“这地方的人，贤于帖撒罗尼迦的人，甘心领受这道，天天考查圣经，要晓得这道，是与不是。” - 徒 17:11
我在本地一所基督教大学任教一门课叫做“通往卓越”。这是为所有新生开设的入门课。当别人问起这门课的内容时，我最初会说，这门课的目的是让学生在选择职业时成为善于思考，有责任感的耶稣门徒。
作为耶稣的门徒和仆人，我必须完全委身于祂的事业。因着对我的爱，耶稣为我而死，又用圣灵的恩赐装备我，使我能在这地上服事祂。耶稣应许会藉着圣灵与我们同在，直到祂再来。
当保罗去到庇哩亚时，他把这些教导传递给那里的人。而庇哩亚人是善于思考的，他们不只是照本宣科；他们还用心查考圣经，以证实保罗所说的。当认识到保罗的信息里有属神的真理，他们当中的许多人都成了耶稣基督的门徒，承认祂是神的儿子，是救主。
聪明人要成为智者，如果智者所说的是真理，他们的话就需要倾听，讨论，求问，领受。
我们要做一个挖掘神的话语的学生和思考者，找到道路、真理和生命。
祷告
满有智慧的神，请用你话语的真理充满我们的心，好使我们能够“快快地听，慢慢地说，慢慢地动怒。”（雅 1:19），为你的缘故显出恩典和忍耐。阿们。
使徒行传 17:10-15
10弟兄们随即在夜间打发保罗和西拉往庇哩亚去。二人到了，就进入犹太人的会堂。
11这地方的人贤于帖撒罗尼迦的人，甘心领受这道，天天考查圣经，要晓得这道是与不是。
12所以他们中间多有相信的，又有希腊尊贵的妇女，男子也不少。
13但帖撒罗尼迦的犹太人知道保罗又在庇哩亚传神的道，也就往那里去，耸动搅扰众人。
14当时弟兄们便打发保罗往海边去，西拉和提摩太仍住在庇哩亚。
15送保罗的人带他到了雅典，既领了保罗的命，叫西拉和提摩太速速到他这里来，就回去了。
Pay Attention To The Bereans
"The Berean Jews . . . received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." - Acts 17:11
A class I taught at a local Christian college was called "Gateway to Excellence." It was an introductory class for all new students. When asked by others what the class was about, I would initially say that it was meant to equip students to become better thinkers and responsible followers of Jesus in their career choices.
As a follower and servant of Jesus, I must be fully committed to his cause. Because of his love for me, Jesus died for me and equipped me with spiritual gifts so that I can serve him here on earth. And through his Spirit, Jesus promises to be with us until he comes again.
When Paul went to Berea, he taught these things to the people there. And the Bereans were good thinkers who did not just take information at face value; they also examined the Scriptures to confirm what Paul was saying. Recognizing the truth of God in Paul's message, many of them became believers in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Savior.
Smart people need to be wise people, and wise people need to be listened to, talked with, questioned, and accepted if what they are saying is the truth.
Be a student and thinker who digs into God's Word, finding the way, the truth, and the life.
Prayer
God of wisdom, fill our hearts with the truth of your Word so that we will be "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry" (James 1:19), showing grace and patience for your sake. Amen.
