Discipling praise:
- Question #1: “What happened last week for which you are thankful?”
- Encourage everyone to answer briefly.
Discipling intercession:
- Question #2: “What struggles are happening in your life, family or community?”
- After the study there will be a follow-up question.
Discipling accountability (not done the first week):
- Question #3: “How did the attempt to help with the need go?”
Discipling hearing God’s word to obey:
- Have the text read/told well (If illiterate it must be told well.)
- Ask for a volunteer to re-tell the passage in his/her own words.
- Ask the rest of the group to fill in any details that were overlooked.
- Question #4: “What do we learn about God in this section?”
- Question #5: “What do we learn about humanity from the section?”
- Question #6: “How would your life change if you put this passage into practice?”
- Question #7: “Who do you know who needs to hear this lesson?”
Discipling being servants:
- Earlier we heard about (insert appropriate need).
- Question #8: “How can we help meet that need?”
This format is followed every meeting. While it may seem too simplistic or redundant, it is to be repeated until it becomes something the group knows to do without thinking about it (the three “R’s” of education—“repetition, repetition…”
There is one more question that is needed at times—“Where is that in this passage?” The group is trained to ask this question when someone tries to bring in topics that are not included in the text as a way to keep the group on track. Here they are being discipled to depend on Scripture as their source of spiritual authority.
Outside leaders should never facilitate more than two studies. It is preferable if they never facilitate, but rather coach the Person of Peace to ask the questions.
From the Desk of John King 
[…] longtime good friend, John King, is engaged in training people around the world in Discovery Bible Studies as part of the CityTeam Ministries’ Disciple Making Movement or the Church Planting […]
I’m glad to find this post. I must be a bit obsessive because it drives me nuts when I find the outline varies just a little bit between different authors! Oh well, doing SOMETHING is likely better than doing NOTHING! 🙂
Chuck, I can relate, but one thing you need to know is we are all working in different settings and among people with different worldviews. Just think about the fact that there are four gospel accounts in our New Testaments. I am convinced this is true because each of the four relates the story of Jesus to four different worldviews. The diversity in the questions comes from the writer’s unique personality and his/her efforts to facilitate the discovery process among different groups. You very well may have to adapt the list for your target group, too. But make sure you understand the goal of each question so your adaptation can accomplish the same discipleship goal. Blessings!