Episode 1202
What If Abundant Life Isn't What You Were Told? (John 10:1-10)
The salient theme of today's discourse revolves around the profound interpretation of Jesus as the gate, which serves as a conduit for liberation rather than confinement. We delve into the significance of this metaphor, emphasizing that the gate is not a barrier, but rather a passage designed to facilitate movement and access to the abundant life promised to all. Through the lens of progressive faith, we explore how this abundance transcends mere spiritual assurance and manifests as a communal justice imperative, advocating for the inclusion and flourishing of all individuals. The discussion further elucidates the necessity of discerning the true shepherd's voice amidst the clamor of competing influences that seek to diminish our sense of belonging and worth. As we engage with these reflections, we invite you to consider your own experiences and the voices that guide you, urging you to embrace those that lead toward the richness of life intended for everyone.
Takeaways:
- The Daily Bible Refresh promotes a progressive understanding of the Bible, aiming for broader accessibility.
- In today's episode, we explore the concept of Jesus as the gate, emphasizing movement and freedom.
- Abundant life, as presented in the scripture, extends beyond spiritual promises to encompass justice and communal well-being.
- Listeners are encouraged to discern which voices lead them towards life and which confine them with fear.
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...
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- A prayer for your day.
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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.
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Speaker B:Which is the home of your free.
Speaker A: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.
Speaker B:Reading today from the Gospel of John 10 verses 1 through 10 from the Message Jesus said Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit.
Speaker B:The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
Speaker B:The gatekeeper opens the gate for him and the sheep hear his voice.
Speaker B:He he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
Speaker B:When he is brought out all on his own, he goes ahead of them and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
Speaker B:They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.
Speaker B:Now, Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Speaker B:So again Jesus said to them, very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
Speaker B:All who come before me are thieves and bandits.
Speaker B:But the sheep did not listen unto them.
Speaker B:I am the gate.
Speaker B:Whoever enters by me will be saved who will come in and go out and find pasture.
Speaker B:The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
Speaker B:I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Speaker B:That ends the Scripture, one of my favorites in the whole Bible, especially the.
Speaker A:Last Last verse, verse 10.
Speaker B:Again, they may have life and have it abundantly.
Speaker B:So my friends, let's this is really one of the most familiar passages in the Bible and I and I think familiarity is something we need to be wary of.
Speaker B:So let's look at fresh so here's a couple points to ponder.
Speaker B:Point Number one the gate is for movement, not locked down.
Speaker B:We've often heard this passage taught, as if Jesus is saying, I'm the gate and I decide who gets in and Stays out like a kind of a bouncer at a nightclub.
Speaker B:But read what actually Jesus says.
Speaker B:He says, whoever enters by me will be saved.
Speaker B:And who will come in and go out and find pasture?
Speaker B:It says to come in and go out.
Speaker B:The gate swings both ways.
Speaker B:It's not a locked door.
Speaker B:It's a passage to freedom.
Speaker B:In the ancient world, a sheepfold gate protected sheep at night, but in the morning the shepherd opened it and led him out to the open pasture.
Speaker B:The whole point of the gate was to get the sheep out into the wide open, nourishing world.
Speaker B:Progressive faith takes this seriously.
Speaker B:Jesus isn't building walls here to keep people contained inside some sort of a religious system.
Speaker B:He's opening the way for people to move freely into safety when they need rest and out into the fullness of life when it's time to grow.
Speaker B:Any voice that uses Jesus as a reason to lock people in or shut people out, that is not the shepherd's voice.
Speaker B:The sheep know the difference.
Speaker B:Point to ponder number two.
Speaker B:Abundant life is a justice issue, not just a spiritual promise.
Speaker B:The last line here is one of the most quoted verses in scripture.
Speaker B:I can that may have life and have it abundantly.
Speaker B:And too often it gets turned into a prosperity gospel slogan.
Speaker B:You know, God wants you to have a bigger house, better car, so on, big boat.
Speaker B:Or it gets pushed entirely into the afterlife.
Speaker B:That is, you know, the abundant life means heaven someday.
Speaker B:But Jesus here is contrasting abundant life with the work of thieves who steal and kill and destroy.
Speaker B:That's not abstract.
Speaker B:When systems exploit people, when the vulnerable are used for someone else's gain, when people are told they don't belong at the table, that's the thief at work.
Speaker B:Abundant life means everyone has enough.
Speaker B:Everyone has access to the pasture, as it were.
Speaker B:Everyone gets called by name.
Speaker B:I host a weekly podcast for cancer impacted people, and I can tell you abundant life doesn't mean the absence of struggle.
Speaker B:Some of the most abundant alive people I know are walking through the hardest seasons imaginable with their cancer.
Speaker B:Abundant life means being known, being led with care, and having access to what you need to flourish.
Speaker B:It's a communal promise, not just a personal one.
Speaker B:When Jesus says abundant life, he means for everybody, not just the sheep who got there first.
Speaker B:My granddaughters often teach me this in the simplest ways.
Speaker B:When somebody has a snack or candy or something the other one doesn't are one you know, they share.
Speaker B:No theology required, no debate about who deserves the crackers or their candy.
Speaker B:Just abundance shared.
Speaker B:I always say my best dad jokes made people grown, but My granddaughters laugh just by time.
Speaker B:That's abundant laugh right there, isn't it?
Speaker B:Okay, here's your action step for today.
Speaker B:This week, I want you to listen for the shepherd's voice and I want you to notice which voices are not the shepherd that is.
Speaker B:Pay attention to the voices in your life, in media conversations, perhaps in your own head, that try to make you feel small, locked in, locked out.
Speaker B:Then ask yourself, does this voice lead me to open pasture or does it leave me pinned in with fear?
Speaker B:The sheep know the difference.
Speaker B:You know the difference.
Speaker B:Trust the instinct.
Speaker B:This week, follow the voice that leads you towards life.
Speaker B:We're come back and have a prayer here in just a second.
Speaker B:Just a quick reminder that we've got a free resource for you.
Speaker B:It's@voiceofgoddaily.com our website that's called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Method.
Speaker B:Let's pray.
Speaker B:Good shepherd, help us to hear your voice above the noise.
Speaker B:Lead us through the gate and into the abundant life you promised.
Speaker B:Amen.
Speaker A:My friend, 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 voice voiceofgoddaily.com and share your gift of any amount.
Speaker B:Thanks much.
Speaker A:My name is Dr. Brad Miller and 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.
Speaker A:It's created new every morning.
Speaker B:Sa.
