~ ~ SUGGESTIONS FOR THE "FRIENDS" ~ ~

BSF is Bible Study Fellowship, a worldwide non-denominational organisation
that is the same the world over....uh oh, where have I heard this before?
:-)

It is a structured Bible Study organisation that enables disciplined,
personal Bible study.  Meetings are once a week (usually Monday nights), and
you work through an entire Book or selected group of Books over a year.
There are several parts to BSF.  You are given questions on a portion of
scripture in 6 parts to study and answer every night, and on the 7th night
you go to BSF.  At BSF you have a few hymns, etc. then break into discussion
groups where you go over your different answers (about an hour).  Then you
go back to the main group for a sermon on the notes (about another hour).
Then you are given notes on the sermon, plus questions on the next portion
of Scripture for next week.

BSF works on studying the bible by homiletics (whatever that is, I have yet
to learn), and on learning to study and delve into scripture independently.
You are not allowed to use concordances or other references when you first
go through and study the set scripture passage.  The idea is to let the
Bible speak for itself, and become used to working out for yourself what the
passage is talking about.  Then you can compare with others at BSF.

BSF is a very, very structured and highly disciplined organisation.
Meetings start on the dot.  If you are more than 10 minutes late, you are
not allowed to join your discussion group (interruption).  If you miss a
night you may get the questions for next week sent to you, but are not
allowed to get the notes from the sermon that night (I think this is to
encourage people to come very regularly).  If you miss 3 nights, you are at
risk of being kicked out (there is often a long waiting list because numbers
are seriously controlled.)  You are only allowed a maximum of 15 people per
discussion leader, and have to go on a waiting list if there are no places
available.

My hubby thinks it sounds all very Hitler-ish, but on the positive
side, the attendees take their study very seriously, and are dedicated to
their personal study of the Bible.  I have heard excellent reports of it
from EVERYONE I know who has attended, including a number of ex2x2s in the
US.  BSF works through the same Bible Book all over the world at the same
time.  For example, they just started Romans, so this will be studied by
several hundred thousand people all over the world this year at the same
time.  I think they studied Minor Prophets last year.  It takes about 7
years to do all the current BSF courses available, and they are working on
new ones all the time.

BSF is NOT a church.  It is a Bible study only, and all the members come
from different churches and denominations.  You don't even have to belong to
church.  It is open to anyone who wants to join.

It is completely Bible based, and every single verse is thoroughly explored.
No skipping over some!  All Group leaders are trained on location in San
Antonio in the States.  It is totally run by faith (free-will offerings),
and all notes supplied are totally free.  There is a little basket by the
door that people can drop money into on the way out if they wish.  It was
started by an amazing missionary lady called Audrey Wetherell Johnson.