The document discusses the importance of leaders continually reading and learning. It provides examples of influential leaders like Paul, Wesley, and Tozer who made reading a priority throughout their lives. Reading helps leaders grow spiritually and intellectually. The document also offers guidance on how to read in a thoughtful way, such as reading books thoroughly rather than just skimming, taking notes, and varying reading material to avoid mental ruts.

1. Section 7 - The Leader’s Influence
Group Activity: Create a one-
page visual summary of the
leader’s influence.
Study chapter 7 in Blackaby
Study chapters 13-14 in Sanders
Print an article on leadership at:
http://www.pastors.com/RWMT/
MTArchi ve.asp

2. The leader and
reading
2 Tim 4:13
When you come, bring the cloak
that I left with Carpus at Troas,
and my scrolls, especially the
parchments.

3. The leader and
reading
Francis Bacon
2 Tim 4:13
When you come, bring full man;
Readingh maketh a the cloak
that I left speaking, a ready man,
with Carpus at Troas,
and my scrolls, especially man
Writing, an exact the
parchments.

4. What books did Paul want - OT
scriptures, Jewish history,
explanations of the Law and
prophets - and maybe even some
secular poetry, which Paul
occasionally quotes.
Noticeably this is near the end of
Paul’s life - yet still he is reading,
still he is learning.
Spiritual leaders of all
generations have a passion to
know the Word of God - but also
to read supplementary works.

5. “The leader who wants
to grow spiritually and
intellectually will be
constantly reading”
Lawyers, doctors etc. All continue
to read after qualifying in their
discipline - so should the man/
woman of God.
Wesley road up to 90 miles each
day on horseback - he had a
book stand on his saddle and
read continually through these
times.

6. In fact Wesley is said to have
told the younger members of
the Methodist societies to
read or get out of the ministry.
Sanders suggests 30 minutes
each day should be spent
reading by a man of God.
AW Tozer said the following
about reading:

7. Why does today’s Christian find
the reading of great books always
beyond him? Certainly intellectual
powers do not wane from one
generation to another. We are as
smart as our fathers, and any
thought that they could entertain
we can entertain if we are
sufficiently interested to make the
effort. The major cause of the
decline in the quality of current
Christian literature is not
intellectual but spiritual.

8. To enjoy a great religious book
requires a degree of consecration to
God and detachment from the world
that few modern Christians have. The
early Christian fathers, the Mystics,
the Puritans, are not hard to
understand, but they inhabit the
highlands where the air is crisp and
rarified, and none but the God-
enamored can come… One reason
why people are unable to understand
great Christian classics is that they are
trying to understand them without and
intention of obeying them.

9. Why read?
To be inspired.
For each book you have to decide
as you weigh and consider it - how
much is to be feed upon and
digested?
Do not just fill your head with
ideas! Read for challenge and
stimulation, gain fresh insights as
well as information (especially if
you have an area of speciality).

10. What to read?
If a man is known by the
company he keeps, so also his
character is reflected in the
books he reads.
Reading is the outward
expression of inner aspirations.
We have to be discriminatory
with so much available to read
today.
Consider who you are and what
you want to accomplish - then
decide what you will read.

11. Books in your life can be divided
into lovers, friends and
acquaintances.
Biographies seem to be an
essential read for Christians - and
especially leaders.
In your reading try to tackle
issues etc. that are a little beyond
you - and authors you would
disagree with.
In all reading aim for a higher
equipping in service of the
Kingdom of God.

12. How to read
By reading we learn. By
meditating on the themes of
our reading we pluck the
fruit from the tree of books
and add nourishment to our
minds and our ministries.
Unless our reading includes
serious thinking, it is wasted
time.

13. Spurgeon counseled his students:
Master those books you have.
Read them thoroughly. Bathe in
them until they saturate you.
Read and reread them, masticate
and digest them. Let them go into
your very self…A student will find
that his mental constitution is
more affected by one book
thoroughly mastered than by
twenty books he has merely
skimmed. Little learning and
much pride comes of hasty
reading

14. Sanders suggests these
rules for making your
reading worthwhile:
•What you intend to quickly
forget, spend little time
reading. The habit of reading
and forgetting only builds the
habit of forgetting other
important matters
•Use the same
discrimination in choosing
books as in choosing friends.

15. •Read with pencil and notebook
in hand. Unless your memory is
unusually retentive, much gained
from reading is lost in a day.
Develop a system of note-taking.
It will greatly help the memory…
•Pass no word until its meaning is
known.
•Vary your reading to keep your
mind out of a rut. Variety is as
refreshing to the mind as it is to
the body.

16. What books have most
impacted your life?
Could you give some in
the categories of lover,
friend and
acquaintance?
Do you read in a
thoughtful discerning
way or simply to finish
the book?