Discovery Bible Study is a simple approach to reading the Bible together in small groups. It’s not about teaching, it’s about opening the Bible together, asking a few simple questions of the text, and letting God speak. Here’s how it works:
CONNECT
To begin, each person answers these two questions:
- What are you thankful for?
- What is causing you stress?
READ & RE-TELL
- One person reads the passage, the rest follow along.
- Someone else reads the passage, using another translation if possible.
- With your Bibles closed, try to retell the story together in your own words, remembering as much detail as possible.
LOOK AND DISCUSS
Now open your Bibles again, and answer the following questions:
- What does this passage say about God, Jesus or his plan?
- What does this passage say about human beings?
- According to this, what am I doing well, and what do I need to change?
- Who do I know who could benefit from hearing this story?
You can try out this approach with any Bible passage, but narrative passages seem to work particularly well. Here are ten great stories to start with:
- A party at Levi’s – Mark 2:1-17
- Nicodemus at night – John 3:1-17
- A transformed life – Mark 5:1-20
- A memorable act – Luke 7:37-50
- The lost son returns – Luke 15:11-32
- Thanks! – Luke 17:11-19
- What God sees – Luke 18:9-14
- Coming to your house – Luke 19:1-10
- Hungry for God – John 4:1-42
- Seeds and soils – Mark 4:1-20
