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October 7, 2021

Acts 17:10-12

As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

New International Version (NIV)

Surveys say trust in pastors’ words has diminished greatly over the last several years in the U. S. How can you be sure that I and other pastors are telling you the truth? Is there an objective standard of truth by which we can discern what the Lord says? There is.

You may have noticed that while there are two letters to the Thessalonians, there is no letter to the Bereans in our New Testament. Have you ever wondered why? We might think having two letters with your name on them is a good thing. Actually, Paul often wrote letters to churches which had problems and needed help. Paul spent two weeks in Thessalonica before opponents ran him out of town. His letters sought to clear up misunderstandings in the congregation and to complete their discipleship.

Paul encountered a different attitude in Berea. Preaching in the synagogue there, Paul engaged Jews who were hungry for the truth. They listened eagerly to his words. Then they examined the scriptures which he taught to see if his words were true. This is the dream of pastors who speak the truth. Check what we say against the word. If we are wrong show us.

Many in highly educated countries now regard the scriptures like fairy tales. At times I hear people say, “I don’t think the Bible is very clear.” I disagree. Our challenge with the Bible is not the parts we don’t understand. We struggle with the parts we understand and just don’t want to live.

To teach what the Bible says about sexual purity is often viewed these days as narrow and bigoted. Immorality was readily available in Paul’s day. The scriptures are clear in their teaching. But if we jettison the scriptures, we lose our objective basis for truth. Our feelings about a matter become sovereign in our thinking. We think those who disagree are just being unkind or unloving. On the contrary, it is not loving to bless those who live a lie. Give thanks for those who love you enough to show you the truth in God’s word.

Pray with me:
Father, help us today to understand the truth and to believe it. Align our lives with your word. Make the book live to us today. Show us ourselves in your word. Show us our sin in your word. Show us our Savior in the word. Make the book live to us as we eagerly receive it and earnestly study it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scripture memorization for this week:

Acts 17:11

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Acts 17:24-25

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

New International Version (NIV)

Our 2021 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations Bible reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy here:

2021 Reading Plan

We would love for you to join us as we read through the Bible in one year, while still having the flexibility of reading 5 days per week. In addition, I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. We will also memorize 2 scriptures each week. As we journal together this year, Robby Gallaty’s H.E.A.R. plan is a good resource: Highlight a verse that stands out to you, Explain what it means, Apply that truth to your life and Respond to what you’ve read with an action or prayer.

Joyfully,
Duane

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Houston, TX | 77024 US

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