Welcome back to Gospel Spice, the podcast that adds a little spice to your everyday walk with Jesus! I'm your host, Stephanie Rousselle, and I am beyond excited for today's episode featuring the delightful Kristi McLelland. She is a well-known and loved Bible teacher, frequent Israel traveler, and Professor at Williamson College where she focuses on teaching the Bible from its historical, cultural, geographic and linguistic contexts. Needless to say, I love her work, focus, and mission! She is known for her outstanding Bible study, Jesus and Women. But now, she also just released one of my favorite books of 2023, Rediscovering Israel. If you like history and want to understand Israel in general, and Jesus in particular, through the lens of history, geography, language and culture, then this is the book for you! May I even suggest, it would be the perfect Christmas gift for someone you know!

This conversation invites you into a powerful prayer journey. Learn how to embody the word of God, not just know it, as Kristi shares her deep insights from her study in Egypt and Israel. Discover the communal nature of Scripture and why it's important to be feasting saints, embodying and feasting on the word of God. Kristi and I also discuss the significance of the intertestamental period, and Jesus' celebration of Hanukkah.

We explore the Jewish roots of the scriptures and the transformative power of prayer and embracing abundance. I love how Kristi McLelland appreciates the Jewish roots of the Scriptures. The intertestamental period between Malachi and Matthew is a focal point of our conversation. Kristi brilliantly compares it to preparing a nursery for Jesus' birth. It's all about setting the stage for Jesus' arrival.  Kristi McLelland's study of scripture in Egypt and Israel was a life-changing experience. She emphasizes the importance of embodying the Word rather than just knowing it.

We must be "feasting saints" rather than just "reading saints." The communal nature of Scripture for the Jewish people teaches us the importance of embodying and feasting on the Word of God. As the conversation progresses, I get to connect my love for Jewish culture and food, highlighting the connection between the French language and the delightfulness of God. It's all about the senses and embracing the abundant goodness of our Creator!

The imminence of God for the Jewish people is awe-inspiring. He's present in their history, in the temple, and in every aspect of their lives. Such a powerful reminder of His intimacy and closeness. In the same way, prayer is not just a passive act; it's an invitation to participate in God's restoration and renewal. Our prayers should have hands and feet, actively engaged in transforming the world around us.

The Western culture's scarcity mindset is challenged in this conversation. There's an alternative philosophy of abundance that allows us to be generous and give our lives away. We have a heavenly Father who is abundantly generous to us! Living in abundance instead of scarcity allows us to move freely and lightly through the world. It's a powerful witness to those around us. We have been saved into a family and community that thrives on abundance. The resurrection is the ultimate proof of abundance. It opens the door to endless possibilities and invites us to embrace the fullness of life in Christ. What a game-changer!

Jesus often surprises us and does things differently than expected, but His transformative power remains unmatched. “Tikkun Olam,” the repair of the world, is an invitation for us to actively participate in God's work. Prayer is more than just a conversation; it's a partnership with God's plans, actively contending and co-laboring with Him. The Lord's Prayer is an open invitation to actively participate in the ushering of God's kingdom here on Earth. Let's not settle for passive prayers; let's engage in bringing heaven down to earth!

Kristi shares a powerful message about how walking closely with Jesus can lead to a transformation from scarcity to abundance. We discuss the importance of prayer and getting involved in repairing the world. Prayer is not just about words but an invitation to actively participate in restoration and renewal. Kristi emphasizes the philosophy of abundance and how it allows us to live freely and generously, shining as lights in a world of scarcity. We'll learn about the concept of yada, intimate knowing, and how it can deepen our relationship with God. We'll also explore the cyclical nature of time in Middle Eastern culture and how God reaches back in time to heal and restore broken things.

This conversation is a reminder that our prayers are not limited to mere words. They're an embodiment of our desire to be involved in what we're praying for. Let's pray with intention and act with conviction.

Join us as we journey together through the pages of Scripture, uncovering hidden treasures and expanding our knowledge and experience of God. Get ready to be challenged, inspired, and equipped to live out your faith with hands and feet firmly rooted in the abundance of God's love.

So grab your favorite beverage, get cozy, and get ready for an episode that will ignite a fire in your heart and draw you closer to the heart of Jesus. Don't forget to follow us on social media, because trust me, you won't want to miss out on the Christ-centered content we'll be sharing. Let's get started with the delightful Kristi McLelland on today's episode of Gospel Spice!

Key takeaways from this conversation

1️⃣ Embodying the Word: Kristi emphasizes the importance of not just knowing Scripture, but embodying it. She draws upon biblical figures like Deborah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah, who spoke about eating and embodying the Word of God. As Christians, we are called to be feasting saints, not just reading saints.

2️⃣ Prayer as Partnership: Prayer is not simply a request to God, but an opportunity to actively partner with Him in the restoration of the world. Kristi highlights the Jewish perspective on prayer, viewing it as contending with God and actively participating in bringing prayers to pass. Prayer should have hands and feet, actively engaging in the fulfillment of what is prayed for.

3️⃣ Abundance over Scarcity: Western culture often operates from a mindset of scarcity, resulting in competition and disunity. However, Kristi presents an alternative philosophy of abundance, rooted in the understanding of God's generosity. Living in abundance allows us to move through the world with sufficiency, generosity, and a powerful witness to others.

MEET KRISTI MCLELLAND

Professor. Teacher. Biblical Culturalist. Kristi is a professor at Williamson College and serves as a biblical culturalist. She has a Masters in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary and has dedicated her life to teaching people how to study the Bible.

After studying in Israel and Egypt in 2007 and discovering that God is better than she ever knew, Kristi has been teaching the Bible through a Middle Eastern lens, in its historical, geographical, cultural and linguistic context. Kristi encourages believers to be postured to receive what God is saying, which is best done through communally experiencing Scripture. Kristi teaches about the goodness of God, experienced through table fellowship, practicing hospitality and collaborative wisdom.

During her years as a professor at Williamson College and Director of Christian Education and Women’s Ministry at local churches, Kristi has taught and shepherded thousands. Since 2008 she has led biblical studies trips to Israel and studied and trained under Dr. Jim Martin, Rabbi Ken Alpren and world-renowned Israeli archaeologist Dr. Gabi Barkay.

Kristi’s trips to Israel, Turkey, Greece and Italy, along with her Middle Eastern Lens classes, help Westerners study and appreciate the Bible as it was written by Middle Easterners in a Middle Eastern context. This lens offers a deeper look into what the biblical characters meant in what they did, said and wrote. This enhanced understanding of the biblical framework positions us to better open our eyes, ears and hearts to the Living God who is constantly pursuing us.

Kristi is available to assist churches, colleges, organizations and other groups in discovering the Bible through a Middle Eastern lens.

https://www.newlensbiblicalstudies.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.podcastics.com/episode/126051/link/

 

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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