Discovery Bible Study
Wednesday 18 October 2023
Wednesday 18 October 2023
As we began our time together we shared news from our weeks. Here are a few highlights.
Kathy and Cathy went on a prayer walk again this week, this time on Peartree Common, looking over the city. In addition to praying, they felt to be leaning in to where people are at, to be ready and awake with the gospel.
Elaine had a new experience in Tescos. A woman asked a question about buying food for a friend and Elaine really got chatting with her. She was a christian who is not in church in Southampton, but Elaine was able to encourage her that she has a family with us here in Southampton and she offered to pray for her. Elaine said she was speaking so naturally and freely, like never before.
Mary and Angie from St Albans have also been prayer walking, and though not part of our community on Wednesdays, are on the community email and very encouraged to follow along in that way. Mary sent me the following:
One encouragement Angie and I had whilst prayer walking. We spoke to a lady about church, she said she had gone a few times but since we spoke to her she now comes every week, has bought a new Bible and a few weeks ago got baptized. Her whole family came to watch. We are so excited about everything God is doing there so please encourage people to keep prayer walking.
Another man heard the church bells while nursing his hangover a few months ago and he was baptized a few weeks ago as well. Now he talks about how God makes a difference in his life and very stressful job. I came to our church prayer meeting yesterday to find he had popped in for a quick pray before work. More, Lord!
Street Pastors are wanting to go prayer walking in key places around the city, but a bit limited on resources to organise it. We will offer to help and see what comes of it.
Ken has been reading the book 'Praying like monks, living like fools' by Tyler Staton and has been very encouraged - prayer is becoming more of a delight, he says.
This week we looked at the story from Acts 8 about Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, who was in his chariot reading from the bible. Chariots again!
We used the Discovery Bible Study method to listen for what God is saying to us from this story.
How did this come about?
To prepare for this week, Jim and Richard were listening to some prayers for SoHOP from Waverley Abbey (Sally and Elaine spent a week there recently and the community prayed for us). One of the people praying was prompted to read from Acts 8 about Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. We decided to look at this story together.
Then in a prayer meeting Richard felt God clearly say to use the Discovery Bible Study to prepare people in the church for revival.
So this week we used the discovery bible study ourselves to experience what it is like, and to discover what God is saying to us through this bible story.
Back in the summer I met up with Tim Daulton from Highfield Church to catch up on what God is doing with students in the church and at the University. Tim told me about the discovery bible study tool, which is great for anyone who is spiritually interested - they quickly learn how to hear what God is saying to them through the bible and then are challenged to immediately live out what they learned and share it with someone else.
The DBS process is intentionally simple so that it can launch and reproduce in any context. Here’s the basic sequence:
Identify people around you who are spiritually curious.
Invite them to discover what God has to say about life.
Ask the discovery questions (see below). No one needs to teach; just discover it together!
Let the Holy Spirit lead and transform lives. Trust God to be much better at teaching truth than we are.
Multiply the group by encouraging participants to start new groups with other friends and family.
Tim told me how a DBS started in the hockey club. After practice one day one of the christians was asked what are you doing after hockey practice and he just told him he was going to read the bible with some friends. He invited the hockey player along and within a couple of weeks there was a DBS going on with several others, all from the hockey club.
These are the opening questions:
What are you thankful for?
What’s a challenge you’re facing right now?
If this group has gathered previously, ask: How did you do with your last "I WILL" statement? Did you share with others?
These are the discovery questions, which help us discover what the Bible says and take action. The acronym H.O.P.E. is a helpful way to remember these steps: Hear, Observe, Practice, and Encourage.
HEAR from God through the Scripture passage.
Read the story out loud.
Have someone re-tell it in their own words.
OBSERVE what it says.
What stands out to you?
What does this story tell us about God?
What does this story tell us about people?
Put it into PRACTICE.
How can you personally and specifically live out what God is showing you in this text?
Write down an “I WILL . . . ” statement for the week ahead.
ENCOURAGE someone.
Who are you going to tell about what you discovered this week?
Make sure everyone gets a chance to contribute to the conversation. Allow time for everyone to write down their “I will” statements and make notes about who they plan to talk to in the week ahead.
And that’s it! Plan for the next time you’ll gather to share your experiences from the week and to examine another Scripture passage together.
More about it all here: https://novouk.org/discovery-bible-study
A bookmark with the questions on: bookmark to download
This is the example worked through. I didn't get all the responses written down. Maybe you can do it yourself this week.
HEAR from God through scripture passages
We read Acts 8:26-40 out loud.
Someone retold the story in their own words.
OBSERVE what it says
What stands out to you? (we were a large group, so lots of different things to note).
an angel spoke to Philip
God did all this for one person - the Ethiopian
God cares about people who are different to others
Philip started with the bible passage and brought it round to the Good News about Jesus
this is another story about chariots!
it was the road to Gaza
Philip was obedient, available
the Ethiopian was already reading the bible, but not understanding it
Philip started where the Ethiopian was at
the Ethiopian wanted to get baptised - rapid response to the gospel
What does the story tell us about God?
He sees everyone.
He sometimes gives us instructions through angels
He is looking for people to send to those who are looking for him
...
What does the story tell us about people?
some people are looking for God
people can make a decision to give their lives to God
people ask for help to understand about God
...
Put it into PRACTICE
What is God showing you through this passage? How can you personally and specifically put it into practice?
Gaza is a special place to him and I can pray for Gaza.
I can ask people if they understand what is happening to them
I be ready to share Jesus with people I meet.
Write down an I WILL... statement for the week ahead
I will continue to pray for Gaza
I will look out for people who want to know about Jesus
I will be expectant that God is going to direct me
ENCOURAGE someone
Who are you going to tell what you have discovered this week?
Now that we have had a go at this, let's be praying that the tool becomes widely known and used across the churches, to prepare us for revival.
Especially pray for students at both universities and the colleges.