SERIES: The Book of Acts
TEXT: Acts 17:10-15
MESSAGE: “Examined by the Word”
————————————————-
“For the word of God is living and active,
“Approach the Bible not only as a book which was once spoken, but a book which is now speaking.”– A. W. Tozer
Q: What is Paul sharing with them that’s so important for their lives?
There are three insights that God brings to life in this text. It’s about — (1. Receiving the Word 2. Searching the Scriptures 3. Believing the Message)
- Receiving “The Word” (v. 11a)
“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received th
“Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.” — Matthew 13:8-9
“…explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” — Acts 17:3
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life,[a] and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” — John 1:1-5
- Searching “The Scriptures” (v. 11b)
“…they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”
“The Christian life is an examined life.” — Darrell Bock
- Believing “The Message” (v. 12)
“Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.”
“…they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” — John 6:28-29
TAKEAWAYS: Living an examined life is asking God to…
- Examine who you are
“Not only do we know God by Jesus Christ alone, but we know ourselves only by Jesus Christ. We know life and death only through Jesus Christ. Apart from Jesus Christ, we do not know what is our life, nor our death, nor God, nor ourselves.” – Blaise Pascal
- Examine what you believe
“A faith without some doubts is like a human body with no antibodies in it. People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask the hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless against either the experience of tragedy or the probing questions of a smart skeptic. A person’s faith can collapse almost overnight if she failed over the years to listen patiently to her own doubts, which should only be discarded after long reflection.” — Tim Keller
- Examine how you live
“This is the stunning message of Christianity; Jesus died for you so that He might live in you. Jesus doesn’t merely improve your old nature; He imparts to you and entirely new nature – one that is completely united with His.” — David Platt
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son[d] from the Father, full of grace and truth.” — John 1:14