Chalmers' Blog

Pastors need practical training too…

I saw an article yesterday arguing that the reason many church leaders were leaving their roles is because they were not fulfilling the biblical requirements for being elders. This can definitely be case, but I don’t think it’s that simple. Many pastors can leave the ministry because…

Pastors may get the theory of ministry in seminary, but they might lack the practical experience in church
Pastors can put unrealistic expectations on themselves
Churches can expect unrealistic things from their pastors
Ministry is hard!
It is easy for pastors to care for others and to train others, without making sure they are receiving the care and practical training and on going support that they need

Let’s hone in on that last one a little bit…

The Return of Prayers

Prayer, for some it’s really easy and they have no struggles at all, but for others maintaining a healthy prayer life can be difficult. Thoughts of unanswered prayers and confusion about apparent silence from God fill the mind. Questions about lack of zeal and whether or not we’re worthy of having God’s ear. All of these, and many more factors can contribute to people feeling like maintaining a prayer life simply isn’t worth it. But in steps Thomas Goodwin to teach us a little bit…

Saturday Snippets (March 20)

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…

Let women speak (Part Four)

As a complementarian, I believe that men and women have been created equally but have been given different roles in the church and in the home. Therefore, as a complementarian who takes the Bible seriously I want to honour what it teaches. This series started in 2019 with this post, it was a result of me realising afresh that women weren’t being given the opportunities that they should be given to speak in Christian circles. I reposted the blog on my social media a few weeks back and was asked to expand on some of the reasons why women probably don’t speak much. I gave three reasons…

Women haven’t been asked to speak
Women have been taught that they must always be silent
Women might think that they can’t contribute anything worthwhile.

So let’s dig into that third reason…

Silent Cries

There are some books that I wish never needed to be written, but sadly we live in a world that is tainted by sin and our human bodies are not free from that curse. This book is the journey of a couple Jonny and Joanna Ivey through the heartbreak of having a stillborn baby. As much as I don’t want books like these to have to exist, I am thankful that the Ivey’s invite us to join them in their journey and learn along with them. There aren’t many books that bring a tear to my eyes, but this one did…

Saturday Snippets (March 13)

Let women speak (Part Three)… They’ve been taught to be silent

Women haven’t been asked to speak
Women have been taught that they must always be silent
Women might think that they can’t contribute anything worthwhile.

So let’s dig into that second reason…

Guest Post: Encouraging female evangelists

This is a guest post by Nay Dawson. Views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of this blog.

In the ‘Passion for Evangelism’ (PfE) termly book club, we have been reading and discussing Aimee Byrd’s excellent book Why Can’t We Be Friends? Aimee reminds us that the way to stand against culture’s inadequate and over-sexualised word around men and women is by not allowing it to drive us apart.

“the way to stand against culture’s inadequate and over-sexualised word around men and women is by not allowing it to drive us apart”Tweet

Rather, she says, ‘It is by seeking the brother-and-sister closeness we are privileged to have as Christians. True, godly friendship between the sexes that embraces the family we truly are in Christ serves as the exact witness the watching world needs.’ As women and men proclaim the gospel together, we have an opportunity to show the world to show what restored, sibling relationships look like. Men and women working together in evangelism adorns the gospel and points to a better story!

Easter: The Greatest News

Death, it is not a topic that many people in our world like to discuss. We don’t talk about death around the dinner table much, it’s probably more of a conversation killer than a conversation starter. But if this is the case, why exactly do we as Christians talk about and actually celebrate the death of Jesus at Easter? Here’s a brief explanation and a great wee giveaway that explores that very thing.