In 1869, Charles Haddon Spurgeon published Lectures to My Students. The book is packed with preaching helps and anecdotes that pastors have benefited from for almost one hundred and fifty years. Jason Allen, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, takes a play out of Spurgeon’s playbook in his recent book, Letters to My Students.
The first in a series of books addresses the subject of preaching and is arranged in three sections: 1) Preparing to Be a Preacher, 2) Preparing Your Sermon, and 3) Growing in Your Preaching
The great advantage of Dr. Allen’s book is that it contains a wealth of practical instruction for beginning preachers and veterans alike. While the book is introductory in nature, it does a good job holding the attention of experienced preachers. Frankly, much of the basic material is necessary review for men who have stood in the pulpit for most of their adult lives.
I’m eager to see Letters to My Students reach the next generation of preachers for Christ and build up men who have been serving for some time.
Dr. David Steele has been in pastoral ministry since 1991. He holds BS and MA degrees from Multnomah University and Multnomah Biblical Seminary and a D. Min from Bakke Graduate University. Following graduation from Multnomah University, he served eight years as Pastor to Students at Lacey Chapel. In 2000, he became the Pastor of Theology at First Baptist Church in La Grande, Oregon where he served for over eleven years. In 2012, he became the Senior Pastor at Christ Fellowship in Everson, Washington.
He is the author of Bold Reformer: Celebrating the Gospel-Centered Convictions of Martin Luther, A Godward Gaze: The Holy Pursuit of John Calvin, and The White Flag: When Compromise Cripples the Church.
At Christ Fellowship he leads the staff, serves as the Pastor for preaching and vision casting, and oversees Veritas (adult theological education) and Iron Men (men’s leadership development).
His personal mission is to positively influence people, impact the world one person at a time and to glorify God by enjoying him forever. His passion in ministry is preaching, teaching, and leadership development. Specifically, his aim is to educate the mind, engage the affections, equip the whole person, and encourage God-centered living that treasures Christ above all things.
He and his wife, Gerrene were married in 1991 and they have two children.
