Where Discovery Bible Study Came From

The Discovery Bible Study is characterized by its simplicity and reproducibility. It encourages participants to engage directly with the scriptures, allowing them to explore and understand biblical teachings in a group setting. Here are some essential aspects of the DBS method:

• Group Engagement: DBS is typically conducted in small groups of two to 20 people, fostering a supportive environment for discussion. (The global average is 16)
• Scripture Focus: Participants read and discuss specific Bible passages, reflecting on their meanings and implications for their lives.
• Obedience-Oriented: The study emphasizes not just understanding the scriptures but also applying them in daily life, encouraging participants to act on what they learn.
• Outward Focused: Participants are encouraged to share what they are learning so another group can start.

The DBS process generally follows these steps:

1. Real life connections: Participants share their Joys and their struggles and assist one another with real life issues.
2. Welcome and Review: Participants share experiences related to previous studies.
3. Reading the Passage: The group reads a selected Bible passage together more than once.
4. Discussion: Participants discuss what the passage reveals about God and themselves.
5. Application: Each person considers how they can apply the teachings in their lives and share them with others.

The DBS approach has led to the establishment of thousands of new churches, particularly in regions where traditional church models have not been effective. The DBS method has been instrumental in reaching both believers and non-believers, making it a vital tool in modern evangelism and church planting efforts. 

We believe that this will be an essential tool in finishing the Great Commission due to its resulting rapid multiplication of genuine disciples of Jesus!

Discovery Bible Study (DBS) is an interactive and straightforward method for exploring the Bible. The participants engage with the text directly, allowing them to discover its meanings and applications for their lives as revealed by the Holy Spirit. This approach is effective for both believers and those new to the faith.

Structure of a DBS Session 
(Plan on 15 minutes per person if everyone participates)

A typical DBS session follows a simple structure that includes the following steps:

1. Connect: Participants share personal updates, discussing what they are thankful for and any challenges they face.
2. Read: A selected Bible passage is read aloud, often multiple times, to ensure understanding.
3. Retell: One participant retells the passage in their own words, reinforcing comprehension. The group fills in any missing details.
4. Discuss: Guided questions help participants explore the text's meaning:
   • What stood out to you and why?
   • What does this passage reveal about God?
   • What does it say about humanity? Yourself?
5. Act: Participants commit to applying the passage in their lives and share their plans with the group.
6. Share: Participants commit to tell at least one person what they learned so they can identify others who are looking for God so another group can start.
7. Pray: The session concludes with prayer, supporting one another in their commitments.

To facilitate a Discovery Bible Study, begin by gathering a small group in the home of a hungry person. Your own home is fine too because you are the hungry person in your own circle of relationships. Then you ask a series of questions starting with what they are thankful for or any challenges they faced. Then, read a Bible passage together, discuss what it reveals about God and humanity, and encourage participants to apply the lessons learned in their lives and to share with others what they learned. This method emphasizes group participation and personal discovery of Scripture and encourages multiplication.

1. What are you thankful for today?
2. What are you concerned about today and how can we help? 
3. How did your sharing and obedience go? (Week 2 and beyond) 
4. Someone read the passage aloud 2x or more. (Different translations are helpful) 
5. Someone retell this passage in your own words. (Group fill in any missing details) 
6. What stood out to you and why? 
7. What does this passage tell you about God? 
8. What does this passage tell you about people? 
9. How will you obey/apply this passage this week? (“I will…”) (Be specific) 10. Who will you share this passage with this week?  (Name a real person and time) 
11. Who do you know in need and how can we help them? 
12. When and where will we meet again?  

● Only discuss the scripture passage for today (or others weʼve studied together as a group).  
    ○ No added stories or added verses. 
    ○ This keeps a “level playing field”, keeps God as the teacher in the group, and respects          everyone's time.
● If someone introduces anything that is not in the passage simply ask them, “Where do you see that in this passage?”   
    ○ This keeps heresy and false beliefs out of the groups.

Group Participation:
Everyone contributes to the discussion, fostering a sense of community.

Personal Discovery:
Participants explore Scripture for themselves, leading to personal insights learned directly from God.

Simplicity:
The method is straightforward, making it easy for anyone to facilitate.

Focus on Application:
Emphasizes how to live out the teachings in daily life.

Focus on Multiplication:
Participants share what they learn in order to identify others who are interested. Then they start another study among the friends and family of the newly identified interested person.


This approach not only helps participants learn about the Bible but also encourages them to share their discoveries with others, promoting a cycle of learning and multiplication.

Empowerment of Participants

• Leadership Development: Participants are trained to facilitate discussions rather than relying on a single leader. This approach allows anyone to lead a group, regardless of their prior experience. Even the Person of Peace (Luke 10:1-11) can facilitate with zero prior bible knowledge.
• Sharing Knowledge: Each session encourages participants to share insights and experiences from their study, looking for those God has already prepared to meet Him.

Simple and Reproducible DBS Format

Six-Part Session: DBS typically follows a straightforward structure:

1. Share life: Share joys, struggles, and how the group can help with the struggles
2. Connect and Review: Discuss personal experiences and share how participants applied previous lessons and who they shared with.
3. Read and Retell: Read a Bible passage and retell it from memory, enhancing understanding.
4. Discuss: Explore what the Spirit revealed to you and what the passage reveals about God and humanity.
5. Act: Commit to applying the lesson in daily life and sharing it with others.
6. Outward and continuous: seek to meet the needs of those outside the group and make a plan to meet again so the group will continue.

Community Growth

• Natural Expansion: As participants feel empowered, they are encouraged to share with friends and family, co-workers and strangers to launch new groups. This natural sharing leads to the formation of multiple DBS groups within the community.
• Cultural Adaptability: DBS can be adapted to various cultural contexts, making it effective in diverse settings, including among non-Christians.

The multiplication of Discovery Bible Studies is driven by empowering and releasing participants, maintaining a simple and replicable format, and fostering the growth of many DBS groups in the community. This approach not only enhances individual understanding and application of the Bible which makes better disciples but also encourages the formation of new groups, leading to rapid expansion of the citizens of the Kingdom of God.

God is multiplying disciples all over the world today through Disciple Making Movements that utilize the DBS to saturate their communities with genuine New Testament disciples of Jesus Christ. 

He will finish the Great Commission just prior to His return. He will do it with you or without you but better with you. 

Jesus is inviting you to join Him in what He’s doing in these last days. Don’t wait and don’t hesitate. 
Say “YES” to Jesus today and begin the journey of becoming the disciple-maker you were meant to be.