Day 2807 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (2 Timothy 2:23)

Pastor, don’t just tell people what to do, ask them what they’re called to do and how you can come alongside to equip them for it. karlvaters.com/avoid-burnout…

When we stop seeing small churches as a problem we can . . . • Become more open to forms of church that can only work in a small setting • Spend less money, time, and energy trying to grow churches that aren’t meant to be big • Utilize the strengths of leaders who work best in smaller, more intimate settings karlvaters.com/first-steps-h…

Day 2806 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (2 Timothy 2:23)

The longer I’m in ministry the more I’m convinced that one of the prime reasons for pastoral burnout is that too many pastors are ignoring a simple command. Equip the saints. karlvaters.com/avoid-burnout…

Since foundation-shakers won’t pre-announce themselves, I’m keeping my eyes and ears on small, quirky churches and fringe ministries because I want to recognize the next church- and world leaders when they start doing their work. Then I want to be a Caleb to the church’s next Joshuas. A Barnabas for our future Apostle Pauls. karlvaters.com/outcasts/

Wonderful weekend in Bloomington Illinois with American Baptist Church pastors! Now, to Portland Oregon for some time visiting family.

Day 2805 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (2 Timothy 2:23)

When people ask hard questions, they’re not looking for easy answers. Sometimes they’re not looking for answers at all. Just an listening ear, a praying friend, or a reassuring conversation. karlvaters.com/i-dont-know/

Day 2804 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (2 Timothy 2:23)

We must be careful not to submit to any other church’s culture to such a degree that we’re no longer being ourselves. Small churches can be especially susceptible to this. But we mustn't give up our unique identity. karlvaters.com/churchs-uniqu…

There isn’t enough time in a pastor’s week. There never has been. There never will be. At least, not the way most of us are trying to pastor. In this guest article, Shawn Keener pushes back against some timeworn pastoral practices in ways that may be hard to hear at first. He addresses the challenging situation of not having enough time, by helping us consider that many of us are following a cultural tradition of pastoral care instead of the biblical mandate to equip the saints. karlvaters.com/time-margin-e…

Day 2803 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (2 Timothy 2:23)

Teams do things. Committees tell other people to do things. A church that is light on teams and heavy on committees will spend more time assigning blame than volunteering for ministry. karlvaters.com/avoid-burnout…

In the places where Christians are growing as percentage of the population, it is far more likely to be happening by the multiplication of smaller congregations than by the building of larger ones. karlvaters.com/grow-without-…

Day 2802 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (2 Timothy 2:23)

"The church live stream experience has costs associated with it that most of us don't consider In a whole lot of circumstances, the cost is greater than the value." karlvaters.com/karl-vaters-1…

Day 2801 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (2 Timothy 2:23)

The primary picture the pastor's spouse have of the church’s inner workings are filtered through us. While we get to engage in the change process, they silently absorb it all. karlvaters.com/pastors-spous…

It’s not enough to tack a “what to do now” idea on the end of our sermons. Equipping people to do the work of ministry must always be a central element in everything a pastor does. karlvaters.com/avoid-burnout…