32: Hosting a Discipleship Meeting
From the 20 Practices of Disciplemakers:
One of the best ways to apply scriptures to people's lives is through a Discovery Bible Study (DBS). This is a simple yet profound way to self- discover Scripture with the help of the Holy Spirit and with limited facilitated teaching.
It differs from a conventional Bible study in 3 fundamental ways.
It is designed to draw 'pre-believers' into a discovery group as well as to facilitate growth for Christians.
No one teaches the Scripture; rather, we create space for listening to what God is saying out of His Word through His Holy Spirit.
It emphasizes applying 'one thing' from the reading or listening time into one's life and being accountable to others to walk out obedience.
Importantly, it is not a legalistic system but a grace-filled environment where we celebrate partial obedience with someone who is trying and failing rather than not trying at all. This is a key way for new disciples to learn to follow Jesus without ever feeling that the 'bar is too high' for them. For most of us, even Jesus' disciples, we need a few years to learn how to be totally devoted,' forgetting the former things.'
The steps of a DBS are in three sections we call Upward (towards God), Inward (what He is doing in me), and Outward (what He wants to do through my life). You could break your time up roughly into one-third segments.
UPWARD
Thankfulness - Go around the room and ask everyone to say one thing that they are thankful for. For new believers, these become simple versions of early praise rising to the Father.
Prayer - Ask what one thing you would like us to pray for you
Vision - Cast vision for reaching those who don't know Jesus or whatever vision you carry from the Lord for the group.
Accountability - This is from everyone's previous 'I will' statement.
INWARD
Read a short piece of Scripture. - It is good to keep this to 3-5 verses. The person facilitating the group should choose Scripture in keeping with what he believes God is doing in the group.
Restate - Ask one or two people to restate in their own words what they heard the Scripture saying. This is a great way to encourage proper understanding.
Reflect - Allow a minute for the group to be quiet, asking the Holy Spirit to show them something personally from the reading.
Report 'one thing' - Give each person an opportunity to say one thing that came alive for them.
OUTWARD
'I will' statement - Everyone has an opportunity to say what they want to commit to being obedient. Starting by saying 'I will… 'is a great way to encourage obedience.
Prayer for friends - Encourage the group to lift up their friends who are not yet following Jesus, asking Him to draw them to salvation. Also, ask them to share what they learned this week with their friends.
A DBS is easy to lead, so anyone can do it. Trust young believers to lead one early on. My wife once led a lady to the Lord that she had asked to lead a discovery group. As she was preparing the Scripture that week, the Lord softened her heart and led her to repentance. The next day, she led her first group as a one-day-old follower of Jesus and was baptized soon afterward!
This is one of the very best discipling tools I have encountered. Once you learn to do it well, it is the easiest process to elevate God's Word and be led by the Holy Spirit. It is also great for taking yourself out of the picture!
A good question to ask the group to reflect on (or yourself) as you read the word:
What does this passage tell me about God?
What does this passage tell me about mankind?
What should I do as a result of this?
Trust the Holy Spirit to direct the conversation rather than human reasoning/ teaching.