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

On this episode of Gospel Spice, Elizabeth Urbanowicz joins us for a discussion on equipping children with a biblical worldview. She shares about her organization, Foundation Worldview, which provides resources for parents and Christian leaders to teach children how to evaluate ideas through the lens of Scripture. We discuss the importance of discipleship within the home, stewardship of time and activities, and how to find a local church. Elizabeth also shares about her new curriculum, Attributes of God, for kids 4 and up, as well as the importance of teaching children to think well and critically. She and Stephanie talk about on the importance of role modeling rest and balance, and teaching children the gospel from an early age. The episode ends with an emphasis on the importance of investing in what matters and assessing how we invest our time and activities. Tune in to discover how you can help equip the next generation to follow God's plan and resist cultural pressures.Children are constantly exposed to false ideas. They are constantly bombarded with content from various sources, shaping their young minds in a rapidly changing world. As a parent or any Christian working with kids, it's essential to equip them to pursue truth and embrace a biblical worldview. Does the child in your care know how to discern what is true and what is false? Today, Stephanie welcomes Elizabeth Urbanowicz, founder of Foundation Worldview, to discuss the essential role of adults in raising children with the tools to critically approach the surrounding culture. Elizabeth helps Christian parents equip their children to think biblically and to carefully evaluate every idea they encounter. Foundation Worldview serves children as young as 4 years, and until they reach High School.This month, Gospel Spice offers a parenting series for all adults who have children in their lives – as parents, aunts and uncles, family members and friends, as well as youth group leaders, children ministry leaders, and more. With each episode, we tackle a different aspect of the essential stewardship of the children in our lives so that we will equip the next generation with the right tools to embrace fullness of faith in a changing world. Join us as we explore practical ways to raise children to have a strong foundation in Christ and be equipped to evaluate ideas that come their way.The interview covers topics such as the importance of fulfilling the command to be fruitful and multiply, how to role model rest, and the importance of giving children a firm foundation in the gospel. Elizabeth shares her own journey starting from an afterschool class for third through sixth graders and how Foundation Worldview grew from there. Listeners are encouraged to invest in what really matters, practice biblical hospitality, and assess how they invest their time.Discover Foundation Worldview: https://foundationworldview.com/aboutBONUS | QUESTIONS TO GO DEEPER (ALONE OR WITH A FRIEND!)1. What are some of the biblical promises that Elizabeth and Stephanie reference that can help alleviate the fear associated with raising children?2. How can raising children be seen as fulfilling God's mission, and what are some of the risks and rewards involved?3. What are some of the key attributes of God that Elizabeth Urbanowicz's curriculum for kids focuses on? Why do you think these are essential?4. Why is it important to introduce children to the gospel at a young age, and how can parents and influencers of children help them think critically from Scripture?5. What are some of the challenges associated with discipling children in today's culture, and how can families prioritize discipleship across other activities or entertainment?6. Why is commitment to a local church important, and how can families foster unity within the church through hospitality and community involvement?7. What are some of the societal norms that the conversation urges listeners to reevaluate in light of biblical values, particularly with regards to children's education and extracurricular activities?8. How can teaching foundational skills in critical thinking and evaluating ideas help prepare children for facing cultural issues related to gender and sexuality?9. What inspired Elizabeth Urbanowicz to start Foundation Worldview, and what does the organization aim to provide for parents and educators?10. What can be gained through family-led spiritual growth and learning together?MEET ELIZABETH URBANOWICZElizabeth Urbanowicz is a follower of Jesus Christ who is passionate about equipping kids to understand the truth of the Christian worldview.She holds a B.S. from Gordon College in Elementary Education and Spanish, an M.S.Ed. from Northern Illinois University in Literacy Education, and an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Elizabeth began her professional career as an elementary teacher in a Christian school.Several years into her teaching experience, Elizabeth realized that despite being raised in Christian homes, attending a Christian school, and being active in church, her students thought more like the culture than like Christ. Elizabeth began searching for curricular materials that would equip her students to think critically, helping them discover that Christianity is the worldview that lines up with reality. After not finding any materials that met this need, she began creating a curriculum for her students.Elizabeth first taught Foundation Comparative Worldview Curriculum as an after-school class for third through fifth graders, and the results were incredible! Students were transformed from passive recipients of information to active evaluators of every message they receive. Parents and teachers alike noticed the impact these materials had on students’ media consumption, academic achievement, and everyday habits. This transformation lasted beyond the elementary years and guided students’ thinking in junior high and beyond.Elizabeth now works full-time on developing comparative worldview and apologetics resources for children. Her goal is to prepare the next generation to be lifelong critical thinkers and, most importantly, lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ.We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blogIdentity in the battle | Ephesianshttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/Malachi: Messenger to Messiahhttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/Wisdom from the Book of Proverbshttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebratedhttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/We are spending one whole month having conversations with inspiring guests about parenting at different stages of life - from newborns to adult children, and every stage in between! And then, we spend another whole month discussing essentials of physical, mental, and emotional wellness with a wide range of Christ-centered experts. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Children are constantly exposed to false ideas. They are constantly bombarded with content from various sources, shaping their young minds in a rapidly changing world. As a parent or any Christian working with kids, it's essential to equip them to pursue truth and embrace a biblical worldview. Does the child in your care know how to discern what is true and what is false? Today, Stephanie welcomes Elizabeth Urbanowicz, founder of Foundation Worldview, to discuss the essential role of adults in raising children with the tools to critically approach the surrounding culture. Elizabeth helps Christian parents equip their children to think biblically and to carefully evaluate every idea they encounter. Foundation Worldview serves children as young as 4 years, and until they reach High School.This month, Gospel Spice offers a parenting series for all adults who have children in their lives – as parents, aunts and uncles, family members and friends, as well as youth group leaders, children ministry leaders, and more. With each episode, we tackle a different aspect of the essential stewardship of the children in our lives so that we will equip the next generation with the right tools to embrace fullness of faith in a changing world.Discover Foundation Worldview: https://foundationworldview.com/aboutMEET ELIZABETH URBANOWICZElizabeth Urbanowicz is a follower of Jesus Christ who is passionate about equipping kids to understand the truth of the Christian worldview.She holds a B.S. from Gordon College in Elementary Education and Spanish, an M.S.Ed. from Northern Illinois University in Literacy Education, and an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Elizabeth began her professional career as an elementary teacher in a Christian school.Several years into her teaching experience, Elizabeth realized that despite being raised in Christian homes, attending a Christian school, and being active in church, her students thought more like the culture than like Christ. Elizabeth began searching for curricular materials that would equip her students to think critically, helping them discover that Christianity is the worldview that lines up with reality. After not finding any materials that met this need, she began creating a curriculum for her students.Elizabeth first taught Foundation Comparative Worldview Curriculum as an after-school class for third through fifth graders, and the results were incredible! Students were transformed from passive recipients of information to active evaluators of every message they receive. Parents and teachers alike noticed the impact these materials had on students’ media consumption, academic achievement, and everyday habits. This transformation lasted beyond the elementary years and guided students’ thinking in junior high and beyond.Elizabeth now works full-time on developing comparative worldview and apologetics resources for children. Her goal is to prepare the next generation to be lifelong critical thinkers and, most importantly, lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ.We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blogIdentity in the battle | Ephesianshttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/Malachi: Messenger to Messiahhttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/Wisdom from the Book of Proverbshttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebratedhttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/We are spending one whole month having conversations with inspiring guests about parenting at different stages of life - from newborns to adult children, and every stage in between! And then, we spend another whole month discussing essentials of physical, mental, and emotional wellness with a wide range of Christ-centered experts. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie delves deeper into Jesus' question of "Have you here anything to eat?" and how it invites us to perceive and know Him more deeply. One possible answer to His question is today's statement, "I believe, Lord, overcome my unbelief!" Stephanie reflects on the challenge of waiting for answers in prayer and the power of true, humble prayer. She tackles deep topics like self-awareness, humility, and weakness, reflecting on her own experiences with chronic pain and broken relationships. Together, she invites us to emphasize the importance of acknowledging weakness and surrendering to God. Additionally, she provides insight on Tim Keller's famous statement that it is better to have a weak faith in a strong Christ than a strong faith in a weak Christ, and how true faith comes from God's invitation to grow within us. She also discusses the power of true prayer and how it requires confession, humility, and surrender to God.In this episode, we cover the following topics, and more:- The true meaning of Jesus' question "Have you here anything to eat?"- Perception and knowing Jesus more truly- The density and reality of Jesus' glorified body- Overcoming unbelief with self-awareness, humility, and ambition- Acknowledging weakness to allow God to make Himself strong through us- The challenge of waiting for answers in prayer- Power of true prayer: confession, repentance, humility, and surrender to God- Importance of having a weak faith in a strong Christ- True faith coming from God's intervention to plant, water, and grow the seed of faith in us- Daring to disassociate from public opinion and choose Jesus, trusting Him to sort out mixed motivesBONUS CONTENT | QUESTIONS TO GO DEEPER, on your own or with a friend1. How does Stephanie Rousselle relate to the story of the desperate father seeking a miracle for his sick child?2. In what ways do you struggle with belief and doubt, and how have you sought to overcome your unbelief?3. How can acknowledging our weakness help us to draw closer to God and experience His strength in our lives?4. What are some of the challenges of waiting for answers in prayer, and how can we maintain faith and hope during these times?5. Why is prayer important, and what are some of the key elements of true prayer that Stephanie emphasizes?6. How might we cultivate humility, vulnerability, and honesty in our relationship with God through prayer?7. What are some of the benefits of choosing Jesus even when we have mixed motives or face opposition from others?8. What role does self-awareness and ambition play in nurturing our faith and relationship with God?9. How might we apply the concept of faith being a seed that God plants, waters, and grows in our own lives?10. What steps might we take to live out our faith in a way that invites the world around us to experience the love and truth of Jesus? This series is an invitation to immerse yourself in the various ways God communicates to us, and us to Him. So pay attention, He is here and willing to whisper in your ear.A word of caution: don’t come to Scripture with the agenda of finding yourself there. Right now we are going to take Scripture in. Like breathing, like eating, like smelling a flower. Don’t come to Scripture with the agenda of finding yourself there. Come with the firm intention of discovering God instead. And then Scripture will never disappoint. God promises to be found in the places where He dwells – His Word especially. And in the process, you will undoubtedly find yourself as you find Him. So as we enter the hallowed pages of Scripture together, through a humble doorway and a very simple story, ask yourself: what is this telling me about Jesus?THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO PARTNER WITH GOSPEL SPICE TODAY!First, PAY Gospel Spice Forward: Give a tax-deductible gift so others can experience our ministry for free, just like you! You can pay it forward with any debit, credit card, or via PayPal. See below for more details about your impact.Also, PLAY Gospel Spice Forward: SHARE the podcast and the studies with your friends and family. FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW on your favorite podcast app (leave a comment + a star rating on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Pandora, IHeart, Google Podcast, etc…). It REALLY is the best way to help others find this content-rich podcast. And, last but not least, PRAY Gospel Spice Forward: We pray for you weekly. We covet your prayers for our ministry, the thousands we reach, and our team! Contact us to let us know you are praying for us!NEW!Another way to partner with us is to purchase our workbooks and online Bible studies. We keep them at the lowest possible cost, but they require a lot of work from us! For example, - a complete Bible Study requires an average of 500 man-hours. - a workbook for a series requires almost 100 man-hours.MORE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US FINANCIALLY:Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status.Our goal is to provide in-depth, high-quality, free Bible resources for all. They are free, but expensive to create! We need your financial support to keep producing and distributing them. Please pay Gospel Spice forward today! For example, a podcast episode takes close to 10 hours of work (and we release 2 each week). They come to you completely free, but we would truly love your support.We want the money to go to those who really need it. Once our operating costs are paid, 100% of your donation is redistributed to our partners who fight human trafficking. Each year, we aim to give as much as we can. For example, Stephanie works more than full time for Gospel Spice, entirely for free. All board members and volunteers are donating time. We limit our operational expenses to the bare minimum.Your pay-it-forward donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170.We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. Thank you!Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blogSupport us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

"Have you here anything to eat?" Jesus asks of His disciples on Resurrection Sunday, late in the evening of that glorious first day. Such an unexpected question! Did He need food? Or rather, how were they in need of beholding His glorified body ingesting a simple piece of broiled fish? How are we in need of the revelation that comes from pondering the extent of His question?Stephanie invites us to cozy up to the eleven disciples who "disbelieved with joy" when they first saw their risen Lord on that glorious evening, shut in as they were behind closed doors. He walked through walls of stone and doors of solid wood. He ate fish, and later even cooked some for them! Fully God and fully Man, and never more than in this moment of intimate self-disclosure. So scoot on in, there is a seat for you by the fire.This series is an invitation to immerse yourself in the various ways God communicates to us, and us to Him. So pay attention, He is here and willing to whisper in your ear.A word of caution: don’t come to Scripture with the agenda of finding yourself there. Right now we are going to take Scripture in. Like breathing, like eating, like smelling a flower. Don’t come to Scripture with the agenda of finding yourself there. Come with the firm intention of discovering God instead. And then Scripture will never disappoint. God promises to be found in the places where He dwells – His Word especially. And in the process, you will undoubtedly find yourself as you find Him. So as we enter the hallowed pages of Scripture together, through a humble doorway and a very simple story, ask yourself: what is this telling me about Jesus?The perfect gift for everyone - apparel, drinkware, stickers and more for all the women, men and kids in your life!https://www.gospelspice.com/merchGo to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blogSupport us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

On this episode of Gospel Spice, join Stephanie Rousselle in part two of her conversation with Professor Nancy Pearcey about toxic masculinity and the decline of the secular script for men. They explore Pearcey's book and discuss the cultural shifts and societal pressures that affect men today. They also share insightful research on the positive impact of Christianity on family dynamics and gender roles around the world. Finally, they discuss practical solutions for workplaces to promote better work-life balance for fathers and mothers alike. Listen in to learn more!Nancy Pearcey is an author and speaker who focuses on cultural, philosophical, and religious issues. She believes that toxic behavior in men can be reduced with better fathers. This is because the father-son relationship is crucial to the development of healthy masculinity, and currently, 40% of children in the United States are growing up without their natural fathers. Pearcey also explains that fathers are often mocked and ridiculed in the media, leading to a decline in men's motivation to become fathers. The Industrial Revolution disrupted the male-female and father-child relationships since fathers had to follow their work out of the home. This led to fathers being portrayed as irrelevant and incompetent parents. Pearcey suggests that practical solutions could involve tweaking the workplace to allow men to work from home more. During the pandemic, many fathers got closer to their children and discovered they enjoyed working from home, leading them to desire more balance between work and home life. Pearcey indicates through anecdotes that finding alternatives to the traditional industrial work situation is possible and necessary to achieve this balance.It has become socially acceptable to express open hostility against men even in respected media outlets. "Why Can't We Hate Men?" asks the Washington Post. Almost half of American men agree with the statement, “These days society seems to punish men just for acting like men.” In her new book, the bestselling author of LOVE THY BODY Nancy R. Pearcey explains how secularism has villainized the concept of masculinity.Toxic masculinity. You have heard the term. Where does it come from? What does it mean? What is the Biblical framework we need today as Christian men and women to tackle this hot button in our culture wars? Stephanie welcomes Professor Nancy Pearcey to discuss the history, context, and biblical solutions for our generation. One of Stephanie’s favorite quotes from Professor Pearcey is found in the book they are discussing today: “Christians should read with their worldview antennae poised to pick up underlying messages.”Stephanie welcomes Professor Pearcey in a two-part interview and, together they discuss topics that Stephanie chose from the book, and from Nancy’s whole message throughout her many books:1.       How have the roles of men and women have fluctuated throughout human history? How is this essential context to understand where we are today?2.       Scientific Darwinism is mostly discredited today. How about social Darwinism? How is this generation equipped to handle it?3.       How is the history of fatherhood relevant to the ruse of toxic versions of masculinity?4.       What did men lose through the industrial revolution that they have not yet regained? What about women?5.       How much do you think that your analysis applies to cultures outside the framework of Western thought?6.       Tell us about the role of the workplace in making men more present fathers.7.       How did culture occasionally take men “off the hook” and demand of women to “tame” them? How is this influential today?8.       What about the response of the church in centuries past, and today?MORE ABOUT THE BOOKPurchase the book here: The Toxic War on MasculinityIn three parts, “The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes” reveals the surprising answers to questions such as:• Where did the idea come from that masculinity is “toxic”?• What impact did secularism have on the script for masculinity?• How do Christian men shatter the negative stereotypes?Let’s face it: When people complain that masculinity is toxic, they often point to evangelical men as their prime example. But findings from the social sciences debunk those charges. Research shows that committed Christian men who attend church regularly test out as the most loving and engaged husbands and fathers.These facts show that Christianity has the power to overcome toxic behavior in men and reconcile the sexes—an unexpected finding that has stood up to rigorous empirical testing. We should be bold in bringing it into the public square.“Masculine traits are not intrinsically toxic. They are good when directed to virtuous ends,” Pearcey writes. “The Bible calls men to be both tough and tender, both courageous and caring. Men who know they are made in God’s image can be full persons, reflecting all the rich dimensions of God’s own character.” MORE ABOUT PROFESSOR PEARCEYNancy Pearcey is the author of the upcoming book The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes. Her most recently published book is Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality. Her earlier books include The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and two ECPA Gold Medallion Award Winners: How Now Shall We Live (coauthored with Harold Fickett and Chuck Colson) and Total Truth. Her books have been translated into 19 languages. She is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. A former agnostic, Pearcey has spoken at universities such as Princeton, Stanford, USC, and Dartmouth. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual."More at www.nancypearcey.com/Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Toxic masculinity. You have heard the term. Where does it come from? What does it mean? What is the Biblical framework we need today as Christian men and women to tackle this hot button in our culture wars? Stephanie welcomes Professor Nancy Pearcey to discuss the history, context, and biblical solutions for our generation. One of Stephanie’s favorite quotes from Professor Pearcey is found in the book they are discussing today: “Christians should read with their worldview antennae poised to pick up underlying messages.”On this episode of Gospel Spice, host Stephanie Rousselle interviews best-selling author and speaker Nancy Pearcey about her upcoming book, "The Toxic War on Masculinity." Pearcey shares her personal journey from questioning her faith in high school to becoming a Christian through Schaefer's cultural apologetics approach. They explore the impact of Darwinism on our concepts of masculinity, the importance of understanding the worldview expressed in literature, and the value of a biblical approach to apologetics. Pearcey's writing focuses on cultural apologetics to address questions and provide answers for young people today, and her upcoming book provides insightful theological answers to the issue of toxic behavior in men. This episode is full of thought-provoking insights that will challenge listeners to think deeply about their faith and the culture around them.It has become socially acceptable to express open hostility against men even in respected media outlets. "Why Can't We Hate Men?" asks the Washington Post. Almost half of American men agree with the statement, “These days society seems to punish men just for acting like men.” In her new book, the bestselling author of LOVE THY BODY Nancy R. Pearcey explains how secularism has villainized the concept of masculinity.Stephanie welcomes Professor Pearcey in a two-part interview and, together they discuss topics that Stephanie chose from the book, and from Nancy’s whole message throughout her many books:1.       How have the roles of men and women have fluctuated throughout human history? How is this essential context to understand where we are today?2.       Scientific Darwinism is mostly discredited today. How about social Darwinism? How is this generation equipped to handle it?3.       How is the history of fatherhood relevant to the ruse of toxic versions of masculinity?4.       What did men lose through the industrial revolution that they have not yet regained? What about women?5.       How much do you think that your analysis applies to cultures outside the framework of Western thought?6.       Tell us about the role of the workplace in making men more present fathers.7.       How did culture occasionally take men “off the hook” and demand of women to “tame” them? How is this influential today?8.       What about the response of the church in centuries past, and today?MORE ABOUT THE BOOKPurchase the book here: The Toxic War on MasculinityIn three parts, “The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes” reveals the surprising answers to questions such as:• Where did the idea come from that masculinity is “toxic”?• What impact did secularism have on the script for masculinity?• How do Christian men shatter the negative stereotypes?Let’s face it: When people complain that masculinity is toxic, they often point to evangelical men as their prime example. But findings from the social sciences debunk those charges. Research shows that committed Christian men who attend church regularly test out as the most loving and engaged husbands and fathers.These facts show that Christianity has the power to overcome toxic behavior in men and reconcile the sexes—an unexpected finding that has stood up to rigorous empirical testing. We should be bold in bringing it into the public square.“Masculine traits are not intrinsically toxic. They are good when directed to virtuous ends,” Pearcey writes. “The Bible calls men to be both tough and tender, both courageous and caring. Men who know they are made in God’s image can be full persons, reflecting all the rich dimensions of God’s own character.” MORE ABOUT PROFESSOR PEARCEYNancy Pearcey is the author of the upcoming book The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes. Her most recently published book is Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality. Her earlier books include The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and two ECPA Gold Medallion Award Winners: How Now Shall We Live (coauthored with Harold Fickett and Chuck Colson) and Total Truth. Her books have been translated into 19 languages. She is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. A former agnostic, Pearcey has spoken at universities such as Princeton, Stanford, USC, and Dartmouth. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual."More at www.nancypearcey.com/Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie shares what happened as she researched for this episode: "Let me tell you. I was NOT expecting what happened when I did my research. I think the Lord kindly likes to surprise us with glimpses of glory when we don’t expect them. So let’s say I wasn’t expecting to find myself in tears, flat on my face in my dining room, and almost breathless in awe of who Jesus is, as I saw Him through the research I did around this statement, "Behold the Lamb." I discovered fresh from the familiar pages of the New Testament an angle, a new depth that took my breath away. And I want to share the holiness of this moment with you today." Stephanie aims today to show us that, when we proclaim Jesus as the Lamb of God, from the standpoint of the New Testament, we proclaim his glory as the Lamb of God that will be revealed in the future. There is a future dimension that is clearly stated, but somehow overlooked. And it is glorious. So, let's dig together into Scripture for fresh tastes of glory!What do you think of when you hear the statement, “Behold the Lamb of God”? If you are somewhat familiar with the Old Testament and the history of Scripture, you know it’s a reference to the Passover lamb that was sacrificed annually as a covering for sins. Since they exited Egypt in about 1600BC, Moses and the Israelites were commanded by God to remember His salvation which He made happen by protecting all the people who had the blood of a freshly killed lamb on the door of their house. If there was blood on your door that night, the angel of death would pass over your house – thus the name “pass-over” – and would not come in to kill the firstborn male of your household. If you didn’t have that blood, then the firstborn male was killed. It didn’t make sense except by faith because God said so. And God did so.We love to remember that Jesus is the Lamb of God – meaning at least two things. First, He is fully God. And second, He willingly, voluntarily did this. God the Father didn’t force God the Son in some kind of cosmic tyranny to suffer for us. This was a decision that the Son made in full knowledge, and full power and love for us. “For the JOY set before Him He endured the cross” – that’s Hebrews 12:2. This is true power. Only absolute, ultimate power that has nothing to prove can so excruciatingly disrobe itself of power and become a helpless lamb. Philippians 2:5-8 tells us that He humbled Himself by going from heights of power we cannot even begin to remotely have a faint wisp of an idea of, to depths of humility that, similarly, we just cannot fathom because these depths are literally fathomless, bottomless, infinite – only an infinite being can go from infinite height to infinite depth and retain His wholeness. That is Christ. That is the Lamb of God. And it is glorious. And that is where we usually stop. For most of us, this is the meaning of the Lamb of God. And it is awesome and should cause us to fall in worship, to be sure. But there is more.Stephanie adds, "my most sincere prayer is that I can somehow convey what I saw and that you too will find yourself worshipping. I usually have it as a rule to never ever hype a lesson, so here is me breaking my own rules but then it’s not about me, it’s about you and the very Spirit of God at work in you to reveal to you unspeakable beauties about the One He delights in, the Son of God, our very precious Lord."We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blogIdentity in the battle | Ephesianshttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/Malachi: Messenger to Messiahhttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/Wisdom from the Book of Proverbshttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebratedhttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO PARTNER WITH GOSPEL SPICE TODAY!First, PAY Gospel Spice Forward: Give a tax-deductible gift so others can experience our ministry for free, just like you! You can pay it forward with any debit, credit card, or via PayPal. See below for more details about your impact.Also, PLAY Gospel Spice Forward: SHARE the podcast and the studies with your friends and family. FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW on your favorite podcast app (leave a comment + a star rating on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Pandora, IHeart, Google Podcast, etc…). It REALLY is the best way to help others find this content-rich podcast. And, last but not least, PRAY Gospel Spice Forward: We pray for you weekly. We covet your prayers for our ministry, the thousands we reach, and our team! Contact us to let us know you are praying for us!NEW!Another way to partner with us is to purchase our workbooks and online Bible studies. We keep them at the lowest possible cost, but they require a lot of work from us! For example, - a complete Bible Study requires an average of 500 man-hours. - a workbook for a series requires almost 100 man-hours.MORE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US FINANCIALLY:Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status.Our goal is to provide in-depth, high-quality, free Bible resources for all. They are free, but expensive to create! We need your financial support to keep producing and distributing them. Please pay Gospel Spice forward today! For example, a podcast episode takes close to 10 hours of work (and we release 2 each week). They come to you completely free, but we would truly love your support.We want the money to go to those who really need it. Once our operating costs are paid, 100% of your donation is redistributed to our partners who fight human trafficking. Each year, we aim to give as much as we can. For example, Stephanie works more than full time for Gospel Spice, entirely for free. All board members and volunteers are donating time. We limit our operational expenses to the bare minimum.Your pay-it-forward donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170.We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. Thank you!Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blogSupport us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

“Who do YOU say that I am?” Jesus asks this powerful question to His disciples in Matthew 16. It is the most important question any of us is called to answer - and make no mistake. We are all to answer it. The question unpacks a lot about who we are, and how we define our lives. We do not get to tell Jesus who He is -only acknowledge it. But He defines us. That is true freedom. Stephanie shares, "He doesn’t need to know who he is to you. And he surely doesn’t need us to tell him who he is. So, How do you feel, knowing he is actively seeking out your very own personal answer? Does it feel like it’s a quiz? Is this a test of your theology? Is this a test of your bible knowledge or your relationship with Him? Is this a test you may fail? Or could it be more like an invitation to unearth one of the most meaningful treasures in the world?"Jesus told a parable one day. Matthew records it just a few paragraphs before this question, in chapter 13. Here is what Jesus says. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Our understanding of Jesus’ identity is like that treasure. It will change our lives.Let’s go back to the context in the original text. First he asked what others were saying about him. Again, obviously he knew. He wasn’t seeking information. He was seeking relationship – as always. Being Jewish through and through, he asks questions to enter into relationship, into dialogue. Who do others say He is? The disciples can answer this one easily, there is nothing personal. And the answer is rather positive, it tells us about the people’s perception of who Jesus was at that point in his ministry. But you can quickly tell, this is not Jesus’ goal. He is only getting started. Then he asks the real question – the other one was just a primer. Who do YOU say that I am? Now that is completely different. Now they are in the spotlight. Now it’s their turn.Who we understand Jesus to be, determines who we are. Please hear this. Knowing who Jesus is, will determine the course of your life on earth, in heaven, and every moment spent here and there. Knowing who Jesus is tells you who you are. Jesus’ identity defines your identity – and this cannot be said of any one else. He alone claims this level of power, authority, and utter allegiance.Who your kids are doesn’t determine who you are. Who your parents or husband or best friend is, doesn’t determine who you are. Your enemies or your friends or your colleagues or your neighbors or your boss don’t define you.Jesus defines you.Where you were born, where you live, your ethnicity or your nationality, your income or your health, your size or your looks – these don’t define you.Jesus defines you.You don’t define yourself. If you are His disciple, then you have effectively renounced the right to define yourself. It means you don’t get to choose the criteria that define you. None of the above.Jesus defines you.This is truly the most freeing thing anyone can tell you.Who Jesus is defines who you are, because you are IN Christ. You cannot be apart from Him. That is the whole purpose of relationship.If Jesus is truly the King of all kings, and the God of the universe who can hold everything you can see and touch and feel, and everything you can’t, just by the power of His word, then being defined by Him is the most glorious thing and the highest possible calling.It is not reductive. It is enlarging. It is not confining. It is freeing. It is not limiting. It is boundless.You are who you are, because Jesus is who He is. And who He is to you, determines who you are.Ground yourself in Him. The greatest quest you can ever embark on is to take Him at His word when he promises to make Himself your greatest treasure and reward.Make sure to listen to get all the treasures and nuggets of wisdom from this episode.In this series, Stephanie takes us deep in Scripture through three powerful Greek words today. God is inviting you to capture your imagination, heart, soul and spirit through a deeper longing for Him. It is an intellectual search, a deep desire for Him, and also a need of our body. We will connect the dots and find that Jesus gives us the blueprint to answer this question the way the Father would invite us to. Let’s embrace Jesus’ invitation to ask, seek and knock – only to receive, find and have the door be opened. It is the same trio of Greek words, and it will inspire us to answer His question in the way that will bring us delight, for His glory.We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blogIdentity in the battle | Ephesianshttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/Malachi: Messenger to Messiahhttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/Wisdom from the Book of Proverbshttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebratedhttps://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO PARTNER WITH GOSPEL SPICE TODAY!First, PAY Gospel Spice Forward: Give a tax-deductible gift so others can experience our ministry for free, just like you! You can pay it forward with any debit, credit card, or via PayPal. See below for more details about your impact.Also, PLAY Gospel Spice Forward: SHARE the podcast and the studies with your friends and family. FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW on your favorite podcast app (leave a comment + a star rating on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Pandora, IHeart, Google Podcast, etc…). It REALLY is the best way to help others find this content-rich podcast. And, last but not least, PRAY Gospel Spice Forward: We pray for you weekly. We covet your prayers for our ministry, the thousands we reach, and our team! Contact us to let us know you are praying for us!NEW!Another way to partner with us is to purchase our workbooks and online Bible studies. We keep them at the lowest possible cost, but they require a lot of work from us! For example, - a complete Bible Study requires an average of 500 man-hours. - a workbook for a series requires almost 100 man-hours.MORE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US FINANCIALLY:Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status.Our goal is to provide in-depth, high-quality, free Bible resources for all. They are free, but expensive to create! We need your financial support to keep producing and distributing them. Please pay Gospel Spice forward today! For example, a podcast episode takes close to 10 hours of work (and we release 2 each week). They come to you completely free, but we would truly love your support.We want the money to go to those who really need it. Once our operating costs are paid, 100% of your donation is redistributed to our partners who fight human trafficking. Each year, we aim to give as much as we can. For example, Stephanie works more than full time for Gospel Spice, entirely for free. All board members and volunteers are donating time. We limit our operational expenses to the bare minimum.Your pay-it-forward donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170.We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. Thank you!Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blogSupport us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Amanda Jenkins shares about the 25th wedding anniversary she and Dallas are celebrating TODAY, JUNE 13, 2023! Happy anniversary to one of our favorite couples out there. Twenty-five years is a beautiful milestone and a testament to God's faithfulness through and in you! We love you and honor the Lord alongside you.Amanda and Stephanie talk about the crucible of suffering as the unavoidable process which our gentle Lord uses to refine us and keep us closely tied to His side, for our protection and growth. She explains how recent intense pain has led her to write the Bible Study that will soon release alongside season 4 of the show. She explains how she has discovered how God's goodness truly can eclipse our suffering - not in a pollyanna way at all, but through the pain and the daily releasing to Him who is more than able to bear it. We can only endure suffering when we are deeply rooted in who God is. As Amanda shares some of the recent personal struggles and sufferings she and her family have endured, she reveals how they have grown in the Lord through it, and what she has learned about herself and, more essentially, about God.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ziOcbz1ny9UIn our previous episode with Amanda, she talked with Stephanie about discovering new dimensions of relationship with Jesus, and the importance of experiential knowledge and resting in Him. Amanda told us how her family is faring through seasons of The Chosen, with a focus on discipling older children. She and Dallas have four children, aged 22, 20, 18 and 16. How are they parenting through the show, and towards intimacy with Christ? Amanda shared the power of intentionality and the necessity of embracing mistakes to grow from them. She told Stephanie how she and Dallas have nurtured a family culture for open conversations and for making God the center of their daily lives. She shared what it looks like to surrender your children to God at every age.We also invite you to watch this conversation on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice DISCOVER THE CHOSENBest show of the century. Everything is at https://new.thechosen.tv/We cannot recommend Amanda's Bible Studies enough. Get all of them today at https://new.thechosen.tv/collections/books NEW BONUS! GO DEEPER WITH OUR REFLECTION QUESTIONS ON THIS EPISODE1. What does it mean to abide in Christ? How does this look different for each individual?2. How can we grow our relationships with our children and disciple them as they grow older?3. How do different families approach nightly devotionals or Bible study time?4. What can we learn from David's practice of turning his attention to God's character in times of lament? How can we apply this to our own lives?5. How does suffering impact our relationship with God? Can it draw us closer to Him or drive us away?6. How can we release control and trust God with our children's emotional development and spiritual growth?7. What are some natural challenges to reentry after a spouse has been away, and how can intentional conversations help with the transition back to normalcy?8. In what ways can we seek God when things are going smoothly and not get complacent in our faith?9. How can we avoid the temptation to seek validation from people instead of God? What are some practical ways to focus on abiding in Christ instead of looking to others for approval?10. How have our standards and priorities changed as we have matured in our relationship with God? What helps us to recognize what is worth fighting for and what is not? DISCOVER THE GOSPEL SPICE MINISTRIES The Gospel Spice Podcast is part of a larger range of tools given to you by Gospel Spice Ministries.In a nutshell, we exist to inspire Christ-followers to delight in God.In more details: we provide resources to empower Christian leaders across generational, social, ethnic and geographical boundaries towards more intimacy with Jesus Christ and discipleship effectiveness through a Biblical Christocentric foundation. The Gospel-Spice Ministries provide a safe environment for spiritual and community growth empowering people to know Christ more intimately, serve one another more powerfully, and reach the world for Jesus.PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the link with friends and family.PRAY IT FORWARD by praying for us and those you share it with!PAY IT FORWARD!! Would you consider supporting this show today to help others enjoy it for free? It comes to you completely free, but is labor-intensive to produce, and we want to keep putting it in the ears of people!Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status. Your donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170. We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. All donations above our minimal operating costs go to Christian organizations fighting human trafficking.Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog(*ListenNotes ranking, 2023)Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Amanda Jenkins returns on the Gospel Spice Podcast today for a deep dive into what it means to abide in Christ in ever-growing ways. She talks with Stephanie about discovering new dimensions of relationship with Jesus, and the importance of experiential knowledge and resting in Him. Amanda tells us how her family is faring through seasons of The Chosen, with a focus on discipling older children. She and Dallas have four children, aged 22, 20, 18 and 16. How are they parenting through the show, and towards intimacy with Christ? Amanda shares the power of intentionality and the necessity of embracing mistakes to grow from them. She tells us how she and Dallas have nurtured a family culture for open conversations and for making God the center of their daily lives. She shares what it looks like to surrender your children to God at every age. She also shares with us, in a fun, whimsical ways, what plans she and Dallas have to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary this week!We also invite you to watch this conversation on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/i7fB68uKG_8?feature=oembedIn the second half of the conversation, which will air as our next episode, Amanda shares some of the recent personal struggles and sufferings she and her family have endured, how they have grown in the Lord through it, and what she has learned about herself and, more essentially, about God.DISCOVER THE CHOSENBest show of the century. Everything is at https://new.thechosen.tv/We cannot recommend Amanda's Bible Studies enough. Get all of them today at https://new.thechosen.tv/collections/books NEW BONUS! GO DEEPER WITH OUR REFLECTION QUESTIONS ON THIS EPISODE1. What does it mean to abide in Christ? How does this look different for each individual?2. How can we grow our relationships with our children and disciple them as they grow older?3. How do different families approach nightly devotionals or Bible study time?4. What can we learn from David's practice of turning his attention to God's character in times of lament? How can we apply this to our own lives?5. How does suffering impact our relationship with God? Can it draw us closer to Him or drive us away?6. How can we release control and trust God with our children's emotional development and spiritual growth?7. What are some natural challenges to reentry after a spouse has been away, and how can intentional conversations help with the transition back to normalcy?8. In what ways can we seek God when things are going smoothly and not get complacent in our faith?9. How can we avoid the temptation to seek validation from people instead of God? What are some practical ways to focus on abiding in Christ instead of looking to others for approval?10. How have our standards and priorities changed as we have matured in our relationship with God? What helps us to recognize what is worth fighting for and what is not? Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!