Hooksfor Hanging the New Testament Storyline
Teaching Plan for 60 Minutes, with Option for 90 Minutes

Instructional Materials Needed:

  • Set of large laminated era sheets (sheets with names of eras in big and bold print)for all 13 eras (12 NT, plus “Anticipation”) for use in front of the class.
  • One set of smaller size 13 era cards for each participant. You can create these and print on a standard printer. To avoid having to shuffle the order of each set of cards, print them out of proper order.
  • “Hooks for Hanging the NT”(11” x17” foldover) worksheet for each participant.
  • Pens or pencils for those who may need them.
  • Timer to use in keeping each activity under “time control.”
  • Optional: Flip chart sheets and markers for optional “If Time” activity.

Minutes / Activity Chunks
1 / 10 /
  • Use large laminated era sheets for all 13 eras (12 NT, plus “Anticipation”).
  • Give one era sheet to each of 13 participants (perhaps those with best Bible knowledge). Pass them out in a shuffled (out of order) sequence.
  • Instruct them to line up across the front of the class with, as best they can tell, the eras in the proper chronological sequence. Keep it positive and as “safe” (non-threatening) as possible for them if they have some eras out of the proper order.
  • Once they get settled into place, you (instructor) rearrange them if necessary. Do a very brief(approximately one paragraph overview) of the13 eras as this is happening. Be careful to avoid “stealing your thunder” from activity #3 (see below).
    Explain the four clusters of eras – focus on Change, Jesus, Church, and Future.
  • Tell the class to observe the order carefully. They will need to recall it as the class continues. Give them 30 seconds to study the order.

Should be here at 10 minutes past the hour.
2 / 10 /
  • Take the 13 era sheets, shuffle them, and distribute them to 13 other/different participants (or some of the same if there are fewer than 26 members). Ask for volunteers if you think this is “unsafe” for participants who do not volunteer.
  • Instruct them to line up across the front of the class with the eras in the proper chronological sequence (as best they can). To help them, you may want to give them clues—the four key focus words (Change, Jesus, Church, Future).
  • Ask the class for input regarding the order—is it correct? What adjustments?

Should be here at 20 minutes past the hour.
3 / 15 /
  • Pass out “workshop worksheets” – one per participant. Provide pens or pencils as needed.
  • Instructors: (preferably two or more who alternate through the eras) Give a “no-more-than-60 seconds” instructional summary for each of the 13 eras (including “Anticipation”). Don’t just read the narrative summaries! Give a few key content “nuggets” (that are not included in the printed summaries for each era).

Should be here at 35 minutes past the hour.
4 / 5 /
  • In small groups of 4 participants (no less than 3, no more than 5). Read through the storyline (the narrative content hanging on the era hooks on the worksheet) aloud as a group. Each person in the group reads one era summary alternately until all 13 era narrative summaries havebeen read.

Should be here at 40 minutes past the hour.
5 / 5 /
  • Give each participant a set of shuffled small era cards (all 13 cards). Instruct participants to (by themselves) spend 3 minutes thinking through the proper order.

Should be here at 45 minutes past the hour.
6 / 10 /
  • Organize into dyads (two people working together).
  • Without looking at notes or worksheet, each dyad arranges the era cards in proper order and briefly talks through the eras as that is done.

Should be here at 55 minutes past the hour.
7 / 5 /
  • Bring 13 participants (to be era sheet holders) to the front of the room.
  • Ask class (without them looking at notes or worksheet) – “Which era sheet do I give the first holder?” etc. (until all 13 era sheets are displayed)

Should be here at the end of the hour.
End of 60 Minutes Session
Optional “If Time” Activity
8 / 30 /
  • Divide class into 13 groups, if possible.
    Note: If the class isn’t large enough for 13 groups, adapt to the group size and give each group two or more drawing assignments.
  • Assign one era to each group – with task of drawing a simple drawing to illustrate that era (provide flip chart sheets and flip chart markers).
  • Representative from each group bring drawing to front and stand in proper sequence-location in a line across the front of the room.
  • Each person explains his/her group’s drawing.