The scandal and glory of pure worship | Easter 2021 with Liz Curtis Higgs
Episode 80 - There are times when words just don't suffice to express excitement and wonder. Today is such a day! Get this: Stephanie welcomes Liz Curtis Higgs. Yes, THE Liz Curtis Higgs! Stephanie has grown in wisdom at her feet, and is delighted--utterly--to share her words of beauty and wisdom with you this Easter. Liz beckons you into an Easter experience like no other. Oh, beloved, come and enter into the beauty of Easter today.
Liz weaves the story of Mary of Bethany in that timeless moment when she worshipped Christ, on the Saturday just before Easter. Mary helped prepare Jesus for the suffering to come by pouring out her love for Him in a fragrant and tangible expression of worship. Smell the perfume Mary shed at His feet. See the scandal and the glory of pure worship. Behold the beauty of authentic praise. Learn from Mary, whose actions spoke louder than words.
Liz has got to be the funniest Bible teacher you have ever met--wait until you hear of the book she is considering writing one day, on all the but's in the Bible... 🙂
What is one thing we ought to remember Mary of Bethany by? Liz gives a profound answer. Take a listen today to be inspired!
If you've enjoyed this episode, you will LOVE our Gospel Spice series! Check out the first episode of each season:
Our Easter Series: https://www.podcastics.com/podcast/gospel-spice/series/a-gospel-spice-easter/
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! 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!
For more info about Gospel Spice Ministries, check out gospelspice.com.
----- GOSPEL SPICE GIVEAWAY -----
Liz is giving away a copy of her book, The Women of Easter, to one Gospel Spice listener! Go to gospelspice.com/giveaway to enter for a chance to win!
The winner will be announced next week here.
----- MEET LIZ CURTIS HIGGS -----
Liz is the author of 37 books, with 4.6 million copies in print. Her latest release, 31 Proverbs to Light Your Path, shows how thirty-one nuggets of truth reveal God’s faithfulness: “I will instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths” (Proverbs 4:11). In another recent devotional, 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart, Liz explores 31 favorite verses chosen by more than a thousand women.
The Women of Easter shines a spotlight on three Marys who play vital roles in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The Women of Christmas offers a heartwarming Bible study wrapped inside a beautiful gift book with Verse by verse, Liz unwraps the biblical stories of Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna, who each welcome the Christ child into the world in a marvelous and miraculous way.
In her best-selling Bad Girls of the Bible series, Liz breathes new life into ancient tales about the most infamous—and intriguing—women in history, from Jezebel to Mary Magdalene. Scripturally sound and cutting-edge fresh, these popular titles have helped more than one million women around the world experience God’s grace anew.
Women of Faith, Women of Joy, Extraordinary Women, Among Friends, Time Out for Women, Moody Women, Women of Virtue, Win-some Women, Women’s Journey of Faith, Women Who Worship, Christian Women Communicating International—if it’s a conference for and about women, Liz Curtis Higgs is honored to be there. She has spoken at more than 1,800 conferences in all 50 states of the U.S. and 15 foreign countries, including South Africa, Indonesia, Germany, Ecuador, and Japan.
Her messages are biblical, encouraging, down-to-earth, and profoundly funny, helping both sisters and seekers embrace the truth of God’s amazing, unchanging grace.
Liz’s dedication to platform ministry has not gone unnoticed. In 1995 the National Speakers Association honored Liz with their Council of Peers Award of Excellence. Her alma mater, Bellarmine University, presented her with a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005. And she received an Honorary Doctorate from Georgetown College in 2010.
You will find Liz everywhere:
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LizCurtisHiggs
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/LizCurtisHiggs
Pinterest: www.Pinterest.com/LizCurtisHiggs
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/LizCurtisHiggs
Vimeo: www.Vimeo.com/LizCurtisHiggs
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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