Start a Class

This guide will help you start a class to study with others. Whether you’re a pastor planning a small group study, a book club leader, or someone wanting to explore a text with friends, this process will get your class up and running.

Prerequisites

First, you need to select a study from your Library. When doing that, make sure to preview the study thoroughly to ensure it fits your group’s needs. Also, you might need to join additional groups to gain access to more studies.

Start Your Class

From the study details page, click Start a Class
Fill in the class details:

Class Name: Give your class a distinctive name that captures the study and the personality of the people in your class
Description: Add context about when and where you’ll meet, expectations, or any other relevant information
Capacity: Set the maximum number of participants
Cover Image: Upload a custom image or leave it blank

Define your role:

Manager Only: Check this if you will be the manager but will not participate in the class study
Your Class Role: Select from two options:
- Leader: Guides class discussions and leads sessions
- Member: Participates in the study and engages with content

Click Create Class

Invite Members

After starting your class you can invite others to join by sending them an invitation.

Quick summary:

Click Invite Someone from either the action menu (⋮), the Members tab, or the Invitations tab
Enter the first name, last name, email address and proposed role (Member or Leader)
Add a personal message explaining the study and schedule
Click Send Invitation
Repeat for additional participants

What invitees experience:

Receive email notification
See invitation in BookFellows app as a banner on the Home page
Can respond to the invitation to join your class
Upon acceptance, join your class

Tips for initial invitations:

Send well before first session
Give invitees time to respond
Follow up personally if needed

Manage Your Class

After creating your class and sending initial invitations, you can manage your class to add or remove members, change member roles, update class settings, monitor participation, lead your class, transfer management, and complete or delete the class.

Begin Studying

Once your class is set up and members have joined, everyone can begin by participating in personal study activities such as answering questions, sharing answers, making notes, and tracking progress.

Best Practices for Starting a Class

Before Creating:

Preview the entire study to ensure it fits your group’s needs
Plan your study schedule and meeting format
Consider your group’s size and dynamics
Prepare any supplementary materials
Decide on leadership approach

When Creating the Class:

Choose a descriptive, memorable class name
Write a clear description with meeting details and expectations
Set realistic capacity limits based on discussion size
Upload a recognizable cover image
Consider your group’s preferences for access

When Inviting Initial Members:

Assign Leader role to those who will facilitate discussions
Include a personal message explaining the study, schedule, and expectations
Send invitations well before your first session
Give invitees time to respond
Follow up with important invitees who haven’t responded
Provide context about the study and class

Communication:

Share meeting details clearly (time, location, or video link)
Explain study pace expectations
Clarify discussion format (in-person, video, hybrid)
Set tone for welcoming and inclusive environment
Provide your contact information for questions

Next Steps

Choose your path forward:

Invite Others to Join a Class Send invitations and manage initial class setup

Manage a Class Learn ongoing class management and member oversight

Participate in Personal Study Begin working through lessons and answering questions

Participate in Class Discussion Prepare for and lead class discussions

Move to Solo Study Transition from a class back to solo study

Need help? Contact support at rich@bookfellows.net