PODCAST

Rainer on Leadership

Church Answers

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

religion & spirituality christianity

All Episodes

22:11

The Top Reasons Why It's Painful for Pastors to Lose...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/11/18

One of the more painful aspects of ministry is losing church members. Sometimes these departures are for good reasons, like moving to another town or planting a church. More often than not, pastors struggle with the reasons why people leave. Josh and Sam discuss why pastors experience pain with the loss of members, and they explore some ways to cope with the accompanying sadness.

26:42

An Entrepreneurial-Minded Pastor in an Established...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/11/13

In this episode, Sam interviews Tim Byer, pastor of FAITH in Glen Burnie, MD, to hear how his congregation is making a real impact in their community. Pastor Tim shares the story of how his church began using VisitorReach, a tool designed to connect churches with first-time guests and neighbors. What started as a simple outreach effort has become a powerful way to build relationships, welcome new families, and share the hope of Christ in Baltimore.

24:18

Three Things Every Church Small Group Leader Should...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/11/11

In this episode, Sam interviews Michael Kelley of the Rooted Network. They discuss three essentials that every great small group leader should consistently practice. These simple but powerful habits can transform any group into a place of authentic community and spiritual growth.

23:50

How to Grow Generosity in Your Church (Without Making...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/11/07

The reality is that growing generosity doesn’t require a big program or complex strategy. It requires simplicity. Specifically, one simple principle: communicate, communicate, communicate, communicate. Mike Stadelmayer of Church Growth Services joins Sam on the show to discuss some simple ways you can grow generosity in your church.

19:53

The Unchurched Are Not Angry with You (But They Are...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/11/04

Why don’t unchurched people attend church? It’s not because they’re mad or too busy. The top reason is simple: they just don’t see the point. Indifference is the enemy of engagement. In today’s episode, Josh and Sam share why that’s actually good news—and how the combination of spiritual conviction and a personal invitation can break through the apathy.

24:21

The Church Number: From 137 to 60 The Shrinking...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/10/30

Since 2000, one of the most reliable sources of data on congregations in America has been the Faith Communities Today study, often referred to as FACT. It’s been conducted every five years, with the most recent survey in 2023 representing tens of thousands of congregations across every major faith tradition.The FACT research gives us a clear picture of what the ‘typical’ church looks like over time. And here’s one of the most striking trends: in 2000, the median church in America had 137 people in

24:30

Many Churches Face Future Sticker Shock with Deferred...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/10/28

Sam Rainer interviews Tim Cool of Smart Church Solutions to dig into a hidden but pressing crisis facing many North American churches: deferred maintenance. Too often, churches delay costly but necessary facility repairs until the problems become overwhelming. This pattern of neglect can saddle pastors with impossible burdens and even push congregations toward closure. Yet, church buildings remain vital assets for kingdom work, providing gathering spaces, anchoring communities, and making ministry

25:04

The Burge Report: The Biggest Little Denomination:...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/10/24

Sam and Ryan Burge take a deep dive into the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), unpacking the denomination’s unique growth patterns, size distribution, and robust recordkeeping. They explore surprising statistics on membership trends, baptisms, and church finances—revealing why some PCA congregations thrive while others remain stagnant. The co-hosts highlight key takeaways for understanding both the strengths and challenges of one of America’s most data-rich evangelical denominations.

29:02

The One-Person Church Communication Plan (That...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/10/21

Many pastors and church leaders face a common challenge: how to develop an effective communications strategy when you don't have a big team to help you. Julie Masson, church communications expert, joins Sam on the show to discuss a simple, repeatable approach to managing church communications without burning out. You'll learn how to build a messaging calendar around the predictable rhythms of church life—like Easter, Christmas, and the fall ministry launch—and how that calendar can help you stay

22:16

How to Get Families in Your Church to Read the Bible...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/10/17

Sam welcomes Amanda Jass to the Rainer on Leadership podcast. Amanda serves as the general editor for the NLT GO Bible and is a gifted writer, editor, illustrator, and encourager. She has a passion for creating content for all ages, with a special focus on resources for kids and families.

20:52

The Least Appreciated People in Your Church (And What...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/10/14

There are many underappreciated people in your church. If you are in leadership, you must ensure they receive the proper recognition, encouragement, and resources. Josh and Sam discuss several groups that fly under the radar but are critical to everyday ministry.

27:10

The Legacy Life with David Green, Founder and CEO of...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/10/10

Thom and Sam welcome David Green, founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby, and Bill High, CEO of Legacy Stone, to the Rainer on Leadership podcast. Hobby Lobby employs 50,000 people at 1,000 stores in 48 states and grosses nearly $8 billion a year.Author of "The Legacy Life," "Leadership Not by the Book," and "The Leader's Devotional," Green received the World Changer award and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. David, his wife, Barbara, and their children, grandchildren, and

28:24

How We're Using AI in Sermon Prep Ethically and...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/10/07

In this episode, Josh and Sam explore five practical ways pastors can use AI to improve their sermon prep. How should you balance being efficient with being ethical? If you’ve ever stared at a rough draft and thought, “Something’s off,” this episode will give you new ways to sharpen your message and preach with clarity.

24:03

The Unknown Connection Most Unchurched Have with the...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/10/03

Most unchurched people have some past connection to church—often from childhood. Our research found that 63% of the unchurched used to attend regularly. Their current indifference isn’t based on ignorance; it’s often rooted in real, past experiences. This means our efforts to reach them aren't starting from zero. In this episode, Thom and Sam unpack what it means to engage the "dechurched"—those who’ve drifted away—and why this group might be more receptive than you think.

25:24

Six Essential Pastoral Meetings No One is Scheduling...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/09/30

It's easy to focus on what is right in front of you—the fires, the squeaky wheel, the pop-in visit. However, a pure reactive management style does not help a church move forward. Josh and Sam discuss some meetings that take initiative but will pay many dividends.

31:15

The Burge Report: The Kids Aren’t Alright—And Church...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/09/20

From diapers to dating, parenting never stops presenting hard questions. But today’s concern is different: Gen Z teens are experiencing a full-blown collapse in social connection. Dating is down. Friend time is down. Jobs are down. According to Monitoring the Future, the percentage of antisocial high school seniors quintupled from 3.5% in 1995 to nearly 16% in 2022. But here’s the twist: the one group that remained more socially engaged? Teens who attend church monthly. In today’s episode, Ryan,

29:05

What Really Scares People Away from Church

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/09/19

Doctrine, expectations, and high standards do not scare people away from church. Confusion is the main enemy. According to Church Answers Research, over 60% of unchurched people agree or strongly agree that churches are confusing for outsiders—and shockingly, 60% of churchgoers say the same.

26:33

The Big Front Door for Guests Just About Every Church...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/09/17

Most churches miss this front door, not because of a lack of awareness but because of a lack of effort. Over half of the unchurched believe church could be a great place to make friends, but nearly 60% say it’s too intimidating to visit alone. That’s a huge opportunity. Today’s episode highlights how friendship, follow-up, and one key ingredient—an invitation—can lower the barrier and open the door for gospel conversations. Thom and Sam discuss some key takeaways from their new research.

31:56

Building a Worship Ministry that Excels On and Off...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/09/16

Sam talks with worship leaders Tara Banks and Nate Davis about building thriving, long-lasting worship ministries. Together, they unpack how to develop leaders who excel both on stage and in organization, create healthy pipelines for team recruitment and onboarding, and refine systems that support excellence in worship. With decades of ministry insight, Tara and Nate share practical steps for sustaining your own leadership while fostering teams that are united, prepared, and spiritually vibrant.

26:49

The Top 6 Gripes About Church Curriculum (and What to...

Rainer on Leadership ·

2025/09/12

If you’ve ever heard someone say, “I just don’t get anything out of that study,” you’re not alone. In today’s episode, Sam interviews Michael Kelley, Executive Director of the Rooted Network, and they dive into the top six frustrations people have with church curriculum.

1,042 results

Rainer on Leadership

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

Jeff Haygood, Pastor

PodPoint

PASTOR ALVARO VALENCIA

Pastor Alvaro Valencia

Grace Life Church CT.

PodPoint

Pleasant View Church

Ted Nance

Christian Heritage Church"s Podcast

PodPoint