The Church Lobby

Karl Vaters
  • 4.8 (35)
  • 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. SEP 25

    Ep 112: Making Room for Loss and Grief In Life and Ministry, with Leanne Friesen

    Karl Vaters interviews Leanne Friesen about grief. Specifically, how pastors, family members, and other caring people can help give people the room to process their grief when they go through a profound loss. Karl and Leanne also talk about how to process those feelings ourselves. Leanne is a former pastor and is the author of Grieving Room: Making Space for All the Hard Things after Death and Loss. She talks with wisdom and compassion about the difficult, but important principles she learned as she went through the death of her sister more than a decade ago. Links: Grieving Room: Making Space for All the Hard Things after Death and LossInstagram: @Grieving.Room and @leanne_friesenLeanneFriesen.comFacebook: A Little Bit of Grieving Room   Bonus video How to Give People Room When They’re Not “Getting Over” Their Grief, with Leanne Friesen Karl Vaters interviews Leanne Friesen about one of the hardest aspects of grief – what happens when you can’t seem to “get over it” the way people seem to think you should? As Leanne explains, when a loved one dies, the ones who have lost them need room for grief to be a part of their lives for the rest of their life. By recognizing this, they can deal with it in a much healthier way. Links: Grieving Room: Making Space for All the Hard Things after Death and Loss To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

    52 min

  2. SEP 11

    Ep 111: Using AI To Find Great Sermon Illustrations, with Darrell Stetler

    Karl Vaters talks with Darrell Stetler about a new AI program Darrell has created, called Sermon Illustrator. After a short introduction to what AI is, and some of the advantages and dangers of using it, they narrow in on this tool that helps pastors with a very specific task – finding illustrations (stories, metaphors, historical events, and so on) that can give your well-prepared sermon a story, a photo, a video, or another illustration that will help your content connect in a memorable way. Podcast Links: Sermon IllustratorGet the AI Training Course ($27 offer for podcast listeners!)Ep 038: A Discipleship Strategy Small Churches Can Actually FollowEp 084: Second was Trunk-or-Treat, with Darrell Stetler   Also from Darrell Stetler: NewStart Discipleship curriculumFree New believer Bible reading plan (1 Page PDF)Free audiobook on discipling your childrenFree NewStart Discipleship Journal: A 54-page discipleship Bible study for new Christians.Free one-hour discipleship training workshopFree 23 Page Planning Guide with Trunk or Treat Ideas for ChurchesThe Gospel Trunk or Treat Planning System Social media: facebook.com/darrellstetler2facebook.com/newstartdiscipleshipyoutube.com/@newstartdiscipleshiptwitter.com/newstartdisc Bonus Content Some Strengths and Dangers of Using AI for Sermon Prep, with Darrell Stetler Karl Vaters interviews Darrell Stetler about what AI is good for, and some of the dangers AI poses, specifically when it comes to prepping Sunday sermons. To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

    49 min

  3. AUG 28

    Ep 110: Healthy Goal-setting and Helping The Big Church Feel Small, with Luke Simmons

    Karl Vaters talks with Luke Simmons, the pastor of Ironwood Church in Mesa, AZ. Recently, Luke and his church elders decided to pursue a very ambitious goal with the aim of helping their large, growing congregation feel smaller and more connected. As a big-church pastor, Luke is not a typical Church Lobby guest, but he and Karl follow each other on X (formerly Twitter) and when Luke posted about this plan it inspired a lot of questions and curiosity. The plan is for the members of their elder team to have one-on-one meetings with 1,000 church members over coffee or a meal this coming year. If those numbers make you feel like this isn’t for you, give it a chance. Luke has a heart for people, and he’s interested in how to set numerical goals that help us reach non-numerical objectives of discipleship, fellowship, and service. Links: Luke’s original X post about elder meeting goalsLuke’s original X post about doing one-on-one meetingsFaithful and FruitfulTim Keller on Leadership and Church Size DynamicsDarrell Stetler’s Sermon IllustratorFollow Luke on XIronwood Church Bonus video How To Conduct An Annual Leadership Meeting, with Luke Simmons Karl Vaters talks with Luke Simmons about some of the steps he follows to gain as much as possible from an annual leadership meeting with his church elders. Points include: Get it on the calendar as soon as possibleMake it an overnighterBudget for itSlow down in a relaxed environmentSet the tone with idea prompts in writingWrite a summary afterwardAnd more Links: How to Grow Your Small Business: A 6-Step Plan to Help Your Business Take Off (Donald Miller)Luke’s original X post about elder meeting goalsLuke’s original X post about doing one-on-one meetingshttps://faithfulandfruitful.com/elders-meeting/ To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

    47 min

  4. AUG 14

    Ep 109: The Future is Bivocational, with Andrew Hamilton

    Over the last few months, several of our podcasts have been about bivo/covocationality, side hustles for pastors, and so on. And more are on the way. Why? Because the future of the church is bivocational. In this episode, Karl Vaters talks to Andrew Hamilton about the content from his book, The Future is Bivocational: Shaping Christian Leaders for a Post-Christian World, including the theological foundation for bivocational ministry, how work isn’t a sinful result of the fall, but an element of God’s creative design for us, and the value of covocational ministry for the pastor, the church, and the community. The second half of the conversation includes several very practical steps for any pastor who’s considering bivocationality, including: Having upfront conversations with your church leadersDeciding which tasks are essential for you to doKnowing which tasks others can be trained for and trusted withThe non-optional tasks of leadership and communicationWhy Andrew tries to function at 70 percent of his ministry capacity And more Links: Backyard MissionaryThe Future is Bivocational: Shaping Christian Leaders for a Post-Christian WorldThe Patient Ferment of the Early Church: The Improbable Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire Bonus video Eight Options for Finding Bivocational Work, with Andrew Hamilton Are you considering becoming a bivocational pastor? Karl Vaters talks to Andrew Hamilton about some practical work options that mesh well with a pastoral schedule and skillset, from the content from his book, The Future is Bivocational: Shaping Christian Leaders for a Post-Christian World, including: Project/Contract WorkLaboringStart a Small BusinessThe Church Starts a BusinessRetrain/Upskill/StudyLow Demand WorkVolunteerConsulting To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

    1h 3m

  5. JUL 31

    Ep 108: Creating an Environment for Discipleship to Thrive and Multiply, with Bryan Sims

    *ATTENTION NEEDED* Help us get to Malaysia by going to KarlVaters.com/support Anything you can give will be appreciated. Karl Vaters interviews Bryan Sims about creating an environment for discipleship to thrive, from his book, Creating Space: Cultivating Environments for Disciples of Jesus to Thrive and Multiply (co-written with Craig Robertson). In the first half of the book, and of our conversation, we talk about the importance of creating PSDs (Passionate Spiritual Disciples) and how the church needs to get better at creating space for it to happen among our church members. Then in the second half, we get practical, talking about four tools to help this happen in your church. Plus, Bryan addresses the five characteristics of healthy disciple-making  environments, and more. Links: Creating Space: Cultivating Environments for Disciples of Jesus to Thrive and MultiplySpiritual Leadership, Inc.Bryandsims.com Bonus video The 4 Stages of Disciple-making Environments, with Bryan Sims Karl Vaters interviews Bryan Sims about the 4 different types of environments that are needed for varying stages of spiritual growth, from his book, Creating Space: Cultivating Environments for Disciples of Jesus to Thrive and Multiply (co-written with Craig Robertson). Stage 1: Engage and BefriendStage 2: Relate and ConnectStage 3: Equip and GrowStage 4: Become and Send To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

    1h 7m

  6. JUL 17

    Ep 107: Optimizing Your Church Website for Three Key Types of Visitors, with Derek Maxson

    Karl Vaters interviews Derek Maxson about some simple ways to make sure your church website is reaching the three kinds of people who are most likely to use it. Derek runs Spiffy.Church, an online ministry that specializes in helping smaller churches get the most from their websites, using limited time and resources. Derek and Karl talk about how to optimize your church website by making it simple and affordable, and how to use it to help three types of people. Insiders (your church members and regulars)Shoppers (those looking for a new church home)Seekers (those who are curious about the faith or who are needing help in a time of crisis) Links: Spiffy.Church   Bonus video Three Simple Changes You Can Make To Your Church Website, with Derek Maxson Church websites shouldn’t be as complicated as we make them. In this bonus chat, Karl Vaters talks with Derek Maxson about a few quick changes you can make to your church website that will immediately make it better for everyone.   Links: Spiffy.Church To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

    46 min

  7. JUL 3

    Ep 106: Segregation, Affinity Spaces, and How the Gospel Defeats Racism, with Mika Edmondson

    Karl Vaters interviews Mike Edmondson about the hot-button topics of racial segregation in the American church, why affinity spaces matter, and how the gospel defeats racism – even the racism that has sometimes been promoted within the institutional church. Mika speaks with experience, wisdom, directness, and grace, generating more light than heat. Some of what Mika and Karl talk about includes: What is segregation?What is “Hereditary Heathenism?”Why did historically black churches begin?What are “Affinity Spaces” and why do they matter?How can we think and act more biblically about issues of race? And more.   Links: Text of Mika’s thread from XLink to Mika’s original X threadNoteBird App To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

    1h 5m

  8. JUN 19

    Ep 105: Recovering from Sexually Related Trauma, with Rachel Bren

    Rachel Bren is a survivor of sexually related trauma, and now she serves with SRTServices.org, which helps people recover from their trauma, and can help you and your church. She’s also the co-host of the Grace & Grenades podcast. Karl Vaters interviews Rachel about what sexual related trauma is, how the church can help those dealing with it, some mistakes to avoid, and more. Links: SRTServices.orgGrace & GrenadesOur church introduction videoBrene Brown video on sympathy vs. empathyThe Allender Center PodcastThe Place We Find Ourselves PodcastGrace & Grenades PodcastYou can reach Rachel by email at rachel@srtservices.org and the website  www.srtservices.org Bonus video How Your Church Can Help People Recover from Sexually Related Trauma, with Rachel Bren Karl Vaters talks with Rachel Bren about how SRTServices.org can come alongside your church to give you the tools to help people who are dealing with sexually related trauma. Links: SRTServices.orgGrace & Grenades To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

    47 min
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4.8
out of 5
35 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 - 2025
  • Episodes
    116
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Church Lobby

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