How to DISCOVER God’s Word together:
Do a Holy Spirit lead and taught bible study in 15 minutes with no prep!
Elements of DBS specifically shaped to WholyFit:
- Care
- Praise
- Scripture
- Discover
- Respond
- Prayer
You can do all these element in a Bible study setting, or you can incorporate these elements before, during and after a WholyFit Class.
CARE, PRAYER, PRAISE
During your opening, you can ask for volunteers to share what was great this week or what stressed you out. This is actually a non-christian-ese way to ask for praise report & prayer requests that is more natural for nonbelievers to connect with. Then you can do the opening prayer, praising for the joys and praying for the requests.
For example: Ask each person what they are thankful for during the class while holding postures during cycles II-IV)
PRAISE
While holding postures in cycles II-IV you can do praise. There are many other ways to add praise and worship into your actual class time.
For example: Give one word affirmative description of God.
PRAYER
During restoration ask each person to think of one stress and pray about it. Visualize it and see yourself putting at the foot of the cross.
Focus is on one Scripture: Choose a Scripture, such as Scripture from your WholyFit class, or what your pastor has taught on that week. Stories and narratives are the easiest to use. They do not require any historical background or context.
SCRIPTURE
Take turns reading out loud 3x. You can read the Scripture during Restoration to save time and make a nice transition into the afterglow. Rephrase the Scripture using ONLY what you just read. It’s best to pretend here you know nothing about the Bible! Think of it as looking at Scripture as a child, for for the very first time.
For kids or adults who have a hard time rephrasing:
In Sunday school, we read it once, then when we re-read it, we leave out words and pause to let the kids yell out the missing word before continuing.
DISCOVER
“After glow” – Add 30 minutes to WF class to engage participants in Bible study immediately following WholyFit workout. Call it “Afterglow” or “Fellowship Time”
Right out of restoration have participants physically roll right into their group – to those closest to them – without standing up, with no break. Each group facilitator takes a couple people closest to them and have Bibles ready – or lead WholyFit teacher, before class, writes out verse on a white board for all to see. WholyFit Classes of more than 3 people: Best in small groups. Break down large groups into small groups of 3 people in a group with 1 facilitator within each group (no more than 4 total due to time constraints).
SHARE with two share questions:
1. What is this Scripture telling you about God?
2. What does this Scripture tell you about people?
This is the where the Facilitator is needed to direct the discussion. The facilitator tells the group it’s like a game and here are the rules: You cannot use any other source but the bible verse. You cannot use any other bible verse. You have to stick just with the Bible verse and nothing else. This keeps everyone equal. No one has to appear to have more knowledge than anyone else. Even non-christians can respond because the Holy Spirit is perfectly capable of speaking through His word. That is the goal: to encourage people to read the Word, hear from God and apply it to their lives. “Put feet on” the Word.
The Facilitator-
- May provide historical background and context overview (optional)
- divides group into groups of 3
- directs the groups
- keeps things flowing and timed
- keeps group facilitators on track
Alternate questions you might come up with: What captured your attention? Say what you liked. ii. Example 2: What did you learn about God? What did you learn about people?
RESPOND with one respond question
3. What do you think God is saying to you through this Scripture (wants you to know, wants you to do, etc…)
This the most important part. Don’t skip this part. It does us no good to simply read and know God’s Word. We must encourage people to obey it, practice it, put feet on it.
PRAYER
Pray now that whatever God shared with each person will be put in action this next week. Next week you can now ask during opening of class how they “put feet on” what God shared with them the prior week.
“I will” statement
Facilitator directs group to silently think, pray about & write down one of the following. This is called an “I will” statement:
a. How will I respond to this coming week? (I will…)
b. Is there someone who would benefit from hearing this?
c. Who could I share my story and God’s story with this week?
Each group now prays for each other’s ‘I will…’ statements. Pray for success and empowerment by the Holy Spirit of the “I wills” to be done this week. In the next week’s session you will keep each other accountable for their decisions and ask, “How did you do on your I WILL?” If they say, “not so good” just encourage them to do it the next week and so on.
Intro.
Join Laura for Discovery Bible Study Monthly on Zoom. Information is on Facebook.com/wholyfitinstructors
Click on the word, “Vimeo” in the lower right hand corner of each video. Watch the video on Vimeo and read the comment section for the complete training details.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4