One of the steady rhythms of ministry here in Sendai has been the church’s Discovery Bible Study (DBS). Discovery Bible Study is a simple method of reading Scripture together and discussing what we see and learn. We meet once a month on Friday evenings at church. After a long week of work, we come together not for formal study, but for a conversation.

Our DBS is bilingual. Each passage is read in both English and Japanese, and we take time to notice words or phrases that stand out. It is a chance for participants to practice their English. But more than language practice, it is a shared discovery.

We ask simple questions: What does this teach us about God? What does it show us about people? What stands out? What is difficult to understand? How might this change the way we live?

For the past seven months, we have been studying the “signs” in the Gospel of John. Each sign points beyond itself, revealing something about who Jesus is and inviting us to believe. From water turned to wine to the raising of Lazarus, we have wrestled with big questions and small details alike. Our final study of the signs took place on the last Friday of February, bringing a meaningful season of study to a close.

Beginning in April, we will start a new series: “Stories of Hope.” In a world that often feels uncertain and heavy, we long to rediscover the hope that runs through Scripture—hope in God’s promises, hope in restoration, hope in Christ.

What makes this DBS especially encouraging is its accessibility. It is structured in a way that welcomes everyone: long-time Christians, new believers, and those who are simply curious about faith with no Christian background. There is no pressure to have the “right” answers. Questions are not only allowed but welcomed.

At our most recent gathering, one participant shared something that deeply encouraged me. She said that during formal sermons or structured studies on Sundays, she often struggles to understand. “Sometimes it goes in one ear and out the other,” she admitted honestly. But DBS, she said, feels different. It is easy to follow, non-intimidating, and helps her truly engage with the Bible.

That is exactly our hope.

In Sendai, where many people have never studied the Bible before, creating spaces for gentle, thoughtful exploration of Scripture matters deeply. Month by month, verse by verse, we are discovering that when people are given time, space, and a voice, God’s Word speaks in powerful ways.

Please pray for this group as we begin our new series in April—that it will continue to be a place of discovery, growth, and hope for all who attend.

About this series — “Stories from Sendai”

This journal is part of “Stories from Sendai,” a series that shares moments from church and community life in Japan, giving a glimpse of how God is at work here in Sendai.