Discovery Bible Study in Your Home

While the number of dedicated believers has plummeted in the West, on other continents the use of Discovery Bible Study is helping millions to become bold disciples of Jesus Christ.  Could DBS bring victory in the battleground of your home?  Yes, it could.

Let’s take a brief tour of the features that distinguish Discovery Bible Study from typical family devotion methods.  The activities sketched below can be used either in a single weekly session of 1 to 1 1/2 hours or in a few shorter sessions during the week.

1. ACTION, NOT JUST IDEAS

Parents and children share experiences from the past week, as the facilitator says:

1. We each agreed to talk to someone about last week’s Bible passage.  What happened?
2. We each agreed to obey God in a particular way this week.  What happened?
3. Together we tried to help someone outside our family this week?  How did it go?

The family is not just learning facts about God, they are on an adventure of seeing what happens when they obey what Jesus commanded His disciples to do.

2. THE WORD SINKS IN

In most family devotions, a Bible text is read once and commented on briefly.  In DBS parents and kids camp on a Bible text for an entire week.  To help each other to express it in one’s own words, 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 group learning.  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 share the passage with someone outside the family during the coming week.

3. 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 are we taught about people?

In the typical family devotion a parent does most of the talking and leading.  DBS is a group discussion of God’s Word that involves everyone as equals.  The role of DBS facilitator is passed around to each person.  Even children as young as 6 or 7, after seeing parents and older siblings walk the family through the DBS questions, can assume the role of facilitator.

4. THE WORD IS OBEYED AND SHARED

Next, the facilitator points them to questions that apply what they have read.

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 just learned from the Bible, each person writes an “I will” statement.  Someone records them for reference in the next session.)
3. With whom will you share this story?  When and how?  (Someone records these details for the next session.)
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 the Word impacts the family’s thoughts, words, and actions.  The result?  Witnessing and serving become embedded in their spiritual DNA.

5. GOD SHOWS UP!  

As a family engages in these activities week after week, several miracles will occur:

1. As family members take turns being the facilitator, parents feel unburdened of 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 they obey “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 their own 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 characters in His story.

As God shows up, parents and children 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.  Having experienced His forgiveness, miracles, and intentional care, they will endure taunts, threats, and even torture rather than depart from Him.

The supreme discovery of Discovery Bible Study is this: Just as Jesus was the leader of the twelve apostles, He is the Leader of my family. 

Coming Up

My next post in this series will suggest simple ways to introduce Discovery Bible Study in your daily habits and your church. Meanwhile, learn more from these earlier blog posts. 

1. DMM — In a Class by Itself
2. DBS — Who Is the Leader?
3. Reading the Bible with Know-Nothings
4. The Discovery Questions
5. Jesus Led a Discovery Group
6. Like Wildfire
7. Sheep among Wolves

Art: Susan B. Crawford.