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Sixty-five years ago, Audrey Wetherell Johnson returned from missionary work in China and asked the Lord what He wanted her to do. “He seemed to thrust the question right back at me: ‘What would you above all things like to do?’ I replied, ‘I love Your Word above all things. I would love to spend my life teaching others to find what I have found.’”

She and four friends started Bible Study Fellowship in California and it now is world-wide, numbering thousands of participants and still growing, as the Lord moves hearts and souls to seek Him.

The BSF approach to understanding His word is straight forward. Every year BSF leadership selects a book or books from the Bible to walk through in 29 weekly lessons. Each lesson is broken down into reviewing BSF-created notes, hearing a lecture (now online) on the previous week’s lesson, daily reading of verses (usually less than a page), and answering thought provoking questions on the current week’s lesson (4 or 5 questions per daily reading). The questions often refer to other related Bible passages, which help provide perspective on the verse or lesson. The weekly meetings review ‘take-aways’ from the notes and the lectures, and then review the daily questions. In all, a disciplined study approach.

However, the ‘secret sauce’ is how the discipline is relaxed in the weekly meetings. Study group sizes are typically 10 to 20 people, from a variety of vocations and Bible knowledge. This results in many perspectives on the verses’ meanings, which often lead to lengthy discussions on single questions. This is where the Lord and the Holy Spirit are working on hearts and minds, giving understanding.

The Lord pursues every life that He created, but He also numbered everyone’s days. Life is so short - don’t pass up opportunities to draw closer to Him by studying His word. 

There are men’s and women’s groups scattered from Los Lunas to Rio Rancho to Edgewood. There is a men's group that meets Tuesday evenings at MCC. And there are online groups. This link has more information on BSF, and this link can help you find an in-person or online group.  

This year’s study started this week and covers the book of Revelation. In this tumultuous time, you may identify things happening now that the Apostle John saw in visions almost 2,000 years ago. But, remember that the Lord is in control and is faithful to His own.

If you have questions, call Tom Mead at (505) 710-9138 or the church office. We can help you find a study group or answer questions on BSF.