“Look Forward”

In “Look Forward,” move from knowledge to obedience. In this part focus on two elements: obedience to the Word, and passing it on to others.

I. The Third Column “I will…”

The third column is for 2 personal deacons regarding how you will be obedient to the Word of God – this is the goal of reading the Scripture

1. A decision to immediately apply a truth you learned to your life.
2. A decision about with whom you will share what you have read in the Scriptures.

II. Specific Characteristics for the Third Column:

First Decision:

• Write down your practical decision, beginning with the words “I will…”
• The sentence must be specific, measurable, and able to be done in the next 24-48 hours
• An example: “I will read the Bible for 30 minutes today,” instead of the general phrase:” I will read the Bible more often”

Second Decision:

• Write the name of least one person with whom you will share what you have learned from the passage

It is important, for accountability purposes, that everyone in the group will share their two decisions.

Important Tips:

• If you have people in your groups who have been believers for a long time and are focused on gaining new knowledge, this “three columns method” might seem superficial to them. Even if this is the case, it is actually vital that everyone finds in the text one lesson they can obey in the next 24 hours.
• The modern psychology has proven that if new material is not immediately reinforced by repetition and application, the human brain forgets up to 90% of the information received.

Read the following passage and answer the questions below:

• What characterizes the two types of people described in this text?
• What image did James use to illustrate the necessity of obedience?
• What is the result of obedience?

Even people who wholeheartedly study the Scriptures can be useless for the Kingdom of God, if they do not strive to do what they have learned. That is why James speaks about the “doer” and the “forgetful hearer.” He presents the Scriptures as the mirror of the soul that will surely show our real condition. The direct result of obedience is freedom and blessing.

III. The Two Additional Questions in “Look Back”

Remember the first three questions:

• What are you thankful for?
• What are you concerned about and how can we as group help you in this?
• What needs do your friends have, that we could help with or pray about?

These are the additional 2 questions, which are included in the second and all future Discovery Bible Studies.

• Since our last gathering, how did you do regarding what you wrote in the “I will” column? (This is accountability and encouragement for obedience to God)
• With whom and how did you share what you learned the last time? (Be attentive, because this could be the beginning of a new group).

Important Tips:

• The role of the group leader is necessary only at the very beginning. Even if you are just beginning a group with unbelievers, don’t take the leadership role upon yourself for more than 2 or 3 gathering. That is enough for everyone to understand to lead the group themselves. Then this role is passed to the next person or around the circle.
• As the leader, over the course of the first 2-3 gatherings you can already determine a person in the group with leadership potential or a person of influence. Let him lead the group even if he hasn’t even given his life to Jesus yet. then ask him to choose another person for this role.
• If the next person in line says that he/she isn’t ready, encourage them by saying: “Don’t worry, I’ll be here to help.”
• The leader should not interpret the Scripture and answer the questions of the people in the group. His/her goal is to coordinate the gathering’s progress. This can be done by anyone, even a child or a person who is not yet born again. This principle guarantees the future multiplication of similar groups.

“Discovery Bible Study” chart”