Catalyst Publications
Publications by Category
One of the greatest opportunities for the church of Jesus Christ in the twenty-first century is the availability of incredible technology for communicating God’s grace, truth, and ways of faithful discipleship—not only in virtual worship ce…
Oct/19/2020
You don’t need to attend seminary very long before you hear various horror stories of men and women who were trained by godly professors, entered the ministry, and didn’t make it. I was one of those stories—almost.
I grew up in a pastor’…
Oct/14/2020
Leaders around the world are feeling the effects of our global crisis on many fronts. Yet, the current situation does not need to be debilitating. Innovative leaders see a crisis as a catalyst, not a cause for despair. Crises are critical j…
Oct/12/2020
While the doctrine of the Trinity is at the bedrock of Christian faith, it has also been a stumbling block for many. If it could only be explained, persons say, if it could only be made intelligible, then we could believe it. Pastors and th…
Oct/07/2020
Like everyone else in higher education this year, I am teaching classes at least in part through a digital medium. My own institution is doing a hybrid model whereby I have half of my students physically present in the classroom and the oth…
Oct/05/2020
Toward the end of his life, John Wesley believed there was one key reason God had raised up Methodism. And this was a pretty big deal for Wesley because he could remember when Methodism started.
I want to tell you about the one reason Jo…
Sep/30/2020
With the rise of the information revolution that spawned so many outlets for expression on social media, from twitter to Facebook to blogs, we are surrounded daily by a cacophony of messages, all crying out for our attention. How do we sort…
Sep/16/2020
Writing is a reality of academic life. Often, writing is viewed as a task. Be it assignments dictated on the syllabus or an article published to enhance one’s CV, writing, or rather, the products it produces, are the recognized currency of …
Sep/14/2020
Our language is built on the sediment and rubble of the dead meanings of words. Take the word influenza, which today means “a dangerous respiratory illness caused by a virus.” For centuries, influenza has referred to a cause of illness, but…
Sep/07/2020
I have been reading the Book of Job during the COVID-19 pandemic. Uncertainty, upheaval, and disruption of human life stimulates people to ask questions during such times. Many turn to Holy Scripture for answers. However, my reading of Job …
Aug/17/2020
The founder of our Methodist movement, John Wesley, is often celebrated for declaring that “The world is my parish ….” This quote has inspired many to serve in ministry around the world. However, most contemporary Methodist churches do not …
Aug/10/2020
Reading fiction and poetry for fun is one of the most important things a theologian can do. It expands our worlds and our imaginations, which can lead to deep and creative preaching, deep and creative messages in church newsletters, deep an…
Aug/03/2020
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A Foundation for Theological Education (AFTE) John Wesley Fellowships have been awarded to three doctoral stud…
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Announcing that 2026 John Wesley Fellowship Scholarship Applications are now being accepted. Please see the at…
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JWF and Friends of AFTE, we look forward to you joining us Thursday-Sunday, January 15-18, 2026, for the AFTE …
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Twenty John Wesley Fellows, spouses, and friends were able to experience a trip of a lifetime. The travel itin…
"The John Wesley Fellowship provides not only financial support, it is an extraordinary community of Christian scholars — and friends."