Week 3 - DISCOVERY
WORSHIP
What can we praise or thank God for? (You could sing this or pray this to the Lord.)
What do we need to repent of? (This can be a time of silent or public confession.)
The Lord’s Supper
Read Psalm 23 (ESV) out loud together.
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Have someone pray a prayer of thanksgiving that the Lord has prepared this table in the presence of our enemies.
Take bread and say, “The body of Christ, given for you.”
Take a cup and say, “The blood of Christ, shed for you.”
Review
We’re working through the four key relationships and crucial priorities of a church family. Last week we looked at:
WORSHIP - Our Relationship with Jesus
Devote yourselves to connecting with and following after Jesus
Today, let’s look at:
DISCOVERY - Our Relationship with the Bible
DISCOVERY
Ask God to speak to you as you read His Word.
Luke 6:45-49 (CSB)
45 A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. 46 Why do you call me “Lord, Lord,” and don’t do the things I say? 47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn’t shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great.
Read the passage again (perhaps in another version).
Have someone retell the passage in their own words.
What stands out to you in the passage?
Do you have any questions about the passage?
What does the passage say about God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)?
What does the passage say about people, including ourselves?
What does the passage say about the life God invites us to live?
Dig Deeper
The Discovery Sequence
How do you see the following Discovery Sequence in relation to God’s Word (which includes Jesus’ words, of course) in Luke 6:45-49?
To HEAR the Word - KNOWLEDGE
To OBEY the Word - OBEDIENCE
To EXPERIENCE the Word - BLESSING
To SHARE the Word - WITNESS
Why does each component of this Discovery Sequence build on each other?
What happens if you HEAR the Word but do not OBEY it? Will you EXPERIENCE the blessing of the Word—its truth, promise, and transforming power in your life?
What happens if you move directly from HEARING to SHARING—skipping OBEYING and EXPERIENCING the Word?
James 1:22-25 (NLT)
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
What components of the Discovery Sequence does James highlight?
Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night.3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
According to this Psalm, how does one EXPERIENCE the blessing of the Word?
1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
How is HEARING and OBEYING the Word an important way to revere Christ as Lord? Why is the phrase “To HEAR Is To OBEY” an appropriate response to the Lordship of Jesus Christ?
How are we to SHARE our EXPERIENCE of the Word? That is, how are you to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have? Why are gentleness and respect important when SHARING our EXPERIENCE of the Word?
What’s the difference between IMMATURE “growth” and MATURE growth in the Discovery Sequence?
How do these five questions promote mature growth in the Discovery Sequence (HEAR-OBEY-EXPERIENCE-SHARE)?
What truth is God highlighting for you from the passage?
What would keep you from believing or obeying this truth?
What blessing would you experience if you believed and obeyed this truth?
How will you live out this truth this week? (“I will…”)
Who needs to hear this truth? How will you share it?
For a mature follower of Jesus to HEAR is to OBEY. And personal EXPERIENCE of the truth, power and promises of Jesus’ words brings credibility and conviction when we SHARE them with others.
To Hear Is To Obey
To Obey Is To Experience
To Experience Is To Share
Discovery Bible Study
For three weeks, we have been using what is called a Discovery Bible Study. Instead of having someone teach you God’s Word, in a Discovery Bible Study you discover God’s Word by answering questions in community. Discovery promotes engagement in the process and ownership of the outcomes.
How has this format for Bible study helped you?
What are its advantages and disadvantages?
Good things happen when you ask good questions.
Facilitating Notes
For the sake of time, or more importantly, to encourage deeper sharing, you could divide into groups of 2 to answer the following questions.
Ask these pairs to connect midweek to see how their “I will …” statements and sharing goals are coming along and how they can continue to support and pray for each other.
If you don’t divide into pairs, record each other’s “I will …” statements and sharing goals and remind each other of them during the week through a text or an email.
Now let’s answer these Discovery Bible Study questions for today’s study.
What truth is God highlighting for you from the passages?
What would keep you from believing or obeying this truth?
What blessing would you experience if you believed and obeyed this truth?
How will you live out this truth this week? (“I will…”)
Who needs to hear this truth? How will you share it?
In Summary
The church’s first two key relationships and crucial priorities are:
WORSHIP - Our Relationship with Jesus
Devote yourselves to connecting with and following after Jesus
DISCOVERY - Our Relationship with the Bible
Devote yourselves to taking in and living out God’s Word
Closing
Who will facilitate next time? (See FOR THE FACILITATOR for help in leading a gathering.)
Pray for God’s help as you seek to follow Jesus this coming week.
Each week you are encouraged to share a meal together.
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