A Discovery Group (DG) consists of three or more people who meet weekly and use Discovery Bible Study (DBS). Groups are the key to multiplication. They have a dynamic not present in one on one meetings. Groups remember more, learn quicker, replicate faster and more often, protect against heresy and poor leadership, self-correct, and increase accountability.* Groups are where people experience the transforming elements of love and truth. People are changed as they experience the love of God as shown by others, and examine the truth of God as revealed in Scripture.

The three phases of a Discovery Group are: Form, Facilitate, and Coach. These will likely seem counterintuitive, therefore become familiar with the principles. 
FORM A DISCOVERY GROUP
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If this is your first time facilitating a Discovery Group, and your group is composed of Christians, consider using a resource called Launch. If you are already confident and competent facilitating a Discovery Group, and your group contains unbelievers, continue with the information listed below. 

Encourage others to invite people to study the Bible with them. This is a crucial step in the multiplication process. Keep people involved in their current relationships. Don't remove people from their friends, family, or those with whom they associate.

  • ​Assign the role of facilitator regardless of spiritual status. Interested unbelievers can easily ask the DBS questions. The presence of Scripture in each group causes it to autocorrect and keep it accurate. Coaching also keeps the group aligned with Scripture. Watch the following eight-minute video. Multiplication occurs when anyone realizes they can do this.

  • Keep potential facilitators involved in their natural group. Extracting them from their own community stops reproduction. The goal is not that they study the Bible with you, but that you teach them how they can facilitate a Bible study with their friends and family. Multiplication occurs best when the gospel moves through existing relationships. 

  • Show a potential facilitator how to do DBS, how to facilitate a Discovery Group (see below), and how to use the DBS Study Sets. This may take a few sessions. Try to meet with this person one on one. If you model it in front of their group, don't do so more than three times. Any longer, and you will displace the natural leader with yourself. Multiplication won't occur  because they'll think you need to be present for it to take place. 
FACILITATE A DISCOVERY GROUP

​Teach the group facilitator to ask all the Discovery Bible Study (DBS) questions. They produce community, create discovery, and generate multiplication. Don't skip or leave any out. Especially the last questions. Movement does not occur without obedience to them.  ​

Don't let the group use the bulk of the time answering questions #1 and #2. Be discerning about this. Every so often, this needs to be the focus of the gathering. However, generally, it should not crowd out discovery and multiplication time. 

Let the group decide how to answer question #3, "How can we respond to what our group just shared and the needs of those in our area?" Options may include brainstorming, sharing resources, and prayer. 

​Hold the group accountable to question #4, "What was the result of both your I will statements since our last meeting?" Fulfilling the previous "I will" statement is so crucial that if the group as a whole did not obey them, it should not move ahead, but instead study the same passage again. There will always be more truths to harvest. Most groups need to do this on occasion. Not moving ahead reinforces obedience-based disciple making. It is essential to establish that practice.
Use the following guidance for questions #5, and #6: "What does the passage say about God?" and "What does it say about people?"

  • ​Facilitate, don't teach. Help people experience discovery by asking questions, not by adding commentary. This will feel strange to those with previous Bible study experience, but there are good reasons. First, when the leader provides answers, it intimidates people from starting their own group because they think they need to know what the leader knows to begin one. Hence, multiplication doesn't occur. Second, people remember what they discover themselves more than what others teach. The lecture format has a low retention rate. Comprehension increases when the facilitator asks questions instead of teaching.** Remember, you're planning for generations 2, 3 and 4. 

  • Let the Holy Spirit be the teacher. John 14:26 Direct people to Scripture for the answers. The Holy Spirit's primary teaching tool is Scripture. Let the Bible teach the Bible. Modeling this in the first generation of a group encourages the following generations to do the same. If someone asks a question not answered in the passage, direct them to search the Scriptures before and after. If they don't immediately find it, encourage them to search the Scripture before the next meeting. 

  • Remind believers to hold to this principle. Prompt Christians to let the Holy Spirit serve as the teacher. Be ready to remind them to let the Holy Spirit use Scripture to teach. This is unnatural to many believers. 

  • Guide with questions. Ask questions #5 and #6 to generate discovery. Ask guided questions if the group is not talkative. For instance, "What does verse three say about God?" "What does verse four say about people?" Ask follow up questions to deepen discussion. Use the words what, why, how, when, where, and who as springboards. For instance, "What does it mean that God loves you?" "Why is it important to know that God loves you?" "How did you discover that God loves you?" When did you first experience the love of God?" Or "Where is the best place to demonstrate the love of God?" Be sure to ask for an explanation for a yes or no question. Use the ten second rule in developing questions. If it takes more than ten seconds to think of a question, move to the next spring board word. 
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​Ask people to declare their "I will" statement aloud for question #7. The I will statements should be observable, realistic, and doable. The sooner the better. Ensure they're written down so they are remembered for the next meeting. Multiplication occurs when people obey these questions. Decide when you will meet again. 

​Note: If there are time constraints on your DBS gathering, encourage brief responses and combine questions 1&2, 5&6. For instance, "Briefly state what you are thankful for, and what is causing you stress since our last meeting." And, "Briefly state what this passage teaches us about God and people." 
COACH A DISCOVERY GROUP

Meet regularly with your disciples who start their own groups. This is crucial. Ongoing coaching is vital to multiplication. Gathering regularly is essential to sustain momentum and address issues in a timely manner. Consider asking the following questions. 
  1. How is your soul? In other words, how are you doing? 
  2. What is going well in disciple making? Share any God stories you may have. 
  3. What is challenging? What is hard or difficult in disciple making? How can we help? 
  4. What is your next step? What is your "I will?" 
RESOURCES

While teaching is left to the Holy Spirit is Discovery Groups, it is encouraged during coaching and personal devotions. Among the resources are the following: 
More Resources

  1. Watch What is a DBS and What Makes It Different? (3:00)
  2. Watch Discovery Bible Study (8:16)
  3. Watch Discovery Bible Study Overview (7:58)​
  4. Watch Helping Others Discover God - Discovery Bible Study (4:42)
  5. Watch Discovery Groups (11:03)
  6. View Discovery Bible Study (DBS)
  7. View Discovery Group (DG)
  8. View Discovery Group Tips
  9. View DBS Story Sets
  10. Read DMM Sails 
  11. See DMM Resources​
* ​Paul Watson: "Small Groups that have the DNA of a Disciple Making Movement." 
​** David Watson, "What About Teaching in Disciple Making Movements?"​

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