| Author | Message | ||
| Carol_2 Registered user Username: Carol_2 Post Number: 178 Registered: 2-2002 |
Thanks everyone for all the comments. A special thanks to you, Colleen. You are an incredible minister to me, and I know all the others on this forum feel that way too. Love and prayers to all, Carol | ||
| 33ad Registered user Username: 33ad Post Number: 114 Registered: 10-2004 |
I second that. Colleen is an inspiration to all of us, I'm sure. The strange thing about where I worship now is that you get the 'Cradle' members who were born into the faith, and the 'Converts', who are very supportive of each other. Coming out of Protestantism is a lot like leaving the SDA's for other Christians. The funny thing is the Cradle members don't understand our enthusiasm for our new Spiritual home, as they've been in it for generations, in spite of the Soviet Era and all. Seriously though, I think ex-SDA's need a chill-out period to be able to deprogram oneself from all the deception and trauma imposed upon one in that organization. Unless one is firmly grouded on the Rock in Jesus, one can be easily swept away by the storm out in the world. God Bless you all Loren | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 198 Registered: 7-2004 |
Thanks, Colleen, for the lead in to BSF. I wish all of you could be in this year's study. We just finished Acts 15. We studied Acts 13, 14 with a map so we could visually see where Paul was and understand clearly how his love for Christ drove him through countless miles of walking despite persecution/hardships. It was interesting to see how the Jerusalem Christians divided the church with their legalism and how the apostles settled the problem. Then we went into Galatians and saw how the "newer-stronger" Peter slipped back into his "wimpiness" and went from champion of the Gentiles to putting on his pious SDA face and pretended he kept kept his distance as the law required! This week we are starting to go through Hebrews. Oh! I can hardly wait. I have "known" what the Bible says all my life - from SDA grade school to college but God was never real to me. Through BSF my love for Him grows everyday. BSF is my "church" right now as I still attend SDA church to keep the "peace". For those of you looking for a "church family"...there is no better place to start than in BSF. Classes are held all over the world and all the classes are studying the same thing each week. If any of my forum friends are in the study, please let me know so we can have further discussions together. | ||
| Bmorgan Registered user Username: Bmorgan Post Number: 5 Registered: 7-2000 |
I do believe it is imperitive for ex-Adventists to join and study some good, solid Bible study groups viz CBS and BSF. Another one I would definitely recommend is Precepts Ministries with Kay Arthur. These are biblically sound inductive studies. Some are books and some are topical. I have done a study on the Covenants. Right now I am studying the book of "Daniel" I had some resentment, disgust or general uneasiness about doing it. However, I faced the struggle and joined the class. I am excited and constantly filled with delight the Lord brings me everytime I open up the word. I continue to be be amazed that a mere "fool" as me(being low on the sda totem pole) can actually lhave a love affair with Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. They are not mysterious fellows and their messages are understandable. WOW! Beth Moore put out some good material also. I may as well continue on my Trail of Recommendations and note that Radio Teacher J Vernon McGee is also kosher. (Once you get over his quirky voice, you would enjoy his simple, down to earth teachings and good ole southern humor. HI Everybody! Thanks for praying for our host home group of 40 Days of Purpose. I have benefitted tremendously. | ||
| Hoytster Registered user Username: Hoytster Post Number: 113 Registered: 9-2003 |
For once, I'm finding it to be a disadvantage to not live in the Bible belt. There are NO BSF classes available in NH. Bummer. There are five CBS classes in NH, but they are all weekday mornings, unavailable to us who work normal business hours. Bummer. I'll have to start one. Which is better? - Hoytster | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 200 Registered: 7-2004 |
Hoyster, I have never been to CBS but I hear it and BSF are very comparable. Bmorgan's suggestion of Precepts Ministries is a good one. I have had several dear non-SDA Christian friends tell me it is even better than BSF. Check on the internet for that one in your area. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 734 Registered: 3-2004 |
I need to attend a consistent Bible group, so what is CBS and BSF??? Diana | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 202 Registered: 7-2004 |
CBF (not CBS)- I think is Community Bible Fellowship? I am not sure what they are studying this year or what their format is. I am sure they have a website that can tell you. BSF is Bible Study Fellowship. I have been in the study 7 years. The first year was the study of Genesis, then Matthew the next, followed by Romans, Moses (Exodus, Leviticus, Duet...), the book of John, Israel and the Minor Prophets and now Acts of the Apostles. It is a non-denominational Bible study. There is not to be any mention made of specific churches or religious organizations, books, authors, TV shows, politics... It is Bible only. Each week I receive notes that give historical background and insight into the verses that I had just studied. On the last page of these notes are the new verses and questions to study for the coming week. Depending on your area you may have classes in the morning (women's classes with preschool children's classes) or in the evening (men's and women's classes with school age children's classes). I go Wednesday morning from 9:00 - 11:00. When you arrive you meet briefly for singing and announcements and then break up into smaller discussion groups to go over the questions that you answered during the week (this is wonderful because there are people in my group from all different religious backgrounds and what the Holy Spirit says to them during their study is always so different from what He said to me). After discussions, we all head back in to the sanctuary and sing a little more before we sit and listen to the teaching leader give a lecture over what we studied on our own and then discussed with our group. Then we get the notes and read even further insight over the passages. So by the time you are done studying a section of the Bible those 3 different ways, you have had some very intense reading, learning and understanding. Another wonderful benefit for me has been the friends I have met. The fellowship part of the name is so important especially for people like us formers. It has been such a huge blessing for me to break out of the SDA mindset/mold and have Christian friends without any preconceived doctrines. I have invited several SDA friends and not very many stay in the study because it is too uncomfortable for them to not be able to share their SDA beliefs especially in light of the warnings we all received from EGW of mingling with people who do not know "truth". Anyway...there is my soap box, Diana. I hope you are not sorry you asked.  Go to Biblestudyfellowship.com to check for the study in your area. Like I said before, it is an international study. | ||
| Raven Registered user Username: Raven Post Number: 97 Registered: 7-2004 |
Thanks for the BSF info, Dd. I have heard so much about BSF on this forum, that I finally started the ball rolling yesterday. I now have the name and number of the local person to contact. I hope it's at least half as worthwhile as you make it sound! | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 1100 Registered: 11-2002 |
Have any of you ever attended the ALPHA series? I have attended two. I like them. | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 205 Registered: 7-2004 |
Sheryl, If you have an evening men's class in your area, too, then you and Ric can study the same thing together. On top of that, if you or Ric have an evening class available, you can take your girls. It is NOT entertainment (like Sabbath School). The school age kids are studying the exact same passages that you are. The school age classes are designed to teach kids to read the Bible and apply the principles they learn to their everyday life. They have their own study questions and discussions. Before we moved, my husband and daughter went to an evening BSF together (it was their date night - they went to supper together before hand). Before my son started school he went with me to the preschool kids program. Though they did not have daily reading and questions, the class for the little ones was very structured (not babysitting - like Sabbath School). They taught from the same Bible verses I had studied myself throughout the week and applied principles from those verses to the specific ages. My little 4 year old was learning the same Bible principles that I was! Now that we live in an area that only has a woman's class during the day, we, as a family, study BSF together using BSF's discussion sheet designed to be used for family worship. Can you tell I am "sold" on this Bible study? | ||
| Raven Registered user Username: Raven Post Number: 98 Registered: 7-2004 |
Yes, Dd, I can tell you're sold on BSF! I'm planning on taking our girls with me, and I really hope they like it! Unfortunately, Ric travels enough that I doubt he can attend the BSF group. I just hope they don't make me wait a really long time to start, because I know you have to first go through their class that explains BSF, and I don't think that's held very often. I'm calling this afternoon... Sheryl | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 940 Registered: 12-2003 |
ALPHA is a program designed to introduce Christianity to the questioning unbeliever. An ALPHA course lasts about five or six weeks, and they tend to be "inviter" classes to which Christians can bring their unbelieving friends and have a meal together, then share in a presentation of some aspect of the gospel and salvation followed by Q&A. While it is a good introduction to Christianity, it is not an inductive, long-term Bible study. The beauty of becoming involved in a systematic inductive Bible study is that you do make Christian friends who will support you and pray for you IN ADDITION to your becoming grounded in the Scriptures in ways you would not have thought possible with only an Adventist background. There are a few churches that have really well-designed and in-depth men's and women's Bible studies that resemble BSF and CBF. If you're fortunate to live near a church like that, you can attend the Bible studies even if you don't regularly worship at that church. Our church in Redlands, CA--Trinity EV Free-- has such a women's Bible study, and I know it is not the only one. Last year we did the book of Acts; this year we are doing Paul's prison epistles. They also have a men's Bible study program that's structured a little bit differently but is still inductive study. Hoytster, are there any local churches that have men's Bible studies in your area? For about four years Richard has been part of a small group of men (four to six members, on the average) that meets weekly in one of the men's homes at 6:00 AM. They have studied several NT books as well as some other inductive Bible studies written by different people. They study and pray for each other, and while I know nothing of what is discussed in their group, I can say that the accountability and study and prayer that he shares with these men has made a huge impact on his life. I have watched him deepen and grow in subtle but profound ways, and I know that weekly study has had a significant impact on him. I am so thankful that God has given us His living word! Colleen | ||
| Carol_2 Registered user Username: Carol_2 Post Number: 185 Registered: 2-2002 |
Yes, I strongly recommend the Alpha course for your unsaved friends and family. Is definitely for the unsaved, very non-threatening, excellent presentation....very good! Am checking out the BSF in my area, looks like only one women's evening class (I work during the day,) in the entire Atlanta area. That surprises me! Off for a long weekend in the North Georgia mountains....it's been cold & rainy here the last few days....hot tub, here I come!!! Love you all, Carol | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 206 Registered: 7-2004 |
Sheryl, BSF orientation classes are always the first meeting day of the month (for my class that is the first Wednesday of the month). You cannot take your children that first week as they need to know who is coming to be prepared. When Ric travels, once he has been through orientation and established in a class, he can go anywhere to BSF. On the website it gives you the name of the local contact person (or an 800 number to call and get that info). That person will tell you all the particulars for the class you are interested in. I pray you can attend and that you will be as blessed as I have been. Please let me know so we can discuss it from a "former" point of view. | ||
| Raven Registered user Username: Raven Post Number: 99 Registered: 7-2004 |
Thanks, Dd! I'll let you know what happens. I left a message today with the Class Administrator, but haven't heard back yet. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 742 Registered: 3-2004 |
Thanks everyone! I will be meeting with the BSF at a Baptist church near to me. Their introductory meetings are on the first Monday of the month. They are not having one in December because of the Holidays, so I will start the first Monday of January. Thanks again for telling me about BSF. I am looking forward to going to learn more of the Bible. God is truly awesome. Diana | ||
| Insideoutsider Registered user Username: Insideoutsider Post Number: 26 Registered: 6-2002 |
Diana, and all those in BSF, what a blessing it has been in my life. It was there that I became a "born again" Christian, and there that I stayed for 19 years. Well, it took a long time to get my doctrine staightened out! Actually, the first 4 years I was working full-time teaching nursing, and the last 15 I had stopped working outside my home and I led a BSF discussion group. I changed three years ago to my own churches womens ministry, not only because my daughter and daughter-in-law were there, but I also needed to get better acquainted with the women in my church. Besides learning healthy Bible truths, one of the other really important things I learned in both studies is that Godly women are very safe. Something that was not true for me in Adventism. | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 239 Registered: 7-2004 |
Sheryl, Carol 2, Diana -- Did anyone have a chance to check out BSF yet? Diana, I am so surprised your area BSF did not have an orientation day in December. Oh, how I wish and hope you guys are able to attend. The last few weeks we have been in Hebrews. This week we are in Hebrews 7 - 10. I wish we could do a chapter a week but they have a lot to cover, I guess. Hebrews 7 - 10 is all about Jesus as our GREAT High Priest (superior to Melchizedek) and then on to the New Covenant and the "better ministry"! I have 3 SDA's in my discussion group. I pray every week that the Holy Spirit uses the words I share to shed His light on these all important "doctrines". Anyway...just checking to see if you are reading the same Bible verses along with me...they are such exciting and wonderful truths...let me know if you join so we can have our own "former" BSF discussion! | ||
| Carol_2 Registered user Username: Carol_2 Post Number: 211 Registered: 2-2002 |
Dd....haven't checked it out yet, but keep bugging me! The only location I could find in the Atlanta area is pretty far and inconvenient, was hoping there would be more offered in a big city like Atlanta. Have been busy the past year helping with the "Alpha" classes at my church (Tues nites,) plus am "shepherding" a flock of four-year olds Sunday morning....makes it hard to add another commitment, but Alpha has just ended, and I think the BSF is something I really need. Love you all, Carol2 |
