Episode 862
Exploring Radical Inclusion: Embracing Diversity in Faith
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 delves into the profound themes encapsulated within the Gospel of John, specifically chapters 12:20-40, which serves as a poignant reflection on the essence of radical inclusion and the transformative power of community. The narrative commences with the intriguing encounter of Greeks who seek an audience with Jesus, thus illustrating the universal appeal of his message that transcends ethnic and religious boundaries. This serves as a powerful reminder of the imperative to dismantle barriers within our own spiritual communities, encouraging a culture of acceptance and understanding towards those who are often marginalized or deemed as 'others'. Such themes resonate deeply in contemporary society, prompting us to introspectively evaluate the obstacles we may inadvertently erect that hinder true inclusivity within our faith practices.
Further exploration reveals the metaphorical richness inherent in the allegory of the grain of wheat, which Jesus articulates as a profound commentary on the necessity of death as a precursor to transformation. This metaphor does not romanticize suffering; rather, it elucidates the cyclical nature of life, urging us to contemplate what outdated ideologies or harmful systems within our communities and personal lives must be relinquished to foster new growth. This inquiry is especially relevant in the face of pressing global challenges such as climate change and social injustice, where the call for renewal is both urgent and necessary. In essence, we are invited to engage in a process of letting go, thus allowing for the emergence of a more just and equitable society.
Lastly, the discourse culminates in a contemplation of light as a symbol of collective liberation. Jesus’ assertion of being ‘lifted up’ transcends individualistic notions of salvation, instead framing it within the context of communal healing and justice. This collective orientation urges us to embody the light in our daily lives, actively participating in movements that seek to rectify systemic injustices and promote healing in our communities. The exhortation to identify and relinquish elements of our lives that perpetuate division or injustice is a clarion call to action. Through this reflective journey, we are encouraged to embrace our roles as catalysts for transformation, fostering an inclusive and loving community that reflects the teachings of Jesus.
Takeaways:
- The concept of radical inclusion invites us to reflect on how we create barriers within our spiritual communities.
- Jesus' metaphor of the grain of wheat emphasizes the necessity of transformation through letting go of outdated ideologies.
- The call to collective liberation suggests that our spiritual journeys are intertwined with the pursuit of justice and healing in society.
- We are challenged to identify and relinquish aspects of our lives that hinder new growth and inclusivity within our communities.
- The narrative of Greeks seeking Jesus illustrates the transcending nature of his message beyond cultural and ethnic confines, urging us to welcome all.
- This episode prompts us to actively participate in dismantling systems of oppression and privilege for a more equitable future.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- voiceofgoddaily.com
Transcript
Radical Inclusion and Border Crossing.
Speaker A: A study of the gospel of John: Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Hello good people.
Speaker A:Welcome to Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:I'm Brad Miller.
Speaker A:This is our opportunity to study the Scriptures every single day using the Revised Common Lectionary.
Speaker A:That's the selected verse for this very day.
Speaker A:It's a three year cycle.
Speaker A:We're in year C.
Speaker A:It's Holy Week and we read from the Revised Common Lectionary.
Speaker A:We make the Bible relatable by giving you some points to ponder.
Speaker A:We make it applicable, giving you some action steps to take.
Speaker A:We make it understandable by reading from the message, the New Testament only.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.com that it's the home of the ABC 1, 2, 3 method.
Speaker A:We do all of that.
Speaker A:Have a prayer in under 10 minutes or so.
Speaker A:Here's our reading for today.
Speaker A: John: Speaker A:Reading from the message.
Speaker A:A grain of wheat must die.
Speaker A:There were some Greeks in town who had come up to worship at the feast.
Speaker A:They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee.
Speaker A:Sir, we want to see Jesus.
Speaker A:Can you help us?
Speaker A:Philip went and told Andrew and Andrew.
Speaker A:Philip together told Jesus.
Speaker A:And Jesus answered, time's up.
Speaker A:The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
Speaker A:Listen carefully.
Speaker A:Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat.
Speaker A:But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over.
Speaker A:In the same way, anyone who holds onto life, just as it destroys, just as it is, destroys that life.
Speaker A:But if you let it go reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal.
Speaker A:If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me.
Speaker A:Then you'll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment's notice.
Speaker A:The Father will honor and reward any one of you who serves me.
Speaker A:Right now I am shaken.
Speaker A:And what I'm going to say Father, get me out of this.
Speaker A:No.
Speaker A:This is why I came in the first place.
Speaker A:I'll say, father, put your glory on display.
Speaker A:And a voice came out of the sky.
Speaker A:I've glorified it and I'll glorify it again.
Speaker A:The listening crowd said thunder.
Speaker A:Others said an angel spoke to him.
Speaker A:And Jesus said, the voice didn't come for me, but for you.
Speaker A:At this moment, the world is in crisis.
Speaker A:Now Satan is the ruler of the world, will be thrown out.
Speaker A:And I, as I am lifted up from the Earth will attract everyone to me and gather them around me.
Speaker A:He put it in this way to show them how he was going to be put to death.
Speaker A:Voices from the crowd answered.
Speaker A:We heard from God's law that the Messiah lasts forever.
Speaker A:How can it be necessary, as you put it, that the Son of Man be lifted up?
Speaker A:Who is the Son of man?
Speaker A:And Jesus said, for a brief time still the light is among you.
Speaker A:Walk by the light.
Speaker A:You have so darkness, so darkness doesn't destroy you.
Speaker A:If you walk in darkness, you don't know where you're going.
Speaker A:As you have the light, as you have had the light, believe in the light.
Speaker A:Then the light will be within you and shining through your lives.
Speaker A:You'll be children of the light.
Speaker A:And their eyes were blinded.
Speaker A:Jesus said all this and they went into hiding.
Speaker A:And all these God signs he had given them, and they still didn't get it, still wouldn't trust him.
Speaker A:They proved that the prophet Isaiah was right.
Speaker A:God, who believed what was preached, who recognized God's arm, outstretched it and ready to act.
Speaker A:First, they wouldn't believe.
Speaker A:They couldn't again, just as Isaiah said, their eyes were blinded, their hearts were hardened so they wouldn't see with their eyes and perceive with their hearts.
Speaker A:And turned to me, God, so I could heal them.
Speaker A:Wow.
Speaker A:A powerful verse of Scripture from John, really talking about transformation and inclusive community and the courage to let go of what no longer serves.
Speaker A:Here's three points to ponder.
Speaker A:The first one is about radical inclusion and border crossing.
Speaker A:This passage opens up with Greeks seeking Jesus, I.e.
Speaker A:outsiders wanting to connect with the Jewish teacher.
Speaker A:And this detail matters deeply.
Speaker A:It shows how Jesus message transcended religious and ethnic boundaries, challenging the exclusive nationalism of his time.
Speaker A:Today.
Speaker A:This calls us to examine how we might be creating barriers of spiritual community and what it means to truly welcome those deemed other.
Speaker A:A second point is about death as transformation.
Speaker A:Jesus metaphor of the grain of wheat isn't about glorifying suffering, but about the natural cycle of transformation.
Speaker A:In our context, this might speak to the necessary death of outdated systems, harmful ideologies and privileged comfort zones.
Speaker A:What needs to die in our society and in ourselves for new life to emerge?
Speaker A:This is particularly relevant as we face climate crisis and social upheaval.
Speaker A:A third point is about light as collective liberation.
Speaker A:When Jesus speaks of being lifted up and attracting all people, he's not promoting a narrow salvation theology.
Speaker A:Rather, he's describing a movement of collective liberation.
Speaker A:The light he speaks of isn't about individual enlightened mud, but about community transformation.
Speaker A:Being children of light means actively participating in bringing justice and healing to our world.
Speaker A:Here's your action step Identify something that needs to die in your life or community to make way for new growth.
Speaker A:This might be prejudice or comfortable silence in the face of injustice, or a system that privileges some while excluding others.
Speaker A:And take a concrete step toward letting go of this old pattern and nurturing new possibilities.
Speaker A:For example, you might begin dismantling white supremacy in your organization or your world, or addressing climate crisis in your community, or examining your own internalized biases we're going to pray here in just a moment.
Speaker A:Just want to let you know about a great resource that we have to help you with your own Bible study.
Speaker A:It's the ABC 123 Bible Study Guide.
Speaker A:Go over to voiceofgoddaily.com that's our website.
Speaker A:Pick it up.
Speaker A:It will help you with your individual Bible study.
Speaker A:ABC1, 2, 3@Voice of God daily, let's pray.
Speaker A:Oh God, you are the source of life and we come to you as people trying to understand what needs to die and what needs to be born again.
Speaker A:In our time when we're tempted to cling to comfort at the expense of justice, give us courage to let go when we create barriers between us and them.
Speaker A:Help us remember how your love crosses all boundaries, borders in times of transformation that feel like death.
Speaker A:Remind us that new life is possible.
Speaker A:Thank you for the Greeks who dared to cross the boundaries, for the grain of wheat that teaches us about change and for the light that shows us a way forward together.
Speaker A:Help us be agents of transformation in our communities, willing to die into our old ways that new life can emerge for all.
Speaker A:In the spirit of Jesus who showed us how to let go for love's sake, we pray.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:What a privilege to be with you.
Speaker A:Joy to be with you here every single day on Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:Hope that you'll join me.
Speaker A: ion years of me and people by: Speaker A:Please help me by showing up tomorrow.
Speaker A:Bring a friend.
Speaker A:We usually drop our episodes before 6am Eastern Time.
Speaker A:Remember until then that my name is Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
