Whisper Of God Ministries

Double Checking to Make Sure

This week we have covered Paul’s first missionary journey and his second missionary journey as well. A map is very helpful as you read this section of the book of Acts because it is important to see where Paul is actually traveling and how God is providentially spreading the Gospel. An additional help is to read the books of the New Testament that Paul wrote back to the churches in these cities.

I want to concentrate on a single verse this week from Acts 17:11, “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.” You will remember that Paul and Silas had fled Thessalonica because the Jews were jealous of the crowds that these men attracted when they preached the Gospel. These Jews rounded up a mob and brought chaos to the city in an effort to capture Paul and Silas and probably beat them. The fellow brothers in the faith had moved Paul and Silas out of town during the night and sent them to Berea. Berea was a Macedonian town about 50 miles from Thessalonica. Today it is the modern city of Verria. Paul and Silas followed their standard custom and went to the Jewish synagogue to preach. Scripture tells us that many Jews and Greeks believed in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior because of Paul’s teaching.

This verse is fascinating because it tells us that the Bereans listened to Paul with great enthusiasm but went home and to personally check what he was preaching against the Scripture. They wanted to make sure that what Paul and Silas were saying actually lined up with the Word of God. They were in the Bible every day checking and reading to see if Paul was expounding the message truthfully.

I am afraid that this is a trait that has been lost in the modern church of today. Few Christians actually pour over the Bible to make sure that the sermon or lesson they heard that day is actually biblical. Many pastors today would be offended if their congregations actually checked up on what they taught and preached. Unfortunately, most congregants in the pews probably struggle to even remember what they heard during church and are even less interested in confirming the pastor or teacher’s lesson. Most people would claim they don’t know enough of the Bible to know how to check the references that were used to support the main point.

The church must recapture its biblical literacy. Our congregations must put forth the effort to study God’s Word so that they are able to confirm the truth of a lesson or sermon. Pastors and teachers need to encourage those who listen to get into the Bible and confirm for themselves that the points and lessons are factual. Any Bible-believing pastor or teacher should welcome a discussion on a lesson or message.

Are you like the Bereans, willing and eager to pour over the Bible to confirm what you have heard or read? Or, are you only willing to just sit back and be spoon-fed accepting anything and everything? My challenge to you is that you would choose to be accountable to God for what you hear and take in. God calls us to be willing and able to judge, based on His eternal Word, what is right and what is wrong. Double check – just to make sure!