Last Sabbath afternoon at Willowdale, a new Bible study group—Living Hope Bible Study—gathered for its first session from 3:30–5:00 p.m. in the basement chapel (Room 105). As a pastoral team, we carry a deep love for our church family and a sincere burden for spiritual growth. From time to time, we recognize a need for deeper biblical understanding and a richer engagement with God’s Word among us. Although Scripture is often quoted and referenced, passages can sometimes be misunderstood or applied outside their intended context. There was a time when Adventists were widely known as “the people of the Book,” and Jesus’ words in Matthew 15:8–9 serve as a timely and loving reminder for us today: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me… They teach man-made ideas” (NLT).
The sole textbook for the Living Hope Bible Study is the Bible itself. In our first session, we explored the topic, “God’s Message to Us: Why the Bible Has Authority Above All Books.” With Scripture as our foundation and anchor, we plan to journey together through the 28 Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. We were reminded that without Sola Scriptura—the Bible and the Bible alone as our guiding principle—God’s Word can be distorted into human-centered theology rather than a faithful “Thus says the Lord.” Just as importantly, we rediscovered the genuine joy that flows from careful, prayerful study of Scripture.
Years ago, I heard Bible study compared to two kinds of breakfast cereal. At first, studying the Bible may feel dry or unappealing—like plain shredded wheat: bland, perhaps, but deeply nourishing. Yet as we persevere, God’s Word becomes a delight, much like frosted mini-wheats—still wholesome and sustaining, but now sweet, rich, and satisfying, “sweeter than honey” to the soul.
My prayer is that as we dig more deeply into Scripture together, we will experience the joy of theology, the delight of studying God’s Word, and the miracle of hearing God speak back to us—answering our questions, strengthening our faith, and guiding us along the path of His will that leads to eternal life in Jesus.
Pastor Glenn DeSilva