In the church I attended as a young person-

– we had a name for the sound of Bible pages turning.

So many people had the same Bible that the collective rustling sound was called “the Scofield shuffle.”

Instead of the text-

– the pastor could have announced the page number!

Appearances can be deceiving.

Not everyone who has a Bible reads it or obeys it.

Still, people using their Bibles in church can indicate-

– the spiritual quality of a congregation.

If the people do not see the need for bringing their Bibles or have no desire to do so, it undoubtedly is a weak church.

Many churches have a class called “Berean.”

Some even choose that name for their church.

It is an often-used name-

– because of the spiritual quality of the believers in Berea.

“They received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11).

Today we might say, “They carried and used their Bibles!”

But there was more to it than that.

They looked carefully at the Word, following the messages of Paul and verifying what he preached.

And they did this daily.

To be spiritually strong-

– we must read, learn and live the Word.

To be a strong church-

– the same is necessary.

Use your Bible!

Ask God to help you keep up the practice of reading His Word daily.

Pray also that as you read you will learn-

– and that you will put into practice what you learn.

Become a Berean!