A few weeks ago I wrote about the encouraging findings of research into book reading in Australia. The most encouraging part for me was the very high proportion of people who are book readers and who want to read more. 

One of the other findings of the Australia Reads report was that people will read more if there is someone they respect spurring them on to do so:

The more that the people around us value reading, the more likely we are to be a frequent reader, and feel positively about reading. When those around us visibly engage in reading or talk about its importance, it reinforces the social norm that reading is valuable and accepted. These messages are particularly impactful when received from people that we respect. [italics added]

So I encouraged those of us who have some respect as leaders among our brothers and sisters at church to spur our congregation (or small group) members on in doing a bit more reading. But then I made a rash promise. I said I’d write again to offer some ideas about how to do that. 

So here are six quick (and pretty easy) tips. Take up whichever ideas seem relevant, and let’s get some fresh momentum behind the habit of Christian reading!

Tip 1. Read books that are suitable to recommend to others

Every now and then I come across an online list of some pastor’s ‘recommended books’. These lists are commonly made up of titles like The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, Biblical Critical Theory, and even Calvin’s Institutes. 

Pastors and leaders … how can I put this? There are two categories of reading you need to do:

1. books that are mainly for you (or perhaps to discuss among your core leadership team) that stretch and stimulate your thinking; and
2. books that you want to see if they are worth recommending to your average congregation members—shorter, easy-to-read books on key topics of the Christian life.

If you feel like some of the books in category 2 won’t be stretching enough for you, then you’ve really missed the point. Your goal is to develop a list of books you will routinely suggest to people as a way of helping them move to the right (grow as disciple-making disciples).

Tip 2. Use the Sunday platform to recommend books

If you want to go full-on, you could certainly set aside some time in your Sunday service for a short book promotion and recommendation (not a ‘review’*). A ‘book of the month’ kind of thing. But don’t just delegate that book segment to anyone; make sure it’s given by a person who has a discerning list like the one I mentioned above and is respected—someone whose opinion will be influential in the congregation. 

I know that platform time within church services is always in high demand, but if you prioritise what is going to be promoted in church on the basis of what’s going to move people to the right, book recommendations may well be something you schedule in at least once a month.

However, if that’s too big a commitment for now, even just a one-sentence mention from a preacher in a sermon can be effective:

“One of the topics this passage is raising for us is ‘Christian hope’, and if you’d like to think a bit more deeply about this topic, let me recommend this easy-to-read book called Hope, by Bryson Smith.” (Hold up the book or show the cover on the screen.)

You could include a link/QR code in the sermon outline or bulletin so people know where/how to get the book you recommended.

Tip 3. Give books away in church

Use some of your church budget, or your own pastoral book allowance, to buy multiple copies of the books on your ‘to recommend’ list, then give them away in church. If you put money into creating a book culture, people will really know you’re serious about them reading.

“I have a couple of free copies of this really excellent book called Busy, by Ian Carmichael, which gives a helpful Christian perspective on our busyness in life.** Would anyone like to read it? The only condition is that you have to come back sometime and tell me what you found helpful about it. So who’d like a free copy?”

Do this regularly and not only will you encourage people to read, but over time you’ll teach them the titles and authors you recommend.

Tip 4. Encourage your leaders to be readers and recommenders too

If there is anyone you want to encourage in Christian reading, it’s those in your church who share the task of leading and teaching—especially your Bible study and youth group leaders. Recommend and give books away when you meet with these leaders, and encourage them to talk to their group members about reading too. Leaders could even pick a book to read and discuss it together in or outside of the group time (see Tip 5). Leaders may be able to order bulk copies to get a cheaper price for their group and save postage.

Tip 5. Start a WhatsApp Book Club and invite anyone to join it

This idea was sent to me by Katherine Cole, who happens to run the women’s Bible study groups at my church. Here’s how she described to me what they did last year:

A little group of friends from [the women’s Bible studies] had an informal reading accountability group. We knew Term 4 would be super busy for us mums, so we set an achievable reading schedule (one chapter a week). The idea was that it wasn't a “book club”—there was no obligation to meet face to face, or even offer a reflection; a “like” to indicate you’d read the chapter was sufficient. But most weeks we each ended up writing a short reflection, posting a quote, or highlighting something that struck us. Interestingly it was often very different things! It also meant that when we saw each other at church, or Bible study, our conversations flowed more quickly to what we were learning or thinking about from the book.

This WhatsApp screenshot shows you how Katherine introduced the idea to those who’d joined the group.

Tip 6. Call Matthias Media and do a deal

One of the ways we can encourage reading is by making books cheaper. So if you want to stock up on any Matthias Media books that are on your ‘to recommend’ list, or if you want cheap books to give away, or if you just want to place a bulk order as a group… give us a call. Tell us what you’re doing in response to this article, and we’ll work out a better price for you. We can also suggest some specific MM books that you might want to consider putting on your list.

I finished my earlier article with this challenge: 

could you “visibly engage in reading or talk about its importance” in order to help establish “the social norm that reading is valuable and accepted” in your church life?

I hope I’ve now given you some useful ideas on how to do that.

Ian

* That is, it’s not a critique of the good and bad points of the book. You’ve already decided that this is a book you want people to read, so your goal is just to enthuse them about how this book could help them.

** Hey, I’m allowed to dream, surely!?