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

Episode 111 – Stephanie welcomes Rebecca Bender for the second half of our Gospel Spice 2nd Anniversary Celebration. This episode highlights one of Gospel Spice’s mission: to raise awareness in the fight against human trafficking in the US and abroad. In her own words, Rebecca "educates leaders and organizations about human trafficking so they can protect their communities and change culture."

This powerful episode is absolutely a must-listen, but is not for young ears: though we have kept it very clean, it might raise difficult questions from little ones. Listen accordingly! Rebecca gives us SUPER PRACTICAL TIPS to identify potential threats, based on your child's age, from elementary to high school years. If there is a child in your life, we encourage you to learn how to teach them safety today.

A reformer at heart, Rebecca has become a leading voice in the fight against human trafficking in all its forms. She shares with us what God has been teaching her lately, as she sees injustice and evil growingly rampant in our world today. She shares, "success is following God's call in your life, regardless of what it looks like." God's favor is not only seen in big things, but in the little things of daily life.

For nearly six years, Rebecca was sold across the underground world of sex trafficking in Las Vegas. She was branded, beaten, told when to sleep and what to wear, and traded between traffickers. Even in the midst of her exploitation, God began revealing himself to her and she found the hope she needed to survive. After a federal raid, Rebecca escaped. Her life was forever changed as she felt the embrace of her heavenly Father guiding her to healing and wholeness.

Rebecca soon began to use her own experiences to change the lives of others as she went back into the darkest places she had known--assisting FBI, VICE, and law enforcement across the country in some of their most difficult cases.

Today, Rebecca is an award-winning thought leader, advocate, speaker and consultant with a Master’s degree in Christian Thought and years of insight on industry best practices. She has trained and equipped well over 100,000 professionals, individuals, agencies, and organizations to identify human trafficking in their own back yards. She is also the founder of Elevate Academy, the largest online school for human trafficking, serving nearly 800 survivors in 368 locations across the country and around the world. Her memoir, “In Pursuit of Love” was published by Zondervan in January 2020. Rebecca’s incredible story of hope and redemption reminds us all that our past does not determine our destiny.

Find Rebecca:

@imrebeccabender (FB&IG) – make sure to follow her!

www.rebeccabender.org 

www.elevate-academy.org

Make sure to discover the RBI FREE anti-trafficking Course: https://rebecca-bender.mykajabi.com/trafficking-truths

the MUST-TAKE quiz to discover what YOU can do TODAY: the Find your lanes quiz: https://www.rebeccabender.org/quiz

a plethora of free resources: https://www.rebeccabender.org/resource-list

 IF YOU’VE ENJOYED THIS INTERVIEW, YOU WILL LOVE OUR GOSPEL SPICE SERIES!

 Click to check out the first episode of each season:

We are currently in the middle of our series titled "Identity in the Battle" which is such a fitting context for today's interview! Check out the first episode in this current series: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/74762/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/74762/link/

The Gospel of Matthew: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/3281/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/3281/link/

The Psalms: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/33755/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/33755/link/

The Gospel of Luke: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/40838/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/40838/link/

The Book of Proverbs: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/68112/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/68112/link/

DISCOVER THE GOSPEL SPICE MINISTRIES BEHIND THIS EPISODE

If you enjoyed this episode, we invite you to discover more about how God is at work at Gospel Spice Ministries, and even to join in His work! There are 3 easy ways to do that:

PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the show with friends and family: https://www.podcastics.com/podcast/38/link/

PAY IT FORWARD by supporting us financially: gospelspice.com/payitforward

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

Go to gospelspice.com for more info about Gospel Spice Ministries, the umbrella ministry over the podcast. You will discover our partners and the various services we offer, such as in-depth Bible studies with interactive conversation groups, a couple of times a year. 

Go to gospel-spice.com (with a "dash"!) to join the Gospel Spice Podcast community and interact with us!

Contact us on the website or at [email protected] to send us your prayer requests (we pray for you as a team every week!) and let us know how we can come alongside you.

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Episode 110 – In the wake of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, how are we to understand the Middle East today? How should Western Christians approach Israel and all things Jewish? What about Bible prophecy in light of the Jewish state today? Who are the enemies and the allies of the West, and of Israel, in the Middle East today?

Stephanie is joined again by Joel Rosenberg, New York Times bestselling author of novels and nonfiction books with nearly 5 million copies in print. This is part 2 of Joel Rosenberg's exclusive interview with Stephanie. Make sure to first listen to part 1, episode 109!

An evangelical Christian, dual U.S.-Israeli citizen and global influencer living in Jerusalem, Joel Rosenberg embodies the Gospel Spice mission to inspire you to taste and see that the Lord is good, through an in-depth experience of the cultural flavors of Scripture. Joel is an unmatched storyteller with a contagious passion for Christ and his people. This makes him the ideal Gospel Spice anniversary guest as we celebrate our 2nd anniversary this month! Not to mention, Stephanie has been a fan of his books and political analyses for almost 20 years now.

In his latest book, Enemies and Allies, Joel asks, “do recent changes in the Middle East signal peace?” One Arab country after another is signing historic, game-changing peace, trade, investment, and tourism deals with Israel. At the same time, Russia, Iran, and Turkey are forming a highly dangerous alliance that could threaten the Western powers. Meanwhile, the U.S. is drawing down its military forces in the Mideast and focusing on matters closer to home. Where’s it all heading? Enemies and Allies takes readers behind closed doors in the Middle East and introduce them to the very kings and crown princes, presidents and prime ministers who are leading the change.

Today, Joel also tells us about his Jewish family and growing up in America, before moving to Israel with his wife Lynn and his four sons in 2014. We talk spices and Jewish flavors – spiritually and literally! Joel takes us on a tour into Jerusalem—its streets, flavors, smells and most importantly, its uniquely global culture today. How is the Jewish Christian church doing today? Make sure to listen to find out! How can we understand what is happening in the Middle East today, from Afghanistan and Tehran to Jerusalem and Amman? Joel Rosenberg joins us to share a sobering truth about our world today: “To misunderstand the nature and threat of evil is to risk being blindsided by it.” This applies spiritually, but also politically today more than ever, as history has shown.

Then we move on to more personal things: how does Joel study Scripture in general, and prophecy in particular? How does his expertise on all things Mideast inform his thriller writing? What should we Christians know about the Middle East today to understand our world? How does our perspective on Israel inform our faith? And, how does prophecy build faith?

We talk about expanding our view of God to make Him our delight and glorify Him – a topic near and dear Stephanie’s heart, as you might know!

How does Joel use his thriller-writing talent to sneak in other topics? Well, you GOT to hear Joel’s analogy of the meatloaf smoothie. It’s got to do with leveraging our entertainment culture to share the gospel, and it is irresistible.

And then, how should Christians view Israel? This is a heavy question with answers ranging from disdain, to ignorance, to idolatry. Joel brings a balanced, discerning view that is sure to inform your approach to all things Jewish—spiritually and yes, politically too.

This leads us to a conversation about the famous Abraham accords that normalized relationships between Israel and 4 Muslim nations in 2020: how do these breakthrough accords inform our attitude as Christians today? How about Iran? How about Afghanistan and the role of the US in the Middle East today?

 IF YOU’VE ENJOYED THIS INTERVIEW, YOU WILL LOVE OUR GOSPEL SPICE SERIES!

 Click to check out the first episode of each season:

We are currently in the middle of our series titled "Identity in the Battle" which is such a fitting context for today's interview! Check out the first episode in this current series: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/74762/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/74762/link/

The Gospel of Matthew: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/3281/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/3281/link/

The Psalms: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/33755/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/33755/link/

The Gospel of Luke: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/40838/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/40838/link/

The Book of Proverbs: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/68112/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/68112/link/

DISCOVER THE GOSPEL SPICE MINISTRIES BEHIND THIS EPISODE

If you enjoyed this episode, we invite you to discover more about how God is at work at Gospel Spice Ministries, and even to join in His work! There are 3 easy ways to do that:

PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the show with friends and family: https://www.podcastics.com/podcast/38/link/

PAY IT FORWARD by supporting us financially: gospelspice.com/payitforward

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

Go to gospelspice.com for more info about Gospel Spice Ministries, the umbrella ministry over the podcast. You will discover our partners and the various services we offer, such as in-depth Bible studies with interactive conversation groups, a couple of times a year. 

Go to gospel-spice.com (with a "dash"!) to join the Gospel Spice Podcast community and interact with us!

Contact us on the website or at [email protected] to send us your prayer requests (we pray for you as a team every week!) and let us know how we can come alongside you.

MORE ABOUT JOEL ROSENBERG

Joel has been profiled by the New York Times, the Washington Times, and the Jerusalem Post and has appeared on hundreds of radio and TV programs in the U.S., Canada, and around the world. As a sought-after speaker, he has addressed audiences at the White House, the Pentagon, the U.S. Capitol, the Israeli president’s residence, the Israeli Knesset, the European Union parliament in Brussels, and business and faith conferences in North America and around the world.

Joel became famous in 2002 when writing novels that had the uncanny tendency to become reality. He says, “Before my first political thriller was released, I had never in my life been on national television. Nor had I been on but a few small radio shows. But when The Last Jihad was published in November of 2002, I suddenly found myself interviewed on more than 160 radio and TV programs. Sean Hannity. Rush Limbaugh. Michael Reagan. Fox News. MSNBC. I had the opportunity to talk to more than twenty million people in less than sixty days.

The media was intrigued that anyone could have written a novel that opened with a plane hijacked by radical Islamic terrorists flying a kamikaze attack into an American city and then led to a war between the United States and Iraq over terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. They were even more intrigued that I’d begun writing nine months before 9/11 and had finished the book before any of it had ever happened for real. How was this possible? Did I work for the CIA? Did I have some sort of inside information? To each host I would explain how after more than a decade in Washington as a senior advisor to a number of U.S. and Israeli leaders including Steve Forbes, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Natan Sharansky, I had decided to write a political thriller about a War on Terror I was convinced was coming and how such a war might be triggered. I explained the research I had done, and the process I’d gone through of writing a first novel.

Such questions only intensified after my second thriller, The Last Days, was published in October 2003. It opened with the death of Yasser Arafat and an American president pushing hard for peace and democracy in the Middle East. Thirteen months after it was published, Arafat died, and two months later President Bush decided to make democracy in the Middle East the centerpiece of his second term agenda.

What was particularly odd was that the first few pages of Days put readers inside a U.S. diplomatic convoy heading into Gaza as part of the peace process that would involve an Israeli pullout from Gaza and the West Bank when that convoy was attacked by a massive explosion. Just two weeks before Days hit bookstores, something terrible happened. A U.S. diplomatic convoy heading into Gaza as part of the peace process was suddenly attacked by a massive explosion.

Among the readers of his books are Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former President George W. Bush, former CIA Director Porter Goss, former Delta Force Commander General Jerry Boykin, former senior White House advisor Jason Greenblatt, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, former Israeli Interior Minister Natan Sharansky, former Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, and many other US, Israeli, Arab and other foreign leaders.

Joel’s latest non-fiction book, “Enemies and Allies,” releases this week and is already poised to become a global bestseller (you can order it here: https://joelrosenberg.com/non-fiction/). Do recent changes in the Middle East signal peace? One Arab country after another is signing historic, game-changing peace, trade, investment, and tourism deals with Israel. At the same time, Russia, Iran, and Turkey are forming a highly dangerous alliance that could threaten the Western powers. Meanwhile, the U.S. is drawing down its military forces in the Mideast and focusing on matters closer to home. Where’s it all heading? Enemies and Allies will take readers behind closed doors in the Middle East and introduce them to the very kings and crown princes, presidents and prime ministers who are leading the change.

Make sure to go to and subscribe at Allarab.news and AllIsrael.com for regular updates. For more information, visit joelrosenberg.com and follow Joel on Twitter (@joelcrosenberg) and Facebook (facebook.com/JoelCRosenberg).

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Episode 109 – With the 20th anniversary of 9/11 barely behind us, how are we to understand the Middle East today? How should Western Christians approach Israel and all things Jewish? What about Bible prophecy in light of the Jewish state today? Who are the enemies and the allies of the West, and of Israel, in the Middle East today?

Stephanie is joined by Joel Rosenberg, New York Times bestselling author of novels and nonfiction books with nearly 5 million copies in print, to celebrate our show's 2nd anniversary this month. Their conversation was so fascinating that we will publish it in two episodes this week (episode 109, this one, and episode 110 on September 15, 2021).

Watch the live recording of this fascinating conversation on our YouTube channel and make sure to subscribe: 

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/mZf29FgLKLI?feature=oembed

An evangelical Christian, dual U.S.-Israeli citizen and global influencer living in Jerusalem, Joel Rosenberg embodies the Gospel Spice mission to inspire you to taste and see that the Lord is good, through an in-depth experience of the cultural flavors of Scripture. Joel is an unmatched storyteller with a contagious passion for Christ and his people. This makes him the ideal Gospel Spice anniversary guest! Not to mention, Stephanie has been a fan of his books and political analyses for almost 20 years now.

In his latest book, Enemies and Allies, Joel asks, “do recent changes in the Middle East signal peace?” One Arab country after another is signing historic, game-changing peace, trade, investment, and tourism deals with Israel. At the same time, Russia, Iran, and Turkey are forming a highly dangerous alliance that could threaten the Western powers. Meanwhile, the U.S. is drawing down its military forces in the Mideast and focusing on matters closer to home. Where’s it all heading? Enemies and Allies takes readers behind closed doors in the Middle East and introduce them to the very kings and crown princes, presidents and prime ministers who are leading the change.

Today, Joel also tells us about his Jewish family and growing up in America, before moving to Israel with his wife Lynn and his four sons in 2014. We talk spices and Jewish flavors – spiritually and literally! Joel takes us on a tour into Jerusalem—its streets, flavors, smells and most importantly, its uniquely global culture today. How is the Jewish Christian church doing today? Make sure to listen to find out! How can we understand what is happening in the Middle East today, from Afghanistan and Tehran to Jerusalem and Amman? Joel Rosenberg joins us to share a sobering truth about our world today: “To misunderstand the nature and threat of evil is to risk being blindsided by it.” This applies spiritually, but also politically today more than ever, as history has shown.

Then we move on to more personal things: how does Joel study Scripture in general, and prophecy in particular? How does his expertise on all things Mideast inform his thriller writing? What should we Christians know about the Middle East today to understand our world? How does our perspective on Israel inform our faith? And, how does prophecy build faith?

We talk about expanding our view of God to make Him our delight and glorify Him – a topic near and dear Stephanie’s heart, as you might know!

How does Joel use his thriller-writing talent to sneak in other topics? Well, you GOT to hear Joel’s analogy of the meatloaf smoothie. It’s got to do with leveraging our entertainment culture to share the gospel, and it is irresistible.

And then, how should Christians view Israel? This is a heavy question with answers ranging from disdain, to ignorance, to idolatry. Joel brings a balanced, discerning view that is sure to inform your approach to all things Jewish—spiritually and yes, politically too.

This leads us to a conversation about the famous Abraham accords that normalized relationships between Israel and 4 Muslim nations in 2020: how do these breakthrough accords inform our attitude as Christians today? How about Iran? How about Afghanistan and the role of the US in the Middle East today?

MORE ABOUT JOEL ROSENBERG

Joel has been profiled by the New York Times, the Washington Times, and the Jerusalem Post and has appeared on hundreds of radio and TV programs in the U.S., Canada, and around the world. As a sought-after speaker, he has addressed audiences at the White House, the Pentagon, the U.S. Capitol, the Israeli president’s residence, the Israeli Knesset, the European Union parliament in Brussels, and business and faith conferences in North America and around the world.

Joel became famous in 2002 when writing novels that had the uncanny tendency to become reality. He says, “Before my first political thriller was released, I had never in my life been on national television. Nor had I been on but a few small radio shows. But when The Last Jihad was published in November of 2002, I suddenly found myself interviewed on more than 160 radio and TV programs. Sean Hannity. Rush Limbaugh. Michael Reagan. Fox News. MSNBC. I had the opportunity to talk to more than twenty million people in less than sixty days.

The media was intrigued that anyone could have written a novel that opened with a plane hijacked by radical Islamic terrorists flying a kamikaze attack into an American city and then led to a war between the United States and Iraq over terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. They were even more intrigued that I’d begun writing nine months before 9/11 and had finished the book before any of it had ever happened for real. How was this possible? Did I work for the CIA? Did I have some sort of inside information? To each host I would explain how after more than a decade in Washington as a senior advisor to a number of U.S. and Israeli leaders including Steve Forbes, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Natan Sharansky, I had decided to write a political thriller about a War on Terror I was convinced was coming and how such a war might be triggered. I explained the research I had done, and the process I’d gone through of writing a first novel.

Such questions only intensified after my second thriller, The Last Days, was published in October 2003. It opened with the death of Yasser Arafat and an American president pushing hard for peace and democracy in the Middle East. Thirteen months after it was published, Arafat died, and two months later President Bush decided to make democracy in the Middle East the centerpiece of his second term agenda.

What was particularly odd was that the first few pages of Days put readers inside a U.S. diplomatic convoy heading into Gaza as part of the peace process that would involve an Israeli pullout from Gaza and the West Bank when that convoy was attacked by a massive explosion. Just two weeks before Days hit bookstores, something terrible happened. A U.S. diplomatic convoy heading into Gaza as part of the peace process was suddenly attacked by a massive explosion.

Among the readers of his books are Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former President George W. Bush, former CIA Director Porter Goss, former Delta Force Commander General Jerry Boykin, former senior White House advisor Jason Greenblatt, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, former Israeli Interior Minister Natan Sharansky, former Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, and many other US, Israeli, Arab and other foreign leaders.

Joel’s latest non-fiction book, “Enemies and Allies,” releases this week and is already poised to become a global bestseller (you can order it here: https://joelrosenberg.com/non-fiction/). Do recent changes in the Middle East signal peace? One Arab country after another is signing historic, game-changing peace, trade, investment, and tourism deals with Israel. At the same time, Russia, Iran, and Turkey are forming a highly dangerous alliance that could threaten the Western powers. Meanwhile, the U.S. is drawing down its military forces in the Mideast and focusing on matters closer to home. Where’s it all heading? Enemies and Allies will take readers behind closed doors in the Middle East and introduce them to the very kings and crown princes, presidents and prime ministers who are leading the change.

Make sure to go to and subscribe at Allarab.news and AllIsrael.com for regular updates. For more information, visit joelrosenberg.com and follow Joel on Twitter (@joelcrosenberg) and Facebook (facebook.com/JoelCRosenberg).

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!

Episode 108 - Welcome to our final episode in our Summer 2021 series, Identity in the Battle. Here is what is on the menu today, and for the next few weeks...

(If you have joined us recently, a big hearty WELCOME! We are SO HONORED you are with us! We warmly invite you to start our Identity in the Battle Series at the beginning with episode 101 titled "What does it mean to be IN Christ?").

Over the course of the last eight weeks, we took deep dives into the letter to the Ephesians with a focus on putting on our God-given identity, and then putting on the armor to fight the battles of this life, grounded in who God says we are.

Today, we invite you into one last taste from Paul's words to the Ephesians. 

Paul reminds us that we have a choice: to sit on the sidelines OR take your place in the battle. Which will it be?

We already know the end: will this lead to complacency, or to courage? Paul challenges us to know that the scope of the battle is against evil, not against people. How will this flavor your conflits today?

Stephanie reminds us of foundational spiritual warfare strategies: 

1-     Become aware.

2-     Train up.

3-     Start standing firm.

4-     Keep resisting.

5-     Train others to resist.

As she puts it, "don’t go into the battlefield unarmed, or you won’t stay unharmed."

As we conclude, remember that the reality of our identity is found in the fullness of Christ.

Over the next two weeks, we will welcome two very special guests to celebrate our second Gospel Spice Anniversary! It's been two years now since we launched our little podcast. It is now reaching thousands upon thousands in over 120 countries! What a mind-boggling journey the Lord has laid out for us. It is our delight to walk it alongside you! So make sure ot tune in next week.

And then, after two weeks of special episodes, we will kick off our brand new study, called "Centering on Christ: the Tabernacle" with Episode 112. Stephanie shares that this is the season that led her deepest into study and Scripture. It has deepened her intimacy with God in fresh, spicy new ways, and we are pretty confident it will yours, too! So make sure to tune in for our new series starting just after our celebratory episode.

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 - this is a team effort and we need your help to keep creating these high-quality episodes, as always available completely for FREE!

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

------------ 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.

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! For the price of a cup of coffee, PAY IT FORWARD with $5 or $10 to make a huge difference! Contact us to pay it forward by Credit Card, or donate via PayPal.

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 operating costs go to Christian organizations fighting human trafficking. We do not take a salary, but only seek to cover our operating costs.

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!

THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO PARTNER WITH GOSPEL SPICE TODAY!

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

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

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

NEW!

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

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

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

MORE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US FINANCIALLY:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address [email protected]. 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

Is life getting in the way of your time with God? We offer encouragement and accountability as simple as 1-2-3.

1- Choose your new series: Pick a theme or topic that speaks to you right now. Scroll for description of level and need.

2 - Sign-up for email reminders: Provide your name and email, and we will send you a weekly link with the next lesson in the series you chose.

3 - Grow your faith: Enjoy your weekly lesson straight in your inbox, including the occasional bonus content!

All our series are available in this format. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/choose now to choose!

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Episode 107 - We are in a battle. It is raging, it is fierce, and it is up close and personal. It is not a battle against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual darkness. How do we fight it?

(If you have joined us recently, a big hearty WELCOME! We are SO HONORED you are with us! We warmly invite you to start our Identity in the Battle Series at the beginning with episode 101 titled "What does it mean to be IN Christ?").

This is a very practical episode. What does it mean to put on the armor of God? What purpose does it serve? What does it symbolize? 

Our text is Ephesians 6:16-20 (NIV): "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."

A shield? A Roman army-issued shield was the size of a small door. It was no round ceremonial token! It was the primary defense against long-distance attacks. It also allowed an exceptional display of team effort to save mutual lives. It provides a timely illustration about the relationships within the body of Christ today on the battlefield. 

Flaming arrows? Yes, Satan plays dirty. Fire is not necessary to kill. A well-shot arrow is enough. So why fire? Take a listen to uncover Satan's strategy in his use of fire, and how YOU can counterattack with the true Fire from the Spirit.

A helmet? The helmet of salvation is essential. What is salvation? We look at a few key verses:

- Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, Phil 2:12

- Rom 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

And then, your head represents your mind. Here are some of our key texts from today. They're the kind of verses that satan doesn’t want you to know. He knows his time is short, but he’d rather YOU didn’t know that. If you did, you’d become wise and a threat to him!

2 Cor 10:4-5 - The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power(B) to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Stephanie challenges you to deeper living: "Move from a philosophy of scarcity to one of abundance today."

A sword? Stephanie takes us on a trip to France as she unveils how two French words will deepen your understanding of the sword that is the Scriptures.

(Heb 4:12 - the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.)

A secret weapon? Yes! Prayer is our spiritual weapon and it is powerful! Pray at all times, in all circumstances: to kneel before God is the only way to stand up to the devil.

Do not leave today's episode without chewing on this comforting truth: you’re not alone in the fight.

Note: This episode is the 5th in our Gospel Spice Identity in the battle Summer 2021 series. If you missed it, make sure to listen to Episodes 101 through 105 before you launch this one! Also, it is the final of three episodes focusing on our spiritual armor.

----- IDENTITY IN THE BATTLE BIBLE STUDY ------

You have the option to go beyond listening to this series, and to participate actively. It is completely free, a resource by Gospel Spice Ministries. Go to gospelspice.com/identity to register for a self-paced Bible study. 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 register together. 

Special bonus! When you register, you will be added to an exclusive live Zoom call with Stephanie and the Gospel Spice Ministries team to discuss the episodes and ask YOUR questions! There will be 2 live calls over the course of this series (August 2021 only, upon initial release of the episodes).

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!

------------ 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.

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! For the price of a cup of coffee, PAY IT FORWARD with $5 or $10 to make a huge difference! Contact us to pay it forward by Credit Card, or donate via PayPal.

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 operating costs go to Christian organizations fighting human trafficking. We do not take a salary, but only seek to cover our operating costs.

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!

Is life getting in the way of your time with God? We offer encouragement and accountability as simple as 1-2-3.

1- Choose your new series: Pick a theme or topic that speaks to you right now. Scroll for description of level and need.

2 - Sign-up for email reminders: Provide your name and email, and we will send you a weekly link with the next lesson in the series you chose.

3 - Grow your faith: Enjoy your weekly lesson straight in your inbox, including the occasional bonus content!

All our series are available in this format. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/choose now to choose!

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Episode 106 - Stephanie welcomes Erica Wiggenhorn, bestselling Bible Study author, national speaker, and now releasing her brand new book, Letting God be enough. So, with that kind of book title, you can certainly expect a vulnerable conversation about self-introspection, daring to look at what’s inside our hearts—the good, the bad and the ugly! What can we learn about our heavenly Father to overcome our fear of failure and inadequacy?

Erica and Stephanie are close friends, and this conversation will probably feel like you’re joining two friends over for coffee. We talk about our hearts, our sinfulness, and our desperate hunger for God.

Do you feel like you’re missing out on some secret other people know? Do you wonder why their faith seems so strong? Are you curious about how they find success around every corner, or their marriage seems so happy? Do you wonder how they’re such good parents, or have such successful careers?

It’s easy to feel like things fall into place so easily for others while you’re striving hard to keep life from falling apart. In a world where “never enough” is the norm, what do you do with those feelings of inadequacy? Do you strive more or expect less? And how does God fit into the equation?

What are you afraid of, that you are hiding deep inside yourself and not dare to talk about? Erica shares a profound and hilarious story about finding dead lizards in her son’s bedroom and compels us to ask: What are the squashed Lizzies that you have hidden in your spirit sock drawer? Only one way to find out.

Have you ever felt that you were not enough? That you were a fake? That if people knew you, they would discover that you are not as amazing as they think you are? Are you afraid to reveal that you don’t have it as together as you’ve been portraying? So today, we talk about imposter syndrome, about the fear to be “found out” as insufficient.

God teaches us not to seek approval of our perceptions, but of Himself. Erica dives into the meaning of God's love and acceptance, and it might just transform your relationship with your Father who delights in you so powerfully, and has provided all you need for approval and acceptance.

IF YOU’VE ENJOYED THIS INTERVIEW, YOU WILL LOVE OUR GOSPEL SPICE SERIES!

 Click to check out the first episode of each season:

We are currently in the middle of our series titled "Identity in the Battle" which is such a fitting context for today's interview! Check out the first episode in this current series (next week, Episode 107 will be the next in the series, but it's best to start at the beginning with Episode 101): https://www.podcastics.com/episode/74762/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/74762/link/

The Gospel of Matthew: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/3281/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/3281/link/

The Psalms: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/33755/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/33755/link/

The Gospel of Luke: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/40838/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/40838/link/

The Book of Proverbs: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/68112/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/68112/link/

DISCOVER THE GOSPEL SPICE MINISTRIES BEHIND THIS EPISODE

If you enjoyed this episode, we invite you to discover more about how God is at work at Gospel Spice Ministries, and even to join in His work! There are 3 easy ways to do that:

PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the show with friends and family: https://www.podcastics.com/podcast/38/link/

PAY IT FORWARD by supporting us financially: gospelspice.com/payitforward

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

Go to gospelspice.com for more info about Gospel Spice Ministries, the umbrella ministry over the podcast. You will discover our partners and the various services we offer, such as in-depth Bible studies with interactive conversation groups, a couple of times a year. 

Go to gospel-spice.com (with a "dash"!) to join the Gospel Spice Podcast community and interact with us!

Contact us on the website or at [email protected] to send us your prayer requests (we pray for you as a team every week!) and let us know how we can come alongside you.

ABOUT ERICA WIGGENHORN

Erica Wiggenhorn writes Bible studies and teaches biblical principles for life change. She’s passionate about God’s Word and its ability to transform us personally, along with our relationships. Her latest release by Moody Publishers: Unexplainable Jesus: Rediscovering the God You Thought You Knew, will release in 2019, with an optional DVD teaching series to accompany the study! This study delves into Luke’s Gospel, painting a vivid picture of the culture and customs of Jesus’ day — following Him into a life unimaginable.

Moody Publishers also released The Unexplainable Church and An Unexplainable Life. These expository studies take the reader verse by verse through the entire story of Acts, exploring the incredible life transformation that occurred in the earliest believers. With a personable and practical style, Erica teaches these studies and other biblical, life-related topics to groups in the United States and overseas.

Erica has volunteered as a teacher for Alongside Ministries, a group working with the incarcerated community learning to walk with Christ after release from prison. She has also worked as a children’s ministry director, and as an elementary teacher. Before this, she graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a double major in Political Science and Business Administration. She also earned an M.A. in Language Acquisition and Development.

Erica lives in Phoenix with her husband, Jonathan, and children, Eliana and Nathan. They attend Desert Springs Community Church, where Erica volunteers with the Charis Women’s Ministry, teaching and serving on its leadership team. Of all the ways Erica spends her time, her most important work is that of wife and mom! Contact a member of the Every Life Ministries team about connecting with Erica at [email protected].

You will find Erica at https://ericawiggenhorn.com/

PRE-ORDER “LETTING GOD BE ENOUGH” TODAY FOR SPECIAL PRE-ORDER GIFTS!

Letting God Be Enough is a modern book for tackling an age-old problem, resting in God when life doesn’t make sense. You no longer have to strive, compare, or appease others to secure your worth. Instead, you can let a loving God be enough.

As a Christian woman who has battled self-doubt for decades, Erica is able to speak to these topics with empathy, grace, and truth. Take advantage of special pre-order bonuses that will end on September 7, 2021.

Pre-order Bonuses

PRE-ORDER 1 COPY & RECEIVE:

A FREE digital Bible Study Book and Leader’s Guide on the Life of Moses entitled “My God Fights For Me” and a coupon for 20% off your entire order from EllyandGrace.

PRE-ORDER 3 COPIES & RECEIVE:

All of the above PLUS access to exclusive teaching content:

Letting God Be Enough in a Lonely Marriage by Dr. Juli Slattery, founder of Authentic Intimacy, author of numerous books and resources, and nationally known expert on identity and relationships. Juli is also the host of the Java with Juli podcast.

Letting God Be Enough in Our Friendships by Kelly Needham, author of Friendish: Reclaiming True Friendship in a Culture of Confusion

Letting God Be Enough in Disappointment and Devastation by Kim Erickson, Bible teacher and author of Surviving Sorrow

Letting God Be Enough in our Dreams for our Future by Shannon Popkin, national speaker and author of Control Girl and Comparison Girl.

Praying Prayers of Surrender by Asheritah Ciuciu, Prayers of REST podcaster and author of He Is Enough bible study, and Unwrapping the Names of Jesus

The first 50 people to pre-order 3 copies will also receive a free BRAVE necklace!

PRE-ORDER 10 COPIES & RECEIVE:

All of the above, PLUS A private Q&A Session with Erica Wiggenhorn, on her study and writing process behind the book along with her spiritual journey that led me to write it

Entry into a raffle to receive a $200 NoonDay shopping spree

The first 50 people to pre-order 10 copies will also receive a free “Jesus is Enough” EllyandGrace t-shirt!

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Episode 105 - We are in a battle. Last week, we saw that "the only way to stand up to the devil is to kneel before God." Today we study and put on the first of seven pieces of spiritual armor. This is taken straight from Ephesians 6:14-15 (NIV): Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 

(If you have joined us recently, a big hearty WELCOME! We are SO HONORED you are with us! We warmly invite you to start our Identity in the Battle Series at the beginning with episode 101 titled "What does it mean to be IN Christ?").

This is a very practical episode. What does it mean to put on the armor of God? What purpose does it serve? What does it symbolize? 

Truth? Truth is what God says. He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). We wear truth when we are IN HIM: be strong IN the Lord and IN the strength of His might.

"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

Breastplate? There's the theory, and then there's the practice. The breastplate of righteousness protects our heart. Satan is after your mind, your emotions, your will. He knows you are clothed in Christ’s righteousness, so you can stand. So, identify the lies of the enemy (with the belt of truth) and then DO SOMETHING about it: protect your heart by clothing yourself in the righteousness of Christ.

Shoes? Roman army shoes were knee-high boots designed to stand firm (giving stability) and to move fast (giving motion) both. They are powerfulyl symbolic of our identity in Christ. Because they speak of readiness, they inform our attitude as believers.

Isaiah 52:7 - How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation.

Note: This episode is the 4th in our Gospel Spice Identity in the battle Summer 2021 series. If you missed it, make sure to listen to Episodes 101+102+104 before you launch this one! Also, it is the second of three episodes focusing on our spiritual armor. Episode 107 will continue today's lesson. Make sure to tune in when it releases!

Here are some of our key texts from today. They're the kind of verses that satan doesn’t want you to know. He knows his time is short, but he’d rather YOU didn’t know that. If you did, you’d become wise and a threat to him!

Isaiah 11:5 - Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. (NIV)

Isaiah 59:17. He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak (ESV).

Deuteronomy 33:29. He is the shield that protects you, the sword that you boast in. Your enemies will cringe before you and you will tread on their backs.

Deuteronomy 6:7-9 - Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol[b] on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (HCSB)

----- IDENTITY IN THE BATTLE BIBLE STUDY ------

You have the option to go beyond listening to this series, and to participate actively. It is completely free, a resource by Gospel Spice Ministries. Go to gospelspice.com/identity to register for a self-paced Bible study. 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 register together. 

Special bonus! When you register, you will be added to an exclusive live Zoom call with Stephanie and the Gospel Spice Ministries team to discuss the episodes and ask YOUR questions! There will be 2 live calls over the course of this series (August 2021 only, upon initial release of the episodes).

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!

------------ 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.

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! For the price of a cup of coffee, PAY IT FORWARD with $5 or $10 to make a huge difference! Contact us to pay it forward by Credit Card, or donate via PayPal.

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 operating costs go to Christian organizations fighting human trafficking. We do not take a salary, but only seek to cover our operating costs.

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!

Is life getting in the way of your time with God? We offer encouragement and accountability as simple as 1-2-3.

1- Choose your new series: Pick a theme or topic that speaks to you right now. Scroll for description of level and need.

2 - Sign-up for email reminders: Provide your name and email, and we will send you a weekly link with the next lesson in the series you chose.

3 - Grow your faith: Enjoy your weekly lesson straight in your inbox, including the occasional bonus content!

All our series are available in this format. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/choose now to choose!

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Episode 104 - We are in a battle. The most important takeaway Stephanie wants you to keep today is this:   "The only way to stand up to the devil is to kneel before God."

This is an all-important episode to ground your battles in the only foundation that will never be shaken: your identity in Christ.

Just to make sure you remember this: we cannot lose our salvation. We are secure in Christ. That’s the whole point. It’s GOOD NEWS, this armor. There is a battle, and we have won already.

God is giving us spirit-issued uniform. We don’t have to buy it ourselves, He purchased it at great cost. It is the highest quality and it is more than enough for the task ahead. It’s wonderful news! We are not walking into this battle naked. We are not delicate china hiding behind cabinet doors. We are warriors equipped to win, under the command of our general, Christ the Lord, our Warrior-King.

This episode is the 3rd in our Gospel Spice Identity in the battle Summer 2021 series. If you missed it, make sure to listen to Episodes 101+102 before you launch this one! Also, it is the first of three episodes focusing on our spiritual armor. Episodes 105 and 107 will continue today's lesson. Make sure to tune in when they release!

----- IDENTITY IN THE BATTLE BIBLE STUDY ------

You have the option to go beyond listening to this series, and to participate actively. It is completely free, a resource by Gospel Spice Ministries. Go to gospelspice.com/identity to register for a self-paced Bible study. 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 register together. 

Special bonus! When you register, you will be added to an exclusive live Zoom call with Stephanie and the Gospel Spice Ministries team to discuss the episodes and ask YOUR questions! There will be 2 live calls over the course of this series (August 2021 only, upon initial release of the episodes).

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!

------------ 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.

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! For the price of a cup of coffee, PAY IT FORWARD with $5 or $10 to make a huge difference! Contact us to pay it forward by Credit Card, or donate via PayPal.

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 operating costs go to Christian organizations fighting human trafficking. We do not take a salary, but only seek to cover our operating costs.

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!

Is life getting in the way of your time with God? We offer encouragement and accountability as simple as 1-2-3.

1- Choose your new series: Pick a theme or topic that speaks to you right now. Scroll for description of level and need.

2 - Sign-up for email reminders: Provide your name and email, and we will send you a weekly link with the next lesson in the series you chose.

3 - Grow your faith: Enjoy your weekly lesson straight in your inbox, including the occasional bonus content!

All our series are available in this format. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/choose now to choose!

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Episode 103 - Stephanie welcomes Bill & Pam Farrel today to discuss marriage. Bill and Pam both grew up in highly dysfunctional homes with backgrounds that statistically guaranteed failure in their relationship; yet here they are, many decades later, with a thriving marriage and a full-scale ministry, LOVE-WISE, dedicated to coming alongside couples in every stage of married life.

They say, “If you want a great love life, you must grab a hold of God’s wisdom.” This applies to all meaningful relationships! So, whether you are married or not, you will discover valuable lessons for key relationships in your life in this episode. For example, Bill shares how his family comes from a regrettable tradition of breaking ties with parents, dating back 4 generations, and how he now has created an atmosphere where his father, his son and grandson all get together with him—4 new generations of Farrel men getting together, something that has not happened in the previous 4 generations. This is one of many Farrel traditions and rituals that are now sparking positive relationships into the new generations.

If you are married, we warmly invite you to listen to this episode (again?) with your spouse, take notes, and then implement one of the many suggestions in this interview!

Bill and Pam share how, as newlyweds, they would “stalk” happily married, older couples at church and dare to ask them the hard questions of married life—and the unexpected blessings they would receive in these initial formative relationships with everyday heroes of married life.

They explain that everyone can have a good marriage; depending on the role models you had growing up, you might need to be more intentional about the decisions you make and the instincts that have been drilled into you from potentially negative examples.

They explain that individuals often marry what they don’t have—namely, someone with a very different skillset. This is a tremendous opportunity, but it will also often lead to a different approach to marriage, resulting in tension. How can we learn to work as a team in marriage, listening to and understanding one another in practical ways? Bill & Pam share with us the three AHA categories that they have created for every couple: Attitudes, Habits, and Affections. They say, “marriage doesn’t just take work. It takes smart work.”

Bill and Pam remind us that marriage is about adding value to each other’s life—and keeping in the forefront of our mind how our spouse enriches our life.

Pam & Bill had a fun time picking spices to describe one another—the conversation itself is a window into their relationship. Pam is jalapeno and chipotle, while Bill just might have curry overtones! You’re going to have to take a listen to find out. We challenge you to have this conversation with your spouse and decide on a spice that best represents each of you!

GOSPEL SPICE GIVEAWAY

Bill & Pam Farrel are giving away a set of “Marriage Meet-Ups” books—one for the wife, one for the husband. Go to gospelspice.com/giveaway to enter for a chance to win. Winner will be announced two weeks after episode airs. If you are listening to this episode after this particular giveaway closes, please stay tuned for upcoming giveaways with new exciting books!

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BILL & PAM FARREL at www.Love-Wise.com

Bill and Pam Farrel are relationship experts, international speakers, and Directors of Love-Wise. They have been married and in ministry for 42 years.  Bill has experience as Youth Pastor, followed by 15 years as a Lead Pastor; then was Pastor of Small Groups for Dr David Jeremiah at Shadow Mountain church.  Pam served alongside Bill in youth work then served as Director of Women’s Ministry during Bill’s years as a Pastor.

They have written 50+books including best-selling Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti , 10 Best Decisions a Single Can Make, 7 Simple Skills for Every Man, 7 Simple Skills for Every Woman and their 10 Best Decisions series (for couples, singles, parents, grads, leaders, men and women).  Their books have been translated into 15+ languages.

Pam is the co-author of the Discovering the Bible: an amazon bestseller, creative Bible study series.  The Farrels have spoken for a wide variety of groups: overseas for missions, the military and government sponsored events (including keynoting at National Marriage convention sponsored by government of Singapore); In the USA and Canada for churches, conference centers, community groups as well as the military and businesses.  Their wit and wisdom make them popular speakers and podcast, radio and TV guests (Moody network, Family Life Today, Focus on the Family, Dr. Dobson’s Family Talk radio, A Better Us TV and most TV networks).

The Farrels also enjoy helping people with their most vital relationships online in the Living Love-Wise Community. Recently, the Farrels moved near Bill’s 91 year-old parents to help with their care. The Farrels enjoy time with their grown children, their spouses and young grandchildren, and when they are not working in ministry, or with family, you may find them walking the beach, biking, or kayaking from their down-sized home on a live aboard boat docked in Southern California.

www.Love-Wise.com

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Episode 102 - Stephanie invites us into the Father's heart today. We start by deciphering the meaning of "downpayment of the Holy Spirit." Staying away from Christianese, we taste the beauty of experiencing the Holy Spirit today. The downpayment of the Holy Spirit as guarantee of our inheritance is a drop of heaven, that makes us long for the ocean of it.

Then, we look at what we call "the cross-shaped dimension of the gospel": Finding our identity in Christ means growing in intimacy with Him. 

The depth of your desire to know the secret things of Christ is the measure of your spiritual growth. There is a massive difference between knowing something about God, and knowing God. Jesus reveals His secrets to us, His mind, and He enables us to reveal the secrets of our hearts to Him. This is the proof of the great delight He takes in us, and teaches us to take in Him.

We then turn to the importance of Christ's position today: seated at the right hand of God, and interceding for us. How is it relevant practically for you and me today?

Ephesians 2:8-10 is the core of our study:  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

This episode is the 2nd in our Gospel Spice Identity in the battle Summer 2021 series. If you missed it, make sure to listen to Episode 101 (last week) before you launch this one!

----- IDENTITY IN THE BATTLE BIBLE STUDY ------

You have the option to go beyond listening to this series, and to participate actively. It is completely free, a resource by Gospel Spice Ministries. Go to gospelspice.com/identity to register for a self-paced Bible study. 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 register together. 

Special bonus! When you register, you will be added to an exclusive live Zoom call with Stephanie and the Gospel Spice Ministries team to discuss the episodes and ask YOUR questions! There will be 2 live calls over the course of this series (August 2021 only, upon initial release of the episodes).

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!

------------ 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.

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! For the price of a cup of coffee, PAY IT FORWARD with $5 or $10 to make a huge difference! Contact us to pay it forward by Credit Card, or donate via PayPal.

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 operating costs go to Christian organizations fighting human trafficking. We do not take a salary, but only seek to cover our operating costs.

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!

Is life getting in the way of your time with God? We offer encouragement and accountability as simple as 1-2-3.

1- Choose your new series: Pick a theme or topic that speaks to you right now. Scroll for description of level and need.

2 - Sign-up for email reminders: Provide your name and email, and we will send you a weekly link with the next lesson in the series you chose.

3 - Grow your faith: Enjoy your weekly lesson straight in your inbox, including the occasional bonus content!

All our series are available in this format. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/choose now to choose!

Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!