Pathway is a simple, four step strategy for making disciples who make disciples. It relies on a key tool called Discovery Bible Study (DBS). Use it as a self guided resource or as a template to train others. Complete each step before moving to the next step. Welcome to the journey!
STEP 1: TRY DBS WITH SOMEONE YOU KNOW WELL.
Discovery Bible Study (DBS) is a great way to learn about the Bible. It's simple, powerful, and proven. It works with all ages and cultures. It's being used to lead millions to faith in Jesus Christ.1 DBS creates community, enables discovery, and causes multiplication. However, these outcomes are only realized if you ask all seven questions.
Learn Discovery Bible Study (DBS). It's simple enough to understand and do it on your own. However, if you want to join a free, fun, one time online class, just contact us. After doing a DBS, be sure to become familiar with the DBS Facilitator Notes and DBS Story Sets as well.
Do DBS for four weeks with someone you know well (spouse, family member, friend). Doing DBS several times with a familiar person allows you to learn the format, experience its power, and build momentum toward sharing it with others.
Partner with others on the disciple making journey. Ongoing coaching is critical for long term application. Whether you are just starting out or a seasoned disciple maker, coaching is a great place to receive encouraging guidance and offer helpful advice. Contact us about online free training events and ongoing coaching meetings. Or visit/join our Facebook Group. It's always "open" and a great place to get and give helpful input.
STEP 2: FORM A DISCOVERY GROUP WITH PEOPLE YOU KNOW.
A Discovery Group (DG) is a gathering of three or more people who meet to do Discovery Bible Study (DBS) together. Groups create a dynamic not present in individual meetings. Groups have the following advantages: they remember more, learn quicker, replicate faster and more often, protect against heresy and bad leadership, self-correct, and increase accountability.2
Invite people you already know to form a Discovery Group. Leverage your home, workplace, or other relationship networks for the kingdom of God. Feel free to continue with the person you met with in Step 1 and add more.
Meet initially for a short period of time. Think about meeting for five weeks for your first session. Five weeks is long enough for participants to experience community, discover truths about God, and witness multiplication. But short enough for attenders make an informed commitment that assures attending all the sessions. Plus is offers a natural exit for those who don't wish to continue.
Follow the guidelines in DBS Facilatator Notes. Some of the principles are counterintuitive to traditional Bible study leadership principles. Consider using the DBS Story Set for study content.
STEP 3: FORM A DISCOVERY GROUP WITH PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW.
Become aware of people with whom you do not have a relationship. The real harvest is among those you do not presently know. John 4:35 Each day as we encounter people who are open to spiritual conversation, it becomes more likely they will want to know more and be open to an invitation to join a group.
Begin engaging people you don't know. Two excellent tools are the FARM conversation and Prayer Walk. The FARM conversation works well with those you meet situationally; people you encounter in the course of everyday living. Prayer Walk works best with intentional efforts to discover people who want to know more about Jesus. Purposeful times devoted to engaging people about Jesus Christ.
Take the Disciple Making Movement (DMM) training. DMM training is for those who have a vision to see everyone in their entire area have the chance to follow Jesus Christ.
STEP 4: BRING DBS TO THOSE UNREACHED BY THE GOSPEL.
Become informed about unreached peoples. Presently there are over THREE BILLION people worldwide who are unreached by the gospel. They are unreached because there are not enough people in their own culture to evangelize the rest of their own people. They will only be reached if Christians bring the gospel to them.
Resources:
- Examine the following website: Joshuaproject.net.
- Watch the following videos.
- Study the following infographics.
- Read from the Unreached Library.
- Read the following magazine. It's free if read online.
- Explore REACH. An in-depth mobilization resource.
Become involved in discipling the unreached. Contact Beyond.org. They focus on using Disciple Making Movement (DMM) methods among unreached people. Ask about supporting others or going yourself. Supporting can be done gradually by becoming an informational and prayer partner before possibly becoming a financial partner. Going can also be done gradually by going on short, medium and then long term mission trips.
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
- Read Coaching Template
- Read DMM Transition Options
- Stan Parks and Dave Coles, 24:14: A Testimony to All Peoples (Spring, TX: 2019) 107-109 Kindle
- Paul Watson, Small Groups That Have the DVA of a Disciple Making Movement (Mission Frontiers, Nov-Dec, 2012) https://www.missionfrontiers.org/issue/article/small-groups-that-have-the-dna-of-a-disciple-making-movement