Daily Bible Refresh

In this episode of Daily Bible Refresh, Dr. Brad Miller offers a progressive reflection on 2 Thessalonians 2:6–12 from The Message, exploring how the “spirit of anarchy” is already at work in our world through the slow erosion of truth and normalization of deception. Using a vivid erosion and sinkhole metaphor, he shows how cultures can lose their footing long before they realize they’re standing on hollow ground. Dr. Brad reframes biblical “truth” not as a weapon to win arguments, but as a lifeline that rescues people from a world of illusions, drawing on his experience from the Cancer and Comedy podcast where people in crisis need something real to hold on to. He then offers a practical action step: identify one place in your life where you’ve chosen comfort over truth, and begin the journey of choosing what is real over what is merely reassuring, closing with a prayer for courage, grounding, and generosity in sharing this lifeline with others.

Key Takeaways

1. The spirit of anarchy is already at work

• Paul’s warning in 2 Thessalonians isn’t just about a future figure; it’s about a present reality where deception is quietly at work “underground” in society.

1. Evil as erosion, not a cartoon villain

• Instead of a dramatic villain, Dr. Brad describes evil as a slow, unseen erosion of truth, like water undermining a hillside until it suddenly collapses into a sinkhole.

1. Progressive caution about “evil” language

• Progressive Christians may hesitate to use strong language about evil because it has often been weaponized to attack people instead of unjust systems, but Dr. Brad insists the underlying concern about truth still matters.

1. Truth is a lifeline, not a hammer

• The “truth that could save them” is not for humiliating or defeating others; it’s a rescue, something solid people can cling to in a world of fake signs, loud voices, and comforting illusions.

1. Lessons from the Cancer and Comedy podcast

• Working with people facing cancer, Dr. Brad has learned that what hurting people need most is not correction, but something real—authentic hope and truth they can rely on when everything else is shaking.

1. Practical action step: choose truth over comfort

• Listeners are invited to find one relationship, habit, or information source where they’ve settled for what’s comfortable instead of what’s true, and simply name it and sit with it as the first step toward change.

Links referenced in this episode:

• voiceofgoddaily.com

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).

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.

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)

In this episode of the Daily Bible Refresh, Dr. Brad Miller reflects on Ephesians 5:1–7 from The Message, exploring what it really means to “love extravagantly” rather than cautiously and how a life shaped by Christ turns gratitude into our natural “dialect.” Drawing on his decades of pastoral experience, his 34-year marriage, and tender moments with his granddaughters, he contrasts contractual, score-keeping love with the all-in, radically inclusive love of Christ. He also challenges us to resist gossip, greed, and religious “sales talk,” and instead approach our everyday conversations—from text messages to grocery-list chats—with a posture of giving rather than getting, rooted in thanksgiving and genuine spiritual depth.

Key Takeaways

1. Extravagant vs. cautious love – God’s love is “not cautious but extravagant,” and we’re called to mirror that by going all in, not hedging our bets or keeping score in our relationships.
2. Love as practice, not just belief – The real question isn’t whether we believe in love, but whether we practice extravagant love instead of “cautious love dressed up in Sunday clothes.”
3. Thanksgiving as our dialect – Paul’s line that “Thanksgiving is our dialect” reframes Christian faith as a posture of deep, natural gratitude rather than guilt, judgment, or religious salesmanship.
4. Rejecting manipulative religion – The episode warns against using God, faith, or religion as tools for personal gain—forms of idolatry that lead us away from the kingdom of God.
5. Gratitude grounded in real life – Everyday joys, like laughing with grandchildren, become moments where authentic, unperformed gratitude rises naturally from keeping close company with a loving God.

Links referenced in this episode:

voiceofgoddaily.com

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).

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.

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)

In this episode of Daily Bible Refresh, Dr. Brad Miller reflects on Matthew 26:6–13 (from The Message), where a woman pours expensive perfume on Jesus and is criticized by the disciples. From a progressive Christian perspective, he explores how this story challenges our assumptions about practicality, justice, and devotion—showing how “useful” language can sometimes be weaponized to police others’ genuine expressions of love, especially women. Dr. Brad emphasizes that Jesus’ words about “the poor always with you” are often misused, and instead point back to radical generosity and seizing sacred, once-in-a-lifetime moments of love. He connects the passage to everyday life through personal stories about trips with his wife and playful moments with his granddaughters, urging listeners to choose extravagant, impractical acts of love over cold efficiency. The episode concludes with a clear action step toward lavish love, an invitation to explore the ABC 123 Bible Study Method at VoiceOfGodDaily.com, and a closing prayer about courageously pouring out love while we still have the chance.

Key Takeaways

1. Extravagant love is holy, not wasteful – The woman’s costly perfume is defended by Jesus as a “wonderfully significant” act, challenging the idea that only practical or efficient actions are valuable.
2. “Justice talk” can be misused – The disciples’ concern for the poor, though good in itself, becomes a weapon to criticize and control someone else’s sincere devotion, especially a woman’s.
3. Jesus is not dismissing the poor – His phrase “you will have the poor with you” echoes Deuteronomy’s call to ongoing generosity, not an excuse to ignore poverty.
4. Some moments never come twice – Like the woman anointing Jesus for burial, or taking trips with loved ones and sharing simple joys (ice cream, feeding ducks), there are sacred, unrepeatable opportunities to show love that efficiency should not steal.
5. Choose lavish, impractical love – Listeners are invited to stop “rationing” affection and instead offer a bold, generous act of love—whether a gift, money, time, or heartfelt words—without talking themselves out of it with practical-sounding objections.
6. A guided spiritual practice is available – The episode points to the ABC 123 Bible Study Method at VoiceOfGodDaily.com as a free resource to deepen personal engagement with Scripture.

Links referenced in this episode:

voiceofgoddaily.com

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).

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.

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)

In today’s episode of Daily Bible Refresh, Dr. Brad Miller reads Romans 11:33–36 from The Message and reflects on the extravagant generosity and unfathomable wisdom of God from a progressive Christian perspective. He explores Paul’s surprising humility after building an intricate theological argument, inviting us to embrace mystery rather than demand certainty. Brad connects this to everyday life with vivid examples—from standing under towering redwoods to cheering at a ball game or savoring time with grandchildren—showing how all of life is sacred, not just the “religious” parts. He then offers a practical action step: to find a moment of genuine wonder, resist the urge to analyze it, and simply respond with a wholehearted “yes, yes, yes” to God’s goodness, even amid suffering. The episode closes with a prayer, an invitation to deeper Bible study through the ABC 123 Bible Study Method, and a call to support the mission of sharing the audible Word of God with 1 million people by 2028.

Key Takeaways

1. Embracing Divine Mystery

• Paul, one of the sharpest theological minds, ultimately admits that God’s wisdom is “way over our heads,” modeling humility instead of certainty.

1. Freedom from Having It All Figured Out

• The passage offers “good medicine” for those who feel pressured to have every theological mystery resolved before they can trust God.

1. All of Life Is Sacred

• “Everything comes from Him, happens through Him, and ends in Him” means there is no divide between spiritual and non-spiritual; work, play, grief, and joy are all within God’s story.

1. Worship as Wonder, Not Just Words

• Brad encourages listeners to find moments of genuine wonder—in nature, relationships, or everyday experiences—and respond with an unguarded “yes, yes, yes” rather than analysis.

1. Gratitude Even in Suffering

• Through examples like his cancer and comedy podcast, Brad shows that an overflowing “yes” to God can coexist with pain, recognizing good gifts even in hard seasons.

1. A Practical Action Step for Listeners

• The episode challenges listeners to intentionally seek one moment of wonder, appreciate it without dissecting it, and let that become a simple, embodied act of worship.

Links referenced in this episode:

voiceofgoddaily.com

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).

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.

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)

In today’s episode of The Daily Bible Refresh, Dr. Brad Miller reads Romans 2:1–11 from The Message and unpacks what it means that “God is kind but not soft.” From a progressive Christian perspective, he explores how our tendency to criticize others often masks the uncomfortable truths we’re avoiding in ourselves, why God’s kindness includes a firm call to radical life change, and how God’s judgment cuts through our resumes, backgrounds, and pedigrees to meet us as we really are. Drawing on personal stories from his 35-year marriage and experiences with people facing cancer through his “cancer comedy” work, Brad invites listeners into an honest practice of self-reflection, extending “leveling grace” to others and to themselves, and ends with a focused action step and prayer that ground this challenging passage in everyday life.

Key Takeaways

1. Criticizing others is self-condemning

• Every time we judge or criticize someone else, we risk exposing and avoiding our own flaws—God “sees through the smokescreens” and is not fooled.

1. Judgment often hides self-avoidance

• Harsh opinions about others can be a defense mechanism to dodge looking at what’s uncomfortable in ourselves, whether in marriage, relationships, or daily life.

1. God is “kind but not soft”

• God’s kindness is not weakness; it’s a firm, guiding kindness that takes us by the hand and leads us into genuine, radical life change rather than letting us stay stuck.

1. No one gets special treatment—or is disqualified—by pedigree

• Background, status, education, wealth, or religious identity (like being a Jew in Paul’s context) don’t secure automatic approval or rejection; everyone stands on equal ground before God.

1. Suffering reveals what really matters

• Experiences like cancer strip away credentials and image, exposing the core of who we are and inviting us to be known and treated fairly by a God who isn’t impressed by our resume.

Links referenced in this episode:

voiceofgoddaily.com

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).

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.

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)

In today’s episode of the Daily Bible Refresh, Dr. Brad Miller reads Matthew 16:13–20 from The Message translation and reflects on Peter’s bold confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. From a progressive Christian perspective, Dr. Brad explores the difference between secondhand, borrowed beliefs and a faith you’ve wrestled with and owned for yourself. He highlights how Jesus builds His church not on human perfection but on honest, imperfect confession—using Peter, flaws and all, as the foundational “rock.” Drawing parallels to his work with people impacted by cancer, Dr. Brad shows how real peace and growth come when we bring our honest doubts, fears, and questions to God. The episode concludes with a practical action step—personally answering Jesus’ question, “Who do you say I am?”—and a short prayer inviting God to build something good on our imperfect faith.

Key Takeaways:

1. Faith must become personal, not borrowed – Jesus moves the disciples from reporting what “people say” about Him to answering, “Who do you say I am?”, underscoring that secondhand opinions are no substitute for a personal, lived faith.
2. Honest confession matters more than perfection – Peter, impulsive and deeply imperfect, is still called the “rock” on which Jesus will build His church, showing that God builds on sincerity, not flawlessness.
3. Imperfect people are God’s building blocks – The passage reveals a progressive view of grace: ordinary, broken people who tell the truth about what they believe become the “open access point” to God’s kingdom, not spiritual elites guarding the door.
4. Your real story is the ground for real faith – Just as guests on Dr. Brad’s cancer comedy podcast find peace by being honest about their fears, doubts, and faith, listeners are invited to let their “honest mess” become the place where God works and builds.
5. You’re invited to answer Jesus’ question today – The action step is to respond personally to “Who do you say I am?”—writing or recording your own current, imperfect answer, trusting that God can build on it just as He did with Peter.

Links referenced in this episode:

voiceofgoddaily.com

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).

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.

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)

In today’s episode of Daily Bible Refresh, Dr. Brad Miller reads Matthew 16:5–12 from The Message and reflects on Jesus’ warning about the “yeast” of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Using the disciples’ anxiety over forgotten bread, Brad explores how we often forget God’s past provision and slip back into worry, and how Jesus patiently walks “baby believers” back through what they’ve already seen. He unpacks the powerful metaphor of yeast—small influences that quietly shape our whole lives—and challenges us to examine whether fear, rigidity, and judgment are rising in us, or grace, trust, and hope. Drawing on personal examples from his marriage and his cancer comedy podcast, Brad offers practical action steps: practice remembering God’s faithfulness and do a “yeast check” on your inner posture, all while inviting listeners to join his mission through VoiceOfGodDaily.com and the ABC 123 Bible Study Method.

Key Takeaways

1. Remembered miracles vs. present anxiety

• The disciples had seen Jesus feed thousands with just a few loaves, yet they still panicked over forgetting bread—showing how easily we forget God’s past provision when new worries arise.

1. Jesus’ grace toward “baby believers”

• Rather than abandoning the disciples for their lack of understanding, Jesus patiently walks them back through what they’ve already witnessed, modeling grace and persistence with our spiritual immaturity.

1. The metaphor of yeast as subtle influence

• “Pharisee/Sadducee yeast” represents small, toxic influences—rigidity, performance-obsession, and a trap-setting spirit—that quietly work through a community or a heart until they shape everything.

1. Good yeast spreads too: grace, hope, and trust

• Just as harmful yeast can spread, so can “good yeast”: grace, kindness, hope, and trust. Even small acts and attitudes, practiced consistently, can transform the “whole loaf” of a life or community.

1. The practice of remembering God’s faithfulness

• A central spiritual discipline is to remember—to rehearse past seasons where God or others came through for us—so that old evidence speaks into new fears and anxieties.

1. The “yeast check” on your inner posture

• Listeners are invited to regularly examine what’s rising in their hearts: rigidity or grace, fear or trust, judgment or compassion, and to intentionally work “good yeast” back into their lives through small, consistent acts of kindness and openness.

Links referenced in this episode:

• voiceofgoddaily.com

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).

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.

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)

In this episode of Daily Bible Refresh, Dr. Brad Miller reads 2 Corinthians 10:12–18 from The Message and unpacks Paul’s powerful critique of a culture obsessed with comparison, grading, and competing. From the ancient city of Corinth to today’s world of follower counts, promotions, and highlight reels, Dr. Brad shows how living by the “scoreboard” steals our joy and blinds us to what really matters. He emphasizes that God is not playing the comparison game, and that our true worth comes not from self-promotion or self-criticism, but from what God says about us—that we are beloved, called by name, and given a fresh start. With practical action steps, personal reflections from his cancer-related ministry, and the childlike freedom he sees in his granddaughters, Dr. Brad invites listeners to step off the treadmill of comparison and rest in God’s unchanging verdict of love.

Key Takeaways

1. Comparison makes us miss the point

• Paul names the culture of “comparing and grading and competing” in Corinth, and Dr. Brad explains how the same mindset today makes us miserable and distracts us from what truly matters.

1. God is not playing the ranking game

• The “progressive heartbeat” of this passage is that constant ranking of human beings—better/worse, ahead/behind, superior/inferior—is a game God simply isn’t playing.

1. Scoreboards are fine for sports, terrible for your soul

• Dr. Brad admits he loves competition and sports, but stresses that while comparison fits on the playing field, it is a destructive way to run your inner life.

1. God’s verdict matters more than your self-talk

• “What you say about yourself means nothing in God’s work; it’s what God says about you that makes all the difference.” Both bragging and beating yourself up are silenced by God’s declaration that you are beloved.

1. Illness and suffering don’t define your worth

• Drawing from his cancer-related podcast, Dr. Brad notes how illness can trigger harsh inner commentary and comparison, but insists that the “inner scoreboard” does not get the final word—God does.

1. Childlike delight shows us a better way to live

• Time with his granddaughters illustrates a freer way of being: they’re not ranking themselves or their days; they’re simply delighted in the present moment—an image of the comparison-free life Paul points us toward.

Links referenced in this episode:

• voiceofgoddaily.com

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).

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.

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)

In today’s episode of the Daily Bible Refresh, Dr. Brad Miller reads 1 Corinthians 6:1–11 from The Message and unpacks a challenging, progressive vision of Christian community and justice. He wrestles with Paul’s startling suggestion that sometimes it’s better to absorb a wrong than to escalate conflict, contrasting our “stand up for your rights” culture with a restorative, relationship-centered approach. Drawing on his own experiences in marriage and ministry, Dr. Brad explores how retribution can damage the spiritual family, while grace, repair, and a fresh start can heal both people and communities. He also emphasizes that Paul’s warnings are ultimately about ending exploitation and abuse—of people, sex, and the earth—and about the transforming power of God’s grace that refuses to define anyone by their worst chapter.

Key Takeaways

1. Restorative vs. Retributive Justice

• Paul’s concern is not about “winning” disputes but about protecting the community and relationships, pointing to a restorative justice that heals rather than punishes.

1. Sometimes Strength Means Absorbing a Wrong

• In contrast to a culture that insists we always stand up for our rights, Paul suggests that, at times, the more Christ-like and powerful move is to accept a wrong rather than escalate it.

1. Conflict and the Christian Witness

• Lawsuits and ongoing scorekeeping within the Christian community are described as a “black eye,” harming the church’s witness and fueling more injustice and hurt.

1. Sin as Abuse and Exploitation

• The passage is framed around “use and abuse”—of people, sex, and the earth—shifting the focus from shaming particular groups to confronting all forms of exploitation and harm.

1. Nobody Is Defined by Their Worst Chapter

• Paul reminds the community, “you were on that list,” underscoring that through Jesus they’ve been cleaned up and given a fresh start; grace, not the list, has the final word.

Links referenced in this episode:

• voiceofgoddaily.com

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).

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.

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)

In this episode of the Daily Bible Refresh, Dr. Brad Miller reads Matthew 8:1–13 from The Message, reflecting on Jesus healing a leper and a Roman centurion’s servant. From a progressive perspective, he highlights how Jesus first offers touch and presence before healing, and how a Roman outsider displays a depth of trust that even religious insiders often lack. Drawing on his experience with cancer patients, Dr. Brad explores the loneliness of suffering and the healing power of simple human closeness. He then challenges listeners to rethink who is “in” or “out” of God’s kingdom, emphasizing radical inclusion, trust over pedigree, and practical action steps to “touch the untouchable” and make room at the table for those we might normally keep at arm’s length.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus leads with touch before healing

• The leper’s plea, “If you want to, you can heal me,” reveals deep woundedness and doubt about being wanted.
• Jesus first touches him—breaking social and religious taboos—then speaks healing, showing that presence and contact come before cure.

1. No one is untouchable in God’s eyes

• In a culture that kept lepers at a distance, Jesus moves toward the outcast, not away.
• This models a progressive vision of faith where God’s first move is compassion, not judgment or avoidance.

1. The outsider’s faith can surpass the insider’s

• The Roman captain, an occupying enemy officer and religious outsider, trusts Jesus so deeply he says Jesus doesn’t even need to come to his house—just “give the order.”
• Jesus praises this as a level of trust he hasn’t found among the supposed insiders, warning that religious background alone doesn’t guarantee a place at God’s table.

1. God’s banquet table is radically inclusive

• Jesus paints a picture of many coming from east and west to sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, while some who “grew up in the faith” but lack real trust find themselves outside.
• The kingdom is open to those with genuine faith and openness, not just the “right” group, politics, ethnicity, or religious credentials.

1. The healing power of presence in suffering

• Drawing from work with cancer patients, Dr. Brad notes that the deepest pain is often loneliness and the subtle distance others create.
• What heals most is not a miracle cure but someone willing to come close, stay present, and say, “I want to be here with you.”

1. Two concrete action steps for listeners

• Touch the untouchable: Move toward someone you might usually keep at arm’s length—someone sick, lonely, marginalized, or in need—and intentionally close the distance with compassion, presence, or practical help.

Links referenced in this episode:

• voiceofgoddaily.com

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).

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.

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)