Episode 896
Radical Inclusion: Lessons from the Early Church
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)
The exploration of Acts 11:19-26 unveils a profound narrative concerning the emergence of inclusive communities and the transcendence of cultural boundaries. This passage recounts the experiences of believers who, having been dispersed due to the persecution following Stephen's martyrdom, ventured beyond their comfort zones, initially sharing their message solely with fellow Jews. However, a pivotal transformation occurred when individuals from Cyprus and Cyrene boldly initiated conversations with Greek-speaking populations, thereby embodying a radical form of inclusion. This act not only signifies a monumental shift in the early church's mission but also serves as a clarion call to challenge entrenched systems of religious exclusivity. The divine approval of these actions, as denoted in the text, underscores the notion that spiritual fulfillment often resides beyond the confines of human-imposed barriers, urging contemporary adherents to pursue genuine inclusivity and justice within their communities.
Furthermore, the narrative accentuates the role of leadership in fostering progressive movements. Barnabas, dispatched to Antioch to assess this burgeoning community, exemplified an open-minded approach, recognizing the divine workings within this diverse congregation. His decision to support and nurture this initiative, rather than suppress it, delineates a model of leadership that embraces change and champions inclusivity. The eventual collaboration with Saul, later known as Paul, further illustrates an intentional effort to cultivate a robust and diverse community of believers. This episode serves as a reminder that embracing diversity is not only a matter of ethical responsibility but also aligns with the broader divine purpose, calling upon us to reflect on our roles in building communities that celebrate differences and promote justice.
Takeaways:
- The early believers faced persecution, yet some ventured to share their faith with non-Jews, demonstrating boldness.
- Barnabas exemplified a leader who recognized the divine hand in emerging movements of inclusion and support.
- The growth of the early church in Antioch signifies a pivotal moment in the acceptance of diverse communities.
- God's approval of inclusive practices challenges traditional barriers and calls for progressive interpretations of faith.
- To foster authentic community, individuals must consciously cross personal boundaries of comfort and understanding.
- Prayer is essential in seeking the courage to embrace radical love and challenging societal norms around inclusion.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- voiceofgoddaily.com
- Daily Bible Refresh
- ABC123 Bible Study Guide
Transcript
Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Hello good people.
Speaker A:Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller here with Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:Thank you for joining me in my quest to get the audible word of God, the voice of God every day into 2 million years.
Speaker A: That's a million people by: Speaker A:You can help me by going to voiceofgoddaily.com and subscribing to this podcast and getting our downloadable free resource, which is the ABC123 Bible Study Guide.
Speaker A:We come to you every single day using a reading selected from the Revised Common Lectionary.
Speaker A:We make the reading applicable by reading from the New Testament, the Message version, and we make it relatable by giving you three points to ponder and we make it applicable by giving you an action step to follow with a prayer.
Speaker A:And we do all of that in under 10 minutes.
Speaker A: reading for the day from Acts: Speaker A:Reading from the Message those who had been scattered by the persecutions triggered by Stephen's death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch.
Speaker A:But they were still only speaking and dealing with their fellow Jews.
Speaker A:Then some of the men came from Cyprus and Cyrene who had come to Antioch, starting talking to Greeks and giving them the message of the Master Jesus.
Speaker A:God was pleased with what they were doing and putting a stamp of approval on it.
Speaker A:Quite a number of the Greeks believed and turned to the Master.
Speaker A:When the church in Jerusalem got wind of this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to check on things.
Speaker A:As soon as he arrived he saw that God was behind and in it all and he threw himself in with them, got behind them, urging them to stay with it the rest of their lives.
Speaker A:He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident and the Holy Spirit's ways.
Speaker A:The community grew large and strong in the Master.
Speaker A:Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul and he found him and brought him back to Antioch.
Speaker A:They were there a whole year, meeting with the church and teaching a lot of people.
Speaker A:It was in Antioch that the disciples were for the first time called Christians.
Speaker A:Wow.
Speaker A:Really an incredible passage today about cultural boundaries and building inclusive communities.
Speaker A:Let's gonna do some some points to ponder here for today.
Speaker A:The first has to do with some with radical inclusion begins with bold steps.
Speaker A:The early believers were scattered by the persecution that they were experiencing and many times they initially stayed in their comfort zone preaching to their own meaning fellow Jews.
Speaker A:But some brave souls from Cyprus and Cyrene took the revolutionary Step of sharing the message with the Greeks.
Speaker A:We're talking about the Greek speaking people which were throughout the entire region.
Speaker A:This wasn't just about crossing cultural lines, but it was about challenging the entire system of religious exclusivity.
Speaker A:Their actions reminded us that meaningful change often requires us to step beyond our familiar circles and challenge our own prejudices.
Speaker A:A second point to ponder has to do with divine approval of a progressive movement.
Speaker A:The text specifically notes that God was pleased with this boundary breaking work.
Speaker A:The divine endorsement of the inclusion challenges traditional interpretations that often resist change change.
Speaker A:It shows us that God's vision often extends beyond our human made barriers and institutional comfort zones.
Speaker A:When we work toward genuine inclusion and justice, we're aligning ourselves with divine purpose.
Speaker A:A third point to ponder is a leadership that embraces change.
Speaker A:Barnabas was sent to investigate this radical new movement and he could have shut it down right there.
Speaker A:Instead, he recognized the divine action that was taking place in this progressive shift and actively supported it.
Speaker A:He even sought out Saul, who we know as Paul, known for his cross cultural understanding, to help nurture this new diverse community.
Speaker A:This models the kind of understanding and leadership we need today.
Speaker A:One that recognizes and supports emerging movements and inclusion and justice.
Speaker A:Here's an action step.
Speaker A:Identify a boundary in your life.
Speaker A:Social, cultural, ideological, racial.
Speaker A:Any number of boundaries you may have that might be limiting your understanding of true community.
Speaker A:Make a conscious effort to cross that boundary.
Speaker A:This could mean having coffee with someone whose beliefs differ than yours.
Speaker A:Attending a service or gathering of a different cultural group.
Speaker A:Or engaging with perspectives that challenge your usual thinking and document what you learn from this experience.
Speaker A:We're going to come back and have a prayer in just a moment.
Speaker A:Just a reminder that we have a great resource just for you to help you with your personal Bible study.
Speaker A:I know for many of us that's a problem to get personal Bible study done done.
Speaker A:One way you can do that is through the daily Bible Refresh, hearing the audible word of God.
Speaker A:But I think you know you need to get into it of your own accord.
Speaker A:So here's a resource to help you.
Speaker A:It's called the ABC 123 Bible Study Guide.
Speaker A:You pick it up at our website, voiceofgod daily.com it's free for you there and it's for you to help you do your own personal Bible study.
Speaker A:Let's pray.
Speaker A:Loving God, you are our creator and shake us free from our comfort zones and challenge our assumptions about who belongs to your family.
Speaker A:Give us the courage of those early believers who dared to cross boundaries and the wisdom of Barnabas who recognized your presence in unexpected places.
Speaker A:Help us build communities that reflect your expansive love where all are truly welcome, where differences are celebrated and where justice flows freely.
Speaker A:Guide us as we take steps toward deeper understanding and genuine inclusion.
Speaker A:In the spirit of radical love, we pray.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:What a joy it is to be with you here each and every day here in Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A: ion years a million people by: Speaker A:The best thing you can do to help me is to be here again tomorrow and call or message a friend to join us to continue this quest.
Speaker A:We'll be here.
Speaker A:We usually drop our episodes by 6am and we have an opportunity for you to share the Word of God together.
Speaker A:Until that time, friends, 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, it's created new every morning.
