Discovery Bible Study
The Christian faith is built on the belief that God is saving the world through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. That story of God’s work in human history is detailed in a library of works we call the Bible.
Jesus himself, a teacher of the Bible, viewed these writings as authoritative. Therefore, any serious attempt to follow Jesus demands that we take the Bible seriously and let it play a central role in our lives and communities– but that is not always easy.
The Bible is a library of strange, ancient, and foreign writings about our God. It is a collection of writings by over 60 authors spanning thousands of years and composed in several genres. Too often, our assumptions can prevent us from discovering all it offers.
As disciples, we try to lay aside our preconceptions and approach the bible with curiosity and a desire to obey its instructions. When we do this, we will discover that “God is not in our stories, but that our stories are in God’s” (Eugene Peterson).
Each week, as we gather around the biblical text, we practice the Discovery Bible Study method. This is a simple method of interpreting the scriptures with three questions:
What does this reveal about God or His Kingdom? This is a vertical question leading us to think critically about God's character and how He revealed Himself in history.
What does this reveal about human nature or yourself? This is a self-reflection question leading us to ask where we see ourselves, both collectively and individually, in the story.
How can you live out this passage, or who should you share this story with? This is a horizontal question inviting us to respond, to do something, or to tell someone.
As we do this, the Spirit guides our intellects and conversations into new discoveries. Whether you’ve followed Jesus for decades, just started, or are still unsure about Jesus, this bible study method is a simple invitation to read the Bible and see where it leads.
