Who Is the Leader?

[This is Chapter 4 of Disciple Maker: Fulfill Your Destiny in the Disciple-Making Movement Launched by Jesus Christ, by Phil Bickel (© 2020). Free download at www.philbickel.com/store. More details about disciple-making movements here.]

If I told you that the effectiveness of an evangelism method depends on its leader, you’re likely to respond: “You just convinced me to refrain from evangelism, because I know I’m not qualified to witness or to lead.”  But what if there were a witnessing method that did not require you to be an expert leader with all the answers?  In fact, you wouldn’t be the leader at all.  

Allow me to explain.  I’m going to describe two ways to witness to a group of people who are seeking the truth about God and life.  The first way is based on common sense and is pretty effective.  The second way, called Discovery Bible Study, seems nonsensical, but is a thousand times more effective.

A. Expert Leader.  

I have helped about twenty groups of not-yet Christians to explore the Bible’s answers to crucial questions like: 

1. Where did we come from?  
2. Why are we here?  
3. Why do I feel cut off from God?  
4. Why is there evil?  
5. What happens after death?  
6. How can the gap between my Creator and me be bridged?  
7. Who is Jesus Christ?  
8. Why did He die on the cross?  
9. Did Jesus actually rise from the dead?  
10. What difference will it make if I believe what the Bible says?

Week by week the wheels of thought spun as the participants probed me with Whys and What-ifs.  I was grateful that college and seminary training had equipped me to give biblical, reasonable answers to their doubts and questions.  Slowly but surely the Holy Spirit led most of the participants to repent and trust in Jesus as their Savior.  

Despite the success, however, something troubled me.  By the end of each course everyone had become dependent on me, the expert leader, to provide them answers.  Somehow, that didn’t feel right, but I couldn’t explain why.

B. Ignorant Facilitator.  

A small group evangelism method called Discovery Bible Study (DBS) has a strange, counterintuitive feature: a knowledgeable Christian expert does NOT lead the group.  Instead, the Bible discussion is guided by an ignorant facilitator.  Not just ignorant, but in most cases the facilitator is not even a believer — yet.

What qualifies ignorant facilitators to play this role?  They admit they don’t have the answers to life, and they are interested in learning what the Bible has to say.  In addition, he or she invites relatives and friends to explore the Bible together.  Week by week, they read one portion of Scripture and ask several questions, including:

• What does this passage teach us about God?
• What does it teach us about people?
• If this passage is the word of God, what is He asking me to change about my behavior?
• With whom should I share this Bible passage this week?

Try to imagine how this small team of Scripture searchers is transformed by addressing these questions, and putting into action their unfolding faith in the Disciple Maker.

In the last 25 years, this ignorant facilitator method has convinced one Discovery group after another to become followers of Jesus Christ.  They in turn initiated new groups that experienced similar results, fanning out to more and more friends, family, and co-workers.  God has used the ignorant facilitator method (aka Discovery Bible Study) to convince millions to become disciples of Jesus Christ.

Who is the Leader?

So, when it comes to witnessing and making disciples, will you depend on God to be your leader?

Still, we may wonder: Isn’t an evangelistic Bible study without a knowledgable person present doomed to fail?  Good question.  Chapter 5, Reading the Bible with Know-Nothings, presents additional factors that help Discovery Bible Study groups to set in motion a Disciple-Making Movement. 

Ch. 1. Jesus Christ: Disciple Maker

Ch. 2. Am I Disciple Material?

Ch. 3. Present-Day Disciples

More details about Disciple Maker and disciple-making movements here.