PODCAST

Rainer on Leadership

Church Answers

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

religion & spirituality christianity

All Episodes

29:03

The Trust Gap: Why Outsiders Won’t Step Inside Your...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/09/09

Here’s a shocker: The unchurched think the church is more relevant than many regular attenders do. But they don’t trust it. While 81% of churchgoers trust their church, only 30% of the unchurched say the same. The dichotomy is fascinating.

23:11

Five Reasons Churches Should Still Try to Reach Boomers

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/09/04

In this episode, Thom and Sam dive into five compelling reasons churches should still prioritize reaching Baby Boomers. Despite cultural shifts, Boomers remain a vital part of many communities—and churches. They’re often more open to spiritual conversations, have time and resources to invest in ministry, and bring deep life experience that can benefit younger generations. Boomers still matter, and your church can more effectively reach and disciple them.

30:57

Realistic One-to-Two-Year Objectives for Small-Church...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/09/02

In this episode, we explore realistic 1–2 year objectives for small-church revitalization—practical steps that can create lasting momentum without overwhelming your congregation. We unpack three key priorities.

22:04

Millennials Move LESS than Gen X and Boomers (New...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/08/28

In this episode, we re-examine a major demographic shift reshaping communities and churches: the decline in mobility across the United States. Americans are moving far less than they did in previous generations, especially millennials. While older generations often relocated for work opportunities or family, today’s younger adults are more likely to stay put. Rising housing costs, tighter job markets, student loan burdens, and a growing preference for stability have all contributed to this trend

23:50

Which “Higher Standard” Measures Actually Make Sense...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/08/26

Pastors are often held to a “higher standard,” but not every expectation placed on them is biblical or even wise. In this episode, Josh and Sam explore which higher standards actually make sense for pastors and why. They cut through unrealistic pressures and focus on the standards that truly align with Scripture and healthy leadership.

24:41

How Your Building Shapes Your Ministry: Five Ways the...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/08/25

Sam is joined by Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group, who are “The Church Facility Experts.” In this second episode, they discuss how the Baptist T design still affects churches decades later–often in ways leaders don’t realize. Here are five ways this design limits ministry today and what can be done to use your facility as a tool for mission, not as a monument to the past.

22:35

How Your Building Shapes Your Ministry: The Baptist T...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/08/25

Sam is joined by Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group, who are “The Church Facility Experts.” The design of your church might be shaping your culture more than you think. Building styles reflect ministry priorities–but if the building doesn’t adapt, those priorities can become limitations. In this first episode, they explore the ‘Baptist T’ (a common church layout from the 1960s to 1980s) and how it was built for a ministry model that no longer fits.

29:38

The Burge Report: Do Churchgoers Want More or Less...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/08/15

Studies on the content of sermons exist, and most indicate that pastors include some political topics in their sermons. But which topics? Ryan, Thom, and Sam reveal the answer. When asked about politics and the pulpit, few congregants say their pastors often speak about political issues. But is that really the case?

30:44

The Loneliness Epidemic Among Pastors

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/08/13

Research from Barna reveals the top two reasons pastors consider quitting are stress and loneliness. This same study demonstrated an increase in pastoral loneliness—from 42% of pastors saying they felt frequently or sometimes lonely in 2015 to 65% of pastors in 2023. The church is supposed to be a place of belonging and hope, but many church leaders experience the opposite—isolation and discouragement. Josh and Sam examine this problem and offer their solutions.

25:06

The Non-Legalist Reasons for Weekly Church Attendance

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/08/12

Too many church leaders shy away from encouraging weekly worship. They don’t want to sound legalistic. But that hesitation is a big mistake. In just 16 years, weekly church attendance has dropped sharply. Sam and Matt McCraw discuss why weekly church attendance is the best practice for everyone.

29:14

Who in the Church Should Hold Pastors Accountable?

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/08/11

Scripture gives clear qualifications for the characteristics of pastors. But who in the church should hold pastors accountable to these qualifications? Josh and Sam dive into the best practices for pastoral accountability.

24:08

Weekly Church Attendance Patterns by Generation: 2016...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/08/08

In this episode, Sam and Matt McCraw unpack weekly church attendance trends from 2016 to 2024 across four generations. While Boomers slightly increased from 27% to 28%, Gen X dropped from 24% to 22%, Millennials from 26% to 22%, and Gen Z saw the sharpest decline—from 29% to 24%. What do these shifts mean for the future of church engagement, discipleship, and ministry strategy? We explore the implications for leadership, generational outreach, and the need for intentional connection points that

28:28

The Johnson Amendment Reversal: Endorsing Political...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/08/05

On this episode, Sam and Josh unpack a landmark development for churches: the Internal Revenue Service’s shift on the 1954 Johnson Amendment. In a joint court filing with two Texas churches and the National Religious Broadcasters, the IRS now affirms that clergy can endorse political candidates from the pulpit without risking their tax-exempt status. The IRS reframes such endorsements as comparable to a “private family discussion” within the congregation during worship—with statements made via usual

27:46

Why the NLT Might Be the Best Bible You’ve Never...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/07/31

Sam welcomes Dan Block to the Rainer on Leadership podcast. Dan is a Senior Translator for the New Living Translation. They discuss why the New Living Translation is the best choice for those seeking a Bible that is accurate, understandable, and audibly enjoyable.

27:24

Sermon Illustrations that Connect to the Bible Text...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/07/30

In this episode, Josh and Sam explore a fresh way to approach sermon illustrations. Instead of building a massive database with search tools and tags, consider categorizing your illustrations by type—like recent personal stories, historical examples, and visual aids. The goal isn't to store every idea, but to know what kind of illustration you're looking for and then go find it. Plus, we talk about how tools like ChatGPT can help you brainstorm the right type of illustration for your message.

30:55

The Easiest (and Most Incredible) Way to Get...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/07/28

Churches have long embraced technology to enhance their ministries, but the most successful churches are shifting beyond simply broadcasting information—they’re leveraging technology to create belonging—authentic connections.In this episode, Thom welcomes Sarah Nashif-Tan from VisitorReach to the podcast for an inside look at their latest innovation: VisitorTap. She is a strategic and passionate leader who blends business and ministry skills to empower local churches for cultural impact. Discover

31:31

The Burge Report: Is Gen Z More Religiously Engaged...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/07/24

New religious data in the United States was released recently, and Ryan Burge joins the show with Sam to discuss the details. In 2024, Gen Z showed relatively strong religious attendance compared to other generations. Twenty-four percent of Gen Z reported attending religious services weekly—two percentage points higher than both Millennials and Gen X. While 53% of Gen Z attend less than once a year, that’s actually the lowest percentage of infrequent attenders among all the generations analyzed.

30:03

The Limits of Pastoral Care: When Counseling Isn’t...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/07/22

Pastors provide spiritual guidance, but there are times when counseling crosses into territory best handled by trained professionals. In this episode, Josh and Sam explore the limits of pastoral care—when ethical, legal, and practical concerns make it necessary to refer someone elsewhere. From mental health crises to marital conflicts beyond a pastor’s expertise, knowing when to step back is crucial for both the pastor and the person seeking help. We’ll discuss red flags, healthy boundaries, and how

30:45

The Top 5 Legal Issues Churches Face Today

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/07/12

Churches may be spiritual communities, but they operate in a legal world. And many aren’t prepared. In today’s episode, Sam interviews Ryan June of Castañeda + Heidelman LLP, and we unpack the five most common legal issues churches face: child protection, property disputes, employment law, governance and bylaws, and intellectual property. Ignorance of the law is not a spiritual gift. Whether your church is 50 years old or just starting, these legal risks can’t be ignored.

24:08

Ten Quiet Disrupters in American Church Life (Part 2)

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/07/12

Many of the disruptions in local church life are widely known. For example, most congregants and church leaders can clearly see the impact of COVID several years ago. But there have been a number of “quiet” disruptions that don't get much attention. Thom and Sam look at ten of them over two episodes.

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