Community Care and Radical Healing A reflection of Acts 5:12, 16 on the Daily Bible refresh with Dr.

Brad Miller hello good people.

Welcome to Daily Bible Refresh with Dr.

Brad Miller.

Here is where you can come every day to get the Scriptures read to you is we have a vision and mission to get the audible word of God into 2 million years, a million people by 2028.

We do that by having the New Testament read to every day from the Revised Common Lectionary.

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It's the season called Eastertide, the season after Easter.

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Let's get into our reading for today from Acts 5:12, 16 reading from the message they all met regularly through the work of the apostles.

Many God signs were set up among the people, many wonderful things done.

They all met regularly and in remarkable harmony in the temple porch named after Solomon.

But even though people admire them a lot, outsiders were wary about joining them.

On the other hand, those who put their trust in the Master were added right and left, men and women both.

They even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on stretchers and bedrolls, hoping they would be touched by Peter's shadow when he walked by.

They came from the villages surrounding Jerusalem, throngs of them, bringing the sick and the bedeviled, and they were all healed.

Powerful passage of Scripture here, as this gives a glimpse into what the early church was like, the early Christian community, and what that community can teach us now about how we care for one another with healing and with justice.

Let's talk about some points to ponder.

One is about radical inclusivity.

The text specifically mentions both men and women both.

It says for joining in community.

And this was a deeply patriarchal society and gender inclusivity was not normal.

This was radical.

This was revolutionary.

And today this challenges us to examine who we welcome into our faith communities and whether we're truly creating spaces where all people can experience belonging, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, economic status or abilities.

Another point is about collective care models.

The early Christian community demonstrated a powerful model of collective care.

Instead of individualizing healing or monetizing health care, they created networks of support where community members carried their sick to places of healing.

And this speaks to our modern context about universal healthcare access and community based care systems.

A third point is about breaking down barriers.

The gathering at this place called Solomon's Porch, which was a public space, represents the breaking down of traditional religious barriers.

While some remain wary about joining, it says the community's focus was on healing and inclusion rather than maintaining religious purity codes which were of course exclusionary.

This challenges us to examine what barriers we maintain that keep people from accessing care and community.

Here's your action step.

Identify a concrete way you can participate in or support community based care initiatives.

This might mean joining some sort of a mutual aid network.

Might be a food bank or a clothes closet or some other thing like that, or supporting the organizations that provide healthcare services or volunteering at a community clinic or organizing some sort of a care network of your own or in your neighborhood.

Remember that healing happens in community, not isolation.

We're going to pray in just a minute here as a community, but before we do, I want to remind you and share with you we have a great resource to help you with your personal Bible study.

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

You just head over to our website voiceofgoddaily.com you click on the place there and you will get in your inbox this resource just a few pages long.

It will help you with your daily Bible study reading which you use in coordination with what you hear here on the Daily Bible Refresh.

Let's Pray.

Source of All Healing God we live in a world where care is often commodified and healing seems reserved for the privileged.

Help us remember that radical vision of those early believers who created communities of care and support.

Give us courage to challenge systems that resist or restrict access to healing.

Show us how to build networks of mutual support in our own communities.

Remind us that true healing involves body, mind, spirit and society.

Guide us toward a world where everyone has access to the care they need, where no one is left to suffer alone.

In hope and determination we pray.

Amen.

Adds in hope and determination that I am determined to get the audible word of God to 2 million ears, a million people by 2028.

And I just hope and pray that you will join me in doing that by joining me again tomorrow for another episode of the Daily Bible Refresh.

This time please invite your friends to join us.

We usually drop our episodes before 6am you can find everything you need at our website, voiceofgoddaily.com until tomorrow then, friends.

My name is Dr.

Brett Miller.

I'll be with you.

And remember that God's loyal love doesn't run out.

His merciful love hasn't dried up.

It's created new every morning.