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
A Discovery Community is more than a meeting – it is a network of relationships. But when the community gathers, there are some rhythms that can help things run smoothly and orderly.
5 Ls for Discovery Community Meetings
A Discovery Community meeting can be structured around five corporate rhythms (Linking, Loving, Listening, Looking, and Leaving). These 5 Ls are intended to be a flexible framework for meetings rather than a rigid structure. They allow for maximum participation and are easy to follow.
Linking / Me to You (10-15 minutes)
Linking will usually include some kind of icebreaker. The icebreaker helps people enter the group dynamic as each person in the group is linked to everyone else. Many discovery communities begin their meeting with a meal, which enhances linking and fellowship.
Loving / Us to God (10-15 minutes)
The purpose of the loving rhythm is to direct the group’s attention to Christ. It is a time to offer praise through worship and prayer and acknowledge the presence of Christ in the meeting. Spending some time in worship at the beginning of a meeting centers people afresh on Jesus and helps open them to the presence of the Lord. A community loving and worshiping together will easily move on to expressing love for one another throughout the meeting.
Listening / God to Us (20-30 minutes)
The listening rhythm provides a time to allow God to speak directly through the Bible. Discovery community leaders are more facilitators than Bible teachers or preachers. Through listening questions, leaders help participants hear what the Spirit is saying through God’s word. They facilitate a conversation between the group and the Holy Spirit that leads to discovery and application. Leaders should not talk too much and be dispensers of information because the goal is transformation. The aim is for the participants to apply God’s Word to daily living and to go away changed by what they discover through God’s eternal message.
Looking / God to Us (10-15 minutes)
The looking rhythm focuses on two things. First, for transformation to take place, participants must look into their own lives and see how to be obedient to the truths they have just discovered. In addition to this inward look, the group should also be encouraged to look outward. They should be challenged to consider who within their circle of influence needs to hear what they have just discovered and to make a commitment to share their discoveries.
Leaving / Us to Them (10-15 minutes)
The leader intentionally dismisses the meeting encouraging members to follow Christ in the world. They are challenged to be obedient to what they hear the Spirit saying, to share what they have discovered, and to join the Father where He is working.
This simple format provides a flexible outline for discovery community meetings. It can be used to help people, no matter where they are on their journey, to discover Christ as the way, the truth, and the life.
We will conclude this series on Making Disciples through Discovery Community next week when we look at the subject: Discovery Community – Repeatable Rhythms.