• WEBPAGE & RESOURCES: Discovery Group Format - use this strategic format for discipleship to get the most of this DBS Bible study story set.

• WEBPAGE: Learn more about Practicing The Way: A Guide To Transformation

Practicing the Way: A Discovery Bible Study Guide

This Bible study set is designed to help you follow Jesus by focusing on three key pursuits:

• Be with Jesus – Stay connected to Him through prayer, Scripture, and worship.

• Become like Jesus – Let Him shape your thoughts, heart, and habits.

• Do as Jesus did – Live on mission through love, service, and sharing the Gospel.

Ways to use this DBS Set: 

• Rotate through all three pursuits:
  Choose one passage from each category—Be With Jesus, Become Like Jesus, and Do As Jesus Did—and explore them over the course of three consecutive meetings. This simple rotation can be repeated with new passages over time, helping your group keep these three foundational goals of discipleship front and center. You can return to this pattern after breaks or topical detours to keep the vision fresh.

• Focus deeply on one pursuit:
  Spend several weeks (3-5) in one subcategory to build a deeper understanding of that aspect of discipleship. Encourage your group to share each week what new insights they are gaining as they journey into that focus together.

To follow Jesus is to apprentice under Him—to reorient your life around His way. These stand-on-its-own Bible stories are meant to help you grow in relationship (be with Jesus), transformation (become like Jesus), and mission (do as Jesus did). Use them through Discovery Bible Study to reflect, respond, and walk more closely with Jesus.

BE WITH JESUS (Deep Communion)

Behold Jesus (Seeing Him Clearly) - Fix your eyes on Him through Scripture, prayer, and worship.

1. Mark 12:41-44 (also do Pray Read: 1 Samuel 16:7) – The widow's offering

2. Luke 5:1–11 – The miraculous catch of fish and Peter’s awe

3. John 1:29–34 (also do Pray-Read: John 3:27) – John the Baptist sees Jesus and testifies

4. Matthew 3:13–17 – Jesus’ baptism

5. Luke 9:10-17 – The Feeding of the 5,000

6. Matthew 26:6-13 – Jesus anointed at Bethany

7. John 20:24–29 – Thomas sees and believes

8. Mark 5:1-20 – Jesus heals  a man with a demon 

9. Matthew 17:1-13  (also do Pray-Read:  2 Corinthians 3:18) – The Transfiguration

10. Luke 24:13–35 – The road to Emmaus

11. Isaiah 6:1-10 – Isaiah's vision

12. Philippians 2:5-11 – Christ example of humility

Abide in Jesus (Staying Connected With Him Continually) - Stay connected like a branch to a vine.

1. Mark 5:21–43 – Jairus’ daughter and the bleeding woman

2. 1 Kings 17:1–16 – Elijah and the widow at Zarephath

3. 2 Kings 4:1–7 – The widow’s oil

4. John 15:1–11 – I am the True Vine

5. Luke 10:38–42 – Mary and Martha

6. Matthew 26:36–46 – Gethsemane: Jesus stays with the Father

7. John 21:1–14 – Breakfast on the beach with Jesus

8. Matthew 14:22–33 – Peter walks on water to Jesus

9. Luke 19:1–10 – Zacchaeus seeks and remains with Jesus

Rest in Jesus (Trusting Him Fully) - Trust His love, surrender control, and embrace His peace.

1. Mark 4:35–41 – Jesus calms the storm 

2. Matthew 14:24-27 – (also do Pray Read: 1 Peter 5:7) The temple tax

3. John 11:1–45 – Jesus delays before raising Lazarus

4. Luke 4:16–30 – Jesus reads in the synagogue

5. Matthew 6:25–34 – Do not be anxious

6. Exodus 16:1–36 – Manna in the wilderness

7. Mark 10:13–16 – Jesus blesses the children

8. Luke 23:39-43 – The thief on the cross

9. Matthew 11:28–30 – Come to Jesus for rest

10. Hebrews 3:7-19 & 4:1-11 – Entering into God's rest

BECOME LIKE JESUS (Deep Transformation)

Renew the Mind (to have the mind of Christ) - Think like Jesus. Be transformed by truth.

1. Romans 12:1-2 – A living sacrifice

2. Genesis 3:1–13  and possibly 14-24 (also do Pray-Read:  1 John 2:15-17) – Adam and Eve deceived

3. Luke 4:1–15 – Jesus in the wilderness resists lies

4. Matthew 16:13–23 – Peter confesses Christ, then Jesus rebukes him

5. 1 Kings 19:1–18 – Elijah’s distorted thinking and God’s renewal

6. Matthew 25:14-30 – The Parable of the Talents

7. Daniel 3:8–30 – The fiery furnace and right mindset

8. Acts 9:1–19 – Saul’s conversion and new thinking

9. Luke 15:11–32 – The prodigal son and the father’s view

10. Philippians 4:4-9 – Paul's exhortation and Encouragement

11. 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 – Wisdom from the Spirit

12. Colossians 3:1-17 – Put on the new self

13. Psalm 119:1-16 – The Word helping keep His ways pure

14. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – Waging war through God's divine power

15. Ephesians 4:17-32 – The new life

16. Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord

17. Isaiah 55:6-11 – God's thoughts and ways

Transform the Heart (to embody His love) - Desire what Jesus desires.

1. Matthew 5:1-12 (also do Pray-Read:  Philippians 1:9-11) – The Beatitudes

2. Luke 18:9-14 – The Pharisee and the tax collector

3. Luke 7:11–17 – Jesus raises the widow’s son out of compassion

4. John 4:1–42 – Jesus and the Samaritan woman

5. Jonah 1-4 – Jonah’s anger vs God’s mercy

6. Luke 10:25–37 – The Good Samaritan

7. Genesis 45:1-28 – Joseph forgives his brothers

8. Ruth 1:1-22 – Ruth’s loyal heart

9. Ezekiel 36:22-38 – I will put my Spirit within you

10. Psalm 51:1-19 – Create in me a clean heart, O God

11. Matthew 12:33-37 – A tree is known by its fruit

12. Galatians 5:16-26 – Keep in step with the Spirit

13. Romans 5:1-5 – Peace with God through faith

14. 1 John 4:7-21 (also do Pray-Read:  2 Thessalonians 3:5) – God is love

Train the Body (for godly and righteous living) - Develop habits and disciplines for godly living.

1. Acts 2:42–47 – Early church rhythms

2. Daniel 1:1-21 – Daniel's faithfulness in Babylon

3.  Daniel 6:1-28 – Daniel prays three times daily

4. Luke 2:41–52 (Pray-read: 1 Timothy 4:7-8) – Young Jesus obeys and grows

5. 2 Kings 5:1–19a – Naaman obeys in humility and is healed

6. Exodus 20:8–11 – The Ten Commandments

7. Matthew 6:5–15 – Jesus teaches on prayer

8. Luke 18:1–8 – The persistent widow

9. 1 Corinthians 9:1-27 – Paul surrenders his rights

10. James 1:19-27 – Hearing and doing the Word 

11. 1 Peter 1:13-25 – Called to be holy

12. Hebrews 12:1-17 – The Lord's discipline 

13. Romans 6:12-23 – Slaves to righteousness

14. Titus 2:1-15 – Be a model of good works

15. Ephesians 5:1-21 – Walk in love 

16. Colossians 3:1-17 – Put on the new self

DO AS JESUS DID (Living on Mission)

Make Space for the Gospel (Hospitality) - Be hospitable to people and God’s divine appointments.

1. Genesis 18:1–15 (also do Pray-Read: Hebrews 13:2) – Abraham welcomes three visitors

2. Luke 6:27-36 – Love Your Enemies

3. Luke 19:1–10 – Jesus invites himself to Zacchaeus' house and he receives Jesus with joy 

4. 2 Kings 4:8–17 – The Shunammite woman hosts Elisha

5. Acts 16:11–15 – Lydia opens her home

6. Luke 14:1–11 – Jesus eats with a Pharisee and teaches hospitality

7. Luke 14:12-24 - The Parable of the Great Banquet

8. Matthew 9:9–13 – Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners

9. Luke 7:36–50 – A woman anoints Jesus during a meal

10. Romans 12:9-21 – Marks of a true disciple of Christ

11. 1 Peter 4:7-11 – Show hospitality

12. Matthew 25:31-46 – The final judgement

Preach the Gospel (Outreach/Evangelism) - Speak the good news boldly and lovingly.

1. Matthew 28:1–10 (Also do Pray-Read: Isaiah 52:7) – The women proclaim the resurrection

2. John 4:1–42 – Samaritan woman evangelizes her town

3. Acts 2:1–41 – Peter preaches at Pentecost

4. Acts 8:26–40 – Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch

5. Acts 10:1-48 – Peter shares the gospel with Cornelius

6. Mark 5:1–20 – The healed man proclaims in Decapolis

7. Luke 24:36–49 (Also do Pray-Read: 1 Peter 3:14-16) – Jesus commissions His disciples

8. Acts 3:1-26 (also do Pray-Read: Acts 1:8) – Peter heals and preaches at the temple

9. Matthew 10:1–20 (also do Pray-Read: Matthew 28:18-20) – Jesus sends out the Twelve

10. Romans 10:1-17 – The Message of Salvation to All

11. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 – The Message of Reconciliation

Demonstrate the Gospel (Ministry, Justice, Service) - Live the good news with power and love.

1. Luke 10:25–37 – The Good Samaritan

2. Matthew 8:1–17 – Jesus heals many

3. John 8:1–11 – The woman caught in adultery

4. Mark 11:15-18 – Jesus cleanses the temple

5. John 9:1-41 – Healing of the man born blind

6. Luke 13:10–17 – Woman healed on the Sabbath

7. Matthew 10:5-15 –Jesus sends out the twelve apostles

8. Micah 6:6-8 – What does the Lord require?

9. Galatians 6:1-10 – Bear one another's burden

10. Matthew 5:13-16 – Salt and light

11. John 13:1–17 – Jesus washes the disciples’ feet

12. James 1:19-27 – Hearing and doing the Word

13. Isaiah 58:1-14 - True and false fasting

14. 1 John 3:11-24 – Love one another

15. Luke 10:1-21 – Jesus sends out the seventy-two