Becoming a Berean Pt. 1... What is a Berean?
Becoming a Berean • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 1 viewNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Series Overview:
Series Overview:
Focusing in on the importance of Bible study and principles of Bible study!
Before beginning on any of these topics, I think it is best to look at our biblical model for
Foundations: What is a Berean?
Acts 17:1–15 (ESV)
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”
4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.
6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”
8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things.
9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.
11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.
13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds.
14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.
15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.
(H) One of my biggest wins in youth ministry: Three or four years ago (ish) handed out papers...Story of Josh pulling out a wrinkled sheet of paper before church a month ago...
I personally have a PASSION for BIBLE STUDY
if you HAVEN’T READ through the ENTIRE BIBLE, you really SHOULD. I’ve grown more in love with it the more I’ve read and it’s amazing how there’s always something new you find!
-------------------------🐢 --------------------------
BACKGROUND:
PAUL is on his 2ND MISSIONARY JOURNEY... They just LEFT THESSALONICA after a RUCKUS is started as a result of their preaching...many people were converted and the apostles were here described as those who “TURNED the WORLD UPSIDE DOWN”...
Acts 17:10-15 ESV The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.
BEREA was a CITY in MACEDONIA about 40-45 miles west of Thessalonica
(11) Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
NOBLE can mean of more noble CHARACTER, some translations render it OPEN-MINDED...regardless the important thing is they are being CONTRASTED with those from Thessalonica as they were willing to go to Scripture themselves.
(12) Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.
I had TWO CLASSMATES in my last class that shared they were SKEPTICS to some extent who CAME TO FAITH THROUGH personal BIBLE READING! Isn’t that so cool!
The JEWS of THESSALONICA weren’t willing to LOOK!
You’re only AFRAID of being EXAMINED if you’re NERVOUS what they may FIND! They DIDN’T WANT TO BELIEVE
You can CHECK my INTERNET HISTORY any day of the week and I have NO NERVES...so if SOMEONE SHARES a MESSAGE and is UNWILLING to have the Scripture CHECKED that can be a RED FLAG…
-------------------------🐢 --------------------------
(13) But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. (14) Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. (15) Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.
Imagine how mad these Jews were!! They traveled the 40 miles or so (3 days roughly on foot in those days) to stir up the crowds against Paul...they were committed...sounds familiar to what Paul used to do!!!
-------------------------🐢 --------------------------
The BEREANS were known for two things here: they RECEIVED the word EAGERLY...and they EXAMINED the SCRIPTURES to see if these things were so…
We have a lot of CHRISIANS that are at best HALFWAY BEREANS
-------------------------🐢 --------------------------
At THAT TIME they would have ONLY HAD the OT to examine and they would not have had near the access we do…
Paul wrote to the Ephesians (ch. 4:11-15) and said that the PURPOSE of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers is EQUIPPING the saints for the work of ministry and for BUILDING up the body of Christ...until we all reach MATURITY and the stature of the fullness of Christ and have grown up...NO LONGER CHILDREN being TOSSED AROUND by VARIOUS DOCTRINES and teachings...MINISTRY is to MAKE us SOLID but it’s NOT THEIR JOB ALONE!
The DANGERS of some newer SHOWS like the CHOSEN is that they teach a lot of EXTRA-BIBLICAL MATERIAL and if you DON’T KNOW your own BIBLE you DON’T KNOW where the LINE is BETWEEN FACTUAL and PLAUSIBLE
So how often DO YOU examine Scripture?
-------------------------🐢 --------------------------
So many PEOPLE RISKED their LIVES and SOME DIED in order to get the BIBLE into our LANGUAGE! Let’s not take that for granted!!!!
SUPPLY and DEMAND? A lot of times when there is SO MUCH of SOMETHING it makes it seem LESS VALUABLE
COVID + 2 X 4S & AMMO…
All our supply often makes the demand drop because we take it for granted...
So, with the accessibility we have today, I believe we are all accountable for knowing the Bible for ourselves. We don’t have legitimate excuses for not examining Scripture to establish what we believe. God desires to meet us when we read and this is something we have the privilege of doing daily.
--------
For Pt. 4
Share some verses from Psalm 119 on David’s love for God’s Law
Maybe touch on 2 Tim. 3:16-17??
Overviewing the history of bible translations
Wycliffe - literal, word for word, formal equivalence
Tyndale - thought for thought, dynamic equivalence
Erasmus’ GNT (1516)
Martin Luther
Constitutions forbidding the English translation of Scripture...
Bloody Mary
King James
Ken Taylor- paraphrase