About John Chester

John serves the saints of Piedmont Bible Church, a Grace Advance church plant in Haymarket Virginia, as their shepherd, a position he has held since 2012 and hopes to serve in the rest of his life. Prior to being called to ministry John worked as a lacrosse coach, a pizza maker, a writer, a marketing executive, and just about everything in between. John is a graduate of The Master’s Seminary and The Grace Advance Academy. He hails from The City of Champions, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, and is unbelievably blessed to be married to his wife Cassandra.

Shepherding & Suffering

Posted on November 27, 2019 by John Chester

For the best several years I have been privileged to participate in The Grace Advance Mid Atlantic (GAMA) equipping conference. The theme of this year’s conference was a biblical view of suffering (you can listen to some conference audio here with more to come in the near future) and I was blessed to give a seminar on shepherding someone in the midst of suffering.

Unfortunately this is something I know a lot about. My wife suffers profoundly from an MS-like demyelinating disease of the brain. She has significant gait problems, diplopia, bouts of optic neuritis among other symptom, but the most impactful symptom is chronic extreme neurogenic pain.… Continue reading

Books: A Gift Guide

Posted on November 13, 2019 by John Chester

I know it is hard to believe, but Christmas is just around the corner. I was more than a little dismayed that upon returning from our annual Fall vacation, I found that the candy corn and pumpkins had been replaced with shortbread cookies in the shape of pine trees and artificial wreaths at my local grocery store.

While I’m not exactly sure why Thanksgiving has been blacklisted but it seems to be the Christmas season now, so in the spirit of the season I thought I would a few suggestions of books that will make great gifts.

On Loan From the Lord by Erica Siebert

I’ve often heard people say they know there are faithful men doing great things for the Lord in complete anonymity. This is a book about just such a man, Josh “JD” Siebert.… Continue reading

Reprise: Christian, Be Nice

Posted on November 1, 2019 by John Chester

As a Christian, and as a pastor, one of the things that frustrates, and quite frankly saddens, me the most is how some who claim the name of Christ behave on social media. I get that sitting behind a keyboard provides an emboldening buffer for many, but for those who claim the name of Christ, this ought not to be. Even when it comes to online interactions God looks on the heart. This is supremely important. So let me be clear; Christian be nice!

When I say be nice, I am saying treat others, including unbelievers and Christians you disagree with, in other words everyone, with kindness gentleness and respect.… Continue reading

Reprise: The Believer and Halloween

Posted on October 30, 2019 by John Chester

Although written over two years ago this post is still relevant; this topic still comes up every October. In The interest of full disclosure, we don’t have any pumpkins on the porch this year.

Halloween has become one the biggest holidays on the American calendar, spending over $6 billion last year on decorations, candy and costumes. What was once essentially a children’s holiday has become a cultural juggernaut, and as it has, Halloween has become an increasingly controversial and at times divisive topic in the Christian community. But it doesn’t have to be, and to that end I humbly offer a few thoughts.… Continue reading

Reprise: You’re Using It Wrong: Ephesians 5:16 & Time

Posted on October 16, 2019 by John Chester

If you have been around Christian circles for any length of time you have no doubt been admonished at some point “you have to redeem the time” meaning that you need to quit loafing and get busy. The days are evil, in other words, time is short and life is fleeting, so get to work. You may have read this, you may have heard this from the pulpit, you may have had someone tell you this in private, you may even have said it to yourself (or someone else). But I’m sorry to say, if you think Ephesians 5:16 is about industriousness and time management, You’re Using It Wrong!… Continue reading

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Author Archives: John Chester