Thursday's Catch: 'The Best Ways to Encourage a Discouraged Church' And More

The Best Ways to Encourage a Discouraged Church (Your Next Three Steps)
n this episode, Josh and Sam explore what happens when a church becomes discouraged and how God restores hope in a congregation that feels stuck, tired, or overwhelmed. Discouragement drains energy, distorts reality, and slowly turns a church inward. Encouragement is both spiritual and strategic. It starts with leaders who refuse to catastrophize and instead cast vision. Pessimists predict failure. Realists describe what is. But optimistic, faith-filled leaders show what could be.

Also See: Ten Practical Ways to Encourage a Discouraged Church

Burge’s Vanishing Church shows high costs of politicized churches
Ryan Burge, perhaps our top “quantitative scholar of American religion,” makes numbers speak, and in his latest book they tell the sad story of how politics trumped creed in evangelical churches, leaving “no place for moderates,” many of whom departed.

What Causes Some to Stay With Their Faith While Others Leave?
The churches that help their youngest attendees recognize the lifelong relevance of their faith will keep the next generation.

12 Theses on Church Buildings
I would have added to this list that the function of a building should determine its form and not the other way around.

What Is Arminianism? The History, Beliefs & Myths
Arminianism is controversial. Some devout and scholarly Protestant Christians firmly oppose it. Many have misunderstood it and even misrepresented it.

A Defense of Percy Dearmer and his ‘British Museum Religion’
It has become something of a sport, almost since his death in 1936, to accuse Percy Dearmer of fostering “British Museum religion.”

A Liturgical Theology of Preaching—What Is a Sermon?
This is the first essay is a special series by the Rev. Dr. Nathan Jennings, Professor of Liturgics at Seminary of the Southwest. There will be eight installments in this series presented in intervals through the winter of 2026. A “round up” with links to all eight essays will be available in the spring.

How to Derail a Bible Study
We’re vulnerable to being led astray by statements in other sources that have a Christian ring to them but lack a solid biblical foundation.

Preteen Ministry Tips for High-Impact Outreach
Preteen ministry tips help you understand these kids and serve them most effectively. Use these insights to reach tweens and preteens at your church.