The Church Lobby

Karl Vaters interviews Dr. Vincent E. Gil, the author of A Christian's Guide Through the Gender Revolution: Gender, Cisgender, Transgender, and Intersex (Cascade Publishing, 2021.) .Dr. Gil taught human sexuality and counseled at a conservative Christian college for 38 years. He has been a consultant on sexual issues for church leaders and denominations, and is himself a licensed minister.This is a sensitive subject that often causes division, or gets ignored due to some of the complexity and concerns. In this conversation, Karl and Dr. Gil talk about how to understand the current “gender moment,” and negotiate a better way than taking sides on issues.Karl and Dr. Gil address issues of concern to pastors, and provide a dialogue on how to approach varied sex/gender concerns in congregants and beyond.(Our apologies for a technical issue. In the front half of the podcast there are several times when you can hear a thumping in the background while Dr. Gil is talking. We have done our best to limit it, but we were not able to remove it.) Links:Dr. Gil’s Webpage: drvincegil.com.Dr. Gil’s recent book: A Christian's Guide through the Gender Revolution: Gender, Cisgender, Transgender, and Intersex (2021). Available in Hardcover, paperback and Kindle editions at Amazon.To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

Karl Vaters and Jeff Hamilton (founder of Dad Academy) talk about the importance of helping men become the dad they want to be by becoming at least as intentional in their parenting as they are in their job.Topics include:Why “Dadding” is so important and so challengingThe importance of having an intentional planThe impact of building a positive culture in your home by creating a more Christ-like value systemLinks:Dadacademy.infoJeff@dadacademy.infoWherebySwitcher StudioInstagram: Dad AcademyFacebook: Dad AcademyTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

The Bible-Reading Coach is a guide to help anyone read through the entire Bible in 52 weeks.It all starts with a weekly podcast, available in both audio and video formats, hosted by pastor and author Karl Vaters, it’s designed to help beginners and longtime Bible readers get more out of your journey through God’s Word by making your reading journey Simple, Understandable, and Rewarding.SIMPLE: A weekly introduction to readings from Genesis to Revelation that helps you know what to look for as you read.UNDERSTANDABLE: Helps you see how this ancient wisdom applies to the way we live, think, and believe today.REWARDING: We want to help you read all the way from Genesis to Revelation by showing you what to look for and how to apply it to your everyday life.Are you a follower of Jesus who’s tried and failed to read through the Bible before? Follow our plan. This time, you’ll finish.Are you new to the Bible and the Christian faith? We welcome you! This can be a helpful first step to 1) understand what the Bible says, 2) discover why this collection of ancient texts is essential to the life and faith of billions of people, and 3) inspire you to dig even deeper.See what's coming in the weeks ahead on the Bible outline.Transcripts will be available in advance of each episode.Support this work. Help us keep our content free for those who need it the most.Find more resources for small church ministry at KarlVaters.com.

Karl Vaters interviews Peyton Jones, a church planter and church planting specialist. He’s written several books, most recently, Church Plantology: The Art and Science of Planting Churches, which is the basis for this conversation.Peyton and Karl talk about a lot of issues regarding church planting, but mostly about how most of our common perceptions of church planting are built on a faulty foundation. Not a church planter? Don’t let that stop you from listening. There’s a lot in this for every church leader.Links from this episode:Church Plantology: The Art and Science of Planting ChurchesReaching the Unreached: Becoming Raiders of the Lost ArtThrough the WordMinistry NinjaNewbreed TrainingTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

An interview with Jason Moore about how to blend online & in-person worship.Jason is the founder of the Both/And seminars which helps churches of all sizes create a better worship experience for both the online audience and the in-person congregation.In this conversation, Karl Vaters talks to Jason about how a church of any size can use online and in-person church to make each a better experience for worshipers. If you’re having a hard time with your online experience, or even if you’re doubtful about its value listen to Jason’s heart, his experience and his ideas, including…How online worship has gone from being expensive and rare to a common and essential aspect of church ministry – leaving many of us to play catch-up.How to ensure that the online church experience doesn’t to detract from in-person worship, but can add to it.The need to readjust the goal of church from getting people in the room to getting the message out.The fact that the main roadblock to a high-quality online/in-person experience isn’t money, it’s intentionality.Links from the episode:Midnightoilproductions.comfacebook.com/midnightoilproductionsinstagram.com/midnightoilprod/mail@midnightoilproductions.comOpen Broadcast SoftwareUnsplashTechsoup.orgTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

Karl Vaters interviews Matt Branaugh about the important subjects of law, tax and finances in the church. Matt is an Attorney at Law and Content Editor for Church Law & Tax.In this conversation, Karl and Matt talk about some of the biggest recent issues in these important areas – you know, the things we hate to deal with, but need to take care of. Thankfully, Matt knows how to talk about them in compelling, clear and applicable ways.This conversation will help you know that you and your church are not alone if you’re facing these issues, where you can go to get help, and how to be proactive instead of waiting for something bad to happen.Links:CLTMatt Branaugh at Church Law & TaxChurchLawandTax.comChurch Law and Tax StoreRichard R. Hammar at Church Law & TaxArticlesThe Top 5 Reasons Churches and Religious Organizations End Up in CourtMinimizing the Risks of Child Molestation in ChurchesYour Church Needs an Insurance CommitteeSeventh Circuit: Clergy Housing Allowance Is ConstitutionalHousing Allowance BasicsHow to Safely Reopen Your Church and Reduce Legal LiabilityLightning RoundWorkflowy.comChristianLegalSociety.orgTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

Karl Vaters interviews Bob Roberts Jr., a pastor, author, global strategist and more. Bob has a heart for Jesus, for the Gospel, for all kinds of people, and for the role of the small congregation in fulfilling God’s mission. Karl and Bob have a free-wheeling conversation that touches on many subjects, all of which can help every church and every church leader.Links from this episode:My Promised Land by Ari ShavitArt and Faith: A Theology of Making by Makoto FujimuraGlocal.netMultifaithneighborsnetwork.orgTwitter & Instagram: @bobrobertsjrBobRobertsjr.com To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

My podcast guest this week is Gary Garcia — again.This time we talk about Pastoral Transition from a unique perspective. I was Gary’s lead pastor for 25 years, then Gary became the lead pastor, while I stayed on the pastoral staff with him.In this episode Gary and I talk aboutWhy that happenedHow we did itHow it’s been going sinceSome key points about making a successful pastoral transition will include:We need to know God is calling us to do it, even if it’s outside our comfort zone.We must spend the necessary time to talk, think and pray about it. It’s better to do it well than do it fast.Each needs to support the other. The former lead pastor must truly let go of control, and the new pastor needs to honor the past without being intimidated by it.Links from this Episode:DownloadYouthMinistries.comFind Gary on Instagram To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

Karl Vaters and Gary Garcia have worked together at the same church for 29 years. For the first 25 years Karl was the lead pastor. For the last 4 years Gary has been the lead pastor.This is the first of two episodes with them. In the next one they will talk about everything surrounding the pastoral transition, but in this episode they talk aboutHow to stay in ministry long-termHow to stay fresh while in the same churchHow to work together wellAdvice for those wanting to stay strong in ministry for the long haulTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

Karl Vaters interviews Tom Harris about the important, but underserved topic of Intentional Interim Pastorates. Tom is the co-author of Soaring Between Pastors: 8 Actions to Thrive During a Pastoral Transition. He also serves as the president of IPM: Interim Pastor Ministries.In this conversation, Tom and Karl talk about the importance of interim pastorates, including how an intentional interim can help prepare a church to hit the ground running when they call a new pastor. Links from this episode:InterimPastors.comSoaring Between Pastors To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.