At a very high level, there are very few building blocks an iDiscover Facilitator needs to learn in order to craft an engaging, thought-provoking and conversational lesson every week. And because they are the same building blocks every week, the facilitator will get better at the process every week.
Ice Crusher
[ GREAT Question
[ Dialogue/Analysis
[ Transition
[ Repeat
Clarification
It is the conversation - the thoughts that are provoked by a GREAT Question about Scripture - that leads to life change.
Asking GREAT questions expands the Range of Discovery, allowing God's word to touch the "bone and marrow" in the participant's life in areas that may be far afield from where your plan may be directed. Which is wonderful! Because only when God changes a life, is that life truly changed.
While one should have some level of Biblical knowledge to lead a conversational Bible Study, one does not need GREAT knowledge of Scripture to ask GREAT questions about scripture.
The Secret Sauce can be a tremendous help.
TRUE STORY
I have a friend that has been leading Bible studies for years. Solid Christian. Biblically literate. Father, husband, and grandfather.
When we met, he was spending 6 hours a week preparing for his Bible Study group. He was spending that time learning what the literature had to say and what commentaries and Bible dictionaries had to say about the passage. He wanted to impart that knowledge to his group in what he hoped was a meaningful way. And because of the length of time the members in his group had been Christians, he always hoped to find something they had not heard before.
He is also employed with an international technology firm, in a role of some significance. So, like every other member of his church and yours, those 6 hours are precious time out of his available time every week.
Because the iDiscover process is driven by engaging participants in a discovery of truth in God's word, the need to prepare lecture content from a lesson that has been provided to you is not the focus, nor the need. Certainly the facilitator benefits from a personal understanding of the scripture, but he need not load up with content to deliver, because the content will be delivered from those that are engaged and whose thoughts are provoked by the GREAT questions pointing at God's Word.
Yes. Really. Learn this process and you can have
Ice breakers are very helpful at getting people to start talking. Especially in the early weeks of a new small group. People don't know each other very well. Commonalities and shared concerns are at a minimum.
But, what if you could get them talking about something that is parallel to, but otherwise unrelated to, the concepts in the lesson. Something that with their very thoughts - the things they share - create illustrations for the forthcoming dialogue. And BONUS, will often create a great transition into the lesson.
You won't just break the ice... you'll crush it!
There is a simple 3-step process you can learn that will help you craft ice crushing questions.
The iDiscover process counts on God's Word to be true about itself. Among other passages:
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.- Heb 4:12 (ESV)
Because this process engages participants in active reading of God's Word and engaging, thought-provoking dialogue about God's Word, the Holy Spirit has freedom to speak into the heart of participants from what they've discovered, rather than what the Bible study leader has studied for 6 hours and then attempted to transfer to his group.
Basic prayerful questions guide the preparation:
If God does not show you something for your group or your church, it is a farily safe conclusion that you can help them discover more about what God's Word says about the church's mission and vision.
At least once a month, you will be engaging your group in a thoughtful, Biblical disussion about God's mission for them.
Thought-Provoking
Engaging
Relational
Genuine
Life-Changing
In less than 1 hour.
And one final thought to provoke.
When other's experience this, they want to know how. You will find it easier to enlist and develop leaders because this scratches a God-given itch.
This leads people to discover truth in the way that God has designed us to learn.
This frees up their time to engage more relationally with members of their group.
This takes the burden of "expert" off of their shoulders.
This encourages shared lesson development because ideas are born instead of content studied.
Check out the testimonies of those who have learned it enough to use and teach iDiscover.
