Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Thankful #14....

11-15-11
I am thankful for Bible Study Fellowship.

You may have heard about BSF. Maybe not. The organization has been around since the 1950s and there are classes literally around the world…over a thousand of them.

There is no ‘church’ affiliation, no denominational name tag associated with it…( there ARE name tags….everyone wears one with their name displayed big enough for everyone to see it and use it.)

Daily questions give a place to start for individual personal Bible study. When classes meet once a week, there is a time for small groups to discuss the insights gained from that personal time in God‘s Word.

Challenging lectures bring more information and application to what everyone has studied personally the week before, having privately sat at the foot of our Lord, Bible in hand, prayerfully and expectantly listening for the teaching and guidance of His Holy Spirit within.

Study notes given out after the lecture provide even more teaching and application as well as the questions for the upcoming week.

I’ve been churched since before I have memory. I knew how to read. I knew and purchased all the various resources …. commentaries, dictionaries, etc.

This method of study is so very different.

I’ve learned so much.

“ In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…(Heb.1:1-2)

I have the help He promised….“.. the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)


The most important thing I’ve learned in my years of BSF is that God does indeed speak to every single person thru His written Word by the power of His Holy Spirit.

He speaks to me. I don’t have to have the right commentary. I have a very personal Teacher.