Thursday's Catch: 'Episcopal bishop mourns ‘losses too great to bear’ as So. Calif. suffers historic wildfires' And More

Episcopal bishop mourns ‘losses too great to bear’ as So. Calif. suffers historic wildfires
John H. Taylor, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, mourned “losses too great to bear” as wildfires in Greater Los Angeles ravaged scores of churches and homes of parishioners among the more than 2,000 buildings destroyed in a historic blaze that has left at least five people dead and sent thousands more fleeing to safety.

Related Articles: Fires Destroy a Church, Prompt Parishes to Offer Shelter; 'Sadness' as churches and Christian school succumb to LA wildfires; and California congregations vow to help neighbors even as their buildings are lost to fires

Discipleship in the Reformed World
The Reformed church has many obvious strengths. We prize robust theology, confessions, and historic Christianity. We are committed to church discipline and the regulative principle of worship. We deeply care about how we approach and think about God. These are all to be commended. But we should also be willing to acknowledge our weaknesses and to seek to correct and address them. One of these areas of weakness is discipleship, especially when it comes to those who are new to the faith or less cultured and refined in their mannerisms or bearings.

Discipleship is also an area of weakness in churches not in the Reformed tradition.

Preaching Transformation: The Change We Need
Ed Stetzer discusses the importance of transformation in the life of a Christian and offers points to assist the preacher in helping their congregation see it through.

The Problem With Altar Calls – 4 Reasons NOT to Give Them
...there are situations and reasons where giving altar calls is not only wrong, it is dishonoring to God. What is the problem with altar calls?

DISCOVER the Truth About High Conversion Growth Churches
Joby Martin and Mike Housholder both lead high-conversion-growth churches. That means their growth isn't coming from transfer growth. How are they doing it? As the 2025 Church Trends series continues, they share their secrets to reaching unchurched people, how to speak to insiders and outsiders at the same time, and the keys to evangelism in today's culture.

The Comfort Commission vs the Great Commission
Is your church quietly drifting from the Great Commission to what we call "The Comfortable Commission"? In this episode, Scott and A.J. explore how well-intentioned churches can gradually shift from mission-focused to comfort-focused ministry - often without realizing it.