We’re continuing a series of posts about Making Disciples through Discovery Community. A Discovery Community is a developing group of people following Jesus Christ outside the walls of a church building who are discovering Him as the way, the truth, and the life. You can read the series here:
Part 1: What Is a Discovery Community?
Part 2: Discovery Community – Suitable Name
Part 3: Discovery Community – Strategic Environment
Part 4: Discovery Community – Simple Meeting Format
Part 5: Discovery Community – Repeatable Rhythms
While there are many names used to identify small groups that are gospel-centered, Discovery Community is a suitable name for a group of seekers who meet to make disciples. Discovery Communities initial focus is on:
- people who are not following Christ
- people who have little or no church background
- people who hesitate to attend a traditional church meeting
- people who are not experiencing the life-changing power of Jesus
Discovery Community is an appropriate name for several reasons:
- It has strategic implications. While Community Groups tend to focus mostly on fellowship and House Church focus on location, Discovery Community focuses on the process of helping groups of people discover Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life.
- It suggests value for the seeker. People have questions about life, and discovery is an essential driving force. Community speaks to the longing to find a safe place to find answers to these questions with other people. A Discovery Community is more than a support group, but here people find edification.
- It is concrete and creates an image that is familiar and tangible. People prefer words they can relate to and understand. “Discovery” and “community” are terms that people easily recognize because they are words they hear and use regularly.
- It removes the baggage of church jargon that is sometimes a barrier when reaching out to non-Christian segments of the population. Missional Community is a good name to define groups formed from within existing churches but can be an obstacle when speaking with non-believers.
- It is a name that flows from the call to follow. The Bible plays a central role in a Discovery Community, but it is more than a Bible study. Jesus didn’t call people to come study Him. He called them to come follow Him and discover who He was. For many unchurched people, the idea of a Bible study is an obstacle. They may believe they need some previous knowledge of the Bible before they attend a Bible study. Others might feel embarrassed at their lack of knowledge of the Bible. For others, the idea of “study” might bring up negative memories of school. But an invitation to come to discover and follow Jesus is quite another thing.
- It points to something bigger than a meeting. Discovery communities are more than meetings and are not defined by attending an event. As has been pointed out, they are not another name for a small group, a fellowship group, a support group or a Bible study, although members do study the Bible, enjoy fellowship, and find support from one another. A Discovery Community is an extended household of searchers, learning to follow Jesus in the everyday routines of life.
- It reminds us of our mission. Whenever we use the name Discovery Community, it reminds us of the outward thrust of Christ’s mission. It pushes us from being consumers and spectators who are content with Bible studies, small groups, and programs aimed at our comfort.
- It does not take a lot of effort to explain. One does not have to know a lot of church jargon or have an in-depth definition. All that is needed is a simple invitation to a journey of discovery.
Would you like to read the Bible together and discover how it speaks to our lives?