One helpful way to spur others on to growing deeper in your discipleship is meeting together with other Christians. I’ve previously given some suggestions on what such a regular gathering might consist. One tool to deepen discipleship in a regular meeting with others is to choose a book to read together and discuss it. What is involved in such a commitment? Here are a few suggestions on how to make the most of reading a book (outside Scripture) together.
Commitments in Reading Material Together
- Determine exactly how much you will read and discuss each week.
- Make sure everyone involved is committed to complete the reading each week.
- Commit to not only read, but think through specific applications of what is being read.
- Commit to read the material chosen carefully, not merely complete the portion agreed upon each week.
Don’ts for Good Discussion
- Don’t commit to something you cannot consistently contribute to significantly.
- Don’t allow each other to remain general in what they are applying to what they are reading.
- Don’t merely read quotations that you thought were good. Why were they good? How are they impacting you?
- Don’t only consider applications for yourself – but consider applications for the church and how what you are reading could build up others.
- Don’t dominate the time so that others can’t participate. Be mindful.
Do’s for Good Discussion
- Mark up the book you are reading, including notes in the margin to remind yourself how/why what you marked has impacted you.
- Quickly glance over the the assigned section of reading and your marks before the discussion.
- Determine the most impactful element of the assigned section of reading; write it down.
- Be specific in how you are applying what you have read.
- Look for ways to encourage the others who are reading along with you with the material.
- Take a few minutes to either think through or write down answers to these questions in light of what you have read: where are you in relation to what you have read; why are you there; how does Scripture apply to where you are and what you are reading; what are your next steps to grow?
- Set a time limit; communicate it to each other; aim to stick to it to make it beneficial.
- Probe each other with additional questions related to what they share. Let the review of the material become a growing and deepening conversation.
- Admit the weaknesses the material exposed. Rejoice in specific encouragements the material revealed.
These are merely a few thoughts that might help you to make the most of reading a book together with another Christian. These comments may have sparked some additional ideas. What are they? How has reading with others benefited you? I would love to hear.
