WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Acts 17:11  And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message.  They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth.  NLT

      As a preacher this verse has always been a challenge for me.  I want people who listen to me and read what I write to always evaluate what comes out of me in light of what the Scriptures teach. 

      It is easy to let others do the thinking for us.  It is easy to believe what someone says just because they are supposed to know what they are talking about.  It is easy to believe someone because of who they are in the world.  It's easy to believe those who speak eloquently.  It is easy to believe those who use the Scriptures to make their points.

      Yet, we should never accept what we hear and read unless it is backed up by the Word of God.  We should do our own studying and thinking of the Word.  We must be careful as well that we don't take things out of context when we do our studying.  Scripture always backs up Scripture.  If the rest of the Scriptures do not support our conclusions, then we need to change our thinking. 

        Like the Bereans, we need to have open minds.  We need to always be willing to change our understanding if the Spirit of God gives us new insight and greater understanding.  We must always read the Word with an attitude of learning what God is saying.  We also must not accept what someone says if it is not supported by the Word of God.  A wrong interpretation of the Word is false teaching and must be rejected and corrected when it is brought to light.