Hello my friend Dr. Brad Miller here with the Daily Bible Refresh.

This is your daily reading of the Bible from a progressive point of view.

In a bit I will read the New Testament lessons selected from the Revised Common Lectionary for this very day.

The reading is understandable.

I use the Message version relatable.

Please listen to the points to ponder and applicable with action steps you can take.

We pray and are done in less than 10 minutes.

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Here's today's reading.

So today I'm reading from the gospel of John 10, verses 11 through 21 from the Message I am the good Shepherd.

The good shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary.

A hired man is not a real shepherd.

The sheep mean nothing to him.

He sees a wolf come and runs forward, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf.

He's only in it for the money.

The sheep don't matter to him.

I am the good shepherd.

I know my own sheep and my sheep know me.

In the same way the Father knows me and I know the Father.

I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary.

You need to know that I have other sheep in addition to those in the pen.

I need to gather and bring them too.

They'll all recognize my voice.

Then it will be one flock, one shepherd.

This is why the Father loves me.

Because I freely lay down my own life and so I am free to take it up again.

No one takes it from me.

I lay it down of my own free will.

I have the right to lay it down.

I also have the right to take it up again.

I received this authority personally from my father.

This kind of talk caused another split in the Jewish ranks.

A lot of them were saying, he's crazy, a maniac.

He's out of his head completely.

Why bother listening to him?

But others weren't quite so sure.

These aren't the words of a crazy man.

Can a maniac open blind eyes?

That's the end of the reading.

Let's talk a little bit about this whole sensibility of reimagining leadership and community.

So one of the things I like to do is my wife and I take walks Almost every day.

And we hike in state parks and national parks and there's different kinds of pathways.

You know, there's different kinds of areas.

We recently were in the redwood forest and then we found ourselves in the desert of Death Valley.

There is.

Every group brings diverse, diverse groups of people who are different types of hikers, very casual people like us.

And to be very serious about it or have all the major equipment that it takes is different.

This kind of reminds me of today's passage from John, which speaks about leadership and inclusion in ways that may even surprise us.

So let's explore three progressive perspectives on this familiar text.

The first one is about radical servant leadership.

My wife and I have been married on coming up on 34 years and we raised three wonderful children.

And I've learned that true leadership sometimes isn't about authority, it's about service.

Serve first and the authority will be given to you.

I have a cancer support podcast as well, and we really talk about encouraging and empowering others rather than trying to direct them.

Jesus here presents a model of leadership that puts others first.

When you see a great team play and a great basketball team play, it's about teamwork.

And the best leaders are the ones who help the team to work and helps everybody else to look good.

Another point to share here is about breaking down barriers.

When Jesus mentions the other sheep, he's challenging religious exclusivity.

This isn't about different faith communities.

It's about recognizing that divine love transcends our human made boundaries.

Reminds me how things like music and sports and teamwork in a company can unite people.

People, no matter who you're cheering for, if you cheer for one another, then you can have a great team become a community in those moments.

Another point is about voluntary vulnerability.

The text emphasizes Jesus's voluntary choice to be vulnerable.

In our world of power plays and position protecting, choosing a vulnerability is revolutionary.

I work with cancer impacted people in my other podcast and I've witnessed how those who are vulnerable, you know, sensitive about their condition, are the most helpful ones to others who are going through it as well.

That creates authentic community and healing.

Here's your action step for the day.

Identify one boundary in your life.

It could be social, religious or cultural.

And intentionally step across that boundary.

Maybe you're having coffee with someone who is a little different than you.

Maybe faith tradition or their background or something else about them is just different.

Or maybe join some community group that you would normally consider joining.

Or reach out to someone you've previously excluded in your life.

Practice being a shepherd and regarding that and also practice being a sheep, that is one who follows one who's a leader.

Lead through service and be willing to be led by leaders.

We're going to pray here in just a minute, but I want you to know that we do have a great resource just for you.

If you wanted to be have your own at home Bible Study.

It is called the ABC1, 23 Bible study method.

You pick it up at our website voiceofgoddaily.com let's pray God you were a loving shepherd and help us to reimagine leadership as service and community as borderless.

Give us courage to be vulnerable and wisdom to recognize your voice in unexpected places.

Thank you for gathering us all into one flock while celebrating our diversity and guide us in breaking down walls that separate us from each other and from you.

Help us create spaces where everyone knows they belong.

Amen.

My friend, I am delighted you chose to join me for today's reading.

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Thanks much.

My name is Dr. Brad Miller and I'll be right here tomorrow with your Daily Bible Refresh.

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Remember, God's loyal love doesn't run out.

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