Episode 836
Navigating Adversity: Finding Courage Through Community
This podcast delves into the profound theme of resilience and authentic faith as illuminated by the scriptural passages from Revelation 2:8-11. We examine the paradox of a community enduring dire poverty yet being declared wealthy, prompting a reevaluation of our conventional measures of success and worth. The episode further critiques the misuse of religious identities as tools of oppression, inviting listeners to reflect on the implications of religious authenticity versus power. As we confront contemporary challenges, we emphasize the significance of holy resistance, urging individuals to identify and stand against injustices that their faith compels them to address. Ultimately, we strive to cultivate strength in solidarity and hope in our communal endeavors, reinforcing the notion that love prevails over adversity.
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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Remember… “All scripture is God-breathed and useful”(2 Timothy 3:16)
The discourse presented in this podcast episode delves into the profound themes encapsulated within Revelation 2:8-11, as articulated by Dr. Brad Miller. The examination of this scripture reveals a paradox where a community beset by dire poverty is paradoxically deemed wealthy. This nuanced interpretation invites us to reassess conventional metrics of success and affluence, challenging the listener to ponder what constitutes true richness. Is it possible that our wealth is manifested through our capacity for compassion and our unwavering commitment to justice, particularly as we stand in solidarity with the marginalized?
Moreover, Dr. Miller addresses the critical distinction between religious authenticity and the wielding of religious power as a tool for oppression. He elucidates how the text critiques those who masquerade as pious individuals while perpetuating harm, inviting contemporary adherents to question how religious institutions may sometimes morph into mechanisms of exclusion rather than liberation. This poignant examination encourages listeners to reflect on their personal faith practices, instilling an imperative to advocate for love and justice in a world rife with inequality.
In concluding his reflections, Dr. Miller emphasizes the importance of resilience, particularly in the face of adversity. He articulates the necessity of holy resistance, urging individuals to identify one specific issue that compels them to stand against injustice. This call to action serves as a reminder that resistance is not solely about opposition but also about fostering the emergence of a more just and compassionate society. The episode culminates in a prayer that encapsulates the themes of courage, community, and the enduring power of love, leaving listeners with a resonating sense of purpose and hope.
Takeaways:
- The podcast emphasizes the importance of community in fostering courage and resilience during challenging times.
- We explore the paradox of wealth, where those in dire poverty are declared wealthy by their capacity for compassion.
- A critique of religious authenticity highlights the dangers of using faith as a tool for oppression rather than liberation.
- The podcast encourages listeners to practice holy resistance, advocating for justice against various forms of oppression.
- We discuss the promise of a life crown, symbolizing the victory of love over oppressive systems rather than individual reward.
- Listeners are invited to engage in meaningful actions that reflect their faith and commitment to social justice.
Links referenced in this episode:
Transcript
Finding Courage in Community A study based on Revelation 2, 8, 11 on the Daily Bible refresh with Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Hello good people.
Speaker A:Welcome to Daily Bible Refresh with Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:That's me.
Speaker A:Thank you for joining me on my mission to get the audible word of God into 2 million years.
Speaker A: That's a million people by: Speaker A:We do that through a daily reading of the New Testament.
Speaker A:We use the message version to make it understandable.
Speaker A:We give you some points to ponder to make it relatable.
Speaker A:Then we give you an action step to apply to your life.
Speaker A:We give you these daily readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.
Speaker A:That's a three year cycle of reading through the Bible.
Speaker A:We're in year six, see the Lenten Season.
Speaker A:We do all of that in under 10 minutes or so and have a prayer to boot.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you by our website voiceofgodaily.com the home of the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible study method.
Speaker A:Today's reading is from the Revelation 2:8 through 11 reading from the message to Smyrna.
Speaker A:Write this to Smyrna.
Speaker A:To the angel of the church.
Speaker A:The beginning and ending, the first and final one.
Speaker A:The once dead and then come alive speaks.
Speaker A:I can see your pain and poverty, constant pain, dire poverty.
Speaker A:But I also see your wealth.
Speaker A:And I hear the lie in the claims of those who pretend to be good Jews who in fact belong to Satan's crowd.
Speaker A:Fear nothing in the things you're about to suffer.
Speaker A:But stay on guard.
Speaker A:Fear nothing.
Speaker A:The devil is about to throw you in jail for a time of testing.
Speaker A:10 days.
Speaker A:It won't last forever.
Speaker A:Don't quit even if it cost you your life.
Speaker A:Stay there believing.
Speaker A:I have a life crown sized and ready for you.
Speaker A:Are your ears awake?
Speaker A:Listen.
Speaker A:Listen to the wind, words, the spirit blowing through the churches.
Speaker A:Christ conquerors are safe from devil death.
Speaker A:Wow, quite a reading there from the Revelation.
Speaker A:And today we're going to explore some issues of resilience and authentic faith and responding to challenging times.
Speaker A:Let's look at some points to ponder here from today's reading.
Speaker A:One is about redefining wealth and power.
Speaker A:The message to Smyrna begins with a powerful paradox.
Speaker A:A community experiencing dire poverty is declared wealthy.
Speaker A:This invites us to question moderate metrics of success and worth in our world of extreme wealth, inequality and corporate power.
Speaker A:What does true richness look like?
Speaker A:Perhaps our wealth lies in our capacity for compassion, our commitment to justice and our courage to stand with the marginalized.
Speaker A:Another point, it's about religious authenticity versus religious power.
Speaker A:The text critiques those who pretend to be good Jews but belong to Satan's crowd.
Speaker A:Rather than reading this as anti Semitic, which would be a very harmful misinterpretation, we can understand it as a critique of using religious identity as a tool of oppression.
Speaker A:Today we might also ask how do religious institutions sometimes become instruments of exclusion, represent rather than vehicles of liberation?
Speaker A:How do we practice authentic faith that serves love and justice?
Speaker A:One more point.
Speaker A:It's about resistance versus spiritual practice.
Speaker A:The encouragement to stay there, believing even in the face of persecution, speaks to the spiritual discipline of resistance.
Speaker A:In our contemporary context, this might mean standing against Christianity, Christian nationalism, speaking truth to power, or maintaining hope while working for climate justice.
Speaker A:The life crown promise isn't about individual reward, but about the victory of love over systems of death.
Speaker A:Here's your action step.
Speaker A:I want to invite you to practice holy resistance, that is Identify one issue where your faith calls you to take a stand against against injustice and oppression.
Speaker A:This might be supporting some mutual aid assistance network or joining some sort of a climate action effort, or speaking up against discrimination in your community.
Speaker A:Remember, resistance isn't just about opposing something.
Speaker A:It's also about creating space for something better to emerge.
Speaker A:Something better is going to emerge in just a moment when we pray together.
Speaker A:But I did want you to know that we have a great resource to help you to help you in your daily Bible study.
Speaker A:It is called the ABC 123 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A:You pick it up by going to our website voiceofgodddaily.com it's a free resource for you to use in complement to the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:It's for you to do your own personal Bible study.
Speaker A:It's a free resource for you.
Speaker A:I just really would like for you to take that and make use of that or here's our prayer for today.
Speaker A:Oh God, you are a source of courage and love.
Speaker A:In times when justice feels distance and hope seems like a luxury.
Speaker A:Ground us in the wealth of community and the power of shared conviction.
Speaker A:When we face our own trials, whether personal or political, remind us that we're not alone in the struggle.
Speaker A:Help us find wealth in our connections, strength in our solidarity and hope in in holy resistance.
Speaker A:Give us wisdom to distinguish between empty religious performance and authentic spiritual practice.
Speaker A:May we be brave enough to stand firm, compassionate enough to stand together, and wise enough to know that love always wins.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Always a great privilege and pleasure for me to spend some time with you here on the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:We're here every day.
Speaker A:We usually drop our episodes before 6am Eastern time hope that you'll join us in this daily searching through the scriptures on a everyday basis that is relevant and applicable to your life.
Speaker A:See you again tomorrow.
Speaker A:This time, bring a friend.
Speaker A:Until then, My name is Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Reminding you that God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.
