Catalyst Publications
Publications by Category
For most evangelical protestants today, preaching is central to the life of the church. The pulpit is where the Scriptures are interpreted, people are taught and the church is challenged to live the Christian life. Whether it be through a c…
Dec/07/2016
If I could make one minor change to the UM system, it would be that the quadrennial meeting of General Conference not coincide with that other quadrennial event, the US presidential election. The rancorous political climate of an election y…
Dec/05/2016
For John Wesley there were a number of turning points by which he gained new insight that decisively shaped not only his theology but his life. This year in Consider Wesley I want to describe four of those life-changing events.
The first…
Nov/30/2016
The first two parts of this essay dealt with two reasons the missional turn matters: the mainstreaming of missiology and theological innovation. After the missional turn, local churches have begun to think theologically like missionaries, a…
Nov/23/2016
In the first part of this essay I began with this key question: Why does the missional turn matter? Specifically, how has missional theology addressed the seismic cultural shifts that have shaken the Western church? And how has missional th…
Nov/16/2016
From the earliest days, Christians have asked “When is Christ coming back?” sometimes coming up with specific answers. Get on the internet and do a search on “predictions of Christ’s return” and you’ll see abundant evidence of 2000 years of…
Nov/14/2016
The emergence of missional theology has been epoch making. For many who have self-identified with the term missional, that’s the idea, anyway — a paradigm shift, a radical turn. Call our context secularism, postmodernity, post-Christendom, …
Nov/09/2016
“Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”
To whom are these words addressed and what are their political significance? Let me suggest that this teaching makes best sen…
Nov/07/2016
The years since this survey last appeared have seen important additions to the list, several new series (one, exclusively digital), and increasing interest in helping pastors.
For Genesis, Kenneth A. Mathews (New American Commentary 1A–B…
Nov/02/2016
I’m not a patient person. I hate waiting in lines. I hate being bored. I am one of those people who, when left with a few blank moments in life, pulls out her phone to find the most interesting political or life commentary posted on Faceboo…
Oct/24/2016
For several years my Catalyst essays have been exploring various aspects of the “lost art of catechesis”: the deep resources to be recovered in the pre- and post-baptismal catechesis of the early church known as the catechumenate; the craft…
Oct/17/2016
“Be not conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good, and excellent, and perfect” (Rom 12:2).
When we read Paul’s famous exhortation to the Romans, we im…
Oct/10/2016
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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…
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