Bible Study Fellowship

[oworm]

Anyone been involved with this organization? We have a few in our fellowship who are and I am somewhat concerned that there is more focus on that than the local church. What are your thoughts positive or negative. Pros, Cons?

 

[calmcoolandelected]

Hi Oworm,

I have known people involved in BSF at different levels. What I like about them is that they systematically study Scripture and the teens, children study the same as the adults. I have not been involved with them so I can't speak to specific content but I often wonder how the study is conducted in a "non-denominational" setting and how that is addressed by the BSF study itself.

CC&E

 

[McWilliams]

It began when some ladies wanted a missionary on furlough to teach them the bible. She agreed but insisted they dig out the answers themselves. The 'homework' is intense and solely from the Word. I attended for some years and learned much from scripture. This was mostly in the 70s and 80s and I participated in the study of Genesis, John, Matthew as we studied each book for a year. Though it isnt reformed I've been told that in recent years they do use JM Boice's work for their Romans material. I always felt I received great benefit from attending BSF and loved the format and the notes were great.
Statement of Faith

 

[oworm]

I have problems with statement 4 "We believe the vicarious substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross made atonement for the sin of the world, efficient for all who repent and believe."

 

[oworm]

Below are a couple of critiques that I found. They are fairly short. Bible Study Fellowship: A Closer Look Bible Study Fellowship: A Letter of Resignation

 

[McWilliams]

I have problems with statement 4 "We believe the vicarious substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross made atonement for the sin of the world, efficient for all who repent and believe."

Well of course we have trouble with such a statement! We're Calvinists who believe in Limited Atonement!

That is not to say that all they teach is not biblical as it is but with the understanding that BSF is Arminian in what they believe.

If you're searching for a reformed, calvinistic bible study then BSF is not it.

At the time I attended and received great benefit I had not yet come to know the doctrines of grace and God used this to increase my knowledge of His word prior to knowing of the TULIP. For me it was a wonderful beginning in which I began to hunger and thirst for more! As time went by and I read The Sovereignty of God I then began to see differently. I still feel that I gained much biblical insight from BSF. Many Calvinists come to know the doctrines of grace while attending Arminian churches through various means God uses to lead them to His whole truth. He did this for me! Soli deo gloria!

 

[calmcoolandelected]

It began when some ladies wanted a missionary on furlough to teach them the bible. She agreed but insisted they dig out the answers themselves. The 'homework' is intense and solely from the Word. I attended for some years and learned much from scripture. This was mostly in the 70s and 80s and I participated in the study of Genesis, John, Matthew as we studied each book for a year. Though it isnt reformed I've been told that in recent years they do use JM Boice's work for their Romans material. I always felt I received great benefit from attending BSF and loved the format and the notes were great.
Statement of Faith

I love Boice's Romans!

CC&E