Paul was a master teacher of God’s Word, and he was always reading. Toward the end of his life he told Timothy: “When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments” (2 Tim. 4:13). He wanted his books! He never stopped learning.
As a disciple-maker you must be serious about your spiritual development. You need to study. British preacher Charles Spurgeon read six books a week! He told young preachers: “The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted.” If you never read books or Bible commentaries, you are trusting your own limited knowledge. Don’t be lazy. Study hard. Don’t just read the Bible—dig deep and mine its treasure. And read spiritual classics as well as current books. Reading will sharpen your blade and make you a wiser and more effective mentor.