Chalmers' Blog

Saturday Snippets (July 10)

As well as reading a lot of books, I also read a ton of articles every week. Here are some of the articles that I’ve read recently and have found interesting, helpful, challenging and encouraging. I hope that they will be the same for you, my dear readers…

You’re So Vain, You Probably Think Ministry Is Only About You

“So when are you going to stop working for… [insert a ministry role that isn’t in a local church]… and go back into real ministry?” Have you ever heard that question before? Or how about the typical conversations where things other than the local church are seen as good and right things to do, but they aren’t called ministry. It’s as if ‘ministry’ is a word reserved only for pastors or for things pertaining to the local church. This downplays the role of other ministries and I don’t think that it’s helpful.

Stories of Saints

As you know, I love a good book. I enjoy reading all kinds of books from deep theology to general Christian living, and from spiritual warfare to stories of people’s lives. I enjoy reading stories about people’s lives because often they are a mixture of exerting. There’s normally deep theological truths, experiences of the Lord’s work and wonderful insights into how the Holy Spirit can change a person. Reading stories of other saints is a wonderful use of your time. So, I thought that I would highlight a few of the recent books that I’ve read which ere the series of other saints. Each of these resources is different, written for a different audience and yet each one will have something for everyone…

Saturday Snippets (July 3)

Love Your Church…

Covid has been a problem throughout the world for a whole variety of reasons. But it has also been a problem for many Christians for a very specific reason, for some, covid has robbed church members of their understanding of what church is. It is heartbreaking to see people who were previously active in the church, to now be turning away from their faith. It is heartbreaking to see people lose their vision and understanding of what the church is and does. So please, please, pick up this book!

Faithful Leaders…

There are so many books out there on the topic of church leadership. Most of the are written by men who’ve been in ministry for years and they want to pass on the baton. in a way, Rico does that with this book. He draws on his own vast experience of ministry to help the reader think about how to be a faithful leader.

Saturday Snippets (June 26)

Suffering Is Painful, But…

I’ve spent this week writing a sermon on Job 1. I planned the series in Job at the beginning of the year and have been in preparation for it for years. Maybe you’re like me; at times it can feel as if our lives are all preparation for preaching a sermon on Job. We all suffer. We all hurt. But it is only after extended periods of pain, and a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit that we can say with Job “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21b ESV).

A Greater Glory

Football is on many people’s minds at the moment because of Euro2020. What better book to review during this time than that of a man who spent 18 years of his life as a professional footballer?!

Pocket Guide To Humanity

The ‘A Christian’s Pocket Guide To…‘ is a good little series. This short series is designed to give you an introduction to a whole host of issues, ranging from theological and biblical studies to pastoral and practical theology. Normally I’m a bit fan, but not so much with this one…