I preach from the Bible. It is always the starting point for every sermon.
But when I open God’s Word, I don’t ask what it’s saying to someone else, I ask what it’s saying to my heart and life first.
The Bible is not a sermon-assist tool. It’s an essential element in my ongoing relationship with Jesus.
Author
-
Karl produces resources for Helping Small Churches Thrive at KarlVaters.com.
He's the author of four books on church leadership. His fifth book, De-Sizing the Church: How Church Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What's Next, releases on April 2, 2024.
He also hosts a bi-weekly podcast,The Church Lobby: Conversations on Faith & Ministry. Episodes feature in-depth interviews about the topics that concern pastors, especially those who minister in a small church context.
Karl has served in small-church ministry for over 40 years, so he speaks and writes from decades of hands-on pastoral experience. He and his wife, Shelley have three children and two grandkids.