Being A Berean

A painter was painting the home of an 89 year old lady in Spokane Washington. She had a large family Bible prominently displayed on the coffee table. The lady commented that it was 116 years old and a priceless heirloom. The painter commented on how remarkable that was then added “It doesn’t matter how old the Bible might be, what’s on the inside is what matters.”

The lady immediately said, “Oh I know. That sure is the truth. Why, we have family records..... births, marriages, and deaths that go so far back, all recorded in that Bible; we could never replace them.”

It is a sad fact that many Christians today have the same outlook on the Bible, regarding it as a dust collecting showpiece on a mantle or ledge. No wonder people fall victim to false teaching! No wonder I meet so many confused people today. It’s because their knowledge of eternal things does not come from the Word of God! Its no wonder people fall prey to the Jehovah’s witnesses and Mormonism… Its because they do not find the Scriptures as the final authority on doctrine and deed!

Berea was a Church that read and studied the Bible allowing it to determine what was true and how they ought to live and believe! and, they would not be fooled.

CPS: Today I want to tell you how to be a Berean, Accept the Word, Test the Word, and Then Believe the Word!

I. They Listened to the Word. (11 a)

The Apostle Paul had a message that the Jews of Macedonia and not heard. Acts 17:3 “explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” The Jews had been taught from their forefathers that Messiah would be a conquering king who would align with the Oral Law and restore justice in Israel saving God’s people from Gentile rulers. To hear that Christ must die was against everything they thought to be true.

The unbelieving Jews of Thessalonica formed a mob and persecuted the newly formed church. Some who believed the Gospel sent Paul by night to Berea, 45 miles away.

As was Paul’s custom he went straight to the Jewish synagogue and began preaching the Gospel there! In Berea he found a more noble minded people. Meaning they were open-minded and had better character than those in Thessalonica.

They received the message with readiness of mind. Receive is the Greek verb dechomai which means to welcome and accept. Readiness of mind (prothymia) means with a willingness to learn.

A. They Listened

To make it simple, they listened! Every expositor of God’s word would love to have an attentive audience. They were not a sleep nor were they day dreaming about the buffet at the golden corral, they were not distracted by their sundial eager to blow the joint. They simply listened to what Paul hand to say with an open mind and a willingness to learn!

A Berean is a good listener! Listening is trait many people lack today.

ILL: The story is told of Franklin Roosevelt, who often endured long receiving lines at the White House. He complained that no one really paid any attention to what was said. One day, during a reception, he decided to try an experiment. To each person who came down the line and shook his hand, he murmured, “I murdered my grandmother this morning.” The guests responded with phrases like, “Marvelous! Keep up the good work. We are proud of you. God bless you, sir.” It was not till the end of the line, while greeting the ambassador from Bolivia, that his words were actually heard. Nonplussed, the ambassador leaned over and whispered, “I’m sure she had it coming.”

At the end of many church services, the Pastor hears“Good Sermon preacher” but when asked about it no one can recall what was said. The Berean’s listened attentively hanging on to every word Paul spoke.

A Berean is willing to listen.

II. They Tested the Word. (11 b)

The Bereans did not simply take what the Apostle said as absolute truth, instead they went to the absolute truth in order to validate or invalidate weather or not this new message was true! They went to the Scriptures. Like those in Berea and the reformers of old, may that be our battle cry… To the Scriptures.

They searched the Scriptures. Searched is the Greek verb anakrinō which means to study thoroughly. To seek to learn the truth by the process of careful study

Today when we want to know something we google it or ask someone who we think ought to know.

ILL: Father and his small son were out walking one day when the lad asked how electricity could go through the wires stretched between the telephone poles. “I don’t know,” said his father. “I never knew much about electricity.” A few blocks farther on, the boy asked what caused lightning and thunder. “That too has puzzled me,” came the reply. The youngster continued to inquire about many things, none of which the father could explain. Finally, as they were nearing home, the boy said, “Pop, I hope you didn’t mind all those questions.” “Not at all,” replied his father. “How else are you going to learn!”

The Bereans didn’t go to google or their preacher. They got pass their presuppositions.... All the things they had heard down at the coffee shop, all the things they heard their grandpa, grandma, mom, dad, and preacher say.... they searched the truth according to the Holy Spirit inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God. In their day it was the O.T. Scrolls.

First you must understand they searched the Scriptures daily. Not because they were unfamiliar with the Scriptures and were blindly reading random versus hoping to find some truth. No they were very familiar with the Word.

ILL: I was flying to Newark and I was in an isle seat, I struck up a conversation with a man beside and learned he was a Christian who like me had a heart for Jewish Missions. He told me that he had read through his Bible every year for the past 17 years. He knew His Bible like He knew the back of his hand.

The only way you can search the Scriptures is to know the Scriptures. They examined what they to see if this Jesus could be the Christ as Paul said.

ILL: (Airplane) Then we began talking about the O.T. Text that are clearly point to Jesus as the Christ as they pertain to His death, burial, and resurrection.

Death: Psalm 22:1, 14-18, Is. 53: 3-9, 11, 12 Resurrection Psalm 16:10 Ascension Is. 45:23

As we talked we learned that the young man sitting beside us was Jewish so we asked Him about Jesus and what he trusted in. He trusted in Israel’s military might and his heritage as a Jew.

We are not Jews and we are 2000 years removed from this event but this principle applies to us. Today.... search the Scriptures!

Beware of Christian Fallacies: Baptism saves (Eph. 2:8-9), Speaking in tongues (1 Cor. 12:10 a rare gift), you can lose your salvation (John 10:28). Etc etc

Beware of Cults: Jehovah Witnesses. Mormons etc

III. They Believed the Word. (12)

The most remarkable thing about those in Berea, was the basis of their belief! It was the Word of God that settled the matter! Rom. 10: 17! They understood something that we would do good to understand. THE BIBLE IS THE FINAL AUTHORITY ON DOCTRINE AND DEED!

It is God’s Inspired Word that forms what you believe and how you are to behave. It is God’s power to change hearts, minds, and lives.

ILL: Gipsy Smith told of a man who said he had received no inspiration from the Bible although he had “gone through it several times.”

“Let it go through you once,” replied Smith, “then you will tell a different story!” The problem we have today is that many people possess the Bible but too few people are possessed by the Bible!

Con: To be a Berean is to be able to listen with a teachable spirit but to have the wisdom to serach the Scritures out for truth and then believe based on your study of God’s Word. Don’t believe things just because a man says it. Don’t believe things just because I say it. Go to the Scriptures daily and believe because God says it!