Episode 897
Radical Sharing: A New Economic Paradigm
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 discourse presents a profound examination of Acts 11:27-30, wherein a prophetic voice, Agabus, forewarns the Christians in Antioch of an impending famine. This narrative not only highlights the immediacy of communal response but also serves as a salient reminder of the church's tradition of mutual aid. The early Christians, confronted with the specter of crisis, exemplified an extraordinary commitment to collective responsibility by mobilizing resources to aid their counterparts in Judea. The essence of this biblical account transcends its historical context, offering contemporary lessons on the significance of community solidarity in times of need. As we navigate our modern landscape, the call to action resonates with urgency: to embody the radical economics of sharing that characterized the early church, challenging our prevailing individualistic paradigms.
The discussion further delves into three pivotal themes deserving of contemplation. Firstly, the prophetic voice emerges as a catalyst for social change. Agabus's prophecy was not merely predictive; it galvanized the community into concrete action, a model for contemporary prophetic voices who address pressing societal issues such as climate change and systemic inequality. Secondly, the notion of radical economics is explored, illustrating how the early church's approach to resource allocation—each according to their ability—contrasts sharply with modern capitalist ideologies. This collective economic model emphasizes communal welfare over personal gain. Lastly, the episode highlights the significance of cross-cultural solidarity, exemplified by the Gentile Christians’ aid to the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem, reinforcing the imperative of dismantling barriers that divide us. Through this multifaceted exploration, we are prompted to reflect on our roles within our communities and to consider how we might engage in mutual aid initiatives that foster interconnectedness and support.
Takeaways:
- The podcast emphasizes the importance of community care in times of crisis, illustrating how early Christians supported one another during dire circumstances.
- It discusses the prophetic voice as a catalyst for social change, urging listeners to recognize and respond to contemporary issues such as inequality and climate change.
- The concept of radical sharing and mutual aid is highlighted, contrasting it with modern individualism and advocating for community-based resource distribution.
- Listeners are encouraged to engage in mutual aid networks that foster cross-cultural solidarity, dismantling barriers and promoting justice across diverse communities.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- voiceofgoddaily.com
Transcript
Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Hello good people, my good friends.
Speaker A:Welcome to Daily Bible Refresh, the daily reading of the Bible just for you.
Speaker A:We do this by using the selected verse for this very day from the Revised Common Lectionary.
Speaker A:We're in year C of a three year cycle.
Speaker A:We make the reading of the Bible understandable.
Speaker A:We use the New Testament, the Message version relatable.
Speaker A:We give you three points to ponder applicable.
Speaker A:I give you an action step to follow.
Speaker A:We have a prayer.
Speaker A:We do all of that in under 10 minutes.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.com that's our website and the home of our free gift for you, the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Guide.
Speaker A: reading for the day from Acts: Speaker A:Reading from the Message it was about this same time that some prophets came to Antioch from Jerusalem.
Speaker A:One of them was named Agabus.
Speaker A:He stood up one day and prompted by the Spirit, warned that a severe famine was about to devastate the country.
Speaker A:The famine eventually came during the role during the rule of Claudius.
Speaker A:So the disciples decided that each of them would send whatever they could to their fellow Christians in Judea to help out.
Speaker A:They sent Barnabas and Saul to deliver the collection to the leaders in Jerusalem.
Speaker A:And that ends the reading from the lectionary for this very day.
Speaker A:And it really talks here about a community that's in crisis.
Speaker A:It's a powerful story about a response to the crisis and the church's early mutual aid that they provided to one another and those practices which are lessons for us today.
Speaker A:Let's talk about three points to ponder.
Speaker A:One is a prophetic voice for social change.
Speaker A:Agabus Prophecy about the famine wasn't just a prediction, it was a call to action.
Speaker A:In progressive Christianity, we understand prophetic voices as those who both name difficult truths and inspire collective response to human need.
Speaker A:Today's prophetic voices continue to warn us about climate crisis, systematic inequality and food insecurity.
Speaker A:And like the early church, we're called to respond with concrete action.
Speaker A:Here's the second point, the radical economics of sharing.
Speaker A:The early Christians response, each according to their ability, reflects a revolutionary economic model.
Speaker A:This was charity from the wealthy to the poor.
Speaker A:It was mutual aid and assistance where everybody contributed what they could.
Speaker A:This challenges our modern individualistic capitalism and shows an alternative way of organizing resources based on community needs rather than personal profit.
Speaker A:Pretty profound, don't you think?
Speaker A:A third point to ponder is cross cultural solidarity.
Speaker A:The Gentile Christians in Antioch sending aid to Jewish Christians in Judea was a powerful act of solidarity across cultural lines which were not traditionally crossed.
Speaker A:This wasn't just about providing material support.
Speaker A:It was about dismantling barriers between communities.
Speaker A:It reminds us that true justice must cross boundaries of race and color and class and culture.
Speaker A:Here's your action step this week.
Speaker A:Research mutual aid networks that serve your community.
Speaker A:This might include food banks or housing, justice organizations or other grassroots support groups.
Speaker A:Choose one or join one or support one, financially or otherwise.
Speaker A:If none exist, maybe you want to start one in your own faith community, your church or your synagogue or your neighborhood.
Speaker A:Remember, mutual aid isn't charity.
Speaker A:It's about building sustained networks of community support support.
Speaker A:We're going to pray in just a minute about all this, but just a reminder that we have something to support you and your daily Bible endeavors.
Speaker A:Study endeavors.
Speaker A:We love it when you come to Daily Bible Refresh to get the audible word into your life.
Speaker A:And thank you for helping us with our mission to get 2 million the Voice of God into 2 million years.
Speaker A:A million people.
Speaker A:Well, you know that you need to study the Bible on your own.
Speaker A:We can help you with that.
Speaker A:So just go to voiceofgoddaily.com and download our resource.
Speaker A:It's called the ABC1, 23 Bible Study Guide.
Speaker A:It's free to you.
Speaker A:It will help you with your individual daily Bible study.
Speaker A:Let's pray.
Speaker A:Oh God, you are a divine source of compassion.
Speaker A:Open our eyes to the prophetic voices in our midst who call us to action.
Speaker A:Give us courage to move beyond comfortable charity to radical sharing.
Speaker A:Help us build networks of care that cross all dividing lines.
Speaker A:When we feel overwhelmed by the world's needs, remind us of the power of collective action.
Speaker A:Guide us in creating communities where everyone needs are met and everyone's gifts are honored in the spirit of justice and love.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:It's always great to be with you here on Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:It's a part of the joy of my life, my daily discipline, and I hope that you'll have your own daily discipline.
Speaker A:One of them is to go to voiceofgoddaily.com and to subscribe to our podcast.
Speaker A:Also download our resource, the ABC123 Bible Study Guide, and then to join us again tomorrow.
Speaker A:And through your network, social media and otherwise, invite others to connect to Voice of God daily that will help us reach our goal of the audible word of God into two million ears.
Speaker A: A million people by: Speaker A:Until that time, we'll be here my name is Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller, inviting you to know 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.
