Wednesday, October 22 – Acts 17:13-15

The difference between Thessalonica and Berea is striking. In Acts 17:4, we read that “some of them were persuaded,” meaning that some Thessalonian Jews became followers of Jesus. In Acts 17:12, we read that “many of them believed,” meaning that many Berean Jews became followers of Jesus. With only some Jews following Jesus in Thessalonica, the rest of the Jews ran Paul and Silas out of town. But with many of the Jews following Jesus in Berea, Paul and Silas were safe…until the Jews in Thessalonica came to cause trouble in Berea.

The distance between Berea and Thessalonica is about 50 miles. The Thessalonian Jews did not just go to Berea for an afternoon outing. Fifty miles would have taken a good day or two to travel. They were committed to the cause of breaking up the revival happening in Berea. They succeeded in getting Paul out of town, but by the grace of God, Silas and Timothy were able to stay and continue the work in Berea.

The missionary journey that Paul is on is not the one he expected, but it is the one that God had planned. Paul went to Philippi (Acts 16:14-40) because the Lord directed his path there. Paul went from Philippi to Thessalonica to Berea to Athens; every time, Paul was run out of town for preaching the gospel. And every time, God saw it fit to give Paul and his companions success. God gave them success because they were obedient, even after what happened to them in the previous town. May we have a commitment to sharing the Bible and the Gospel like Paul?

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017%3A13-15&version=NASB

Tuesday, October 21 – Acts 17:10-12

The Bereans were people devoted to study and thought. They received the message that Paul spoke and considered that message to discern whether it was true or not. After examining his words, they believed in Jesus. The Bereans should be examples for all Bible studies. Hear, examine, believe.

It is hard to live like the Bereans when you are not part of a group that studies the Bible together. Yes, God can speak to you on an individual level just by reading the Bible. But the opportunity to grow and learn from other people’s readings and experiences is not possible. When you read the Bible alone, you only read the Bible from your perspective. When you read the Bible in a group, you get other people’s perspectives and hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to them through that passage of Scripture.

To be like the Bereans, you need to be part of a group of people who study the Bible. My encouragement for you this week is to plan to come to a Sunday Morning Bible Study this Sunday. We have groups for all ages and stages of life. Come and study the Bible with others and grow in your understanding of God’s Word.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017%3A10-12&version=NASB

Monday, October 20 – Acts 17:1-4

Acts 17:2 says that Paul “reasoned with them from the Scriptures…” Would you be able to do this with someone else? Do you have a strong enough grasp on the Truth of the Gospel to reason with someone who had questions? This is why Bible Study is one of the core values of First Baptist. We must always be ready to give a defense of the hope that is within us as 1 Peter 3:15 states. How can we do that unless we have taken the time to study the Bible individually and as a church?

We have a rich history of Sunday School/Bible Study at First Baptist Gonzales. If you look to the right of the outside Fellowship Hall doors, you will see a marker recognizing Thomas J. Pilgrim. Mr. Pilgrim was one of the charter members of First Baptist back in 1847. Before that, Thomas J. Pilgrim is credited with starting the first Sunday School in the state of Texas in 1829. Pilgrim’s actions were in violation of Mexican law because he was promoting Protestant worship.

From the beginning, Sunday School/Bible Study has been at the core of who First Baptist Gonzales is. As a member of First Baptist Gonzales, I hope that Bible Study, individually and in a group, is part of the core of who you are. After all, how can you reason with others when you do not know the Bible?

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017%3A1-4&version=NASB