Have you ever thought of leading a Bible study at your home but you didn’t know how? Now you can without having to know the Bible inside out. The Discovery Bible Study method is simple. Meet with 2-12 friends, and here are the steps:
• Pray: Dear Jesus, guide us and speak to us as we read your Word. Thank you. Amen.
• Start at the beginning of the Gospel of Mark or Acts or Genesis.
•One person facilitates the following but facilitates rather than teaches or answers all the 5 questions himself:
Read one passage or story at a time.
1. One person reads the passage
2. Another reads the same story–in another translation if there’s one in the group.
3. Then one person retells the story in their own words without looking at the text.
Then ask the following 5 questions CEJAT that can be used for any passage of the Bible:
(See also CHURCH PLANTING MOVEMENTS: 4 TRANSFORMING PRINCIPLES for more strategies like this to grow the kingdom)
1. What is the context of this passage for the recipients?
CONTEXT
We need to know what the passage meant first to the original recipients.
“A biblical text can’t mean what it never meant (to the original recipients)” (Fee e Stuart)
That is we can’t interpret a passage to mean something different from what it meant to the original audience.
The immediate context either side of the passage is the most important and then the whole book.
Also we need to know the background to the story.
E.g. Mk 3:13-19 is when Jesus chose the 12 apostles and to send them out. It says he went up on a mountain before choosing. But when we compare with the same story in Luke 6:12-16 verse 12 tells us that Jesus spent the whole night in prayer before choosing. So Luke gives us more context, the context of prayer when making important decisions.
2. Explain what surprises you about this passage or story
EXPLAIN
Sometimes a verse will spring out at you or will even shock you. What catches your attention. Start here.
3. How can the words or life of Jesus help me with this passage?
JESUS
At the end of the day the whole Bible points to Jesus. He is the fulfilment of all Scripture and I can only obey the words of the passage with His help and direction, not by trying harder or in my own strength. So we ask what did Jesus say elsewhere about the topic of the passage OR how is his life an example of this for us.
At the simplest level we simply look for other passages in the New Testament where Jesus explains more about this issue. E.g. with the same passage Mk 3:13-19 there is a whole chapter giving the apostles instructions for being sent out in Mt 10.
But how does this work if we are studying an Old Testament passage? Maybe I am reading the story of Joseph and how he kept going as a slave in Egypt and then in prison. Then I remember Heb 12:2
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
So when I am in situations like Joseph, I can keep going by keeping my eyes on Jesus and following His example.
4. What changes will I make in response to the passage?
APPLICATION
5. Who am I going to tell about what I learned?
TELL
It could be a friend or a member of your family or a work colleague. When we tell others, we learn more and we multiply the word in the lives of others.
Through these 5 questions, and the Discovery Bible Study method anyone can run a Bible study group because you are learning together.
Anyone can remember the 5 questions from the mnemonic CEJAT: CONTEXT, EXPLAIN, JESUS, APPLICATION, TELL
Now pray together for help to apply the passage to your lives and for the needs of those present.
FINALLY
At the next Discovery Bible study, ask
1. What did you manage to apply this week?
2.Who did you tell about what you learned?
Then, follow the above process for the next story—next time.
You also might like to read this article about the strategies of apostles to grow the church:
APOSTOLIC MINISTRY: 7 CHARACTERISTICS OF APOSTLES
THE STRATEGY TO MULTIPLY THE KINGDOM
You teach everyone you know how to run a simple Bible Study at home or at work with friends or family or neighbours using CEJAT. Then you watch to see who actually gives it a go and is teaching others to do CEJAT as well. You then spend more time with these people, helping them and discipline them.
This strategy works because it’s based on the parable of the sower. Jesus teaches everyone, then sees who went away and practiced. Who was the “good soil”.
So why don’t you try the Discovery Bible Study method today and teach others the 5 questions CEJAT too?
MORE
It’s time to see church as believers and to start making disciples that also make disciples.
For stories on revivals as a devotional do read my book GRACE OUTPOURINGS: 21 DAYS REVIVAL DEVOTIONAL based on real experiences of revival.
See also 5 WAYS TO GET READY FOR A DIVINE VISITATION.This has a key chapter on how to disciple called, “Get Ready to Disciple”.