This episode elucidates the profound message of Jesus' invitation to transformation, as illustrated in the Gospel of Luke, where he calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow him. We delve into the implications of Jesus’ radical table fellowship, emphasizing that his act of dining with societal outcasts signifies a deliberate challenge to the prevailing social and religious hierarchies of the time. Our discussion further explores the notion of economic justice, highlighting that transformation often arises from inclusion rather than the prerequisites of perfection or reparations. By redefining holiness, we confront the contemporary religious paradigm that prioritizes separation from sinners over genuine relational engagement. Conclusively, we offer a practical action step, encouraging the audience to share a meal with someone outside their usual social circles, thereby fostering mutual understanding and connection.

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.

You can help Dr. Brad attain his goal of getting a bit of the bible into two million ears by subscribing to "Daily Bible Refresh" on Apple Podcasts, leaving a five-star rating, and writing a review. More importantly please share with your network of family and friends about the "Daily Bible Refresh".

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)

The podcast delves into the profound narrative found in the Gospel of Luke, specifically examining the transformative encounter between Jesus and Levi, a tax collector. The discussion unfolds by highlighting the significance of Jesus' radical inclusivity, as he dines with those deemed socially unacceptable by the religious elite of his time. This act is not merely a social engagement; it represents a deliberate challenge to the established norms of the societal hierarchy. The speakers emphasize that such meals were not incidental, but rather revolutionary gestures that disrupted the prevailing notions of worthiness and acceptance. Through this lens, we are invited to reflect on our own biases and the societal constructs that dictate whom we deem worthy of fellowship.

Furthermore, the episode explores the theme of economic justice, particularly in relation to Levi's role as a tax collector. It is noted that Levi's previous profession benefitted from an oppressive system, yet Jesus’ invitation to him was unconditional. This notion is pivotal in understanding that transformation often initiates from a place of inclusion rather than preconditions of moral rectitude. The speakers poignantly assert that Levi's immediate response was to host a gathering, symbolizing his transformation and the infectious nature of true acceptance. This narrative compels us to re-evaluate our understanding of holiness, urging a shift from separation to engagement with those marginalized by society.

As the episode draws to a close, an action step is presented, encouraging listeners to seek out fellowship with individuals from differing backgrounds or beliefs. The speakers advocate for an authentic connection that transcends superficial interactions, positing that such engagements foster mutual understanding and genuine transformation. The closing prayer serves as a reflective moment, prompting us to acknowledge our tendencies to exclude others and to embrace the radical welcome exemplified by Jesus. Ultimately, this podcast episode underscores the importance of embracing inclusivity, challenging societal norms, and fostering authentic relationships that can lead to profound personal and communal transformation.

Takeaways:

• The podcast emphasizes the significance of the Revised Common Lectionary in guiding our readings of the New Testament, facilitating a structured approach to biblical understanding.
• By focusing solely on the Message translation of the scriptures, we aim to enhance relatability and accessibility for our audience in their daily reflections.
• The narrative of Jesus dining with tax collectors and sinners challenges societal norms regarding inclusion, inviting listeners to reconsider their own boundaries of acceptance.
• We highlight the notion of economic justice, illustrating how Jesus's invitation to Levi transcended conditional acceptance and emphasized transformative inclusion.
• The discussion on redefining holiness urges us to engage with marginalized individuals, opposing the traditional religious notion of separation from sinners.
• Listeners are encouraged to actively participate in fostering mutual understanding by sharing a meal with someone from a different background, thereby promoting inclusivity.

Links referenced in this episode:

• voiceofgoddaily.com
• voiceofgoddaily.com

Foreign.

Hello good people.

Welcome to Daily Bible Refresh where we bring the Bible to life every single day in a way that is understandable, relatable and applicable.

We read the entire Bible, the New Testament over the course of a three year period.

We use the Revised Common Lectionary, which is a three year cycle of readings.

We're in year C, the epiphany season right now and we're reading.

We make it understandable by reading from the New Testament only the message translation.

Relatable by offering you a couple of points to ponder and applicable, giving you an action step.

And we give it all to you from our website voiceofgoddaily.com the home of the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Guide.

We have a prayer and we do it all in under 10 minutes.

Our reading for the day is from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 5, verses 27 through 32.

Reading for the message after this he went out and saw a man named Levi at work collecting taxes.

Jesus said, come along with me.

And he did, walking away from everything and went with him.

Levi gave a large dinner at his home for Jesus.

Everybody was there, taxmen and other disreputable characters.

As guests at the dinner.

The Pharisees and their religious scholars came to his disciples, greatly defended what is he doing?

Eating and drinking with misfits and sinners.

And Jesus heard about it and he spoke up.

Who needs a doctor, the healthy or the sick?

I'm here inviting outsiders, not insiders.

An invitation to a changed life changed on the inside out.

Wow.

Powerful bit of scripture here.

Let's reflect for a minute about this passage from the Gospel of Luke about when Jesus encounters this guy named Levi and other disreputable characters, a story that kind of challenges our assumptions about inclusion and worthiness and transformation.

Here's a few points to ponder.

One is the radical table of fellowship.

Jesus consistently used shared meals as acts of social revolution.

By dining with tax collectors and sinners, he wasn't just being nice, he was deliberately disrupting the social and religious hierarchy of his day.

Today, this challenges us to do and examine who we consider acceptable company and whose tables we're willing to sit at.

A second point to ponder is about economic justice.

Levi was a tax collector, someone who profited from an oppressive economic system.

Yet Jesus invitation wasn't conditional on Levi first making reparations or proving his worth.

This suggests that transformation often begins with inclusion rather than demands for perfection.

Notice that Levi chose to respond by hosting a party, a feast for others, a personal transformation in him that naturally led to the action of inviting others.

One more point is about redefining holiness.

The religious leaders saw holiness as a separation from sinners, but Jesus demonstrated that true holiness means engagement with those whose society marginalizes.

This radically challenges religious institutions today that prioritize purity over presence, doctrine over relationship, or respectability over radical welcome.

Here's your action step for the day this week.

Intentionally share a meal with someone with whom you typically wouldn't do that, with perhaps different kind of socially or different political views or some sort of a different cultural, racial background.

Whatever it would be, don't approach it like a charity or a mission or a chore, but as an opportunity to learn to have some mutual understanding.

If possible, accept any invitation they may give you to go into some space of theirs.

It'll be cool before we have a closing prayer, I did want to remind you that we have a resource for you.

It's called the ABC 123 Bible Study Guide.

You could find it at our website, voiceofgod daily.com it makes reading the Bible as easy as ABC 1, 2, 3, let's pray.

God, you are the divine host of the great feast, and we confess that we too often play the role of the Pharisees, deciding who is worthy of a place at the table, creating arbitrary boundaries between us and them.

Help us remember times when we felt like outsiders, when we've been the ones labeled disreputable, unworthy.

Give us courage to accept invitations to unfamiliar tables and grace to extend welcome to those we've kept a distance.

Remind us that your healing presence is the most powerful in spaces of authentic connection, where pretense falls away and real transformation can begin.

Transform us from guardians of exclusivity into celebrants of your expansive feast.

In the spirit of radical welcome.

Amen.

Always great to be with you here at Daily Bible Refresh.

My name is Dr.

Brad with my name is Dr.

Brad Miller.

I'll be with you tomorrow.

Come join me.

If I could say my abode would even be greater.

Dr.

Brad Miller, join me on Daily Bible Refresh.

Bring a friend.

And when you do, remember that God's loyal love doesn't run out.

His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new.

Every morning.

Sa.