Episode 926
Addressing Modern Demons: Societal Challenges and Collective Healing
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.
A companion resource to the Voice of God Daily Podcast is the “ABC Bible Study Guide” available by clicking HERE.
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available every day at VoiceofGodDaily.com on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcast directories.
You can help Dr. Brad attain his goal of getting a bit of the bible into two million ears by subscribing to "Daily Bible Refresh" on Apple Podcasts, leaving a five-star rating, and writing a review. More importantly please share with your network of family and friends about the "Daily Bible Refresh".
Please make listening to the "Daily Bible Refresh" a part of your daily life.
Remember… “All scripture is God-breathed and useful”(2 Timothy 3:16)
The poignant narrative presented in Luke 9:37-44 serves as a profound exploration of the intersection between suffering and communal healing. The episode opens with a vivid depiction of a father's anguish as he seeks Jesus's intervention for his son, plagued by a tormenting spirit. This account is not merely a historical recounting but rather an invitation to reflect on the modern-day demons that afflict our communities: systemic injustices such as poverty, violence, and health disparities. We engage with the text to unveil the layers of meaning behind the father's plea, recognizing that the frustration expressed by Jesus is not just for the child but for a society that perpetuates such suffering through its inaction.
As we delve deeper into the implications of this narrative, the discussion transitions to the theme of collective responsibility in the face of systemic failures. The disciples' inability to deliver the boy from his suffering encapsulates the broader failures of our institutions to adequately support those in need. Jesus's lamentation regarding the generation's lack of spiritual insight resonates with contemporary audiences, prompting us to confront our own societal apathy and disengagement. Through this lens, we are called to recognize that healing is a communal endeavor that necessitates both personal transformation and systemic change.
The episode concludes with an urgent call to action, challenging listeners to identify specific systemic issues affecting youth within their communities and to take concrete steps to effect change. By transcending mere amazement at the miraculous and engaging in the difficult yet vital work of justice, we can transform our communities and foster an environment of healing and equity. This narrative not only encourages reflection but also compels us to become active participants in the creation of a just society, advocating for those who are often silenced and marginalized.
Takeaways:
- The narrative presented in Luke 9:37-44 highlights the communal aspect of healing, emphasizing our collective responsibility.
- We must recognize that the challenges faced by youth today, such as poverty and violence, are systemic and require collective solutions.
- Jesus' frustration with societal failures underscores the importance of community efforts in addressing collective trauma and suffering.
- Witnessing healing and transformation is insufficient; we must actively engage in the pursuit of justice and systemic change.
- The action step encourages individuals to identify and address a systemic issue impacting youth in their community, fostering engagement.
- Our prayer calls for courage to confront societal failures and transform from mere observers into active participants in fostering healing.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- voiceofgoddaily.com
Transcript
Brad Miller hello my good friends, Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller here with Daily Bible Refresh Daily visit We have together to read from the New Testament of the Bible.
Speaker A:We make this reading understandable because we use the message version relatable.
Speaker A:We give you some points to ponder and applicable just because we give you an action step to take.
Speaker A:We have a prayer.
Speaker A:We do all of it in under 10 minutes or so.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you because we take the selected verse of Scripture from the Revised Common Lectionary for this very day and we read it.
Speaker A:It's where you see the Pentecost season.
Speaker A: million years by: Speaker A:Here's our reading for the day.
Speaker A: Here's Luke: Speaker A:A man called after the crowd, please, please teacher, take a look at my son.
Speaker A:He's my only child.
Speaker A:Often a spirit seizes him and suddenly he's screaming, thrown into convulsions, his his mouth foaming and then it beats him black and blue before he leaves.
Speaker A:I asked your disciples to deliver him, but they couldn't.
Speaker A:Jesus said, what a generation.
Speaker A:No sense of God, no focus to your lives.
Speaker A:How many times do I have to go over these things?
Speaker A:How much longer do I have to put up with this?
Speaker A:Bring your son here.
Speaker A:While he was coming, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into convulsions.
Speaker A:And Jesus stepped in and ordered the foul spirit to gone, healed the boy, handed him back to his father, and they all shook their heads in wonder and astonished at God's greatness, God's majestic greatness.
Speaker A:Your business is life.
Speaker A:While they continue to stand around exclaiming over all these things he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, treasure and ponder each of these next words.
Speaker A:The Son of Man is about to be betrayed and into human hands.
Speaker A:Wow, what an incredible story in this passage today about healing and community and responsibility and a transformative presence.
Speaker A:Let's get into our points to ponder.
Speaker A:The first is about understanding our modern demons.
Speaker A:In progressive theology, we might view this story through the lens of systematic suffering and collective trauma.
Speaker A:The demon afflicting this child could represent the many forces of that harm our youth and really all people today.
Speaker A:Poverty, violence, inadequate health care, systematic racism.
Speaker A:There's so many.
Speaker A:And Jesus frustration isn't with the child but with a society that allows such suffering to persist.
Speaker A:The second point is about community responsibility and healing.
Speaker A:The disciples inability to help reflects how our institutions often fail those most in need.
Speaker A:And Jesus's response is what a generation.
Speaker A:No sense of God.
Speaker A:You can just hear the frustration in his voice almost.
Speaker A:This suggests that failure isn't just a individual situation, but a collective problem.
Speaker A:True healing requires both personal transformation and systematic change.
Speaker A:A third point is of going beyond wonder to amazement.
Speaker A:The crowds of amazement at the healing isn't enough.
Speaker A:Jesus immediately points to his coming betrayal.
Speaker A:This justice position suggests that witnessing transformation isn't sufficient.
Speaker A:We must engage with the costly work of justice and change even when it leads to resistance and rejection.
Speaker A:Here's your action step.
Speaker A:Identify one systematic issue that is affecting young people in your community.
Speaker A:It could be mental health access, food insecurity, an education system that's not serving them well.
Speaker A:Inequality.
Speaker A:Rather than just expressing concern, thoughts and prayers, take one concrete action toward addressing the issue, whether through advocacy, direct support or challenging institutional barriers.
Speaker A:We're going to come back and have a prayer in just a moment.
Speaker A:Just want you to know that we have a resource for you that I really want you to pick up.
Speaker A:Head over to our website voiceofgoddaily.com and you're going to find a link there to get our at home Bible study resource called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A:It will help you with your at home Bible study which you use in complement to what we do here on the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:Let's pray.
Speaker A:God of healing and justice when we see suffering around us, move us beyond amazement to action, beyond sympathy, to solidarity.
Speaker A:Help us recognize the demons of our time systems that harm institutions that exclude, policies that oppress.
Speaker A:Give us courage to face our collective failures, our institutional inadequacies, our societal blind spots.
Speaker A:Transform us from spectators into participants in healing, from observers of miracles into agents of change.
Speaker A:May we become people who don't just marvel at transformation but but commit to the costly work of creating a more just world.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:So wonderful to be with you here on Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:I really want you to join me.
Speaker A:We're here every single day.
Speaker A:We usually drop our episodes by 6am Eastern Time.
Speaker A: lionaires a million people by: Speaker A:You subscribe to the podcast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the website, Voice of God Daily are places you can do that and then invite a friend to join us.
Speaker A:When you do that, you will be blessed.
Speaker A:We'll see you tomorrow.
Speaker A:Until then, remember, my name is Dr.
Speaker A:Bradmiller.
Speaker A:And encouraging you that God's loyal love doesn't run out, his merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.
Speaker A:Sam.
