Spiritual Hunger Through Discovery
Engaging Urban Affinities - Part 9
By S. Crawley
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Hunger needs to be fed, not just observed.
Throughout this series, we've been exploring how to engage urban affinity groups through a four-step framework: starting where we are, observing social networks, listening for hunger, and discerning how to serve. We've examined both hunger for wholeness and spiritual hunger as signals of where God is already at work.
But once we've identified spiritual hunger, how do we actually serve it?
Rethinking How We Feed Spiritual Hunger
How do we feed physical hunger?
When someone is hungry, we give them food that they eat themselves. Their hunger is satisfied through direct consumption.
How do we typically approach spiritual hunger?
The process often involves me digesting spiritual food and regurgitating it for you. I read and interpret Scripture, listen to God, gain insights, and then package and deliver these insights to you.
This "eat-and-regurgitate" approach has historical roots.
For centuries, Scripture was only available in languages most people couldn't read. Even when it was available in a common tongue, literacy rates were often low and many people had no access to a written Bible anyway. Together, these factors created a genuine need for interpreters to mediate between God's Word and the people.
However, today's context is radically different.
We now have unprecedented access to Scripture in our own languages, literacy is widespread, and the Holy Spirit is available to all believers. Yet, approaches to discipleship often seem as if none of these changes have occurred.
Does teaching and formal education have a place in the Body of Christ? Absolutely.
Is it necessarily the best or only response to spiritual hunger? No.
Discovery is often a more effective way to serve spiritual hunger.
The Power of Discovery
Discovery happens when a spiritually hungry person works out ("discovers") answers for themselves through direct interaction with God's Word.
What were the most significant and profound insights in your spiritual journey? For most people, it's those "a-ha" moments - often when reading the Bible - where there is a new sense of understanding or of God revealing something very specific to them through His Word.
The fact is that we don't remember many of the sermons we hear, but we DO remember those moments of encounter with God. For many of us, these experiences stand out as milestones in our spiritual growth.
There's something uniquely powerful about discovery.
When someone discovers truth for themselves, several things happen. The insight becomes personally owned. They experience the living God speaking directly into their unique questions and life context. This builds confidence in their ability to hear from God directly and establishes a pattern of personal engagement with Scripture that doesn't depend on intermediaries.
This is the heart of disciple-making that leads to multiplication.
Creating Spaces for Discovery
So, how do we facilitate discovery rather than defaulting to teaching?
The key is creating spaces where people can interact directly with God's Word and discover truth for themselves. Rather than positioning ourselves as the expert with all the answers, we become facilitators who help others engage with the true Expert - God Himself.
This approach honours God's design for spiritual growth. His ultimate desire is for people to listen to, trust, and obey Him. By facilitating discovery, we help people establish a direct connection with our Father - rather than making them dependent on us as intermediaries.
It also allows us to observe what the Spirit is doing. As people interact with Scripture and share what stands out to them, we gain valuable insights into how God is at work in their lives – insights we might miss if we are the ones doing the talking.
The Discovery Continuum
Not everyone we encounter will have the same level of spiritual hunger or openness. Some may be just beginning to show interest in spiritual things, while others might be actively seeking the God of the Bible.
We can think of this hunger or openness as a spectrum, where different levels of spiritual hunger call for different approaches.
For those with minimal openness:
- Practice transparent spirituality (as discussed in this earlier article)
- Simply be ourselves and allow people to observe our authentic relationship with God
For those showing some interest:
- Share personal stories that involve God and your spiritual life
- Ask open-ended questions that invite them to reflect on their spiritual experiences (e.g. What do you find helpful in your spiritual life? What do you find challenging? What do you wish you knew?)
- Pray for their needs when appropriate
For those with more evident hunger:
- Share a Bible story that connects with their situation or interests
- Ask questions that invite them to reflect on the story and how (or if) it is relevant in their own life (e.g., How does this story connect with what you’re going through right now?).
- Ask if there's anyone else in their life who might find that story interesting (e.g., Who else do you know who might appreciate this story or find it relevant?)
For those actively seeking:
- Facilitate a simple Discovery Bible Study or offer to coach them to facilitate with their friends or family (more information on Discovery Bible Study in this earlier article).
- Depending on their hunger, it could be a single story or a series of stories on the topic they're interested in
- If they're specifically interested in knowing who God is or what the Bible says, you could suggest a longer series that walks through the whole biblical narrative (God's Story)
The beauty of the discovery continuum is its flexibility. Each approach facilitates discovery in a way that is appropriate to a person’s and group’s level of hunger. We can discern where someone is spiritually and facilitate discovery in a way that meets them where they are, without forcing a process that is unnatural for them.
Principles of Effective Discovery
As we create spaces for discovery, several principles can guide our approach:
Use questions rather than statements. Questions invite exploration; statements end it.
Resist the urge to correct "wrong" interpretations immediately. Allow the group process and further Scripture engagement to bring clarity.
Focus on application. Our understanding will always be imperfect, but we grow spiritually by responding to God's Word.
Whenever possible, empower people to experience discovery by facilitating for others rather than making them dependent on you.
Stay humble. God often speaks through others in unexpected ways and reveals insights we might have missed.
These principles help us create environments where people can genuinely encounter God through His Word rather than just reinforcing our convictions and understandings of God.
The Ultimate Goal
The goal of serving spiritual hunger through discovery is to facilitate direct encounters between people and God in ways they can replicate without us.
We want people to develop the ability to listen to God themselves, trust what He says, and put it into practice. This personal, direct interaction with God is the foundation of a vibrant, growing relationship with Him that can flourish anywhere and at any time.
By creating spaces for discovery, we participate in what God is already doing rather than imposing our agenda. We help hungry hearts find the true bread of life that satisfies their deepest hunger.
Getting Practical
As you think about God's vision for your city and/or affinity group:
What is your experience regarding 1) learning through teaching approaches and 2) "discovery" experiences? What are the key learnings that have impacted you and stayed with you?
What simple step could you take this week to create space for someone in your life to directly engage with Scripture rather than hearing your interpretation of it?
Think of someone in your urban village who has shown hints of spiritual hunger. What approach from the discovery continuum might be most appropriate for where they are spiritually? What specific steps could you take to facilitate discovery for them?
Discipling the Urban Harvest provides practical insights and encouragement to walk with God in multiplying discipleship in an increasingly urban world - growing as children of the Father, serving the communities He has called us to, and discipling those hungry to know Him.