Discover is an exciting new resource that helps small groups, churches and individuals to explore ‘mission’ from a biblical perspective.

The Discover programme is made up of seven sessions, with each session focusing on a particular part of the biblical story of mission. The resource pack comprises specially produced material that is contemporary, innovative and challenging. Discover is an ideal resource for churches seeking fresh approaches to teaching and discipleship.

The Sessions

Each of the seven sessions focuses on a key episode or theme in the bible’s unfolding narrative of mission, starting with Creation and continuing through to the Church today. Along the way, the sessions dip into the stories of Adam, Eve, Abraham, Moses and Isaiah before spending time focusing on the life, ministry and death of Jesus. The programme reflects the way in which mission can be seen as one of the major themes in the bible – a central thread that weaves itself through the entire story of Scripture

The material has been specially produced to challenge, provoke and inspire groups and individuals to engage more deeply with God and with God’s work. Each session includes enough material for between one and two hours of group discussion or individual study and can be adapted to suit different contexts.

The Resource Material

The different elements of the resource pack have all been produced with the aim of helping people to think about and talk about mission. They are provided to open up some of the issues, to provoke discussion, to encourage individual reflection and response and to offer a framework for those who want to discover more of God’s heart for mission.

The Introduction Booklet

A short booklet (which comes as a DVD insert) provides an overview of the resource pack and offers a range of suggestions to make the most of Discover in different contexts. A summary of each session is provided, along with some hints and tips for facilitating group discussions.

The DVD

An 8–10 minute film helps introduce the focus of each session and reflects the material in the relevant chapter of the Discover book. These films are beautifully shot and could be used in a church service setting as well as with the group format. The content raises plenty of questions and issues for discussion.

The Session Outlines

An outline is provided for each session, with activities and questions for discussion. These can be used and adapted by group leaders as appropriate for the context of the session, the make–up of the group and the length of time available. The Session Outlines are available in a separate booklet (with the DVD) and are also included at the end of each chapter in the book. They are also available on the website and can be downloaded as A4 pdfs.

The Discover book

The Discover book comprises seven chapters, with each chapter providing background material for one of the sessions. This material can be read by the group leader as part of their preparation, although in many cases, group members may like to have their own copy of the book, to read before or after each session. Extra copies of the book can be ordered through our online store.

The Discover book will be available from March 2011.

The Story behind Discover

Discover has been produced by CMSI, a Christian mission agency based in Ireland, which aims to help the Church engage in God’s mission. As well as supporting the Church in other parts of the world as it engages in local mission, CMSI seeks to resource the Church in Ireland in mission.

Discover arose out of a desire to help move mission from the margins and into the centre of church life. It comes as a response to the many churches and individuals throughout Ireland who have expressed a desire for more and better mission education.

Discover is not intended as a fundraising enterprise, nor is it an attempt to champion one mission agency over another, or indeed one denomination over another. It is offered as an innovative and thought–provoking resource to all who want to explore mission issues from a biblical perspective.

For those of us who have produced Discover, our prayer is that it will help to encourage a greater desire to Love God and Love Others as together, we seek His Kingdom Come…on earth, as in Heaven.