605 The Mind of a Berean. Apr 3, 2025

 Key Scripture Acts 17:10-12 

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

Relevance

The Christian world is full of different types of Bible students. Some read a little, while others read a lot. Some rarely read while others don't cease researching the latest passage or word the Lord has opened up to them. 

Whether we like to study or not, we are called by God to study the Bible. 

The Believer is CALLED to STUDY, not simply read a few verses here and there haphazardly. In other words, we are Bible students until the day we pass through to life eternal. 

But what do we study? 

Solomon says that much study is a weariness to the flesh. (Ecclesiastes 12.12). Yet he also said the heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. (Proverbs 18.15)

Well, we ask, what's it going to be? 

If we seek knowledge for knowledge's sake, as the Corinthian Greeks did, we are simply polishing our egos and wasting our time. The same is true of biblical knowledge if all we are going to do with it is show off without pursuing Christ.

I like Solomon's point above in Proverbs 18.15. Within the earnest believer, the ear seeks knowledge (it hears about and yearns to know for righteousness' sake), and the heart then pursues it (it chases it like the man who found the pearl of great price and sold everything to have it). 

In that same vein of thought, Paul instructs his protege, Timothy, not to waste his evenings and weekends on trivial pursuits but to study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2.15)

If we don't know the truth, we may not know UNTRUTH when it's presented to us.

Paul states that the believer should be:

1. Studying

2. Studying to present himself or herself to God for approval of how and what they are studying 

3. as well as the pace and engagement—a diligent worker in that study

4. Unable to be shamed of the work they have done in that area. 

5. From that study, to rightly (coherently and knowledgeably) discern the truth in the Word, dividing it from cleverly disguised nonsense. 

This brings us to the mind of the Berean. They were certain brethren who took their spiritual growth seriously and the truth as if it were, well, the truth!

I want to pick up on three terms our key scripture contains about these noble people.

1. Received the word. Waiting for it. Hungry. 

2. Readiness of mind. Not a lazy, sleepy mind. 

3. Searched the scriptures daily — to ensure what they were told was truth. This way, they go from truth to truth: no theories or half-truths.

 ANYONE CAN BE LIKE THIS

We all follow a three-step system for most facets of life, and we should extend that to following our Lord and Saviour. 

1. Vision (Vision of a One Way Life, starting from the place where we are spiritually and proceeding toward a definite goal well within the reach of every person.

2. Knowledge. We begin to learn the Truths of God in their order so that understanding is added to the knowledge we acquire. 

3. Practice—the practice of every Truth of godliness learned. This is very easy because we practice with friends or tutors helping at every turn.

Studying is not just about knowing but living. 1 Cor 4:15: “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: (Those people who have walked the experiences rather than simply reading about them.)

The Apostle John writes to some of those fathers in his 1 John epistle. He writes to three levels of believers: Children, Young Men, and Fathers—people who have dedicated themselves to a one-way, spiritual worker's life in knowledge, understanding and being led daily by the Holy Spirit.

Luke writes in our key scripture that a nobility is attached to the single-minded Christian. He called the Bereans more noble than others because they took the word seriously, as if they were studying for a degree or PhD in Christian authenticity and wisdom. 

God chooses humble hearts, whether in Kings' Palaces or laundries. But not many come from kings' palaces. 

1Cor 1:26-27 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, NOT MANY NOBLE, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

Paul speaks of the nobility of the world. But believers are of a different nobility. 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

We learn to weigh evidence and study with definite objectives. But we can't weigh evidence if we're unsure of what we're reading or we're not reading at all. 

Originally, God wanted true nobility, which is very encouraging. 

• Joshua, Israel's Commander-in-Chief, was commanded to meditate on God's Law DAY AND NIGHT.

• Both Judah and Israel's Kings were to write the Law out in their own hand so they would know and obey it all their lives so they would learn to fear the Lord.

God doesn't want us to study until we all go mad, but we must put time aside for Wisdom Nights. And He doesn't always want us to study alone. When we do that, we set traps for ourselves because we don't have anyone to challenge our theories or concepts.

STUDYING TOGETHER: Is Church just on a Saturday or Sunday?

Or is it a family of students learning together about the Kingdom of God? You will find that a true church is a church, school, and university where we participate and grow.

Proverbs 27:17 tells us, As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. So, getting together around the table with the books and some prayed-up friends is essential.  

Also, Hebrews 3:13 says But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 'Hardened’ can simply be saying “I’m Right” when you may not be. 

British Theologian John Stott. “We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behaviour.” We often need other people to help with that.

There are many benefits to studying with friends besides the snacks they might bring.  

• Improves motivation and focus

• Helps to keep us accountable

• Eliminates procrastination (study buddies)

• Teaches us humility

• Help to fill in gaps in our own  knowledge.

• Learn faster as more people are searching.

• Stop us from going too far down rabbit holes.

• Different ministries have different views. 

• Creates bonds of Love and team building— a spiritual family

• Different aged people have different perspectives, so allow young people.

• Gets rid of stage fright and fears of public speaking

• Learn to teach and be a student at the same time.

• Keeps evil from penetrating that body—wrong messages get called out.

• Polishes us like smooth stones TOGETHER in a river bed.

• And it brings us close as a body should.

Our churches are more than places to gather, hear a sermon, sing songs and drink coffee. They are places to grow in wisdom, knowledge, and experience, leading to further maturity. 

In closing, studying is a requirement from the Lord, and nobility is one of the benefits.

Studying together is mandatory for all well-rounded believers who want to further their education so that they can move from faith to faith instead of remaining static. Remember—Vision, Knowledge, and Practice. 

The Lord has so much in store for us when we pray, turn pages and meditate. Praise His name. 

Prayer

Precious Lord, you open up so many secrets when you see earnestness in your followers. Thank you that nobody is left empty when they gather around your table to study. Praise you for the wisdom and knowledge you impart to us all. Hallelujah. 

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez