Discovery Bible Study in Your Home

[This is Chapter 11 of Disciple Maker: Fulfill Your Destiny in the Disciple-Making Movement Launched by Jesus Christ, by Phil Bickel (© 2020). Free download of 58-page ebook at Faith Trekker Store.]

Because each generation is responsible to pass on the Good News to their children, Christianity always stands just one generation from extinction.  Over the last half century, Satan has attacked the family on many fronts.  As a result, many children have not been taught the Bible.  Others were taught, but have since discarded the faith of their parents.

While the number of dedicated believers in the West has plummeted, on other continents the use of Discovery Bible Study is helping millions to become dedicated disciples of Jesus Christ.  Could DBS bring victory in the battleground of your home?  You decide as we tour the features that distinguish DBS from typical family devotion methods.  The activities sketched below can occur either during a single weekly session of 1-1.5 hours or during a few shorter sessions during the week.

When the Family Gathers

A. The Week Is Evaluated.  Parents and children chat about experiences from the past week, as the facilitator asks:

1. What are you thankful for this week?  
2. Is something causing you stress?
3. What happened when you told someone about last week’s Bible passage?
4. We each agreed to obey God in a particular way this week.  What happened?
5. We helped someone outside our family this week.  How did it go?

The family is not just learning facts about God, they are discovering what happens when they obey what God commands disciples to do.

B. The Word Sinks In.  In most family devotions, a Bible text is read once, commented on briefly, and then forgotten.  In DBS, parents and kids camp on a Bible text for an entire week.  The facilitator asks:

1. Who would like to read the Bible passage for this week (as the others read along silently)?  
2. Who would like to read it again (as the others listen this time)?
3. Let’s take turns retelling the passage in our own words?  (If a detail is omitted, the others mention it without gloating.)

This is not a competition.  It’s a group learning activity.  Word for word memorization is not required; each person learns to share the text in their own words, according to their ability.  This prepares them to speak about the passage with someone outside the family during the coming week.

C. The Word Is Explored.  The facilitator guides the discussion of the Bible text by raising these questions:

1. What is happening in this scripture passage?
2. What does this passage teach us about God?
3. In these verses what does God’s Word tell us about people and ourselves?

In the typical family devotion a parent does most of the talking and leading.  Since DBS treats everyone as equals, all members get to express themselves. 

D. The Word Is Obeyed and Shared.  Next, the facilitator raises questions that invite them to put the Word of God into action.

1. If this Scripture is true, how will I view God and trust in Him differently this week?
2. If this Scripture is true, how will I treat others this week?  (In light of what they have learned from the Bible passage, each person writes an “I will” statement: a specific action they will seek to take during the coming week.)

3. With whom will you share this story?  When and how? 
4. Do you know anyone who needs help?  What can we do as a group to help them?  (They devise a plan and carry it out.)

In the typical family devotion, words go in one ear and out the other.  In DBS each participant’s responses to these four questions are written down and become personal plans for how to walk with Jesus during the coming week.  The result of such accountability?  Witnessing and serving become embedded in their spiritual DNA.

And that’s not all.

When God Shows Up!

The role of the DBS facilitator is passed around to each person.  Even children as young as 6 or 7 can be the facilitator, after seeing their parents and older siblings walk the family through the DBS format.  Family devotions are not easy, because the devil strives to divide households.  However, as a family engages in these activities week after week, several miracles will occur.

1. As family members share being the facilitator, parents feel unburdened from the duty of leading devotions, and kids learn a simple method of Bible study.  Devotions are no longer a monolog but a lively, Spirit-led conversation.  What a marvelous, miraculous development!
2. As the family obeys “I will” statements, God provides the power and means to practice His Word.  Rather than a chore, obedience becomes a source of blessing to oneself and to others.
3. As they share the content of Scripture with others, the Holy Spirit transforms the lives of their friends — sometimes gradually, sometimes rapidly.  Having tasted the joy of speaking God’s powerful Word to others, they welcome new opportunities each week. 
4. As they help people in need, they find that serving others is their God-given purpose and destiny.
5. As they focus beyond their family, opportunities arise to assist friends to form and facilitate new Discovery Bible Study groups.  
6. As they respond to challenges and difficulties with united prayer, their heavenly Father surprises them with miracles and provision.  Encouraged, they pray with increasing boldness.
7. As the Lord repeatedly proves Himself faithful, every family member knows that God is not just a character in a book.  He is real.  He is wonderful.  And we are partners in His story.

When God shows up, parents and children will fall in love with their Creator and become intentional, practicing disciples of Jesus.  Families who experience God in this manner will not fall for the lies and charades of the ungodly world.  The truth they know is not merely ideas and facts; they have met the Truth, and He is Jesus. 

The supreme discovery of Discovery Bible Study is this: Just as Jesus was the leader of the twelve apostles, He is the leader of our family.  Whenever we experience the Disciple Maker’s forgiveness, grace, miracles, and intentional care, He is equipping and empowering us to endure taunts, threats, and even torture rather than betray Him.