What is a Discovery Bible Study?
Discovery Bible Study (DBS) is a simple, memorable, and reproducible way of making disciples that relies on the Holy Spirit as the true leader. In a DBS group, people read a passage of Scripture together, discover what it teaches, and are immediately challenged to live it out and share it with others.
This approach works because truth that is discovered is truth that is owned. Instead of being told what to believe, participants encounter God directly in His Word and respond in obedience. DBS has proven effective in leading people to faith, grounding new believers, and helping long-term disciples continue to grow. It is one of the key practices God is using in disciple-making and church-planting movements around the world.
DBS is a key piece of a Disciple Making Movement because it serves as the engine of reproduction. Since it is simple and memorable, people can learn it quickly, then immediately use it with others—their family, friends, co-workers, or classmates. Once someone has experienced a DBS, they see how easy it is to reproduce. All you need is a passage of Scripture and the set of questions. No extra preparation is required.
When leaders give vision and opportunity, people feel empowered to lead. A wise way to equip a group is by letting members practice facilitating. Rotating facilitators shows that anyone can do it. This communicates that DBS is not about special training or expertise—it’s about listening to God’s Word and obeying together.
What Problem does DBS Solve?
One of the biggest challenges in modern discipleship is that many people simply don’t know how to disciple others. DBS changes that. As participants experience how accessible and reproducible it is, they gain confidence. They begin to believe: I can disciple others too. The simplicity of the questions makes them easy to remember, so participants are always ready to lead a study with anyone, anytime.
This is why DBS is the engine of reproducibility and multiplication. It doesn’t just teach people the Bible—it shows them how to disciple others in a way that keeps multiplying.