Episode 1145
How Does Jesus Redefine Greatness? Matthew 18:1–7
This podcast episode delves into a profound examination of humility and the redefinition of greatness through the lens of childlike simplicity, as expressed in Matthew 18. The discussion centers on Jesus’ admonition that one must return to a state of innocence and trust akin to that of children to gain access to the Kingdom of God. We explore the significance of safeguarding the vulnerable, as the act of receiving those who are childlike is equated with receiving Christ Himself. Furthermore, we emphasize the imperative of accountability in the face of societal injustices that burden the young and the marginalized. Through this reflection, we are encouraged to adopt a child-first perspective, fostering environments that promote safety, accessibility, and dignity for all.
Takeaways:
- The reading emphasizes the necessity of adopting a childlike simplicity to truly understand the kingdom of God.
- Jesus calls for humility, stating that greatness is defined by being simple and elemental, rather than by status or rank.
- The act of receiving vulnerable individuals is equated with receiving Jesus himself, highlighting the importance of hospitality and safeguarding.
- The podcast stresses that causing harm to vulnerable populations results in dire consequences, as illustrated by the millstone metaphor.
- Listeners are encouraged to reflect on how they can create safe and welcoming environments for children and vulnerable individuals in their communities.
- The discussion includes practical actions that individuals can take, such as volunteering and advocating for equitable health care systems, to support those in need.
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)
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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.
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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 we are reading from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 18 verses 1 through 7 from the Message Whoever becomes simple Again.
Speaker B:At about the same time the disciples came to Jesus asking who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?
Speaker B:For an answer, Jesus called over a child whom he stood in the middle of the room and he said I'm telling you once and for all that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in.
Speaker B:Whoever becomes simple and elemental again like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom.
Speaker B:What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me.
Speaker B:But if you give them a hard time bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you'll soon wish you hadn't.
Speaker B:You'd be better off dropped in the middle of a lake with a millstone around your neck.
Speaker B:Doom to the world for giving these God believing children a hard time.
Speaker B:Hard times are inevitable, but you don't have to make it worse and doomsday to you if you do.
Speaker B:Well my friends, this is really a pretty power very powerful passage of scripture that has this delight in children but also warning to those who would really besperts children.
Speaker B:In today's passage from Matthew 18, the disciples ask who gets the highest ranks?
Speaker B:Are they looking for who's going to get one up on somebody else?
Speaker B:And Jesus takes a child and says and puts him in the center room and says you got to start over like children or you won't even get into the kingdom.
Speaker B:That is heavy harsh stuff.
Speaker B:And then he adds the warning if you make harder for people to be childlike those who trust Simply, you're in trouble.
Speaker B:The world gives people a hard time.
Speaker B:Don't add to it.
Speaker B:I always really love this scripture because I love children.
Speaker B:Got a couple small grandchildren myself and just delighted through their childlike eyes.
Speaker B:And I think that's what Jesus is saying here.
Speaker B:Take delight in their childlike eyes and don't mess with it.
Speaker B:Jesus said, you mess with them, you mess with me.
Speaker B:Let's look at some points to ponder about this.
Speaker B:The first one is Jesus redefines greatness as becoming simple and elemental.
Speaker B:The disciples want rank, they are aspirational.
Speaker B:Jesus wants humility.
Speaker B:Simple and elemental does not mean naive.
Speaker B:It means grounded, curious, teachable, willing to depend on others, free of status, obsession.
Speaker B:A progressive lens resists hierarchies that reward power over people, things like patriarchy, white supremacy, performative religiosity.
Speaker B:Jesus locates greatness and childlike openness.
Speaker B:And so I would encourage you to do that.
Speaker B:Like I said, I've learned lots of lessons from my two grandchildren who are 8 and 5, about childlike openness.
Speaker B:And adults who want to flourish need to be more like that.
Speaker B:Small, honest, real.
Speaker B:The kingdom looks like a platform and more like a.
Speaker B:Less like a platform and more like a playroom where dignity and delight are shared.
Speaker B:Point number two, receiving the vulnerable is receiving Jesus.
Speaker B:It says here when.
Speaker B:When you receive the child, like on my account, it's the same as receiving me.
Speaker B:That's a radical claim.
Speaker B:So hospitality and safeguarding are not optional.
Speaker B:They're sacramental and progressive faith centers, those at risk, children, patients, the vulnerable, families under financial strain.
Speaker B:People push to the margins by race, gender, sexuality, disability, immigration, status and welcome them means more than smiles.
Speaker B:It's about policies, it's about practices, it's about culture, it's about a trauma, informed care.
Speaker B:It's about transparent accountability and inclusive leadership, equitable access to health care, for instance.
Speaker B:All that, when we do those things, we're receiving Christ himself.
Speaker B:Make it easier for people who already have it hard.
Speaker B:Third point to ponder.
Speaker B:Jesus warning demands accountability.
Speaker B:They'll make hard times worse.
Speaker B:Doomed to the world, forgiving.
Speaker B:Is God believing children a hard time?
Speaker B:You don't have to make it worse.
Speaker B:That's what it says.
Speaker B:And the millstone image is very blunt and to the point.
Speaker B:Basically, if you cause harm to the vulnerable, that's a serious deal.
Speaker B:Progressive faith names abuse and exploitation, especially of children, and works to prevent it.
Speaker B:That includes church safeguarding, listening to survivors and confronting systems that burden the young and the poor.
Speaker B:Look out for predatory lending, environmental hazards, near schools, food insecurity, insurance denials that block treatment.
Speaker B:The gospel calls for deep loyalty, sticking with the vulnerable in even when it costs, until harm is stopped and healing begins.
Speaker B:So let's talk about some action here.
Speaker B:Adopt a child first lens in some concrete way and maybe make it a practice of simplifying your life.
Speaker B:What's a child first lens?
Speaker B:Choose a space that you have some relationship to or influence upon your home life, your church, your workplace, some group that you're part of and ask would this be a safe, welcoming and accessible for a child or a vulnerable person to be in?
Speaker B:Then act.
Speaker B:Add a clear safeguarding note.
Speaker B:Make a donation to some local children's group or patient aid fund.
Speaker B:Deliver a meal to a family.
Speaker B:Email your representative about equitable pediatric and family health care systems.
Speaker B:There's lots that you can do.
Speaker B:Here's a practice.
Speaker B:Maybe find a quiet spot, a chair in your home by a window or maybe a park bench or someplace quiet, maybe your car.
Speaker B:And just breathe a breath.
Speaker B:Prayer Pray simply Jesus, make me simple and elemental again.
Speaker B:Then ask three childlike questions.
Speaker B:What am I curious about?
Speaker B:Who needs gentleness?
Speaker B:And who can I make life easier for than harder?
Speaker B:Take some action about it.
Speaker B:We're gonna come back in a minute and pray about all this.
Speaker B:But before we do, I just want you to know that we have a great resource for you.
Speaker B:It's called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Method.
Speaker B:You could pick it up at our website, voiceofgoddaily.com let's pray Jesus, you put your child at the center and called us back to simple, elemental trust.
Speaker B:Unhook us from rank, status and performance.
Speaker B:Teach us courage of smallness, curiosity, honesty and gentle presence.
Speaker B:Receive our ordinary lives, things like our spouses, our children, our grandchildren, and for people impacted by cancer, for instance, give them steady companions, access to care, relief from pain and laughter that breaks the tension for our communities.
Speaker B:Safeguard what is real, policies that protect and leaders who refuse to make hard times harder show us where we can make life easier.
Speaker B:One meal, one ride, one letter, one listening ear at a time when we feel small or unsure, remind us small is not lesser in your kingdom.
Speaker B:Small is how love moves.
Speaker B:Amen.
Speaker A:My friend, I am delighted you chose to join me for today's reading.
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Speaker A: on years, a million people by: Speaker A:I would be so grateful.
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Speaker A:Thanks much 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.
Speaker A:It's created new every morning.
