What are "I Will" Statements?

Discover how to build the core habit of obedience to Scripture when making disciples

"If you love me you will obey my commandments." —John 14:15

Christians have a tendency to be abstract with their application of Scripture. We've all heard or made statements like these: "I will trust God more this week," or, "I will try to love people better." These commitments, while well-intentioned, aren't very doable, concrete, or measurable.

A core part of the Disciple Making Movement process is the Discovery Bible Study (DBS) method. After reading a passage from the Bible you ask, "What does this say about God? What does this say about people?" And then you go on to ask, "If this is true, what difference does it make in our lives?"

This is often the toughest part of a DBS to get right. However, fostering good "I Will" statements can be the difference between a group that multiplies and a group that doesn't.

"I Will" Statements, Defined

Let's define "I Will" statements:

An ‘I Will’ statement is part of the Discovery Process where participants respond to what they learned about God and Man from Scripture by making a simple commitment to action that they can complete in the next 24-48 hours or between this meeting and the next—whichever makes the most sense.

Notice that an "I Will" statement is a "commitment to action." It's not just a statement of belief or good will. It is a deliberate commitment to practically obey the Word of God in your everyday life that week.

An "I Will" statement should also be able to be completed within the the next 24-48 hours. That means it should be small! Don't have participants come up with a plan for sanctification over the next 3 months. Have them figure out how they can obey the passage tomorrow when they see their friend at work.

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Resources On "I Will" Statements

If you'd like to learn more about "I Will" statements and how they work within a Discovery Bible Study, listen to our podcast entitled, I Will Statements.

Maybe you're already facilitating a Discovery Group and you're encountering challenges with participants' "I Will" statements. If so, this podcast is for you: "I Will" Statements That Will Ruin Your DBS.