Through the lens of the French language in our current series, I invite you today to explore the concept of the "parole" of Christ and its significance in the Christian faith. This uniquely French perspective sheds light on the depth of freedom offered through Christ's sacrifice, especially when you combine it with the gratitude expressed through the word "merci."

Note | You are invited to go deeper by using our extensive digital book that includes, for each of our 12 episodes in the series, a listening guide, questions to ponder, key takeaways and key quotes, topics to go deeper, and more. Go to gospelspice.com/french for the details and to download a free sample.

Understanding Christ as our ultimate parole invites us to embrace the freedom offered through His sacrifice, leading to a life characterized by gratitude and the pursuit of justice. May we delve deeper into the significance of Christ's parole and cultivate a heart of gratitude, acknowledging the mercies and graces bestowed upon us through His immense love and sacrifice.

For starters, I invite you to consider the concept of the "parole" of Christ by examining a combined French translation of John 1:1, emphasizing the significance of how Christ is our parole. This uniquely French perspective invites us to ponder the richness of Christ's role as our freedom and parole, offering a fresh understanding of the depth of His sacrifice.

Understanding that Christ is our ultimate parole unlocks the meaning of the promise of release from the sentence of eternal separation from God. This biblical truth underscores Christ's sacrifice, offering an invitation to embrace freedom from the bondage of sin and death. The significance of Christ as our parole prompts a shift in perspective, inviting us to acknowledge the immense freedom bestowed upon us through His grace.

Then, let’s draw parallels between the French word "merci" (thank you) and the concept of mercy in the Christian faith. Through this connection, we explore the essence of expressing gratitude to God for His mercy and grace. This encourages deep reflection on the distinction between justice, mercy, and grace, highlighting the profound impact of Christ's sacrifice in granting us mercy and freedom.

So, let’s get practical. How do we express gratitude and advocate for justice in our daily lives? It starts with cultivating a heart of gratitude, acknowledging both the significant and seemingly small mercies in our lives. Additionally, Scripture challenges us to seek ways to practice justice and promote a better world in alignment with the teachings of Jesus, emphasizing the interconnectedness of gratitude and justice.

We live in the age of grace, where the freedom offered through Christ's parole transcends the constraints of the law. Grasping the enormity of Christ's sacrifice leads to a renewed appreciation for the mercies and grace present in our lives. The call to cultivate gratitude and embrace freedom becomes a pivotal aspect of living in alignment with Christ's teachings.

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.podcastics.com/episode/126051/link/

 

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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

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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