My students already see how God creates, saves and makes wrong things right. Many of the truths of God’s character have unfolded through the stories of Creation, The Fall and The Flood. Discovering Jesus in Discovery Bible Study We lay spiritual foundations every week as the Holy Spirit teaches us through the Bible and each other. Learning accountability as well as sharing praises, struggles, and needs cultivate true community. Our final step in the study occurs the following week as we talk about who we shared the story with and how we applied it to our lives. And it may ignite spiritual hunger in another! Sharing the story with a friend or classmate lays the foundation for making disciples.
Still, I have been encouraged to see students’ hearts move toward God as they apply Scripture to their lives.
Of course, following Jesus is the only way to true, lasting heart change. This enables heart changes even as worldviews shift. The model emphasizes application of what we learn. The last three questions in the Discovery Bible Study teach personal application and disciple-making. As more questions emerge, I point my students back to the Bible so they learn to look for answers themselves. My heart rejoices as students talk about the Lord with understanding and hunger. The first three questions relate to what we discover about God and people through the text. Once the story is established, we ask six questions to help us discuss the passage and grow together. The retelling is so special for me as I begin to hear what God is teaching each student. This solidifies the story in our hearts and minds. After reading the story, each of us retells the story in our own words. Because the text is the teacher, we go in-depth with every passage of Scripture we study. Reality changes, however, as my students discover the Lord through Discovery Bible Study – thanks be to God !ĭiscovery Bible Study has laid a foundation for my international students after only four weeks. This is true for millions of unreached people groups across New York City. Yet for my four Chinese students, knowing Jesus has never been a reality. Nothing is better or more beautiful than knowing the person of Jesus Christ. The simplicity of DBS equips new believers to follow this method in their country to those who might otherwise never have the opportunity to hear the Gospel or read God’s written Word.
Many of the international students and diaspora peoples we work among this year will eventually return to their homeland. Discovery Bible Study and Reproducibility Although I continue to meet with them for DBS, the method we follow is so simple that she can easily facilitate our study with or without me present. After only two weeks of facilitating, I pass off the role to one of my Chinese students. But I see Spirit-dependency cultivated as I step aside.Ī second reason for facilitating, rather than teaching, is the simple, reproducible nature. My students do not recognize the work of the Holy Spirit yet. But one is that this makes the Bible the ultimate authority and source of truth from the beginning. There are many reasons to choose a hands-off approach. As a facilitator, I put myself in the same position as my Chinese friends: a learner who looks to the Bible as the authority given to us by God.Īs we learn the Discovery Bible Study method, we see again and again that the text is the teacher - not us. This minor change in terms actually makes a world of difference. TeachingĪ point to note is that I am simply facilitating the DBS, not leading or teaching it. It is amazing that Jesus speaks to every individual on planet earth in the language that they best understand with their heart! Facilitating vs. This is a beautiful gift of cultural identity from the Lord used in powerful ways through the Discovery Bible Study method. God has designed our first language to pierce our hearts in a way a second or third language cannot. When the Bible is read in Chinese - or any other first language - it comes alive! In an English-only setting, I might spend the majority of our study explaining new words and ideas. When studying the Bible in their first language, they can understand and relate to it on a much deeper level.
With a common language and worldview, Bible discussions can be specific to the DBS participants. This is ideal: a small group of friends or family who share the same first language and cultural identity. First, I am facilitating a DBS among four Chinese graduate students.
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