Hook, Look, Book and Took Teaching Method, by K.C. Winters
You turn to Philippians 4:10-13 and read these words from the NIV:
"I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
How do you teach this as a Bible lesson?
One of the most effective ways of creating and teaching lessons was taught to me in 15 minutes on the back of a paper napkin in a college cafeteria by my friend and mentor J.T. Walker. If you remember these four words you'll know how to turn this or any Scripture into a powerful message for whomever you're teaching: HOOK, LOOK, BOOK, and TOOK.
In teaching lessons most people start with the HOOK or introduction and try to come up with some great outline or illustration to hang the biblical text upon after a few readings of the Scripture. This is actually the backward way to begin a lesson, the first place to start is with the BOOK.
BOOK refers to the truths, content, and heart of what the passage is talking about. This is how the passage talks to you as you read it and understand it. What do you see God teaching you in these verses and sections? Don't worry about how you'll share that with other people yet, just what jumps out to you. This is where your own style of studying the Word comes in. Some like to use inductive Bible study; others just let the Spirit prompt and lead. Whatever your style, when you're done you have the meat of your lesson. In the lesson I generated I came up with two points: (1) Contentment is in Position and not Possession and (2) Contentment is in Perspective and not Possession. Then I boiled down my main points to a single sentence that people can walk away with and understand as the heart of the lesson: "True contentment is found in our position in Christ and our perspective on life rather than on our possessions in life."
Next comes the
TOOK otherwise known as the application, something that the student takes away from our time together and applies to his/her real life situation in a measurable way. If I haven't challenged my learners to apply these Scriptures to their lives then I've failed at my job. God's Word is not just for fattening up our intellects, it is about putting it into practice in a meaningful way. I always try to make sure my TOOK (application) has both a "know" and a "do."
Third comes the
LOOK. This is how I work to creatively engage the student as an "active learner" in the class. I try to avoid being a "talking head" or lecturer if I can and do whatever it takes to draw the class members into digging, commenting, doing, working, thinking and engaging in learning these principles themselves. Ideas for this include breaking into small groups to discuss ideas; having people read Scripture out loud, drawing posters as a group, writing out lists, asking the students opinions, videos, overheads, note taking, fill-in-the-blanks, singing, stories, lyrics, poetry, photos, history, etc. My hope and prayer is to teach them to dig in the word with me themselves for truth rather than spoon feed them the "correct answers." This is what Jesus always did with parables, object lessons, metaphors and examples to people he met along the way.
Last comes the
HOOK, that introductory way of snagging the students attention from wherever their brain is when they enter the class to an interest in the subject we are discussing. Again this is where creativity comes in. A funny story, an article in the newspaper, getting a discussion on a controversial subject started, even a video snippet of current events or fun TV programs can get people focused where you want to lead them.
In the case of Philippians 4:10-13 I actually came up with the following:
Lesson Title: "Contentment is a Happy Meal?"
HOOK - McDonald's Happy Meal illustration: kids often find contentment in life in a Happy Meal (French fries and a plastic toy that's ignored in a few days). The world teaches us that happy meal items are what will make us happy. Transition to the reality that adults have their own versions of "Happy Meals" where they hunger after something for contentment. Discuss what things make up adult happy meals? On TV, advertisements, schools, etc.
LOOK - fill in the blank handouts, white board, small group discussions, class members reading specific Scriptures, several McDonald's Happy Meals and $5 gift certificates.
BOOK -- True contentment is found in our position in Christ and our perspective on life rather than on our possessions in life.
TOOK -
" KNOW(something to think about): You WILL be unhappy in life but you can always be content. Keep your eyes on Jesus and your contentment is assured.
" DO (something to act upon):
1. Make a list of the things which you currently believe you need to be happy/content to solve your problems. Do they provide real and lasting contentment?
2. Make a list of your position in God.
HOOK, LOOK, BOOK and TOOK will provide you a framework for solid biblical teaching. And you will find that no two lessons need look alike as you use your creativity to generate the LOOK and HOOK sections. I've been using this for nearly 20 years now as a spiritual tool to allow me to take what God has laid on my heart and convert it into a lesson that engages students as active participants in the learning process and not just bodies in the class seats. Hope you find it a blessing too.
