Question #7: How Will You Respond?
As you reflect on our time together, what specific step of obedience is God calling you to take? Ask God to show you an area of your life to surrender to Him. This step should be clear, simple, and achievable in the next 24-48 hours. Share it as an "I will" statement and be prepared to share it at our next meeting. For example, "I will obey God by setting aside time each day to read His Word and pray for guidance."
- I will obey God by ______________.
Question #8: Who Will You Tell?
Consider who would be encouraged by hearing this story from you, who might be ready to join your Discovery Group, or who needs coaching as they facilitate their Discovery Group. Identify your specific action and be ready to share it at our next meeting. Choose one from below:
- I will share this story with ____________.
- I will invite __________ and _________ to a Discovery Group. A Discovery Group meets weekly using DBS.
- I will coach _____________ as he/she facilitates a Discovery Group.
Student DBS is for someone who shows interest in discovering more about God through Bible reading. The process involves two main steps: training and coaching.
Training: This consists of conducting a DBS (Discovery Bible Study) by asking (facilitating) the questions. Be sure to ask them all. Training spans three sessions. During the first session, you ask the questions. In the second and third sessions, others take turns asking the questions.
Coaching: After the third session, transition to coaching. If you're in a group, step out and start meeting individually with the person asking the questions (facilitator). Coaching involves:
Training: This consists of conducting a DBS (Discovery Bible Study) by asking (facilitating) the questions. Be sure to ask them all. Training spans three sessions. During the first session, you ask the questions. In the second and third sessions, others take turns asking the questions.
Coaching: After the third session, transition to coaching. If you're in a group, step out and start meeting individually with the person asking the questions (facilitator). Coaching involves:
- Reviewing resources like Facilitator Notes, DBS Story Sets, and Follow Up Questions.
- Asking key questions such as "What is going well and what is challenging about your group?" "What are you learning?" "How can I help you?" and "What is your next step?"
- Eventually guiding your disciple through the IMPACT training.
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Question #7: How will you respond?
Our obedience serves as a demonstration of our love for God. John 14:15; 1 John 2:5 What specific act of obedience will you commit to in the upcoming week? This could be related to the passage we've just studied or another prompting from God. While Holy Spirit-enabled transformations are compelling, multiplication is furthered when we engage in one of the following activities: sharing the story we've just discussed with someone else, conducting a DBS with another person, or establishing a Discovery Group with three or more people (including yourself). Before our next meeting, affirm your commitment to obedience by verbalizing an "I will..." statement. Think of an answer to this question, "What can you do as an expression of love for God?" Reflect what action you can undertake in the next 24-48 hours in response to God's prompting. Ensure that your statement adheres to the SMART criteria: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound.** Record your "I will" statement on your phone or another location where it will serve as a reminder. Be prepared to share your experiences at our next gathering. |
Question #1: What is something you are thankful for since our last meeting?
Asking this question gives the group an easy way to get started, and everyone can come up with something to say, even the introverts.
Notice that we don’t start with prayer. Christian groups start with prayer; those who are far from God don’t. We don’t ask lost people to bow their heads and pray. We don’t explain what prayer is. We don’t have a lecture about this being an important part of group DNA. Instead, we introduce this simple question and allow each member of the group to share.
Often in a group of pre-Christians, once the group is going, it’s likely that someone will begin to connect gratitude to God, as the source of all blessings. This becomes a perfect learning moment. The facilitator can then point out what the group has shared that they are thankful for and that prayer is just telling God the same thing.
The facilitator can just start the group over and say, “Let’s tell God what we’re thankful for.”
Notice that we don’t start with prayer. Christian groups start with prayer; those who are far from God don’t. We don’t ask lost people to bow their heads and pray. We don’t explain what prayer is. We don’t have a lecture about this being an important part of group DNA. Instead, we introduce this simple question and allow each member of the group to share.
Often in a group of pre-Christians, once the group is going, it’s likely that someone will begin to connect gratitude to God, as the source of all blessings. This becomes a perfect learning moment. The facilitator can then point out what the group has shared that they are thankful for and that prayer is just telling God the same thing.
The facilitator can just start the group over and say, “Let’s tell God what we’re thankful for.”
question 2: what has been stressful for you since our last meeting?
This question steers participants toward sharing with and caring for one another on a deeper level. Many people outside the Church may never have experienced small-group dynamics that include opening their hearts, being vulnerable and creating close connections.
Asking a North American this question, however, can lead to a 30-minute answer. This is not a support group, so answers shouldn’t be long and drawn out. This is one time when it may be beneficial for you to answer the question first, providing a model for how it should be done. Remember, because a Discovery Group is made up of people who have a pre-existing relationship, they can talk in more depth outside of the group.
The suggested approach is to ask people (and remind them, if needed) to share in sentences not paragraphs.
If you are leading a group of believers, each person can share in the form of a prayer, or someone can pray over all of the shared concerns to wrap up this question. With a group of non-believers, as they discover prayer in the Scriptures, the facilitator can help the group gradually begin to practice it by saying “In the same way that you shared with each other, now you can share those same things with God. Let’s do that now.”
Occasionally, a group member will have an issue that requires the facilitator to put aside the passage from the Bible. In these moments, it is appropriate to be transparent and take the pressure of getting into the Bible passage off the group. If this happens frequently, though, you probably have a group member whose motivation to be in the group is not to hear from God but again a hearing for his or her problems.
Asking a North American this question, however, can lead to a 30-minute answer. This is not a support group, so answers shouldn’t be long and drawn out. This is one time when it may be beneficial for you to answer the question first, providing a model for how it should be done. Remember, because a Discovery Group is made up of people who have a pre-existing relationship, they can talk in more depth outside of the group.
The suggested approach is to ask people (and remind them, if needed) to share in sentences not paragraphs.
If you are leading a group of believers, each person can share in the form of a prayer, or someone can pray over all of the shared concerns to wrap up this question. With a group of non-believers, as they discover prayer in the Scriptures, the facilitator can help the group gradually begin to practice it by saying “In the same way that you shared with each other, now you can share those same things with God. Let’s do that now.”
Occasionally, a group member will have an issue that requires the facilitator to put aside the passage from the Bible. In these moments, it is appropriate to be transparent and take the pressure of getting into the Bible passage off the group. If this happens frequently, though, you probably have a group member whose motivation to be in the group is not to hear from God but again a hearing for his or her problems.
Question #1: What is something you are thankful for this past week?
Have you experienced something good in your life?
Question #2: What has stressed you out this week?
What is hard, difficult or challenging?
Question #3: How can we respond to what was just shared in our group, and the needs of those in our area?
How can we demonstrate love and care for each other and the people around us?
Question #4: What was the result of your "I will" statement from the last meeting?
This question applies to the second meeting and every meeting thereafter.
Question #1: What is something you are thankful for this past week?
Have you experienced something good in your life?
Question #2: What has stressed you out this week?
What is hard, difficult or challenging?
Question #3: How can we respond to what was just shared in our group, and the needs of those in our area?
How can we demonstrate love and care for each other and the people around us?
Question #4: What was the result of your "I will" statement from the last meeting?
This question applies to the second meeting and every meeting thereafter.
If you believed this was from God, what would you have to chance about the way you live?"
If this is your first time doing a DBS, consider choosing a story from the DBS Story Set, then doing a DBS. Then after doing a DBS, read the DBS Facilitator Notes. Reading them beforehand can be confusing.
Coaching is where teaching can take place. Free online resources include: GotQuestions.org, Bibleref.com, Biblia.com.
If this is your first time doing a DBS, consider choosing a story from the DBS Story Set, then doing a DBS. Then after doing a DBS, read the DBS Facilitator Notes. Reading them beforehand can be confusing.
Coaching is where teaching can take place. Free online resources include: GotQuestions.org, Bibleref.com, Biblia.com.
Ask follow up questions. For most groups, the basic DBS questions are sufficient. However, some groups may eventually benefit from discussing secondary questions. This is especially true if the group is composed of mature believers and has met together over time. One way to develop good follow up questions is to choose a word or phrase from the answer to a basic question and form a personalized application question. See below for examples from Mark 2:1-12. The first line is the answer to the question, "What does the story say about Jesus and people?" The second line is a potential follow up question.
Ask for an explanation to questions that are answered with a yes or no response.
Ask questions that direct people to the passage to find answers. For instance, "What other verses in the story might help answer that question?"
Regardless of the follow-up questions, make sure to circle back and ask for an "I will" response.
- Homes are a key place where people experience Jesus Christ. Mark 2:1
What role did/does home-based ministry play in your spiritual life? - People of faith are involved in bringing unforgiven people to Jesus. Mark 2:3
Explain who helped bring you to Jesus? - Jesus placed a greater priority on forgiveness than healing. Mark 2:5
Why might Jesus be more interested in forgiving you than healing you? - Jesus proves his identity to people. Mark 2:10
How did Jesus prove his identity to you? - A true encounter with Jesus is unlike anything else. Mark 2:12
When is the last time Jesus truly amazed you?
Ask for an explanation to questions that are answered with a yes or no response.
Ask questions that direct people to the passage to find answers. For instance, "What other verses in the story might help answer that question?"
Regardless of the follow-up questions, make sure to circle back and ask for an "I will" response.