Just got an email from Emily Martin from Park Cities Baptist Church.
Here in Dallas, there are a number of organizations that have galvanized their constituency to read one common book. For example, SMU Reads, or Richardson Reads. I think Chicago has done a similar thing for the whole city.
I would love to do something like that here at Park Cities Baptist Church – select one book and encourage the whole congregation to read it. The idea of selecting one book and the effort to get everyone on board is pretty daunting to me. Before I try to reinvent the wheel, I wondered if you know of any churches or church libraries that have undertaken such a program. You might have some other ideas and wisdom that I’d be grateful to receive.
Any suggestions for Emily? Sounds like a great idea! I'm interested too.
Replies
You might be interested in a new book by C. Christopher Smith, Reading for the Common Good: How Books Help Our Churches and Neighborhoods Flourish (InterVarsity, 2016), and the companion ebook by the same author, 101 Transformative Books for Churches to Read and Discuss (Englewood Review of Books, 2016). The ebook is available for free at http://bit.ly/101TransformativeBooks.
Check to see if your church has a disciple making process or emphasis going on right now. The common book idea is perfect for that church wide emphasis. Also wondering how this idea could plug in to the read-through-the-Bible annual emphasis many churches do these days. In a way, that emphasis or strategy is the model for reading a common book. Just thinking outloud.