Episode 809
Reimagining Our Relationship with the World: Insights from First John | 809
This episode centers on the profound theme of reimagining our relationship with the world, as articulated in First John 2:12, 17. We delve into a critical examination of worldly desires, emphasizing a rejection of consumerism and exploring the implications of authentic living in a society permeated by commodification. The discussion highlights the importance of fostering intergenerational wisdom, where both seasoned and new members of the faith community contribute invaluable perspectives, thereby enriching our collective understanding. Furthermore, we introduce a transformative action step: conducting a desire audit to discern between authentic needs and those manufactured by societal pressures. Ultimately, we seek to cultivate a community that prioritizes care and justice over individual consumption, aligning our values with a more profound spiritual purpose.
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is presented each day by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller who has a goal of speaking a bit of the bible into two million ears (one million people) in three years (2025-2028).
He is the author of "The A, B, C-1,2,3 Bible Study Guide" Free to you by clicking HERE.
Brad served as a local church pastor for forty years and has a background in radio and podcasting. Moreover, he is a life-long student of The Bible.
He believes in the words of Jesus that “scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21)
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available seven days a week by 6:00 am ET. The episodes are no longer than ten minutes long and are...
- Understandable: A reading from the New Testament (usually the Gospel) selected from the Revised Common Lectionary using "The Message" translation.
- Relatable: You will have a couple of "points to ponder" from the text which will relate to your life
- Applicable: Every episode includes a way you can take action based on the reading
- A recommended resource to help you go deeper in biblical study and spiritual direction.
- A prayer for your day.
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Remember… “All scripture is God-breathed and useful”(2 Timothy 3:16)
The discourse presented by Dr. Brad Miller intricately explores the theological and practical implications of First John 2:12-17, engaging with the text's profound critique of worldly desires and values. Within this framework, Dr. Miller articulates a clear distinction between the love of the world and the love of the Father, emphasizing the necessity of resisting the temptations posed by consumer culture. He elucidates how the scripture does not advocate for a withdrawal from the physical world but challenges the structures that commodify existence and perpetuate exploitation. This nuanced understanding invites listeners to engage critically with their surroundings, fostering a consciousness that seeks authentic living over superficial fulfillment.
Moreover, Dr. Miller's analysis extends to the dynamics of intergenerational relationships within faith communities. By addressing both seasoned believers and newcomers, he highlights the importance of inclusivity and the value of diverse experiences in spiritual growth. The conversation reflects on how this model encourages a richer dialogue within faith traditions, where wisdom from both ends of the spectrum is recognized and celebrated. The implications of this approach resonate deeply in contemporary spiritual contexts, fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose among individuals at varying stages of their faith journeys.
In conclusion, the episode culminates in a practical action step, urging listeners to conduct a desire audit. This exercise prompts individuals to critically assess their cravings and motivations, distinguishing between authentic desires that align with communal wellbeing and those that arise from societal conditioning. Dr. Miller advocates for a proactive shift towards community engagement, urging listeners to reallocate resources from individualistic consumption to collective care. This transformative perspective not only aligns with the core message of the text but also serves as a powerful reminder of the potential for faith to inspire profound social change.
Takeaways:
- The podcast emphasizes the importance of reimagining our relationship with the world around us, encouraging listeners to critically assess their values.
- A significant focus is placed on the intergenerational wisdom shared among veterans and newcomers, highlighting the value of diverse perspectives in spiritual growth.
- The discussion critiques the commodification of desire, advocating for an authentic expression of wants that aligns with communal well-being rather than individualistic consumption.
- Listeners are encouraged to conduct a desire audit, questioning the authenticity of their cravings in light of their values and community needs.
- The episode underscores the necessity of rejecting systems that exploit people and the planet, fostering authentic living over societal pressures of consumer culture.
- In conclusion, the podcast reassures its audience that God's love is steadfast and rejuvenated daily, providing a source of strength and authenticity in their spiritual journey.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- voiceofgoddaily.com
- ABC 123 Bible Study Guide
- voiceofgod daily.com
Transcript
Reimagining our Relationship with the world.
Speaker A:A Study based on First John 2:12, 17 on the Daily Bible refresh with Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Hello good people.
Speaker A:Welcome to Daily Bible Refresh with Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Brought to you every day by the voiceofgoddaily.com the home of the ABC 123 Bible Study Guide.
Speaker A:We come to you every day giving you a reading that is based on the selective reading from the Revised Common Lectionary.
Speaker A:That's a three year cycle that reads through the entire Bible.
Speaker A:We're in year C in the epiphany season.
Speaker A:We give you a reading that is understandable.
Speaker A:We read from the New Testament, the message version of the Bible.
Speaker A:Relatable.
Speaker A:We give you a few points to ponder.
Speaker A:Applicable give you an action step.
Speaker A:We have a prayer and we do all of that in under 10 minutes.
Speaker A:This is our reading for the day.
Speaker A:This is from First John 2:12, 17.
Speaker A:First John is the Epistle of John, not the Gospel of John.
Speaker A:Reading from the message Loving the world.
Speaker A:I remind you, my dear children, your sins are forgiven in Jesus name.
Speaker A:You veterans who are in the ground floor and know the one who started all this, you newcomers have won a big victory over the evil one.
Speaker A:And a second reminder, dear children, you know the Father from personal experience.
Speaker A:You veterans know the one who started it all.
Speaker A:And you newcomers, such vitality and strength.
Speaker A:God's Word is so steady in you.
Speaker A:Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the evil one.
Speaker A:Don't love the world's ways.
Speaker A:Don't love the world's goods.
Speaker A:Love the world.
Speaker A:Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father.
Speaker A:Practically everything that goes on in the world.
Speaker A:Wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important has nothing to do with the Father.
Speaker A:It just isolates you from Him.
Speaker A:The world is all about wanting, wanting.
Speaker A:Wanting is on the way out.
Speaker A:But whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.
Speaker A:That's the end of the reading.
Speaker A:Wow, what a powerful one.
Speaker A:And it is really about exploring this passage from First John that talks about kind of rejection of worldly ways and offers us some profound insights about really what authentic living and kind of resistance to the worldly ways capitalistic culture, consumer culture is all about.
Speaker A:Let's look at some points to ponder.
Speaker A:Number one is goes about kind of beyond a duality or binary thinking.
Speaker A:When John speaks of the world, he's not advocating of withdrawal from creation or human society.
Speaker A:Rather he's addressing systems of domination and exploitation, what we might today call consumer capitalism, white supremacy, patriarchy, this isn't about rejecting the physical world, but it's about resisting systems that commodify both people and our planet.
Speaker A:Point number two is about intergenerational wealth or intergenerational wisdom and growth.
Speaker A:John addresses both veterans and newcomers.
Speaker A:Did you get that part?
Speaker A:And acknowledging different stages of the spiritual journey that isn't really about a hierarchical way of thinking.
Speaker A:This models an inclusive community where both long term wisdom and fresh perspectives are valued.
Speaker A:Progressive faith communities can learn from this.
Speaker A:Where we honor tradition while embracing new understandings and voices.
Speaker A:Number three, and I love this point is about redefining wanting the text critique of wanting your own way.
Speaker A:Wanting everything for yourself isn't about denying human needs or desires.
Speaker A:Instead, it challenges the commodification of of desire itself.
Speaker A:In our age of, you know, kind of targeted advertising and consumerism about manufactured wants.
Speaker A:This is a radical critique of how capitalism shapes our desires and relationships.
Speaker A:Let's talk about an action step.
Speaker A:Conduct a desire audit of yourself.
Speaker A:When you feel a want or a craving, pause and ask, is this desire authentic to my values and to our community's well being?
Speaker A:Or is it manufactured by some personal sense of want or a need to be engaged in the system of consumption?
Speaker A:And choose a specific way to redirect resources from individual consumption to community care.
Speaker A:Whether that's by supporting some mutual way to support other people, like some sort of a food cooperative perhaps, or maybe some way of sharing our resources.
Speaker A:We're gonna have a prayer just a minute.
Speaker A:But I always want to remind you that we have a resource to share with you.
Speaker A:That's one of the ways we do it.
Speaker A:We share with you our daily Bible Refresh Bible lesson every day, but on your own.
Speaker A:We have a resource called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Guide.
Speaker A:You can find it at our website, voiceofgod daily.com it makes Bible study but your own personal reading of the Bible as simple and straightforward as ABC 1, 2, 3.
Speaker A:You could find it along with our entire back catalog, over 800 episodes of Daily Bible Refresh at voiceofgod daily.com let's pray.
Speaker A:Oh God, you are the source of authentic love.
Speaker A:We live in a world of endless wanting, where our algorithms predict our desires before we even feel them.
Speaker A:Help us distinguish between the hunger for justice and the appetite for status, between love for your creation and consumption of your gifts.
Speaker A:Guidance in building communities where elders and newcomers share wisdom, where success is measured in connection, not consumption.
Speaker A:Give us courage to want differently, to want justice more than convenience, community more than competition, so that there is enough for all instead of excess for a few.
Speaker A:Remind us that we are.
Speaker A:That we are already enough, already loved, already whole.
Speaker A:In this truth, may we find freedom to live and to love authentically.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Well, thank you indeed for joining me here today on Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:Always a joy and a privilege.
Speaker A:Hope that you'll join me again tomorrow and bring a friend.
Speaker A:My name is Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:We drop our episodes before 6am every single day.
Speaker A:Until that time.
Speaker A:Let me remind you that God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love hasn't dried up.
Speaker A:It's created new every morning.
