Qualification
1. Did you ask two people if they would like to discover for themselves what God is like since our last conversation?
2. Who did you talk with and how did they respond? If they responded positively, here is a study you can use called Creation to Christ 
Caring for each other
3. What are you thankful for this week?
4. What are you struggling with and how can we help?
Accountability
5. How did you put into practice the scripture/story we studied last time we met?
6. Who did you share last week's lesson with and how did it go?
7. What needs did you meet in your community/network last week?
Discover
John 14:12-14
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. Read More
8. What stood out to you in this passage?
9. What does this passage tell us about God or Jesus?
10. What does this passage tell us about people?
Ministry Principles
Many people learn better by hearing than reading. In many of our face-to-face Discovery Bible Studies we use an oral method of teaching where we:
1. Ask someone to read the passage one paragraph at a time
2. Have a group member tell it in their own words
3. Ask the group if they added anything or left anything out.
4. When you finish with ALL paragraphs, ask someone in the group to tell the WHOLE story by memory. Have the group correct any errors.
Lately we have been experimenting with having one person prepare in advance to tell the whole story at the beginning. Then we break into groups of two and take turns telling the story to each other. Then come back to together and read the passage. Our group really likes this approach.
I prepare for telling the story by reading it three times. The first time I read it I write an outline of the events. The second time I write down the characters in the passage. The third time I write down the emotions and tone of the interactions between the people. I then practise by telling my wife or my neighbours.
Listen to my telling of this story and immediately record your own version. Then go to the next page and read the passage
11. Now tell the story in your own words
Discover
Mark 9:14-29
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Heals a Boy Possessed by an Impure Spirit
14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
16 "What are you arguing with them about?" he asked.
17 A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."
19 "You unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."
20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"
"From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for one who believes."
24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."
26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"
29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."
12. What stood out to you in this passage?
13. What does this passage tell us about God or Jesus?
14. What does this passage tell us about people?
Ministry Principles
The disciples should have been able to cast out the demon. They had been doing this before (see Matthew 10:7 ).
15. How are you going to respond when your outreach is not going the way you expected?
16. What other ministry principles do you see in this passage?
Application
17. If this passage is true, what behaviour will you change this week?
18. With whom will you share what you learned this week? What will you share?
19. What needs can you meet in your community/network this week?
Homework
In the passage Mark 9:14-29 Jesus points out the importance of prayer.
You will need people praying for you if you are to be successful in starting Discovery Bible studies.
Here is an idea:
- Write down the names of 30 people who would return your phone call or email.
- Each day contact one of them.
- Ask how you can pray for them.
- Pray with them right then. Pray over the phone or type your prayer in an email.
- Tell them how they can pray for you and ask them to pray at their next meal.
- See what God does.
