Pastors are an angsty bunch, just like teenagers. I would know because I am one and I spend time with other pastors! Teenagers can often feel a deep anxiety about their lives. What am I doing with my life? Does anyone care? Etc. Etc. And, from what I've experienced myself and what I've observed in…
How to Pastor a Small Church
Most churches are small. And most will stay small. If most churches will stay small, why are so many pastors using large church strategies and systems to pastor their small church? And how can small-church pastors apply strategies and systems that work for small churches? Those are the kinds of questions that Karl Vaters seeks…
Mission Drift
On the first official date with my (now) wife, we had finished eating at a restaurant and decided to drive around the city we were in. I didn’t really know the city that well so we just headed off in the direction of the downtown area. Once downtown, I made a turn and just started…
Culture and Leadership: My Story of Coming to Grips with Change
My wife was the first woman to pray during Sunday morning worship service in the history of our church. It was Mother's Day 2014 when my wife ascended the steps on the stage during the worship service, walked over to the microphone and prayed for the mothers and the women who desired to be mothers…
The Fatal Flaw of the Church Growth Movement
Do you want your church to growth numerically? Most pastors and the people in their pews would answer, "yes!" Most genuine Christians want to see more people reached with the gospel. If more people get saved, then they need a place to go! If they come to your church, it will grow numerically. Consequently, the…
The Case of Female Deacons: Wisdom from the Past (Church History)
Having looked at the Scriptural evidence for female deacons, let's explore this question: What has been the role of women throughout church history? Although the practices and traditions of previous eras aren't formally binding on present churches, we must remember that many Christians have preceded us and thought deeply about these issues. Church tradition is…
The Case for Female Deacons: What Does the Bible Say?
The Bible is God's very Word. Each local church' must carefully study Scripture and allow it to shape its beliefs and practices. It is not sufficient to adopt a position based on human tradition ("we've always done it this way!") nor cultural pressure ("we gotta keep up with the times!"). Scripture must have its say…
Church as the Body of Christ
Baptism is the entry way into the church of Jesus Christ. It is the identifying marker that God has made good on His promises and has brought new life to someone. It is also a public statement to the world that new Christians are now "all-in" with Jesus. They left everything, picked up their crosses, and…
It only takes one chapter to crash and burn: Reflections on 1 Kings 1-11
The establishment of God’s kingdom in Israel takes ten long chapters to describe (1 Kings 1-10). But it only takes one chapter for the kingdom to begin to fall apart; the crash and burn is inevitable (1 Kings 11). 1 Kings opens up following the exploits of David from 2 Samuel: David is clearly king,…
A Slap to Our (Individualistic) Faces
The prevailing view of life today is that of an individual standing on his or her own, heroically juggling various responsibilities—family, friendships, career, leisure, chores, and money…From time to time the pressures overwhelm us and we drop one or more of the balls. All too often church becomes one of those balls…An alternative model is…
Raising Lazarus 