Discovering Jesus

Discovering Jesus is a clear, practical 10-module leaders' manual and study course designed to help small groups introduce people who know little or nothing about Jesus to the foundational truths of the Christian faith. Written by Robert J Cottle, this resource walks leaders and participants step-by-step through the essential message of the gospel so that unbelievers can clearly understand who Jesus is, what He has done, and how they can respond to Him.

This is not a deep theological course. It is deliberately simple and foundational, built directly on the six elementary teachings of Hebrews 6:1-2: repentance from dead works, faith in God, baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

The course progresses carefully through ten modules:

Module 1 examines the reliability of the Bible as a book of true predictions, using clear historical examples of fulfilled prophecy. Module 2 explores what happened in the Garden of Eden and how sin entered the world and affects every person. Module 3 looks at how God dealt with sin in the Old Testament through the Law and the animal sacrifice system. Module 4 explains why those sacrifices were not enough and introduces the promised Messiah. Module 5 focuses on who Jesus is - God in human form - and what He accomplished through His life, death, and resurrection. Module 6 addresses how a person receives salvation through repentance and faith, not works. Module 7 introduces the Holy Spirit and the difference between the Spirit's presence in every believer and the empowering that comes through the laying on of hands. Module 8 carefully explains water baptism - how, why, and when. Module 9 covers the resurrection of the righteous and the wicked, the two judgments, and eternal destinies. Module 10 looks at growing in Christ daily, serving in the church, and sharing the hope of the gospel with others.

An optional Module 4a is included for groups with Jewish participants. It examines the promised Messiah in the Tanakh, showing the dual portrait of a suffering servant and eternal King and how these prophecies are fulfilled in Yeshua (Jesus).

The accompanying Leaders Manual is highly practical. It covers how to promote the group, ideal group size, room arrangement, materials to provide, session structure, handling questions, and creating a warm, non-threatening atmosphere. It includes a step-by-step guide for every session and simple instructions for running basic Facebook ads. The emphasis throughout is on keeping the focus on Scripture and Jesus rather than church culture or complicated theology.

This course has been used in real groups and has helped people with little or no Christian background understand the gospel and make a genuine decision to follow Jesus. It works well in homes, small church groups, or one-to-one settings. Leaders are encouraged to let Scripture speak for itself, keep answers brief and Bible-based, and trust God with the results.

Whether you are a church leader looking for a reliable outreach resource or a believer wanting to walk alongside someone exploring Christianity, Discovering Jesus provides a complete, ready-to-use framework for presenting the gospel clearly and inviting a real response.