Many people wonder, “How does Bible Study Fellowship work?” Perhaps, they have heard of it or have friends who participate, and they want to join.
Bible Study Fellowship, or BSF, takes a four-fold approach to its Bible study:
Answer. You begin with a Bible lesson that covers a particular passage. This features questions that will help you to understand the passage better and explore what it means to you.
Discuss. You will then meet with your group, going over the questions and gathering further insight to the passage based on what others have discovered.
Listen. You will then listen to a lecture prepared by the teaching leader of your class that will further dive into the meaning of the passage and pose questions that may help you dive deeper into the Bible passage’s meaning to you.
Explore. Finally, you’ll read about the passage and read Bible commentary for other great insights into the Bible passages’ meaning.
Here’s a nifty video of this approach from BSF HERE
Other Bible study ideas for you all!
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I’m so happy that this finally came to fruition with the pandemic. I just thought this was REALLY cool since my proposal is very similar to what BSF came up with.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 30: Book of Matthew
Day 2
2a) How incredibly blessed we all are by God’s grace and Jesus’s sacrifice for our undeserving souls. It gives me a deeper appreciation for what Jesus did for me on the cross and hopefully I can convey that better both with my actions and with others.
b) Jesus’s grace, his inclusion of all people, including women, his compassion on all people no matter who they were, his desire to always do God’s will no matter where he went.
Day 3
3) There are so many it’s hard to choose. Right now in these uncertain times, we can have faith that God is in control. As the economy changes every day, we can have faith that God will provide. As events happen that we don’t understand, we can have faith that God has a purpose. Jesus prayed in the Garden for strength; so should we during these times. Perseverence, strength, and will to keep moving forward, one day at a time.
Day 4
4) I did not have children in the program
5) The chance to pray for one another.
Day 5
6) Good question. I am unsure. Immediately, it’s to be strong in faith for my family and to remind them of all that Jesus teaches.
Day 6
7a) It’s given me such a deeper understanding of God’s grace and my undeserving nature of Jesus’s sacrifice.
b) I know that God’s plans are not my plans, so I pray for His will to be done. I know that I am here for a reason, so I try to remember that each and every day.
8a) Grace
b) Dear Lord. I thank you for the blessings you have given me, for the life I lead, for my incredible family and their health and happiness, and for your will to be done in my life. I take each day as a blessing and try to do your work. I pray others see you through me, and I pray you continue to guide me in this life. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
The 11 disciples go to Galilee to the mountain Jesus told them to go. There, they met Jesus and worshipped him, but some doubted. He told them to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything he has commanded them. He will be with them always to the end of time.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 29, Day 5: Matthew 28:16-20
12a) His claim: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him.
b) His command: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything he has commanded them.
c) His promise: He will be with them always to the end of time.
13a) Authority here means power granted by one in authority, so God. It’s the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. Because if we are followers of Jesus, we follow his commands. He will give us everything we need to follow him.
b) Baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything he has commanded them
c) He will give me the strength to go forth and make disciples even when it’s hard or I’m discouraged.
d) Unsure. Right now, just struggling to make it through each day.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 29, Day 5: Matthew 28:16-20
I love the comfort the last verse in Matthew brings: I am with you always to the very end of the age.
Great read!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 29, Day 5: Matthew 28:16-20
This was not their first meeting with Jesus, but it’s all Matthew records. Some disciples doubted perhaps due to the fact that this was too good to be true, and they may have felt guilty still over having abandoned Jesus at the cross. Yet, they obeyed. They did not fully understand what was happening or probably even what Jesus’s resurrection fully meant. However, obedience does not require understanding; it simply requires faith.
Jesus has authority so the disciples must obey.
His authority sends us to make disciples (scholars or learners). Note that disciples are made, not born.
The Great Commission
Christians are to:
Go to others who need to know God’s word
Make disciples by sharing Christ with others
Baptize them in the name of the Father by the finished work of the Son and through the power of the Holy Spirit
Here, Jesus includes the Gentiles with “all nations.” Before, it was mostly Jews (Matthew 15:24).
They were to be baptized, not circumcized, which was the sign that the Jews used that they followed God.
We see the Holy Trinity here (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit).
Teach them all things, not leaving anything out.
His constant presence would strengthen them and guide them in their mission.
“Always” here means every second of every day, complete.
On Sunday after Jesus’s death, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to Jesus’s tomb. There was an earthquake and and angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled away the stone. He looked like lightning and wore white clothes. The guards were afraid, shook, and became like dead men.
The angel addressed the women, telling them that Jesus has risen like he said he would. He is not there. He tells them to come inside and see the empty tomb then to go and tell the disciples that Jesus has risen and is going to Galilee.
The women did as they were told, afraid but full of joy. Jesus met them on their way to the disciples. They clasped his feet and worshipped him. They he told them to go to his brothers and go to Galilee where they will see him.
The women went to report to the disciples. Some of the guards went to report to the chief priests what had happened. The chief priests, wanting to hide this news, bribed the soldiers to lie and say that during the night, the disciples came and took the body. They offered to protect the soldiers from consequences of falling asleep.
SUMMARY OF 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-19
Paul is telling the Corinthians that they are saved by the Gospel. Christ died for our sins. He was raised on the third day. He appeared before the disciples, 500 people at the same time, James, and him. The dead rise again because Christ rose from the grave. If Christ had not risen, they you are still in sin.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 29, Day 4: Matthew 28:1-15 with 1 Corinthians 15:1-19
9) The argument that Paul makes that if Jesus did not rise from the grave, then our faith is worthless. Jesus’s resurrection is the crux of our religion, and Paul makes a great logical argument here.
10)
John 10:17-18: Jesus willingly laid down his life for us, and he rose with his own authority.
Acts 2:31 with Psalm 16:10: Christ’s body did not decay nor was it in the grave.
Acts 17:30-31: There will be a judgment day with the proof being Jesus’s resurrection.
Romans 6:4: With Christ’s resurrection, we live a new life, as we were baptized with Christ in death.
Ephesians 1:18-23: We have God’s power because he rose Christ from the grave and placed him ruler over everything.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14: Those who have died believing Jesus will rise again.
1 Peter 1:3-6: God has given us birth through a living hope and an eternal inheritance because of the resurrection of Christ.
11a) Jesus’s willingness to die for us. Unfathomable to me.
b) It’s helpful when times are tough and the world is turbulent to have hope in him.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 29, Day 4: Matthew 28:1-15 with 1 Corinthians 15:1-19
If you get nothing else from the study of Matthew, get this: Christ died for you, and with faith, you will have eternal life.
Great read!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 29, Day 4: Matthew 28:1-15 with 1 Corinthians 15:1-19
Matthew 28:1-15
The women were headed to properly prepare Jesus’s body for burial since Jewish law forbade people from touching dead bodies.
Matthew is the only Gospel to record the earthquake. Bible scholars think the angel prompted the earthquake as he rolled the stone.
Jesus was the first one to be resurrected. Elijah 1 Kings 17:17-24) and Lazarus (John 11:38-44) were brought back from the dead in their old bodies. Resurrection entails getting a new body.
Jesus is risen. He reigns in heaven. There is no tomb of Jesus to go and visit here on earth.
The women should not have been surprised as Jesus said this is what would happen.
Note that Jesus had passed through the stone barrier John 20:19. The stone was only rolled away so others could see and testify to Jesus’s resurrection.
These women saw Jesus’s body go into the tomb and now they say it missing.
Jesus’s resurrection proves God accepted Jesus as a substitute for us.
Note that women were chosen to be the first to tell of Jesus’s resurrection.
King James has “rejoice” as “all hail,” which was a normal Greek greeting.
Fun Fact: this is the first time Jesus calls his disciples “brothers.”
If the guards were asleep, how would they know it was the disciples who stole the body? Obviously, the chief priests aren’t as smart as they think they are. It would have been a loud noise to roll away the stone. There’s no way all those guards would have slept through that.
All of the lies about the denial of Jesus’s resurrection is just that — lies.
1 Corinthians 15:1-19
You must receive the gospel (“good news”) that Paul received from Christ himself.
Christ died
Christ died for our sins
He was buried
Jesus rose again
He rose again on the third day
Jesus was seen by Cephas
Jesus was seen by the twelve
He was seen by over 500 brethren
He was seen by James
Christ was seen by the apostles
He was seen by Paul
“According to the Scriptures”, meaning Jesus’s death fulfilled prophesy.
Paul calls himself the least, and by the grace of God, he is a new man who labored for Christ.
The first-century Corinthians denied our/their resurrection, not Jesus’s.
The women went to report to the disciples. Some of the guards went to report to the chief priests what had happened. The chief priests, wanting to hide this news, bribed the soldiers to lie and say that during the night, the disciples came and took the body. They offered to protect the soldiers from consequences of falling asleep.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 29, Day 3: Matthew 28:11-15
6) The guards: They were greedy and took money from the chief priests to lie about Jesus’s resurrection.
The Jewish leaders: They wanted to hide the news of Jesus’s resurrection so they bribed the guards to lie.
The Jewish people: The story of the lies was widely told amongst the Jewish people even to today.
7) They will go to any measures to hide the truth. You always have to seek God first and not believe what you are told.
8 ) Unsure. I’ve probably tried to be in charge more often than not rather than let God take control. The result is never good. You have to let God decide and lead, and you follow.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 29, Day 3: Matthew 28:11-15
One cannot underestimate the power of the enemy. We must always be vigilant to lies.
Great read!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 29, Day 3: Matthew 28:11-15
If the guards were asleep, how would they know it was the disciples who stole the body? Obviously, the chief priests aren’t as smart as they think they are. It would have been a loud noise to roll away the stone. There’s no way all those guards would have slept through that.
All of the lies about the denial of Jesus’s resurrection is just that — lies.
All of the forces of evil tried to cover up Jesus’s resurrection. No one can defeat God and His plan.
On Sunday after Jesus’s death, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to Jesus’s tomb. There was an earthquake and and angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled away the stone. He looked like lightning and wore white clothes. The guards were afraid, shook, and became like dead men.
The angel addressed the women, telling them that Jesus has risen like he said he would. He is not there. He tells them to come inside and see the empty tomb then to go and tell the disciples that Jesus has risen and is going to Galilee.
The women did as they were told, afraid but full of joy. Jesus met them on their way to the disciples. They clasped his feet and worshipped him. They he told them to go to his brothers and go to Galilee where they will see him.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 29, Day 2: Matthew 28:1-10
3a)
On Sunday after Jesus’s death, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to Jesus’s tomb. There was an earthquake and and angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled away the stone. He looked like lightning and wore white clothes. The guards were afraid, shook, and became like dead men.
The angel addressed the women, telling them that Jesus has risen like he said he would. He is not there. He tells them to come inside and see the empty tomb then to go and tell the disciples that Jesus has risen and is going to Galilee.
Mark 16:1-8 adds that the women went to the tomb to properly prepare the body for burial since Jesus died during the Sabbath and no one could handle dead bodies then. The stone was rolled away when they arrived. Inside was a young man dressed in a white robe. He told them Jesus has risen and to go and alert the others.
Luke 24:1-8 adds that the women found two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning in the tomb.
b) The tomb is empty. The women witnessed it. They say him, touched his feet, and worshipped him. They also were the ones who saw Jesus being placed there.
4a) The angel addressed the women, telling them that Jesus has risen like he said he would. He is not there. He tells them to come inside and see the empty tomb then to go and tell the disciples that Jesus has risen and is going to Galilee.
b) The women did as they were told, afraid but full of joy
c) Jesus met them on their way to the disciples. They clasped his feet and worshipped him. They he told them to go to his brothers and go to Galilee where they will see him.
5) Anytime I’ve felt alone it’s good to know that Jesus is there.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 29, Day 2: Matthew 28:1-10
I had not remembed this exact scene! It was great to read again!
Great read!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 29, Day 2: Matthew 28:1-10
The women were headed to properly prepare Jesus’s body for burial since Jewish law forbade people from touching dead bodies.
Matthew is the only Gospel to record the earthquake. Bible scholars think the angel prompted the earthquake as he rolled the stone.
Jesus was the first one to be resurrected. Elijah 1 Kings 17:17-24) and Lazarus (John 11:38-44) were brought back from the dead in their old bodies. Resurrection entails getting a new body.
Jesus is risen. He reigns in heaven. There is no tomb of Jesus to go and visit here on earth.
The women should not have been surprised as Jesus said this is what would happen.
Note that Jesus had passed through the stone barrier John 20:19. The stone was only rolled away so others could see and testify to Jesus’s resurrection.
These women saw Jesus’s body go into the tomb and now they say it missing.
Jesus’s resurrection proves God accepted Jesus as a substitute for us.
Note that women were chosen to be the first to tell of Jesus’s resurrection. The responded properly with worship to Jesus’s appearance, recognizing him for who he was.
“Do not be afraid” is often repeated in Scripture as this is a normal human response to things we do not understand. Jesus repeated the command by the angel as oftentimes we forget in moments of unexpectedness and shock what we were told.
King James has “rejoice” as “all hail,” which was a normal Greek greeting.
Fun Fact: this is the first time Jesus calls his disciples “brothers.”
