1. Paul’s Pattern of Ministry
2. The Pursuit of the Scriptures

In the Christian world today, there are many times where churches and institutions are named after something in the Bible. ^[1]Examples of this are in abundance! For instance, Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois is a university named after God, in three persons. Bethel University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a university named after a Biblical city referenced in the Old Testament. Hope College in Holland, Michigan. is named after our hope in God. Master’s University in Santa Clarita, California. is a university named after Jesus, the Master of us all.

Churches are named using Bible terms, Calvary Baptist Church, named after Calvary, the place where Jesus died. Mount Zion Baptist Church, named after the mount where the temple was. Bethany Community Church, named after a city just outside of Jerusalem. Grace Bible Church, named after God’s grace. Faith Community Church, named after the way that we come to God.

Sometimes, the Biblical reference is quite obscure: Elim Baptist Church, What’s Elim? A place of refreshment where Israel was shortly after being delivered from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 15:27; 16:1). There were 12 springs of water and 70 palm trees there. My daughter attends, “Charis Community Church.” What’s Charis? It’s the Greek word for “Grace.” But normally, the Biblical reference is clear.

These Bible words often evoke many images in our minds. Trinity evokes everything that’s true about our God! Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Bethel evokes everything that happened in that city, Abraham built an altar in that city (Genesis 12). Jacob’s dream of angels ascending and descending took place there (Genesis 28). The ark of the covenant was in Bethel for a time (Judges 20). Calvary evokes images of the suffering of Jesus upon the cross. The thorns, the nails, the blood dripping from his body. Grace evokes the gospel! How we stand before God! His unmerited favor toward us!

But there’s one name that brings up a specific image in the minds that challenges us all to be good Bible students. It’s the name Berea. It’s the name often associated with the urging people to look to the Bible: “Be a good Berean!” means “Be a good Bible Student!” This morning, we are going to open up the passage of Scripture that brings this imagery into our minds. Acts, chapter 17 and verses 10-15.

The key verse is verse 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.” In fact, this verse forms the title of my message this morning: “Examine the Scriptures daily.” This is the main point of application that comes out of the church in Berea. I want to encourage all of you to be good Bereans, by examining the Scriptures daily.

Now, before we read our passage this morning, let’s put the phrase in context: For the past several weeks, we have been following Paul and Silas and Timothy on their missionary adventures. Paul and Silas were sent out by the church in Antioch in Syria and headed north and west visit the cities where Paul had preached the gospel. Paul wanted to visit the believers to see how they were doing (Acts 15:36). Passing through these cities in southern Galatian, they picked up Timothy along the way. He was a young man who was “well spoken of by the brothers” (Acts 16:2). While in Troas, Paul received a vision to preach the gospel to those in Macedonia. So, they crossed the Aegean Sea and arrived in Philippi, (which is in Macedonia).

While in Philippi, we saw the Lord open Lydia’s heart to the gospel (Acts 16:14). We saw Paul cast the demon out of a slave girl (Acts 16:18). And we also saw the jailer in Philippi believe on the Lord Jesus (Acts 16:31-34). In other words, we saw the Spirit of God at work in Philippi. After being cast out of the city, they went to Thessalonica, which we looked at last week. We saw a great reception of the gospel in Thessalonica. Further, we saw a great rejection of the gospel in Thessalonica. We see something similar in Berea, as we come to our text. We see some receive the message of the gospel. We see others reject the message of the gospel. They reject it so strongly, that they cast Paul from the city.

So, as I read our text this morning, listen for those in Berea who received the gospel, listen for those who rejected the gospel, and listen for how they were forced out of Berea.

Acts 17:10-15
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 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. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. 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. Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. 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.

Now, when you read these verses, one of the things that strikes you, is that nothing much here is unique. Nobody in Berea is mentioned by name. There are no Lydia’s or Philippian Jailers or Jason’s. Nothing out of the ordinary happens in Berea. It seems like every other visit that Paul made to cities on his journeys. He entered a city, goes to the synagogue, preaches the gospel, some believe, some don’t, Then, persecution arises and he is forced outside of the city. That summarizes about every visit of Paul is every other city he visits. That’s what we see in Berea.

The only unique feature we see in Paul's visit to Berea is how "they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily." This morning, before we focus upon the only really unique aspect of Paul’s visit to Berea (verse 11), I first want us again to be reminded of the normalcy of Paul's visit to Berea. So, let’s first consider, ...

1. Paul’s Pattern of Ministry

I could summarize it with a few words: (1) Synagogue; (2) Reception; (3) Rejection, and (4) Persecution.

Almost every city that Paul has visited has followed this pattern. If there is a synagogue in town, he enters it. While in the synagogue, he preaches the gospel to the Jews first. Initially, Paul is received very well. many come to believe the things that Paul says. But that’s not true of everyone. Others refuse to believe what Paul is saying. And these “others” soon bring persecution against Paul and his companions, which usually leads to them being kicked out of the city.

If you would have asked Paul, “How do you gauge how long to stay in a city?” Paul would have replied, “I stay there as long as I can. When the people of the city remove me, then I leave.”

We see this pattern on Paul’s first missionary journey. He arrives in Pisidian Antioch, enters the synagogue in that city and sits down (Acts 13:14). The rulers of the synagogue invite him to share a “word of encouragement” (Acts 13:15). So, Paul preaches the gospel to the Jews in the synagogue. Initially, he is received very well. As Paul and Barnabas leaves, the people who heard Paul preach, “begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath” (Acts 13:42). When the next Sabbath came, Paul was there and ready to continue his ministry. Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. and that ended his ministry in the synagogue. Soon afterwards, "the Jews stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district" (Acts 13:50). That ended Paul’s ministry in Pisidian Antioch.

This is exactly what happened in Berea: (1) Synagogue; (2) Reception; (3) Rejection, and (4) Persecution. After Pisidian Antioch, Paul proceeded to Iconium, where we see the same thing.

"Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed" (Acts 14:1). This demonstrates the first two words, "Synagogue" and "Reception." But not everybody believed. "But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, and there they continued to preach the gospel" (Acts 14:4-7). In these verses we see the third and fourth words: "Rejection" and "Persecution."

So, they carried on to Lystra. In Lystra, we see much the same thing. However, there was no synagogue in Lystra, as the people were so pagan in that place. So, they began with street-preaching, rather than synagogue-preaching.

Now, if you remember, Paul had healed a crippled man, and the people began to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods come in the flesh! Though the reception was great, they didn’t receive the gospel. They received the promise of healing. But soon they were rejected and along came persecution. "Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead" (Acts 14:19). He didn’t die, but shortly after that, he and Barnabas returned home.

On Paul’s second missionary journey, we read much of the same. The first significant city we read about is Philippi. Again, there was no synagogue, so Paul and his companions went to the next best place, a place of prayer down by the riverside (Acts 16:13). He preached there and the gospel was received by Lydia (Acts 16:14). Soon afterwards, Paul faced rejection and persecution, finding himself in jail. Eventually, he was “asked to leave the city” (Acts 16:39).

Last week, in Thessalonica, we saw the same thing: (1) Synagogue; (2) Reception; (3) Rejection, and (4) Persecution. They entered the synagogue (Acts 14:1). He was received by “a great many” (Acts 14:4). But they were rejected by the Jews, “The Jews were jealous, and formed a mob” (Act 14:5). At the threat of harm, they left town on account of the persecution.

So, we come again to Berea. I simply want to read these verses again, with this broad outline in mind: (1) Synagogue; (2) Reception; (3) Rejection, and (4) Persecution.

(1) Synagogue: "The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. there’s the synagogue" (Acts 17:10).

(2) Reception: "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. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. there’s the reception" (Acts 17:11-12).

(3) Rejection: "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" (Acts 17:13).

(4) Persecution: Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. 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" (Acts 17:14-15).

Now, I say all of this to challenge us in our ministry to those who don’t know Christ. Certainly, in our day and age, things are different. We are not living in days of revival, when the Spirit is being poured out so freely upon so many. Yet, could it be, that God is waiting. Could it be that God is waiting for us to be more active, more intentional with the gospel? Paul was very intentional with his pattern of ministry. He went to the synagogues, with the purpose of opening his mouth to speak with others.

Are you this intentional? Am I this intentional? Here we are, more than halfway through the book of Acts, with the theme: “Be My Witnesses.” How many times have you seen these words on my teaching slide? How many times have you heard these words? “Be My Witness” These are the words of Jesus, calling us to be his witness.

So, over the past year and a half that we have been working the book of Acts, how many gospel conversations have you had with people? how many people have you spoken with have even been in a position to be receptive to the gospel? In other words, you have turned the conversation to spiritual subjects, such those who are interested could further the conversation with questions? Are you actively praying for gospel opportunities? Are you trusting in the Lord to give you the boldness needed to walk into these conversations?

We have the best message of anyone in the world! Our message is that Jesus Christ died for our sins, so that we can be made right with God through faith in him! Could it be that we don’t see people receiving the gospel, because we aren't even sharing the gospel with others? Could it be that we don’t see people reject the gospel, because we have never presented anything for them to reject?

Oh, “May God visit us with his Spirit” not only to make us bold with the gospel, but to stir in others to receive the gospel into their hearts, or to reject it with passion against us.

Well, let’s continue on. We have seen, "Paul’s Pattern of Ministry." Now, we turn to my second point.

2. The Pursuit of the Scriptures

Acts 17:11
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.

We see those in Berea, “pursuing the Scriptures.” In fact, this is the only thing that Berea is known for in all of the Bible. They “examined the Scriptures daily.”

Besides these verses that we are looking at this morning, the only other time that Berea is mentioned in the Bible is in Acts 20 and verse 4, where a man named “Sopater” is mentioned. He is simply called, “The Berean.” That is, he’s from Berea! Other than that, there is no other Biblical reference to Berea in all of the Bible. In fact, in all of ancient history, there is very little made mention of Berea. There was nothing really significant about Berea. It was a typical town in the ancient world.

One commentator described it this way, “[Berea] was a city in the foothills of the Olympian range south of the Macedonian plain. Berea was of little important historically or politically. It was ‘off the beaten track.’”^[2]

How appropriate this is for us today. In many ways, Berea is like Rockford. On the grand scheme of things, there is very little importance with us in Rockford. We aren’t particularly important to our state. We don’t have some thriving ministry. We don’t have some major university. Our town isn’t experiencing some financial boom! Rockford is definitely ‘off the beaten track’ to be sure.

Yet, what will we be remembered for? If the Bible were written today, and Paul visited Rockford, what would be said about Rock Valley Bible Church? Particularly, would verse 11 be said about us? "They were noble; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." This sort of attitude is in the name of our church, we are “Rock Valley Bible Church.” That is, we are all about the Bible here at church. Are you all about the Bible? It’s a good thing to be all about the Bible.

Those in Berea were called “noble.” Literally, this means to be “well-born.” That is to be born like nobility, into wealth and prominence and honor. As those in Berea received the word eagerly, and examined the Scriptures daily, they behaved very honorably. It’s a good thing to pursue the Scriptures.

What is surprising here is that the Bereans were “more noble” in their pursuit of the Scriptures than were those in Thessalonica. because, everything that we know about Thessalonica is to be commended. The church of the Thessalonians was a great church. Consider well how Paul described their reception of the Word: Listen to how they received the word: "And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!" (1 Thessalonians 2:13-16).

Those in Thessalonica received the word well! They received it as God’s word. They believed it, accepted it, and obeyed it! They followed after the ways of the other churches who believed. They suffered persecution well! But there was something about Berea which was better even than Thessalonica, which brought a particular commendation here in verse 11: "they received the word with all eagerness."

They didn’t receive it merely from the mouth of Paul, but they tested it against the Scriptures. In other words, when Paul spoke in Thessalonica, the believers there received what Paul said as true. They accepted it full-bore. Yet, when it came to Berea, the believers there received Paul’s word with a healthy skepticism. In other words, they didn’t take Paul’s words as the truth. Rather, they took his words and compared them with the Scriptures, before they took his words as “gospel truth.” That is, Paul wasn’t their authority. The Scriptures were their authority. and they were commended for it. Indeed, they were “noble-minded.”

There is great application for us here this morning, especially right now as I preach. You shouldn’t take anything that I say as “truth.” You should take everything I say with a “healthy skepticism.” You should go home, and look to the Scripture as your authority. Then, when you find that I have said only what the Scriptures said, believe it with your whole heart and trust your whole life with it! Because, in the end, it’s not my words that have authority. It’s God’s words that have authority. My teaching authority is all derived from God’s authority.

Now, over the years, certainly, you have seen my pattern of taking a text of Scripture, reading it, explaining it, and applying it (over and over and over again). This has been so much so, that you have come to expect that what I preach is only what the Bible says.

In fact, let me give you a little hint. When it comes to preaching, this is what I see. I see a horizontal line. The line represents, “The Line of Scripture.” This line represents the truth. I work tirelessly to keep “the line of Scripture.” I try my hardest not to go above the line. I try my hardest not to go below the line. I try my hardest to stay on the line of the Scriptures. I try, like every court-room witness, “to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” I try to tell it like it is.

Those who go above the line are legalists, who add all sorts of rules and regulations to the Bible. To be right with God, you need to do this and this and this. To really please God, you need to stay away from this and this and this. Rules upon rules are added to the Bible.

Let's merely take one instance of those who go above the line. They say, "To be a good Christian, you cannot drink alcohol!” Certainly, such an admonition comes with good intent. It's a good thing to abstain from alcohol. You will never fall into drunkenness if you never take your first sip. For some people, it may be a wise thing, especially for those who have alcohol abuse in their background, especially for leaders. I will never be accused of drunkenness as I am a teetotaler. But I also recognize that it is above the line of Scripture to say, "To be a good Christian, you cannot drink alcohol!” The Bible doesn’t prohibit alcohol consumption.

Those who fall below the line are liberals. I don’t mean social or political liberals. I mean religious liberals. These are those who think that the Bible in “inspiring” not “inspired.” So, they feel free not to believe something in the Bible, because, after all, it was written by man.

These are those who say, “Yes, the Bible says that homosexuality is a sin, but our times are different.” These are those who say, “I know that the bodily resurrection is difficult to believe. but you don’t need to believe it to be a Christian.” These are those who say, “I know that the Bible requires elders and pastors to be men, but that was in the day of a male-dominated society.” This is the path of the liberals.

When I preach, I try to keep the line of Scripture. I try to preach every sentence. I try to preach every phrase. I try to preach every word. not neglecting anything in the text. I go through books of the Bible, straight through, from beginning to end, that I might not skip over something important. I try to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Whenever I try to fill in historical details, I try to say, “It may be this” or “it may be that.”

For you all, when you go home, look for the line, and examine the Scriptures, and see if I went below the line, or above the line. If I kept the line, then believe what I said, and follow after the Lord in this way.

Further, whenever you are reading the Bible for yourself, understand where the line is, and live appropriately. One of the things that angered Jesus most was the legalism of the Pharisees. They thought that they were so good and religious, keeping all of these rules and regulations. But Jesus said, “In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). In other words, teaching that what is above the line, is, indeed, the line. Jesus called them hypocrites. Who are not right with God.

So, know what the line of Scripture is, and keep the line. Because, that’s what those in Berea did. They pursued the Scriptures."They received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so" (Acts 17:11). Do you receive the word with all eagerness? Do you look forward to hearing the word preached each Sunday morning? At home, do you look forward to times of Bible reading?

Do you examine the Scriptures daily? Do you read your Bible every day? Every day! Did you read the Bible yesterday? Did you read the Bible on Friday? Did you read the Bible last Monday? How about on March 1st? Or January 15th? Or a year ago today? If you read your Bible every day. You can confidently say, “Yes! I’m quite sure that I read the Bible on that day. Because, I read the Bible every day.”

I’m thankful for a dozen (or so) of us, who have committed ourselves this year to read through the Bible. To do this requires daily reading. If you want help in reading the Bible daily, there are many here who are doing it. Talk with them.

We could have many names for our church: Christ Church, Trinity Church, Grace Church, Hope Church, Friends Church, The Alpine Church, Loves Park Loving Church. But we have chosen to identify ourselves at “Rock Valley Bible Church.” “Rock Valley” is our location. “Bible” is our passion. Do you live this out? Are you a Bible person? Those in Berea were Bible people They heard Paul preach and examined the Scriptures to see if it were so.

So, what did Paul preach?

He was an evangelist, so he probably preached his ole, “The Christ is Jesus” sermon. Remember, Paul was primarily an evangelist, with a few sermons in his back pocket that he preached everywhere that he went. This "The Christ is Jesus" sermon is what he preached in Thessalonica. "Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 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.” (Acts 17:2-3). This is the sermon that he will preach in Corinth. "Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus" (Acts 18:5).

So, those in Berea were looking at Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 and Psalm 16, which talk of the death and resurrection of Christ. There could be no greater subject to be clear about than this. These were the passages that Paul was sharing with those in Berea. The Bereans were examining them daily. For them to do so, they probably had to go to the synagogues to read these Scriptures, because few had Bibles in their homes. For us, it is different! We have plenty of Bibles available to us. We have Bibles on our phones. We can listen to the Bible read fresh to us everyday!^[3] But those in Berea had to travel someplace to consider the truth of the Scriptures.

There is nothing more important to know and embrace than "The Christ is Jesus" sermon that Paul preached to Berea. Because, this is the essence of the gospel. This is what Paul preached to those in Corinth.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

Note how Paul relentlessly pointed people to the truth of the Scriptures. Jesus dying for our sins is "in accordance with the Scriptures." The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is "in accordance with the Scriptures." Do you know and trust these Scriptures? Are you daily examining them?

This sermon was delivered to Rock Valley Bible Church on March 27, 2022 by Steve Brandon.
For more information see www.rockvalleybiblechurch.org.

[1] At this point in my message, I invited audience participation. The congregation gave the following examples: Ebenezer, Berean, "Christ the Rock," the Gideons, Redeemer, Elim, and Morning Star.

[2] Richard Longenecker, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Volume 9 (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981), 470-471.

[3] I have been helped by http://dailyaudiobible.com.