You’re invited to join us as we unpack the rich tapestry of people and events surrounding the birth of Jesus, using Luke’s distinctive storytelling to reveal both challenge and encouragement for our own spiritual journeys.

Don't forget to check out the accompanying workbook to enhance your experience of the Gospel of Luke! Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/luke

Luke’s narrative is much more than biography. The “actors” in this true-life drama — Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, John the Baptist, and Jesus Himself — are meant to be relatable. We’re invited to let their stories come alive and even consider where our lives echo theirs.

Zechariah, an aging priest, and Elizabeth, his barren wife, personify patience and disappointment. He spent a lifetime waiting for both a child and a chance to serve in the temple—yet, when the moment finally arrives, he falters, resulting in temporary muteness. Elizabeth’s pain is compounded by cultural shame. Their journey reminds us that waiting often refines us, and how God’s plans may unfold differently than we expect. Their story asks: What do we do when we finally get what we prayed for but feel unworthy or make mistakes?

Mary’s life is upended by the angel's announcement. Instead of a quiet, respectable future, she faces scandal, rumors, and the lifelong burden of misunderstood obedience. Her “yes” to God’s plan is courageous, especially as it brings suffering rather than ease. Mary’s example invites us to consider: What does it look like when faithful obedience to God leads to hardship rather than comfort? Are we willing to say yes, even when the road gets hard?

John’s very name — “God remembers His oath” — signals fulfillment of ancient promises. Likely orphaned young and possibly raised by the ascetic Essenes, John’s life shows that even those with unusual backgrounds can be instrumental in God’s plan. His doubt, suffering, and eventual martyrdom remind us that being “set apart” may cost us dearly, but doubt does not disqualify faith.

May Luke’s Christmas story invite you to step onto the stage, embrace your own brokenness, and discover fresh hope as you press in to Christ this season.

------

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GIFT TO YOU!! 

"A Gospel Spice Christmas" is a brand new five-day devotional and reading plan available exclusively on YouVersion / the Bible App. 

Do you long for fresh spices to flavor your spiritual experience of the Incarnation of Christ? Are you tired of stale clichés that taste like microwaved Christmas dinner leftovers? Are you hungry for an explosion of fresh flavors in your Christmas devotions? Experience a Gospel Spice Christmas alongside the shepherds, and discover how to make your life a daily nativity scene where Christ can be born in ever-deepening ways.

Click here or go to your YouVersion Bible App on your phone, and search "Gospel Spice." It is our gift to you! Enjoy!

-----------

DID YOU KNOW?

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

Would you consider supporting this show today? It comes to you completely free, but is labor-intensive to produce. For the price of a cup of coffee or two, your monthly support of $5 or $10 would make a huge difference! Donate HERE today.

The Gospel Spice Ministries exist to inspire Christ-followers in our generation to delight in the glory of God by knowing and experiencing Jesus more intimately. 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.

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.

THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO PARTNER WITH GOSPEL SPICE TODAY!

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

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

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

NEW!

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

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

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

MORE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US FINANCIALLY:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Support us on Gospel Spice, <a href="htt