The Church Lobby

Karl Vaters
  • 4.8 (37)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Karl Vaters interviews church leaders about the important issues of faith and ministry. It's called The Church Lobby because: The church lobby is where the church meets and does ministry. The church lobby moves conversations from the stage to the floor. The church lobby is a good place to take the temperature of a church’s health. Karl Vaters is the author of several books, including Small Church Essentials and The Grasshopper Myth. Formerly known as Can This Work In a Small Church?, this podcast primarily looks at church leadership from a small church perspective.

  1. 5d ago

    Ep 139: Overcoming Narcissism: Chuck DeGroat on the Slow, Courageous Work of Cultivating Character

    “If we are to see a recovery of trust and integrity, it will demand a radical reorientation in how we form leaders, how we imagine success, and how we live our lives before God and one another.” That’s a quote from Chuck DeGroat’s new book, Who You're Becoming: The Slow and Courageous Work of Cultivating Character in a Narcissistic Age. Karl Vaters talks with Chuck about how to identify some better ways to approach the concepts of success and character development. This is essential, but slow work, especially in an age that often pushes back against it. Chuck is professor of pastoral care and Christian spirituality at Western Theological Seminary. He has served as a pastor, has founded two church-based counseling centers, and is the author of several books, including the one he and Karl talk about in this episode. Links: Chuck’s X post about pastoral search requirementsChuckDeGroat.netWho You're Becoming: The Slow and Courageous Work of Cultivating Character in a Narcissistic AgeWhen Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community From Emotional and Spiritual AbuseThe Worst Scandal I’ve Seen in 30 Years (from Chuck’s Substack) Bonus Content SummaryFour Conditions for a Sacred Ripening, with Chuck DeGroat Chuck DeGroat defines “ripening” as the slow, consistent work of Christian maturation. There are four key biblical conditions that must be met for this to be achieved, and in this short bonus material, Church walks us through them: SafetyElderingCommunityA Sacred Story This is all from Chuck’s recent book, Who You're Becoming: The Slow and Courageous Work of Cultivating Character in a Narcissistic Age. To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

  2. Oct 8

    Ep 138: The Renewed Pastor: Dale Sellers on How to Stay Healthy When Ministry Demands Keep Changing

    Karl Vaters and Dale Sellers have good news and bad news for you. The good news is that pastors are staying in their churches longer than ever before. The bad news is that pastors are aging and there aren’t as many young pastors coming in. This makes pastoral and church renewal more important than ever before. Dale Sellers is the Executive Director of The Renewed Pastor, which is the new name and mission for what was the 95 Network. He and Karl talk about the moments of ongoing personal and ministry renewal that need to happen regularly, and about those larger transitional renewals that seem to come up about every seven years or so. Dale will also describe the one-year Renewed Pastor Pathway that utilizes the life experiences of pastoral coaches who have been through tough times themselves, and how you can utilize their expertise for the blessing and benefit of you, your family, and your ministry. Links: Why 95Network is Becoming The Renewed PastorThe Renewed Pastor Where to find Dale on social media: Instagram: @DaleSellersSaysX: @DaleSellersSaysLinkedIn: Dale SellersFacebook: Dale Sellers To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

  3. Sep 24

    Ep 137: Magnify Your Ministry Voice: Ed Stetzer and Corey Alderin on Using Tech to Reach Your Community

    What if you could use the hard work for the sermon you’ve already done, then leverage it for an even greater online impact? Well, you can. And it doesn’t take technical wizardry to pull it off. Karl Vaters interviews Ed Stetzer and Corey Alderin about how tech has become so user-friendly that it can be used in ways that used to be available only to large churches. Ed has been a leading voice for the evangelical church for many years, and he’s an avid supporter of small churches. Corey is the CEO and founder of Sermon Shots. As any conversation with Ed Stetzer tends to do, this conversation leads down a few fascinating rabbit trails, as well, including: How to use tech so that it doesn’t interfere with the in-person worship experienceThe importance of using online video to make a first-time visitor feel more welcomeHow online algorithms have changed the way people see your content And more. Links: Sermon ShotsKarl Vaters and Ed Stetzer talk in the van To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

  4. Sep 10

    Ep 136: The Cost of the Camera: Karl Vaters on Why I Changed My Mind About Church Live Streaming

    Is online church, real church? I used to say online church is real church, it’s just not enough church. But I’ve changed my mind. Live streaming came into our lives in a big way in 2020, and now after living with it for six years, we can look at it with a little more wisdom and objectivity. In this solo podcast I talk about how and why I changed his mind about church live streams, plus some better ways to approach it, including: Why online church is not church, it’s contentHow we may be sending a bad message about church with our online experienceHow the presence of a live-stream camera affects the pastor and the people in the roomHow it changes the way we structure our servicesHow to give everyone a better online experience without live streaming And more. Links:Maybe You Shouldn’t Live-Stream Your Church Service, with Tim Fox (Ep 62)We’re All Televangelists Now (11 Ways To Avoid The Pitfalls Of Live Stream)Karl Vaters on the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership PodcastContact Page for Karl Vaters

  5. Aug 27

    Ep 135: Afraid of God? Ryan Lokkesmoe on How Paganism Has Invaded The Church (And A Way Out)

    Karl Vaters interviews pastor Ryan Lokkesmoe about a problem many pastors are facing in their churches, even if they haven’t been able to identify it yet. Many of our church members are accidental pagans. Karl and Ryan talk about how so many ancient pagan practices have made their way into many of our lives today—without us knowing it, turning many good Christians into accidental pagans. This affects their lives, how they act in church, what they expect of it, and most importantly, how they view God and their relationship with him. Ryan is the lead pastor of Community Church at Lake Wylie, a congregation in the Charlotte area, and is the author of several books, including his newest, Accidental Pagans: Untangling the Roots of Our Fears about God — and Discovering Who He Really Is. Links:Accidental Pagans: Untangling the Roots of Our Fears about God — and Discovering Who He Really IsRyanLokkesmoe.comTeam Leadership: Lessons from the Apostle Paul, with Ryan Lokkesmoe (The Church Lobby, Ep 046)NETBible.org

  6. Aug 13

    Ep 134: More than Money: Nathan Meador & Heath R. Curtis on Stewardship for the Care of Souls

    Karl Vaters talks with Nathan Meador and Heath R. Curtis about how to take a more Bible-based and holistic approach to stewardship in the church. It’s not a plea for finances, it’s a basis for a healthy church, life, and ministry. Based on Nathan and Heath’s book, Stewardship: For the Care of Souls, this conversation focuses on tending well to everything God has entrusted to our care. Especially as pastors, this includes the congregation we’ve been entrusted to serve, and all the responsibilities, challenges and joys that go with this calling. Their conversation includes several penetrating insights, including: How stewardship and the care of souls are related to each otherHow repentance plays a key role in stewardshipHow a pragmatic theology of stewardship is not stewardship at allHow to change the culture so that stewardship focuses on more than the survival of the institution Links: Stewardship: For the Care of Souls Bonus Content SummaryHow to Preach on Stewardship, with Heath R. Curtis and Nathan Meador In this subscribers-only bonus material, Karl Vaters talks with the co-authors of the book, Stewardship: For the Care of Souls about their three main approaches to preaching/teaching about stewardship in a fast-changing culture, where the annual tithing sermon just isn’t cutting it anymore. Together, they discuss the approaches of: The lectionaryThe sermon seriesLectio continua To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

  7. Jul 30

    Ep 133: The Octogenarian YouTube Pastor: Mike Bayer on Building an Online Brand, Senior Ministry, and More

    How do you start a YouTube channel at the age of 81, and reach 25K subscribers in less than 6 months? That’s what pastor Mike Bayer did. Now he’s at over 44K subscribers, and it’s providing him with a second source of income in his later years of ministry. Karl Vaters talks with Mike about how he made YouTube work for him, plus: The importance of intentional ministry to senior adultsHow to use your church’s YouTube channel for better engagementIdeas for making an income outside the walls of the churchMinistry adjustments for the fourth quarter of life And more. Links:Old Me Living Better: YouTube ChannelOld Me Living: Skool channelMike’s Facebook PageSnugSafe.comThe Aging Pastorate: Sam Rainer on the Looming Pastoral Retirement Crunch (Ep 128) There is no bonus content for this episode. To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

  8. Jul 16

    Ep 132: An Insider's Critique: Todd Wilson Examines 70 Years of the Church Growth Movement

    Karl Vaters interviews Todd Wilson about some of the lessons that we need to learn when we look back at the Church Growth Movement. Todd is the co-founder and founding CEO of Exponential, so he critiques the Church Growth Movement as one of its leaders. This gives him a unique perspective we need to hear. Karl and Todd talk about the content of Todd’s new book, How Did We Get Here? Examining 70 Years of the Church Growth Movement. They cover topics such as: How the modern church has adopted a Consumer-Driven Operating SystemHow Donald McGavran’s Church Growth methods and language were co-optedWhere the “church as business” model came fromWhat must come nextAnd more. Links:How Did We Get Here? Examining 70 Years of the Church Growth Movement (Free e-book w registration)How Did We Get Here? Examining 70 Years of the Church Growth Movement (On Amazon)Multipliers: Leading Beyond Addition (Free e-book)Email Todd at Todd@multipliers.orgTechsoup.orgThe Unexpected Origins of the Church Growth Movement, with Dr. Gary McIntosh (The Church Lobby, Ep 027)De-sizing the Church: How Church Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What's Next (by Karl Vaters) Bonus Content Summary12 Dilemmas Within the Church’s Prevailing Operating System, with Todd Wilson In Todd Wilson’s book, How Did We Get Here? Looking Back to Look Forward, he refers to the current church systems as functioning under a faulty operating system, and he describes 12 dilemmas within that system. In this subscriber-only content, Karl Vaters talks with Todd about several of these dilemmas. To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

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4.8
out of 5
37 Ratings

About

Karl Vaters interviews church leaders about the important issues of faith and ministry. It's called The Church Lobby because: The church lobby is where the church meets and does ministry. The church lobby moves conversations from the stage to the floor. The church lobby is a good place to take the temperature of a church’s health. Karl Vaters is the author of several books, including Small Church Essentials and The Grasshopper Myth. Formerly known as Can This Work In a Small Church?, this podcast primarily looks at church leadership from a small church perspective.

Information

  • Creator
    Karl Vaters
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    143
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Church Lobby

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