Episode 1088
How Does Courage Become “Joy in the City”? (Acts 7:59–8:8)
The central theme of this episode revolves around the profound narrative of Stephen's martyrdom and the subsequent persecution of early Christians, as delineated in Acts 7:59 through 8:8. In this discourse, we contemplate Stephen's poignant last words of forgiveness amidst violence and the implications of such nonviolent resistance. We explore the transformative result of persecution, wherein the scattering of believers led to the dissemination of the gospel and the emergence of new communities of faith. Additionally, we engage with the notion that true liberation and joy arise when we cross social boundaries, as exemplified by Philip's mission to Samaria. This episode encourages listeners to consider their own borders, urging them to take actionable steps towards fostering genuine relationships and alleviating the burdens of others in their communities.
Takeaways:
- The podcast emphasizes the importance of daily Bible readings from a progressive perspective.
- Listeners are encouraged to engage in actionable steps that reflect their faith in daily life.
- The discussion highlights nonviolence as a form of prophetic courage, rejecting cycles of harm.
- The scattering of early Christians due to persecution led to the growth of the gospel message.
- Philip's journey to Samaria illustrates the necessity of crossing social borders for healing.
- The podcast advocates for tangible actions to alleviate suffering within one's community.
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.
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)
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 B:Here's today's reading and the reading is from Acts 7:59 through chapter 8, verse 8 from the Message as the rocks rained down, Stephen prayed, Master, Jesus, take my life.
Speaker B:Then he knelt down, praying loud enough for everyone to hear.
Speaker B:Master, don't blame them for this sin.
Speaker B:His last words.
Speaker B:Then he died.
Speaker B:Saul was right there congratulating the killers, Simon the Wizard.
Speaker B:That set off a terrific persecution of the church in Jerusalem.
Speaker B:The believers were all scattered through Judea and Samaria.
Speaker B:All that is but the apostles good and brave men buried Stephen, giving him a solemn funeral.
Speaker B:Not many dry eyes that day and Saul just went wild, devastating the church, entering house after house, dragging men and women off to jail.
Speaker B:Forced to leave home base, the followers of Jesus all became missionaries wherever they were.
Speaker B:Scattered, they preached the message about Jesus going down to a Samaritan city, Philip proclaimed the message of the Messiah.
Speaker B:When the people heard that what he had to say and saw the miracles, the clear signs of God's actions, they hung on his every word.
Speaker B:Many who could neither stand nor walk were healed that day.
Speaker B:The evil spirits protested loudly as they were sent on their way.
Speaker B:And what joy was in the city that ends the reading.
Speaker B:Friends, I just want to thank you for making a little space for me and your life today.
Speaker B:Our passage here is from Acts chapter 7:59, 88 and it's all about Stephen being killed and praying for forgiveness and the persecution that followed that with Saul later becoming Paul, wanting to just really scatter the Jesus community.
Speaker B:And yet out of that scattering came the good thing.
Speaker B:Philip goes to Samaria and crosses the social border that that was all about and proclaims the good news and people are healed.
Speaker B:Freedom breaks in and there's joy in the city.
Speaker B:Let's go a little deeper with some points to ponder, teaching points from a progressive point of view.
Speaker B:The first is that nonviolence is not passivity.
Speaker B:It's prophetic courage.
Speaker B:Stephen's last words are forgiveness not because harm is okay, but because he refuses to mirror the violence.
Speaker B:Progressive faith takes that seriously.
Speaker B:We name injustice directly and choose nonviolent trauma.
Speaker B:Informed responses that protect people and interrupt cycles of harm.
Speaker B:Forgiveness here is moral clarity plus boundary setting.
Speaker B:It refuses dehumanization on both sides.
Speaker B:Another point to ponder.
Speaker B:When the center breaks, the mission decentralizes.
Speaker B:When I want you to get this point here.
Speaker B:The persecution of the Christians by the Romans and by Saul scatters the believers.
Speaker B:And it says all became missionaries.
Speaker B:That is, the gospel didn't collapse when it was scattered.
Speaker B:It spread, it localizes.
Speaker B:And progressive communities can lean into this.
Speaker B:Not into celebrity platforms, but shared leadership, mutual aid, house to house care, and neighbors empowering neighbors.
Speaker B:The movement moves best when power is shared.
Speaker B:Another point to ponder is good news crosses borders and reduces suffering.
Speaker B:Philip goes to Samaria.
Speaker B:That's an important point because Jewish folks would avoid Samaria.
Speaker B:It was a dangerous place to go.
Speaker B:And yet he goes there, Philip goes there, and tangible healing follows.
Speaker B:A progressive reading says salvation looks like bodies and systems getting freer to access to care.
Speaker B:Stigma of mental health issues dismantled.
Speaker B:Inclusion made real and the result.
Speaker B:It says here in the scripture that there was great joy in the city.
Speaker B:So if our witness doesn't lower the community's pain levels.
Speaker B:Where I'm missing the plot, let's talk about an action step you can take.
Speaker B:Cross a border and reduce a burden.
Speaker B:Let me clarify that.
Speaker B:Identify a Samaria in your world that is a person or a group or a place that you've kept your distance from.
Speaker B:Maybe a neighborhood you didn't, you don't quite like to visit.
Speaker B:Or it may be a class issue or a political issue or a racial issue or religion issue or a sexual orientation issue or an a mental illness issue or something else that you got issues with and take a concrete step to go across that border and to engage in a relationship.
Speaker B:Find some way to ease a suffering.
Speaker B:Offer somebody a ride to a medical appointment, help with some form of bills.
Speaker B:Maybe it's financial investment or perhaps it's some form of intellectual investment.
Speaker B:Helping someone do their taxes, for instance.
Speaker B:Maybe something like delivering meals or contributing to some mutual aid group.
Speaker B:Or invite someone just to listen, have a conversation, play, you know, play chess in the park, something.
Speaker B:No fixing, just presence.
Speaker A:And if you have some influence in.
Speaker B:Some group, church, workplace, city government, politics back a policy or practice that decentralizes care and benevolence, funds peer support groups, shared leadership with marginalized voices, or a paid caregiving lead are some examples of that.
Speaker B:We're going to come back in a minute to have a prayer, but I want you to know that we have a great resource for you.
Speaker B:It's called the ABC 123 Bible Study Method.
Speaker B:You can pick it up at our website, voiceofgodaily.com here's our prayer Jesus study and Nir teach us Stephen's courage without the hardness fill ups Open us without the hesitation when fear scatters us.
Speaker B:Turn our scattering into solidarity.
Speaker B:Guard us from mirroring the violence we're trying to heal.
Speaker B:Send us across borders with listening, laughter and practical help for things like rides and meals, paperwork and presents.
Speaker B:Bless patients and caregivers, the overwhelmed and the overlooked, night shift workers, new parents, people who stretch to the edge of Meet us in hospital hallways and wooded trails, in family groups as we cheer on others who need to be cheered on and will.
Speaker B:Bless the giggles and laughter of children.
Speaker B:Make our neighborhoods feel your nearness until there's less pain, more dignity and joy in the city again.
Speaker B:Amen.
Speaker A:My friend, I am delighted you you chose to join me for today's reading.
Speaker A:The Daily Bible Refresh is completely listener supported.
Speaker A: on years, a million people by: Speaker A:I would be so grateful if you would go to voiceofgodddaily.com and share your gift of any amount.
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 hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.
