PODCAST

Rainer on Leadership

Church Answers

Your online home for leadership lessons for both the church and the workplace.

religion & spirituality christianity

All Episodes

26:48

The Right Expectations Churches Should Have of Pastors

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/02/06

Does your church have clear expectations of church leaders? What positions are considered leadership positions in the church? What areas are your leaders held accountable? Thom and Sam discuss this important but often neglected issue in churches.

23:09

What's Different about Pastor's Kids These Days?

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/02/04

Josh and Sam must deal with the reality of being both pastors and dads. We've all heard horror stories about pastors' kids. Are they true? Are pastors' kids different now than in the past? The co-hosts give their take on the current environment of raising children while also leading a church.

23:11

Do Dying Churches Really Know They Are Dying?

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/01/31

Typically, the first step in making necessary changes is acceptance of the current reality. A church cannot change unless its members and leaders know that the status quo will lead to death. Sam and Thom review five situations where dying churches get stuck and, as a consequence, continue on the path toward death.

27:13

How Pastors Spend Their Time During the Workweek (Any...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/01/29

Serving a church is not a 9-to-5 kind of job. Ministry comes with odd hours. Josh and Sam discuss their typical workweek and how they keep a rhythm going. Very few pastors work less than 40 hours per week, but how do they allocate those hours?

28:08

The Burge Report: The New Era in American Religion...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/01/23

Are we entering a new era in American religion? Current data shows we are at an inflection point. Over the last 30 to 40 years, the share of Americans who had no religious affiliation has dramatically increased. That period is over, and something new is on the horizon. Ryan Burge joins the show to discuss what this new era in American religion may look like in the next ten years.

27:31

The Tell-Tale Signs of Abusive Pastors

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/01/21

Abuse originates in how victimizers view others. At some level, they believe that other people exist to fulfill their desires. Pastors who take advantage of others place themselves at the center and try to control the orbits of vulnerable people around them. Victimizers are not necessarily brash or overpowering. They may be sensitive, subdued, and even charming. Many abusive pastors have likable personalities. So what are some warning signs to watch for? Josh and Sam discuss this difficult

25:22

Do You Really Remember What Took Place in Churches...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/01/16

Though COVID is still mentioned frequently, many of the detailed memories have disappeared. Thom and Sam recall six very specific developments in churches during COVID based upon hundreds of stories from members of Church Answers. They share what we can learn from them today.

23:39

What Will Be the Sacred Cows in Church Worship When...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/01/14

In about 30 years, Millennials will become the dominant older generation in most churches. What will they refuse to give up? Josh and Sam talk about their generation and what might become the sacred cows as they become elderly.

24:08

Making Change in an Older Church (Without Running...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/01/09

It can be particularly challenging for a pastor to lead change in an older church when the primary decision makers (or most of the members) have been in the church for several years, sometimes a few decades. Thom and Sam look at four developments that often take place when leading change is successful. They reviewed over 20 successful churches.

29:44

Things About Church Leadership We Haven't Figured Out...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/01/07

In your 30s and 40s, you start to learn what you don't know. The older you get, you either become more self-aware or stop caring. Josh and Sam talk about what they still haven't figured out after twenty years of ministry in the church.

27:04

Five Predictions We Got Wrong about the Future of the...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/01/02

This time of year, many commentators and researchers prognosticate about the future of the church. Thom and Sam take a different approach in this episode. While many of their predictions from previous decades have turned out to be correct, not all of them did. They look back and evaluate a few predictions they got wrong from years ago.

23:45

What Every Church Leader Needs to Know to Move Church...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/12/27

Art Rainer joins Thom to unpack some amazing research that can help you know how to lead your church members to higher levels of giving. You will be amazed how a few simple things can move your church toward greater stewardship.

24:41

How to Really Enjoy Your Christmas as a Pastor

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/12/20

The holiday season can be stressful for pastors. The sprint to year-end can exhaust even the most seasoned church staff. Thom and Sam discuss ways to enjoy this busy time of year.

23:08

Leading (and Loving) a Dying Church

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/12/16

How can you lead (and love) a church that is dying? Thom and Sam discuss this listener-submitted question. No church should die, but some will. Some pastors must shepherd congregations on what amounts to spiritual hospice care. It's a difficult calling, but there are some ways to glorify God, even as a church goes through the process of closing.

22:54

The Warning Signs You've Stayed Too Long at a Church

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/12/06

The prevailing wisdom for pastors is longer tenure is better. This principle is generally true. A string of shorter tenures is usually not healthy for churches. But it is possible to stay too long. What are some of the warning signs?

21:23

Why Churches Are Not Inherently Safe Places

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/11/27

It’s understandable why people would think, “This place is full of Christians. It must be one of the safest places in my community.” But churches are not inherently safe. Quite the opposite. Churches have a target on them! You are a spiritual target for the powers of darkness. Sam Rainer and Matt McCraw discuss some key issues involving church safety.

23:59

Common Ways Financial Mismanagement Occurs in the Church

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/11/22

Money is a sensitive subject but ignore financial best practices at your peril. Many churches publish two sets of numbers weekly: worship attendance and giving. There it is, front and center—how many attended and the collective amount they gave. Despite the visibility, churches can struggle with the right amount of financial oversight.

22:29

Things to Consider When Relocating Your Church...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/11/20

Thom Rainer is joined by Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group, who are “The Church Facility Experts.” In this third episode, we discuss what a church should consider when moving to a new piece of property or completely starting over.

25:01

Things to Consider When Relocating Your Church...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/11/20

Thom Rainer is joined by Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group, who are “The Church Facility Experts.” In this second episode, we discuss what a church should consider before relocating to another building.

24:00

Things to Consider When Relocating Your Church...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/11/20

Thom Rainer is joined by Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group, who are “The Church Facility Experts.” In this first episode, we discuss what qualifies a church for relocation and why you need to prove with data that you can’t stay on the site.

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Rainer on Leadership

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