“Now these 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.” – Acts 17:11

So you’ve clicked on the “Learn More” link and you may be wondering what the above verse has to do with “The Power of Faith and Worship.” Allow us to provide some context. Paul and Silas had just visited a Jewish synagogue in Thessalonica. Many there were convinced of his teaching as he “reasoned with them over a period of three sabbaths”(17:1-4). Unfortunately, there were some who were not convinced but angry enough to start a riot. (It seems that is what angry people like to do!) So Paul and Silas traveled to the city of Berea, what is now Verria, approximately 50 miles away. Once again, they entered the Jewish synagogue there and the noble minded Bereans received Paul and Silas’ words with great eagerness. What a contrast from Thessalonica!

The Earliest “Fact Checkers.” – What was the difference between the people of the two cities? Aside from being more noble minded people as the text states, their practice was to examine everything by what the word of God, the Scriptures, said. They were early “fact checkers” seeking to know the truth! That is precisely why we at Berean Bible Church have chosen them as our namesake. We believe that our faith and our practice, our worship, should be tested daily, by the truth of God’s word. We recognize that we are sinful, fallible people but also that our Lord has graced us with a wonderful guidebook, the Holy Bible! We are directed by Scripture to “strive diligently to present ourselves as unashamed workmen to God, handling accurately the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15). So we must test ourselves, in both our individual lives and as a corporate body of believers, based upon the word of God, and if we find fault, we repent and take corrective action.

As a people who believe this way, we are committed to worship that is different from the ways of the world. We don’t alter our worship to attract the world. When a non-believer comes into a Christian worship service, they should be startled by its odd message and see it as something completely different than a worldly concert or a seminar on positive thinking. While we believe that evangelism is very important, our worship services reflect a commitment to God-honoring music, the reading of Scripture, the preaching of the word of God, and observing His sacraments regularly. On the other hand, we have no interest in entertainment or performance or the elevation of personalities. If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, we invite you to join us – to “taste and see that the Lord is good.”*

By the way, you may ask, “What is the Power of Faith and Worship?” Our answer: It is none other than the word of God, the sword of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:17).

* Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”