Discover Bible Study

General Ground Rules

Ground Rules for Group Discussion

The facilitator shares first to model pace and vulnerability
Ask every question.
NO one teaches or dominates discussion.
Share briefly.
Start and end every meeting on time.
Have everyone use the same, clear translation
Take notes on OBEY responses to remember for next meeting.
For comments that are strange or outside the passage, ask, “Where is that in the passage?”

DBS - Discovery Bible Study

A 7 session Bible study guide. Especially helpful for unbelievers or new believers.

Discovery Bible Study is designed to introduce international students to the major concepts and themes of the Bible. You can use DBS in group settings or one-on-one. On the reverse side, choose a topic or two from each of the seven themes to cover with your group during the semester. Be sure the group understands the ground rules for group discussion before you begin each meeting, and then work through the questions in the columns below.

DBS Bible Passages

Go through the following series of studies (1-7) by choosing one passage per section. Use 1 passage per study session.

1 God Creates
God creates all things Genesis 1:1-25	God creates all people Genesis 2:4-25	Creation testifies to God Psalm 19	God's special relationship with humanity Psalm 139:1-18

2 Man Rebels
People disobey God Genesis 3	God scatters humanity Genesis 11:1-9	All have turned away from God Psalm 14	No one seeks God Psalm 53

3 God Promises
God's promise to Abraham Genesis 12:1-8; 15:1-6	God's law Deuteronomy 5:1-21; 5:32-6:2	God's promise to David 2 Samuel 7:1-17	God promises a suffering servant Isaiah 52:13-53:12

4 Jesus' Life
Jesus is born Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-20	Jesus is baptized John 1:19-34	Jesus is tested Matthew 4:1-22	Jesus and the Samaritan woman John 4:1-26, 39-42

5 Jesus' Power
Jesus heals a paralyzed man Luke 5:17-26	Jesus calms a storm Mark 4:35-41	Jesus has authority over spirits Mark 5:1-20	Jesus has authority over death John 11:1-44

6 Jesus' Victory
Jesus shares a last meal Matthew 26:17-30	Jesus' death and resurrection Luke 23:32-24:12	Jesus dies and is buried John 19:29-42	Jesus appears to His disciples Luke 24:13-35

7 My Response
Becoming a child of God John 1:1-18	Being born again John 3:1-21	How people can know God John 14:1-14	Believing in Jesus John 20:19-31

Study Questions

1 - Connect

Thankful

Ask: “What are you thankful for?

Challenge

Ask: “What was a challenge you had this past week?”

How did it go?

Ask: “How did your ‘I will,’ sharing, and challenge go from the last time we met?”

2 - Read

Read and Reread

Read the entire passage out loud, define confusing words, then have another person read the passage out loud

Retell

Have someone else retell the passage in their own words.

Details

Together fill in any missing details.

3 - Discover

God

Ask: “What does this passage say about God?”

People

Ask: “What does this passage say about people?”

Obedience

Ask: “What does obedience look like from this passage?”

4 - Obey

"I will"

Ask: “In light of this passage, how will your week be different this week?”
Have everyone create an “I will” statement.

Ask: “This week, who can you tell what you learned today?”

Challenge

Ask: “What is an ongoing or upcoming challenge that we could help with or pray for?”

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General Ground Rules

DBS - Discovery Bible Study

DBS Bible Passages

Study Questions

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