Bible Study Fellowship - Sydney South East - Evening Men

02/06/2026

L28 – Malachi 1-4
Summary of lecture delivered by Stephen K Chen
Outline
1. Disregard, Dishonour & Disobedience (1:1-2:16)
2. Declaring God’s judgement & blessing (2:17-4:6)
Principles
1. God’s call to repentance demonstrates His love for His people.
2. God lovingly provided a Saviour and a way to escape sin’s deserved judgment
Applications
1. How can you intentionally remember God's faithfulness when circumstances tempt you to question His love?
How can you ensure your worship, leadership, and relationships reflect wholehearted devotion rather than mere religious routine?
What helps you be intentional to return to God when you recognise spiritual complacency or compromise in your life?
2. When did you realise sin separated you from God, & you required His forgiveness?
How well are you prepared for the Day of the Lord?
How does living in anticipation of Christ's return shape your priorities, relationships, and service to others?
Aim: God reveals His faithful love through His judgment and blessing.

18/05/2026

L26 – Nehemiah 9-10
Summary of lecture delivered by Stephen K Chen
Outline
1. Confession to Commitment (9)
2. Consecration (10)
Principles
1. Recognising our sin as offense against God leads us to repentance.
2. Remembering God’s faithfulness calls us to obedience.
Applications
1. What specific actions or life choices in the past have led you to a hard place?
How does remembering God’s faithfulness encourage you to repent?
How have you experienced freedom & joy through confession and repentance from sin?
2. How can you move from beyond merely feeling guilty to practical action that addresses the root cause of disobedience?
What practical steps is God calling you to take in obedience today?
How are you ensuring that the Lord’s work is continuing?

05/05/2026

L24 – Nehemiah 4:1-6:14
Summary of lecture delivered by Stephen K Chen
Outline
1. Foes, Fear & Fortification (4)
2. Fractured community (5)
3. Firm in Faith (6:1-14)
Principles
1. Work for the Lord requires prayerful dependence on God to stand against the world’s opposition.
2. Work for the Lord requires compassion for His people.
3. Work for the Lord requires wisdom and discernment from the Lord.
Applications
1. In what ways do you respond to this world’s various threats to God’s will and ways?
How can you be on your guard against any distractions you face when doing God’s work?
2. How attuned is your heart to the physical and spiritual needs of your community and the world?
How can you call out against mistreatment of your fellow Christians, & not engage in it yourself?
3. How does time with the Lord help you discern and cope with the ways of the world?
How do you exercise discernment when you receive threats which are dressed up as “reasonable”?
How can you graciously expose them for what they are?
Aim: Enduring work for the Lord requires our prayerful planning and His protection.

23/03/2026

Lesson 20 – Zechariah 7-8
Summary of lecture delivered by Stephen K Chen
Outline
1. Fasts (7)
2. Feasts (8)
Principles
1. God desires worship from the heart, which leads to serving others.
2. God desires to restore & bless those who genuinely seek Him,
so they can be a blessing to others
Applications
1. In what ways might self-interest motivate your efforts to serve God?
How do you follow the Lord’s requirement to treat others well?
2. How has God turned mourning into joy or ritual into reality in your life?
How do you look forward to the glorious future God has planned?
In what ways are you blessing others, as they hear “God is with you”?
Aim: God calls people out of empty religion into a vibrant relationship with Him.

09/03/2026

Lesson 18 – Zechariah 1:7-4:14
Summary of lecture delivered by Stephen K Chen
Outline
1. Horses, horns & house plans (1:7-2:13)
2. Healing & help (3-4)
Principles
1. God works through our struggles to accomplish His greater purposes.
2. God offers cleansing from sin and the Holy Spirit’s power to all who receive salvation in Christ.
Applications
1. In what situation have you experienced God’s comfort when facing troubling circumstances?
How is God calling you to flourish spiritually despite external challenges?
How are you trusting God to do through you only what He can do?
2. What helps you better understand the wonder of Christ’s cleansing of believers and the Holy Spirit’s empowering?
How might God lead you to trust Him to cleanse & fill you?
What does the promise of Zechariah 4:6 mean in your life this week?
Aim: God provides everything His people need as He faithfully accomplishes His eternal plan.

09/01/2026

Dr Carl Laney

Even though the books covered in BSF’s “Exile & Return” study cover Old Testament books, they contain powerful lessons that we can apply to life today. Dr. C...

24/11/2025

L13 – Esther 1-2
Outline of lecture delivered by Stephen K Chen
Outline
1. Vashti vetoed (1)
2. Esther elected (2)
Principles
1. God’s sovereignty transcends the damage caused by human sin.
2. God’s sovereignty ordains the purposeful work of His people.
Applications
1. What were the consequences when you made a rash decision like Xerxes?
How has God’s grace limited the fallout from it?
2. How has God positioned you in your circumstances for your good & His glory?
How have you given Him the glory for leading you to where you are today?
Aim: God positions His people to accomplish His purposes.

10/11/2025

Lesson 10 – Ezra 3 to 6

Summary of lecture delivered by Kelvyn Ee

Outline

1. Priority of Worship (3:1 – 13)
2. Opposition to Worship (4:1 – 6:12)
3. Joy of Worship (6:13 - 22)

Principle #1
1. Worshiping God must be our highest priority
Applications:
• How does God enable you to worship Him in your situation?
• Where might He be calling you to reorder your priorities so He comes first?
• Which area in your life may be stumbling you from wholehearted worship? Will you surrender this to Jesus tonight?

Principle #2
2. Worshiping God attracts opposition
Applications:
• Opposition can come from within when you hold on to your past. Which attribute of God motivates you to stay focused on what He is doing in the present? And how can this encourage you to glorify God for what He has in store for you in the future?
• What challenges your daily worship of God? And how has He enabled you to remain faithful despite these challenges? How can you trust God to carry you through any opposition?

Principle #3
3. Worshiping God brings joy because of who He is
Applications:
Notwithstanding our personal situation which is ever-changing, God’s character never changes no matter what happens in our lives.
• How can you find joy in your worship because of who God is?
• Who can you share your joy with today?

Aim: God enables His people to worship Him under any circumstance.

10/11/2025

Lesson 11 – Ezra 7-8
Summary of lecture delivered by Stephen K Chen
Outline
1. Decree (7)
2. Departure (8)
Principles
1. God guides & provides for His people as we faithfully study & apply His Word.
2. Commitment to God and His Word demands integrity and careful obedience.
Applications
1. What is stopping you & me from applying what we learn in the Bible?
How have you benefitted in life from diligently studying the Bible?
How has God provided when you have been obedient to His call?
2. How can you ensure your work for God is done with due diligence to bring Him glory?
Aim: God’s Word guides and guards His people's commitment to Him.

06/11/2025

L9 – Ezra 1-2
Summary of lecture delivered by Stephen K Chen
Outline
1. Preparations (1)
2. People (2)
Principles
1. God accomplishes everything His Word declares.
2. God enables His people to carry out His will.
Applications
1. How does God’s sovereign control of human history bring you comfort and stability?
Like the returning exiles, where can you see God’s hand working in your circumstances?
2. What challenging task is God calling you to undertake in utter dependence upon Him?
How will you take hold of opportunities to give sacrificially to God’s work?
Aim: God activates every detail within His sovereign plan.