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 lesson 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.

It's all brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.com which is the home of your free personal Bible Study Guide, the ABC1, 23 Bible Study Method.

Please join me in my mission of getting the audible word of God into two millionaires a million people by 2028.

You can help by saving and subscribing to the podcast and tagging your friends.

Here's today's reading and today's reading is.

From First Corinthians 9:19 23 reading from.

The Message Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people.

Religious, non religious, meticulous, moralist, loose living, immoralist, the defeated, the demoralized, whoever.

I didn't take on their way of life.

I kept my bearings in Christ, but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view.

I've become just about every sort of.

Servant there is in my attempt to.

Lead those I meet into a God saved life.

I did all this because of the message.

I didn't just want to talk about it, I wanted to be in on it.

This is the end of the reading.

Let's talk about this message for the words and experiences of Paul in the city of Corinth about meeting people where they are.

We are talking here about different approaches to reach many people and so this is what we're talking about here.

I was once with my granddaughters in a birthday party setting setting and there was just lots of different kids there, lots of different people, and they approach their lives and their party games in a little different way.

Remember?

You know, it just reminded me that there's different all kinds of people and it takes all kinds of approaches to reach others.

Find this to be true of my cancer support groups that I'm part of as well.

Everybody's life is different and we need to be okay with those differences.

Here is in this passage from 1 Corinthians 9.

It's fascinating because it speaks directly to people, meeting them where they are.

So let's talk about Some Points to Ponder the first one is about radical inclusivity and Paul's approach here is revolutionary.

He's basically saying he's willing to step out of his own comfort zone to connect with anyone and everyone.

You know, my wife and I like to hike in parks and even across the country.

And we found that trails in our part of the country, the Midwest, are very different than out West.

For instance, each trail has its own character.

Some are more like deserts and some deep woods like the redwoods.

Similarly, Paul's teaching to us is that authentic connection requires flexibility and that things are different and they need to be understood and respected for what they are.

Another point to ponder is about authenticity versus conformity.

I find this very interesting.

Paul says that he enters into others worlds while keeping his own bearings in Christ.

My wife and I have been married for 33 years and we've raised three adult children, two grandchildren.

Now we got and I've learned that authentic doesn't mean losing yourself.

It's like when I'm working with the cancer impacted families.

I get to enter their world of fear and uncertainty while maintaining my role as a hope giver.

A third point to ponder is going beyond theory to practice.

Paul ends with a powerful statement about that this this is not just about wanting to talk about it, but to be quote in on it.

I'm an Indianapolis Colts fan and there's a world of difference between watching the game and being in the game.

Progressive Christianity isn't just about having inclusive theology.

It's about actively engaging with and learning from people different from yourself.

Here's your action step.

I challenge you to intentionally connect with someone whose worldview is different than yours.

Don't try to change them.

Just listen and learn.

Maybe it's someone from a different faith tradition or racial background or different political views, or someone who sees social issues differently than you do.

For a moment or two.

Enter their world with curiosity and compassion while staying grounded, grounded in your own truth.

We'll pray here in just a minute.

Just a reminder, we have a great resource for you.

It's called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Method.

You pick it up at our website, voiceofgoddaily.com let's pray.

Oh God, you are a loving creator and we thank you for the beautiful diversity of human experience.

Help us be brave enough to step out of our comfort zones and humble enough to learn from others.

When we're tempted to judge or withdraw, remind us of your all encompassing love.

Guide us on building bridges instead of walls, in seeking understanding instead of winning arguments like Paul help us to be adaptable without losing our authentic selves.

Grant us wisdom to know when to speak, when to listen, when to teach, and when to learn.

Amen.

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

The Daily Bible Refresh is called completely listener supported.

Your gift goes a long way to getting the audible word of God from a progressive perspective into 2 million years.

A million people by 2028.

I would be so grateful if you would go to voiceofgodddaily.com and share your gift of any amount.

Thanks much.

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

Please subscribe and tag your friends until tomorrow.

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

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