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Acts 17:11 (HCSB). 11 The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. . Are You Open-Minded?. Rethinking Biblical Open-Mindedness.
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Acts 17:11 (HCSB) 11 The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Are YouOpen-Minded? Rethinking Biblical Open-Mindedness
The Two-Fold Nature of Biblical Open-Mindedness • Receive the message with all readiness • John 8:31-32– To find truth, we must hear and seek truth. – cf. Matt. 7:7 (Prov. 23:23) • Acts 7:51-54– We do not want to be like those who despise truth.– cf. 2 Thess. 2:8-12 (note vs. 13-15) • Search the Scriptures daily to see if these things are so • 1 Thess. 5:21– Are we willing to prove all things by Scripture? – cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 • 1 John 4:1-6– Do we carry a healthy dose of doctrinal skepticism? – cf. 1 Cor. 14:29 (Deut. 18:21-22)
Ancient Athens Emulated in Today’s Church • Do we spend our “time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing”? – cf. Acts 17:16-21 • “New” concepts on grace, faith and works • “New” takes on worship, ministry and the work of the church • “New” approaches to hermeneutics, study and doctrine
Ancient Athens Emulated in Today’s Church • The challenge today is to be “renewed in the Spirit of our mind” … not seek that which is “new”! – Rom. 12:2 • We must understand what the will of the Lord is – Eph. 5:17 • We must not be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine – Eph. 4:14-15 • In all of this post-modernistic open-mindedness, let God’s people realize that there is a such a thing as truth (in contrast to error or lies), right (in contrast to wrong) and fact (in contrast to fiction)!
Ancient Athens Emulated in Today’s Church • The warnings of old still apply today! • 2 John 9-11– What should we do with men who are bringing another doctrine? • Gal. 1:6-11– If an angel from heaven preaches a different gospel, how should we respond? • Rom. 16:17-18– How do we treat those who divide and offend contrary to the apostles’ doctrine? • Tit. 3:10-11– What must we do if one pursues error despite admonition?
John 5:39-40 39You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
John 10:3-5 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”