Tuesday, June 26 – Acts 17:11

Now these people 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.

When Paul arrived in Thessalonica, he encountered rejection and suspicion. The message of the cross was threatening to many of the Jews who became jealous and ran Paul out of town. They were unwilling to consider whether the message Paul taught from the Scriptures about Jesus was true. But when Paul and his traveling companions moved on to Berea, they found a group of people who were eager to investigate the Scriptures.

In Acts 2:42-47, the early church is described as devoted to learning God’s Word, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and to prayers. The gospel motivated first-century believers to learn and grow together in community. They saw each other as a close family, bonded together by a saving relationship with Christ. They gathered regularly for the purpose of growing spiritually.

God has given us truth in His Word, and true growth comes from being connected to His Word. If you aren’t reading the Bible, you aren’t growing because you aren’t hearing from God. This is not a narrow-minded view or meant to elicit feelings of guilt. God’s Word is the vehicle God uses to give us growth. We can discover more of who God is by spending time in the Bible daily and by spending time with others who are also eagerly devoted to the study of God’s Word.

• Paul said the Berean Jews had noble character because they were eager to examine the Scriptures daily. In what way is it noble to study Scripture?
• What would you say is our goal in gathering at 121? What are some obstacles that might keep us from meeting that goal?
• Thank God for His Word and for a community of believers who wants to know His Word. Ask Him to give you eagerness and commitment to study with other believers so that you would grow in your faith and unbelievers would come to know and trust Jesus.