Episode 1105
What If God Is Bigger Than Our Boundaries?
The principal focus of this podcast episode revolves around the transformative power of the Holy Spirit as depicted in Acts chapter 10, which illustrates that divine intervention transcends human categorization of insiders and outsiders. Dr. Brad Miller articulates the profound implications of this passage, emphasizing that God's actions often precede our theological understanding, thereby suggesting that belonging precedes believing. He elucidates that the Holy Spirit's unexpected arrival upon non-Jewish individuals challenges longstanding assumptions about inclusion and divine grace. Furthermore, the discourse reveals that baptism should be perceived as a response to God's pre-existing love, rather than a prerequisite for receiving it. Through this exploration, we are invited to reconsider our boundaries and assumptions, prompting a call to action to recognize where God may already be at work beyond our comfort zones.
Takeaways:
- The podcast emphasizes that God's actions often precede theological understanding, illustrating that experience can occur before one fully grasps its significance.
- Listeners are encouraged to recognize that the Holy Spirit transcends human-made boundaries, reaching individuals often deemed outsiders by societal standards.
- Baptism is portrayed as a celebration of God's existing love rather than a prerequisite for receiving that love, challenging conventional notions of religious rituals.
- The discussion highlights the importance of being open to God's work outside one's comfort zone, particularly in relation to marginalized communities or individuals.
- The episode calls for an active response to God's grace, prompting listeners to consider where they might be resistant to accepting those whom God embraces.
- Finally, the podcast invites us to reflect on the nature of love, suggesting that true love expands and includes rather than confines or excludes.
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.
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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.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.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 reading of the day.
Speaker B:From Acts, chapter 10, verses 44 through 48 from the Message.
Speaker B:No sooner were these words out of Peter's mouth than the Holy Spirit came to the listeners.
Speaker B:The believing Jews who had come with Peter couldn't believe it, couldn't believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on outsider non Jews.
Speaker B:But there was they heard them speaking in tongues, heard them praising God.
Speaker B:Then Peter said, do I hear any objections to baptizing these friends with water?
Speaker B:They've received the Holy Spirit exactly as we did.
Speaker B:Hearing no objections, he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Speaker B:Then they asked Peter to stay on for a few days.
Speaker B:Well, my friends, that's the end of the reading.
Speaker B:I just want to thank you for joining with me today.
Speaker B:And so let's just take a moment to consider this and consider this reading from Acts, chapter 10.
Speaker B:And it's one of those passages that still has the kind of the power to kind of mess with us just a little bit.
Speaker B:And I think in the best possible way.
Speaker B:See, Peter is in the middle of talking mid sentence really, and before he can wrap things up, the Holy Spirit just shows up.
Speaker B:No altar call, nothing like that, no doctrinal checklist, no background check.
Speaker B:God interrupts the sermon and not just for the right people.
Speaker B:He's talking here about the Spirit falling upon outsiders, non Jews, people who are absolutely not expected to be included.
Speaker B:And everyone knows it.
Speaker B:And they're speaking in tongues, praising God.
Speaker B:The religious leaders are standing there thinking, well, now what do we do with this?
Speaker B:And Peter's response is, it's really takes you off guard just a little bit.
Speaker B:It's simple and surprisingly humble.
Speaker B:Do I hear any objections is what he says.
Speaker B:And no one says a word.
Speaker B:So let's get into this a little bit.
Speaker B:Let's go to three points to ponder about this passage.
Speaker B:The first one is that God moves faster than theology.
Speaker B:One of the things I love and sometimes struggle with about this story is how God refuses to wait for permission.
Speaker B:Peter's theology hadn't quite caught up yet, but the Spirit didn't care.
Speaker B:God acted first and understanding came later.
Speaker B:And this is a progressive way of thinking, even radical.
Speaker B:It tells us that belonging comes before believing and experience often comes before explanation.
Speaker B:I've learned the same way and some of the important things I've dealt with my life and where I've been really wrong at first and had to come around to a different way of thinking.
Speaker B:As I've raised three kids who are now growing adults and living amazing independent lives.
Speaker B:I didn't always know what I was doing, often didn't know what I was doing.
Speaker B:I had my own theories and practices, even things I'd learned, strong opinions.
Speaker B:But when real life showed up, it kind of rewrote the script.
Speaker B:Life tends to do that, and God is doing that here in this passage.
Speaker B:Second point to ponder.
Speaker B:The Holy Spirit has no interest in our insider outsider categories.
Speaker B:Acts 10 kind of blows up the idea that God is only for people who look right, vote right, love right, pray right.
Speaker B:The Spirit falls on people who are who were labeled other.
Speaker B:That's important for the church and for our world.
Speaker B:That often still draws lines between the other and us.
Speaker B:Been Married for over 34 years now and to amazing woman.
Speaker B:And we've walked through the life together in marriage and in parenting and grandparenting.
Speaker B:Now, which is the most fun part of things, by the way?
Speaker B:And life has had its share of curveballs and problems to deal with.
Speaker B:And I learned something simple.
Speaker B:Either love expands or it shrinks.
Speaker B:And one of the things I find that expands my love is laughing with my granddaughters.
Speaker B:You know, when I have fun with them and play with their toys or tell a dumb joke or they tell a joke to me, there's a groaning moment that happens and then we laugh.
Speaker B:It's probably the joy doesn't ask for credentials, it just shows up.
Speaker B:So does the spirit.
Speaker B:A third point to ponder.
Speaker B:Baptism becomes a response, not a requirement.
Speaker B:Notice the order here.
Speaker B:Spirit first, then the water, the symbol second.
Speaker B:Baptism isn't a gate that you pass through to earn God's love.
Speaker B:It's a celebration of the love that's already there.
Speaker B:Peter doesn't say, let's see if they believe correctly.
Speaker B:He says, how can we say no?
Speaker B:That's a powerful question for us to today, where have we said no when God already has said yes?
Speaker B:I host a weekly podcast dealing with people who've been impacted by cancer, and it's where hope and humor share the same space.
Speaker B:And I've seen faith show up raw in unscripted ways.
Speaker B:And God doesn't wait for us to clean ourselves up first.
Speaker B:God meets us exactly where we are.
Speaker B:Let's talk about an action step for today.
Speaker B:Here's a gentle, doable invitation.
Speaker B:Pay attention this week to where God might already be at work outside your comfort zone.
Speaker B:Maybe it's a person whose story kind of challenges your assumptions about them and about yourself.
Speaker B:Maybe it's a community or group of people who you were taught to fear or dismiss.
Speaker B:Maybe it's a moment when compassion shows up before certainty.
Speaker B:Instead of asking, you know, is this permissible?
Speaker B:Is this allowed?
Speaker B:Is this the right thing to do?
Speaker B:Try asking, what might God be doing right, right here, right now?
Speaker B:And then take action.
Speaker B:Where to Come back and have a closing prayer together.
Speaker B:Before we do, I just want to let you know about action that you could take.
Speaker B:We have a great resource for you called the ABC 123 Bible study method.
Speaker B:You could head over to our website voiceofgod daily.com that's where you could pick it up.
Speaker B:Let's pray.
Speaker B:God of Holy interruptions, thank you for showing up before we have it all figured out.
Speaker B:Thank you for crossing lines where we were taught not to cross, for loving people we were told were outside, and for reminding us that your spirit cannot be contained.
Speaker B:Help us loosen our grip on certainty and open our hands to grace.
Speaker B:When we are tempted to protect boundaries, teach us to instead to protect people.
Speaker B:Let our lives be response to your love, not attempts to earn it.
Speaker B:And today, God help us to laugh easily, love boldly, and trust that you are already at work in places that we never expected.
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 voiceofgodddaily.com and share your gift of any amount.
Speaker A: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 his merciful love hasn't dried up.
Speaker A:It's created new every morning.
