The Noble Bereans

Scripture Reading: Acts 17:1-15

Today's Treasure: "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" (Acts 17:11).

On the apostle Paul's second missionary journey he found himself narrowly escaping jail in Thessalonica. The Thessalonian Christians quickly sent Paul and Silas off to Berea. Miles away from their destination, they saw a most imposing landmark: Mount Olympus rising high into the sky from the foothills of Berea. Only twenty miles from the sea, Berea had everything to offer: warm coastal breezes tempered by snowcapped mountains. What could be more inviting than a city set between mountains and the ocean?

Exceeding the noble sight, however, was the nobility of the people. Acts 17:11 tells us "the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." Paul must have been a very effective communicator, yet the Bereans did not take his word for everything. They measured the accuracy of his message against Scripture through their own personal examination of the Word.

We all need to learn to study the Scriptures for ourselves. All believers have the right to ask questions and examine the Scriptures to check the accuracy of the teaching they hear. Congregations can be easily misled if they do not feel or exercise the freedom to double-check teaching and preaching against God's Word. A savvy communicator can use the Scriptures taken out of context to teach almost anything! Any portion of Scripture must be compared with Scripture as a whole.

Some years ago, a national forest had to close off a portion of the park to tourists. A number of bears starved to death during the time the park was closed. They had grown so accustomed to being fed by the tourists, they had ceased feeding themselves. We can likewise grow so accustomed to being spoon-fed the Word of God that we forget how to examine the Scriptures for ourselves.

We can also cease checking the nutritional value of what we're being taught! My most earnest prayer would be that the Bible studies I've written help teach you how to examine Scripture for yourself. Yet I plead with you not to accept my instruction without question. Always check my teaching against a thorough examination of the Word. I would never knowingly mislead you, but I am subject to human error just like every other teacher. I ask you to examine the Scriptures every day to see if what I'm saying is true.

The Bereans not only performed the right practices; I believe they possessed the right heart. They didn't examine the Scriptures to see if they could find error in how Paul had dotted an "i" or crossed a "t." Their motive was not to argue. Some people double-check their pastors and teachers on every issue just to find an error so they can feel superior. The Bereans had no such motive. They were eager to believe, but they were wise to check Paul's teaching against the only standard of truth—the Scriptures. After careful study, they found his teaching sound and placed their faith in the Savior he preached. A wonderful and sometimes rare combination occurred in Berea; the best kind of preacher met the best kind of audience. And a great awakening of faith resulted.

As you continue to study the Word of God, one nailed-down, personally discovered truth will turn into many, and you will be better equipped to face anything that comes your way. Nothing will profit you more than learning to examine the Scriptures for yourself. Let every preacher and teacher be a catalyst to your own personal journey through the Word. Spend time exploring. Invest in an exhaustive Bible concordance, a good Bible dictionary, and a sound set of commentaries. Accept opportunities to get into in-depth Bible studies and really get to know the Word. Be ready and willing to receive from the many opportunities available—but with the ability to discern truth from error through deep personal examination of Scripture. Imitating the noble practices of the Bereans will be your safety as teachers come and go—and your sanity when life rocks and rolls.

My God, thank You for the example of the Bereans. I pray for the noble quality they possessed—the discipline to examine the Scriptures every day to see if what I'm being taught is true. Please keep my heart pure as I cross-examine the messages I hear with Your Word. Cleanse me of any impure motive and give me a heart of humility. Thank You for giving me the ability to study the Word on my own. Please cultivate my personal study skills and thrill me with the truths I discover in the Scriptures. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Adapted from To Live Is Christ, by Beth Moore, pages 121-124. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2001. Used by permission.