How well can you articulate your Christian belief system? How can you spot false theology? Who are trusted resources to interpret Scripture? The Nicene Creed is a fundamental element to understand and experience our faith and live out a high Christology. So, today Stephanie welcomes university professor and author Phillip Cary to discuss the significance of the Nicene Creed in Christian tradition. Phillip recently released a new book, The Nicene Creed: An introduction, which is one of Stephanie’s favorite reads this year- and this is saying a lot!

Over the course of two episodes (235 today and 237 in a few days), Phillip and Stephanie touch on the Nicene Creed’s widespread usage among different denominations, how it serves as a boundary and center for the faith, how it was written to combat heresy about who Jesus is, and how it has served as a unifying factor for different Christian traditions. They dive into what a creed is, with the Nicene Creed being the most widely used and recited by about a billion Christians every Sunday during liturgies. They explore the Creed's significance, how it establishes boundaries and centers our faith, and how it powerfully anchors our belief in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The conversation also delves into the infinite depth of the Christian faith, as well as more topics such as the significance of Mary's role in the birth of Jesus, the role of Pontius Pilate, who are both mentioned in the Creed, and the topic of who teaches the truth about Jesus Christ and how the Creed is the litmus test of sound Christian doctrine. This episode will anchor your faith in a proper high Christology in simple terms and offers important insights into the significance of the Nicene Creed for Christians of all traditions. If you're interested in the history and importance of Christian creeds, this episode is definitely worth a listen!

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK, THE NICENE CREED: AN INTRODUCTION

Understand and celebrate what we believe! For centuries, the Nicene Creed has been central to the church’s confession. The Nicene Creed: An Introduction by Phillip Cary explores the Creed’s riches with simplicity and clarity. Cary explains the history of the Creed and walks through its meaning line by line. Far from being abstract or irrelevant, the words of the Creed carefully express what God has done in Christ and through the Spirit. The Nicene Creed gives us the gospel. It gives biblical Christians the words for what we already believe. And when we profess the Creed, we join the global church throughout history in declaring the name and work of the one God—Father, Son, and Spirit. Gain a fresh appreciation for the ancient confession with Phillip Cary’s help.

Buy the book (Stephanie could not recommend it strongly enough!) here: https://lexhampress.com/product/224267/the-nicene-creed-an-introduction 

MEET PHILLIP CARY

Phillip Cary is a prolific writer of courses and books, professor of philosophy at Eastern University near Philadelphia. He is also the editor of Pro Ecclesia, a theology journal for Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox churches. Phillip has a doctorate in philosophy from Yale University, where he studied St. Augustine, one of the great church fathers. His favorite theologian is Martin Luther, and he writes about Luther's ideas. Phillip loves The Nicene Creed because it summarizes what Luther means by gospel - the story of who Jesus Christ is and what God has done in Christ for us and our salvation. He has been working on a book about this topic for a long time, so we gladly celebrate The Nicene Creed: An Introduction today.

NEW | GO DEEPER WITH THESE QUESTIONS, ALONE OR WITH A FRIEND!

1. How important is the Nicene Creed to your faith and why?

2. What is your experience with different types of Christian churches and how has it influenced your faith?

3. How do you think the Nicene Creed serves as a unifying factor among different Christian traditions?

4. Do you believe the Church is currently experiencing confusion and division, and if so, why?

5. How do you think studying the Nicene Creed can broaden one's understanding of the faith?

6. What is your interpretation of Mary's role in the birth of Jesus and the significance of her words "Be it unto me according to Your Word"?

8. What does the concept of translation mean to you in the context of Christianity?

9. How do you understand the meaning of the term "Catholic" in the Nicene Creed?

10. Why do you think the Nicene Creed was necessary for maintaining the faith in Christ and avoiding theological error?

IN A NUTSHELL | WHAT IS THIS EPISODE COVERING?

1. What is the Nicene Creed?

- The Nicene Creed is a confession of faith that comes from the Latin word credo, meaning "I believe." It is a widely used creed in the Christian tradition and is recited by about a billion Christians every Sunday during liturgies.

2. How has attending different types of churches influenced Stephanie’s approach to Scripture?

- Attending different types of churches has broadened Stephanie’s understanding of Scripture, as she has been exposed to different interpretations and perspectives.

3. What is the significance of the Nicene Creed for different Christian denominations?

- The Nicene Creed serves as a common source of unity for different Christian denominations, as it represents the DNA of those churches.

4. How does the Nicene Creed serve as a boundary and center for the faith?

- The Nicene Creed sets beliefs such as the full deity of Jesus and serves as a boundary and center for the faith by ensuring that those who recite it have a shared understanding of core beliefs.

5. What is the book discussed in this episode and what is its content?

- The book discussed in this episode is about the Christian faith and its creed. It explores the Nicene Creed and its significance in the Christian tradition.

6. What are the key beliefs outlined in the Nicene Creed?

- The Nicene Creed outlines the belief in one God, the Father, and in Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God who was crucified for our salvation and rose again on the third day. It also includes the belief in the Holy Spirit, one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection of the dead.

7. What does "Catholic" mean in the context of the Nicene Creed?

- In the context of the Nicene Creed, "Catholic" means universal, not just Roman Catholic.

8. What is the essence of High Christology?

- The essence of High Christology is the focus on who Jesus is.

9. What is the history behind the Nicene Creed and why was it written?

- The Nicene Creed was written to combat heresy about who Jesus is, specifically the belief held by Arius that the Son was created by God the Father and therefore not equal to him.

10. How does the Nicene Creed celebrate God's giving of Himself to us through Christ?

- The double focus on the double nature of Jesus in the Nicene Creed allows us to understand how God gives Himself to us in the flesh of Christ for our salvation, making the confession of the Creed a celebration of this understanding.

Experience the peace and presence of Jesus like never before, by walking in His footsteps on this virtual, highly personable tour of first-century Israel! Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

DATES | anytime!

LOCATION | Online! 

Life is busy, and full of worry, anxiety, and stress. What if what we needed was a solid reminder of Jesus’ very real presence in our lives? What if walking in His footsteps for a few weeks might prove the cure to our endless challenges, so that we may view our life as He does?

It’s said that a visit to Israel will forever change your experience of Scripture. That statement is right. But more than that, it will forever change your experience of Jesus.

Here at Gospel Spice, our goal is to know Jesus more. It means deepening our theology, for sure, but what about discovering the little things Jesus enjoyed? Think of your best friends, or deeply loved ones. You know their favorite color, food, and scent. Not because it’s life-changing, but because it is about intimacy, and knowing one another well. So, how about discovering one of Jesus’ favorite childhood smells, or the Galilee skyline He woke up to every morning? It may not alter your theology, but it will help you know Him more.

Do you need a full measure of His peace and comfort? Do you need to be reminded of His love for you? Do you need His guidance to navigate your life right now? Stephanie just returned from the Holy Land and invites you to walk in the footsteps of Jesus on this virtual tour of first-century Israel from the comfort of your own home. We will be journeying through Scripture together to meet Jesus where He walked, taught, and fellowshipped with His friends in Galilee. We will encounter Him on the Passion walk, from the Upper Room to Golgotha. We will meet Him in the Garden Tomb.

So, pack your virtual sandals, along with a very real Bible and pen, to journey through Scripture in the footsteps of Jesus!

Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.

You are invited to join us on the Gospel Spice Prayer Bible Study, titled "The heart behind prayer" starting September 20, 2025! Details and registration here: https://www.gospelspice.com/prayer 

There are a few things in our Christian life that we know we should do more, or at least better – and prayer just might top the list. Prayer is a mystery. Why would a conversation with a human have any influence on God’s eternal, sovereign plan? It defies logic, and beckons love. How can God, the Almighty Lord of Hosts, be this close, this personal? It defies understanding, and beckons involvement.

But, lack of time, inspiration, and discipline, combined with the ruthless tyranny of our busy lives, push prayer to the periphery, to the “one day I’ll get to it” pile. And yet, we can excel at what we endeavor to undertake. So, why isn’t prayer more of a spiritual priority? Could we develop a mindset around prayer that made it attractive, inspiring, even maybe delightful? What if we attuned our spiritual ears to listen to God, and our spiritual eyes to see His provision?

As an unassuming student, I’m going to humbly offer to share the little I have learned from others about the joy of prayer. I will give us theology, practical tips, and useful resources, sharing what works for me as we, together, learn to pray.

If you find prayer intimidating, or if your lack of prayer makes you feel guilty or “less than,” then this is the place for you! If you have been a student of prayer for many years, this is the place for you too! If you have breath in your lungs, then prayer can become one of the deepest joys of your day. Don’t miss out!

A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT PRAYER

To pray is to believe that God not only hears, but that He responds. It is to stand in the gap for a broken world, wielding the authority of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and trusting in the goodness of the Father. The question is not whether prayer works, but whether we are willing to pray the kinds of prayers that invite God’s Kingdom into the darkest places of the earth—and of our own hearts.

We may never fully understand the mechanics of prayer, or how it intersects with God's sovereignty, but we are not called to understand everything. We are called to be faithful. And faithfulness means showing up—in prayer, in persistence, in expectation.

So today, let us pray not only for the comfort of our hearts, but for the transformation of the world. Let us take our place as image-bearers, co-laborers, and co-heirs. Let us believe that God is still listening—and still acting. Because He is.

There’s only one way to find out what might happen when we truly pray like this.

Let’s begin.

THE MINDSET BEHIND THIS COURSE

Before we begin, let me tell you the obvious: I don’t really know how to pray. I’m a humble student and absolute beginner at the holy endeavor that is prayer. So, this course isn’t really about what I’ve learned, or any wisdom I might have gathered. But, I’ve sat at the feet of many prayer warriors over the decades, through books and teachings.

So, I’ll share what I learned from them. Humility is going to be our primary heart posture! With each lesson, I will offer a few thoughts, practices, and ideas – with much humility, and not taking myself too seriously. I will also share her favorite books and resources about prayer. FInally, I will introduce you to some of the most influential prayer warriors of our history as the Body of Christ.

Most importantly, I will invite YOU to pray! Learning to pray comes from praying. Our humble ambition is to inspire you to pray, and to give you a few tips on how to do that. Then, it’s up to you! Prayer is a lifelong endeavor. Let’s make it delightful together!

So, let’s get started.

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