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 SystemSocial media:facebook.com/darrellstetler2facebook.com/newstartdiscipleshipyoutube.com/@newstartdiscipleshiptwitter.com/newstartdiscBonus ContentSome Strengths and Dangers of Using AI for Sermon Prep, with Darrell StetlerKarl 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.
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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 ChurchBonus videoHow To Conduct An Annual Leadership Meeting, with Luke SimmonsKarl 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 moreLinks: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.
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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 capacityAnd moreLinks: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 EmpireBonus videoEight Options for Finding Bivocational Work, with Andrew HamiltonAre 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 WorkVolunteerConsultingTo 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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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/supportAnything 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.comBonus videoThe 4 Stages of Disciple-making Environments, with Bryan SimsKarl 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 SendTo 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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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 videoThree Simple Changes You Can Make To Your Church Website, with Derek MaxsonChurch 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.ChurchTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.
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.
New Zealand