Episode 903
Reimagining Witness: A Call to Transformative Action
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.
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Remember… “All scripture is God-breathed and useful”(2 Timothy 3:16)
A profound exploration of the Gospel of Luke 24:44-53 unfolds through the lens of transformative witness. The essence of this scripture is highlighted by the imperative call to the disciples as they are tasked with the monumental role of being witnesses to the transformative love and justice of the Messiah. The narrative articulates how Jesus, in his final moments with the disciples, elucidates the significance of their mission to proclaim forgiveness and transformation across all nations, commencing from Jerusalem. This call to witness transcends mere observation; it is an invitation to embody the principles of love, justice, and communal responsibility, prompting us to reflect on our individual and collective roles in the ongoing journey of spiritual and social transformation. The speaker urges listeners to adopt a fresh perspective when engaging with sacred texts, emphasizing the importance of dynamic interpretation that resonates with contemporary issues such as social justice and environmental stewardship. Furthermore, the episode delineates three pivotal points for contemplation, urging individuals to reinterpret scripture, embrace the universal message of transformation, and seek empowerment from above to effectuate meaningful change in our communities.
The intricate tapestry of the narrative weaves together theological insights and actionable steps, encouraging listeners to immerse themselves in the study of scripture while simultaneously engaging with pressing social justice issues. The speaker delineates a clear call to action, advocating for individuals to select a particular social issue that resonates with their values, delve into both biblical and contemporary resources, and identify tangible actions that can be taken to foster transformation in their local contexts. This dual emphasis on spiritual empowerment and social responsibility compels us to recognize that the act of witnessing is not merely passive observation, but an active commitment to justice and love in action. The concluding prayer encapsulates the essence of the message, beseeching divine guidance in our endeavors to transform the world through acts of love and justice, thereby inspiring a collective journey towards revolutionary hope and communal healing.
Through an eloquent articulation of the scriptural passage, the episode serves as a clarion call for reimagining witness in the context of modernity, challenging traditional interpretations while fostering a progressive understanding of faith. The speaker's approach encourages listeners to engage deeply with their faith, urging them to view scripture as a living document that speaks to the realities of contemporary life. This transformative engagement not only enriches individual spirituality but also cultivates a community-oriented vision of faith that seeks to address systemic injustices and promote collective liberation. As the episode concludes, the call to action resonates deeply, inviting each listener to not only bear witness to the message of love and justice but to actively participate in the ongoing narrative of transformation, thereby embodying the spirit of revolutionary hope in their daily lives.
Takeaways:
- This podcast episode emphasizes the significance of reinterpreting sacred texts in contemporary contexts.
- It invites listeners to consider the transformative power of forgiveness proclaimed to all nations.
- The importance of waiting for empowerment from above is highlighted, enabling action for justice.
- Listeners are encouraged to engage with social justice issues through study and actionable steps.
- A call to witness is presented, urging one to embody change through actions rather than mere observation.
- The episode concludes with a prayer, seeking strength to pursue justice and love in our communities.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- voiceofgoddaily.com
Transcript
Reimagining Witness a call to transformative action.
Speaker A: A Study of Luke: Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Hello my friend.
Speaker A:Welcome to Daily Bible Refresh with Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Thank you for joining me.
Speaker A:We're here every day.
Speaker A:We usually drop our episodes before 6am Eastern Time.
Speaker A:We're every day to offer you the daily reading of the New Testament.
Speaker A:We use the Revised Common Lectionary.
Speaker A:We're in year C of a three year cycle, the Easter tide season.
Speaker A:We make the reading of the scripture understandable by reading the New Testament from the message version.
Speaker A:Relatable, we give you three points to ponder.
Speaker A:Then applicable, I give you an extra step to take.
Speaker A:We do all of that under 10 minutes or so with a prayer to boot.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.com that's the home of the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A:Free to you.
Speaker A: e day from the Gospel of Luke: Speaker A:Then he said, everything I told you while I was with you comes to this.
Speaker A:All the things written about me in the law of Moses, in the prophets and in the Psalms have to be fulfilled.
Speaker A:He went on to open their understanding of the word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles.
Speaker A:This way.
Speaker A:He said, you can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day and then a total life change to the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations starting from here, from Jerusalem.
Speaker A:You're the first to hear and see this.
Speaker A:You're the witnesses.
Speaker A:What comes next is very important.
Speaker A:I'm sending what my Father promised to you.
Speaker A:To stay here in the city until he arrives.
Speaker A:Until you're equipped with power from on high.
Speaker A:He then led them out of the city over to Bethany and raising his hands he blessed them and while blessing them made his exit being carried up to heaven.
Speaker A:And they were on their knees worshiping him.
Speaker A:And they returned to Jerusalem bursting with joy.
Speaker A:They spent all their time praising God.
Speaker A:Yes, this is a call here friends, for reimagining what it means to witness.
Speaker A:It's a call to transformative action.
Speaker A:It challenges to think deeply what it means to witness transformation, transformative love and justice in world, in our world today.
Speaker A:Here's three points to ponder.
Speaker A:Number one is reinterpreting sacred text.
Speaker A:Jesus opens the disciples understanding of scripture, showing them a new way to read their sacred text.
Speaker A:This models for us the importance of approaching scripture with fresh eyes, allowing us to speak to contemporary issues like social justice, environmental crisis and systematic oppression.
Speaker A:Progressive Christianity continues this tradition of dynamic interpretation, reading scripture through the lens of love, inclusion and justice.
Speaker A:Here's another take on this scripture.
Speaker A:It's about the universal message of transformation.
Speaker A:The text speaks of total life change through forgiveness being proclaimed to all nations.
Speaker A:In progressive theology, this isn't about individual salvation alone, but about systematic transformation.
Speaker A:This message begins in Jerusalem, but extends everywhere, suggesting that authentic spiritual transformation must lead to social transformation and collective liberation.
Speaker A:Another point is power from above for work below.
Speaker A:The disciples are told to wait for power from on high.
Speaker A:But this power isn't for personal gain or individual spirituality.
Speaker A:It's power for witness, for doing the work of justice and transformation in the world.
Speaker A:This challenges us to see spiritual empowerment as something that enables us to work more effectively for social change and community healing.
Speaker A:Here's your action step this week.
Speaker A:Choose one social justice issue that matters to you.
Speaker A:It might be climate justice or racial equality or economic justice or something political.
Speaker A:Spend time studying both the scripture and contemporary resources about the issue.
Speaker A:Then identify a concrete action that that you can take as a quote, witness to transform the situation in your local community.
Speaker A:Remember, doing witness isn't just about seeing, it's about doing.
Speaker A:We'll come back with a closing prayer here in just a minute.
Speaker A:Right now, I want you to know about our resources we have available to you.
Speaker A:Please head over to our website, voiceofgoddaily.com that's where you're going to find information and an easy place to click and get the free resource we have for you, which is called the ABC 123 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A:It's just that simple to get into Bible study of your own accord.
Speaker A:Use it in complement to what we do here on the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:Here's our prayer.
Speaker A:Oh God, you are the source of love and life.
Speaker A:Help us read our sacred stories with new eyes, finding in them the courage to work for change.
Speaker A:When we feel powerless in the face of injustice, remind us of your promise of empowerment.
Speaker A:Give us strength to be witnesses, not just with our words, but with our actions and our lives.
Speaker A:Like those first disciples, may we return to our communities with joy, not because all problems are solved, but because we know we're not alone in the work.
Speaker A:Guide us in transforming our world, one act of love and justice at a time, in the spirit of revolutionary hope.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Well, it's always a joy and a pleasure for us to spend some time together.
Speaker A:My name is Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller, I'm here with you every single day to give you a daily reading of the New Testament.
Speaker A:We like to make it understandable and relatable and applicable to your life.
Speaker A: n years, a million people, by: Speaker A:And your job is to be here tomorrow to subscribe to the podcast and invite someone else to join us.
Speaker A:That's how you can help us reach that goal.
Speaker A:Thanks for being with us.
Speaker A:Until tomorrow, 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.
Speaker A:Sam.
