davidsteele1966

BLOODGOOD – Dangerously Close (2013)

Almost 30 years ago, I saw Bloodgood open for Stryper at the Paramount Theater in Seattle. Even though I was fired up to see Stryper for the first time, I’ll never forget being blown away by Bloodgood. They brought an energy to the stage that I’d never witnessed before. But more important than energy was theContinue reading “BLOODGOOD – Dangerously Close (2013)”

DEAD MEN TALKING – Part 6

8. Dead guys remind us about the power of the gospel and in so doing, lead us to the cross The heroes of church history can rightly inspire us, motivate us, challenge us, and fuel our resolve for living the Christian life. But in the final analysis, these godly people remind us about the power of theContinue reading “DEAD MEN TALKING – Part 6”

DEAD MEN TALKING – Part 5

5. The dead guys enrich us with rich theological treasures There are many theological treasures that should attract our attention. I mention only a few in this post. First, consider the great creeds bestowed on us by the dead guys. The Nicene Creed (A.D. 325), The Constantinople Creed (A.D. 381), the Chalcedonian Creed (A.D. 451),Continue reading “DEAD MEN TALKING – Part 5”

DEAD MEN TALKING – Part 4

4. The dead guys encourage vibrant Christian living The dead guys have wielded a powerful force for change in my life and have encouraged my Christian growth in ways that are beyond the scope of a 500 word blog post. Four specific things emerge in particular: Waking Early – There was a day when I felt likeContinue reading “DEAD MEN TALKING – Part 4”

DEAD MEN TALKING – Part 3

2. Dead guys remind us how God can take the most hardened sinner and transform him into a trophy of God’s grace In 354 a baby was born. His name – Aurelius Augustine. The young boy who was a sinner by birth (Ps. 51:5). As he grew older, became increasingly comfortable with his status as a sinner.Continue reading “DEAD MEN TALKING – Part 3”

DEAD MEN TALKING – Part 2

REASONS FOR UNEARTHING THE DEAD GUYS What is the rationale for unearthing the dead guys? In his introduction to Athanasius’s masterpiece, On the Incarnation (a book written over 1,600 years ago), C.S. Lewis discusses the propensity of many people to gravitate to the new when all the while neglecting the old: “This mistaken preference for the modernContinue reading “DEAD MEN TALKING – Part 2”

DEAD MEN TALKING – Part 1

The smell of burning flesh hung in the air. The villagers turned their heads and gasped. Stray dogs fled. The man’s wife wept bitterly. His children watched in disbelief. The stench was a vivid reminder of who sat on the throne. Mary Tudor ruled with ironclad authority. Her subjects were obligated to obey. Any dissenters would pay theContinue reading “DEAD MEN TALKING – Part 1”

STRANGE FIRE – John MacArthur (2013)

Nadab and Abihu, the Old Testament miscreants who offered unacceptable worship to the Lord paid the ultimate price for their diabolical deed – death. The “strange fire” they offered led to their untimely deaths: “The crux of their sin,” writes John MacArthur, “was approaching God in a careless, self-willed, inappropriate manner, without the reverence HeContinue reading “STRANGE FIRE – John MacArthur (2013)”

MISTAKES LEADERS MAKE – Dave Kraft (2012)

Every leader makes mistakes. Dave Kraft makes this painfully clear in his excellent book, Mistakes Leaders Make. MLM is a part of the growing list of Re:Lit books, a superb lineup of Crossway titles that provide encouragement for emerging leaders in pastoral ministry. Kraft brings over 40 years of leadership experience as he presents ten leadershipContinue reading “MISTAKES LEADERS MAKE – Dave Kraft (2012)”

THE WARNINGS OF SCRIPTURE ARE IN THE BEST MANNER ADAPTED TO THE AWAKENING AND CONVERSION OF SINNERS – Jonathan Edwards

Jonathan Edwards has a way of warning sinners like no one else in the halls of church history. His warnings are distinct from the watered-down invitations that emerge from many American pulpits. The preacher from Northampton is burdened in this sermon to warn sinners and root that warning in sacred Scripture. He sets forth hisContinue reading “THE WARNINGS OF SCRIPTURE ARE IN THE BEST MANNER ADAPTED TO THE AWAKENING AND CONVERSION OF SINNERS – Jonathan Edwards”