Episode 929
Exploring the Cost of Authentic Faith: A Deep Dive into Luke 9:21-27
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)
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The exploration of authentic faith as delineated in Luke 9:21-27 presents a profound inquiry into the essence of discipleship and the intrinsic cost associated with genuine belief. As we navigate the text, we are confronted with the pivotal question posed by Jesus: 'Who do you say that I am?' This inquiry not only beckons a response from Peter, who identifies Jesus as the Messiah, but also sets the stage for a deeper understanding of what it means to follow Christ. Jesus' subsequent admonition to silence regarding his messianic identity challenges the prevailing notions of triumphalism, urging believers to look beyond superficial victories and to embrace the discomfort of suffering as integral to the Christian journey. The discussion delves into the concept of messianic nationalism, highlighting how Jesus redefined the role of the Messiah through a lens of solidarity with the suffering rather than a pursuit of power or dominance. This redefinition is acutely relevant in contemporary dialogues surrounding faith and politics, as many grapple with the allure of a faith that aligns itself with power structures rather than with the marginalized.
The dialogue unfolds further, as we examine the notion of transformative suffering within the framework of Christian faith. Jesus does not glorify suffering; rather, he connects it to justice and liberation, challenging us to engage with the realities of those who endure oppression. The call to 'embrace suffering' is not an endorsement of passivity but a profound invitation to stand in solidarity with the oppressed. This perspective serves as a critique of both prosperity gospel teachings and the tendency to spiritualize suffering while neglecting its systemic roots. The episode illuminates how authentic faith is intertwined with a commitment to justice and the well-being of the community, thereby urging believers to reconsider their alignment with comfortable faiths that prioritize personal comfort over collective responsibility.
Lastly, we are invited to reflect on the journey toward discovering our authentic selves, a theme that emerges with striking clarity from the text. The assertion that 'self-help is no help at all' critiques the individualistic spirituality prevalent in many modern faith practices. Instead, Jesus posits that true selfhood is realized through communal relationships and a dedication to equity and justice. This notion challenges the consumerist tendencies of contemporary Christianity and invites us to engage in concrete actions that support marginalized communities. As we conclude, an actionable step is presented: to identify ways we may have aligned our faith with comfort, and to choose to stand in solidarity with those who suffer, thereby reshaping our understanding of both faith and identity. Through prayer and reflection, we aim to embody a faith that seeks love's transformation over empire's power, fostering a community that thrives on collective liberation.
Takeaways:
- The exploration of authentic faith is exemplified in the teachings of Luke 9:21-27.
- Jesus redefined messiahship through solidarity with suffering rather than through dominance or power.
- We are challenged to embrace suffering as a means of connection with those who are oppressed.
- The pursuit of authentic selfhood emerges through community engagement and a commitment to justice.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- voiceofgoddaily.com
Transcript
The cost of authentic faith exploring Luke 9:21 27 on the Daily Bible refresh with Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Hello my good friends, Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller here with the Daily Bible Refresh your daily walk into the New Testament of the Bible.
Speaker A:We bring you the reading of the New Testament from the Revised Common Lectionary.
Speaker A:That's the selected verses for this very day.
Speaker A:We make the reading of the Bible understandable.
Speaker A:We use the message version relatable.
Speaker A:We give you some points to ponder and applicable give you an action step to follow.
Speaker A:We have a prayer and we do all this in under 10 minutes or so.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.com this is the home of the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible study method.
Speaker A: ion years a million people by: Speaker A:Here's our reading for the day.
Speaker A:Luke 9:21 27.
Speaker A:Reading from the message, he then asked and you, what are you saying about me?
Speaker A:Who am I?
Speaker A:And Peter answered, the Messiah of God.
Speaker A:Jesus then warned them to keep quiet.
Speaker A:They were to tell no one of what Peter had said.
Speaker A:And he went on.
Speaker A:It is necessary that the Son of man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by religious leaders, high priest and religion scholars, be killed and on the third day be raised up alive.
Speaker A:Then he told them what they could expect for themselves.
Speaker A:Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead.
Speaker A:You're not in the driver's seat.
Speaker A:I am.
Speaker A:Don't run from suffering.
Speaker A:Embrace it.
Speaker A:Follow me and I'll show you how.
Speaker A:Self help is no help at all.
Speaker A:Self sacrifice is the way, my way to finding yourself, your true self.
Speaker A:What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?
Speaker A:If any of you is embarrassed with me in the way I'm leading you, know that the Son of Man will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his splendor in company with the Father and the holy angels.
Speaker A:This isn't, you realize, high in the sky, by and by, some who have taken their stand right here are going to see it happen.
Speaker A:See it with their own eyes.
Speaker A:The Kingdom of God.
Speaker A:Incredible reading here about authentic faith.
Speaker A:It's a challenging text to be sure about identity, suffering and authentic discipleship.
Speaker A:Let's get into some points to ponder.
Speaker A:First is about going beyond messianic nationalism.
Speaker A:Jesus command to keep quiet about his messianic identity challenges triumphalist Christianity in a time when many seek a political messiah to overthrow Rome.
Speaker A:Jesus redefined messiahship through solidarity with suffering rather than dominance.
Speaker A:This speaks to our contemporary need to resist Christian nationalism and empire aligned faith.
Speaker A:A second point is about transformative suffering.
Speaker A:Jesus doesn't glorify suffering but connects it to the work of justice and liberation.
Speaker A:Don't run from suffering, he says.
Speaker A:Embrace it isn't about passive acceptance but about choosing to stand with those who suffer under oppressive systems.
Speaker A:This challenges both prosperity and gospel teachings and tendency to spiritualize suffering or while ignoring its systematic causes.
Speaker A:One more point to ponder.
Speaker A:It's about finding your authentic self.
Speaker A:Self help is no help at all, it says in the Scripture.
Speaker A:This critiques individualistic spirituality focused on personal success.
Speaker A:Instead, Jesus suggests that authentic selfhood emerges through connection with community and commitment to justice.
Speaker A:This challenges both consumer Christianity and individualistic self improvement culture.
Speaker A:Here's your action step.
Speaker A:Identify one way you've aligned your faith with comfort or power rather than solidarity with those who suffer.
Speaker A:Choose a concrete action to stand with marginalized communities in their struggle for justice and document how this shifts your understanding of both faith and and self.
Speaker A:We're going to come back with a closing prayer.
Speaker A:Just a minute.
Speaker A:Just a reminder that we've got a great resource for you.
Speaker A:You can go to our website voiceofgoddaily.com and pick it up.
Speaker A:It's your own Bible study methodology to apply in your personal life.
Speaker A:It's called the ABC1, 23 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A:It will help you with your daily Bible study.
Speaker A:Pick it up@voiceofgoddaily.com let's pray.
Speaker A:O God, you are a divine presence in pain and power.
Speaker A:When we're tempted to choose comfort over justice, remind us of your way of solidarity.
Speaker A:When we want faith without cost, challenge us with your radical love.
Speaker A:Help us distinguish between suffering that liberates and suffering that oppresses between cross and crucifixion.
Speaker A:Give us courage to lose the false selves we've constructed, the comfortable faith we've created.
Speaker A:The easy answer is we've accepted.
Speaker A:May we become people who find ourselves in losing ourselves.
Speaker A:Discover life in giving life.
Speaker A:See your kingdom in the here and now.
Speaker A:Guide us in the way of authentic faith.
Speaker A:Not Empire's power, but love's transformation.
Speaker A:Not personal success, but collective liberation.
Speaker A:Not comfortable belief but radical discipleship.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:What a great lesson for the day.
Speaker A:Hope you'll join me again tomorrow for another episode of the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:We come to you every single day with a reading from the New Testament from the Revised Common Lectionary Version.
Speaker A:We have a goal of getting the Ottawa Word of God into two million years.
Speaker A: A million people by: Speaker A:And you're here to help by subscribing to the podcast and inviting other people to join us.
Speaker A:I look to be with you again here tomorrow.
Speaker A:I'll see you then.
Speaker A:We usually drop our episodes before 6:00am Eastern Time.
Speaker A:Until tomorrow, friends.
Speaker A:My name is Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Remember 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.
