Episode 987
Can Being Honest About Our Struggles Actually Strengthen Our Faith?
The primary focus of today's discourse resides in the profound notion of finding grace amid struggle, as articulated through the lens of the New Testament reading from First Timothy. We delve into the complexities of faith and the necessity of honesty, exemplified by Paul's candid admission of being "public sinner number one." This episode underscores the imperative that mercy is not a singular act but rather an enduring and individualized journey, reflective of divine patience. Furthermore, we emphasize that faith requires active engagement, urging listeners to maintain a steadfast grip on their beliefs even amidst adversity. As we navigate this conversation, we offer actionable steps to cultivate intentional grace in our lives, fostering a deeper understanding of our shared human experience.
The podcast episode intricately navigates the themes of grace, faith, and struggle as articulated in the biblical passage from First Timothy. Dr. Brad Miller serves as both a guide and a companion in this exploration, emphasizing that the journey of faith is fraught with challenges that require a robust engagement with one's beliefs. The speaker’s reflections on personal experiences, particularly in the context of his long-standing marriage, enrich the discussion, illustrating that enduring love and faith necessitate a willingness to face difficulties together. He articulates three pivotal points regarding the nature of grace: first, that grace commences with radical honesty; second, that mercy is an ongoing commitment rather than a singular act; and third, that faith must be active, demanding participation rather than passivity. To further engage the audience, he proposes actionable steps that encourage intentional practices of grace in everyday life, thereby transforming the theoretical discussions into practical applications for personal growth and relational healing.
Takeaways:
- The Daily Bible Refresh provides a daily reading of the Bible from a progressive perspective, enhancing understanding.
- In today's episode, we reflect on the significance of honesty in the journey of grace and transformation.
- Paul's message emphasizes that mercy is not a one-time occurrence but rather an ongoing process in our lives.
- Engaging with our faith requires action and commitment, akin to being an active participant in a sports team.
- We are encouraged to practice intentional grace towards ourselves and others, fostering healing and understanding.
- The podcast advocates for the importance of community support and the sharing of resources for Bible study.
Links referenced in this episode:
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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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)
Transcript
Hello my friend Dr. Brad Miller here with the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:This is your daily reading of the Bible from a progressive point of view.
Speaker A:In a bit I will read the New Testament lessons selected from the Revised Common Lectionary for this very day.
Speaker A:The reading is understandable.
Speaker A:I use the Message version relatable.
Speaker A:Please listen to the points to ponder and applicable with action steps you can take.
Speaker A:We pray and are done in less than 10 minutes.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.com which is the home of your free personal Bible Study Guide, the ABC1, 23 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A: lionaires a million people by: Speaker A:You can help by saving and subscribing to the podcast and tagging your friends.
Speaker A:Here's today's reading.
Speaker A: ,: Speaker B:Reading from the message.
Speaker B:Here's a word you can take to.
Speaker A:Heart and depend on.
Speaker B:Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.
Speaker B:I am proof, public sinner number one of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy.
Speaker B:And now he shows me off evidence of his endless patience to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever.
Speaker B:Deep honor, bright glory to the King of all time, One God, Immortal, invisible ever and always.
Speaker B:Oh yes, I'm passing this work on to you, my son, Timothy.
Speaker B:The prophetic word that was directed to you prepared us for this.
Speaker B:All those prayers are coming together now, so you will do this well, fearless in your struggle, keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself.
Speaker B:After all, this is a fight we're in.
Speaker B:There are some, you know who by relaxing their grip and thinking anything goes, have made a thorough mess of their faith.
Speaker B:Hymenaeus and Alexander are two of them.
Speaker B:Let them wander off to Satan to be taught a lesson or two about not blaspheming.
Speaker A:That's the end of the reading.
Speaker B:Let's talk here about finding grace in the struggle.
Speaker B:This is a heart to heart conversation about faith here just to share with you about some things that are on my heart.
Speaker B:Recently my wife and I were walking in the woods in one of our favorite wood parks and we're coming up on our 34th anniversary and we're talking a little bit about how there's ups and downs and there's highs and lows in that, but we choose to go through the struggles and the delights together.
Speaker B:Today's passage from First Timothy speaks to this idea of struggle and grace in A powerful way.
Speaker B:Paul's writing to Timothy about faith and mercy and what it means to stay true to our beliefs even when things get tough.
Speaker B:So let's talk about three points to ponder about this passage.
Speaker B:Number one is grace starts with honesty.
Speaker B:You know, Paul calls himself, quote, public center number one.
Speaker B:And there's something beautiful about that honesty.
Speaker B:It reminds me of some conversations we have in the cancer groups that I'm a part of.
Speaker B:We have to be real about our struggles, about the daunting situation before us.
Speaker B:And that's when healing begins, is when you face up to the reality of what you're dealing with.
Speaker B:Being authentic in our imperfections isn't weakness, it's the foundation of transformation.
Speaker B:The second point to ponder is that mercy isn't a one time thing.
Speaker B:Paul talks about endless patience and that hits home for me.
Speaker B:I've watched my three children grow up and become wonderful adults and they each have taken their own unique path in life.
Speaker B:And God's patience with me and my wife hasn't been a kind of one size fits all deal.
Speaker B:It has to be individual, has to be ongoing and persistent and directed towards that individual person when it has to always be available.
Speaker B:Even when we've messed up or maybe they've messed up, it has to always be available.
Speaker B:Another point to ponder is faith in action, not passive.
Speaker B:This passage here talks about having a firm grip on faith.
Speaker A:This.
Speaker B:This isn't about sitting back and just believing.
Speaker B:It's about engaging with our faith.
Speaker B:I like to watch my favorite teams, the Pacers and the Colts and the Fever.
Speaker B:And being a fan means showing up and being engaged, even when the season gets tough.
Speaker B:And it does.
Speaker B:Here's your action step for today.
Speaker B:Choose one area of life where you've been hard on yourself or others and practice intentional grace.
Speaker B:Maybe it's forgiving yourself for a past mistake or extending understanding to someone who sees things differently.
Speaker B:Write it down and revisit it in a week.
Speaker A:We're going to pray here.
Speaker B:Just a moment.
Speaker B:Just a reminder that we have a resource for you for your Bible study at home.
Speaker B:It's called the ABC 123 Bible Study Method.
Speaker B:You can pick it up at our website, Voice of God daily.
Speaker B:Here's our prayer.
Speaker B:Oh God, you're the divine source of love.
Speaker B:We come to you just as we are perfectly imperfect.
Speaker B:Help us remember that your mercy is bigger than our mistakes, your love deeper than our doubts.
Speaker B:Give us the courage to be honest about our struggles and the wisdom to extend grace to others.
Speaker B:Like children learning to walk.
Speaker B:Help us keep a grip on our faith, even when we stumble.
Speaker B:And thank you for your endless patience with us.
Speaker B:Amen.
Speaker A:My friend, I am delighted you chose to join me for today's reading.
Speaker A:The Daily Bible Refresh is completely listener supported.
Speaker A:Your gift goes a long way to getting the audible word of God from a progressive perspective into 2 million years.
Speaker A:A million years people.
Speaker A: By: Speaker A:Thanks much.
Speaker A:My name is Dr. Brad Miller and I'll be right here tomorrow with your Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:Please subscribe and tag your friends until tomorrow.
Speaker A:Remember, God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love Love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.
