READING: Hebrews 10:24-25
Sometimes, discipleship is introducing people not only to the Bible, but also to other good books that can help “disciple” them from a distance. Nothing, of course, is inspired like the Bible is; thus, everything must be filtered through the Scriptures. Nevertheless, other books can challenge and guide us as supplementary resources. For example, I talk with some of my mentees about this kind of reading plan:
- Read through the Scriptures, at least every other year (preferably every year).
- Establish a reading plan that complements your Bible reading but also recognizes your reading capacity. That is, push yourself to read more, but don’t set goals you know you won’t meet. For some mentees, reading even one book a year is an improvement.
- Choose different types of reading. For example, read annually at least one biography, one book on spiritual disciplines/holiness, and one book simply for pleasure.
- Learn to mark your books (now, even electronically) to help you review them in the future. As Bill Lane, Michael Card’s mentor said to him, “You must learn to interact in the margins of your books. That way you can pull a book off the shelf years later, read your notations, and have it all back in your mind.”*
- Stay in touch with a pastor, a professor, or a mentor who can continually direct you to new (and old) significant resources.
One of the goals of a disciplemaker is to help disciples become lifelong learners, and a consistent reading plan is a good start. Indeed, good reading should help provoke us to serve God better.
PRAYER: “Lord, thank You for the opportunity to read Your Word. Help me always to keep it primary. Then, guide me to other resources, too.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Isaiah 3-6, Ephesians 2
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*Michael Card, The Walk: A Moment in Time When Two Lives Intersect (Kindle Locations 145-146). Kindle Edition.
