In this episode of Daily Bible Refresh, Dr. Brad Miller reads Romans 16:17–20 from The Message and offers a progressive reflection on Paul’s warning against “smooth-talking” religious voices who use faith for personal gain—money, power, control, or influence. Building on his previous discussion of Paul’s inclusive community in Romans, Dr. Miller reframes discernment not as hunting heretics or excluding those who are different, but as wisely examining the fruit of any teaching: Does it cultivate generosity, humility, and love of neighbor, or merely deepen loyalty to a charismatic leader? Listeners are invited to test every sermon, podcast, and post by what it produces in real lives, to protect the vulnerable from exploitation, and to rest in the promise that the God of peace will ultimately overcome evil, with God’s merciful love made new every morning.
Key Takeaways
- Discernment is about motives, not labels
- Paul’s warning is not “build walls against people who believe differently,” but “pay attention to those who use belief to get money, power, control, or an audience.”
- Judge teaching by its fruit, not its polish
- Listeners are urged to ask: What does this actually produce in people’s lives? Does it grow generosity, humility, and love—or just loyalty to the person on the stage or microphone?
- Real discernment protects the vulnerable
- True spiritual discernment is meant to expose the exploitative, not to justify pushing out people who are simply “odd,” different, or who don’t fit in.
- “Smooth talk” can be spiritually dangerous
- Paul cautions against teachers who use pious language and sweet talk to deceive; their charm can mask self-serving motives and cause real harm.
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.
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Remember… “All scripture is God-breathed and useful”(2 Timothy 3:16)
