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Bible Reading Coach, Week 41 (Matthew) Jesus, the Messiah
This is as big a week as we’ve had yet. Not only do we move from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we also start the Gospels and meet Jesus for the first time.

Should You Start a Podcast? And Positive Ministry Trends, with Aron Utecht (Podcast Ep 035)
We all have access to a lot of great communication tools. Which ones should your church use? Start by knowing what you are – and are not – called to do.

Bible Reading Coach, Week 40 (Habakkuk – Malachi) The Last Prophets, and an Expected Messiah
We know their names, but who were Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi? This week we give them some of the overdue attention they deserve.

Transition Without Relocation: 8 Steps to Stay Fresh In a Long-Term Pastorate
A pastor who stops learning, stops leading. And a pastor who stops leading, stops pastoring. Even if they stay on the job.

Bible Reading Coach, Week 39 (Joel – Nahum) Six Prophets and One Giant Fish
Jonah, we know. But Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah & Nahum? Not so much. Let’s take a closer look. You’ll be glad we did.

Technology, Ministry, and Keeping People’s Attention, with Rick Hiemstra (Podcast Ep 034)
What is the internet doing to our brains, our relationships and our ability to minister? Rick Hiemstra has the stats. And some hopefulness.

Bible Reading Coach, Week 38 (Daniel & Hosea) A Furnace, a Floating Hand, a Lion’s Den, a Prophet, and a Prostitute
Daniel’s faith is one of the Bible’s great stories. Hosea’s obedience is one of its most heartbreaking – for him, for God, and for anyone who reads it.

How to Deal with Chronic Complainers In the Church
Small churches can be a magnet for chronic complainers. Here’s how to reduce their negative impact – and increase the positive.

Bible Reading Coach, Week 37 (Ezekiel 31-48) A Zombie Army? And a Vision of Restoration
In books like Ezekiel we can get caught up in spectacular visions. But don’t forget they’re about real people’s lives – and they apply to our lives as well.
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Author
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Karl Vaters produces resources for Helping Small Churches Thrive at KarlVaters.com.
He's the author of five books on church leadership, including his newest, De-Sizing the Church: How Church Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What's Next. His other books include The Grasshopper Myth and Small Church Essentials.
Karl also hosts a bi-weekly podcast, The Church Lobby: Conversations on Faith & Ministry, featuring in-depth interviews about topics that concern pastors, especially those who minister in a small church context. He has served in small-church ministry for over 40 years, so he speaks and writes from decades of hands-on pastoral experience.
You can follow Karl on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn, or Contact Karl to inquire about speaking, writing, and consultation.
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