Episodes
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Eight Essential Qualities of Pastors Who Love Their Jobs
You can do your job well without loving it. However, for pastors, the calling often goes beyond mere duty. It encompasses a passion for serving and guiding their flocks. What distinguishes pastors who love their jobs from those who do their jobs? Josh and Sam discuss on today's episode. The post...
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The Burge Report: America’s Largest Churches: What’s Happened the Last Decade?
America’s largest churches are becoming significantly larger. A decade of Outreach 100 data shows that megachurch growth is increasingly concentrated among a relatively small group of established, evangelical, multisite congregations. Yet the picture is more complex than explosive growth alone:...
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An Honest Perspective on Celebrating Halloween as Christians
Halloween often creates unnecessary tension among Christians. Some avoid it because of its association with spiritual darkness and the occult, while others view it as a harmless cultural tradition centered on costumes, candy, and neighborhood fun. Josh and Sam discuss how churches do not need to...
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How Churches Can Better Support Moms in the Unseen Midnight Moments of Motherhood
Sam welcomes Susan K. Pitts and Becky Thompson to the Rainer on Leadership podcast. They are a mother-daughter team who have built their lives around encouraging moms right in the middle of everyday life. Susan has spent over forty years in ministry, walking alongside women and families with…
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Hitting Home Runs with Church Marketing
Sam interviews David Graham of Five Loaves Marketing, and they talk about the best ways for churches to utilize marketing resources. The post Hitting Home Runs with Church Marketing appeared first on Church Answers.
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Church Worship Attendance Is… Up! (For the First Time in Years)
A new Hartford Institute report shows median in-person worship attendance increasing from 65 to 70 since just before the pandemic. That five-person gain may sound small, but it represents a 7.7% increase and moves the median congregation above its pre-pandemic level. Still, the story requires...
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The Pastoral Burden of Never Having “Off Hours”
Josh and Sam discuss how to avoid the “always available” trap of shepherding a congregation. Unfortunately, many pastors, if not most, are never truly “off.” The post The Pastoral Burden of Never Having “Off Hours” appeared first on Church Answers.
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Why Preachers Should Pick One Translation (And Which One Is Best)
Sam welcomes Dr. Nijay Gupta back to the Rainer on Leadership podcast. Nijay is a senior translator for the New Living Translation, a Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary, and the author of several books, including A Beginner's Guide to New Testament Studies and Tell Her Story. Today...
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Should Pastors Encourage Burial Over Cremation?
Historically, Christians have favored burial. That practice was not accidental. Burial reflects the biblical pattern of honoring the body, treating death with gravity, and looking forward to the resurrection. In Scripture, the body is not treated as disposable. At the same time, the Bible does…
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The Burge Report: Why Gen Z Might Be the Least Mobile Generation in American History
Americans are moving far less than they did in previous generations, and Gen Z may become the least mobile generation in American history. In the 1950s, about 20% of Americans moved each year. By 2019, that number had fallen to roughly 11%. Even more surprising, younger adults are more likely…
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How to Prevent Your Discipleship Model from Aging Out with the Older Generations
Many churches are beginning to recognize that their discipleship systems are no longer working as well as they once did. The problem is not necessarily neglect. In many cases, the problem is that the model was built for a different era—one marked by more frequent church attendance, earlier...
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My Hope for Lifeway: An Interview with Dr. Ryan Blackwell, President and CEO of Lifeway
Sam and Thom welcome Dr. Ryan Blackwell to Rainer on Leadership to share his hope for Lifeway as the 11th President and CEO. The post My Hope for Lifeway: An Interview with Dr. Ryan Blackwell, President and CEO of Lifeway appeared first on Church Answers.
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What Has Changed the Most in Preaching the Last 20 Years?
Preaching has not changed in its core calling: proclaiming God’s Word faithfully to God’s people. But the context around preaching has changed dramatically. Josh and Sam discuss the major changes in preaching over the last two decades. Pastors today must still preach the text, but they also have…
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The Problem of Ageism and Church Staff Near Retirement
Many churches say they value older adults, but their staffing decisions often tell a different story. Thom and Sam discuss how ageism is a real and often overlooked problem in church personnel decisions, especially for staff members approaching retirement. Churches may seek “younger energy,” cut...
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Armed Church Security Teams: Good Idea or Bad Idea?
The question of whether a church should have an armed security team is both practical and pastoral. Churches want to be welcoming places of worship, but they also have a responsibility to protect the people gathered on campus. An armed security team may be appropriate in some contexts, but it...
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Five Relatively Recent Theological Controversies That Have Faded
Some denominations and networks seem to have a controversy du jour. Many of them have deep theological implications. Others are distractions to the primary mission of churches. Sam and Thom review five controversies that were once heated but have now faded significantly. The post Five Relatively...
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Why Don’t Churches Sing Old-School Hymns Anymore?
Josh and Sam discuss why many churches have moved away from old-school hymns, not always because they reject them, but because worship culture has changed. Modern worship music is often easier to lead with a band, more familiar to younger generations, and shaped by digital platforms, conferences,...
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An Interview with Chris Brauns on “The Way of Repentance”
Thom and Sam welcome Chris Brauns, Lead Pastor at The Red Brick Church in Stillman Valley, IL, to discuss his book, "The Way of Repentance." The post An Interview with Chris Brauns on “The Way of Repentance” appeared first on Church Answers.
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Should a Church Accept a Tithe from a Lottery Winner?
What should a church do if someone wins the lottery and wants to tithe from the proceeds? The question is more complicated than it first appears. On one hand, churches should teach biblical stewardship and encourage generosity. On the other hand, gambling raises serious concerns about wisdom,...
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The Burge Report: Why Immigration Won’t Reverse America’s Secular Drift
A common argument says immigration could help reverse America’s secular drift because immigrants are assumed to be more religious than native-born Americans. Ryan Burge’s analysis challenges that assumption. Using Cooperative Election Study data, he finds that immigrants are only slightly more...
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The Top Preaching Distractions (What Stops Pastors Mid-Sentence in the Pulpit)
Josh and Sam have a little fun and talk about the preaching distractions most likely to get the pastor's attention. The post The Top Preaching Distractions (What Stops Pastors Mid-Sentence in the Pulpit) appeared first on Church Answers.
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Why the Pastorate Is One of the Highest Security Jobs in an AI World
Thom and Sam explore why the pastorate remains one of the most secure callings in an AI world. Artificial intelligence can help with research and administrative tasks, but it cannot replace the heart of pastoral ministry: presence, trust, discernment, and shepherding. The more ministry is rooted…
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What Should a Pastor Do When One or Two Key Donors Keep the Church Doors Open
Josh and Sam discuss a scenario that is more common than most realize: when a key donor or two are the only ones keeping the church afloat. The post What Should a Pastor Do When One or Two Key Donors Keep the Church Doors Open appeared first on Church Answers.
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The Four Domains of Successful Outreach to Families with Children
To help raise well-rounded young men and women who know they are loved by God, one church has created a focus on MASS: Mental, Athletic, Spiritual, and Social. Brian Kelly from Northside Church in Liverpool, NY joins Sam on the show to discuss how his church has used MASS to engage families in...
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Why We Still Believe in Short-Term Mission Trips for Churches
Josh and Sam discuss why churches should still believe in short-term mission trips when they are approached with the right biblical purpose and practical care. While these trips are sometimes criticized for being expensive, shallow, or more about the travelers than the mission field, they can…
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Unique Church Leadership Lessons from the Book of Ezra You Haven’t Heard
Pastors often look to the book of Nehemiah for practical lessons on leadership. However, in times of rebuilding and revitalization, we should not overlook the book of Ezra, with its story of the rebuilding of the temple. Ken Roach, Vice President of Innovation at Wesley Biblical Seminary, joins…
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The Back-to-School Checklist for Pastors (Prepping Your Church for Ministry to Parents and School-Age Children)
In this episode, Josh and Sam explore how pastors can prepare their churches for one of the most strategic ministry seasons of the year: back-to-school. As families shift routines, students face new pressures, and parents feel the weight of another busy season, churches have a unique opportunity…
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The Burge Report: Why the 1990s Were the Most Consequential in Modern U.S. Religious History
The 1990s may have been the most pivotal decade for religious change in modern America. In this episode, we look at Ryan Burge’s analysis of young adults and the sharp rise of the religiously unaffiliated during those years. The surprising part of the story is that no single Christian tradition...
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What Successful Evangelistic Churches Actually Do for Outreach
Only 1% of churches have an ongoing emphasis on evangelism. Josh and Sam break down what successful evangelistic churches actually do. The post What Successful Evangelistic Churches Actually Do for Outreach appeared first on Church Answers.
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Dodging Detours: Five Ways a Feasibility Study Protects Your Campaign from Pitfalls
Sam talks with Mike Stadelmayer at Church Growth Services about the harm a failed campaign can do and how to avoid those failures. The post Dodging Detours: Five Ways a Feasibility Study Protects Your Campaign from Pitfalls appeared first on Church Answers.
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Should Pastors Engage in Online Fights?
In this episode, Josh and Sam tackle a question many pastors quietly wrestle with: Should I respond to that post… or just scroll past it? Social media makes it easy to jump into theological skirmishes and digital debates, but Scripture calls pastors to something higher than winning arguments....
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The Future of Church Hiring When Pastors Are in Short Supply
As more churches struggle to find qualified pastors, the future of church hiring is changing fast. In this episode, Thom and Sam explore what pastor shortages mean for congregations, why old search processes are becoming less effective, and how churches can adapt with greater clarity…
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Amiable Autocrats: Why Some of the Nicest Pastors Make the Worst Bosses
In this episode, Josh and Sam explore a subtle but damaging leadership style in the church: the amiable autocrat. These are leaders who are friendly, well-liked, and often effective on the surface, yet they lead primarily through positional authority and leave their teams frustrated. We unpack…
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Why Churches Are Struggling More and More to Find Staff
In this episode, Thom and Sam tackle a growing challenge for churches across the country: finding qualified staff. What once seemed routine—posting a position and waiting for candidates—has become far more difficult. This conversation explores why the staffing pipeline has narrowed, how outdated...
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Why Can’t Pastors Talk About Politics?
Happy 250th America! Josh and Sam get political on this episode. The post Why Can’t Pastors Talk About Politics? appeared first on Church Answers.
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The Burge Report: Are Non-Denominational Churches Just Southern Baptists in Disguise?
In this episode, Ryan Burge and Sam explore the rise of non-denominational Christianity and ask a provocative question: are non-denoms essentially just Southern Baptists without the label? Drawing on recent survey data, this conversation examines how non-denominational Christians compare to...
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The Ongoing Shortage of Student Pastors (Where Did They Go?)
Many churches are asking the same question: “Where have all the student pastors gone?” In this episode, Josh and Sam explore the ongoing shortage of youth ministers and the structural reasons behind it. The post The Ongoing Shortage of Student Pastors (Where Did They Go?) appeared first on Church...
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The Church Summer Slump: What Every Pastor Should Know
Many pastors feel it every year: “I hate summer attendance!” In this episode, Thom and Sam unpack real-world insights gathered from conversations with pastors across the country about the predictable, and sometimes preventable, summer slump. The post The Church Summer Slump: What Every Pastor...
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The Top Ten Most Common Low Attendance Days in Churches
Every church has them—the Sundays when attendance predictably drops. Drawing from feedback from over 400 church leaders, Josh and Sam break down the most common low-attendance days and why they occur. The post The Top Ten Most Common Low Attendance Days in Churches appeared first on Church Answers.
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A Behind-the-Scenes Look at a Bible Translation Committee (What Really Happens)
Sam welcomes Dr. Nijay Gupta to the Rainer on Leadership podcast. He is a senior translator for the New Living Translation, a Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary, and the author of several academic books including most recently A Beginner's Guide to New Testament Studies and Tell Her...
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The Reality of Church Hoppers: A Pastor’s Honest Perspective
Summer often exposes a quiet reality in many churches: some members begin shopping for a new congregation. In this episode, Josh and Sam address why this happens and how leaders should respond. If you’ve faced it, you are not alone. Every long-tenured pastor has. The post The Reality of Church...
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Why Members Leave Their Church and Never Come Back
In this episode, Thom and Sam explore one of the most sobering questions church leaders face: Why do formerly active members quietly disappear for good? After years of research with people who once attended faithfully but haven’t returned to any church for at least two years, clear patterns…
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Why Some Pastors Stay for Decades (and Thrive in Their Churches)
In this episode, Josh and Sam explore what sets apart pastors who stay at one church for ten, twenty, or even thirty years and still lead with energy and joy. Long-tenured pastors aren’t just “hanging on.” They’ve built habits that sustain both their soul and their ministry. They’ve weathered...
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The Hyper-Traditionalist Movement in Church Architecture (Is Anyone Really Building Churches This Way?)
Sam interviews Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group. A growing number of church leaders, architects, and donors are reconsidering what sacred space should look like. In this episode, we explore the rise of the hyper-traditionalist movement in church architecture—a revival…
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The Church “Fault Lines” That Could Become Ministry Tsunamis
In this episode, Josh and Sam use a striking metaphor to talk about church health: fault lines and tsunamis. Just like unseen shifts beneath the ocean floor can trigger devastating waves, hidden weaknesses inside a church can quietly build until the damage is sudden and overwhelming. The good…
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The Burge Report: Boomers Can’t Save Us Forever: The Hard Truth About Church Demographics
In this episode, we break down Ryan Burge’s demographic analysis of American Protestant churches and the uncomfortable math behind membership decline. Using age-distribution data across major denominations, Burge argues many churches aren’t stable—they’re simply being “buoyed by the Baby…
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What Churches Should Do About Inactive Members
In this episode, Josh and Sam address a widespread reality in many churches: bloated membership rolls and shrinking attendance. Across North America, millions of names remain on church rolls even though those people haven’t attended in months... or years. In some cases, membership lists are four…
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Are Sunday Morning Service Times Changing? What the Data Says About the Future of Church Worship Schedules
For decades, 11:00 a.m. was the “sacred hour” of church life—the assumed, unquestioned start time for Sunday worship. But that era is fading fast. In this episode, Thom and Sam unpack the data and on-the-ground observations showing how churches are rethinking when they gather. From earlier…
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What to Say (and Not Say) Immediately After a Church Crisis
When a crisis hits a church, the first few hours can either build trust or break it. In this episode, Sam interviews crisis communication expert Amy Whitfield and walks through what to say (and not say) immediately after a church crisis. We talk about the first statement, the first 24 hours, and...
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Crucial Commitments: 5 Simple Decisions That Members of Healthy and Growing Churches Make
Churches that are laser-focused on these five commitments tend to experience a continuous cycle of healthy church growth, while churches that allow the urgency of the moment to distract them from these commitments tend to experience decline. Thom and Sam discuss the new book, "Crucial…
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About this show
Your online home for leadership lessons for both the church and the workplace.
Hosted by
Thom Rainer
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