Book Announcement!
Today I’d like to share with you something I’m going to be working on during my sabbatical. For the longest time, my bucket list has contained an entry which reads “Write a book and get it published”. I think it’s finally time to cross off that entry…
The Need and the Vision
I’ve been involved with different Bible Study groups, both in the USA and back in England, for about ten years. During this time, I’ve searched for a book to help guide me in leading these different groups. Unfortunately, that book doesn’t appear to exist! In the Protestant world, I’ve found books which help with basic Biblical exegesis and personal reading, but nothing substantial on leading a group study. In the Catholic world, there are even slimmer pickings. In light of this, over the next couple of months I’m going to be writing the book that I wish I had read a decade ago!
This book is going to lead the reader through the entire process of running a Bible Study, from beginning to end. My goal is to make this book extremely practical, coving all the nitty-gritty details of setting up and running a group. It will guide the reader through a typical Bible Study meeting, providing lots of handy hints as to how to nurture the discussion and avoid common pitfalls. In the appendices I hope to have all kinds of usual material, including a modified version of my commentary on Philippians. It is my hope that, even with no prior experience, once somebody has this book in his hands he will have everything he needs to start a successful Bible Study in his parish.
You’re Involved too!
As a reader of Restless Pilgrim, this involves you! I will be blogging about the book over the coming months and asking for your feedback. This begins today! I’m currently trying to come up with a working title for this book. Please help me choose it by voting below:
I’d also like to choose a tag line or subtitle for the book:
I’m really excited about this and I’d love to hear your thoughts! What would you look for in a book like this? Is there a particular issue related to Bible study groups which you’d particularly like to see addressed?
One thing I learned in a writing class some years ago is to not get attached to first lines, or titles. Sometimes we get caught up on them and it keeps us from the possibility of a better title/opener/tagline. So while it helps to have a vision of where you want your book to go, I’d recommend not setting the title in stone. Start with the book and let the title come later. 🙂
Thanks for the advice. The book is already 27 pages of notes and this is also just a working title 🙂
PS – fixed your name 😀
Hi David,
This is great! Congratulations, it sounds like a terrific idea for a book.
My wife has been telling me to write a book for years and just yesterday I thought maybe I should. In the meantime, she was written three!
I like the “How to Start a Bible Study in Your Parish” and the “How To Start a Catholic Bible Study Group”‘ because it answers my question. If I am looking for help in leading a bible study in my parish, and I came across that title, I would immediately check it out.
While I think the title options you have are all good, they are somewhat vague and you want compelling not just acceptable, am I right? They don’t promise me anything or tell me what the book is about. My advice is to pick a working title and the title will come to you later. Think about what would have made you buy the book, or what someone in a similar situation is thinking about, and pick a title they would find too good to not pass.
Overachiever… 😉
Yeah, I had the advice that the tagline should have all the keywords you want a search to hit 🙂
True, but I’d like an interesting name. The reference to “Table of the Word” comes from one of my favourite lines of the Catechism:
“…the Church has always venerated the Scriptures as she venerates the Lord’s Body. She never ceases to present to the faithful the bread of life, taken from the one table of God’s Word and Christ’s Body”
Catholics spend a lot of time talking about the “…table of…Christ’s Body” (the Eucharist) a lot. I want to shine some light on the “…table of God’s Word”.
“Lamp unto my feet” is an obvious Scripture reference and “Pick up and read!” is a reference to St. Augustine’s conversion and the words “Tolle Lege!”
Sure, these are all working titles. I just wanted to start picking people’s brains early 🙂
A) Fabulous! Congratulations. 🙂
B) I was going to offer the same advice as Loony. I’ve found it true both in fictional and nonfictional/daily newspaper writing endeavors.
C) Happy writing! Hope you’re making good progress.
Thanks 🙂 Just finished the draft of Chapter 4. The document currently stands at 15,236 words…
Very cool!