Studies show that 90% of what people remember and apply to their own lives comes through self-discovery. Discovery Bible Study is based on the words of Jesus in John 6:44-45, “No one can come to Me (Jesus) unless the Father who sent me draws him … It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God. Therefore, everyone who hears and has learned from the Father comes to me.’”
The goal of Discovery Bible Study is two-fold:
1) Encouraging people to hear God for themselves through His Word. (What’s God saying to you?)
2) Encouraging people to obey what the Father is teaching them. (How will you apply what you have learned?)
A Discovery Group is the foundation of a Simple Church (and our equipping). It takes people from not knowing God to falling in love with Jesus. Later, the same process is used to master any topic in the Bible. It establishes the DNA of the emerging church.
PART 1
1. Ask: What are you thankful for this week? (Prayer/Worship)
2. Ask: What has stressed you out this week? What do you need for things to be better? (Intercession)
3. Ask: How can we help each other with the needs we expressed? (Ministry)
4. Ask: What did we talk about last week? (Review/Accountability)
5. Ask: Did you change anything in your life as a result of last week’s story? (Accountability/Obedience)
6. Ask: Did you get a chance to share the story with (the person they identified) (Accountability/Evangelism)
7. Ask: We identified several needs last week and planned to meet those needs. How did it go? (Accountability/Ministry)
PART II
1. Ask God to teach us as we read this weeks passage (John 6:44-45: Hearing God/Scripture)
2. Ask for someone to retell the passage in his or her own words. Like they were telling a friend who wasn’t there. (Understanding/Evangelism)
3. Ask the Group: Do you agree with their retelling? Is there something they added or left out that they shouldn’t have? As long as the group doesn’t miss a key component of the passage, continue. If they miss something, read the passage again. If someone states something that isn’t in the passage, ask, “Where did you find [what they said] in this passage?” Reread the passage, if necessary. (Priesthood of Believers/Group Correction/Understanding)
4. Ask: What does this passage teach us about God? (Discovery/Scripture/Priesthood of Believers)
5. Ask: What does this passage teach us about humanity? (Discovery/Scripture/Priesthood of Believers)
6. Ask: If we believe this passage is from God, how must we change? (Discovery/Scripture/Obedience/Priesthood of Believers)
7. Ask: Who are you going to share this passage with before we meet again? (Evangelism/Replication)
This process is repeated every week until the group becomes Followers of Jesus and then Disciples in obedience to the Word, which will include water baptism. This is when we consider a church to be established.