BSF Kelowna BC

So excited for September!

Does it ever seem like the 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 around you is 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴?

For the nation of Israel, it must have felt like everything was falling apart. The people worshipped idols. Their kings rejected God. They experienced conflict, war, famine, and division.

𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝗚𝗢𝗗’𝗦 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗪𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗔𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗.

🙌 HE is never surprised by the events that shock us.

🙌 HE is not scared by what overwhelms us.

When it feels like the culture around us is crumbling, know that 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹. ✅

Experience God’s comfort by studying Israel’s history. Join a BSF group today! https://join.bsfinternational.org/

Adult study books are NOW available on the BSF store through your mybsf account. Coming soon the notes, lessons, and other free study material will be available on mybsf!

It is natural to seek after and admire position and power. Jesus Christ, the King of creation, radically redefined true greatness as He entered a world addicted to power. In His kingdom, no one earns their status by their own contribution. The least are seen as the greatest. The servant outshines the ruler. In this great reversal, the first end up last, and the last, first. Jesus humbly and resolutely set His course for Jerusalem and the cross. He came to offer Himself as a ransom for many. He deserved to reign but came to die. Jesus came to establish God’s kingdom and call His people to humble servanthood. In love, He asks no more of us than He gave Himself.

In the ancient world, children did not have any value until they could contribute to daily work. Jesus set a startling example by giving value to someone deemed of little status. He illustrated His point with a little child, likely a toddler. He was not advocating childish thoughts or prolonged immaturity. Jesus upheld the value of all people and our utter dependence on Him for physical and spiritual survival. Jesus went on to describe true greatness in His kingdom. Whoever takes the lowly position of a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus called His disciples – and He calls us – to turn from selfish pursuits and humbly trust Him. People who abandon self to seek Christ will also learn to love and serve others. The highest fulfillment possible in this life is found in utter dependence on God. There is nothing greater.

Ooooh!!!! So exciting!!

We are excited to announce our 2022-23 study -- People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided. It covers the Kings and Prophets of Judah and Israel up to the exile, including BRAND NEW studies of Jeremiah and Lamentations. Click thru for the specific books explored in this amazing study!

https://bsfblog.org/bsf-news/

Life has defining moments. Peter reached his in Matthew 16. He had witnessed Jesus’ miracles and heard His authoritative teaching. But then Jesus asked the disciples a life-altering question, “Who do you say I am?” With bold words and growing clarity, Peter declared, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Ultimately, we all have to answer this same question. Who is Jesus to you? The question is unavoidable. The way you answer defines who you are at the core. Your life focus and eternal destiny hinge on what you believe about Jesus Christ. Peter answered correctly, but not because he was smart or intuitive. His shining moment did not mean he would never again stumble. The Holy Spirit revealed this life-transforming truth to Peter as He does to every believer.

Study Jesus walking in the storm with us this week!

Jesus knew what His disciples needed to experience in order to realize His true identity. They knew that loyalty to Jesus was costly – John the Baptist had been beheaded because he stood on truth. As both opposition and the crowd following Jesus continued to grow, He intentionally invested in the band of men closest to Him. He trained them with firsthand experience of the emptiness of their own hands and weakness of their own arms. He instructed them to feed a crowd that they wanted to send away. He sent them into a storm too powerful to conquer despite rowing all night. He supplied what they lacked. He rescued them. He conquered what was conquering them. He showed them who He is.

If you ever feel unworthy of God's love or feel not useful to Him - just take a look at Matthew's genealogy. It is so much more than a list of ancient names! In it, we discover generations of imperfect people used by God to carry out His perfect plan of the Son's delivery into the world. We can never limit God's love or thwart His plans! The reality is that everyone, except Jesus Christ, is a sinner in need of a Savior. We do not deserve God's love, yet He delights in loving us.

If you want to read more about the birth of Jesus, consider jumping into WordGo's Advent study! Download WordGo for free at https://wordgo.onelink.me/QJMQ/19b63562

We are discussing this lesson this Monday night! Excited to dive into the temptation of Jesus with our Monday night ladies!

You can trust God's Word!
In Matthew 4, Satan appealed to Jesus to appropriate His divine power to satisfy His personal needs. Much like Satan's temptation of Adam and Eve in the garden, he tempted Jesus to doubt the provision of His Father. Jesus met Satan's words with God's Word, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." With this response, Jesus affirmed His unwavering trust in His Heavenly Father to meet His needs. Obeying God was more important to Jesus than satisfying Himself.

If you are facing trials today, turn to God! He is faithful.

Bible Study Fellowship walks through the Gospel of Matthew chapter by chapter, exploring God’s Word in context. We will savor the teachings and life of Jesus — discovering how His life, death and resurrection provides the only path for every human being to find redemption and reconciliation to their Creator God.

Anyone can join (even kids!). Free of charge. Check out bsfinternational.org.

The Wednesday morning class began yesterday!! But the Monday evening class begins next week!! You aren’t too late to sign up! Come join us as we dig into God’s word together!

Find a Group Find a Group

Join us this September in Kelowna!

In this week’s blog, BSF’s new Executive Director Hollie Roberts invites you to explore God’s heart for His people through Matthew 1. Her reflections and insights on Jesus’ genealogy give encouragement to how we might “go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19)

https://bsfblog.org/a-place-to-belong/

In this week’s blog post, “Responding to Our Creator’s Creativity,” BSF Creative Director Bryan Belknap challenges us to explore God’s call to honor Him creatively.
https://bsfblog.org/responding-to-the-creators-creativity/

BSF Kelowna BC updated their business hours.

As we prepare to study Matthew (some countries start this week!), we encourage you to deepen your weekly study through prayer. We hope this year’s Matthew Prayer Guide will connect the truths of this Gospel to each person’s life on an intimate level.
https://bsfblog.org/prayer/

Join us this September as we dive into studying God’s word with the book of Matthew!