* To Those Interested in Christian Book Clubs
Having served in Christian book clubs for over a decade, I have shared conversations with many people. While many showed great interest, some hesitated to take the first step because the concept still felt unfamiliar. Therefore, I have compiled answers to the eight most frequently asked questions.
Q1. Is a Christian book club difficult?
A. Anyone who loves books and meaningful conversation can lead and participate.
A book club is a high-level educational program. However, with a little training and learning the method, anyone can lead or participate.
Theologically speaking, it is a very deep discipleship process, but the actual leading and participating in meetings is easier than you might think. Especially for pastors with theological training, it is an excellent and flexible ministry tool that can be easily integrated into their pastoral care.
* From the Leader's Perspective: Instead of delivering a monologue lecture, you facilitate by listening to the participants' presentations and exchanging feedback. This significantly reduces the burden of preparation and leadership.
* From the Participant's Perspective: Because you have ample opportunity to fully express your thoughts, the meetings are engaging, enjoyable, and never boring.
Q2. What kind of books should we read in a book club?
A. You can read the Bible, faith-based books, or general literature.
If you are starting for the first time, I recommend beginning with an accessible Christian book written by a trusted author.
While you can choose books based on your community's specific context, it is best to select titles that are manageable for everyone to read and deeply rooted in the stories of a faith-filled life.
At the simplest level, a book club can start by reading and sharing short reflections on faith. Here at Reading Christian, we highly recommend Solid Joys, a daily devotional by Pastor John Piper.
Solid Joys (Available in both English and Korean): www.desiringgod.org/solid-joys
Q3. Do we need to prepare before the book club meeting?
A. Yes, preparation is key.
Both the leader and the participants should come prepared. Each person simply needs to write down a brief summary, personal reflections, and practical applications of what they read on a single sheet of paper (Letter or A4 size).
What matters more than the actual length of the writing is the commitment of the participants to come even slightly prepared. When everyone reads and prepares in advance, the conversation can center truly on the book, leading to a much richer dialogue.
Q4. How should presentations and feedback be handled?
A. Presentations and feedback flow according to the leader's facilitation.
The first thing to remember is that "a Christian book club is not a lecture." The leader's role is not to teach, but to facilitate the meeting.
You can naturally begin the meeting with presentations. The leader starts with a simple invitation:
"Deacon OOO, would you mind sharing the reflections you prepared for today?"
The participant called upon then shares what they have prepared (summary, reflections, and application). Afterward, the leader guides the group into giving feedback by asking:
"Sister OOO, you just heard Deacon OOO’s presentation. What were your thoughts on it?"
Having two or three people provide feedback in this manner is ideal.
Q5. What kind of content should be included in the feedback?
A. Feedback consists of empathy, constructive supplement, and encouragement.
When a leader asks for thoughts and requests feedback, most responses fall into these three categories. Through empathy, supplement, and praise, the perspectives of both the presenter and the participants expand and deepen. Furthermore, these deep faith-conversations connect individuals, solidifying spiritual relationships.
* Empathy: "I felt almost the exact same way as Deacon OOO. I resonated deeply with that point."
* Supplement: "I really appreciated Deacon OOO’s presentation. Building on that, I also thought about this aspect..."
* Encouragement: "Deacon OOO, thank you so much for sharing. You brought out insights that I hadn't even considered."
Q6. What if someone shares something theologically or biblically incorrect during the meeting?
A. In actual meetings, incorrect statements happen much less frequently than you might think.
This is because the participants have already read the book and come prepared. Since the topic for the day is set and everyone is prepared, the likelihood of the wild, unbiblical errors people worry about is quite low.
Those who haven't experienced a book club often imagine it as an unstructured gathering where unrefined thoughts are tossed around. In reality, however, these meetings foster deep, mature, and remarkably orderly conversations.
Nevertheless, if someone does share an opinion containing a serious theological error, the leader should first gently invite feedback from the other participants:
"Deacon OOO, what are your thoughts on what we just heard?"
In most cases, a gentle correction naturally occurs through the other participants. Asking for the input of others rather than intervening directly as a leader is a wise way to keep the atmosphere graceful.
If, after hearing from others, you still deem it necessary, you as the leader can provide a gentle correction afterward. However, since all participants are still in the process of spiritual growth, it is usually beneficial to overlook statements that are at least 70% sound.
Q7. If participants are at different spiritual or educational levels, can the meeting still go well?
A. Yes. Even with diverse levels among participants, most meetings proceed very gracefully.
First-time leaders often worry whether the meeting they lead will yield good results. Starting anything new is challenging, and in that sense, a book club requires some effort.
However, the actual process is so simple and effective that the learning curve to adapt and master it is relatively low. As the meetings progress, the sharing deepens, and both leaders and participants find great joy and benefit within the fellowship.
Another point to remember is that a book club dynamic is not driven by a single person; it is a collaborative process of multiple people presenting and exchanging feedback. While listening to various voices might feel daunting to a leader at first, it is actually a tremendous advantage.
Believers who have walked in the faith for some time possess a surprising amount of biblical knowledge and spiritual wisdom. Therefore, simply listening to the insights shared by participants elevates the meeting to a high level. By utilizing books and articles that the participants can digest, everyone can enjoy a deeply satisfying gathering.
Q8. Where should the leader focus their attention the most?
A. A leader should focus primarily on active listening and asking the right questions.
* In terms of Active Listening: It is vital to realize that participants will only present and give feedback earnestly when the leader is truly listening. You must listen intently to the presentations and feedback, carefully discerning where the participants might need guidance or care.
* In terms of Questioning: Remember that questions hold powerful leverage. If you discover a participant's area of vulnerability through careful listening, you can ask a gentle question about that specific area. This prompts the person to re-examine their thoughts and trains them in biblical thinking.
"Deacon OOO just shared a wonderful insight. Elder OOO, how do you view this particular point?"
"I loved what you said, Elder OOO. How do you think that principle applies to your everyday business?"
Of course, if you feel it is absolutely necessary, you can directly provide explanations or evaluations. You can offer praise, encouragement, or minor corrections based on what you heard. However, as a rule of thumb for the overall meeting, aim for a ratio of 20% leader commentary to 80% active listening and strategic questioning.
For a more detailed guide on running a Christian book club, please refer to the book written by Pastor Jinbu Jung of Reading Christian.
