Paul's Odyssey II #8 - Berea

July through September our series is entitled: Paul's Odyssey II
Odyssey means "a long and adventurous journey or experience". It is the second of a three-part series about the life and ministry of Paul. The text for these three months will cover Acts 15 - 18, Paul's second missionary trip.

This series is focused on how the early Church spread Christianity amid a pagan society while enduring hostile religious persecution.

Last week we left Paul and his team in the city of Thessalonica.

Have you heard the terms "fact-checker" or "fact-checking" before?
The term can be defined as "The process of verifying the factual accuracy of something that has been communicated."
Some people misspeak, exaggerate the truth, twist facts, or even outright lie. Because of this, it makes sense to check things out rather than just believe something you read on social media or a news platform or whatever someone tells you.
The Bible tells us to have witnesses to an accusation or statement to provide verification. Deuteronomy 19:15; 1 Timothy 5:19-20
With the rise of electronic media, a whole industry of professional fact-checkers has emerged. We're told to trust them but what is their motive or who do they really represent. "Who is fact-checking the fact-checkers?"
This morning the subject of fact-checking is front and center in our text. We see people fact-checking Paul's teaching, and they're using God's Word to do so!

Our text this morning, though short, provides some great historical information about the spread of Christianity in the continent of Europe as well as insights into how Christians and Churches can remain healthy.

Last week Paul and his team traveled to the city of Thessalonica and established a church with mostly new converts.
A group of religious Jews, fearful of Paul's growing popularity with the people stirred up a righteous mob and began making false accusations against him. The new believers of Thessalonica made plans to help him.
Acts 17:10-14

Verse 10a
Thinking of our term, "Time to get out of Dodge," we see the people getting Paul out of there before trouble starts.
Paul is on the move again, traveling 50-55 miles which would have been a three-day journey.
What was Paul thinking?
What was Paul saying to his companions?
What was Paul praying?

What do you do when times get tough?

In verse 10b we see that upon arriving in Berea, they went to the Jewish synagogue. You have to love Paul's determination to keep serving the Lord! He didn't let anything keep him from living out the mission God had given him.
Later in the book of Romans, Paul explains why he was able to keep going.
Romans 9:1-3 [NLT]

In verse 11 when it said "the Berean Jews were of more noble character," we see two different thoughts:
1. The people were of a different social class.
2. The people were more "open-minded" as evidenced by their reaction to the teaching that Paul presented.

The verse also tells us that they "received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day." The idea of examined is "a legal term that implies integrity and absence of bias."

There are many lessons we can learn from this simple verse:

1. Are we open minded to the Scriptures or are we defensive? Are we looking at them to support our personal beliefs, validate our choices, and approve of our lifestyle?

2. Have we truly received the gospel message and see transformation in our lives, or is our Christianity a matter of simple information?

3. We are all eager about the things that we enjoy … is there a great eagerness for God’s Word?

4. Do we settle for a superficial reading of the Bible or do we seek to study / examine and apply it --- and to do so regularly?

In verse 12 we see that despite the trouble Paul and his team were facing, they are still seeing God produce fruitfulness in their ministry.

Our lost family and friends have a choice as to how they will respond to Christ. The difference here is an open mind!

In verses 13-14 we see the vicious cycle of Paul - Preaching - Persecution repeating itself.

Some food for thought:

1. Have you allowed the media or other sources to frame reality for you, or are you fact-checking to see what the real truth is?

2. Do you have a real passion for the lost?

3. Are you fully committed to God’s mission for your life or have you let the pleasures and troubles of this world side-track you?

4. How would you describe your attitude toward God’s Word?