The Discovery Bible Study Method helps you to read, discover, and apply the Good News (truths) hidden in the stories or narratives in the Bible. This method is born because approximately 70% of the Bible is made up of stories, parables included.
Moreover, stories are easier to remember and retell. Therefore, you will be able to recognize the truths contained in the Bible stories easily. And you will be able to personalize them, and readily and accurately share the same with others.
Therefore, the Discovery method is appropriate for 70% of the Bible which is made up of narratives. Jesus, our example, also used stories and parables in His ministry that were highly impactful (Matthew 13:34-35).
The Discovery Bible Study Method
The process of discovering Bible truths is demanding. This is because there is intentional involvement in discovering the hidden truths (Matthew 13:10-11). But God promises that those who seek the truth will find it (Matthew 7:7-8).
Consequently, this Bible study method is divided into three (3) steps. These steps can easily be memorized and recalled using the acronym FCD.
- Familiarisation (Know the story)
- Comprehension (Understand the importance and meaning of the story)
- Discovery (Discover the truths hidden in the story)
Familiarisation
You have to be first familiar with the text (story) you have selected and you achieve this by reading the text. Familiarisation is, therefore, a function of reading the text you have selected.
Normally, stories possess three (3) common qualities or features. These are: the characters, the actions of the characters, and the details of the story. They’re what we need to know about the story under study. And to know these things we have to read the Bible story in question.
Remember, the more you read a story, the more familiar you become with it. And the more you read and retell the story you will have selected, the even more you will be familiar with its qualities.
Comprehension
To understand the importance and meaning of a particular story, you’ll have to focus on the different (individual or personal) perspectives of each character. In other words, you’ll have to “step into the shoes” of each character. This will enable you to find out their emotions and choices, and the motives behind the same.
But you’ll have to identify the emotions experienced by and the choices available to the character, and the motives behind the same. The character’s choice will also be important because life is a function of choices. Therefore, the choices of the characters of the story in question will be significant in your quest to understand it.
Discovery
Man’s purpose
Ultimately, God created man to relate with Him and his fellow men. And Jesus taught that all Scripture can be summarised into two (2) commands. That is, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-40).
Scripture’s purpose concerning Man’s purpose
In addition, in 1 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul reveals that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Meaning that the truths we discover in the Bible stories will teach, rebuke, correct, and train us to love God and fellow men.
Right thoughts and actions
Therefore, every Bible story can teach us the right (biblical) thoughts and actions that will enable us to love God and our fellow men better. For after discovering the truths in a Bible story, we have to apply them in our lives (James 1:22-25). As you do so, take note that rebuke is past-oriented, correction is present-oriented, and training is future-oriented.
Resources for Practice
Finally, the following two (2) resources should help you to practice the Discovery Bible Study Method.
- The Prodigal Son Bible Study
- Luke 19:1-10
