Book Clubs: Read a Bit, Meet a Bit

Start your own Book Club for Christian women ….for fun and fellowship, and some intellectual stimulation!  A time to share your thoughts about inspiring and fun Christian books.

When & Where ?

• Once a week: same time, same day, same place
• Limit your R&R time to an hour
• Meet at a coffee shop, sandwich shop, library, park, even an MDPC courtyard area, or a home
• MDPC Rooms can be reserved through Patty Leonard at 713-490-0931, pleonard@mdpc.org if space is available

How Many Women?

It is best to have a minimum of five women, and a maximum of eight women.  This will allow enough time for each person to share.  

Use the No Show Rule:

Summer is a busy time.  Set your group time up and then review the No Show Rule.  “If no one has arrived after 10 minutes of the preset start time, then you are free to leave.”  No rsvp phone calls each week, no hurt feelings if some cannot make it.

YOUR FIRST MEETING……..WHAT TO DO:

1. Start on time, the first time and always
2. Introduce yourself and immediately welcome everyone
3. Invite each member to introduce herself.
4. Review the ground rules together.  Ask if there is anything anyone wants to add to them.
5. Present the book you have chosen or review those you are considering.
6. Decide on a book, and your final regular meeting place, day and time.

Your Discussion Ground Rules:

Respect one another – be on time, be interested, quietly listen to other’s opinions

Understanding – the greatest gift you can give; no advice-giving during group

Limit Yourself – everyone needs a chance to speak, don’t dominate the conversation

Excel in confidentiality – what is said in your book club stays there, period, paragraph!

Stay on task – remember, you are there to discuss a book; others came for that purpose also. 

MDPC Books Discount

If you order five or more of the same book, you will receive a 20% discount.  Orders are placed on Mondays before 10:30am, and are received and available for purchase on Friday of the same week. 

Book Store Hours…. Monday - Friday 9:30am  -12:30pm,  Sunday  8:30am - 12:30pm. 

MDPC Books at 713-490-0909, Linda Hurst, Manager at  lhurst@mdpc.org

Book Club Discussion Guides & Ideas

Most books come with a list of discussion questions at the end of the book.  If your book doesn’t have questions available you have two options.

Internet Sites:  Go on the internet and you may find discussion questions on your book.  There are many book club sites that have this available.

www.book-clubs-rsource.com  (Click on link to “Running a Book Club”)

www.christianitytoday.com/smallgroups/articles/notoprah.html

www.bookbrowse.com

www.booksonline.com

Create Your Own Discussion Questions

• Who are the key characters
• What is the book about?  What is the author’s thesis?
• What themes run through the book?
• What is biblical here?  What is not?
• What time period is it set in ?  How does it compare to today?
• What did you like or dislike?  How did the book affect you?
• Compare and contrast – Is this book like any other you have read?

Kristin Huffman recommends:

• Same Kind of Different As Me (by Ron Hall & Denver Moore)
• Walk Across the Room  (by Bill Hybels)
• The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest Literally as Possible (by A. J. Jacobs)
• The Unusual Suspect: My Calling to the New Hardcore Movement of Faith  (by Stephen Baldwin & Mark Tabb)
• Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith (by Anne Lamott)
• When the Game Is Over, It all Goes Back  in the Box (by John Ortberg)
• The Note, A Story of Second Changes (by Angela Hunt)

Vicky Jones recommends:

• Same Kind of Different as Me (by Ron Hall & Denver Moore)
• The Screwtape Letters  (by C. S. Lewis)
• Ruth, A Portrait: The story of Ruth Bell Graham (by Patricia Cornwell)
• Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality  (by Donald Miller)
• Ordinary People, Extraordinary Faith  (by Joni E. Tada)

Rachel Poysky recommends:

• The Return of the Prodigal Son (by Henri Nouwen)
• Blue Like Jazz  (by Donald Miller)
• Cure for the Common Life  (by Max Lucado)
• Freedom of Simplicity (by Richard Foster)
• Three Cups of Tea. (by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin)