Ask all seven questions. They are designed to produce community, create discovery, and generate multiplication. Don't skip any or leave one out. Questions #1-4 are where community is formed. Questions #5 & #6 are where discovery takes place. Question #7 is where multiplication occurs.
Questions #1 & #2: What are you thankful for this past week? What has stressed you out this week?
If your group is pressed for time, combine the first two questions into one question, "What are you thankful for and what is stressing you out this week?" The same holds true for questions #5 & #6. But don't rush the answers.
Question #3: How can we respond to what was just shared in our group, and the needs of those in our area?
Let the group decide how to answer. Options may include brainstorming, sharing resources, and if there are believers, prayer.
Question #4: What was the result of your "I will" statement from the last meeting?
Hold the group to answering this question. Fulfillment of the previous "I will" statement is so important that if the group did not carry out the "I will" statements from the previous meeting, it should not move ahead but instead study the previous passage again. There will always be more truths to harvest. Most groups need to do this on occasion. Not moving ahead if they don't fulfill the "I will" statements, reinforces obedience based disciple making.
Questions #5 and #6. What do we learn about God and people?
Facilitate, don't teach. Assist discovery by asking the DBS questions. Then affirm and celebrate answers. This may feel unfamiliar to those with previous Bible study experience, but there are good reasons. First, when the leader provides answers, it intimidates people in the group from doing a DBS with others because they think they need to know what the leader knows to begin their own group. Second, people remember what they discover on their own far more than what is taught by others. The lecture format has a very low retention rate.1 When leaders facilitate (guide with questions) instead of teaching, multiplication takes place.2
Let the Holy Spirit be the teacher. John 14:26 Direct people to the Holy Spirit for the answers in Scripture. Let him serve as the master teacher. Modeling this in the first generation of a group, encourages following generations to do the same. If someone asks a question that isn't answered in the passage, direct them to read the Scriptures before and after the passage. Additionally, encourage them to read Scripture and prayerfully seek God between the meetings.
Help believers adhere to this principle. Christians with Bible knowledge need to be reminded to let the Holy Spirit serve as the teacher.
Model a format anyone can use. Think beyond your present group. Consider generations two, three, four, etc. The instructional paradigm you use in the first generation is the DNA for following generations. If your presence and Bible knowledge is required, multiplication won't take place, because you can't be everywhere. Model a format so anyone (even an unbeliever) can facilitate a group.
Know the Bible story. If there is considerable silence after questions #5 and #6, be prepared to ask, "Do you see anything about God (or people) in verse _____?" Much can be missed unless people are guided to ponder more intently.
Don't extract people from their natural group. Instead, encourage them to remain involved with their own people and facilitate discussion. It does not matter if they are a believer. Anyone can facilitate the group by asking the questions.
Coach the facilitator from outside the group. Meet separately to debrief the previous meeting, and prepare for an upcoming meeting.
If you must facilitate a new group in person, don't do so more than three times. Use that time to identify the natural leader and hand over the role of facilitator as soon as possible. Facilitating the group from the inside on a long term basis displaces the natural leader and limits reproduction, because they'll think it requires you to be present to multiply.
Question #7: How will you respond to the passage this week?
Ask people to declare their own "I will" statement aloud, and to write it down so they remember it for the next meeting. Multiplication occurs as people fulfill the "I will" statements. It's that simple.
Questions #1 & #2: What are you thankful for this past week? What has stressed you out this week?
If your group is pressed for time, combine the first two questions into one question, "What are you thankful for and what is stressing you out this week?" The same holds true for questions #5 & #6. But don't rush the answers.
Question #3: How can we respond to what was just shared in our group, and the needs of those in our area?
Let the group decide how to answer. Options may include brainstorming, sharing resources, and if there are believers, prayer.
Question #4: What was the result of your "I will" statement from the last meeting?
Hold the group to answering this question. Fulfillment of the previous "I will" statement is so important that if the group did not carry out the "I will" statements from the previous meeting, it should not move ahead but instead study the previous passage again. There will always be more truths to harvest. Most groups need to do this on occasion. Not moving ahead if they don't fulfill the "I will" statements, reinforces obedience based disciple making.
Questions #5 and #6. What do we learn about God and people?
Facilitate, don't teach. Assist discovery by asking the DBS questions. Then affirm and celebrate answers. This may feel unfamiliar to those with previous Bible study experience, but there are good reasons. First, when the leader provides answers, it intimidates people in the group from doing a DBS with others because they think they need to know what the leader knows to begin their own group. Second, people remember what they discover on their own far more than what is taught by others. The lecture format has a very low retention rate.1 When leaders facilitate (guide with questions) instead of teaching, multiplication takes place.2
Let the Holy Spirit be the teacher. John 14:26 Direct people to the Holy Spirit for the answers in Scripture. Let him serve as the master teacher. Modeling this in the first generation of a group, encourages following generations to do the same. If someone asks a question that isn't answered in the passage, direct them to read the Scriptures before and after the passage. Additionally, encourage them to read Scripture and prayerfully seek God between the meetings.
Help believers adhere to this principle. Christians with Bible knowledge need to be reminded to let the Holy Spirit serve as the teacher.
Model a format anyone can use. Think beyond your present group. Consider generations two, three, four, etc. The instructional paradigm you use in the first generation is the DNA for following generations. If your presence and Bible knowledge is required, multiplication won't take place, because you can't be everywhere. Model a format so anyone (even an unbeliever) can facilitate a group.
Know the Bible story. If there is considerable silence after questions #5 and #6, be prepared to ask, "Do you see anything about God (or people) in verse _____?" Much can be missed unless people are guided to ponder more intently.
Don't extract people from their natural group. Instead, encourage them to remain involved with their own people and facilitate discussion. It does not matter if they are a believer. Anyone can facilitate the group by asking the questions.
Coach the facilitator from outside the group. Meet separately to debrief the previous meeting, and prepare for an upcoming meeting.
If you must facilitate a new group in person, don't do so more than three times. Use that time to identify the natural leader and hand over the role of facilitator as soon as possible. Facilitating the group from the inside on a long term basis displaces the natural leader and limits reproduction, because they'll think it requires you to be present to multiply.
Question #7: How will you respond to the passage this week?
Ask people to declare their own "I will" statement aloud, and to write it down so they remember it for the next meeting. Multiplication occurs as people fulfill the "I will" statements. It's that simple.
Resources
- Learn Discovery Bible Study
- Read DBS Facilitator Notes
- View DBS Story Sets
- Read from the DMM library
- Watch Discovery Bible Study (3:00)
- Watch Discovery Bible Study Overview (7:58)
- Learn the Tools
- David Watson, What About Teaching in Disciple Making Movements?
- Read Paul Watson's helpful quote from the following article.