Episode 927
Authentic Faith: A Journey of Self-Reflection
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.
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Remember… “All scripture is God-breathed and useful”(2 Timothy 3:16)
The podcast episode offers a deep examination of the concept of living faith authentically, drawing from the scriptural context of 2 Corinthians 13:5-10. This passage serves as a foundation for a discussion on the necessity of self-examination in the life of a believer. The speaker invites listeners to engage in a process of introspection that transcends mere compliance with religious norms, advocating for a genuine alignment of one’s actions with one’s professed beliefs. The call to test oneself is framed not as a punitive measure but as an essential practice for fostering a sincere and robust faith, one that is actively lived out in everyday interactions and choices.
Moreover, the dialogue delves into the themes of acceptance and vulnerability within the faith journey. The speaker emphasizes that acknowledging our limitations, alongside our strengths, is crucial to spiritual growth. This perspective challenges the prevalent notion of perfectionism that often hinders authentic expression in religious contexts. By recognizing our doubts and weaknesses, we can cultivate a more compassionate and inclusive faith community, one that supports each individual’s journey without the burden of judgment. The conversation underscores that our imperfections are not failures; rather, they are integral to the narrative of our spiritual lives, enriching our connection with God and one another.
Additionally, the speaker addresses the role of spiritual authority, asserting that true leadership should focus on building individuals up rather than tearing them down. This principle reinforces the idea that Christian leadership is about fostering environments where people can thrive, question, and grow in their faith. The episode concludes with an actionable step for listeners, encouraging them to identify discrepancies between their stated values and daily actions, and to make intentional efforts towards alignment. Thus, this episode serves not only as a theological exploration but as a practical guide for living out one’s faith in an authentic and impactful manner.
Takeaways:
- The podcast encourages listeners to engage in self-examination, fostering authentic spiritual growth and awareness.
- It emphasizes the importance of embracing one's limitations alongside strengths in the faith journey.
- Listeners are reminded that true Christian leadership involves building up others rather than tearing them down.
- The discussion highlights the necessity of aligning daily actions with proclaimed values in one's life.
- Practical steps are suggested for addressing areas of disconnect between stated beliefs and actual behaviors.
- The episode underscores the significance of compassionate self-awareness over harsh judgment in spiritual reflection.
Links referenced in this episode:
Transcript
Living Faith Authentically A journey of Self reflection based on 2 Corinthians 13:5 10 on the Daily Bible refresh with Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Hello my friends, Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller here with Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:Thank you for joining me on a daily journey through the New Testament.
Speaker A:The we bring you the reading selected for this very day from the Revised Comment Lectionary.
Speaker A:We're in near sea of a three year cycle Pentecost season.
Speaker A:We make the reading of the Bible understandable in that we read the New Testament selection only from the Message version.
Speaker A:We make it relatable by giving you some points to ponder and applicable.
Speaker A:I give you an action step to take.
Speaker A:We have a prayer.
Speaker A:We do all of that in under 10 minutes or so.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.com that's the home of the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible study method.
Speaker A: lionaires a million people by: Speaker A:Here's today's reading from 2nd Corinthians 13:5 through Twin 5 through 10 reading from the Message Test yourselves to make sure you are on solid in the faith.
Speaker A:Don't drift along taking everything for granted.
Speaker A:Give yourselves regular checkups.
Speaker A:You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay that Jesus Christ is in you.
Speaker A:Test it out.
Speaker A:If you fail the test, do something about it.
Speaker A:I hope the test won't show that we have failed, but if it comes to that, we'd rather the test show our failure than yours.
Speaker A:We're rooting for the truth to win out in you.
Speaker A:We couldn't possibly do otherwise.
Speaker A:We don't just put up with our limitations.
Speaker A:We celebrate them and then go on to celebrate every strength, every triumph of the truth in you.
Speaker A:We pray hard that it will all come together in your lives.
Speaker A:I'm writing this to you now so that when I come I won't have to say another word on the subject.
Speaker A:The authority the Master gave me is for putting people together, not taking them apart.
Speaker A:I want you to get on with it and not have to spend time on reprimands.
Speaker A:Really like this, this passage of Scripture.
Speaker A:But it's about because it's about really, really living our faith authentically because it guides us into a passage of deep self reflection and how that aligns with community growth.
Speaker A:So let's talk with about some points to ponder.
Speaker A:The first one indeed is about the practice of self examination.
Speaker A:Paul's call for self examination isn't about harsh self judgment or toxic perfectionism.
Speaker A:Rather it's an invitation to authentic spiritual awareness in progressive faith.
Speaker A:We understand this as maintaining integrity between our proclaimed lives, our proclaimed values and lived actions.
Speaker A:Are we truly embodying the inclusive, justice seeking, love centered way of Jesus?
Speaker A:That's the question.
Speaker A:The second point to ponder is about embracing our whole selves.
Speaker A:Paul speaks about celebrating limitations alongside our strengths.
Speaker A:This radical acceptance challenges perfectionism that is often found in religious spaces.
Speaker A:Our weaknesses, questions and doubts aren't spiritual failures.
Speaker A:They are a part of our humanity and a part of our faith journey.
Speaker A:The third point is about building up, not tearing down.
Speaker A:Paul emphasizes that spiritual authority should be used for construction, not destruction.
Speaker A:This reminds us that true Christian leadership is about empowerment, not control.
Speaker A:It's about creating spaces where people can grow, question and evolve in their faith without fear of judgment.
Speaker A:Let's talk about an action step for for the day, choose an area of disconnect between your stated values and your daily actions.
Speaker A:Perhaps it's environmental stewardship or social justice engagement or how you treat other people who are different than you.
Speaker A:Spend some time today thinking about and planning a concrete step that you can take to better align your actions with your values.
Speaker A:We're going to come back and have a prayer here in just a moment.
Speaker A:I did always I always want you to know that we have a resource for you.
Speaker A:It's called the ABC 123 Bible Study Guide.
Speaker A:I think you're going to find it helpful.
Speaker A:Head over to voiceofgoddaily.com you're going to find some links there.
Speaker A:They're going to help you to find this this resource.
Speaker A:I want you to go there and pick it up.
Speaker A:Let's pray.
Speaker A:Oh God, you are Divine love and we come to you as we are perfectly imperfect beings in a journey of growth.
Speaker A:Help us embrace both our strength and our limitations as sacred parts of our story.
Speaker A:Guide us and examine our lives not with harsh judgment, but with compassionate awareness.
Speaker A:Give us courage to align our actions with our values and wisdom to build up rather than tear down.
Speaker A:May we be agents of your inclusive love in a world hungry for authenticity and connection.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Well friends, I just want to thank you for joining me today here at Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:It's always a joy.
Speaker A:It's always a pleasure to be with you.
Speaker A:We're here every day to bring you the reading of the New Testament that is relatable and actionable and perfect for you to use as your daily Bible study.
Speaker A:We invite you to use the resource we have at Voice of God daily to help you as well.
Speaker A:The ABC 123 Bible study method.
Speaker A:And please join us in our effort to get the audible word of God into many ears.
Speaker A: on years, a million people by: Speaker A:Remember, we'll be with you again tomorrow, so please subscribe to the podcast and ask others to join us.
Speaker A:We'll see you tomorrow.
Speaker A:Until then, My name is Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller, reminding you that God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every.
