In the wake of self-isolation, we have a lot more time to read but are sorely lacking in community and social outlets. Especially, as active Christians, we have lost our weekly Church services and small group meetings. One way we can still engage and discuss faith with others is through an online book club.

Book clubs offer you the chance to pick up something you’ve been meaning to read for ages, discover something new and exciting, or find a new community in a safe and easygoing place. One big advantage is that it’s now easier than ever to bring book clubs into digital spaces.

Whether you are a seasoned small group leader or looking to create a space for community and conversation, here are a few steps to help you set up your own online book club:

1: Pick the Group

The average book group generally consists of about 8-15 people. But, when sending out invites, aim a little lower than 8-15 to begin with. This leaves you with some space for anyone wanting to invite a friend.

Or, if you want to be a little more intentional about invites, ask your participants to bring along a friend or two. You’ll get to make new connections based on similar interests and maybe even come out of self-isolation with more friendships than when you went into it.

2: Choose a Book

It goes without saying that there are a lot of books to choose from. Trying to find the right ones for your group requires an understanding of what books will appeal to your group. You can also choose which books work best in group chat.

For a Christian small group, you have a few helpful options when choosing what to read.

The primary question to be asked is fiction or nonfiction?

If the majority of the group are fiction readers or unfamiliar with faith, then a novel would be your best pick. Whether that is secular fiction with Christian themes you could explore together or one of the many amazing reads from Christian fiction, a novel offers the most accessible way into a book club for people. As a bonus, the majority of Christian fiction will feature reading guides in the back to help you structure and guide conversation over the coming meetings.

If you are looking to create a club that is closer in feel and structure to a small group, or want to explore some big questions in a more focussed manner, then nonfiction would be an ideal choice. This could be based around some of the pre-existing study guides such as Lifebuilders, The Bible Speaks Today, God’s Word for You or any of the Other Small Group Guides. Our Spiritual Growth, Social Issues, and Understanding the Faith categories feature a wealth of smart and engaging books that explore all sides of Christianity and the world around us.

If you would like some suggestions, we’ll put together our pick of Christian Books for an Online Book Club.

3: When to Meet

The big benefit of online book clubs is the conversation never needs to cease, but it helps to have designated times for focussed conversations.

The regularity of these is up to your group, but I’d say a weekly space set aside for discussion would be advisable. That isn’t saying you have to read a book a week, but having that regular time for participants will help inject a measure of consistency, routine and stability in people’s lives.

Perhaps you can read a chapter or two a week and discuss the book in a more granular way.

4. Which Platform to Choose

There are several platforms you can choose for hosting your online book club. One is through a group chat. This can be on Facebook, Whatsapp, and Google Hangouts. The advantage of these is that your participants most-likely already have at least one of these on their phone or computer.

You could also try something new. A handy feature that comes with a lot of business moving to online communication and collaborative work is that the software they use is perfect for book clubs. Programs like Slack and Flock were made for teams of colleagues but offer a clean and easy to use platform for book clubs. You can also set reminders for news and updates on them.

5: Pick a Theme

This is where you decide the tone of your book club.

What is more important, community or discussion; ideas or engagement; investigation or relationships?

Every book club has its own character and identity. A good way to decide on the tone is to look at what best suits the needs of your participants and tailor accordingly. A group of casual readers won’t appreciate long complex Russian novels, and your more ardent readers may find little to challenge them if you set The Gruffalo as the book of the month.

6. Getting it Started

Now that you have gotten everything planned, it’s good to set up an introductory meeting to help everyone get to know each other. This can be a skype call, or on the platform of your choice. This introductory meeting is also a great chance to gather up suggestions for future reads in your book club.

If you have any questions about book clubs, picking a book to read, or want something to bring hope during self-isolation, get in touch. We are simply a click or call away.

For more ideas and resources to help you do Church online, check out our Being Virtual Church page.

Return to the list of practices for Christians during Coronavirus: https://www.eden.co.uk/blog/7-practices-for-christians-during-coronavirus-p1784105