How to use it

• One study at a time, the DBS way. Read, re-read, and retell it in your own words; then the four questions — What does this show me about God? about people, and me? a command to obey, an example to follow, or a promise to hold? End with an “I will…” and one person you’ll tell. Then pray the study’s prayer honestly, or in your own words.
• Pace to the person, not the calendar. Usually one study a week (~12 weeks), but linger where a study opens up, and never rush the approach to the cross.
• Run the commitment conversation at the end of each cycle (below). It’s a conversation, not an altar call — questions, honesty, and no pressure.
• No pressure, ever. A seeker prays only what they mean, believes only what they’ve truly come to see, and asks for baptism only when they are ready — freely, never under duress. We invite people to Jesus and his Word, not to a building.
• Facilitate, don’t teach. Let them find it — “Where do you see that in the passage?” Don’t chew their food for them.
• If faith comes early, celebrate it — and keep walking the studies, which lead naturally to baptism and first obedience.

Commitment conversation — end of Cycle 1: “Where are you with Jesus?”

Purpose: take the temperature and keep them seeking — not to press for a decision. They’ve only just met him.

• Ask: What are you learning about God and about Jesus? What has surprised you? Who is Jesus to you so far? Is anything getting in the way of seeing him clearly?
• On baptism (light touch): “You saw that Jesus himself was baptized. When people decide to follow him, this is one of the first things they do — we’ll come back to it as we go.” Name it; don’t urge it.
• Invite forward: “Would you like to keep discovering him with me? Is there someone you’d invite to study alongside you?”
• Guardrail: no pressure to believe or be baptized yet — they haven’t reached the cross. Honor honest uncertainty.

Commitment conversation — end of Cycle 2: “Do you believe?” (the pivotal one)

Purpose: now that they’ve seen the cross and the empty tomb, give a real doorway to faith — and make baptism concrete for the one who’s ready.

• Ask: Now that you’ve seen his death and his resurrection — who do you believe Jesus is? Do you believe he died and rose for you? Are you ready to trust him and follow him? Is anything holding you back?
• If they believe: celebrate it, and pray with them. Then talk about baptism plainly: “This is how people have always said yes to Jesus — the man in Acts didn’t wait.” Begin planning it (organic, voluntary, soon) and keep walking Cycle 3 to ground them.
• If not yet: honor their honesty; no pressure. The remaining studies still bless a seeker, and the door stays open.
• Guardrail: baptism follows real faith — never coax someone to the water to hit a milestone. Their yes must be their own.

Commitment conversation — end of Cycle 3: “Baptized and sent”

Purpose: bring the believer to baptism and their first steps of obedience and witness.

• Ask: You’ve confessed Jesus as Lord — is anything keeping you from being baptized? When and where would you like it to happen, and who will be there?
• On baptism (organic): it can be soon and simple; a believer can baptize a believer. No hoops — celebrate it.
• Send them: Who are the people God has put on your heart? Would you start a study like this one with someone you know? (This is where a new believer becomes a disciple-maker — the next “come and see.”)
• If someone comes to faith only now: that’s wonderful — the same conversation applies; walk them to baptism without rushing.