Non-Negotiables

(Participants)

• Respect everyone in the group.

• No attacking, mocking, or patronizing others.

• Keep discussions centered on Scripture.

• No promoting false doctrine, cults, or personal agendas.

• No political campaigning or divisive debates.

• Respect confidentiality and safe space.

• Come with a heart to learn, not to dominate.

• No financial solicitation or self-promotion.

• Honor facilitators and group structure.

• Ask questions with humility and sincerity.

• No gossip, drama, or unnecessary division.

• Love truth, grace, and obedience together.

(Facilitators)

• Jesus and Scripture first. Personal opinions second.

• Facilitate the Word, do not control people.

• No self-promotion, platform-building, or personal agenda.

• No politics inside BSM spaces.

• No financial solicitation without approval.

• Remain humble, teachable, and accountable.

• Protect confidentiality and group trust.

• Keep discussions biblical, edifying, and orderly.

• No favoritism, manipulation, or spiritual superiority.

• Work with other facilitators in unity, not competition.

• Communicate clearly and responsibly with leadership.

• Serve people, not ego.

We are not here to debate, argue, or take platforms.
We are here to seek Jesus through the Word of God together.

The BSM Framework: Our Own, Not Borrowed

BSM does not adopt any external framework, methodology, or ministry model from outside of what has been built specifically for this community. The framework of BSM is its own, developed uniquely for the landscape it is called to reach: the lawless, the unchurched, the rejected, the searching, and those whom religion has failed.

The BSM framework is built around one foundation: bringing every person into direct, personal encounter with the Word of God. The structure of sessions, the role of facilitators, the culture of the groups, all flow from that. This community was built to be different because the people it is reaching have already been failed by what came before.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” — Isaiah 43:19

BSM has a defined vision and mission available at BibleStudyMovement.com. Every decision, every guideline, and every standard in this document serves that vision. If a practice, method, or person does not serve the mission, it is subject to review and change.

BSM is not like church and it is not meant to be. If you are unhappy with the framework or culture of this community, you are free to leave. This framework is not up for negotiation.

Why BSM Exists: The Challenges We Face

We live in an age of noise, where truth is mixed with confusion, and faith is often shaped more by influence than by Scripture. Across the world, millions are searching for Jesus, but many are being led astray or left behind. The following challenges define the landscape BSM exists to address. Every rule, boundary, and standard in this document is a direct response to at least one of these realities.

1. Cults and Sects

Movements that claim to speak for God but do not follow His Word. Many twist Scripture to control, manipulate, or mislead, building loyalty to men instead of truth to Christ. BSM is aware that communities like this one attract infiltration. Our protection is keeping every member rooted deeply in the Word, empowered to test all things against Scripture themselves.

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” — Matthew 7:15

“For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 11:13

2. False Prophets

Teachers who preach from emotion, profit, or personal vision, not from the Word of God. Their messages sound spiritual but lack Scripture, creating confusion and deception among believers. BSM holds every voice in its community accountable to Scripture, not to personality, charisma, or following.

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” — 1 John 4:1

3. Lukewarm Believers

Those who profess faith but do not study or live by the Word. They become vulnerable to false teaching and easily conformed to the patterns of the world. BSM exists to move people from passive belief into active, Scripture-rooted discipleship.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will.” — Romans 12:2

4. New Age Beliefs

A modern deception that replaces holiness with self-worship, normalizing sin for the pursuit of personal happiness. It denies repentance, blurs moral lines, and repackages rebellion as spiritual awakening. BSM holds firmly to Scripture as the only measure of truth, not personal experience or spiritual feeling.

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” — 2 Timothy 4:3–4

5. Compromised Churches

Congregations that emphasize love and grace but avoid teaching obedience and repentance. When truth is silenced in the name of comfort, sin becomes tolerated and the body of Christ becomes weak. BSM holds both grace and obedience together, because Scripture does not separate them.

6. Political Capture of the Church and BSM

When a church or ministry aligns with a political party, movement, or government agenda, it trades the authority of Scripture for the authority of the state or the crowd. The gospel becomes partisan. Believers become tribal. The pulpit becomes a campaign platform and the Word becomes a tool of division rather than reconciliation.

BSM takes no political position and endorses no political party, government, or movement in any nation. We operate across multiple countries, cultures, and political systems. The Word of God transcends all of them. Any facilitator, moderator, or member who uses BSM's platform, spaces, or community trust to promote a political agenda, party, candidate, or ideology will be removed.

“My kingdom is not of this world.” — John 18:36

“We must obey God rather than human beings.” — Acts 5:29

7. Church Hurt

A lack of accountability within leadership causes deep wounds in believers. Favoritism toward wealth, influence, or ability creates division in the body of Christ. BSM's flat structure, servant-only roles, and prohibition on financial solicitation are direct responses to this wound.

“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.” — James 2:1

8. Leaving the One for the Ninety-Nine

Many modern ministries focus on numbers, not souls, chasing crowds while forgetting the individual. Yet Jesus said the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to seek the one who is lost. True discipleship always returns for the one. BSM facilitators are trained to see the person, not just the group.

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” — Luke 15:4

9. Unstructured Bible Study Groups

Many groups begin with passion but lack a biblical foundation and accountability structure. Without guidance, they dissolve when one member falters, leaving others spiritually stranded. BSM exists to prevent this by providing a framework that sustains truth and fellowship long-term.

10. Individualism and Isolation

The Westernized mindset of independence often hinders community and service. Many fear helping others for self-protection, yet the gospel calls us to bear one another's burdens.

“Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2

11. Abuse of Spiritual Authority

Some leaders use their position for personal gain, controlling, intimidating, or exploiting those under them. This creates fear, distrust, and trauma within the body of Christ. BSM's servant-only leadership structure, its prohibition on pastoral titles, and its false prophet accountability clause all exist because of this pattern.

“The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” — Matthew 23:11–12

“Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured.” — Ezekiel 34:2–4

12. Religion Phobia and Distorted Views of Faith

Many have turned away from faith entirely, associating religion with manipulation, control, or hypocrisy. Others create their own version of faith, blending personal feelings with selective Scripture, resulting in confusion, pride, and disconnection from the real God of the Bible. BSM does not defend religion. We point to the Word.

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” — 2 Timothy 4:3–4

13. Parents Neglecting to Raise Children in the Truth

Many parents provide for their children physically but neglect their spiritual foundation. Faith becomes a cultural label instead of a living relationship. Without guidance, children grow up knowing about God but not knowing Him, vulnerable to deception, peer pressure, and worldly values. God entrusted parents with the first and most sacred mission of discipleship: the home.

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” — Proverbs 22:6

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” — Deuteronomy 6:6–7

14. Biblical Illiteracy

Many believers own Bibles but do not read or understand them. Faith becomes dependent on sermons, influencers, or emotional experiences instead of Scripture. This lack of personal study leads to confusion, superstition, and vulnerability to false doctrine. It is also the primary entry point for digital deception, where algorithms and AI-generated content replace personal encounter with the Word.

“My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests.” — Hosea 4:6

15. Digital Deception and Algorithm-Driven Theology

In an age where content is curated by platforms and not by truth, many are forming their theology from viral videos, AI-generated devotionals, and influencer Christianity. Faith becomes whatever the algorithm feeds, shaped by engagement metrics rather than Scripture. People feel spiritually fed without ever opening the Bible themselves. BSM's answer is always the same: get into the Word directly and personally.

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” — 2 Timothy 4:3

16. Worldly Success Over Eternal Purpose

Many pursue comfort, status, and material achievement while neglecting spiritual growth. Christianity becomes a means to prosperity instead of a call to surrender. The world's definition of success replaces God's definition of faithfulness.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Matthew 6:19–21

17. Desensitization to Sin

Entertainment, media, and social influence have normalized immorality. What once convicted the heart is now considered personal freedom. Sin is rebranded as expression, and conviction is labeled judgment. When sin no longer grieves believers, repentance disappears and spiritual decay follows.

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.” — Isaiah 5:20

18. Division Among Believers

Instead of standing united under the name of Jesus, many divide over doctrine, denomination, or personality. Pride and competition have replaced humility and collaboration. BSM seeks to rebuild unity, not through compromise, but through shared obedience to the Word.

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” — 1 Corinthians 1:10

19. Fear of Evangelism

Many believers feel unqualified or afraid to speak about their faith. Fear of rejection, persecution, or being politically incorrect silences the very message that saves lives. Evangelism is not reserved for missionaries. It is the responsibility of every follower of Christ.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” — Romans 1:16

20. Superficial Faith and Performance Christianity

Many have learned to perform Christianity, attending gatherings, quoting verses, serving publicly, yet their hearts remain unchanged. BSM calls believers back to genuine faith, a life transformed by obedience, not appearance.

“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” — Matthew 15:8

21. Neglect of the Poor and the Broken

As the world grows wealthier, compassion often decreases. The church sometimes prioritizes projects and programs over people. Jesus' heart for the poor, the hungry, and the forgotten is often lost in pursuit of image or influence. Every BSM facilitator is called to see and serve the people God sees: the overlooked, the oppressed, the one.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” — James 1:27

22. Spiritual Abuse and Religious Trauma

Beyond church hurt, there are people who have been so systematically controlled, shamed, manipulated, or exploited by religious leadership that the word community itself triggers fear. They have been told God's love was conditional on performance, obedience to a leader, financial giving, or silence about abuse. These wounds are real and deep. BSM reaches these people specifically. The framework of no pastoral authority, no hierarchy, no financial pressure, and no requirement to perform is not accidental. It is intentional and pastoral. We will not recreate the environments that wounded these people.

“Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured.” — Ezekiel 34:2–4

23. The Fatherless Generation

Across every nation BSM operates in, there is a generation growing up without fathers, naturally and spiritually. This shapes how people see God. When the word Father is associated with abandonment, violence, absence, or control, the gospel becomes inaccessible at its most foundational point. BSM does not assume everyone enters the Word with a healthy framework for authority, love, or belonging. We build it slowly, through community, through the Word, through demonstrated consistency of care.

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” — Psalm 68:5

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.” — Luke 4:18

24. Syncretism

Particularly across Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America, Christianity is frequently blended with ancestor worship, local spiritual practices, animism, and folk religion. The result is a faith that carries the name of Christ but is built on a foundation of mixed spiritualities. This produces confusion about who God is, what prayer is, what salvation requires, and what sin is. BSM operates across Southeast and East Asia where this is not a theoretical challenge. It is a daily reality. We do not approach it with condemnation. We approach it with the Word. When people encounter Scripture directly, the Holy Spirit does the work of separating truth from tradition.

“How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow Baal.” — 1 Kings 18:21

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” — 2 Corinthians 6:14

25. Political Influence and the Loss of the Gospel's Power

When pulpits become platforms for politics, the message of Christ becomes divided and distorted. Believers are discipled into political loyalty before they are discipled into obedience to Christ. BSM operates across multiple nations and political systems. The Word of God transcends all of them. We do not align with any government, party, or political movement.

“My kingdom is not of this world.” — John 18:36

“We must obey God rather than human beings.” — Acts 5:29

Why This Document Exists

The challenges above are not abstract. They are the landscape every BSM group walks into every time it opens Scripture with someone who has never read it, someone who has been burned by it, someone who has been lied to in its name, or someone who has never been told that God actually sees them.

BSM does not exist to critique the church, compete with ministry, or build another religious structure. It exists because the Word of God still works when everything else fails, and there are millions of people who have not yet discovered that for themselves.

Every rule in this document, every boundary, every structure, every role exists for one reason: to keep this community rooted deeply enough in the Word that it can reach people who have every reason to distrust it, and hold them long enough for the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” — Matthew 28:19–20

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.” — Luke 4:18

This is the mandate. This is the movement. Get to know the One who made you, and be ready when He returns.

Who Can Join BSM

BSM is open to everyone. No church background required. No denomination required. No religion required. No titles. No prerequisites. Only a willing heart.

This community is built primarily to reach those who are not yet Christians, the unchurched, the rejected, the spiritually curious, and anyone who has not been reached by conventional religion. It is also a place for believers of any age, race, or background who desire to grow, serve, and learn alongside others.

Those who come do so with the heart of a servant and the heart of a student. No one arrives knowing everything. No one in this community speaks down to another. We study together. We find answers together. Every person is equal in their standing before the Word of God.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

“Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” — Colossians 3:11

BSM does not screen people by religion, denomination, race, age, background, or history. The Word of God is for everyone. You come as you are. The Holy Spirit does the rest.

Anyone who speaks to another member in a patronizing, condescending, or superior manner will be given a fair warning and may be removed. No one in this community is above another in their need for the Word.

Statement of Faith

BSM follows Scripture alone as the final authority. The following are the non-negotiable beliefs of this community. All participation, contribution, and facilitation within BSM is premised on alignment with these beliefs.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” — 2 Timothy 3:16

Our Core Values: FEAR GOD

F – Faith

“Abraham believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” — Genesis 15:6

Faith means trusting God even when we cannot see the outcome. BSM exists for people who are still learning to trust, not just those who already do.

E – Empathy

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” — Romans 3:23

We are all imperfect and in need of grace. No one in BSM is positioned above another in terms of standing before God.

A – Acceptance

“Yet not as I will, but as You will.” — Matthew 26:39

Acceptance is surrendering to God's will, trusting that His plan is greater than anything we could arrange for ourselves.

R – Repentance

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” — Acts 3:19

Repentance is a fresh start, a turning back to God. Not merely saying sorry, but choosing a new direction toward Him.

G – Grace

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” — John 3:16

Grace is God's undeserved kindness. BSM is a community of grace-receivers, not rule-keepers.

O – Obedience

“If you love me, keep my commandments.” — John 14:15

Obedience is an act of love. It is choosing to live in alignment with God's Word, trusting that His ways lead to life and peace.

D – Delight

“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” — Psalm 37:4

Delight is finding joy in God's presence. When we delight in Him, our hearts align with His.

Core Doctrinal Beliefs

• The Bible is the living, unchanging Word of God.

• Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone. This is the non-negotiable centre of all BSM doctrine.

• The Holy Trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

• The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live in obedience.

• We are called to make disciples, not denominations.

• Love, truth, and obedience cannot be separated.

• Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:38-39.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” — Philippians 1:21

On Secondary Doctrine: Unity in What Matters, Grace in What Doesn't

BSM holds firmly to the doctrine of salvation through Jesus Christ. Outside of this core, many secondary theological matters exist where sincere, Bible-believing Christians have disagreed across generations. BSM does not require uniformity on these.

“Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.” — Romans 14:1

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” — Ephesians 4:3

On Grace: Enabling Grace, Not Licence to Sin

BSM holds to grace correctly understood. Grace is not permission to continue in sin. Grace is the enabling power of God that sanctifies us, transforms us, and empowers us to fulfill the law through love. We are continuously sanctified because grace enables us to become what the law could never produce by human effort alone.

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” — Romans 6:1–2

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” — Titus 2:11–12

“Know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.” — Galatians 2:16

Grace saves us. Grace sanctifies us. Grace empowers us to live rightly. Those who use grace to justify continuing in sin, and those who add law-keeping to salvation, are both outside what BSM holds.

On the Sabbath

BSM does not impose a required day of Sabbath observance or a required form. The Sabbath principle, that we rest in God, cease from striving, and set apart time to honour Him, is spiritually significant. How and when a person observes this is a matter of personal conviction before the Lord. The deeper Sabbath is found in Christ, who is our rest.

“One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.” — Romans 14:5

“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their own work, just as God did from his.” — Hebrews 4:9–10

The Sabbath points to Christ. He is our rest. Observe it as your conscience leads, hold it with grace toward others, and let no one make it a point of division.

On Celebrations, Holy Days, and Observances

BSM does not impose or prohibit the observance of any holy day, including Christmas, Easter, or other significant days. Every day belongs to the Lord. The posture of the heart matters more than the calendar. Every day can be the day of Christ's birth in a new heart, a day of resurrection, a day where flesh dies and Christ's victory is made real again.

“Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.” — Romans 14:6

“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” — Colossians 2:16–17

We celebrate God, not tradition. The question is never which day. The question is always: who are you honoring, and does your heart know why?

On the Name of God

Whether one says Jesus, Yeshua, Yahweh, Yahusha, or any other faithful rendering, what matters is that the heart is turned toward the one true God and Father of Jesus Christ. The form of the name reflects the faith and language of the individual. BSM does not impose a single required transliteration.

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” — Romans 10:13

A person who condemns others as heretics over the form of the name of God, while claiming the same Lord, does not carry the grace this community is built on. They are not a fit for BSM.

On Dietary Laws and Old Testament Observance

“The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.” — Romans 14:3

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” — Romans 14:17

Dietary choices and ceremonial observances are between a person and God. They are not grounds for judgment within this community in either direction.

On Prayer

BSM does not impose a single correct form, posture, language, or method of prayer. Prayer is communicating with the Lord. It is building a relationship with the living God. Scripture shows many forms: standing, kneeling, weeping, singing, whispering, crying out. There is no one right way. What matters is that the heart is turned toward God.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” — Philippians 4:6

“The Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” — Romans 8:26

On Spiritual Gifts, Tongues, Healing, and Prophecy

BSM does not impose a single doctrinal position on the operation, cessation, or extent of spiritual gifts. The Holy Spirit distributes gifts as He wills. All things are tested by Scripture and evaluated by fruit.

On tongues: BSM does not teach that speaking in tongues is required for all believers, nor does it suppress the gift where genuinely present. Scripture is clear that not all speak in tongues, and all gifts must operate in order and for edification.

On healing: BSM affirms that God heals. We have witnessed the miracles of the Lord. However, no person may tell another that they are not healed because of their unbelief or doubt. Each person's faith journey is their own. What any person says is not authority over what the Bible says.

“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:19–21

“Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?” — 1 Corinthians 12:30

“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” — 1 Corinthians 14:33

Every discussion of spiritual gifts in BSM must be edifying. Anything that becomes endless debate or a tool for judgment is outside the purpose of this community and will be shut down.

On Women in Leadership and Ministry

“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy.” — Acts 2:17

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” — Galatians 3:28

Sons and daughters will prophesy. This is the word of the Lord. It is not up for negotiation within this community.

On Receiving People from All Backgrounds

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” — Mark 2:17

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” — Romans 15:7

No background disqualifies a person from being welcomed in BSM. The only disqualification is proven, active harm to the community. We are not a community of the arrived. We are a community of the being-transformed.

Members and facilitators who are unwilling to extend grace on secondary matters, or who insist the community conform to their theological preferences beyond the doctrine of salvation, may be asked to leave or may be removed.

The doctrine of salvation is the hill we stand on. Everything else is ground we hold loosely, together. If you cannot accept this principle, this may not be the right community for you.

Section 1: Community Identity & Foundations

• God loved first. All pursuit of God originates with God. We do not manufacture spiritual momentum; we respond to it.

• Firsthand revelation. Every participant is encouraged toward personal, direct encounter with Scripture, not secondhand religion or inherited belief systems.

• Belonging by design. Every person is welcomed as they are, while the community holds the standard of who we are called to become.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” — Matthew 24:14

Section 2: Governance, Authority & The Warning Against False Leadership

2.1 Authority Structure

BSM operates under a clear and biblical authority structure. Final authority within BSM rests with Jesus Christ. The Founder, Co-Founders, and Council of Moderators operate in submission to His Word and to the fruit that submission produces. No human authority within BSM is above Scripture.

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.” — Hebrews 13:17

• Founder: Holds final human decision-making authority on all matters affecting BSM's mission, direction, values, and community standards. Operates under submission to Jesus Christ and Scripture.

• Co-Founder(s): Share in strategic governance. Accountable to the same community standards as all members.

• Council of Moderators: Appointed by core leadership. Maintain order, uphold guidelines, relay matters requiring core leadership attention through proper channels.

• Facilitators (including Hosts and Venue Providers): Create the space where study happens. Servants of the process, not authorities over people.

• Members: Full participants held to the same standards of conduct as those in service roles.

If you disagree with a decision made by BSM leadership, raise it through the proper channel. If after due process you remain in disagreement, you are free to leave. Staying while undermining, challenging publicly, or refusing to submit to the structure is not acceptable. We part with love, not conflict.

2.2 BSM Is an Independent Community

BSM is fully independent. It is not affiliated with, accountable to, or under the authority of any church, denomination, religious institution, or external organization. Jesus Christ alone is the head of this community.

“And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” — Colossians 1:18

Anyone who attempts to bring BSM under the authority of a church, denomination, or external institution, or who seeks to control BSM's direction for personal or institutional agenda, is working against the structure of this community. Those who want a different authority structure are free to start their own ministry.

On churches sharing space: if a church whose doctrine is aligned with BSM's statement of faith wishes to share information about their services within a BSM setting, this may be permitted at the sole discretion of core leadership. There is no dispute process for this decision.

Nobody has control over this community but Jesus himself, and under His authority, the Founder and Council of Moderators. If you do not agree with this, you are free to leave or build your own field of ministry.

2.3 Evaluating All Leadership by Scripture and Fruit

“By their fruit you will recognize them. Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” — Matthew 7:16–17

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” — 1 John 4:1

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies.” — 2 Peter 2:1

If any leader within BSM, including the Founder, produces fruit consistently contrary to the Spirit, contradicts the Word of God, or leads people away from Christ rather than toward Him, the community is not only permitted but scripturally obligated to take notice and act. This is not rebellion. This is biblical discernment.

“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them.” — 2 John 1:10

If any BSM leader is found to be a false shepherd, stay away and keep away. Do not follow. Do not defend. Test everything by the Word. This is the mark of a community that fears God more than it fears men.

2.4 Moderator Criteria & Appointment

Moderators are appointed by BSM core leadership. No formal theological training or ministry background is required. What is required is character and readiness to serve:

• A professing faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

• Baptized and committed to sound doctrine, specifically the doctrine of salvation.

• Willing to grow, be guided, and remain accountable to core leadership.

• Committed to integrity and servanthood in posture and conduct.

• Able to maintain order without asserting personal authority. A moderator keeps the peace, not a platform.

• Reliable and consistent in communication with core leadership.

• Does not need to have their life fully in order. Growth happens in obedience, not perfection.

No theological degree required. No perfect track record required. A willing, submitted, accountable heart is the qualification. The Holy Spirit does the equipping.

2.5 On Moderator Territory and Unity Among Workers

No moderator holds exclusive claim over a city, region, or location. A moderator who uses their position to block or exclude other workers from facilitating or moderating Bible studies in the same region is acting outside the Spirit of this movement and will be subject to removal.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” — Luke 10:2

The harvest belongs to God, not to any moderator. Pray for more workers. Welcome them when they come. Do not stand in the way of what God is building.

In the case of a location lacking a moderator, a grace period will be granted for as long as required, within the discretion of the Founder and the Council. During this period, the online Bible study may serve that location until a suitable moderator is identified and appointed.

Section 3: Why We Do Not Use the Title ‘Teacher’

“Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” — James 3:1

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.” — Matthew 23:8–10

We are called to testify, to share the truth we have received. The Holy Spirit is the Teacher. The Word is the authority. We are vessels.

3.1 On Preaching: What It Is and What It Is Not

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction.” — 2 Timothy 4:2

“For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake.” — 2 Corinthians 4:5

Preaching in BSM means boldly declaring what Scripture says, calling people to respond to the Word of God, exhorting the group toward repentance, faith, and obedience, and bearing witness to what God has done. Peter preached. Paul preached. They were witnesses, not professors.

Permitted: Proclaiming what Scripture says. Calling people to respond. Exhorting. Testifying. Correcting with Scripture. Rebuking with Scripture.

Not Permitted: Claiming to be the Teacher. Positioning personal interpretation as the group's required belief. Replacing Scripture-encounter with personal authority.

3.2 Recognized Roles in BSM

• Facilitator: Guides a session by creating space for the group to encounter Scripture. Proclaims the Word. Does not position themselves as a doctrinal authority over others.

• Host / Venue Provider: Opens their home, space, or platform for a session. A service role, not a leadership role.

• Moderator: Appointed by core leadership. Maintains order, upholds community guidelines, relays communication to core leadership.

• Servant: The posture that applies to everyone in every role, without exception.

3.3 No Pastoral Authority Within BSM

• Titles such as Pastor, Reverend, Bishop, Elder, Teacher, Rabbi, or equivalent denominational titles do not confer special authority within BSM.

• All participants engage on equal footing as learners under one Teacher: Jesus Christ.

• Individuals who attempt to exercise pastoral or teaching authority will be asked to cease immediately and may be removed.

We welcome all denominational backgrounds. We do not import denominational authority structures. You are welcome here as a fellow seeker. You are not welcome here as a spiritual authority over others.

Section 4: Doctrinal Boundaries & The Biblical Discipline Process

“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” — 1 Timothy 4:16

Healthy discussion and sincere questions are welcome. Persistent advocacy for opposing doctrine is not. The process below follows the pattern Jesus and Paul laid out in Scripture.

The Matthew 18 Process

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” — Matthew 18:15–17

1. Private Correction (Matthew 18:15). The facilitator or moderator goes directly and privately to the individual. The goal is restoration. If the individual receives it, the matter is closed.

2. Witnessed Correction (Matthew 18:16). If the behavior continues, one or two from the Council of Moderators or core leadership join the conversation to ensure fairness.

3. Community Notice (Matthew 18:17a). If the individual still refuses correction, a formal written notice is issued by BSM core leadership.

4. Removal (Matthew 18:17b). Continued refusal results in removal from the group, platform, or role. The door remains open to repentance, but the community is protected.

“Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.” — Titus 3:10

The goal is always restoration. The boundary is always protection of the community. In cases of severe violation, removal may occur immediately without prior steps. Removed individuals may submit a written appeal within 14 days.

Section 5: Financial Policy — BSM Does Not Ask for Money

BSM is a free community. There are no membership fees, session fees, or financial contributions required to participate. BSM does not solicit funds from its members as a general practice.

“Freely you have received; freely give.” — Matthew 10:8

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” — 1 Timothy 6:10

• No member, moderator, facilitator, or host may solicit financial contributions, donations, or fundraising of any kind within BSM spaces without explicit written approval from BSM core leadership.

• No person may post requests for charity, personal financial support, or fundraising campaigns in any BSM group or channel without prior written authorization from core leadership.

• No individual may use BSM's name, platform, audience, or trust to raise money for personal, ministry, or organizational purposes without formal approval.

BSM may from time to time present specific, approved mission or outreach opportunities to the community. These will be formally announced by core leadership, clearly identified as approved, and accompanied by transparent information about the cause. Giving is always voluntary and never required.

Nobody is asked to give money in BSM. If you see an unauthorized financial solicitation in a BSM space, report it immediately. Unauthorized solicitation results in immediate removal.

Section 6: Contributions & Formal Involvement

“But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” — 1 Corinthians 14:40

• No individual may claim a role, title, or area of responsibility within BSM without formal authorization from core leadership.

• No individual may assume a facilitation, coordination, or moderation function without assignment.

• No individual may create content, materials, or channels under the BSM name or brand without written authorization.

Pathway A: Submit through the Contact page at BibleStudyMovement.com with a clear and detailed description of your proposed input and relevant background.

Pathway B: Submit written detailed input to your group Facilitator, who relays it to the Council of Moderators for review and escalation to core leadership.

Unauthorized claims of role or representation may result in immediate removal from all BSM platforms with no prior warning required.

Section 7: Content & Study Standards

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” — 2 Timothy 3:16

All content shared within BSM must be edifying. Every topic raised, every gift expressed, every discussion held must build up the people in the room and point them toward the Word of God. If it does not edify, it does not belong.

“Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” — 1 Corinthians 14:26

• Scriptural integrity. All content must be grounded in and consistent with the Bible. Speculative or extra-biblical claims must be identified as such and never presented as doctrine.

• Accuracy. Facilitators must not misrepresent Scripture, misattribute quotes, or present personal opinion as established theological truth.

• Appropriateness. Content must suit a diverse, global, interdenominational, multi-generational, multi-background community.

• Neutrality on secondary matters. On issues beyond the doctrine of salvation where sincere believers disagree, facilitators present multiple views fairly or defer the topic.

• Edification. Every discussion, including discussions of spiritual gifts, healing, prophecy, or any contested topic, must be conducted for the building up of the group, not for debate, argument, or demonstration of personal theological superiority.

Section 8: Attendance & Commitment Expectations

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.” — Hebrews 10:25

8.1 Members

• Attend regularly and notify their facilitator in advance when unable to attend.

• Engage actively with the material as contributors, not passive observers.

• Honor the time and preparation of their facilitator and fellow participants.

8.2 Moderators, Facilitators & Hosts

• Minimum 48 hours notice if unable to fulfill their role. Must arrange a qualified substitute.

• More than two consecutive unexplained absences triggers a role review.

• Expected to maintain regular communication with core leadership.

Section 9: Confidentiality & Safe Space

“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.” — Proverbs 11:13

The gospel goes freely. Personal information does not. Members are encouraged to share what God is doing and to spread His Word without restriction. Personal information shared by individuals about their own lives must be handled with care.

• Personal disclosures made in prayer, reflection, or discussion are not to be shared externally without the individual's explicit consent.

• Facilitators and moderators must not disclose personal participant information to third parties unless there is a clear and immediate concern for safety.

• Online group members must not share session access details with individuals outside the group without facilitator approval.

A breach of personal trust is treated with the same seriousness as a doctrinal violation and may result in immediate removal.

Section 10: Leadership Accountability & Servant Standard

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” — Matthew 20:26–28

• All facilitators, moderators, and leaders are subject to periodic review determined by BSM core leadership.

• Leaders submit under the careful requirement of the core leadership team. Operating outside submitted agreement is grounds for role review.

• Pride, control, dismissiveness, or unwillingness to be corrected triggers formal evaluation.

• Leaders may be removed for violation of these guidelines, misalignment with BSM's mission, or failure to bear the fruit of servant leadership.

• No individual holds ownership over a BSM group, region, or function. Leadership is stewardship, not property.

• Appeals for roles removed without cause may be submitted in writing within 14 days.

Leadership in BSM is not a platform. It is a towel and a basin.

Section 11: Amendments & Review

These guidelines are a living document. BSM leadership reserves the right to amend, update, or expand them at any time. Members, moderators, and facilitators will be notified of material changes. Continued participation after notification constitutes acceptance. This document is reviewed at minimum once per calendar year.