Acts 17:11 ESV 

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 

Pastor Mark asked me to start a new church blog.  This has been on his mind to do for a time.  If you have been in the church for some time you can understand what Mark is like.  His love for everyone in the church.  He truly has a shepherds heart.  He desires for the flock to grow in the word and have a deeper understanding.  I don’t know if this blog is one of his ways to help the church grow in the word.  He has also expressed an interest for my God given talent in writing.  For a while now he has stated that I am a great writer, and have an ability to teach other with my writing. 

Now Pastor Mark isn’t the only one that has told me over the last few years that I have a gift in writing.  My beautiful wife has also expressed that I have a gift.  I have no doubt that she will encourage me and lift me up, she is not one to give me false affirmation.  If my friends and family has stated that I should write more.  That I can make an impact.   

This sets up another dilemma that I needed to contend with.  What should this blog be about.  What is the goal or mission for this blog.  This is where the last few months I debated on the course of the blog and the name for the blog.  Mark in his wisdom said that I should name it Mike’s Corner.  As much as I appreciate Mark’s wisdom, I believe he missed the mark.  The blogs isn’t about me or what I think.  I don’t want it to be about me.  My mission isn’t to lift me up, and who I am.  This lead me for weeks thinking about the directions the blog should go, and what is the aim or mission.  As has been my mission in life is to proclaim Christ, teaching the word of God faithfully, and edify all who are in Christ.  With the help my friends we came up with the name “The Berean Dialog”. Why The Berean Dialog?  The Jews in Berea were of noble character.  They received the word that Paul taught with eagerness, but more importantly they didn’t just believed what Paul said, they examined scriptures verifying all that Paul taught.  While they received him with open arms.  They verified all that was told to them through the very word of God.  The goal of the blog is to build you up, so you can be like the Berean’s examining the word for yourself and verifying for yourself whether what you are being taught is true and right.  Not just examine the scriptures but to build up men and women to go out into the world and proclaim the word of God to all nations.   

Now you need to ask yourself; do you want to be like the Bereans?  Do you desire to grow in the word of God, equipping you with the tools needed to proclaim Christ faithfully.  To withstand the fiery arrows of Satan lobbed at you to destabilize you, and make you ineffective; or worse to tar you away from the true faith found in Christ Jesus.    

While I am the one setting up and creating the blog and writing up most of the posts.  Again it isn’t about me, I am working on getting other godly men and women willing to participate in writing posts.  Here is where you come in.  I don’t just want you to read the blog, but to Participate as well.  If there is any scriptures, or teachings that you struggle with understanding email me.  Is there something that you disagree with let me know, let the community know.  Don’t be afraid to challenge me, and any that is writing the posts.  As much as I desire to see you grow in the faith, you should be able to challenge what you hear.  Do not take what you hear at face value.  Be like the Bereans, don’t just be hearers but investigate what you hear.  The best way that you, I and the community can grow is through building one another up, edifying one another in the Lord.  As Proverbs 27:17 state  As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.