Catalyst Publications
Publications by Category
(Third of a three-part series. For parts one and two, see here and here.)
The vision of life we find in Ps 1 is more than a self-help plan or self-empowerment. It lifts up a moment-by-moment reflection on Scripture as our roadmap for the…
Mar/02/2015
I begin by asking a specific question: Is it genuinely possible for people living at the beginning of the third millennium to comprehend meaningfully the world of the ancient church and its leaders, the church fathers? Many – including many…
Feb/25/2015
Like many then and now, John Wesley was convinced that the world was not the way it was intended to be, and more particularly our lives are not as they were meant to be. The fundamental problem is sin, a spiritual disease that afflicts our …
Feb/23/2015
Although John Calvin is often cited as one of the most prominent theologians of Protestant Christianity, I argue that John Wesley represents a better spokesperson for how Protestant Christians live in practice. Calvin’s theology profoundly …
Feb/18/2015
Although science and technology are pervasive in our society, they are challenging topics to address well in a local church. Here are some places where a pastor or seminary student can get started, both online and in print.
A helpful sta…
Feb/11/2015
Occasionally, someone asks the question: “What is the best advice you’ve received?” I’m not sure if I could narrow it down to just one thing, but here are some wise words for pastoral ministry, from mentors and colleagues along the way. In …
Feb/09/2015
One of the most important ways Christians can witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ, especially in these contentious times, is by showing how to have an argument “Christianly.” In these times, The United Methodist Church suffers dramatic po…
Feb/04/2015
I made the claim this past Sunday, an outlandish one I might add, and would like your opinion, too. I stated in my sermon that Eph 2:8-9 ("For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift …
Feb/02/2015
Given the mission statement of The United Methodist Church, which calls for us to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,” the question of how such disciples are formed should be of radical import for our minist…
Jan/26/2015
Seeing movie trailers of Christian Bale playing Moses as action hero is a reminder that cinematic special effects will always distort the real heart of the story — worship. In the first twenty chapters of Exodus, first Moses and then all Is…
Jan/19/2015
(The second in a three-part series. For part one, see here.)
Psalm 1 challenges us to muster the courage to read Scripture and ponder it deeply out of an attitude of delight. The end of this mode of life is the happy life.
Let’s liste…
Jan/12/2015
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year” – except, when it’s not. Advent is a time of hope, peace, joy – except, when it’s not.
Preaching can be difficult in Advent, because it brings the messy realities of our world and our lives face…
Dec/15/2014
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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."