Episode 986
What Happens When Churches Welcome the Unwelcome?
This podcast episode elucidates the profound themes encapsulated within the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, as narrated in the Gospel of Luke. We commence with an exploration of the concept of radical inclusion, emphasizing the intrinsic worth of every individual, irrespective of societal judgments. The discourse further delves into the mathematics of grace, illustrating how divine love transcends conventional economic principles, thereby affirming the significance of the one amidst the many. Additionally, we examine the celebration factor inherent in these parables, which underscores the joy that accompanies the recovery of what was lost. Conclusively, we proffer actionable steps for listeners to engage with those who may feel isolated or undervalued, fostering connections that reflect the essence of Christ’s teachings.
Dr. Brad Miller's presentation in the Daily Bible Refresh articulates a compelling interpretation of the parables found in Luke 15, specifically the narratives of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin. Through a meticulously crafted dialogue, he explores the themes of loss, redemption, and the profound joy that accompanies the recovery of what is deemed lost. These parables, while simple in their narrative structure, carry significant implications regarding the nature of divine grace and the inclusivity that is central to Jesus' teachings. Dr. Miller invites listeners to reflect deeply on the implications of these stories, emphasizing that every individual—regardless of their past actions—holds intrinsic value in the eyes of God.
The discourse further probes into the societal constructs of worth and achievement, contrasting them with the divine perspective that each person is worthy of love and belonging. Dr. Miller articulates the radical notion of inclusion that Jesus exemplified, wherein he associated with individuals ostracized by the religious authorities of his time. This serves as a poignant reminder of the need for compassion and understanding in our interactions with others, particularly those who may feel marginalized or judged. He encourages the audience to embody this spirit of radical inclusion in their own lives, fostering environments where individuals can feel safe and celebrated.
Moreover, the celebratory conclusion of both parables serves as a significant focal point in the discussion. Dr. Miller highlights the joy that arises from recovery, urging listeners to recognize and celebrate the victories—large and small—in their own lives and those of others. By advocating for a culture of celebration and support, he reinforces the idea that our collective experiences are enriched when we acknowledge and uplift one another. Ultimately, this episode is not merely a biblical exegesis; it is a clarion call for action, inviting listeners to engage in meaningful connections that reflect the love and grace that Jesus modeled.
Takeaways:
- The podcast emphasizes the significance of engaging with the New Testament from a progressive perspective, thereby enriching one's spiritual journey.
- Listeners are encouraged to reflect on the biblical stories of the lost sheep and the lost coin, which symbolize God's unwavering pursuit of the lost.
- A fundamental theme discussed is the concept of radical inclusion, underscoring that everyone possesses inherent worth regardless of societal judgment.
- The mathematics of grace is highlighted, illustrating that even one lost individual holds immense value in the eyes of God, countering conventional efficiency-driven mindsets.
- Celebration is presented as a vital aspect of faith, where every moment of reconnection and redemption is worthy of joy and communal recognition.
- Finally, practical steps are suggested for listeners to connect with those who may feel isolated, promoting a culture of compassion and outreach.
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)
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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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)
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.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you by voiceofgoddd daily.com which is the home of your free personal Bible Study Guide, the ABC1, 23 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A: lionaires a million people by: Speaker A:You can help by saving and subscribing to the podcast and tagging your friends.
Speaker A:Here's today's reading and the reading for.
Speaker B:The day is from the gospel of Luke 15, verses 1 through 10.
Speaker B:Reading from the message the Story of the Lost Sheep by this time, a lot of men and women of questionable reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently.
Speaker B:The Pharisees and religious scholars were not pleased.
Speaker B:Not pleased at all.
Speaker B:They growled.
Speaker A:He takes in sinners and eats meals.
Speaker B:With them, treating them like old friends.
Speaker B:Their grumbling triggered this story.
Speaker B:Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one.
Speaker B:Wouldn't you leave the 99 in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it?
Speaker B:When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing.
Speaker B:And when you got home, call all your friends and neighbors, saying, celebrate with me, I've found my lost sheep.
Speaker B:Count on it.
Speaker B:There's more joy in heaven or over one sinner's rescued life then over 99 good people in no need of rescue.
Speaker B:The Story of the Lost Coin.
Speaker B:Or imagine a woman who has 10 coins and loses one.
Speaker B:Won't she light a lamp and scour the house looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it?
Speaker B:And when she finds it, you can be sure she'll call her friends and neighbors.
Speaker A:Celebrate with me.
Speaker B:I found my lost coin.
Speaker B:Count on it.
Speaker B:It's the kind of party God's angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God.
Speaker B:What a great passage of scripture.
Speaker B:One of my favorites.
Speaker B:It's really, it's kind of a biblical lost and found.
Speaker B:It's a modern parable about what was lost and what was found.
Speaker B:My name is Dr. Brad Miller and we're diving into this kind of really this fascinating passage from Luke that reminds me of times when I may be hiking with my wife in the woods.
Speaker B:And you know how in sometimes those wood wooded trails you can sometimes discover something that may, you may have thought that you lost.
Speaker B:One time I thought I lost my phone and I went into a bit of a panic, went back and forth on the trail and realized it was in my backpack the whole time.
Speaker B:But we were looking for it, that's for sure.
Speaker B:And we spent some time and some energy looking for it because it was important.
Speaker B:It was a moment of panic.
Speaker B:So when we finally figured it out, it was a laugh and a moment of joy, but got me thinking about today's scripture.
Speaker B:From Luke 15 we encounter Jesus telling these two parallel stories about lost things, the lost sheep and the lost coin.
Speaker B:But here's what's really interesting.
Speaker B:These stories aren't just about lost things or animals.
Speaker B:It's really about Jesus showing that hanging out with people who care in that matter, that lost people is what was really made such a steward.
Speaker B:So let's look at some points to ponder about this.
Speaker B:The first one is the point of radical inclusion.
Speaker B:You know, I host a podcast with people who have been impacted by cancer and I learned that sometimes people just want to know that they've heard and that they belong and they want to hear this story shared.
Speaker B:And I think that's what was going on with it with about their cancer stories.
Speaker B:And I believe that's what's going on here with Jesus.
Speaker B:He's having dinner with people that other people, the society as it were, Pharisees and Jewish leaders had written them off.
Speaker B:The religious leaders were scandalized.
Speaker B:He would hang out with, quote, sinners.
Speaker B:But here's the thing.
Speaker B:Jesus was demonstrating that everyone, and I mean everyone, has worth.
Speaker B:Reminds me how my granddaughter is.
Speaker B:They seem to make friends easily on the playground and places where they're at without judgment.
Speaker B:And I've noticed this.
Speaker B:They hang out, you know, with people that speak different languages than them, different colors, different backgrounds, things like that.
Speaker B:There's no judgment, they're just having fun.
Speaker B:And I think we adults can learn something from children in that.
Speaker B:In that matter.
Speaker B:The second point to ponder is the mathematics of grace.
Speaker B:Here's a dad joke for you.
Speaker B:What did the calculator say to the math students?
Speaker B:You can count on me.
Speaker B:That's just a silly way of saying that people count.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:And fascinating both stories here that the focus is on the one who was lost rather than on the many.
Speaker B:One sheep out of a hundred and one coin out of ten.
Speaker B:In our efficiency driven world, sometimes the tendency would think those numbers don't matter.
Speaker B:Leave the one behind and go with the rest.
Speaker B:But then those numbers don't make any business sense, for instance, do they?
Speaker B:But that's exactly the point.
Speaker B:God's love doesn't operate on mathematical economic principles that we might know culturally.
Speaker B:It's God's math, it's God's economics that everyone matters, including you.
Speaker B:Third point is about the celebration factor.
Speaker B:Both these stories have a party at the end and that's significant.
Speaker B:I know my wife and I are coming up on our 34th anniversary.
Speaker B:We're planning some celebration and that's crucial.
Speaker B:Don't you celebrate birthdays and anniversaries and Christmas and New Year's and other events?
Speaker B:So I know in our case, loved one of the greatest highlights was seeing our three kids graduate from high school.
Speaker B:Or we like to cheer on some of our favorite teams, the Colts and the Pacers and the Fever.
Speaker B:Or maybe we just celebrate small victories with maybe some of the people impacted by cancer I work with in my other cancer groups where they have small victories.
Speaker B:Whatever it is, friends celebrate and joy is multiplied.
Speaker B:Here's your action step.
Speaker B:Something practical that you can do this week is identify someone in your life that you just kind of sense that they're lost.
Speaker B:Maybe they're isolated or struggling.
Speaker B:Or maybe you are aware that somehow they've been judged by others and reach out to them.
Speaker B:A simple phone call, maybe even a Facebook post or a text, and invite them to get connected with you.
Speaker B:Have a call, have a coffee, send them a message.
Speaker B:Be the person that matters to them and indicate that they matter to you.
Speaker B:We're going to pray here in just a moment, but before we do, I just want to remind you that we have a great resource for you.
Speaker B:It's called the ABC 123 Bible Study Method.
Speaker B:You can pick it up at our website, voiceofgodaily.com let's pray.
Speaker B:Oh God, you are divine.
Speaker B:Love and thank you for constantly seeking us out, even when we feel lost or unworthy.
Speaker B:Help us to be seekers too.
Speaker B:Not of perfection, but of connection.
Speaker B:Give us the courage to reach out to others, the wisdom to see worth in every person, and the joy to celebrate every step toward wholeness.
Speaker B:Guide us in creating spaces where everyone feels welcome just as you welcomed us.
Speaker B:Amen.
Speaker A:My friend.
Speaker A:I am delighted you chose to join me for today's reading.
Speaker A:The daily Bible refresh is completely listener supported.
Speaker A: on years, a million people by: Speaker A:I would be so grateful if you would go to voiceofgodddaily.com and share your gift of any amount.
Speaker A:Thanks much.
Speaker B:My name is Dr. Brad Miller and.
Speaker A: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, it's created new every morning.
