Gospel Spice | Christian faith, God's love & the Bible Stéphanie Rousselle

I cannot believe that that is our last episode traipsing together through the gospel of Matthew. Did you count? I did. We spent 33 episodes together. What a journey! The Gospel of Matthew has been teaching us the life of Jesus from a culturally relevant perspective. Matthew uses "show, don't tell" moments to convey essential cultural clues. We've explored how Jesus' teachings impacted the people of his time.

In the first 12 chapters of Matthew, we mainly focused on Jesus' teachings in plain sight. But after chapter 12, things take a different turn. Jesus starts using parables and begins teaching privately to his disciples. One thing that really stands out is how the Pharisees got antagonized by Jesus seemingly breaking the Sabbath. But Jesus was quick to challenge their understanding, accusing them of not truly knowing the Scriptures and confronting their hypocrisy head-on.

Throughout these chapters, Jesus emphasizes the importance of a surrendered heart over external sacrifices. He claims to be the Lord of the Sabbath, equal with God Himself. Talk about a bold statement! It will cause massive ripples effects, all the way to the other side of the cross. The sacrifice of Jesus was the last sacrifice. Let that sink in. Jesus, our Savior, is seated at the right hand of God, signifying rest and authority. Wow.

Prophets and Psalms challenge us to know, hear, taste, and see God's goodness. So, let's immerse ourselves in His Word and experience His presence in a whole new way! Let's close with this thought: intimacy with God is made possible through Christ and a worshiping heart. As we read and hear Scripture, let's truly understand its depths and apply it to our lives.

We are here to encourage you to seek deeper intimacy with God, week in and week out. Thank you for joining us each week. Let His words penetrate your heart and transform you. Let's experience His love and live surrendered lives. And remember, friends, surrender your heart to God, and watch Him work wonders in your life.

Are you looking for a place to take notes, some topics to research on your own, or some questions you could ponder to go deeper during your quiet time with God or with a friend? Remember, we have workbooks available for this episode, and every other episode of our Jesus Rabbi and Lord series. For each episode, they contain a summary, listening guide, key takeaways, quotes, questions and topics to go deeper. Go to gospelspice.com/jesus to purchase these workbooks.

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

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

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

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

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. 

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Welcome to this conversation with two people who really inspire me, Andi Ashworth and Charlie Peacock. They provide ample hope from further down the road - having accumulated decades of wisdom in the public square as Nashville music producing influencers. Dare I say - few people have influenced our generation through music more powerfully than they have.

I read their book, meaningfully titled “Why everything that doesn’t matter, matters so much” and then awaited this conversation with giddiness, anticipation, excitement, a little bit of shyness. Maybe I was – and still am? – a little starstruck? I will let you decide.

Have you ever asked, what can I do to mend the world, to mend my family or my own life? And if I could, is it worth it? Should I bother? Does my own small part in the world really matter? And so today, multi-Grammy-winner Charlie Peacock and his wife, delightful author Andy Ashworth, come to share their encouragement. Their book is a collection of 16 essays or letters. They are here to share their wisdom, calling us to discover and to join God's mission to love and care for a very hurting world. They are sharing with honesty, vulnerability, humility and wisdom from their own life experiences. They are beloved and trusted mentors. They invite us into a thought-provoking exploration of the many facets of the Christian culture care and culture-making in all areas - from the kitchen, hospitality, generosity, gardening all the way to Carnegie Hall and Grammy Awards.

 They talk to us about the theology of imagination and creativity, a vocation that provides a framework for all of life. I've found them providing a model for expressing love in marriage, in friendship, in citizenship, and every kind of work, even in the midst of our culture of cynicism, fear, exhaustion, oppression. I have found that each one of these 16 letters is a gentle, wise, humble, vulnerable, and thought-provoking nudge in the direction of God's powerfully ordinary purpose for each one of us. It doesn't matter what the future holds because we're invited to participate fully in the beautiful redemptive work of Christ. Can you begin to see why I can't wait to share this conversation with you? I hope you join us.

MEET ANDI ASHWORTH AND CHARLIE PEACOCK

Andi Ashworth is the author of Real Love for Real Life: The Art and Work of Caring. She is Co-Founder of The Art House in Nashville where she served for over two decades through hospitality and mentoring, hosting a wide range of guests and organizations including Bono, Blood: Water Mission, International Justice Mission, The Gathering, and the ONE Campaign. Andi holds an MA in Theological Studies from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis. As Editor-In-Chief of the Art House America Blog she stewarded hundreds of essays from a variety of authors such as Tish Harrison Warren, Steven Garber, Sandra McCracken, Russ Ramsey, and Luci Shaw. Andi is most recently published in Wild Things and Castles in the Sky: A Guide to Choosing the Best Books for Children and A Book for Hearts & Minds: What You Should Read and Why. She has been married to Charlie Peacock for nearly fifty years and they have two grown, married children and four grandchildren.

Charlie Peacock is a Grammy Award–winning, Billboard Chart–topping music producer, composer, and recording artist. He is a co-founder of the Art House, Wedgwood Circle, and founder/director Emeritus of the Commercial Music Program at Lipscomb University. Charlie has produced music for film and television, including A Walk to Remember, Chris Cornell's "Misery Chain" from the soundtrack of 12 Years a Slave, and "Hush," the title theme to the AMC drama Turn: Washington’s Spies. Named by Billboard’s Encyclopedia of Record Producers as one of the 500 most important producers in music history, Charlie is also a three-time recipient of the Gospel Music Award for Producer of the Year. His books include New Way to Be Human, At the Crossroads, and a contribut

We are almost wrapping up our time together with Matthew. Can I say this is bittersweet for me? So, following from last week, I invite you to continue our intriguing journey into the world of Jesus’ parables! Last week, we laid the foundation by understanding the purpose of parables - fulfilling prophecy, focusing on individuals with faith, and describing the kingdom of God. In Matthew 13, Jesus begins his teachings on the mystery kingdom, which plays a crucial role in the epistles of Paul. This mysterious kingdom sets the stage for the parables we're about to explore.

Let's start by unpacking the parable of the wheat and the tares. Picture a man sowing good seed in his field, only to find weeds sprouting among the wheat later. Jesus explains privately to his disciples that the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom, while the weeds symbolize the sons of the evil one. The field is the world, and the enemy is the devil. What's fascinating is that true sowing of God's word will always be countered by false teachings. False gospels, trying to soothe the human heart, preach salvation by works. But the true gospel is salvation through God's grace in Christ Jesus alone. Jesus emphasizes that the true and false teachings will coexist until judgment day. So beware of false teachings and remain steadfast in the truth of God's word!

Moving on to the parable of the mustard seed. A tiny seed, but when it grows, it becomes a towering tree where birds come to nest. The kingdom of heaven starts small but expands mightily. This parable symbolizes the growth and influence of God's kingdom. It reminds us that even the smallest beginnings can lead to great impact. So let your faith be like that mustard seed, growing and spreading far and wide!

As we immerse ourselves in these parables, let's remember that Jesus is teaching all Christians across time and space. Not everyone who claims to be a Christian truly belongs to Christ. Let our lives reflect the truth and reality of a surrendered heart! Keep seeking, keep growing, and keep shining your light in the world!

Are you looking for a place to take notes, some topics to research on your own, or some questions you could ponder to go deeper during your quiet time with God or with a friend? Remember, we have workbooks available for this episode, and every other episode of our Jesus Rabbi and Lord series. For each episode, they contain a summary, listening guide, key takeaways, quotes, questions and topics to go deeper. Go to gospelspice.com/jesus to purchase these workbooks.

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

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

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

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

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Bonjour! Stephanie here. How do we overcome anxiety, and embrace peace? More than ever, our daily life seems to fight us on this quest. Do you, like so many of us, see anxiety as an incentive to perform? Or a proof of how much you care? Or is anxiety simply an unwelcome shadow over your days, bringing with it clenched teeth and an upset stomach?

Today is an invitation to step into a life characterized by peace, grace, and gentleness, replete with the palpable presence of God. God promises us that it is ours in Christ Jesus. The world does it best to make it impossible. So, which one will it be?

Anxiety leads us to succumb to fear and fight peace. Anxious living is a distortion of good motives, blocking the clarity of stillness and rest. Peace is the antidote to anxiety. This peace is found in practicing God's presence and embodying the virtues of grace, found in Christ. But, what does it look like, and how do we get there?

This week I welcome Alan Fadling back on the show to dive into a real and raw conversation about overcoming anxiety and finding peace. Alan has felt mastered by worry, but he brings counsel on how to learn a better way and who to look to for it: Jesus, "the ultimate non-anxious presence." He constructs a posture from which we can rest more deeply, live more fully, and lead better. Fixing our minds on grace and eternity, we can begin to see the benefit of loosening our grip and operating from a sure foundation.

Alan candidly shares his personal journey, highlighting how anxiety, coupled with perfectionism, led to a cycle of high standards, achievements, and ultimately, dissatisfaction and discouragement. His honest portrayal of himself as a "recovering perfectionist" resonated deeply with me – and I suspect I am not the only one! Alan's emphasis on progress over perfection reminds us that growth is a journey, not a destination. This is a deeply biblical message that our culture has us forget all too easily.

And so we find that grace, with its essence of unmerited favor and unconditional love found in Christ, becomes a transformative force, offering solace and redemption in the face of anxiety. This is one of the key messages of Scripture. Alan also shares with us the practice of embodying God's presence and cultivating "little virtues" such as humility, patience, gentleness, dependence, and surrender. He tells us about learning patience in the chaos of Southern California traffic, reminding us that it's the simple things that steer us towards a peaceful life, even when the world seems to have gone upside down. This underscores the significance of relinquishing the incessant pursuit of materialistic and ambitious goals in favor of humility and grace.

Scripture makes clear the importance of faith, imagination, and embracing an "unhurried influence." Rattling through life at top speed isn't the secret to peace. Alan’s prayer for the audience to grow in unhurried influence is an open invitation to take the scenic route, savouring the moments, and stepping into a life ruled by peace, grace, and gentleness. So, as you sail away from this episode, remember - peace isn't found in the rush-rush of everyday life, but in the sweet, steady rhythm of grace in Christ Jesus.

MORE ABOUT ALAN FADLING

Alan serves as a frequent speaker, consultant and retreat leader with local churches and national organizations such as InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Halftime Institute, Apprentice Institute, Saddleback Church, and Open Doors International. He speaks from the intersection of spiritual formation and leadership, with content that is approachable, usable and transferable.

Alan Fadling (M. Div., Fuller Theological Seminary) is President and Founder of Unhurried Living, Inc. in Mission Viejo, CA, inspiring people to rest deeper, live fuller and lead better. He speaks and consults internationally, as well as nationally with organizations such as Saddleback Church, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Cru, Halftime In

Welcome on Gospel Spice! I could not be happier to have you with me today as we dive deep into the parables of Jesus, asking His help to understand His message to us today. Parables have always been a powerful tool used by rabbis to reinforce conventional wisdom. But when Jesus sits down and starts speaking in parables, he adds a sprinkle of mystique that captivates His audience.

Matthew 13:1-3 tells us that Jesus wasted no time once He was openly rejected in Matthew 12 (see previous episode). And these parables reveal what lies ahead as a result of his generation's rejection. But why parables? Three reasons stand out. First, Jesus came to fulfill prophetic teachings (Matthew 5:17). By using parables, He connects the Old Testament prophecies to His message and shows that the Messiah spoke in parables too. Second, parables shift the focus from mass appeal to individual faith. Jesus emphasizes the importance of personal belief, rather than trying to convince the masses. Thirdly, Jesus respects our free will and wants our faith to be genuine. He could have performed undeniable miracles, but He loves nothing more than a heart filled with faith. Faith and sight cannot coexist, and He leaves room for questions, so we can choose to believe.

So, buckle up as we embark on a journey where parables unravel the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. From fulfilling prophecies to focusing on individual faith, these teachings hold the key to understanding Jesus' message. I promise you a feast for the mind and soul as we dissect each parable and discover the layers of meaning within. There's so much more to explore in the New Testament and the Old Testament!

The parables highlight the consequences of the generation's rejection of Jesus. These stories hold deep significance for over 2000 years of gentile-dominant Christendom. Intriguing, right? So, let's savor the spiritual spices and flavors that the parables have to offer. As we feast on the Gospel of Matthew, we'll gain insights, wisdom, and a fresh perspective on Jesus' teachings.

The finish line is just ahead, but the journey of faith continues! Even as we get ready to soon bid farewell to Matthew after almost eight months within the pages of his gospel, our spice journey continues! With just a few episodes left in the Gospel of Matthew, we're reaching a bittersweet finish line. Until then, let's unwrap the rich layers of the parables together today!

Are you looking for a place to take notes, some topics to research on your own, or some questions you could ponder to go deeper during your quiet time with God or with a friend? Remember, we have workbooks available for this episode, and every other episode of our Jesus Rabbi and Lord series. For each episode, they contain a summary, listening guide, key takeaways, quotes, questions and topics to go deeper. Go to gospelspice.com/jesus to purchase these workbooks.

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

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

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

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

Bonjour! Stephanie here. I think today is the first time that I am welcoming an author on the show to talk about a memoir. I don't think I've ever done memoirs, but this one just gripped my heart. I just had to share it with you. I met Lisa-Jo Baker a few years ago at a friend's party. I was mesmerized by her story, her depth, her intelligence. She has serious brain power, but also kindness, thoughtfulness, and truly empathetic other-centeredness.

“It was not roaring, it was weeping” is the title of her memoir. It's an honest and lyrical, almost poetic coming of age memoir of growing up in South Africa at the height of apartheid. It's an invitation to confront or inherited traumas or prejudices.  It is also an invitation to forgive our parents, so that we won't repeat the same mistakes. It is an invitation to dig deep inside ourselves and nurture self-awareness, so that we understand what triggers us, so we can rewire our minds to stop repeating harmful patterns, both individually and communally. It is an invitation to cultivate forgiveness and grace as the only way forward as humanity, together.

When she found herself spiraling into a terrifying version of her father, screaming herself hoarse at her son, Lisa-Jo Baker realized that to go forward—to refuse to repeat the sins of our fathers—we must first go back. This is an unflinching look at a family that got it wrong and a real life example for all who feel worried they’re too off-course to make the necessary corrections. Lisa-Jo’s story shows that it’s never too late to be free.

Born white in the heart of Zululand during the height of apartheid, Lisa-Jo Baker longed to write a new future for her children—a longing that set her on a journey to understand where she fit into a story of violence and faith, history and race. Before marriage and motherhood, she came to the United States to study to become a human rights advocate. When she naively walked right into America’s own turbulent racial landscape, she experienced the kind of painful awakening that is both individual and universal, personal and social.

Years would go by before she traced this American trauma back to her own South African past. Lisa-Jo was a teenager when her mother died of cancer, leaving her with her father. Though they shared a language of faith and justice, she often feared him, unaware that his fierce temper had deep roots in a family’s and a nation’s pain. Decades later, old wounds reopened when she found herself repeating the violent patterns of her childhood in her own parenting. Only then did she begin the journey back to the beginning to find a way to break old cycles and write a new story for her family and the next generation.

MEET LISA-JO BAKER

LISA-JO BAKER is a bestselling author with a BA in English/prelaw from Gordon College and a JD from the University of Notre Dame Law School. Lisa-Jo has lived and worked on three continents in the human rights field and subsequently spent nearly a decade leading the online community of women called (in)courage as their editor in chief and community manager. Originally from South Africa, Lisa-Jo now lives just outside Washington, D.C., where she met and fell in love with her husband in the summer of ’96. Their story together spans decades, languages, countries, books, three very opinionated children, and one dog.

https://lisajobaker.com/

 

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

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

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

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

Centering on Christ | The Tabernacle experience

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/94182/link/

Shades of Red | Against human oppression

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/115017/link/

God's glory, our delight 

https://www.p