Discovery Studies are a great way to study the Bible, both personally, and in small groups. Discovery Study 1 is ideal if this is your first time studying, or teaching the Bible.
Discovery Study 1 Has Two Steps
Step 1. Read a passage.
Passages are the basic units of thought in the Bible. They are identified by subject headers. Some are short, some are long. If necessary, break up the longer ones into smaller parts.
Passages are the basic units of thought in the Bible. They are identified by subject headers. Some are short, some are long. If necessary, break up the longer ones into smaller parts.
A picture showing the spread of multiple generations of Discovery Bible Studies (DBS) in rural South Asia.
Step 2. Review the passage.
Answer the questions below. Provide time for people to develop their responses. It's a good idea for one person to write down the answers.
Answer the questions below. Provide time for people to develop their responses. It's a good idea for one person to write down the answers.
- What does the passage say about God?
Include God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit in your observations. - What does the passage say about man?
Some passages have a lot to say about mankind, some not so much. Let each passage speak for itself. Don't force it to say what it doesn't say. - What does the passage say about the gospel?
Use this question if the terms gospel, Good News, message, word of the Lord, Scripture, etc., appears in the passage.
- What is God saying to me?
Base your response on the answers above. The answers should be personal. Use the words I and me, not we and us. If it helps, think of the question as, "What is God saying to me, about me?" - Who can I tell?
Is there someone you can teach the content of this material to, or train to do this type of study? If so, reach out to that person. If no one comes to mind, pray for God to bring someone across your pathway. Be ready when He does! Application of this question is the key to multiplication.
Helpful Information
Discovery Study 1 is a great way to study the Bible. Work through each book, a passage at a time, from beginning to end. Passage lengths may vary. Feel free to divide longer passages into shorter sections. In some cases, the Scripture content may be so rich that it needs to be studied a paragraph at a time. Be flexible and do what works.
Discovery Study 1 is an excellent entry-level Bible study. It is ideal for anyone just beginning to study or teach the Bible. They are perfect for those who have never explored the Bible, or for someone without any previous teaching experience.
Discovery Study 1 can include an extra step for certain situations. The situation occurs when the listeners are not highly literate or don't have access to the Scriptures. The extra step occurs between Read and Review and is called Retell. It consists of the listeners repeating the story before moving to the Review questions. You will be amazed how well these listeners memorize what they hear. Choose narrative passages if you use this extra step. Narratives tell a story or describe an event. They are found throughout the Old Testament, much of the Gospels and the book of Acts. The Retell step can be harder to do when using non narrative passages, such as those found in the Epistles.
Discovery Study 1 can yield an abundance of responses. Depending upon the passage and amount of time you have, you may need to limit the number of answers or the amount of Scripture you examine. The samples are meant to show the richness of Scripture, not to indicate how many answers each study should contain. A few answers for each question may be enough for your group.
Discovery Study 1 answers are influenced by the type of Scripture being studied. Revelation was progressive, and unfolding as it was being recorded. Answers should be guided by knowing if the truths apply to the past, present or future. Some truths of Scripture were true for their time, some are timeless.
Discovery Study 1 confidence comes with practice. Doing these studies on your own deepens faith, elevates confidence, and energizes the soul. Practice will give you the confidence to use them in disciple making.
Resources.
Discovery Study 1 is an excellent entry-level Bible study. It is ideal for anyone just beginning to study or teach the Bible. They are perfect for those who have never explored the Bible, or for someone without any previous teaching experience.
Discovery Study 1 can include an extra step for certain situations. The situation occurs when the listeners are not highly literate or don't have access to the Scriptures. The extra step occurs between Read and Review and is called Retell. It consists of the listeners repeating the story before moving to the Review questions. You will be amazed how well these listeners memorize what they hear. Choose narrative passages if you use this extra step. Narratives tell a story or describe an event. They are found throughout the Old Testament, much of the Gospels and the book of Acts. The Retell step can be harder to do when using non narrative passages, such as those found in the Epistles.
Discovery Study 1 can yield an abundance of responses. Depending upon the passage and amount of time you have, you may need to limit the number of answers or the amount of Scripture you examine. The samples are meant to show the richness of Scripture, not to indicate how many answers each study should contain. A few answers for each question may be enough for your group.
Discovery Study 1 answers are influenced by the type of Scripture being studied. Revelation was progressive, and unfolding as it was being recorded. Answers should be guided by knowing if the truths apply to the past, present or future. Some truths of Scripture were true for their time, some are timeless.
Discovery Study 1 confidence comes with practice. Doing these studies on your own deepens faith, elevates confidence, and energizes the soul. Practice will give you the confidence to use them in disciple making.
Resources.
- View Discovery 1 Study samples John 4, Romans 1
- Watch Discovery Study Overview (7:58)