LAUNCH PLAN
Week 1
- Do a DBS. Choose story 1 from the DBS Story Set.
- Debrief: Discuss what people thought of the DBS.
- Read through DBS, Discovery Group (DG), DBS Story Sets.
Week 2
- Do a DBS. Choose Story 2 from the DBS Story Set.
- Debrief: Discuss what people thought of DBS. Focus on presentation not content.
- Show
Each week uses the same format but a different study from the DBS Story Set. Consider using the first five studies in the Starter Set.
Ask. Have people share how their "I will" went from the last meeting.
Explain. Read FARM Conversation together as a group. Don't read More Information. You'll read that during Debrief.
Practice. Do a FARM Conversation with one another. One person asks another a Family question. That person asks another an Academic (Or Occupation) question. That person asks another a Recreation question. That person then asks one of the Message questions. Have fun. Ask follow up questions. Enjoy the process. Once everyone has gone, do another round. Time permitting, try to give everyone a chance to ask a Message question. Ask a different Message question each round.
Debrief. Ask people what they thought of the FARM conversation. Read FARM Conversation More Information.
Homework. Hav
A Launch Group is a five week training event that equips believers to reach unbelievers through groups. It teaches participants how to use Discovery Bible Study (DBS), facilitate Discovery Groups, and about DBS Story Sets.
Launch Groups are closed during the five weeks due to the training nature of the meetings. Launch group participants can start their own Discovery Groups with interested outsiders at any time.
A Launch Group is go level event, not a grow level event. It is designed to equip believers to reach unbelievers. It does not work with those expecting a traditional small group Bible study experience that prioritizes knowledge over obedience, and focuses on fellowship over outreach. Matthew 9:17
A Launch Group becomes a Discovery Study (open to newcomers) once its five week duration is completed. A church may use Launch Groups once or repeatedly.
Familiarize yourself with Discovery Bible Study (DBS), Discovery Group (DG) and DBS Story Sets. Take yourself through these resources. You'll be teaching them to the group as you meet.
Read through the five week Launch Plan to get an idea of the week by week flow.
Invite a few (2-5) believers who are eager to be trained to reach unbelievers. Explain the purpose, and duration. Make sure they know the uniqueness of a Launch Group.
LAUNCH
Begin to meet. Stay consistent with the location, time and day of the meetings. Make sure everyone is committed to all five sessions. Communicate the start and end dates.
A Launch group goes through a different DBS each week, from the DBS Story Set. Depending on the nature of the group, the main facilitator may facilitate for weeks 1-3 or hand off the role after week 1 and let everyone in the group have a chance to facilitate. The main facilitator then coaches the new facilitators between meetings.
Don't facilitate the group for more than three weeks. Hand off the role to others in the group during weeks 4 and 5. Coach those who serve in the facilitator role, between meetings. See the On Going Coaching section of Pathway for helpful information. Learn how to ask good follow up questions.
POST LAUNCH
Take a break after five weeks to evaluate what the future should look like. Options include resuming as a Discovery Group (open to newcomers), appointing a new facilitator, changing location, closing down the group (because people have started their own Discovery Groups) or any variation. Ideally, over time, you would transition from the role of personally facilitating the group to coaching members of the group as they form their own groups. Remember the goal of the Launch Group is for you and the participants to become familiar with the facilitator and coaching roles so you can start your own Discovery Groups. It is not designed to meet without end and not multiply. If that happens, consider closing the group.
Take a break after five weeks to evaluate what the future should look like. Options include resuming as a Discovery Group (open to newcomers), appointing a new facilitator, changing location, closing down the group (because people have started their own Discovery Groups) or any variation. Ideally, over time, you would transition from the role of personally facilitating the group to coaching members of the group as they form their own groups. Remember the goal of the Launch Group is for you and the participants to become familiar with the facilitator and coaching roles so you can start your own Discovery Groups. It is not designed to meet without end and not multiply. If that happens, consider closing the group.
Resources
- Watch Discovery Bible Study (3:00) A People for His Name
- Watch Discovery Bible Study (8:16) IBRA Mission: Ordinary People
- Watch Discovery Bible Study Overview (7:58) Beyond.org
- Read DMM Sails
- See DMM Resources