Today’s Most Successful Bible Study Method

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God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one can resist God’s Word (Hebrews 4:12-13a, MSG).

There’s a church growth movement that focuses on reading and obeying the Bible. Currently, it is the most successful church-planting movement in the world, with over nine million churches planted and more than 100 million disciples.

And, most American churchgoers have never heard of it.

This movement has one focus: reading, understanding, and obeying the Word of God. Indigenous missionaries from third-world countries enter a village, ask the village leaders if they can gather a group together, then read the Bible to them, ask those listening what it means, how it applies, and what they should do to obey.

That’s it — proving the Word is active and powerful — able to defuse all doubts and untruthful defenses set against it. These movements, known as Disciple Making Movements (DMMs), demonstrate the effectiveness of simple reading, understanding, applying, and obeying the Word of God. The resultant changed lives give testimony to the truth of the Bible and enable rapid growth.

Let’s review their “world-changing” Bible study method …

1. Read the Bible: They emphasize a small text or Bible story.
2. Ask discovery questions like:
   • What does the text say?
   • What does it reveal about God?
3. Discern relevant meaning by considering:
   • What is the sin?
   • What are the promises?
   • What does it reveal about God’s character?
   • How does it apply to me?
4. They obey what the Bible reveals to them by saying to one another, “I will do this.” Then they hold one another accountable.
5. Finally, they share what they have learned with others and invite them to the Bible study.

Sounds simple enough, but this method seems to be working mainly (some say only) in third-world countries, and not in the United States. Perhaps it’s a method by the Spirit for impoverished countries, but maybe there’s a religiosity in our country that resists a simple read, understand, obey, and hold one another accountable method of reading the Bible. There are other reasons. A key missiologist (someone who knows about missions) was asked why DMMs don’t work in America. He said, “When I get this question, I don’t have an answer; I have four.”

His four answers:

1. They cultivate a culture of radical prayer and fasting.
2. They become passionate seed sowers for Jesus as believers set weekly goals to share the gospel with others.
3. They empower, equip, and release every believer — not just those who can serve a church vision or volunteer at a church building — but emboldened disciples to share the gospel everywhere they go.
4. They don’t try to control the Spirit. Movements die when the rigidity of denominational control or business practices begins to organize the leadings of the Spirit.

I’m not sure there can be a true DMM movement in America, but each of us can benefit by practicing their most impactful Bible study method.