This morning I begin another year (Sept-May) in Bible Study Fellowship.
I attended my first study in BSF beginning in September 2000. We studied the book of Matthew that year, and oh, what a blessing it was. At that time, BSF had seven different studies. Today they have ten (five Old Testament and five New Testament). So if you are able to attend every year without a break, you finish the course in a decade. But you don’t have to stop when you have finished all ten studies. After all, the word of God remains living and active, and we never outgrow the need to study it.
I attend a morning women’s group that usually has 300 or more women in attendance. The year we studied Revelation for the very first time I think we burgeoned to well over 400. The small groups have about 12 women each.
This year I’m excited that we’ll be studying the book of Romans, one of my favorite books of the Bible. Okay, I have lots of favorites, but this is definitely one of them.
If you have never looked into BSF, I encourage you to do so. It is so in-depth that, I’m told, some Christian colleges give college credits for completing the study/studies. And yet it is accessible to anyone, even to someone who has never studied the Bible before.
BSF uses a four-fold study method: (1) During the week, you daily read the assigned Scriptures and answer questions; (2) on your meeting day, you attend a small group to discuss your answers; (3) you then attend a teaching that goes over the assigned Scriptures more thoroughly; and (4) as you leave, you receive more detailed study notes on the same assigned Scriptures to read at home.
BSF is free to attend, and you can begin throughout the year. So don’t let missing a week or two or even ten or more stop you. There are classes throughout the US and many places around the world. Click on the link in the first paragraph and see if there is a class near you. You won’t be sorry.
~robin
Robin Lee Hatcher
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I have enjoyed BSF in the past. It has grown my faith in God. It also allows for opportunities in leadership.
Amen
Robin, I was chuckling as I read your post. I used to attend BSF when I lived in another state when my son was about 4 or 5. He is now 31. I have tried several times to participate in an online Bible study, but have not been disciplined enough (with working full-time) to keep up. I haven’t really thought about BSF in years. Well, early this morning as I was sitting in Chick-fil-a, I noticed a woman sitting in a booth with her highlighter and a three-hole punched “booklet” that looked vaguely familiar. I stopped and asked her if she was doing BSF to which she quickly replied, “I am.” We talked for about 5 minutes or so and she told me they had just started this past Monday night and she invited me to attend. Then, I get to work, turn on my computer and there is your e-mail about, what else but, BSF. Do you get the feeling God is trying to show me something? I do. LOL! If your post wasn’t for anyone else today, it was just for me. Thanks for sharing!!!
Tammie, God is trying to show you something!!!!! So glad there is an evening class available to you.
Thank you for your good words about BSF! My husband and I uprooted our lives 4 years ago to move to San Antonio for him to work full-time for BSF Headquarters (he oversees all the men’s classes, class administration and leaders retreats). So BSF is very special to us and we think there’s no Bible study like it! Romans will be so great! Have read and loved your books for many years and have also prayed for you for many years! If you’re ever near san antonio, would love to show you around BSF HQ and treat you to lunch! Appreciate you so much!
Oh my goodness, Kelly. My daughter and family lives in Corpus Christi and her husband works in San Antonio. There certainly might be a time when I could come to San Antonio and get that BSF HQ tour. Would love it!
I’ve found a satellite class in my area. Asking for information. Thank you.
Gail, I loved when they started doing this satellite classes. They make BSF available so many places where they wouldn’t otherwise be.
I have attended BSF in the past in other cities there I lived and it was wonderful! Where I live now (Longview, WA) there are no classes nearby.
So sorry that is the case, Bonnie. I have another friend who would dearly love to attend but has no class in her area. I learned today that there is a woman driving for two hours to attend my BSF class. Wow!! That’s driving four hours every Wednesday. And if we have another nasty winter like last year, I hope she stays safe.
My first year of BSF was Revelations! I joined about 400 women. It was an awesome experience that took me 25 years to get around to. It’s a wonderful group and study.