Don’t Just Believe It – Check It Out for Yourself

Have you ever believed something for years, only to discover it wasn’t true? Many of us have experienced this – whether it was childhood myths about watermelon seeds growing in our stomachs or other well-meaning but false information passed down through generations. While these harmless misconceptions might make us chuckle, the same pattern becomes dangerous when it comes to our faith.

The Problem with Secondhand Faith

Too often, Christians live on borrowed beliefs. We repeat what we’ve heard from pastors, Sunday school teachers, or even popular Christian media without ever verifying these claims in Scripture. We’ve become excellent at repeating information but terrible at confirming whether it’s actually biblical.

Consider how we fact-check everything else in our lives – weather forecasts, restaurant reviews, even store hours. Yet when it comes to eternal matters, we often stop questioning and simply trust someone else’s word. This approach puts both our spiritual growth and our salvation at risk.

What Happens When We Don’t Verify Scripture?

Living on secondhand faith creates several problems:

False teachings spread easily. Popular sayings like “God helps those who help themselves” or “cleanliness is next to godliness” aren’t found anywhere in Scripture, yet many Christians believe they are biblical truths.

We become spiritually vulnerable. Without personal knowledge of God’s Word, we can be “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14).

Our faith lacks depth. Borrowed faith crumbles under pressure because it has no personal foundation in Scripture.

Paul’s Journey to Berea: A Model for Biblical Study

In Acts 17, we find Paul and Silas arriving in Berea after being chased out of Thessalonica. Despite being bruised, beaten, and exhausted from their 50-mile journey on foot, they immediately went to the synagogue to preach the Gospel. Their commitment to sharing God’s Word remained unwavering despite persecution.

What Made the Bereans Special?

The Bereans provide us with the perfect example of how to approach Scripture and teaching. Acts 17:11 tells us they “were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

They were noble and open-hearted. The Bereans didn’t reject Paul’s message out of pride, but they also didn’t blindly accept everything he said. They maintained spiritual balance – humble enough to listen but wise enough to verify.

They came ready to learn. Unlike those who drag themselves to church with arms crossed, expecting to be entertained, the Bereans came hungry and expectant, ready to hear from God.

They searched the Scriptures daily. This is the key – they didn’t just listen on Sunday and forget the rest of the week. Every day, they pulled out the scrolls and checked Paul’s teachings against Scripture.

Why Daily Bible Study Matters

The Bereans understood something crucial: spiritual growth requires daily nourishment. Just as our bodies need food every day, our souls need the Word of God daily. As Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

When we study Scripture daily, several things happen:

Our roots grow deep, making us stable like trees planted by streams of water (Psalm 1:2-3)
We become harder to deceive because we know God’s truth
Our faith becomes personal rather than borrowed
We experience spiritual fruit, Joy instead of bitterness, peace instead of panic

God Honors Those Who Search

Notice that God called the Bereans “noble” for their diligent study. He isn’t threatened by our questions or afraid of our investigation. In fact, He invites it:

“Seek out of the book of the Lord and read” (Isaiah 34:16)”
Search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39)
“You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13)

God doesn’t reward blind belief – He rewards those who pursue a genuine relationship with Him through His Word.

The Results of Biblical Study

What happened to the Bereans after Paul left? Acts 17:12 tells us that “many of them believed” – not because of Paul’s persuasive speaking or emotional manipulation, but because they saw the truth in Scripture for themselves.

Years later, we see the lasting impact of their biblical foundation. In Acts 20:4, we find Sopater of Berea traveling with Paul on another missionary journey. The church Paul planted in Berea took root and flourished because it was built on God’s Word, not human personality or programs.

Opposition to Biblical Study

Predictably, when the Bereans began studying Scripture seriously, opposition arose. The same troublemakers from Thessalonica came to stir up crowds against Paul. Satan knows that believers who know the Word cannot be easily deceived, so he works to stop both preaching and studying.

This opposition continues today. The enemy doesn’t want you reading your Bible daily because he knows the power of God’s Word to transform lives and expose lies.

How to Become a Berean Christian

Start with daily Bible reading. Don’t wait for Sunday to open your Bible. Begin with books like Mark (fast-paced and exciting) or John (focused on who Jesus is). Read just one chapter per day.

Ask questions and pray for understanding. The same Spirit who inspired Scripture lives in you and can reveal its meaning. Pray before and after reading, asking God to open your understanding.

Verify what you hear. Whether it’s from sermons, Christian media, or social media posts, check everything against Scripture. Don’t just repeat what sounds good – confirm it’s biblical.

Build your own relationship with Jesus. Stop living on borrowed faith. Develop a personal, daily relationship with Christ through His Word.

Life Application

This week, commit to becoming a Berean Christian. Don’t take anyone’s word – including your pastor’s – without checking it against Scripture. Open your Bible daily, not just on Sundays. Start with the book of Mark or John, reading one chapter per day. Pray before and after reading, asking God to reveal His truth to you.

Your salvation and spiritual growth are your personal responsibility. God won’t be impressed that you trusted your pastor or favorite Christian teacher – He wants to see your personal faith built on His Word.

Questions for reflection:

Am I living on borrowed faith or do I have a personal relationship with Jesus built on Scripture?
When was the last time I opened my Bible outside of church?
Do I fact-check what I hear in sermons and Christian media against God’s Word?
What steps will I take this week to become more like the noble Bereans?