Episode 1193
What Happens When You Let Grace Be as Big as Paul Says It Is? (1 Corinthians 15:1-11)
This episode elucidates the profound concept of grace as articulated in the reading from First Corinthians 15:1-11. We explore the transformative nature of grace, which, as demonstrated through the Apostle Paul's narrative, transcends human limitations and categorizations of worthiness. The discourse emphasizes that grace does not require a background check, as illustrated by Paul's own unmerited inclusion in the fold of the faithful, despite his prior antagonism towards the church. Furthermore, we delve into the notion of collaboration with the divine, underscoring that our efforts are not solitary endeavors but rather participations in a greater divine orchestration. Through reflection and actionable insights, we invite listeners to acknowledge their own stories, recognizing that grace meets us in our complexities and imperfections.
Takeaways:
- The podcast emphasizes the importance of understanding grace as unconditional and boundless, transcending societal judgments and limitations.
- In exploring the message of resurrection, the discussion highlights that every individual, regardless of their past, is worthy of inclusion and acceptance.
- Listeners are encouraged to acknowledge their own histories and recognize how grace has interacted with their lives, promoting healing and liberation.
- The concept of co-laboring with God is introduced, stressing that individual efforts are energized by a divine presence rather than solely personal willpower.
- The episode invites participants to reflect on their past and write down experiences they have been reluctant to share, thereby embracing the fullness of their personal narratives.
- The importance of community support in spreading the message of grace and the podcast's mission is underscored, highlighting the goal of reaching millions by 2028.
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.
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- Applicable: Every episode includes a way you can take action based on the reading
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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.
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 reading of the day.
Speaker B:From First Corinthians 15:1 11 from the Message Story of the Resurrection Friends, let me go over to the message with you one final time.
Speaker B:This message that I proclaim and you made your own.
Speaker B:This message in which you looked, took your stand, and by which your life has been saved.
Speaker B:I'm assuming now that your belief was the real thing and not a passing fancy, and that you're in this for good and for holding fast.
Speaker B:The first thing I did was place before you what was placed so emphatically before me.
Speaker B:That this Messiah died for our sins, exactly as Scripture tells us that he was buried, that he was raised from death on the third day, and exactly as Scripture says that he presented himself alive to Peter, then to his closest followers, and later to more than 500 of his followers, all at the same time, most of them still around, although a few have since died.
Speaker B:That he then spent time with James and the rest of those he commissioned to represent him, and that he finally presented himself alive to me.
Speaker B:It was fitting that I bring up the rear.
Speaker B:I don't deserve to be included in that inner circle.
Speaker B:As you may well know, I've spent all those early years trying to my best to stamp God's church right out of existence, but because he was so gracious, so very generous, here I am.
Speaker B:I'm not about to let this grace go to waste.
Speaker B:Haven't I worked hard trying to do more than any of the others?
Speaker B:Even then, my work didn't amount to all that much.
Speaker B:It was God giving me the work to do, God giving the energy to do it.
Speaker B:So whether you heard it from me or from those others, it's all the same.
Speaker B:We spoke God's truth and you entrusted are your lives.
Speaker B:All right, that ends the reading.
Speaker B:Let's sit with a couple things here today that I think are.
Speaker B:Are worth your time here today.
Speaker B:I like to call them points to ponder.
Speaker B:First is this Grace doesn't have a background check.
Speaker B:Paul doesn't ease into this.
Speaker B:He doesn't.
Speaker B:He just says it flat out.
Speaker B:I spent years trying to stamp out this whole movement of existence.
Speaker B:So he doesn't bury that in the footnotes or skip past it quickly.
Speaker B:He names it and then he says it.
Speaker B:But because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am.
Speaker B:Now, that is a stunning statement.
Speaker B:And from a progressive theological perspective, it raises a really important.
Speaker B:If grace is extended that far, what exactly are the limits we keep placing on it?
Speaker B:We have a tendency, we, meaning the church, sometimes can be especially good at this, to sort people into categories of who deserves to be at the table and who doesn't, who's spiritually credible and who's too messy, who is too complicated a past.
Speaker B:Paul essentially blows that whole framework up.
Speaker B:He says that the resurrection appeared to him the very last person anyone would have put on the list.
Speaker B:Now, I've walked alongside a lot of people who had gone through cancer journeys in my other podcast, and I'll tell you, the people I've met who've lived the hardest, made the biggest messes, carries the heaviest regrets.
Speaker B:Those folks often are the most profound things to say about grace because they know they didn't earn it.
Speaker B:Neither did Paul, neither did we.
Speaker B:Neither did I.
Speaker B:Here's your point to ponder number two.
Speaker B:You are a co laborer, not the whole operation.
Speaker B:This line kind of stopped me cold in this passage.
Speaker B:It was this.
Speaker B:It was God doing the work, giving me the work to do.
Speaker B:God giving me the energy to do it.
Speaker B:That is to say, Paul worked incredibly hard.
Speaker B:He says so himself.
Speaker B:He wasn't passive, he wasn't coasting.
Speaker B:But he was also completely clear where the real source of all that effort came from.
Speaker B:It wasn't his willpower, it wasn't his hustle.
Speaker B:It was something moving through him that was bigger than him.
Speaker B:Yeah, you all know my wife and I like to go hiking.
Speaker B:You know, would have put us on a wooded trail and life is good.
Speaker B:One thing hiking teaches you is the trail was there before you, it'll be there long after you're gone.
Speaker B:You get to walk on it.
Speaker B:You bring your own legs.
Speaker B:You, you, you pack.
Speaker B:You have your own pace, you own.
Speaker B:You bring the things with you.
Speaker B:You didn't build the mountain.
Speaker B:You're on it.
Speaker B:You enjoy it.
Speaker B:Progressive theology leans into this partnership model, the idea that God isn't a distant manager handing down assignments, but a living presence energizing the work from the inside out.
Speaker B:That is genuinely freeing.
Speaker B:It means you can stop white knuckling everything.
Speaker B:You are not the whole operation.
Speaker B:You are co labor with something much bigger, much more patient than you are.
Speaker B:And that's good news for perfectionists.
Speaker B:That's good news for burned out people.
Speaker B:That's good news for Colts fans who've been waiting a long time for things to turn around.
Speaker B:Here's your action step this week.
Speaker B:Take five minutes this week and write down honestly one part of your past you've been reluctant to include in your own story.
Speaker B:Not don't wallow in it.
Speaker B:That's not we're talking about.
Speaker B:But acknowledge the way Paul does.
Speaker B:This is something that happened and Grace met me there.
Speaker B:Anyway, sometimes owning the whole story is exactly what sets us free to move toward it.
Speaker B:We're going to come back and have a prayer here.
Speaker B:Just a second if you want to remind you, we've got a resource for you called the ABC 123 Bible study method free to you at voice of God daily.com Let's pray.
Speaker B:Oh God of scandalous Grace, remind us today that you were never waiting for us to get it together.
Speaker B:You showed up anyway.
Speaker B:Give us courage to believe that.
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 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, it's created new every morning.
