Discovery Bible Study (DBS)
The power of God is found in God’s Word, plus God’s Spirit, in God’s people, doing God’s mission
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WEBPAGE & RESOURCES: Discovery Group Format - use this strategic group format for leading a small group or a discipleship unit, to get the most out of your Bible study and out of your disciple making pursuits.
Discovery Bible Study, or DBS for short, is a disciple-making tool that is a simple, memorable, and highly reproducible Bible study method, putting the Holy Spirit as the central leader. In a DBS group, spiritually-interested people read a Bible story together, discover what it says, and then are challenged to immediately live out what they learned and share it with someone else.
“Discovery Bible Study is a simple and immediately transferrable, obedience-oriented method of making disciples. The method is profound because the Holy Spirit is present even when new disciples gather around the living Word of God to learn and obey. Discovery Bible Study is effective in discipling people to conversion, in foundational discipleship, and in long-term discipleship. It is a core component of church-planting movements throughout the world.” - Steve Addison, Pioneering Movements
When people self-discover truth, they own it. Instead of telling people what to believe, we facilitate opportunities for them to discover God for themselves straight out of the Word of God through the Discovery Bible Study method.
4 DBS Questions & 2 Actions
4 DBS Questions & 2 Actions
1. PEOPLE
1. PEOPLE
What does this passage reveal about people?
The Knowledge of Man
People in the ancient past, during Bible times, have similar struggles to us despite differences from our unique contexts today. As we look at this passage, we can call out their thinking, their struggles, frustrations, their fears and hopes, etc. All the good and bad we see in people back then. This process of observation, through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, begins to identify in us, our own personal dealings with people where we at times respond to situations with similar emotions, attitudes, and hidden motives.
2. GOD
2. GOD
What does this passage reveal about God?
The Knowledge of God
As we look for what God reveals about Himself in this passage, we begin to see the contrast between who we are and what we desire, and who God is and what is on His mind, heart, and will.
3. ME
3. ME
What is God speaking to me through this passage?
Self-Knowledge (from God's point of view)
God will use these previous 2 questions to begin making connections to very personal and unique situations we may be facing. We begin to form a sense of what God is putting His finger on; what He is speaking to us. God may already be speaking some of this prior to our study but this story, through the Holy Spirit, hones in more directly and specifically. God is speaking and as we slow down and listen we begin to formulate with greater confidence His insight and directives for our lives.
4. OBEY
4. OBEY
How do I obey, with Holy Spirit's help, what God is speaking to me? (Set a SMART goal for yourself, in partnership with Holy Spirit)
Obedience to God (as guided by Holy Spirit)
This is where we come up with a SMART goal(s) for the things God is speaking. We seek God for even more direct application to our situation. We want to be obedient to what He is saying, into our everyday stuff of life: We want to be doers of His Word not just hearers. Our specific steps to obey what God is speaking needs to be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely (time-bound).
Questions you may ask yourself when setting your obey goals and objectives for the week are:
What exactly do I want to achieve?
Where?
How?
When?
With whom?
What are the conditions and limitations?
Why exactly do I want to reach this goal? What are possible alternative ways of achieving the same?
CHECK: Is this really what God wants? Is it in line with what He has shown me? Is my heart motivation for this goal truly birthed from a desire to follow His leadings (or is it to prove something to self or others - a distorted motivation)?
> Pray
> Pray
How will I pray into what God has revealed to me through this Bible study?
As you set goals, you can come alongside through prayer to reinforce what God is speaking to you and what you desire from stepping out in obedience. God is speaking to you and leading you clearly one step at a time, and as you partner with Him He is forming you more and more into His image - He is making you more and more like Jesus. Pray all that you desire for God to form in you to take root in your life, from what He spoke through this study.
> Share
> Share
With whom can I share this passage and what I learned?
From this passage, you have learned more about people, God, yourself, and what God is speaking to you. You now have powerful material in this Bible story and from your personal story of applying to your life to share with others. Think about to whom you can share this story. You also can share the insights and revelation you have gained. And lastly, as you step out in obedience to carry out what you felt led by the Lord to do, you have that story to tell, as well. The habit of applying what you have learned from the Bible and stepping out to share it with others, is forming in you a fluency to speak/share , with confidence that God can use your faithfulness to impact others.
SAMPLES: DBS Template for DBS Notetaking & Actual Recorded DBS 's
SAMPLES: DBS Template for DBS Notetaking & Actual Recorded DBS 's
I take a piece of paper (8 1/2 x 11) and fold the top one inch and the bottom one inch. Then I divide the paper between the 1-inch top & bottom, into 4 equal parts. I also use those lines to create this template for the DBS we will participate in. I then write down the input from those involved in the DBS, in each question box using bullet points.
Once filled in with my notes from the study, I take a picture of the DBS Notetaking Template (using the app "Genius Scan - App Store or Google Play" to turn it to a PDF to save for myself or email to others), so I can share it with all involved.
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