Story Sets for Discovery Bible Studies

''Foundations' Convey Essentials of Being Disciples

When a group is clearly motivated, going through a standard sequence of topics together shows them basic foundations of knowing and following God in Jesus Christ. The Waha app's 'Foundations' tab features an excellent and thorough curriculum built-in. Going through it can turn new groups into thriving, multiplying, mature 'simple church' communities.

The Foundations curriculum starts at the very beginning. Some groups with enough background may be all right starting somewhere in the middle, where they really need to grow or course-correct.

Creation-to-Christ

In many contexts (including American ones) without any cultural knowledge of the Old or New Testaments, 'God' is a mysterious figure. Is God powerful? Is God good? The only such being, or one god among many? How does God relate to the rest of reality? In these situations it often works well to start at the beginning and take a speed-tour of the Old Testament to learn the answers to these questions and survey the 'backstory' of Jesus Christ:

Gen 1:1–25 creation
Genesis 1:26–27, 2:7–9, 2:15–25: creation of humans
Genesis 3:1–24: humans disobey God
Genesis 6:5–6, 6:9–22, 7:17–24: God destroys evil humanity
Genesis 11:1–9: tower of Babel
Genesis 12:1–7, 15:1–6: Abraham trusted God
Genesis 22:1–19: Abraham obeyed God
Exodus 2:23–3:14, 7:1–5: God’s call to Moses
Exodus 12:1–3, 12:21–31, 12:40–42: the Passover sacrifice
Exodus 20:1–17, Lev 6:1–7: Ten Commandments; sacrifice
Judges 2:10–23: cycle of disobedience
Isaiah 52:13–53:12: the Suffering Servant of God
Isaiah 9:1–7, Luke 1:26–38: the promised Savior
Luke 2:1–20: the birth of Jesus

Then it's time to encounter him and follow, in story sets that introduce the following basics (details in the Waha app):

Jesus' Life and Message

What did Jesus do and teach? How did different people respond? How did all that lead him to die, rise, and ascend to reign in heaven?

Jesus' Invitation

What does following him mean? What does it entail? What does it cost? What does it promise?

Being Disciples

What is it like to be a follower or disciple of Jesus? How are disciples related to God, and how do they relate to other people? What do they do day-to-day, and what happens as they do it?

Being a Jesus Community

What does it mean that disciples enter God's family and live with one another in God's fellowship as a gathering or 'church'?

Being Leaders

God raises up and multiplies leaders—lots and lots of them—to build up the whole family. What does leading look like in that unusual community? Who are some prime examples of leaders? What lessons do they offer the rest of us?

Growing as Disciples

Following Jesus is a walk without a finish line, at least not in this life. How do we keep on growing and facing new challenges in God's presence and power? How do we recover from errors and setbacks? How do we continue to make disciples who make disciples?

Growing as a Jesus Community

The same is true of life in fellowship: Our Lord means our community to keep growing both in number and in depth. How can we learn from the New Testament church how to do both of these things together?

Growing as Leaders

The same is true of leadership: How do we grow in our roles as leaders who apprentice leaders to apprentice leaders themselves, not just in our own circles but in fresh ones? What examples and advice do the first generations of Jesus' leaders have for us?

Whole Biblical Writings

As a group learns to hear from God's Word and act, and gains familiarity with scripture, it can move from shorter highlights to whole writings. Use the same discovery method to explore any book of the Bible one section at a time.

As you mature, learn to look not only at a passage but its literary context: what comes right before it and right after it.

Alt: The Story-Formed Life Story Set

If you prefer not to use the Waha list, here is a similar basic curriculum I have augmented slightly from Story-Formed Life. You could do each segment in one week, amounting to an eleven-week sequence. Then pick up with the Waha curriculum from 'Being Disciples,' skipping items your group already covered.

Introduction: Matt 28:18–20; 1 Cor 9:24–27

Creation: Gen 1:1–5; Gen 1:26–31; Gen 2:7–8; Gen 2:9, 15–17, 25; Heb 11:1–3

Fall: Gen 3:1–3; Gen 3:4–7; Gen 3:8–13; Gen 3:14–16; Gen 3:17–19; Gen 3:20–24; Rom 3:9–20

Covenant: Gen 12:1–5; Gen 22:1–2, 5–14; Ex 12:6–7, 23–27; Isa 53:1–6, 9–10; Luke 22:14–20

Kingdom: 1 Chron 1:1–4, 11–14; Zech 9:9–10, 16–17; Mark 1:14–15; Matt 6:9–13, 25, 33; Luke 19:35–44

Cross: Luke 22:19–20, 25–30; Luke 23:33–34, Matt 27:45–46 and John 19:28–30; Col 1:13–15, 19–20

Confession: Acts 17:30–32; Philippians 2:5–13; Mark 10:17–22; Luke 14:25–35; Romans 10:9–10; Matt 7:21–23

Adoption: Luke 2:41–52; John 8:28–36; Gal 3:26–29, 4:4–7; Rom 8:14–17; 1 Pet 2:4–5, 9–10

Holy Spirit: Isa 11:1–10 and Matt 12:22–29; John 14:12, 16–18, 23, 26; Acts 1:4, 5, 8, 2:1–4; Gal 5:16–21; Gal 5:22–25; Matt 4:1–4

Church: Matt 28:18–20; Acts 2:42–47; Matt 12:46–50; Mark 10:28–30; 1 Cor 12:7, 12–13, 18–22, 25–26; Eph 4:2–6; Eph 4:11–13

Re-creation: Matt 24:30–31; Rev 22:1–5, 16–17; 2 Cor 5:17–18; 1 Pet 1:13

Topical Story Sets Gauge Interest, Meet 'Pain Points,' and Foster Growth

Is a group even interested in a whole Foundations curriculum? A way to tell is a story set around a topic that may arouse a group's interest. A topic of only 6-8 sessions can also identify people of peace who want to form a discovery group in their own social circles. A worker in the United States recommends a story set that matches a person's or a group's "pain point"—where God's grace addresses particular needs in powerful ways.

Here are some popular topics. After going through one, is the group ready to commit to the Foundations curriculum?

Stories of Hope

This is a powerful set of testimonies from the Gospels to how Jesus Christ opens up new possibilities in the midst of dire circumstances:

Luke 7:36–50
Luke 18:9–17
Luke 19:1–10
Luke 5:17–26
Matthew 18:21–35
Luke 23:32–43
Luke 24:1–32
Luke 15:11–3

Promises of Comfort

Each passage in this story set is headed by a 'promise' verse:

Peace: read John 14:27; discover Acts 16: 6–34
Presence: read Hebrews 13:5; discover Psalm 139
Provision: read Philippians 4:19; discover Matthew 6:25–34
Forgiveness: read 1 John 1:9; discover Psalm 32
Guidance: read Proverbs 3:5–6; discover Psalm 23
Prayer: read John 15:7; discover Luke 18:1–8
Eternal life: read John 3:16; discover John 14:1–8
Strength: read Philippians 4:13; discover Philippians 4
Purpose: read Romans 8:28; discover Psalm 8
Joy: read John 16:24; discover Romans 5:1–11

Seven Signs of John

John the evangelist carefully selected and arranged seven stories of Jesus' miraculous deeds, which he called "signs" to highlight that they revealed who he is and how he accomplishes his mission. They point to an eighth 'sign': his crucifixion and resurrection.

John 2:1–12
John 4:46–54
John 5:1–15
John 6:5–14
John 6:16–24
John 9:1–7
John 11:1–45
John 20:1–31
conclusion: John 14:1–11

Commands of Christ

In Christian-background cultures Jesus is often treated as a teacher for us to learn from, or as a giver of free grace that we need only to receive in trust and celebrate in gratitude. Yet he is also the King of kings. This story set shows people his commands, and his promises and warnings about the consequences of obeying versus ignoring them.

Matthew 4:17, Luke 7:36–50
Matt 28:19, Acts 8:26–39
Matt 6:5–15
Matt 28:19–20, John 4:4–42
Matt 10:22, Acts 5:27–42
Matt 22:37–39, Luke 10:25–37
Matt 26:26–28, Luke 22:7–20
Matt 6:14, Mark 12:41–44
Matt 18:28, Hebrews 10:24–25, Acts 2:36–47

Other Topics for Specific 'Pain-Points'

The Waha app has brief story sets on a variety of topics that a person or a group might find especially relevant or appealing. Among these are:

virtues we need: courage, faith, hope, justice, love, obedience, and peace

challenges we face: anger, crisis, grief, hurt, reconciliation, self-esteem, and stress

finances: money and God, money advice, giving, and the marketplace

people: marriage, men, parenting, singles, women, and youth

theological questions: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, God 3 in 1, the Bible, God's Kingdom, mission, and prayer

This list of 55 DBS topics, compiled by a friend of mine, offers an even wider selection of 'pain points' and matters of relevance to people in different circumstances and seasons of life, including recovery.

You Matter

In cultures where people are starving for significance, meaning, and purpose, they can discover how they matter to God, others, and themselves:

You are his creation: Psalm 8
You can be free wherever you are: Luke 4:14–21
You are intimately known by God: Psalm 139:1–18
You are welcomed by the Father: Luke 15:11–32
You too can be forgiven: John 8:1–11
Your prayers are eagerly heard: Luke 18:9–14
You can be God's representative: 2 Corinthians 5:11–21
You have a God-given purpose: Romans 8
Your past doesn't matter: John 4:4–42
You can touch others' lives: Mark 5:1–20

Continue with the Foundations curriculum if people want to know the before and after of Christmas.

Discover Christmas

Christmas remains a major celebration in many post-Christian cultures. The Discovery app features this story set for people curious about the holiday's meaning:

The child foretold: Isaiah 9:6–7
The child born: Luke 2:4–7
The child proclaimed: Luke 2:8–14
The child worshipped: Luke 2:15–20
The child rejected: John 1:9–10
The child given: John 3:16
The child redeemer: Galations 4:4–5

Continue with the Foundations curriculum if people want to know the before and after of Christmas.

More from and about Jesus

For groups or people who finish the standard curriculum, Waha also offers these long story sets:

Jesus' miracles
Jesus' parables
Jesus' teachings

I also recommend reading through one of the four Gospels from start to finish, to see how each Gospel puts them into the context of Jesus' whole story and ministry.

Seven Journeys for Traditional Christians

Shoal Creek Community Church in Missouri developed seven story sets to help Christians in conventional church contexts journey more deeply into their identity as disciple-makers. Offered by permission of Roy Moran, here are seven journeys for more traditional groups to take, depending on their own desires and needs for growth. (The links take you to optional booklets that turn the DBS series into more of a church class.)

Trust: Moving from Earner to Heir. "We are worse off than we ever believed, but more loved than I'll ever know." Luke 15, Titus 3:4-7, Eph 2:1-10, Rom 5:1-20, John 1:9-13, Heb 2:10-13, Heb 12:5-7, Hosea 3, 1 Pet 1:3-4

Obey: Moving from Self-Hearted to Soft-Hearted. "What God says ought to matter most." Mark 7:17-23, Luke 9:23-25, Luke 18:9-14, Eph 2:1-10, 1 John 2:1-6, Ps 119:24-33, Rom 12:1-2, Prov 3:5-6, 1 Cor 6:12-20

Share: Moving from Receiver to Giver. "Lost people matter to God, so they ought to matter to us." Matt 28:16-20, 2 Cor 5:16-21, Matt 5:13-16, 1 Cor 9:19-23, Luke 10:1-11, Acts 1:6-8, John 4:27-35, Luke 19:1-10, Matt 9:35-38

Relate: Moving from Isolation to Community. "Made in the image of God, we are designed to live in community." Mark 2:1-12, Heb 10:24-25, Phil 2:3-8, Eccl 4:9-10, Acts 2:41-47, John 13:34-35, 1 Pet 1:13-23, Eph 4:20-29, Rom 12:9-21

Serve: Moving from Consumer to Producer. "Life is found in giving it away." Luke 12:13-21, Luke 8:4-15, Rom 12:3-8, Luke 19:10-27, 1 Pet 4:7-11, Gal 3:26-29, 1 Pet 2:1-9, Matt 28:16-20, 1 Cor 12:1-12

Give: Moving from Charitable to Extravagant. "If there is anything I have that I can't give away, I don't own it; it owns me." Rom 8:31-32, Matt 6:19-24, Luke 18:18-25, 2 Cor 9:6-15, Eccl 2:1-11, Prov 6:6-11, 1 Tim 6:6-10, Mark 12:41-44, 2 Cor 8:1-7

Disciple: Moving from Traveler to Guide. "We are made to reproduce." Matt 28:16-20, Luke 14:25-33, 2 Tim 2:1-7, John 15:1-8, Matt 5:3-12, 2 Cor 5:16-20, Heb 5:11-14, Matt 7:21-27

As a group's vision expands to grasp a more God-sized vision, the Foundations curriculum is a fine way to go back to the beginning with new eyes and see what we might have overlooked.