The Gathering · ResourceThe Gathering · Recurso

DiscoveryBible Study

Helping every believer go and make disciples that multiplyAjudar cada crente a ir e fazer discípulos que se multiplicam

A Discovery Bible Study (DBS) is a small group that meets together to explore the life and words of Jesus — for the purpose of discipleship. The goal is not a better Bible lecture. The goal is a room full of people discovering what God says for themselves, obeying it, and taking it to others.

Understanding DBSO Que é o EBD

What It Is. What It Isn't.O Que É. O Que Não É.

What a DBS IsO Que é um EBD

A DBS is a simple, structured gathering where a small group of people read the same passage of Scripture together, discuss it using focused discovery questions, and commit to obeying and sharing what they've found.

Anyone can lead one. You don't need a degree, a building, or years of experience. You need a Bible, a few people, and a willingness to let God speak.

Used globally to reach the lost, disciple new believers, and build communities of obedience — from living rooms to workplaces to villages with no church.

What a DBS Is NotO Que um EBD Não É

A DBS is not one person teaching while everyone else listens. It is not a lecture, a sermon, or a Bible knowledge competition. The facilitator's job is to ask questions — not give answers.

The Holy Spirit is the teacher. The facilitator creates space for the group to discover what the Word says for themselves. This is what makes it reproducible — anyone who participates can lead the next one.

Avoid the temptation to preach or correct. Ask, listen, let the Word do its work.

Getting StartedComo Começar

Three Steps to LaunchTrês Passos para Lançar

Set a DateDefine uma Data

  • Decide to start — commit to a regular meeting (weekly works best; fortnightly if needed)Decide começar — assume o compromisso de um encontro regular (semanal é o melhor; quinzenal se for preciso)
  • Pick a location: home, café, workplace, anywhere people can gather comfortablyEscolhe um local: casa, café, trabalho, qualquer sítio onde as pessoas se possam reunir à vontade
  • Aim for 60–90 minutes per sessionAponta para 60–90 minutos por sessão
  • Consistency matters more than perfectionA consistência importa mais do que a perfeição

Invite PeopleConvida Pessoas

  • Start by inviting other followers of Jesus — people who want to growComeça por convidar outros seguidores de Jesus — pessoas que querem crescer
  • If you know someone far from God, invite them too — DBS is designed to reach seekersSe conheces alguém longe de Deus, convida-o também — o EBD foi concebido para alcançar quem procura
  • Each week, encourage everyone to invite someone newEm cada semana, encoraja todos a convidar alguém novo
  • Ask: "Would you like to read some stories of hope with us?"Pergunta: «Gostarias de ler connosco algumas histórias de esperança?»

Run the StudyRealiza o Estudo

  • Choose a passage from the study tracks belowEscolhe uma passagem das trilhas de estudo abaixo
  • Read it aloud, together — twiceLê-a em voz alta, em conjunto — duas vezes
  • Let someone retell the story in their own wordsDeixa alguém recontar a história por palavras suas
  • Ask the four discovery questions — and listenFaz as quatro perguntas de descoberta — e ouve
  • Close with prayer and goals for the weekTermina com oração e objetivos para a semana

The FormatO Formato

A Simple Session StructureUma Estrutura de Sessão Simples

Every session follows this rhythm. It's flexible — adapt it to your group — but keep the bones in place.Cada sessão segue este ritmo. É flexível — adapta-o ao teu grupo — mas mantém a estrutura essencial.

1

CareCuidar

Give people a chance to briefly share how they are doing. Listen, pray for one another. Build genuine community before you open the Word.

5 min5 min
2

WorshipAdoração

Spend time worshipping Jesus in song. In a public setting like a café, skip this or keep it quiet. The goal is to invite His presence before the study begins.

10–15 min10–15 min
3

Sharing AccountabilityResponsabilização

The facilitator asks: "Who was able to share the story from last week? How has that impacted others?" This keeps the group outward-facing and accountable to the Great Commission.

5 min5 min
4

Discover the Bible TogetherDescobrir a Bíblia Juntos

Read the passage aloud twice. Have someone retell the story in their own words. Then discuss using the four discovery questions below — everyone contributes, no one dominates.

25–30 min25–30 min
5

Pray & GoOrar e Ir

Pray for people who are far from God. Set personal goals: Who will you share this story with before next week? Then go into the harvest.

5–10 min5–10 min

The Four Discovery QuestionsAs Quatro Perguntas de Descoberta

Use these for every passage. They are simple, they are powerful, and they are reproducible. Anyone who hears them this week can ask them next week.

1

What do we learn about God or Jesus in this story? — Focus on His character, His heart, His power, His compassion.

2

What do we learn from the people in this story? — What did they do right? What did they do wrong? What can we take from them?

3

What is this passage telling me to do? — Make it personal and specific. Not "what should Christians do" — what should I do this week?

4

Who am I going to tell? — Every session ends with a name. The goal is not just personal growth but outward multiplication.

Study TracksTrilhas de Estudo

Four Paths Through the WordQuatro Caminhos pela Palavra

Choose the track that fits where your group is. You can move from one to the next as people grow.Escolhe a trilha que se adequa ao ponto onde o teu grupo está. Podes passar de uma para a seguinte à medida que as pessoas crescem.

9
For people exploring JesusPara pessoas a explorar Jesus

Stories of HopeHistórias de Esperança

Nine stories of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke — ideal for groups with seekers or people who are curious about Jesus but not yet committed. Each story shows who He is: what He did and what He said.

PassagesPassagens

  • Luke 7:36–50 — Jesus ForgivesJesus Perdoa
  • Luke 5:17–26 — Jesus Forgives & HealsJesus Perdoa e Cura
  • Luke 7:1–10 or 8:43–48 — Jesus Heals the SickJesus Cura os Enfermos
  • Luke 7:11–17 — Jesus Raises the DeadJesus Ressuscita os Mortos
  • Luke 8:22–25 — Jesus Calms the StormJesus Acalma a Tempestade
  • Luke 8:26–39 — Jesus Heals the DemoniacJesus Cura o Endemoniado
  • Luke 9:10–17 — Jesus Feeds the 5,000Jesus Alimenta os 5.000
  • Luke 18:18–30 — Jesus & the Rich ManJesus e o Rico
  • Luke 9:28–36 — Jesus is GodJesus é Deus
11
For people following JesusPara pessoas a seguir Jesus

Commands of ChristMandamentos de Cristo

Eleven foundational commands Jesus gave His disciples — ideal for new believers or those who have just committed to following Him. Based on the Great Commission to make disciples who obey everything He commanded.

Commands includeMandamentos incluem

  • Repent and BelieveArrepende-te e Crê — Mark 1:15
  • Be Baptised in WaterSê Batizado nas Águas — Matthew 28:19
  • Receive the Holy SpiritRecebe o Espírito Santo — Acts 1:8
  • PrayOra — Matthew 6:5–13
  • Love God and Your NeighbourAma a Deus e ao Próximo — Matthew 22:37–40
  • GiveDá — Luke 6:38
  • Make DisciplesFaz Discípulos — Matthew 28:18–20
  • Take the Lord's SupperCelebra a Ceia do Senhor — Luke 22:19–20
4G
For ongoing discipleshipPara discipulado contínuo

The Four GospelsOs Quatro Evangelhos

Work through Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John passage by passage using the DBS method. Ideal for established groups who want to go deeper into who Jesus is, what He said, and how to follow Him in every area of life.

How to use itComo usar

  • Choose one Gospel and work through it sequentiallyEscolhe um Evangelho e percorre-o sequencialmente
  • Luke is recommended as a starting point — it's comprehensive and narrative-richLucas é recomendado como ponto de partida — é abrangente e rico em narrativa
  • Follow the same 5-stage format every sessionSegue o mesmo formato de 5 etapas em cada sessão
  • This track naturally produces the most depth and longest-running groupsEsta trilha produz naturalmente maior profundidade e os grupos de maior duração
2B
For discovering baptism in water & Holy SpiritPara descobrir o batismo nas águas e no Espírito Santo

The Two BaptismsOs Dois Batismos

Jesus spoke of two baptisms: baptism in water and baptism in the Holy Spirit. This focused track helps believers understand what the Bible says about both — and how to step into the full inheritance Christ purchased.

Key textsTextos-chave

  • Matthew 28:19 — The command to baptiseO mandamento de batizar
  • Romans 6:3–4 — Buried and raised with ChristSepultados e ressuscitados com Cristo
  • Acts 1:4–8 — The promise of the SpiritA promessa do Espírito
  • Acts 2:1–4 — The Day of PentecostO Dia de Pentecostes
  • Acts 10:44–48 — Gentiles receive the SpiritOs Gentios recebem o Espírito
  • Ephesians 5:18 — Be filled continuallySê continuamente cheio

For FacilitatorsPara Facilitadores

Seven Tips for a Great SessionSete Dicas para uma Ótima Sessão

1

Prepare and pray before each session. The facilitator's job begins before anyone arrives. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide the discussion and speak to each person in the room.

2

Keep a timer and stay focused. The structure exists for a reason. When each stage stays in its lane, the whole session flows and people leave energised, not drained.

3

Ask questions, don't give answers. Your role is to facilitate discovery, not deliver a sermon. Ask the four questions. Wait for the room to answer. Trust the process.

4

Let the Holy Spirit be the teacher. Resist the urge to correct, explain, or fill silence. Silence is where people process. The Spirit is at work in the quiet too.

5

Stay focused and manage tangents. When the discussion drifts, bring it back gently: "That's interesting — let's come back to the passage. What does the text say?"

6

Help people set specific weekly goals. Vague goals produce vague results. Help each person name one thing they will do and one person they will tell before the next meeting.

7

Organise prayer walks and outreaches. DBS groups that go into the community together grow faster and multiply more readily than those that only meet inward.

ExampleExemplo

A Sample SessionUma Sessão de Amostra

Command 1 from the Commands of Christ track — Repent and Believe in JesusMandamento 1 da trilha dos Mandamentos de Cristo — Arrepende-te e Crê em Jesus

Session 1: Repent and BelieveSessão 1: Arrepende-te e Crê

Mark 1:15 — "Repent and believe in the gospel." · Stories: Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1–10) or The Sinful Woman (Luke 7:36–50)

Care (5 min)Cuidar (5 min)

"How are you doing?" — Go around briefly. Listen. Pray for anyone with a specific need.

Accountability (5 min)Responsabilização (5 min)

For session 1: Cast the vision. Read Acts 2:36–47 together and discuss what a healthy, multiplying church looks like. From session 2 onward: "Who shared the story? What happened?"

The Word (30 min)A Palavra (30 min)
  • Read Mark 1:15 aloud, then the story passage aloud — twice
  • Ask someone to retell it in their own words
  • What do we learn about God from this story?
  • What do we learn from the people in the story?
  • What does this passage tell ME to do?
  • Who am I going to tell?
Going Deeper (optional)Aprofundar (opcional)
  • What does "repent" actually mean? (Turning from sin and following Jesus)
  • What does "believe" mean? (Choosing to trust Jesus as Lord)
  • Why should we repent? Read Romans 3:23; 6:23; 10:9
  • What is assurance? 1 John 1:9 and John 10:28
Set Goals & PrayDefine Objetivos e Ora

"Who are you praying for? Who will you share with this week?" — Close with prayer: obey His commands, abide in Christ, share the gospel, care for those around you in love.

Ready to Start?Pronto para Começar?

You Don't Need Permission.
You Need Obedience.Não Precisas de Permissão.
Precisas de Obediência.

Open your home. Invite a few people. Read the Word together. Ask the questions. Let God do the rest. We are here to walk with you every step of the way.

Connect With The GatheringConecta-te com The Gathering Our Statement of FaithA Nossa Declaração de Fé