The radical Finding Peace in an Unwelcoming World A Study of Luke 10:1 12 on the Daily Bible Refresh with Dr. Brad Miller hello my good friends, Dr. Brad Miller here with you with the Daily Bible Refresh.

A daily visit to the New Testament from a progressive perspective.

We read the selected readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.

We're in year C of a three year cycle.

We we make the reading of the Bible understandable.

We read from the New Testament only the message version.

Relatable by giving some points to ponder and applicable by giving you an action step to take.

We have a prayer.

We do all of this in under 10 minutes.

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Here's our reading for the day from Luke 10:1 12 Reading from the message Lambs in a wolf pack.

Later the master selected 70 and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he intended to go.

He gave them his charge.

What a huge harvest and how few the harvest hands.

So on your knees.

Ask the God of the harvest to send harvest hands on your way.

Be on your way, but be careful.

This is hazardous work.

You're like lambs in a wolf pack.

Travel light.

Common toothbrush and no extra luggage.

Don't loiter and make small talk with everyone you meet along the way.

When you enter the home, greet the family.

Peace is your greeting.

If your greeting is received, then it's a good place to stay.

But if it's not received, take take it back and get out.

Don't impose yourself.

Stay at one home taking your meals there.

For our worker deserves three square meals a day.

Don't move from house to house looking for the best cook in town.

When you enter a town and are received, eat what they set before you.

Heal anyone who is sick and tell them God's kingdom is right on your doorstep.

When you enter a town and are not received, go out into the street and say the only thing we got from you is dirt on our feet and and we're giving it back.

Do you have any idea that God's kingdom was right on your doorstep?

Sodom will have better would have it better on Judgment Day than the town that rejects you.

Well my good friends, today we're really exploring this really fascinating passage from Luke's gospel that challenges our understanding of community and welcome and what it means to be a bearer of peace in our world.

So let's talk about some points to ponder.

The first is a revolutionary vulnerability.

Jesus tells his followers they are like lambs among wolves, and he instructs them to travel light.

This isn't just practical advice.

It's a radical rejection of power and privilege.

In our world of carefully curated social media presence and constant pressure to appear successful.

What might it mean to show up authentically vulnerable in our communities?

Peace as active practice is our second point to ponder.

The instruction is to offer Peace isn't about empty pleasantries.

In Hebrew, the word shalom means complete wholeness and well being.

When we wish peace upon others, we're actively participating in creating a more just and whole world.

How might this change the way we engage with our neighbors, especially those who are different than us?

A third point to ponder is the dignity of mutual exchange.

Notice how Jesus instructs his followers to stay put, eat what's offered, and receive hospitality.

This challenges a colonial mindset of always being the givers, the helpers, the ones with answers.

True ministry involves receiving as well as giving, learning as much as teaching.

Here's your action step.

Practice what we might call radical presence.

That is, choose maybe just one person in your community, perhaps a person who's typically overlooked or avoided, and approach them with genuine openness to receive what they might teach you.

Don't try to fix them or change anything.

Just be present, listen and receive their story with reverence.

We'll come back and have a prayer in just a moment.

I did want you to know that we have a Bible study resource for you.

It's called the ABC 123 Bible Study Method.

You head over to our website, which is Voice of God Daily, and pick it up as a free gift to you.

Here's our closing prayer.

O God of Divine Love, help us embrace vulnerability as strength and peace as active resistance to the world's violence.

Open our hearts to receive as much as we give, to learn as much as we teach.

Make us brave enough to show authenticity, gentle enough to receive others truth, and wise enough to recognize your presence in unexpected places and faces.

May we be bearers of peace, not just in word, but in presence.

Amen.

Well, thank you for joining me today.

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Thanks for joining me today.

We'll see you again tomorrow.

Remember that until then that God's loyal love doesn't run out.

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

Sam.