Scripture as the Curriculum

Apr 14, 2025

Dive into the transformative power of scripture as the core of disciple-making. Discover how simple obedience to God's Word, guided by the Holy Spirit, can alter lives and communities. Learn about the effectiveness of the Discovery Bible Study method and its global impact. Hear personal anecdotes revealing the amazing outcomes of genuine scripture engagement. Explore innovative approaches to address the challenges of traditional discipleship models, empowering believers along their journey.

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INSIGHT

Scripture's Purpose Is Living

Scripture is not merely for reading or studying but for living and shaping society.
The Bible’s power lies in obedience rather than just intellectual engagement.

INSIGHT

Gospel's Power Needs No Addition

The gospel does not need human enhancement to be powerful and good.
True discipleship involves hearing God's words and immediately putting them into practice.

ANECDOTE

Academic Study Without Reproduction

Josh led an academically deep Bible study focused on Colossians, impressing participants.
Yet the study lacked reproduction and practical disciple-making outcomes despite its depth.

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Today’s episode will talk about scripture as the core of disciple-making by showing how simple obedience to God’s Word—guided by the Holy Spirit—can transform lives and communities.

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Disciple Maker's Podcast: The Power of Scripture in Disciple Making

Join us on the Disciple Maker's Podcast as we dive into the sixth principle of disciple making: making Scripture the central curriculum. Hosts Jason Ishmael and Josh Howard explore the significance of using the Bible as the primary source for disciple making, highlighting the transformative power of reading, studying, and obeying God's word. They discuss the simplicity and effectiveness of Discovery Bible Study, a method used globally to facilitate deeper understanding and application of Scripture. Packed with practical insights and heartfelt discussions, this episode challenges listeners to reassess the role of the Bible in their lives and ministries. Don't miss this deep dive into how Scripture can be a game changer in disciple making movements worldwide.

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Key Takeaways

00:00 Welcome to the Disciple Maker's Podcast
01:09 Introduction to the 10 Principles of Disciple Making
01:31 Scripture as the Core Curriculum
02:44 The Power and Authority of Scripture
03:29 Challenges in Modern Disciple Making
04:26 The Importance of Obedience to Scripture
05:19 Practical Applications in Disciple Making
07:15 Reevaluating the Role of Scripture
07:48 Personal Reflections and Experiences
15:52 The Goal of Discipleship
16:29 Introduction to Jim Dugan and Hacksaw
16:41 Understanding the Text in First Corinthians
17:08 The Power of Insight and the Holy Spirit
19:35 Discovery Bible Study: A Simple and Effective Tool
21:48 The Four Key Questions of Discovery Bible Study
23:45 Global Impact and Importance of Scripture
26:34 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

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See Below for a longer description:

In this episode, Josh and Jason dig into the sixth key principle of disciple-making: using scripture as the primary curriculum. They argue that the Bible, guided by the Holy Spirit, is all we need to make disciples—and that real transformation happens when we don’t just study it, but actually obey it.

Scripture as the Curriculum:
They challenge the idea that extra curriculum is necessary. Josh makes it clear: disciple-making movements around the world stick to scripture, and it works—because the Spirit is the true teacher.

Misuse and Misunderstanding:
Jason calls out how people often twist scripture to back up their own opinions, rather than letting it speak for itself. He warns against treating the Bible like a suggestion box, a habit influenced by overly rational approaches from past centuries.

Obedience Matters:
Reading the Bible isn’t the goal—living it out is. The hosts point to Jesus’ parable of the wise and foolish builders as a reminder that hearing without doing leads nowhere.

Keeping It Simple:
Jason shares a story about leading a study in Colossians where he got caught up in sounding smart, but realized deep insights didn’t lead to actual discipleship. Sometimes, less is more.

Discovery Bible Study (DBS):
They’re big fans of DBS—a simple, powerful tool used globally. Four questions guide the study:
What does this teach us about God?
What does it teach us about people?
How can we obey it?
Who can we share it with?

Practical Steps:
The guys offer ideas for churches and individuals to make scripture central again—like doing regular, communal scripture studies using the DBS method.

A Global Perspective:
Josh wraps up with stories of believers around the world who cling to scripture despite persecution. He challenges listeners to take the Word seriously—and live it out.

Resources:
They close by pointing listeners to discipleship.org for tools and resources to help build scripture-centered discipleship practices.