Community Care in Crisis A reflection on Acts 11:27:30 on the Daily Bible refresh with Dr.

Brad Miller.

Hello good people, my good friends.

Welcome to Daily Bible Refresh, the daily reading of the Bible just for you.

We do this by using the selected verse for this very day from the Revised Common Lectionary.

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We make the reading of the Bible understandable.

We use the New Testament, the Message version relatable.

We give you three points to ponder applicable.

I give you an action step to follow.

We have a prayer.

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Let's get into our reading for the day from Acts 11:27 30.

Reading from the Message it was about this same time that some prophets came to Antioch from Jerusalem.

One of them was named Agabus.

He stood up one day and prompted by the Spirit, warned that a severe famine was about to devastate the country.

The famine eventually came during the role during the rule of Claudius.

So the disciples decided that each of them would send whatever they could to their fellow Christians in Judea to help out.

They sent Barnabas and Saul to deliver the collection to the leaders in Jerusalem.

And that ends the reading from the lectionary for this very day.

And it really talks here about a community that's in crisis.

It's a powerful story about a response to the crisis and the church's early mutual aid that they provided to one another and those practices which are lessons for us today.

Let's talk about three points to ponder.

One is a prophetic voice for social change.

Agabus Prophecy about the famine wasn't just a prediction, it was a call to action.

In progressive Christianity, we understand prophetic voices as those who both name difficult truths and inspire collective response to human need.

Today's prophetic voices continue to warn us about climate crisis, systematic inequality and food insecurity.

And like the early church, we're called to respond with concrete action.

Here's the second point, the radical economics of sharing.

The early Christians response, each according to their ability, reflects a revolutionary economic model.

This was charity from the wealthy to the poor.

It was mutual aid and assistance where everybody contributed what they could.

This challenges our modern individualistic capitalism and shows an alternative way of organizing resources based on community needs rather than personal profit.

Pretty profound, don't you think?

A third point to ponder is cross cultural solidarity.

The Gentile Christians in Antioch sending aid to Jewish Christians in Judea was a powerful act of solidarity across cultural lines which were not traditionally crossed.

This wasn't just about providing material support.

It was about dismantling barriers between communities.

It reminds us that true justice must cross boundaries of race and color and class and culture.

Here's your action step this week.

Research mutual aid networks that serve your community.

This might include food banks or housing, justice organizations or other grassroots support groups.

Choose one or join one or support one, financially or otherwise.

If none exist, maybe you want to start one in your own faith community, your church or your synagogue or your neighborhood.

Remember, mutual aid isn't charity.

It's about building sustained networks of community support support.

We're going to pray in just a minute about all this, but just a reminder that we have something to support you and your daily Bible endeavors.

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Let's pray.

Oh God, you are a divine source of compassion.

Open our eyes to the prophetic voices in our midst who call us to action.

Give us courage to move beyond comfortable charity to radical sharing.

Help us build networks of care that cross all dividing lines.

When we feel overwhelmed by the world's needs, remind us of the power of collective action.

Guide us in creating communities where everyone needs are met and everyone's gifts are honored in the spirit of justice and love.

Amen.

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Until that time, we'll be here my name is Dr.

Brad Miller, inviting you to know that God's loyal love doesn't run out.

His merciful love hasn't dried up.

It's created new every morning.