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Rainer on Leadership

Church Answers

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

religion & spirituality christianity

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23:31

Rebuilding Your Reputation after a Church Scandal

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/05/10

Proverbs 22:1 makes clear, "Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold." (NLT) How can a church recover after a scandal? What are some ways a congregation can begin to rebuild a reputation? Thom and Sam discuss some steps forward for these churches.

27:40

How Do Growing Churches Reach Young Families?

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/05/02

There are good examples of growing churches reaching young families. What are they doing differently than others? Thom and Sam answer this question. There is more to this issue than being a large church in a growing suburb. Churches reaching young families come in a variety of sizes and locations.

22:26

Why People Don't Ask Tough Questions in Church

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/04/26

One of the signs of a healthy church is people asking tough questions. These questions may be theological, or they may involve life issues. When people are comfortable asking about difficult subjects, it shows trust in leadership. Thom and Sam discuss the importance of having a church culture that encourages asking hard questions.

24:26

Three Major Future Shifts for Churches You May Not...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/03/29

Thom and Sam are delighted to welcome Brady Shearer to the Rainer on Leadership podcast. Brady is the CEO of Pro Church Tools. His work helps churches navigate what he calls "the single biggest communication shift we've seen in the last 500 years."

25:24

The Confusion about the Word “Discipleship”

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/03/29

It is fascinating to engage church leaders and members about their understanding of discipleship. Frankly, it means different things to different people. Sam and Thom discuss the importance of getting clarity about discipleship in a local church.

26:18

Why Every Woman in Your Church Needs This Bible: An...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/03/28

Thom welcomes Dr. Naomi Cramer Overton and Misty Arterburn. The Every Woman’s Bible by Tyndale House Publishers is a study Bible for the heart and mind. The relevant and timely features in this Bible focus on what hundreds of women say they desire from a Bible. Over one hundred scholars, writers, and contributors—all women—from around the world invite readers into serious study and deep reflection through this Bible and to connection in the global community.

27:32

BR002 The Burge Report: A Deep Dive into the Decline...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/03/22

The Southern Baptist Convention is experiencing a decline in the scope and scale that is unprecedented in American church history. As the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S., the declines in the SBC are noteworthy for many reasons. Ryan Burge joins Thom and Sam on this special episode to discuss what's happening and what the future may hold for the SBC.

21:40

SP030 What Should You Do When a Handful of Key Donors...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/03/22

As the median size of a church gets smaller, more are in the predicament of being supported by a handful of key donors. Mike Stadelmayer of Church Growth Services joins Thom and Sam to discuss what these churches can do. Not every case is dire, but the long-term viability of a congregation is at stake when one or two key donors are responsible for most of the budget.

22:44

SP029 The Upside and Downside of Designated Giving in...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/03/22

Most gifts to churches are given without designating how the funds should be spent. However, there are cases when donors restrict their donations or give to a designated account. While every donation helps kingdom work, designated gifts can be tricky. Mike Stadelmayer of Church Growth Services joins Thom and Sam, and they discuss some of the nuances around restricted giving.

20:30

SP028 Making the Ask: How Pastors Should Approach Key...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/03/22

Talking to key givers in the church does not have to be awkward. Mike Stadelmayer of Church Growth Services joins Thom and Sam to discuss how pastors can make the ask without feeling icky. They discuss some best practices that any pastor can follow.

21:41

Four Major Shifts in Church Staffing

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/03/19

There have been steady but subtle shifts in how churches hire staff and call ministers for years. Many of those shifts have accelerated since COVID. Sam and Thom look at four of the most significant shifts.

26:56

Speaking in Tongues and Other Trending Worship Issues

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/03/11

Thom and Sam examine long-term trends in corporate worship services. Some of the data surprised them. You might be surprised too.

28:12

Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Overcoming Failure:...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/03/06

Thom welcomes Scott Beck, co-founder and CEO of Gloo, a technology platform that releases the collective might of the faith ecosystem. After starting and scaling successful businesses including Blockbuster Video, Einstein's Bagel, Boston Market, and Angie’s List (now Angi), Scott turned his expertise to helping ministry leaders scale their impact through tech. Gloo helps 60,000 church leaders in using tech to engage their people and reach local communities.

27:16

BR001 The Burge Report: Who Is Attending Church MORE...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/03/05

America is not yet a godless nation, but we are becoming a less churched nation. While people say they believe in God, fewer are attending a house of worship. Ryan Burge joins the show with Thom and Sam to discuss the data driving these trends. But not all the trends are negative. In fact, one group is seeing more people attend church now than in the past: conservative evangelicals.

23:12

The Impact of Doctrine on Church Growth

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/03/05

Does the doctrine of the church affect the potential for growth? It depends. Thom and Sam analyze historical macro trends in church growth. Growing churches tend to be more conservative, and liberal churches tend to decline. But doctrine alone is not the entire story. The co-hosts discuss recent church history, doctrine, and the growth of churches.

24:01

The Good and Bad of Church Staff Having their Own...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/02/23

Members will inevitably attach themselves to certain leaders in the church. In multiple-staff churches, this attachment is a mixed blessing. On the one hand, you should expect church members to get close to some of the staff, especially if they serve in their ministries. On the other hand, these constituencies can become problematic when used as leverage to influence the direction of the church.

24:23

How Much Time Should a Pastor Spend Preparing Sermons...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/02/20

Pastors do not have unlimited hours and resources to write sermons. Additionally, pastors have workweeks much longer than church members realize because of the invisible nature of sermon preparation. But how long should it take to write a typical sermon? Well, it depends. Thom and Sam discuss what's normal in ministry and how you can become more efficient.

22:14

Should Pastors Endorse Political Candidates?

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/02/13

Elections are contentious. They have been for most of our nation’s history. The tensions surrounding this year’s coming election season should not be a surprise. To what degree should pastors be involved in the political process? Thom and Sam discuss this hot-button issue on today's episode.

22:29

Should We Close Our Church? Five Issues to Consider

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/02/06

Sadly, Church Answers is getting an increasing number of consultation requests from churches wanting to deal with the issue of possibly closing their churches. Thom and Sam look at the five issues churches should consider before making such a dramatic move.

22:24

Should I Plan to Retire from My Church? Five Questions

Rainer on Leadership ·

2024/01/31

The median age of pastors continues to get older. At Church Answers, we often speak with pastors who are contemplating retirement. Sam and Thom address the five most common questions we ask these pastors so that we can help them in their decision-making process.

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