Discovery Bible Study (DBS)

The Discovery Bible Study is a method of studying the Bible in groups, that focuses on allowing the scriptures to impact the readers. The Discovery Bible Study encourages the facilitator to get out of the way so that the scriptures can impact the participants on its own. Simply put, the Discovery Bible Study involves reading a portion of scriptures and asking the same set of questions week after week. The groups where the Discovery Bible Study method is used are usually called Discovery Groups.

The DBS method can be used by Christians and non-christians who are interested in studying the Bible. The reason why it has become quite popular now is that it is being used by many Disciple Making Movements to lead people to Jesus and form house churches that replicate over and over.

I first read about the Discovery Bible Study in detail in David Watson and Paul Watson’s Book called Contagious Disciple Making. They shared some amazing results of the DBS methods among non-Christians and the planting of thousands of churches.

What happens during a Discovery Bible Study?

Although the DBS can be used by both believer and non-believers who are interested in studying the Bible, for the purpose of this article, I will discuss in more details how it can be used with non-christians. I use the DBS method almost everyday with my family and with other people all the time. I find that it is a very powerful and life transforming way of studying the Bible especially for new believers.

Welcome and Review (DBS Section 1)

This would usually be done for the first 5-10 minutes. Typically you would ask the following questions.

• What are you thankful for this week?
• What difficulties have you faced this week?
• How did you apply what we learned last week?(Week 2+)
• Did you share what you learned with anyone? (Week 2+)
• How did you experience God this past week?
• How can we support you with the difficulties you faced this week?

I have noticed that these questions are not exactly the same from group to group. However they always convey the same intent. Remember that when doing a discovery Bible Study with non-christians, they are not yet ready to pray or worship. The question about what they are thankful for is what becomes worship and the question about what difficulties they faced is what becomes prayers. We are already training them before they are even converted.

Read the Passage (DBS Section 2)

At this point, the group reads the Bible together. There are varying suggestions for this portion of the meeting. Here are the typical questions for this part of the study.

• Who would like to read the story?
• Who would like to read the story again?
• Can anyone re-tell the story from memory?
  • Does anyone remember more of the story?

Whatever you chose to do, I find the following useful. Two people should read the portion of scriptures. I think it helps for non-christians that everyone uses the same translations. You can print the portion of scriptures or as them to download a Bible App on their phone.

After the 2nd reading, you can have one or two people retell the story in their own words with the help of the group. The retelling of the story helps the group recall the story better.

Discover God’s Word (DBS Section 3)

Typically during this time of the study, the following questions are asked.

• What does this teach us about God/Jesus?
• What does this teach us about humanity/yourself?
• (Re-focus: Where do you find that in the story?)

Obey God’s Word (DBS Section 4)

• If I believe this is from God, what am I doing to put this to practice?
• How must I change? How will I put this into practice this week?
• Who needs to hear this story and how will you share it before next time?
• Who can you invite to join us?
• When shall we meet again?

This is the defining feature of DBS. This section trains the participants to obey and follow Jesus in practice not just in words and knowledge. It also instills the DNA of sharing the good news even before the participants are converted.

The DBS is the engine of most Disciple Making Movements

Discovery Bible Study Videos

The next video is a video that gives a little more details about the questions asked. It was done by the organisation behind Contagious Disciple Making.

Conversations that lead to starting a Discovery Bible Study

Scriptures Passages for Discovery Bible Studies

There are no restrictions on what passages can be used for discovery bible studies. However, David and Paul Watson have compiled a list that can be used with non-believers to guide them from Creation to Christ. You can find this list on their website here

Here is the list for non-believers especially those who may already believe in the Hebrew Bible or those who were raised within other religions or none at all.

1. God Creates – Genesis 1:1-25
2. God Creates Man and Woman – Genesis 2:4-24
3. Man and Woman Eat the Fruit – Genesis 3:1-13
4. God’s Curses – Genesis 3:14-24
5. God Regrets His Creation – Genesis 6:5-8
6. God Saves Noah and His Family – Genesis 6:9 – 8:14
7. God’s Covenant with Noah – Genesis 8:15 -9:17
8. God’s Covenant with Abram – Genesis 12:1-8, 15:1-6, 17:1-7
9. Abraham Gives His Son as an Offering – Genesis 22:1-19
10. God Spares His People – Exodus 12:1-28
11. The Commands of God – Exodus 20:1-21
12. The Sin Offering – Leviticus4:1-35
13. God’s Righteous Servant – Isaiah 53
14. Jesus is Born – Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-20
15. Jesus is Baptized – Matthew 3; John 1:29-34
16. Jesus is Tested –  Matthew 4:1-11
17. Jesus and the Religious Leader – John 3:1-21
18. Jesus and the Samaritan Woman – John 4:1-26, 39-42
19. Jesus and the Paralyzed Man – Luke 5:17-26
20. Jesus Calms the Storm – Mark 4:35-41
21. Jesus and the Man with Evil Spirits – Mark 5:1-20
22. Jesus Raises a Man from the Dead – John 11:1-44
23. Jesus Talks about His Betrayal and the Covenant – Matthew 26:17-30
24. Jesus is Betrayed and Faces Trial – John 18:1-19:16
25. Jesus is Crucified – Luke 23:32-56
26. Jesus is Resurrected – Luke 24:1-35
27. Jesus Appears to the Disciples and Ascends to Heaven – Luke 24:36-53
28. Enter into the Kingdom God – John 3:1-21

Discovery Bible Study list of Scriptures for non believers who are open to Jesus.

This list and more can be found at https://www.dbsguide.org/leading-others-to-beliver/

I like this list and I am presently compiling a different list from the Gospel of John for people who grew up in church but never surrendered to Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Matthew 4:18-25	Jesus calls people to follow Him (Leaders call people to follow Christ)
Matthew 5:1-16, Mt. 6:33-34	Jesus teaches attitudes that God blesses
Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18	Jesus teaches disciples to live, pray, & fast in a way that pleases God
Matthew 6:19-34	Jesus teaches disciples to serve God only
Matthew 7:1-6, 18:15-20	Jesus teaches his disciples how to judge righteously
Matthew 7:7-12	Jesus teaches his disciples to seek God
Matthew 7:21-29	Jesus teaches disciples to obey God
Matthew 9:9-13	Jesus teaches disciples to care for outcasts & sinners
Matthew 9:35-38	Jesus teaches, preaches the news of the Kingdom, heals the sick
Matthew 10:1-16	Jesus sends out the disciples to preach about the Kingdom of Heaven
Matthew 10:16-31, 5:43-48	Jesus warned disciples of coming persecution
Matthew 11:25-30	Jesus teaches disciples that rest comes from working with Him
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23	Jesus teaches the disciples about the different responses to the kingdom
Matthew 29:29-34	Jesus meets the needs of people because of His compassion
Matthew 16:13-28	Jesus teaches his disciples that the cost of following Him is very high
Matthew 17:1-13	The Father commands disciples to listen to His Son
Matthew 17:14-21	Jesus teaches about Faith
Matthew 18:15-35	Jesus teaches disciples how to deal with sin
Matthew 19:3-9	Jesus teaches disciples to honor God’s design for marriage.
Matthew 20:20-28	Jesus teaches his disciples to be servants
Matthew 25:14-30	Jesus teaches disciples to faithfully invest what God gives them
Matthew 25:31-46	Jesus teaches disciples to serve those in need
Matthew 28:16-20	Jesus teaches disciples to go and teach others to obey all His commands

The Discovery Bible Study App

A discovery bible study app has been created with the list of scriptures that you and all the members of the discovery group can download and use for the study. You can download the discovery bible study app from the links below. Or visit the discovery app website.

Guidelines for the facilitator of a Discovery Bible Study

Group Guidelines

• Everyone shares in sentences, (in other words: no one person takes too
  much time).
• Focus only on what this passage is saying (not other passages. This can be difficult at first for those who have been studying scriptures for years).
• Focus only on what this group is seeing (not other people’s perspective
  or outside sources).
• Give people time to respond (don’t be afraid of silence but allow people
  to “pass” if they so desire).

Facilitator Guidelines

Facilitate, don’t teach. You will be tempted to teach because you would feel that you can shorten the journey. (Use this Facilitator Guide). These tips are from people that have been using Discovery Bible Studies for years and my own experience since early 2020.

Keep the session on schedule—Make sure you do all sections. (Note: This will be
the hardest part. You may need to shorten the passage selection or have
fewer people share. If you want everyone to share, you should not have more than 5 people in a group.) Most people suggest:

• 25% of the time for section 1,
• 50% for sections 2 and 3
• 25% for section 4 (This is the most important section). Don’t worry if the responses are not what you expect. Just ask and let the Holy Spirit do what only He can do.
• Encourage everyone to share.

Responding to questions —Ask, “What in this passage helps us answer
that question?” (The goal is to help the group see that everyone can
understand the Bible.) Facilitators: Don’t contribute your
answer/comment to every question. Let the group try to figure it out.

If the question is not about the passage, say, “Let’s discuss this further
after our group time…” If it is a genuine question, they will make time
afterwards. If you don’t know the answer and no one else does, say,
“Let’s do a separate study at another time on a passage that answers
that question.”

Dealing with “strange” or “wrong” interpretations or distracting
questions or discussions (digressions): Ask the question, “Where is that
found in this passage?” Ask the group if they see the same thing (builds a
culture of self-correction). If the issue persists, suggest that you and the
person talk about it afterwards because, “The goal for today is to focus
on what this passage has to say.”

Close the group after the second or third week. If someone wants to
bring a friend after that, help him or her start a new group with his or her
friends.

Note: Many of the question in the Apply Section (4) should be phrased like this:

“If this is true…” so that people who don’t yet fully trust the Bible can participate in this bible study process comfortably.

Start a Discovery Group

Would you like to start a discovery group? You can start with you family or friends to practice. Then you can set up a prayer team and start looking for people of peace who would be interested in developing their relationship with God but may not know Jesus. When you start a discovery group, please share with me. I would love to celebrate with you. I hope to keep updating this page with all the lessons that I am learning about Discovery Bible study and Discovery Groups.

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