Ever wonder why it seems that many churches have a “Berean Sunday School Class?” The answer is in Acts 17. Although Paul and his companions had three productive weeks of teaching in the city of Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-4), they were eventually chased from the city by an angry mob, the result of jealous Jews who stirred up the crowds against Paul. Despite the antagonism of the Jews, as soon as Paul and Silas arrived in the next town of Berea, they once again went straight to the synagogue of the Jews there (v. 10)! The initial outcome is given in verses 11 and 12:
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.
Many of them therefore believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.
There is your top-flight Sunday School class – or any group of teachable seekers. They were: 1) eager to hear the teaching of the Word of God; and 2) they did not simply accept it, but continually examined the Scriptures to be sure that what they were hearing was consistent with the revealed Word of God. Our teachability is very closely correlated with our capacity for growth; and our diligence in the Word of God will help ensure that we are learning the right things. Small wonder that many of these Bereans believed and began their journey with Christ; a journey that would be strengthened by their devotion to the Word of God. May we go and do likewise.