터프 토픽스 (1) - 성경은 무오한 책일까?

 

1. 요약

사람들은 난감한 문제들을 만날 때 혼돈을 경험한다. 제대로 된 대답을 얻지 못하면, 그들의 신앙이 약해지거나 심지어 영혼이 침체에 빠질 수 있다. 성경의 난제들과 씨름해야 하는 것은, 사고의 능력을 연마하고 영혼을 풍성하게 만들며, 하나님의 신비한 역사를 이해하는 환희를 누리기 위해서이다.

우리를 곤란하게 하는 문제의 대답은 오직 성경에서만 찾을 수 있다. 그렇다면 성경은 무오한 책인가? 하나님의 말씀에 대한 세가지 입장은, 교회의 말씀, 나의 영, 성경 말씀이 이 세가지 중의 하나가 하나님의 말씀이라고 생각하는 것이다. 이 책의 저자는 성경 말씀이 곧 하나님의 말씀이라고 믿고 있다.

성령은 성경이 하나님의 말씀이라는 증거를 우리 마음에 주신다. 또한 예수님 자신이 성경의 영감과 권위를 믿으셨음을 기억해야 한다. 예수님은 구약의 이야기를 역사적 사실로 대하였으며, 그러므로 성경의 권위를 부인하는 것은, 예수님의 주 되심을 부인하는 것이다.

하나님은 인간이 알 수 없는 것을 직접 밝히 드러내신다. 이것이 계시이다. 성경의 중요한 역사적인 사건들은, 설명하시는 하나님의 말씀을 통해 그 의미가 드러난다. 또한 계시는 점진적으로 드러나는 것이다. 종합적이고 통합적이며 최종적인 것을 향해 움직인다. 또한 성령께서는 인간 저자들이 기록할 때 의도한 바가 하나님이 의도하신 바와 일치하도록 역사하셨다. 이것이 축자 영감, 완전 영감의 교리이다. 즉, 성경 말씀이 곧 하나님의 말씀이라는 뜻이다.

성경은 제한적으로 무오한 것이 아니라, 전적으로 무오하다. 해석하는 사람이 모든 사실을 알게 되고, 성경의 원문과 당시 문화와 소통의 방식을 감안한 적절한 해석이 있을 때에, 성경이 주장해온 모든 것은 전적으로 사실로 드러나게 될 것이다.

구약과 신약 모두를 포함한 성경 전체는 하나님의 감동으로 되었다. 여기서 하나님의 감동이라는 것은, 원어적으로 하나님으로부터 나온 호흡이다. 즉, 성경은 하나님의 호흡을 근원으로 하여 생겨난 결과물이다. 하나님께서는 자신의 뜻을 인간의 언어와 경험에 맞추시기 때문에, 성경의 비유적 표현은 무오성에 반하지 않는다. 문법적 관심을 따르지 않았어도, 얼마든지 사실을 표현할 수 있기 때문에 무오성에 반하지 않는다. 성경에 대한 해석이 다른 것은 성경의 문제가 아니라, 해석자의 문제이다. 

성경은 완벽한 이해를 보장하지 않지만 그렇다고 해서 오류가 있는 것은 아니다. 성경의 정확성은 성경 저자들의 기록 당시의 기준으로 판단되어야 한다. 같은 사건을 다른 저자가 서로 다른 관점과 목적을 기록한 경우에 차이가 일어날 수 있는데, 이것은 부분적 묘사의 특징이기 때문에 무오성에 반하지 않는다.  지금 당장 모순되어 보이는 사건이나 자료를 조화시킬 수 없다는 것은, 성경의 권위를 인간의 지략 아래 두려는 것이므로 이것 역시 무오성에 반하지 않는다. 결국 외견상의 모순들은 해결될 것이다.  

 

2. 책에서 한마디

“간단히 말해, 성경의 영감과 권위는 우리의 신앙이 지어진 기초다. 이것 없이는 불확실과 의심, 인간의 추측, 곧 흑암 속에서 절망적으로 더듬거리게 될 뿐이다.”

 

3. 성경적 관점에서 보기

히 4:12 하나님의 말씀은 살아 있고 활력이 있어 좌우에 날선 어떤 검보다도 예리하여 혼과 영과 및 관절과 골수를 찔러 쪼개기까지 하며 또 마음의 생각과 뜻을 판단하나니

하나님의 말씀을 믿는 자들에게는 위로와 양식을 주는 것이지만, 예수 그리스도께 헌신하지 않은 자들에게는 심판과 처형의 도구입니다. 히브리서의 일부 독자들은 그리스도께 속한 척하며 형식만 따르고 있었습니다. 그들은 지적으로는 어느 정도 설득되었지만, 내면적으로는 헌신하지 않았습니다. 하나님의 말씀은 그들의 얕은 믿음과 심지어 거짓된 의도까지도 드러낼 것입니다.

John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Heb 4:12.

살전 2:13 이러므로 우리가 하나님께 끊임없이 감사함은 너희가 우리에게 들은 바 하나님의 말씀을 받을 때에 사람의 말로 받지 아니하고 하나님의 말씀으로 받음이니 진실로 그러하도다 이 말씀이 또한 너희 믿는 자 가운데에서 역사하느니라

바울은 두 번째로 감사하고 있습니다. 이는 데살로니가 성도들이 사도들의 메시지를 메시지를 단순한 인간의 철학으로 받아들인 것이 아니라, 하나님의 말씀 자체로 받아들였기 때문입니다.

New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), 1 Th 2:13.

 

4. RCB의 관점으로

저자는 보수적인 신학의 입장에서 성경의 무오성에 대해서 논증하고 있다. 이번 챕터에 대해서 탁월한 점은, 성경 자체의 논증을 통해서 성경의 무오성을 설명하고 있기 때문이다. 저자는 예수님께서 성경의 영감과 권위를 믿으셨음을 설명하면서, 성경의 무오성을 믿는 것은 곧 예수 그리스도를 믿는 것과 동일한 것임을 설명한다. 이것은 예수 그리스도에 대한 믿음과 성경에 대한 믿음을 연결함으로써, 성경에 대한 성도의 태도를 더욱 견고하게 만들어준다.

또한 저자는 성경이 무오하다는 것에 대한 다양한 반론들을 염두에 두고, 차분하게 설명하고 있다. 예를 들어서, 성경의 정확성이라는 것은 성경 저자들의 당시 기준으로 판단되어야 한다는 것은, 21세기의 엄격한 과학적 잣대를 성경에 들이대는 것이 현명하지 못하다는 것을 잘 설명한다. 

또한 지금 현재의 인간의 이해 수준을 가지고 성경을 판단하는 것은, 성경의 권위를 인간 아래에 두는 것이라고 논증하는 것이 중요한 부분이다. 왜냐하면 인간이 성경의 판단자로 존재하려 할 때에, 그것은 결국 자신의 인성을 최고의 권위로 두는 것이기 때문이다. 저자는 언젠가는 모순처럼 보이는 성경의 어떤 부분들이, 반드시 그 모순이 해결될 것을 믿고 희망의 내용으로 챕터를 마무리한다.

저자의 탁월한 저술에도 불구하고 아쉬운 것은, 저자의 설명은 누군가에게는 단지 ‘믿음’으로 비췰 수 있다는 것이다. 하나님의 말씀이 교회나, 나 자신이나, 성경 말씀에서 어디에서 나오느냐에 대한 저자의 입장은, 사실 믿음의 문제이다. 이것 자체를 증명할 수는 없다. 그러므로 저자의 저술은 충분히 논리적이지만, 어떤 부분에서는 성경에 근거한 믿음을 통해 빚어진 결과론적인 입장이라고 말할 수 있다.

그래서 내용의 부분 부분들 속에서, 일종의 순환적 논리를 발견한다. 보수적인 신학을 공부하고 성경을 무오하다고 믿는 나의 입장에서는 저자의 모든 내용이 그대로 받아들여진다. 그러나 성경이 무오한 것은 성경이 그렇게 말하고 있기 때문이라고 주장한다면, 사실 설득력 있는 논증이라고 말하기 어렵다. 

이미 투철한 신앙을 가진 이들에게는 그것이 크게 와 닿지만, 성경에 대하여 의심하고 있는 사람에게는 오히려 더 불신을 더할 뿐이다. 그러므로 차라리, 믿지 않는 이들에게 설득력 있는 논증을 하기 위해서는, 성경의 예언의 성취에 대한 확률, 혹은 성경이 필사의 과정을 거치면서도 거의 완벽하게 보전된 그 증거 등을 제시하는게 훨씬 유익해 보인다.

그럼에도 불구하고 성경의 무오성을 믿는 것은 전적으로 성령님의 역사이다. 아무리 탁월한 증거를 들이밀어도, 증거 자체가 힘이 있는 것이 아니다. 오직 성령께서 죄인을 살리시고 하나님을 만나게 하시며 말씀을 깨닫게 하시고 그 가치를 알아보게 하신다. 

히브리서 4장 12절 말씀처럼, 하나님의 말씀은 우리의 마음을 향하고 우리의 영혼을 움직이신다. 복 있는 여호와의 율법을 즐거워한다. 이것은 도저히 부정할 수 없는 내적 증거이다. 기독교의 긴 역사 속에서 수 많은 믿음의 사람들이 주의 말씀 안에서 신령한 기쁨, 하늘의 기쁨을 발견했다. 이것이야 말로, 이미 믿은 이들에게 주어진 성경의 무오성에 대한 가장 강력한 증거가 아닐까?

 

5. 적용

1) 당신의 주변에 성경의 무오성에 대해서 의심을 품고 있는 사람이 있습니까? 그 사람이 가진 가장 큰 어려움은 무엇입니까?

2) 당신이 이 챕터에서 배운 가장 중요한 한가지는 무엇입니까? 그 이유는 무엇입니까?

Christian Book Club Simple Guide (2) - What Should You Prepare Before the Meeting?

* Preparing for a Christian Book Club 

In the previous article, we explored the definition of a Christian book club and the reasons why one should participate. Now, it's time to actually delve into the book club experience. A crucial question arises here: How exactly should one prepare for a book club, and how should it be run? 

Having led book clubs for a long time, I have developed the capacity to effectively guide meetings. I have consistently led book clubs by clearly outlining what participants need to prepare. 

Of course, some people may gain various benefits just by reading the book once. However, if you prepare for the meeting as I guide you, you will gain astonishing insights beyond your expectations in the actual meeting. First, in this article, we will discuss the preparation for book club participants. 

* Summary 

First, participants in a Christian book club should prepare a simple summary. A summary involves condensing the content and flow of the text as much as possible. Refer to the syllabus to read the assigned portion for the week, and then summarize it with a minimum of one paragraph and a maximum of half a letter-sized page. 

Why is a summary necessary? It's precisely for reading the book properly. Unfortunately, there are instances where people mistakenly believe they've read a book just by skimming it. However, merely skimming without a purpose will inevitably cause you to miss the author's thoughts and deeper intentions. 

However, when you read a book with an active attitude, keeping a summary in mind, you will read with greater focus and be able to delve deeply into the author's mind. Only when you strive to summarize will you chew over the author's arguments, and the author's expressions, sentences, and logical flow will become clearer, allowing you to penetrate deeper into the text. When you voluntarily organize your thoughts while reading, you experience a deeper understanding and abundantly enjoy the benefits it brings. 

Of course, summarizing can be difficult for some. In such cases, you can write down one or two "favorite sentences." This intentionally lowers the difficulty. For example, in the small group meetings I lead for all congregants, I ask them to write down favorite sentences rather than summaries. The difficulty level of reading a Daily Devotional and writing down a favorite sentence is manageable even for congregants in their mid-70s. 

Even this much can yield great results because writing down sentences allows participants to focus on the text itself. And when participants take turns presenting in the actual meeting, synergy is created. Just as puzzle pieces beautifully come together, as the presentations progress, the beauty of the text read together is revealed, and the meeting is filled with ample richness. 

* Reflections 

Second, reflections. As you read and summarize the text, emotions like joy, sorrow, inspiration, and resolutions may arise in your heart. Writing down reflections means noting what has moved you in this way. 

Why is it necessary to specifically write down reflections? Firstly, it is more readily accepted than asking participants to write down "insights." While book clubs are a form of elite education, my goal is more focused on universal education, aiming for as many congregants as possible to participate. The aim is to lower the difficulty while maintaining the essence of a book club. In this context, the result of my 고민 (deliberation/consideration) for a meeting that ordinary people can handle is "writing down reflections." 

However, what's important is that our feelings and intellectual understanding are actually strongly connected. Therefore, as you organize your reflections, you will inevitably have to grapple with understanding the book properly. Thus, the request to write down reflections can much more gently modify a person's worldview. 

Furthermore, by organizing and writing down reflections, you internalize the content you've read. A book is not merely knowledge; it must enter our hearts. By reading the book and organizing my reflections, I engrave that content into my heart. This naturally guides participating congregants to focus on the emotions they felt while reading the book—joy, empathy, anger, etc.—and through this, helps strengthen their hearts and provide the impetus to live a life pleasing to God. 

* Application 

Third, application. You've probably asked yourself, "Why don't I change much even if I read books diligently?" Reading has power, and book club discussions bring joy and happiness, but for a more mature life transformation, the participant's own resolution is necessary. 

Just as Jesus said that those who hear His words and act on them are wise, a Christian book club definitely asks participants to write down their practical application. Therefore, after writing down your reflections, we encourage participants to write down at least one thing they can actually practice. 

And this requirement has the power to tune the soul of the participating congregant from the very beginning. This is because even before the meeting, you must consider how you will apply what you have read and then attend the meeting. While it may feel awkward at first to share your resolution in front of others, by diligently working on your own application and being challenged by hearing others' applications, the process of application gradually becomes more familiar.

* 크리스천 북클럽 심플 가이드 (2) - 모임 전에 무엇을 준비해야 하나요?
(The Korean version of this article and a Podcast episode)
https://readingchristianbookclub.blogspot.com/2025/04/blog-post_10.html

* 크리스천 북클럽을 위한 '심플 가이드'를 소개합니다
(Your Simple Guide to Christian Book Clubs)
https://jungjinbu.blogspot.com/2025/05/your-simple-guide-to-christian-book.html

Christian Book Club Simple Guide (3) - What Do We Do During the Meeting?

In my previous post, I explained what individuals should prepare for a Christian book club meeting. Now, you might be wondering, "What exactly do we do during the book club meeting?" 

As the leader, I usually arrive about 10 minutes early to wait for the members. We enjoy a light chat over coffee. I like to ask about everyone's well-being because we are a spiritual family caring for one another. Then, guided by the leader, we begin the main meeting.

* Opening Prayer 

I try to start the meeting with a corporate prayer. This is because a Christian book club is a special gathering. It's not just a place to accumulate knowledge but a place of worship where we offer our entire lives to God. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, human change cannot occur. This is the decisive difference between a regular book club and a Christian book club. We begin the meeting by earnestly praying to God. 

* Sharing and Listening (Beginning of Discussion) 

Once the main book club meeting begins, one person opens the meeting by sharing what they have prepared in advance. Those who wish to can go first, or the leader can designate someone depending on the situation. 

It's important here that the leader does not lecture. After the meeting starts, there's a high possibility that the leader might say, "As I read this text, I thought..." and share their own stories and lectures. This is because it's considered normal in traditional church meeting leadership. 

However, in a book club, the participants are the protagonists, not the leader. Of course, the leader must thoroughly understand and prepare all content. This way, they can analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the participants and provide feedback when necessary to help them grow. However, the leader should remain in the background as much as possible. 

Therefore, the start of the meeting is very simple. The leader can simply ask, "Deacon OOO, could you please present what you've prepared for today?" It's simple but the most effective beginning. 

Once one person starts presenting, everyone else should listen attentively. Listening is actively hearing to understand and empathize with another person's thoughts and feelings. The power of listening is amazing. What's particularly important is that while listening appears to be a skill for others, it is actually a skill for oneself. 

Because the presenter has read the same book as you, listening to their summarized content naturally leads you to compare it with what you prepared. You gain a more objective view of yourself and experience intellectual stimulation and an expansion of thought. Furthermore, you feel a desire to add something to their story, and ideas for what to say come to mind. A warm spiritual bond is formed, and the other person feels much closer emotionally. 

* Empathy and Response (Discussion in Progress 1) 

After one person presents, we applaud together without fail. Unfortunately, Korean culture tends to be stingy with praise. However, encouraging someone's presentation after they have read, pondered, and organized their thoughts is a sign of respect for that person and powerfully instills spiritual motivation for them to work harder. 

While the leader can offer light praise and move on, the quickest and surest encouragement is for everyone to applaud together. You can say, "Deacon OOO, well done! Please give him/her a round of applause." 

Then, you should give others an opportunity to talk about what they thought of the presentation. You can politely ask, "Elder OOO, Deacon OOO just presented. How did you hear it? Could I ask for your feedback?" 

Feedback consists of two parts. You can talk about the parts you empathized with, or you can talk about parts you thought differently about or more deeply. At first, this might feel awkward, and responding immediately after hearing someone's story requires significant mental skill, which can be difficult. However, most people adapt well after two or three meetings. 

After one person presents, you should ask for feedback from at least two people. If the meeting includes about six people, including the leader, four people can also give feedback. However, always keep the time commitment in mind. 

The reason feedback is important is that by listening to others in the group, the presenter can discover their strengths and areas for further development. Through encouragement within the community, the presenter's self-esteem is boosted, and a good desire to work harder is formed. 

What's truly important here is that feedback for a person should happen immediately after they present. For example, it's impossible to have two or three people present consecutively and then go back to give feedback on the first person, because the content of their presentation will have been forgotten. 

A Christian book club should not be a place where a few smart people boast about their knowledge. It should be a place of transformation where all participants can biblically change their worldview. 

Therefore, it is crucial to diligently follow the process of one person presenting in turn, followed by feedback from about two people immediately after their presentation, to encourage and transform their thinking. Only by approaching it in this way can everyone truly experience being precious members in the Lord. 

* Conversation (Discussion in Progress 2) 

The flower of a book club is conversation. When you ask for feedback on a presentation, conversation naturally happens. There are several methods for book club conversation, but in the Reading Christian Book Club, we use discussions based on good books and conversational discussions. Discussions based on good books focus on the content of the book, while conversational discussions are natural, like talking with each other. 

First, in a Christian book club, we don't just talk about anything; we should try to focus on the author's arguments and content as much as possible. For example, a conversation like, "The author said this, so I thought this," is a good conversation. 

And within the book club, people can naturally exchange conversations. It doesn't necessarily have to be strictly related to the book; ordinary conversations are also possible. However, as you talk, your own experiences will likely connect with the book's content. 

For example, you can exchange stories based on direct or indirect experiences of faith, such as, "I had such and such an experience related to what I read this time..." Each person's experiences are also good material for conversation, so feel free to share them. 

* Leader's Role 

So, what does the leader do during this process? In fact, the role of a book club leader is very challenging. The leader constantly orchestrates the meeting invisibly. They neither step forward too much nor hide too much. They must continuously observe the expressions and hearts of the participants to ensure the overall meeting proceeds well, guiding it like an invisible hand. 

I understand the leader in a book club as a spiritual parent. A spiritual parent must simultaneously be with their children in three places. First, they must be in the place of learning the book. As they listen to what participants have prepared, they must analyze their strengths and weaknesses. And they must be part of the learning process of the book. If a participant has any shortcomings, the leader can help them grow by using others' feedback or by asking direct questions. 

And finally, they must be with the book itself. While the leader is not someone who directly lectures, they must have a clear sense of direction for where their spiritual children should go. Therefore, they must diligently prepare for the meeting more seriously than anyone else. 

* Questions During the Meeting, and the Power of Questions 

What distinguishes a book club from a typical lecture is the presence of free questions and answers. As you read the book together and engage in conversation, questions are bound to arise. Also, while listening to someone else's presentation, you might have questions or want to delve deeper into certain areas. In a book club, you can freely share these and ask each other questions. 

Questions possess amazing power. They foster an active attitude of participation in the meeting. They cultivate the ability to think critically about a topic. They also help connect your existing knowledge with new knowledge. Furthermore, they deepen your understanding of the book and prompt self-reflection. 

Of course, the leader can also ask questions of the participants. When facilitating a book club, meaningful conversations often flow naturally even without much intervention from the leader. However, sometimes to deepen understanding of the book, or to enrich the conversation, the leader can ask various questions. The leader uses questions as needed, at the right time and place. These questions can be prepared by the leader in advance or generated spontaneously. 

During the meeting, important theological questions may arise. The leader must decide whether or not to address them on the spot. Primarily, having participants present and receive feedback on their prepared content already provides immense learning. However, if the leader determines that a question is crucial based on the flow of the meeting, they can lead an additional discussion on that question. 

Even in such discussions, it's much more desirable and fitting for a book club format if the leader doesn't lecture unilaterally. Instead, they should first ask participants for their thoughts to gather wisdom, and then the leader can offer their own biblical or theological perspective. 

* Conclusion and Summary 

The meeting proceeds for about one and a half to two hours in this manner. I have facilitated for up to four hours with about ten participants as a guideline. Generally, I try to finish within two hours with about seven participants. When the leader determines that all participants have presented, given feedback, and engaged in sufficient conversation through this process, the discussion is concluded. 

In most cases, the author's core message will likely have been well-covered, so the leader can summarize the key points in one or two sentences to conclude. If possible, it's a good idea to give all members an opportunity to share their thoughts on the meeting. This naturally encourages self-reflection on their preparation and presentation. 

* Closing Prayer 

At this point, as the meeting concludes, the participants' hearts will likely be warmed by the content shared. I try to conclude the meeting with corporate prayer as much as possible. We pray together in a corporate voice for God to implant the shared content in our hearts and transform our lives. After the corporate prayer, I, as the leader, generally do not offer the final prayer. Instead, I ask one of the participants to do so, as I understand it is biblically beneficial to bestow spiritual responsibility and authority upon the participants, and that is how we proceed.

크리스천 북클럽 심플 가이드 (3)
- 모임 때에는 무엇을 하는가요?
(The Korean version of this article and a Podcast episode)

https://readingchristianbookclub.blogspot.com/2025/04/blog-post_46.html

* 크리스천 북클럽을 위한 '심플 가이드'를 소개합니다
(Your Simple Guide to Christian Book Clubs)
https://jungjinbu.blogspot.com/2025/05/your-simple-guide-to-christian-book.html

Christian Book Club Simple Guide (1) - What is a Christian Book Club, and Why is it Essential?

 

* Before Introducing the Christian Book Club

Before introducing the Christian Book Club, if you are passionate enough to be reading this article, you have probably heard about Christian book clubs once or twice. Perhaps you have even attended a meeting or are currently leading one. The reason I’m writing this is to share my philosophy of Christian book clubs and to build God’s Kingdom together through it. 

Since my youth, I was nurtured through book clubs, and simply because I loved them, I went deeper into study. During my master’s and doctoral programs, I realized that although there are many gatherings called Christian book clubs, there is no single unified method. 

So my goal has been to make good use of the general book club format, but to apply it wisely from a Christian perspective. My philosophy of the book club has been shaped through a combination of adult education, a Christian worldview, and the book club model. 

I consider it my calling to help Baltimore Church, where I serve, as well as other local churches, to experience Christian book clubs in a biblically and theologically rich way. While my upcoming book deals with these topics at an academic level, this writing is organized as simply and briefly as possible so that anyone can understand. 

* How a Christian Book Club Differs from a Regular One

A book club, simply put, is a small group where people share what they felt or learned after reading a book. This simple definition captures the essence of a book club. Yet at the same time, a book club can be very deep. If the leader is capable and the participants come well prepared, the group can experience joy and inspiration beyond what anyone can easily measure.

Then what is a Christian book club? Simply put, it is a small group where Christians share what they felt or learned after reading a book. Only the audience seems to change, but in fact, everything changes. A Christian book club, in one phrase, is giving the book club format a Christian baptism. It takes an excellent educational framework and reshapes it biblically and theologically for good use in the church.

* Why Should We Do It? 

This leads us to the next question: Why must we do a Christian book club? This is perhaps the most important question for anyone starting a book club. If there’s no clear reason to participate, there’s no need to spend valuable time on it. 

But Christian book clubs are absolutely worth joining. That’s because a book club is one of the best investments a person can make in life. On the surface, it may seem like believers are just reading comfortably and having conversations. But in reality, amazing elements are at work within it—elements that enrich and dramatically transform the life of a believer. 

I believe that the Christian book club is one of the most complete ways to express the unity of the Church—the body of Christ. I am also convinced that it is the most effective and fastest path to transform a believer’s thinking and life, leading them toward sanctification. The book clubs I lead ultimately focus on the transformation of worldview and spiritual maturity. 

* It Helps Us Read Deeply and Well

First of all, a Christian book club helps us read properly and deeply. While Christians can enjoy and discuss good literary works as part of common grace, I basically recommend reading faith-based books that are easier to read together. 

At Baltimore Church, where I serve, all members share and discuss Pastor John Piper’s Solid Joys Daily Devotional articles in their small group meetings as a book club setting. For those who want a deeper study, we also use David Platt’s Radical in a similar book club format. 

People often ask, “Why should we read together when I can just read on my own?” The problem is that even people who love reading can easily miss the author’s intent or fail to fully understand the message when reading alone. Personal reading usually focuses only on the parts that interest us, so we often miss the overall flow and main theme of the book. 

However, when we read together in a book club, we begin to experience the deeper essence of reading. Because we read with the intention of sharing with others, an active attitude naturally forms even before the meeting, and we become more focused as we read. The key to growing faith is active engagement. The very fact that someone joins a book club and begins reading on their own is already evidence of growth. 

And during the actual meeting, the parts we missed or misunderstood while reading alone can be corrected through the presentations and insights of other believers. As we share the content of the book from various perspectives, we experience a broadening of thought in areas we hadn’t considered before. In the end, Christian book clubs allow us to engage in a much deeper reading experience than we’ve ever had before. 

* A Biblical Worldview Begins to Form (Part 1) 

Christian book clubs also help transform our worldview into a biblical one. A worldview is the lens through which a person sees the world. Broadly speaking, it also includes the actions that flow from that perspective. Everyone sees the world in their own way. And once a person’s worldview is formed in adulthood, it rarely changes easily. 

In most cases, the reason believers don’t grow is because of their unbiblical worldview. Secular thinking dominates their minds and hearts. The problem is that human thought is complex, and short Bible studies or one-way lectures alone have clear limitations in bringing true change. It is a logical contradiction to offer only passive learning structures while expecting transformation to happen within them. 

Therefore, in order for a believer’s worldview to change, we must guide them to step into the process of transformation themselves. Christian book clubs have that power. Reading is not simply about looking at letters on a page—it’s about reading and engaging with a person’s worldview. In the process of carefully reading the book alone and preparing for the meeting, believers learn the author’s biblical worldview and begin to evaluate it in their own way. This is the first level of worldview transformation that happens to those who participate. 

* A Biblical Worldview Deepens Through Community (Part 2) 

Then, during the actual meeting, another level of worldview transformation occurs. By sharing what they prepared and engaging in sincere conversation, participants reveal and exchange their own worldview with others. They also begin to seriously try to learn from and evaluate others’ excellent thoughts. Through this process, they discover strengths and weaknesses in their own thinking—even ones they hadn’t clearly recognized before—and begin to refine them. This is the second level of worldview transformation. Through the Christian book club, participants not only learn a biblical worldview but also internalize it in both heart and action. 

Studies on book clubs show that the conversations that happen within them often deal deeply with moral values and the meaning of life. In actual Christian book clubs, nearly every issue that believers struggle with comes up and is addressed seriously. As believers positively influence one another through these discussions, their inner value systems begin to shift in a more biblical direction. The more they participate in book clubs, the more they develop biblical ways of thinking. Along the way, they also grow in humility and learn to respect others more. 

* We Gain Wisdom for Life 

Through Christian book clubs, we also gain wisdom for living as believers. No matter how capable a person is, they cannot solve all of life’s problems alone. But a book club provides a setting where people can learn from and encourage one another. Even the leader—whether a pastor or church elder—can receive life lessons from the members who participate. 

A one-way lecture by a pastor or leader can only offer learning within the limits of that one person’s experience. But in a Christian book club, when someone shares their personal struggles, they can receive practical life wisdom through the advice and feedback of others with different backgrounds and experiences. That’s why we can call the Christian book club a “fountain of wisdom” for the believer’s daily life.

* It Develops Essential Skills for Christian Community 

Christian book clubs also help us develop important social skills needed for life. This is one of the great strengths even of general book clubs. First, as we try to understand the book more deeply on our own, we develop analytical thinking and intellectual ability. Also, because we must listen carefully and respond to others’ opinions, our ability to listen attentively grows naturally. 

In addition, as we try to express our thoughts more clearly, we develop verbal expression and communication skills. By staying focused on the flow of conversation, actively engaging, and responding in real time, we train ourselves in both verbal agility and conversational awareness. Through this process, Christian book clubs help raise individuals who can contribute meaningfully to the growth of the church community. 

* It Becomes a Source of Life Transformation 

Christian book clubs also create a true driving force for sanctification. Within the book club, we constantly encounter rich and multi-layered learning experiences. As we participate, we absorb not only the content of the book but also the stories and insights shared by others deep into our hearts. We experience a level of insight, emotional impact, and sincere decision-making that cannot be compared to reading alone. 

Every pastor wrestles with this question: “How can I help believers take in the content of spiritual education into their hearts?” In other words, it’s the challenge of finding a way to internalize biblical knowledge—not just in the mind, but deep in the heart. 

Based on my experience and research, I believe Christian book clubs are a highly effective way to bring real inner transformation to believers. When I analyze the feedback and conversations with those who participate, it becomes clear that what is shared in the book club does not remain as mere knowledge—it settles in their hearts and becomes a true driving force for life change. 

* It Builds Unity in the Church 

Finally, from a pastor’s perspective, one of the greatest strengths of a Christian book club is that it almost perfectly embodies the unity of the body of Christ. I believe this is the single most important distinction between a Christian book club and a regular one. 

The Bible tells us that the church is a spiritual body. We receive spiritual nourishment from Jesus Christ and care for one another, influencing and supporting each other. Yet in real life, we rarely experience this. We exchange a few greetings or have surface-level spiritual conversations, but often leave feeling unsatisfied. Even after living together in faith for decades, many still remain spiritually distant from one another. 

However, Christian book clubs create true spiritual fellowship. Within the structure of the book club, deep conversations naturally arise. You hear thoughts and inner reflections from others that you could never have imagined before the meeting. Through empathy, evaluation, praise, and encouragement, strong and invisible bonds are formed. 

After many years of leading book clubs, I have come to believe that they are an incredibly powerful tool. And now, I am fully convinced that the reason people grow to love these gatherings is because they allow us to truly experience the joy of unity that the Bible speaks of—the joy of becoming a spiritual family in Christ. 

* The Value of a Christian Book Club Is Beyond Comparison

In conclusion, a Christian Book Club holds tremendous value that is beyond comparison. It is the most effective and essential space for helping an individual discover the meaning of life, experience inner transformation, and achieve overall maturity. 

Through a Christian Book Club, we also experience and strengthen biblical community. As a result, believers find more joy in their faith journey and grow in love for their church community. Ultimately, the book club becomes a powerful tool for shaping the overall atmosphere of the church in a biblical direction. 

Therefore, if we can lead and participate in book clubs throughout our lives while staying close to good Christian books, it would truly be a wise choice—for each believer personally and for the church as a whole.

* 크리스천 북클럽 심플 가이드 (1)
- 크리스천 북클럽은 무엇이며, 왜 꼭 해야 하나요?
(The Korean version of this article and a Podcast episode)
https://readingchristianbookclub.blogspot.com/2025/04/blog-post.html

* 크리스천 북클럽을 위한 '심플 가이드'를 소개합니다
(Your Simple Guide to Christian Book Clubs)
https://jungjinbu.blogspot.com/2025/05/your-simple-guide-to-christian-book.html