Lead Discipleship Bible Studies 

We recommend doing verse-by-verse Bible studies on powerful passages and entire books of the Bible. We will train you how to do this in your personal, private times with the Lord. Soon you will be able to lead small groups. When you go to present your study, I recommend that you use the “Hook, Book, Look and Took” Discipleship Bible study method.

Hook, Book, Look, Took

Hook answers the question, “What are we talking about?” It is good to begin with a story that captures the attention of your listeners and draws them into the subject to be studied.

 Book asks a series of questions about “What does the text actually say?”

Look asks deeper questions regarding “What does it mean?”

Took presents questions that have to do with How do we live out what we have seen from this passage?”

Lead by Asking Questions

A Discipleship Bible Study is asking questions that will lead the listeners into an exploration of one passage from the Bible. Of course, other verses can be referenced from other parts of the Bible. But the main idea is to discover the thought patterns of one primary passage. Then we use other passages to shed further light on the thinking of God. 

So once we capture our listeners’ attention, we want to ask three types of questions. They have to do with observation, interpretation and application. The Book questions invite us to observe the text. The Look questions call us to interpret the text. Finally, the Took questions call us to apply the text.

Pray through the Passage

As you prepare to lead a Bible study, it is important that you soak in the text and in prayer. Notice the questions that arise in your own heart. Jot them down while you are going through your study. Try to discern the central idea of your passage and build your theme around the single most important truth. Once you have had a God-encounter with truth through your study, then you are ready to begin to teach it to others.

Simply organize the questions that arose in your heart around the Hook, Book, Look, Took method. The Holy Spirit will give you additional questions that you include in your study. What you will find is that once people begin to engage with the word of God, the Holy Spirit will take over and draw out from them additional questions, comments, stories and insights that will add significantly to your teaching.

Get Everyone Involved

We recommend that you always open and close with prayer. It is good to invite others to do so. In fact, as much as you can, invite others to read the text. I like to have everyone read the story right in the beginning of the study, giving each person an opportunity to read one or more verses, depending on the length of the text. Then, as you look at other passages, avoid always reading them yourself. Some will want to read. Others you can invite to read. This gives people a sense of involvement in the passage.

When you begin to ask your questions, you will notice that some questions don’t draw much of a response. Simply go on to your next question and before long people will be participating. Avoid having one or two people dominate the discussion. As much is possible, seek to involve the whole group.

You Can Teach the Word!

The Hook, Book, Look, Took method works well in your own private study of the Word. When you have an opportunity to lead a Discipleship Bible Study, do so confidently, believing in the Lord, and in the Holy Spirit that is in God’s people. This will be a wonderful experience for you that you can repeat many times in your ministry for Jesus. Weekly or bi-weekly Bible studies are a great way to lead people to Christ. Many will become true disciples.