I've heard the same, Fred. It depends on who is leading the group. There are quite a few Reformed persons in the BSF here in town. Although, I also hear that, while they do not have a problem with what is said, the material used is normally broad and interdenominational.

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In fact, and this is rather sad, it has replaced what she and her husband have as far as teaching at their local church. In other words, she gains more out of BSF spiritually and doctrinally than what she gets out of the sermon on Sunday.

Yes, that is extremely sad, and also dangerous. That's a big temptation in a world of parachurch organizations and the "cell groups" in some larger churches (not that small group meetings of a church are bad...they can be very good!...as long as they do not take over for corporate gatherings).

I actually find that I personally do not have time for parachurch organizations. I find that my time is taken up in my local church, and I go to chapel at the seminary Tuesdays and Thursdays. But chapel, although it is worship, is not the same as a local church!

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On the one hand, I do not care for the fact that the group in general discourages commentary usage when studying a book of the Bible. I find that down right dangerous and leads to a group of folks sitting around telling everyone what each individual thinks HE or SHE believes the Bible is saying, rather than discovering the true meaning of the scripture.

I agree. I like what one of the seminary chapel speakers said last week: If you interpret a text in a way that no other commentator has come up with before, there's probably a good reason why!

True godliness is a sincere feeling which loves God as Father as much as it fears and reverences Him as Lord, embraces His righteousness, and dreads offending Him worse than death~ Calvin