and active Word of God so that, when suffering comes, our roots are deep, and we know God is with us. This depth equips us to see suffering as an environment where God delights to meet and transform us. Elle distinguishes joy from happiness. Happiness fluctuates with circumstances, whereas joy is a fruit of the Spirit and accessible to us at all times, especially when we choose it. Elle shares a deeply personal story about her daughter Selah’s medical crisis, during which Elle discovered that grief and joy can coexist. Through vulnerability and seeking God in her private pain, Elle experienced God’s palpable presence—realizing that delighting in God amid suffering is an act of worship, not the result of easy circumstances. Stephanie and Elle discuss the importance of savoring life—choosing to rejoice in what is, rather than fixating on what is not. They encourage us to approach life with the mindset of “savoring,” which, in French, connects closely to both delight and deliciousness. This means joy is something to be tasted and experienced, even in dark valleys, by recognizing God’s blessings and presence in small, everyday moments. Spiritual disciplines such as regular Bible reading and prayer should be established before crisis hits. These practices are like the roots of the tree in Psalm 1, deep and sustaining even in seasons of drought. Elle acknowledges that motivation may wane, but real change comes from choosing to meet God in His Word, pushing past feelings of laziness or intimidation, and allowing scripture to transform us over time—just as food nourishes the body slowly. Elle describes prayer as both lifeblood and lifeline—a means of connecting honestly with God. Prayer need not be formal or perfect; it’s about bringing every emotion and mundane task before God and seeking His presence in all aspects of life. She recommends practical habits like breath prayers and attaching prayer to daily activities, making prayer natural and constant. Elle stresses that all intimacy and delight with God are rooted not in performance, but in grace— through “imputed righteousness:” We are loved and delighted in by God because of what Jesus accomplished. Our spiritual effort doesn’t earn His acceptance; instead, we respond in joyful obedience out of gratitude for His love. Our identity as beloved children of God is secure in Christ. Delighting in God is not a shallow cliché. It is a sustaining, daily posture, rooted in His delight in us and nourished by intentional habits, steadfast faith, and the overwhelming grace found in Jesus. MORE ABOUT ELLE CARDEL Hi! I’m Elle Cardel (yep, it rhymes!), a sinner saved by God’s great redeeming love and grace, wife to my college sweetheart, Michael, and mother to our two little loves, Selah and Aidan! I was born and raised in the south and live in the heart of middle Tennessee with my family. (Although, some may find that hard to believe since I cannot stand the taste of sweet tea.)  I’m a full-time coffee-sipper, word-writer, friend-hugger, book-reader, shower-singer, and DIY-dreamer. Most importantly, I delight in encouraging women of faith to be proactive in their pursuit of knowing God and delighting in the truths of His Word. I do not take this responsibility God has entrusted to me lightly. Needless to say, I’m so glad you are here and hope you will choose to stick around! https://www.daughterofdelight.com/who-we-are  MORE ABOUT SHE DELIGHTS In a world that tempts us to chase after temporary joys and fleeting pleasures, the call to delight in the Lord remains firm and true. But what does it actually mean to delight in Him? And how can we cultivate a life that reflects that joy—even in the hardest seasons? She Delights: Cultivating a Heart That Reigns & Sustains is an invitation to experience the joy and strength found in abiding in Christ. Through biblical wisdom, personal reflections, and thought-provoking insights, this book will guide you toward a deeper understanding of what it means to live a life anchored in God's goodness. 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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 https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

In today’s Gospel Spice lesson, Stephanie Rousselle takes us on a historical journey to frame the Old and the New Testaments, the 400 years between Malachi’s time until the arrival of John the Baptist. This period, often referred to as the "intertestamental period," spans remarkable historical developments that are essential to understanding the world Jesus was born into. Imagine living in our day and age, but having no idea of what happened to our country, world, and culture in the last 400 years. Imagine that the latest “news” you have date back from the 1620’s or so. Would this affect our understanding of our day? In the same way, we cannot cut 400 years of Jewish history, and assume we lose nothing. Malachi delivered his message around 420BC; John the Baptist. Malachi’s successor called to “make a highway in the wilderness” to proclaim the arrival of Messiah, came onto the Judean scene in the 20’s AD. But Scripture is silent about this span of time. These "400 years of silence," as they are often called, were not so silent politically, religiously, and socially. By studying the events during this time, we gain insight into how the world was meticulously prepared for Jesus's arrival. While these events are not recorded in the Bible, they hold much significance to know Christ more. Beginning with Alexander the Great’s conquest in 333 BC, the world saw Greek culture and language take hold, influencing many aspects of life, including the translation of the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek, known as the Septuagint. This was pivotal, as it allowed for greater access to the Scriptures and laid the foundation for the New Testament to reference these texts. The era is ripe with hostile dynamics between the Hellenistic influences from Greece and the resistance that arose from the Jews, who sought to preserve their traditions. This tension is encapsulated in the Maccabean Revolt led by Judas Maccabeus, a significant event that ultimately led to the celebration of Hanukkah. Another important theme from this period is the rise of different Jewish sects, such as the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. These groups played crucial roles in the religious landscape of Israel and were directly involved in the societal structure during Jesus’s time. These historical layers formed a backdrop against which God chose to reveal His Son. The development of Greek as a universal language and Roman infrastructure, like roads facilitating trade and communication, enabled the rapid spread of the Gospel. Our historical exploration ties to biblical prophecy, specifically how this time fits into Daniel’s prophecy of seventy weeks. This provides an eschatological perspective to the discussion. Understanding these details, as part of grasping the broader biblical narrative, challenges the modern tendency to focus solely on personal applicability of Scripture without considering its historical and theological context. Our lesson is an invitation to (re)discover this rich tapestry of history. We encourage you to use the Gospel Spice workbook and additional resources provided to further explore this period’s influence on Jesus’s earthly ministry and its legacy in the New Testament church. 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) 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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 https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

We all experience spiritual hunger or malnourishment at various points in our faith journey. On the Gospel Spice podcast, guest Lynn Jackson shares her story and offers practical wisdom on rekindling spiritual health through her book, The Recipe. Stephanie and Lynn explore how to find strength and closeness with God even in life’s hardest seasons—no matter how spiritually “hungry” or exhausted you might feel. If you feel spiritually weary, you are not alone—and it is not your fault. Start where you are. Open the “pantry” of God’s Bible and take a nibble. God’s Word isn’t reserved for the strong, but is nourishment for the hungry and the weak. With humility, honesty, and consistency, spiritual health is rebuilt one small bite at a time. And, as Lynn encourages, pass the “recipe” along: encourage others, share the method, and help one another discover God’s daily provision. BUY “THE RECIPE” HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Recipe-simple-workbook-spiritual-weary/dp/B0F7NCYG63  Here’s what Lynn and Stephanie discuss: 1. Understanding Spiritual Malnutrition Lynn Jackson begins by sharing her own background—growing up disconnected from God, despite church attendance, and later experiencing spiritual exhaustion as a pastor's wife. Her journey highlights that spiritual dryness isn’t unique to new believers; it affects mature Christians, too. The problem isn’t always a lack of desire, but feeling so weary, discouraged, or busy that opening the Bible itself feels impossible. Lynn discovered that many people in church are “starving” spiritually, even after years of faith. We need nourishment, but don’t know where to begin. 2. God’s Word as a Pantry—Verses as Spiritual Food Lynn describes the Bible as “God’s pantry,” full of nourishing verses—like shelves brimming with food and spices. Just as our bodies need regular meals, our souls need consistent spiritual “food.” Yet, many of us avoid the pantry, believing it’s inaccessible, overwhelming, or only for those with abundant time and energy. 3. The Importance of Taking “Spiritual Nibbles” A common misconception is that “good Christians” must spend hours in Bible study for it to count. Lynn challenges this, likening such expectations to serving someone a Thanksgiving feast when they need a simple piece of toast. If you’re malnourished or spiritually weak, feasting isn’t possible—you start with a nibble. The Recipe provides a gentle method to reconnect with Scripture, even when motivation and strength are low. Sometimes, reading and meditating on a single verse is enough. One “taste” of God’s Word can reawaken spiritual appetite and begin to strengthen your soul. 4. Permission to Be Messy Many avoid engaging with God because of perfectionism—thinking spiritual practices must be beautiful, well-organized, or profound. Lynn encourages the opposite: make a mess! She tells stories of scribbled journals and a “messy kitchen” as metaphors for the normal, chaotic process of spiritual growth. The goal is connection, not perfection. 5. The Practical Steps of The Recipe The book provides a four-week, hands-on guide. Rather than lectures, Lynn offers companionship—like inviting the reader into her kitchen to watch, then join, and finally lead in “preparing spiritual food.” The process is adaptable: maybe today you need a full meal, but other days, just a single “protein bite” (verse) to carry you through. PURCHASE “THE RECIPE” BY LYNN JACKSON Stephanie could not be clearer: she strongly, strongly invites you to purchase a copy of “the Recipe” for yourself, and maybe a few more to give away as gifts to friends and family! You will not regret it. https://www.amazon.com/Recipe-simple-workbook-spiritual-weary/dp/B0F7NCYG63  MORE ABOUT LYNN JACKSON https://journeylynn.com/about/  https://thrivelead.org/about/  Scott Jackson is the CEO & Co-Founder of Thrive Leadership Foundation. His wife, Lynn works alongside of him as Co-Founder and Partnership Development. Prior to co-founding THRIVE, they were Northeast Directors for Churches In Missions for 11 years. With CiM they trained and took teams on short term mission trips both here and abroad. Scott also served as Vice President of Administration. Prior to CiM, they served in the pastorate for 22 years at Warrington Fellowship Church in Warrington, Pennsylvania. Scott received his Bachelor Degree in Bible from Lancaster Bible College and his Masters of Divinity from Biblical Theological Seminary. Lynn received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from College of The Ozarks. Scott and Lynn have an extensive speaking ministry here and abroad. Their speaking ministries include: pulpit supply, retreats and conferences for Pastors and wives, church staff and retreats for men, women or couples as well as mission conferences. They enjoy speaking as a couple or individually. The Jacksons understand the terrain and mix of family life and answering the call of full time ministry. They have 4 adult children, 3 in-law children and 7 grandchildren. Scott and Lynn have been married for over 35 years and currently reside in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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 https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Welcome to our 4th episode in our “Malachi” series! Today we explore a rich conversation with God through the dynamics of divine justice and mercy, focusing on the relationship between God's unchanging nature and His offer of grace to humanity. Malachi offers both a picture of God’s judgment, targeting sins such as sorcery, adultery, and oppression, and at the same time, God declares His constancy, ensuring that humanity isn’t consumed. This paradox of divine justice and mercy is a central theme in the book of Malachi, since God's steadfast love is the foundation of our existence and redemption. God, speaking through Malachi, presents tithing as a practical expression of faith. Tithing symbolizes our dependence on God as an act of returning blessings back to Him. In Christ, tithing is not as a strict obligation, but a way to encourage a lifestyle of generosity and trust in God’s provision. Tithing is not about a precise percentage, but about the spirit of generosity that reflects our relationship with God. The people of Malachi’s time doubted the benefit of serving God, equating prosperity with divine favor. This prosperity gospel mindset, so prevalent in our own day and age, misses the true reward of intimacy with God, over and against mere material gain. Today, Malachi offers us a powerful reminder of God’s promise to His people, stating that those who fear Him and honor His name are cherished by Him. We come full circle when we connect Malachi’s message to its prophetic fulfillment through Jesus Christ, who offers the ultimate relationship and reward with God. Stephanie encourages reflection on this relationship and challenges us to align our actions with our faith, fostering a community that esteems God’s Name. Overall, the book of Malachi is about understanding the depth of God’s love and justice, encouraging us to return to God with open hearts, and recognizing the unparalleled reward of a close relationship with Him. Through Malachi's questions and answers, we are invited to explore our own faith, rooted and established in Christ. We are invited to seek God's presence and promises in our generation, in the context of historical Scripture. 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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 https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Cindy DeBoer joins Stephanie to share her story of transformation—from living the American dream to pursuing a life of simplicity and deep faith. Cindy’s family motto sums it up best: “We chose to live simpler so that others can simply live.” Whether that means downsizing, shifting how you spend time, or offering your unique talents, the ultimate goal is the same—living in tune with God’s melody for your life, allowing Him to enrich and use you far beyond what the culture’s definition of “success” could offer. Cindy’s candid memoir offers practical lessons for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the relentless pursuit of “more” or sensing a disconnect between their faith and daily life. Cindy shares the story of her family choosing to live simpler so others can simply live. She asks, What does it look like to glorify God with our finances? In her new book, Far, far better things, she shares that, in the first 12 years of her marriage, she and her husband, although faithfully attending church and following Jesus as best they knew how, were still very focused on "getting ahead," building their bank account, striving to have the best of everything - including having the best house and the best kids. They pushed themselves nearly to the breaking point. She tells us what (who?) stopped that trajectory and got them to turn their lives around and specifically, start asking the question, "What if we lived what we say we believe?” From Success to Surrender: A Life Re-examined Cindy’s early adult life was marked by what her community celebrated as success: marriage to her high school sweetheart, good jobs, a dream house with luxury amenities, and busy, achievement-packed schedules for their four children. Despite following what seemed like a “formulaic path,” she and her husband felt empty and exhausted. Their faith, although present, was largely intellectual and routine—church attendance and mealtime prayers—but lacked genuine heart engagement. The turning point came when brave friends challenged them to question, “Where is God in all of this?” This gentle but persistent questioning—along with new friendships, books, and volunteer work—sparked a series of soul-searching prayers: Were they truly living out what they professed to believe? What might God be asking of them that they’d never considered? Small Steps Lead to Big Changes Change didn’t happen overnight. Cindy and her husband began with small, tangible acts of obedience, like reaching out to a homeless family from their child’s classroom—a move that transformed their understanding of compassion and shifted their mindset from “helper” to “learner.” These steps emboldened them to pursue adoption, welcoming a daughter from Guatemala. The process opened their eyes further to global poverty and injustice, stirring a passion for others that wouldn’t have developed in their comfortable status quo. A defining lesson came as they downsized their home—moving from their “dream house” to the “little brown mansion.” This reduction in material possessions brought unexpected peace and joy, as it freed up energy, time, and resources for giving and serving. Most importantly, Cindy observed the positive impact such choices had on their children, making them more resilient, empathetic, and adept at hearing God’s voice. The Heart of the Lesson: Simplicity Isn’t Poverty—It’s Purpose Cindy insists her story isn’t prescriptive—not everyone is called to move overseas or adopt a child. Instead, her encouragement is this: Hold your life loosely before God. Ask the courageous question: “Am I truly living what I say I believe?” Trust that God honors even the smallest steps of faith. Simplicity, as Cindy has learned, is not about deprivation, but about creating space for what truly matters—intimacy with God, sacrificial community, and authentic love for others. Cindy’s family motto sums it up best: “We chose to live simpler so that others can simply live.” Whether that means downsizing, shifting how you spend time, or offering your unique talents, the ultimate goal is the same—living in tune with God’s melody for your life, allowing Him to enrich and use you far beyond what the culture’s definition of “success” could offer. Key Takeaways: ·         True transformation often starts with honest self-reflection, hard questions, and small acts of obedience. ·         Simplifying life creates freedom—to serve, give, and connect with God and others more deeply. ·         God’s blessings are not just material or circumstantial—they are rooted in intimacy with Him and being part of His work in the world. ·         Every step towards living out your faith, no matter how small, can create ripples of hope, change, and fulfillment. Let Cindy’s story be an invitation: dare to ask what God might want to do with your “ordinary” life, and trust that His far, far better things await, one simple step at a time. ABOUT “FAR FAR BETTER THINGS” What happens when you’ve reached all your earthly goals and you’re only twenty-eight years old? What if you’ve realized the American Dream, and although you’re pretty confident it’s all a big blessing from Jesus, you still feel miserably lacking in purpose and fulfillment? What makes a reasonably well-off American Christian family walk away from their perfectly scripted life—prestigious careers, dream home, lake house, nice cars, kids’ sports, frequent travel, perfect church, tons of family and friends—and follow God to the ends of the earth? How would any young family have the courage to leave all the things the world tells us to strive for and instead choose a life of intentional simplifying, serial downsizing, and two major moves overseas? Cindy’s memoir chronicles their family’s unorthodox Christian journey that began as a result of praying in earnest: “Lord, help us to live what we say we believe.” Follow along as the DeBoers, a typical average suburban family, finds the courage to subvert a safe and comfortable life for a risky and riotous ride that led them to far, far better things. Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Far-Better-Things-Surrendering-American/dp/1625863128/  Get a signed copy directly from Cindy: https://cindydeboer.com/the-book/  ABOUT CINDY DEBOER Cindy DeBoer is a blogger, psychiatric nurse, and recovering “un-missionary.” She and her husband, Paul, are passionate about demystifying Islam for Christians, working with development organizations in Central America, and partnering with several local ministries that serve under-resourced people. Today, living in the heart of Grand Rapids, Michigan, they delight in their four grown children, three children-in-love, two grandchildren, and the ability to walk everywhere—especially to their small community church (back in the Reformed tradition!) just six blocks away. More at https://cindydeboer.com/  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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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 https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

For this third lesson in our series, Stéphanie Rousselle invites us back into the book of Malachi, exploring its lively conversation between God and the Israelites. She likens the dialogue to a "ping pong, tennis match" that embodies a series of question-and-answer exchanges, both from God and His people. This format inspires reflections on the nature of prayer as an honest and open dialogue with God. You are invited to purchase the workbook that contains everything you need to take your experience of the Book of Malachi deeper! For each of the six lessons, you will find a complete listening guide, questions to go deeper (on your own, with a friend, or a group), as well as a worksheet to study further themes. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/malachi for more. The book of Malachi teaches us about the depth and authenticity required in prayer. It challenges us to ask hard questions, ones that reveal our true desires and convictions, paralleling the Israelites who inquire about justice and God's presence in difficult times. This lesson focuses on understanding these questions within the context of Malachi chapters two and three. A key point discussed is the Israelites' question about justice, "Where is the God of justice?" This is a pivotal inquiry situated within a broader narrative of self-awareness and repentance among the Israelites. They grapple with topics such as their faithlessness, particularly in the context of divorce, which Scripture frames as a profound societal betrayal within their culture. Stéphanie draws connections between the book of Malachi and other Old or New Testament teachings, such as those found in Micah and Romans, highlighting themes of justice, grace, and God's redemptive love through Christ. The Israelites, through their treacherous actions towards one another, reveal a deeper spiritual unfaithfulness to God. The prophetic role of Malachi points to John the Baptist, the latter of whom prepares the way for Jesus, the ultimate messenger. We are invited to consider our own calling as modern-day messengers of God, akin to John the Baptist, as we share the gospel and prepare for Christ's return. Stéphanie discusses the contrast between justice and grace, illustrating that while justice, in its purest form, would condemn us, it is through grace, offered by Jesus, that we are saved. This grace is of utmost importance in the spiritual life, echoed through Scripture and the personal prayers of faith leaders like King David. Closing, in prayer Stéphanie asks for a renewed sense of gratitude and reverence for God’s grace and for guidance to be faithful messengers of His word, underlining a central message of the book of Malachi: finding the God of grace in Christ and extending His message of redemption to the world. 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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 https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

This episode marks a milestone—400 episodes of Gospel Spice! In this special group conversation, Stéphanie Rousselle welcomes Angel Omoruan, Ros Evans, and Lindsay Sterious to reflect on God’s enduring goodness, the landscape of inner growth, and the beauty of vulnerability within Christian community. Stephanie and her friends reflect on the importance of serving “the one,” being open to “hidden spaces” where ministry might not be grand but is deeply significant. God’s presence is not limited to moments of solitude or to times of communal support. Both are necessary, and God moves in each. Big announcement! Sign up for our Prayer Course at gospelspice.com/prayer The Power of Community: The “Turtle Formation” Ros kicks things off by revisiting her journey toward understanding her true nature as an introvert. Despite often appearing energetic and talkative, she recognizes that she draws strength from solitude. She introduces the term “turtling”—retreating inward to recharge. Introversion isn’t a weakness or escape, but a necessary, God-given rhythm for many. The “turtle formation” provides a picture of believers locking arms, forming a shield for one another in times of attack or weakness. Lindsay and Ros share stories of community prayer sustaining them in difficulty. Ros notes, “find the people who are willing to turtle with you…that is needed to stand firm in truth.” “Turtling” can become unhealthy when it turns into disengagement and numbness. While retreating is sometimes needed for healing and reflection, it must be balanced with healthy connection to God and others. In prolonged withdrawal, we risk isolation and disconnection from the very relationships that God uses for our spiritual growth. God’s Lessons through Life Transitions and Challenges Angel relates to Ros’s introversion, recounting how recent life changes exposed emotions she hadn’t faced before. Like Ros, she found that retreating—turtling—was partly God’s way of protecting her and prompting introspection. However, she also describes God’s gentle promptings to re-engage with others, learn to lament, extend grace, and embrace vulnerability. Angel brings in the “turtle formation” used by Roman soldiers. This image of locked shields captures how Christian community can protect and carry one another. There’s wisdom in both knowing when to retreat for healing and when to rejoin the ranks for mutual encouragement. Community as Spiritual Armor Lindsay adds her own testimony of being “carried” by her community through a difficult season involving her daughter’s health. She describes a profound experience of being prayed for—allowing herself to be vulnerable, supported, and reminded that the body of Christ is meant to shield one another. This spiritual “turtle formation” is a source of strength, comfort, and tangible experience of God’s care. The Value of Vulnerability Angel reflects on the difficulty—and gift—of being vulnerable, especially when God calls us to serve. She shares that being present and obedient in the small, unnoticed moments often becomes a blessing, not only for others, but for ourselves. By being honest, especially when we struggle, we open space for God to work uniquely through us. Ros sums it up: “when you know the Holy Spirit has you at a place in a moment, you forget about everything…and by the time I finish, the person's getting blessed and I'm getting blessed too.” Stephanie highlights how we often wait for “big” moments, but Jesus values our faithfulness in serving the “one”—whether a child, a mentee, or a congregation member. She remarks, “let's just focus on what really, really matters,” echoing the importance of focusing on small daily acts of love and service. God in the Quiet and in the Crowd The Christian walk is not about perfection, but humility, honesty, and interdependence. Whether you’re serving quietly, struggling privately, or standing “in turtle formation” with others, God sees, sustains, and works through it all. Be encouraged to walk vulnerably, faithfully, and together. Key Takeaways: Embrace your God-given temperament (introvert or extrovert). Healthy retreats (“turtling”) are vital, but must be balanced with intentional connection. Vulnerability—within safe community—unveils God’s love and the power of prayer. Spiritual battles are not fought alone; we lock shields through fellowship and humility. God uses both quiet moments and community engagement to reveal His goodness and grace. Challenge: This week, ask God where you might need a healthy retreat—and where you might need to step back into community to “lock shields” with others. Practice vulnerable honesty, and remember that God is present both in your shell and on the battlefield. 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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! 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. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. 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 https://www.gospelspice.com/payitforward to make a one-time gift, or set up a monthly donation. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!