Jump Start # 3160

Acts 17:11 “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.”

The other day someone suggested that I listen to a certain sermon that had been preached. I did. The preacher knew his topic, used many passages and had a good presence in his delivery. All in all, it was good. There was just one hiccup. He started with an assumption, an opinion. His whole lesson hung on that assumption. If the assumption was not true, then everything would fall apart. This was a critical assumption. It needed to be true. It needed to be crystal clear. It needed to be proven.

There are some things we need to learn here:

First, just because I can connect the dots doesn’t mean that God intends for the dots to be connected. Not everything in the O.T. is mirrored in the N.T. We must remember, especially in those letters to Gentile audiences, their knowledge of the O.T. wasn’t like the Jewish mind.

In evolutionary thinking, the flipper of a whale, the wing of a bird and the arm of a human, all have similar mechanisms and therefore they conclude that it evolved that way. That’s how they see it. It could be that God liked that concept and He used it in several different applications, and the only connection is that they are similar and nothing more.

Many words in the Bible have more than one definition and application. Words like “kingdom,” “world,” and even “apostle” have more than one common application. To see such a word and then to assume that it means the same everywhere, every time, leads to some scary conclusions. God so loved the world and love not the world may seem to be opposites. They are not. Understanding how “world” is used brings a clear understanding to those statements.

Second, because I want something in the Bible doesn’t mean that it is in the Bible. Biblical concepts, principles and commands belong to the Lord, not the church and not to us. It is easy for us to conclude that if I don’t like something, then it is wrong. You may feel that way, but that does not mean it is wrong with the Lord. Sin is against God. God is the one who declares what is right and what is wrong. My dislike or displeasure of something does not necessarily mean that it is wrong. I don’t like folks getting to worship late. Now, there are times when something happens. But for some, it’s every time. They can get to work on time. They can get the kids to school on time. But getting down to the church house? Nope. Late again. Late just about every time. Now is that a sin? I sure don’t like lateness, but that doesn’t mean I can call that a sin.

Third, when teaching, if we don’t start out right, we likely will not finish up right. It’s like drawing a line on a piece of blank paper. If we begin crooked, it remains crooked. So, to start right, let the Scriptures speak for themselves. Learn concepts and understand Bible words. Whole religious doctrines have come from assumptions that are not upheld by the Scriptures. What sounds good, may not be good. What sounds logical, may not be Biblical. What makes sense to us, may not be how God operates. A grand example of this are the parables. Most start out like a typical first century story, and then there is a twist and they end up not the way most would assume. And, that alone, shows that the kingdom of God does not operate the way we think. The story of the prodigal is an example. No father back then, or likely today, would throw a celebration party for a wayward child who lost a fortune and ruined his name. The laborers in the vineyard is another example. Back then, one would not pay the last workers first and you certainly would not pay them the same that you paid a man who worked all day long. That just doesn’t make sense. We must let God speak for Himself and allow the Bible to show us the will of God.

Fourth, our teaching is about the word of God and not ourselves. That’s always the key. The old timers would pray that the preacher would hide himself behind the cross. The thought was, after the sermon I saw Jesus, not the preacher. I tend to think we praise the preacher these days more than we praise the Lord that we should be seeing.

Begin with a fact. Build upon that. Teach what the Bible says. One can’t go wrong with that.

Roger

Jump Start # 3002

Acts 17:11 “Now these people were move noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”

God’s word—the Bible, it is the foundation of our faith. Without the Bible, we do not know God. The Bible explains the will of God, illustrates the saving work of Jesus Christ and is what gives us hope and assurance. Currently, I’m teaching a class called, “How to Study Your Bible.” I’ve found that we make that assumption that people understand how to study the Bible. Is reading the Bible the same as studying the Bible? Many use the Bible like they would a biology textbook. Others read the Bible like a newspaper. Some get so confused and lost when they read the Bible that they just give up. We dads joke that we’d toss our child into a swimming pool and he’d either sink or swim. That may sound funny, but it doesn’t work that way. The child would sink and the dad would go to jail. Swim classes teach how to hold your head above water, dog paddle and kick with your legs. Class after class and then that child can swim the length of the pool. More classes and that child is jumping off the diving board. The same is true with driving a car. You don’t toss your teenager the keys and tell him “go drive.” You’ll be calling your insurance man by the end of the day if you do that. There are some lessons, instructions, warnings, and tips that you share with your child as you show him how to drive.

Why is it that we think just baptizing a person ought to be enough for him to understand the Bible? Where does one begin? What’s prophecy? What’s literal? What’s figurative? Why four gospels?

As I work lessons in this class it occurred to me that there are four challenges we face when we come to the Word of God.

First, letting someone else tell me what the Bible says. That’s an easy crutch to lean upon. Just ask the preacher, he knows. There are times that is necessary. The Ethiopian didn’t understand without the help of Philip. This is especially helpful when we are young in faith. But some never move past this. They take whatever is said from the pulpit as the truth. When we look at our mixed up and confused religious community today, and realize that a vast majority of people would not know if Malachi was in the O.T. or N.T. or if he was a king, prophet, apostle or good guy or bad guy. Staying in regular Bible classes and doing your own study will put you ahead of most of the world when it comes to Bible knowledge. The majority of our people in the pews knows more about the Bible than those who are preaching in mega churches today.

The easiest way for error to get introduced into a congregation is for people just to take the words of the preacher and accept that anything he says is so. Error does not stand a chance when people know truth. These noble Bereans were checking things out in the Scriptures. They heard things, now they wanted to verify if those things were consistent with Scriptures.

Second, a greater challenge is for us to know the facts but not be changed by the message. Bible knowledge can soar among us. Our middle school kids know the facts. We know the stories, but have the stories made us more patient, gracious and kind? We know Jesus, but have we been changed by Jesus? This is the great challenge among us. Teaching the ins and outs of the Bible is essential, but it fails if we are not a better people because of that. The point of the Bible is not to give God’s perspective of human history. The purpose is to bring us to the Lord. We need to be a righteous people because of the word of God.

Third, yet another challenge is to allow our culture to shape how we see the Bible. American eyes can often miss some valuable lessons in the Bible. Our culture has no tolerance for masters and slaves. Yet, that was a part of the Biblical world. When Jesus told the parable about the wise and foolish virgins, we must not put the way we do weddings into that story. They did things differently. Rather than bringing the Bible to us, we need to put ourselves in the Bible. Jesus used the word “dog” in talking to the Canaanite woman. Jesus referred to His mother as “woman.” Those things do not set well with us. Moderns believe Jesus was cold and even insulting. They miss it. They try to understand those passages through our culture and by so doing, they miss it. They miss it by a mile. Our culture is moving very rapidly away from God. Let them go. Don’t try to interpret the Bible through the lens of moderns.

Fourth, another challenge is to think that the truths and principles of the Bible cannot help my situation today. We are left believing the mountains of problems we face each day and we have no real or practical help from God. What worked then won’t help my situation. So, we live as if we are on an isolated island, all to our own. No one understands. No one can help. Nothing will ever change. But such a faith is false. God’s word is living and active. It’s moving. It’s doing things. It’s changing lives every day. It can and will help you. Don’t expect miracles. Don’t expect God to do it all. But through the pages of this Divine word, we find everything pertaining to life and godliness, just as Peter promised. I might not understand your situation. I might think my problems are greater than yours. But never give up on God. And, never close His book. Broken homes, broken promises, broken vows, broken lives can all be mended and made whole through the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Following God’s word, obeying His commands, putting the kingdom first in our lives, introduces the changes that can bring real change in your life.

God’s word is challenging—it needs to be. It’s realistic. It’s life. It doesn’t sugarcoat the problems we face. It doesn’t offer quick and easy solutions. But what it does is take us to the amazing Lord of Heaven and Earth. He has the whole world in His hands. He alone can do what no one else can.

If you haven’t made the Bible a daily part of your life—it’s time you did.

Roger

Jump Start # 2972

Acts 17:11 “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.”

  Many of our readers know that I have a passion for Restoration history. I will read and read about the old ways. The other day I was reading an article in the Gospel Advocate that was published in 1915. The eighty-three year old editor, David Lipscomb was writing about individual communion cups. He stated, “Some months ago I published an article opposing a change in the manner of partaking of ‘the fruit of the vine.’ I have somewhat modified my views on the subject since…I have reexamined the history and service of the Passover in the Old Testament and its transformation into the Lord’s Supper in the New Testament, and I have been led to doubt if all who partook of it drank from the same cup.”

  Now, from this a few thoughts:

  First, things that we are accustomed to had to be thought out and searched in the Scriptures. We think nothing of a church building. Originally, the disciples met in synagogues or homes. The first time someone suggested building a church building, some thought and examination of Scripture had to take place. We think nothing of individual cups for communion. I worshipped with a group overseas that used one container. I was told that they served from the back. I sat in the back. Someone came in late and sat behind me. But the transition from “one cup” to “individual communion cups” took some thinking, looking and consideration.

  In our times, we have had to do some head scratching, Bible looking and thinking about things. Is giving electronically ok? Don’t just immediately say ‘yes.’ That ought to be thought out and considered. What about Bible classes via videos? What about using social media? Can the preacher be given a retirement package? Can a church only meet once on a Sunday? Can a church have only one sermon on Sunday?

  Second, introducing new methods and ideas without thinking things through and searching the Scriptures can lead to series mistakes and departures from God’s divine pattern. Just because we like it or it is more efficient doesn’t mean that it meets the approval of God. What works in the business world doesn’t always work in the spiritual world. Our verse reminds us that those noble Bereans were hearing things like they never heard before. Instead of simply rejecting them because they were different or embracing them because they were new, they went to the Bible. They searched the Scriptures. Their “Scriptures” at that time would have been the Old Testament. It is there that they would have seen that the prophesied Messiah was Jesus Christ. Do your homework first, before you introduce or suggest new ideas.

  Third, I appreciate that the old David Lipscomb was willing to change his views and even openly admit to that. Remember, Lipscomb was born in 1831. The Lord’s church in America was still in it’s first generation. In many places, the restoring principles were just being heard for the first time. Little log cabins is where most of those first American disciples worshipped. But by 1915, there was airplanes, automobiles and a world of change. Change is hard on older folks. How easily, Lipscomb could have stayed with the way he had always worshipped. But with thought, careful study, he modified his views. I hope I can be like that. Don’t be against everything new and different. Don’t be the negative one. Check it out. Do your homework. Then be flexible if the Scriptures allow it.

  Fourth, there would be some who were not flexible. They were sticking with the one cup. No amount of reason, Scripture or common sense would move them. In time, congregations divided over this very issue. And, surrounding a memorial to remember the Lord’s death that not only united us with God but made us all one in Christ, this was used to get upset, mean and ugly and break fellowship. What was supposed to pull us together became the means to pull us apart. When on disagrees, make sure it’s Biblically based and not a matter of opinion. We stand united upon the Word of God, not one opinion.

  An old man saw something and was willing to change. An old dog did learn new tricks. But the foundation in all of this is searching the Scriptures. The desire to please the Lord always comes before our desire to please ourselves. What I want doesn’t matter. What does the Lord require—now that is what matters.

  Roger

Jump Start # 2308

Acts 17:11 “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.”

This passage is an incredible example for all of us. What happened here changed their lives. This ought to be the standard for us and when it is, it too changes our lives.

The apostle Paul was out preaching. We often call these trips his missionary journeys. Paul and Silas came to Berea. They started teaching in Jewish synagogues. They weren’t teaching what the people there had been used to hearing. They were teaching about Jesus, salvation, and the church. New thoughts. New ideas. And, out of this a new example for the rest of the world.

From this passage we see:

First, they received the word. They didn’t turn their backs on it. They didn’t say, “That’s not the way we have heard it before.” Before faith can take root in our hearts, God’s word must be received. Without that, faith has no substance. The difference between faith, wishing and dreaming, is that faith has a foundation in the word of God. The word of God is what supports the faith. In Jesus’ story of the wise man and the foolish man, at the end of the sermon on the mount, it was the wise man who built his house upon the rock. That rock is the word of God. That rock made it possible for the house to withstand storms. That rock kept the person going. That rock held him up.

Without the word of God, folks hope, but there’s nothing to that hope. Faith is built upon the promises, the trust, the assurance and the proof of God that is found throughout the word of God. They received the word.

Second, they received it with “great eagerness.” That expresses their attitude. They weren’t reluctant. They weren’t doubting. The Bible makes sense. The Bible can be understood. One doesn’t need another book to explain God’s book. Creeds, by-laws and so forth, are not necessary. God’s word is what will get us to Jesus. God’s word is what will get us to Heaven. Through that word we come to know, believe and obey Jesus.

Some folks receive the word, but it’s not with great eagerness. They receive it, almost hoping there was another option. Some receive it, but they don’t like it. Some fight it, like a child being put to bed when he doesn’t want to go to bed. When these things happen, we will be slow to obey. We will not have joy in our hearts. We will do it, simply because we don’t want to go to Hell. Heaven or Hell are God’s only options. I truly feel that some wish that there was a third option. I get the impression that some would be ok not live on in eternity. If God had a third option of simply ceasing to exist after death, I think many would sign up for that. That way they could live as they wanted to without any consequences. However, there is no third option. You won’t find in Heaven people who don’t really want to be there. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.

You can tell eager people. They are first in line. On black Friday, they are the ones who campout all night in front of a store door. They are eager. Getting up early with excitement is a sign of eagerness. Here, it’s folks who are attentive to what was being preached. I see this in people’s eyes as I preach. They are listening. They are looking in their Bibles. They are taking notes. They are learning. They are thinking. They are changing. God’s word is powerful and it can drive out fear, doubt and worry. God’s word gives us comfort and hope. God’s word reassures our hearts. God’s word builds confidence and courage. We can face anything, even death, when we know God is on our side and we are on His side.

Third, these folks were checking things out with the word of God. They searched the Scriptures to see whether these things were so. Several thoughts here. The Scriptures for these Bereans would be the Old Testament. Paul must have been referring to the prophecies about the Messiah and the death. Passages like Psalms 22, Isaiah 53, or Daniel’s discussion about God’s kingdom (Dan 2) would have been places they may have looked at. Rather than just accepting what Paul said, they checked it out. They verified it. They searched the Scriptures. If it’s in the Bible, it’s so.

This tells us that they understood that God’s word is the answer. They didn’t check the pages of what the rabbis had written. They didn’t rest upon what their ancestors always believed. It was the Scriptures. If it was in the Scriptures, that meant it was right. They didn’t argue with Scriptures. They didn’t look for loopholes. They didn’t toss their opinions into the matter. God spoke and that was it.

That spirit is missing these days. Too many want to fuss with the Bible, which really means that they are arguing with God. That’s one argument that they will lose. People today place their feelings above Scriptures. I know the Bible says this, they will say, but I feel this way about that. When they do that, they do not realize that they are placing how they feel at a higher standard than God. It really doesn’t matter how we feel. I may not like it. I may wish God said something different. But, realize God didn’t have to write the Bible. He didn’t have to send His apostles out preaching His word. He easily and rightly could have said, you messed up, good luck. You are on your own. What then? We would be lost without any hope and without ever knowing what to do. Most wouldn’t have thought about being baptized on our own. We wouldn’t know how to please God on our own. We’d come up with our own way of doing things. And, guess what? That’s exactly what the modern church looks like today. There are so many activities, organizational levels, concepts, worship ideas that one never reads in the Bible. If you were to ask, show me where this is in the Bible? They couldn’t. They don’t care. They have moved past following the Bible.

The apostle Paul said, “the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you” (Phil 4:9). It’s a matter of following the leader. In essence, if Paul did it, we should too. If Paul didn’t, why are we doing it?

They received the word. They received it with great eagerness. They received it and checked it out by the Scriptures. They became Christians. And, guess what? The same thing happens today.

Roger

Jump Start # 667

Acts 17:11 “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”

Our passage makes a comparison between two places, Berea and Thessalonica. The comparison was a spiritual one based upon the reception of the word of God. The spirit of the Bereans is commended here. They were more noble-minded. It’s easy to thump on the Thessalonians, but they were an impressive group.

• 1 Thes 2:13 “when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but what it really is, the word of God
• 1 Thes 1:6 “You became imitators of us and the Lord…”
• 1 Thes 2:14 “For you brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea”
• 1 Thes 1:8 “For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you”

There are two wonderful characteristics of the Bereans.

First, they eagerly received the word of God. They were excited to have the gospel preached to them. This wasn’t a group that asked, “Do we have to go…” This wasn’t a group that was bored nor had to fight staying awake. The Bereans put some of us to shame. They would love to have what we have spiritually. The word of God was welcomed.

Secondly, they examined the Scriptures to see whether the things were true. They knew that the word of God was the final answer. If it’s true to the book, then it’s true. That was their spirit. They didn’t say, “well, that’s just the Bible, he’s what I think…” They did not accept what they heard because a speaker impressed them. I’m amazed how thorough these folks were. They checked things out. They were careful. It seems today that if someone “rediscovers” something, writes a book, folks will flock to the new idea without any thought to what the Bible says.

The Bereans understood that right and wrong was based upon the Bible. Saying something without Biblical proof wasn’t going to fly with these people. These Bereans were careful. They looked. They searched. They didn’t let someone do all their thinking for them.

Those are good thoughts for us to remember. When we are reading something, including one of these Jump Starts, or a book or a blog or a website, read it with careful eyes. Read it with an open Bible. Read it with the understanding that it is only right if it is Biblically right.

This spirit will make us dig in our Bibles. It will make us ask questions, do our homework and learn. We may find, like the Bereans did, that what we heard or read is true with God. That truth can lead us to a better understanding, a better relationship with the Lord and a better hope in our hearts. Learning is fun and a great adventure for all of us. Learning isn’t limited to those in school, but to all of us. Don’t fall into the habit of being spoon fed by the preacher. He doesn’t the homework, he does the thinking, and we just listen and accept. The Bereans were cut from a different cloth than that. They would have none of that. They heard and then they went to the book.

National averages about adults reading books are shocking. More than 50% of adults do not read books, any books. The number of people that have told me directly, “I do not like to read,” is unbelievable. I’ve even had a preacher or two admit that. They are in the wrong business. It’s like a painter saying that he doesn’t like paint. Then, what are we reading? Hollywood magazines about who kissed who this week? Sports magazines? Novels? Some of those have a place, but what about Biblical books? What about the Bible itself?

Reading, thinking, challenging yourself, finding answers, chasing ideas, learning  – is such a wonderful task. It’s a lifelong journey and a wonderful adventure. Biblical knowledge gives a person so much hope and confidence. Knowing is the answer. The Bereans had that spirit.

How about you? Do you?

Roger