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"Through the Bible" Week 25. True Nobility in Berea. In the Old Testament reading this week:. Elisha stretches himself out on top of a dead boy – brings him back to life. An army general dips seven times in the Jordan River.
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"Through the Bible" Week 25 • True Nobility in Berea
In the Old Testament reading this week: • Elisha stretches himself out on top of a dead boy – brings him back to life. • An army general dips seven times in the Jordan River. • A metal axe head floats when a stick is thrown into the water. • Four lepers find a camp deserted, and run to tell the good news. • Jehu - history's first • aggressive driver. • Queen Jezebel thrown • out of a window.
In the New Testament • It was decided that Gentiles did not have to be circumcised • Paul was miraculously delivered from jail, • Survived a lynching mob in Thessalonica, preached to the philosophers, and • planted churches in • Corinth and Ephesus.
Acts 17:11, 12 • "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.”
In this brief description of the ministry in Berea, Luke is making a comparison between the people there and those who had been encountered in the previous city. Is that bad?
Christians begin at the same point, but soon the similarities fade, and discernable differences emerge. There are: • Nominal Christians • Political Christians • Social Christians • Carnal Christians • "Skin of the teeth" Christians • Entitlement Christians • “Good and Faithful • Servant" Christians
"We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." (II Corinthians 10:12)
"Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only." • (Philippians 4:15)
Of the seven churches in Aisia, some are distinguished because of: • perseverance (Smyrna) • demonstrated progress (Thyatira) • patient endurance (Philadelphia) • backsliding (Ephesus) • compromising (Pergamum) • being dead (Sardis) • lukewarm (Laodicea)
What Luke is saying is that these people were willing to listen; they were not prejudiced against his teaching just because it was new or different. They were "generous" with their interest and their time, giving ample opportunity for the Word of the Gospel to be explained and take root.
Three Qualities of Christian Nobility: • 1. An eagerness to listen and be open to the truth of the Gospel. • "They received the message with great eagerness." "eagerness" is defined as "forwardness or readiness of mind."
Three Qualities of Christian Nobility: • 2. They exhibited diligence in their efforts to understand the truth of the Gospel. • "They examined the Scriptures every day." • The word means "to scrutinize, investigate, interrogate." • The fact that they were diligent is seen in their daily devotion to their pursuit.
Three Qualities of Christian Nobility: • 3. The Bereans took personal responsibility to evaluate and ascertain the truth of the Gospel. • They determined to evaluate what they were hearing according to Scripture.
The Bereas were commended for these three reasons: • Eagerness to listen and be open to the truth. • Diligence in their efforts to understand the truth. • Evaluation according to Scripture.
