The Church Answers Podcast

Several years ago, Sam Rainer led his church to adopt a struggling church in the same town. He wrote the lessons he learned one year after the adoption. Thom interviews Sam about these lessons that are worth recalling. The post Six Lessons Learned from Adopting a Church (A Real Case Study) appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom is a community group teacher/leader at The Church at Spring Hill, where Jess is pastor. He is leading his group through the book, "Loved and Unashamed," by Sam Rainer. His group has raved about the book and the accompanying video teaching. One participant said he had studied the Bible all of his life, and this is his best study on Romans. The post The Best Overview of Romans for Your Church’s Groups appeared first on Church Answers.

The barriers to publishing a book have fallen dramatically. Some pastors are publishing books, but more need to do so. Jess and Thom look at the growth of books published by pastors and the reasons why pastors should consider it. The post Five Reasons Pastors Should Consider Publishing a Book appeared first on Church Answers.

Unfortunately, pastoral termination is common. Most people think the most common reason is sexual moral failure. Others think it is doctrinal compromise. Neither of those reasons is in the top five. Jess and Thom look at five common reasons most people never consider. The post Five Unusual Reasons Pastors are Let Go (and How to Avoid Them) appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess challenge five assumptions that quietly shape how churches approach evangelism. These beliefs often go unspoken, but they influence priorities and outcomes more than leaders realize. The post Five False Assumptions about Evangelism in Churches Today appeared first on Church Answers.

Jess and Thom begin with a simple observation: most churches still believe in evangelism—but far fewer are organized around it the way they once were. Programs that were once central have faded, and new approaches have emerged, often without the same clarity or consistency. In this episode, Jess and Thom look at how evangelism ministries have shifted over the past three decades—and what those changes mean for churches that want to reach people effectively today. The post How Evangelism Ministries Have Changed in Churches in 30 Years appeared first on Church Answers.

In this episode, Jess and Thom address one of the most overlooked challenges in the church today: the gap between belief and action when it comes to inviting others. Most church members love their church—but they rarely invite anyone to attend. Jess and Thom explore why this gap exists, what holds people back, and how leaders can create a culture where invitations become natural, consistent, and effective. The post The Invitation Gap: Why Your Members Aren’t Inviting Others appeared first on Church Answers.

In this episode, Jess and Thom challenge a common assumption in church leadership: that struggling churches need a better vision. In reality, many churches already have a clear vision—but they lack the systems to follow up with the people God is already sending their way. Jess and Thom walk through how ineffective or inconsistent follow-up is one of the biggest reasons churches fail to retain guests, and they offer simple, practical steps to close that gap immediately. The post Your Church Doesn’t Have a Vision Problem—It Has a Follow-Up Problem appeared first on Church Answers.

Jess and Thom have both seen it again and again: churches that are incredibly busy but not particularly effective. In this episode, we talk candidly about the hidden cost of busyness in the church. Full calendars and constant activity can feel like signs of health, but they often mask deeper issues of focus and clarity. Together, we’ll explore why doing more is not the answer—and how simplifying ministry can actually lead to greater impact and renewed energy. The post The Hidden Cost of Busyness in the Church appeared first on Church Answers.

In this episode, Jess and Thom take on a topic that may sound counterintuitive: the danger of a big vision. We both believe vision matters—but we’ve also seen how it can quietly become a distraction. Too many church leaders spend time talking about where they want to go and not enough time taking the next step to get there. We’ll walk through how big vision, when not grounded in action, can actually slow a church down—and how to refocus on the simple, practical steps that lead to real progress. The post The Danger of a Big Vision appeared first on Church Answers.

Scripture offers strength when leaders feel weary. Jess and Sam share a brief biblical devotion. The post An Encouraging Word from the Word for Church Leaders appeared first on Church Answers.

Jess and Sam share some sobering data on evangelism in local churches. They then look at the most significant challenges. The good news? All of these challenges can be met with a few changes. The post Why Evangelism Is Dying in Most American Churches appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom continues to review the data from the Cooperative Election Study and Ryan Burge. There are many surprises, including the trends among the Boomers. The post Are the Boomers Nones No More? appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom reviews recent data from the Cooperative Election Study and Ryan Burge, focusing on atheists and agnostics. The information raises many questions and provides encouraging opportunities for churches. The post Are Atheists and Agnostics Really Declining in Number in the United States? appeared first on Church Answers.

Charles Spurgeon died in 1892, but his influence on churches is still pervasive today. Thom looks at one major aspect of Spurgeon's ministry: his emphasis on evangelism in the local church. He takes two episodes to share Spurgeon's eight convictions. The post Charles Spurgeon: 8 Clear Convictions about Evangelism in the Local Church (Part 2) appeared first on Church Answers.

Charles Spurgeon died in 1892, but his influence on churches is still pervasive today. Thom looks at one major aspect of Spurgeon's ministry: his emphasis on evangelism in the local church. He takes two episodes to share Spurgeon's eight convictions. The post Charles Spurgeon: 8 Clear Convictions about Evangelism in the Local Church (Part 1) appeared first on Church Answers.

Our community at Church Answers Central recently discussed their wish list for their churches' facilities. Jess and Sam supplemented the list from our consultations. Here are the wishes in order of frequency. The post A Church Facilities Wish List appeared first on Church Answers.

Jess and Sam talk with Mike Stadelmayer at Church Growth Services. Church building projects carry tremendous ministry potential—but many stall, scale back, or never happen. The difference between success and frustration often comes down to the following critical factors. The post The Five Reasons Church Building Projects Fail – How to Lead Yours to the Finish Line appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom interviews Dr. Danny Akin, the president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, about his new book, Vibrant Church. The post Vibrant Church: Becoming a Healthy Church in the 21st Century – An Interview with Dr. Danny Akin appeared first on Church Answers.

Many factors can affect the pace of change in a church. Thom discusses three of the biggest factors. The post Three Major Factors That Determine How Long It Will Take to Implement Change in Your Church appeared first on Church Answers.

Do you want to lead change in your church? If you do, you will need to build allies and supporters to work alongside you. Jess and Thom share the five most common sources to build an eager coalition. The post How to Build an Eager Coalition for Change in Your Church appeared first on Church Answers.

Change is a challenge in any organization and especially in churches. Jess and Thom discuss the five types of church members who resist change the most. The post Five Types of Unmovable Church Members appeared first on Church Answers.

It is the outlier denomination. It is the denomination that is young, while the others are decidedly older. Why is this youthfulness taking place? Join Jess and Thom as they talk with Dr. Eddie Moody, Executive Director of the National Association of Free Will Baptists, about this phenomenon. You will be amazed, encouraged. and informed! The post Why Are Free Will Baptist Church Members So Young? An Interview with Dr. Eddie Moody appeared first on Church Answers.

Not all traditions are bad, but some can hinder the work of the church. Jess and Thom share the most common church traditions based on an extensive survey, and why they can be difficult to change. The post The Top 10 Immovable Traditions in Many Churches (Part 3) appeared first on Church Answers.

Not all traditions are bad, but some can hinder the work of the church. Jess and Thom share the most common church traditions based on an extensive survey, and why they can be difficult to change. The post The Top 10 Immovable Traditions in Many Churches (Part 2) appeared first on Church Answers.

Not all traditions are bad, but some can hinder the work of the church. Jess and Thom share the most common church traditions based on an extensive survey, and why they can be difficult to change. The post The Top 10 Immovable Traditions in Many Churches (Part 1) appeared first on Church Answers.

In the previous podcast, Jess and Thom examined the aging and dying denominations. In this podcast, they discuss the two youngest denominations. The post Two Denominations That Are Surprisingly Young appeared first on Church Answers.

Using a recent study by Ryan Burge, Jess and Thom examine the sobering reality of demographic decline in two groups: the Southern Baptist Convention and non-denominational evangelical churches. The post Denominations That Are on Red Alert for Rapid Decline appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess interview Pastor Jeff Cranston, Lowcountry Community Church, about creating a culture of evangelism. The post Creating a Culture of Evangelism in Your Church: An Interview with Jeff Cranston appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess welcome Pastor Jeff Cranston from Lowcountry Community Church in South Carolina. The post Reaching Senior Adults for Christ: An Interview with Jeff Cranston appeared first on Church Answers.

Church Answers researcher Ryan Burge recently released a stunning and sobering report on the ages of congregants of various denominations. It's not a pretty picture. Many churches will soon die or become moribund because of one simple factor: their church members are dying and not being replaced. Jess and Thom examine four aspects of this demographic decline and death. The post Planned Surgery or Emergency Amputation: Leading with Courage appeared first on Church Answers.

Church Answers researcher Ryan Burge recently released a stunning and sobering report on the ages of congregants of various denominations. It's not a pretty picture. Many churches will soon die or become moribund because of one simple factor: their church members are dying and not being replaced. Jess and Thom examine four aspects of this demographic decline and death. The post The Iron Law of Church Growth: No Young Adults, No Future appeared first on Church Answers.

Church Answers researcher Ryan Burge recently released a stunning and sobering report on the ages of congregants of various denominations. It's not a pretty picture. Many churches will soon die or become moribund because of one simple factor: their church members are dying and not being replaced. Jess and Thom examine four aspects of this demographic decline and death. The post When the Average Age Lies: The Demographic Tipping Point appeared first on Church Answers.

Church Answers researcher Ryan Burge recently released a stunning and sobering report on the ages of congregants of various denominations. It's not a pretty picture. Many churches will soon die or become moribund because of one simple factor: their church members are dying and not being replaced. Jess and Thom examine four aspects of this demographic decline and death. The post “Gradually… Then Suddenly”: Why Church Decline Is About to Accelerate appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess share how many pastors have lower take-home pay even though their stated pay has not decreased. The post How Pastors Are Taking Pay Cuts without Taking Pay Cuts appeared first on Church Answers.

For most churches, the position of church bookkeeper or treasurer is a volunteer role. While there are many qualified volunteers, this position is too often held by someone who is not. Thom and Jess share four real-life stories about the problem some bookkeepers have created for churches and pastors. The post Four Real Stories about How Church Bookkeepers Messed Up appeared first on Church Answers.

In part one, Thom and Jess focused on questions that reveal inner wiring and emotional maturity. In part two, the focus shifts to longevity, mission alignment, and team health. These questions don’t just help you hire well. They help you avoid pain—for the church, the staff member, and their family. The post 10 Often Overlooked Questions Churches Should Ask Before Hiring Staff – Part 2 appeared first on Church Answers.

Most churches spend weeks crafting job descriptions and reviewing résumés. Very few ask the right questions. Today, Thom and Jess argue that hiring mistakes in churches rarely come from a lack of talent. They come from overlooked questions—questions that reveal heart, alignment, resilience, and long-term fit. This is part one of a two-part conversation on 10 often overlooked questions every church should ask before hiring its next staff member. The post 10 Often Overlooked Questions Churches Should Ask Before Hiring Staff – Part 1 appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess are joined by Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group, who are “The Church Facility Experts.” In this two-part series, we discuss the five myths of church building and why they cost churches millions. The post The 5 Myths of Church Building (and Why They Cost Churches Millions) – Part 2 appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess are joined by Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group, who are “The Church Facility Experts.” In this two-part series, we discuss the five myths of church building and why they cost churches millions. The post The 5 Myths of Church Building (and Why They Cost Churches Millions) – Part 1 appeared first on Church Answers.

Dr. Andy Miller joins Thom and Jess to share the story of Wesley Biblical Seminary. The post From Near Closure to Incredible Growth: The Story of Wesley Biblical Seminary – An Interview with Andy Miller appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess interview Dr. Andy Miller, the president of Wesley Biblical Seminary, about seminary training for co-vocational church leaders. The post Finally! Seminary Training for Co-vocational Church Leaders: An Interview with Andy Miller appeared first on Church Answers.

What if a first-time guest experienced your church the way a customer experiences Amazon? No confusion. No friction. No wasted steps. Just clarity, care, and consistency. This episode is not about turning the church into a corporation. It’s about learning from an organization that obsesses over people, removes barriers relentlessly, and improves every system on purpose. Today, Thom and Jess ask a simple but uncomfortable question: If Amazon ran your church for one year, what would actually change? The post If Amazon Ran Your Church: What Would Change in 12 Months? appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess welcome John Wentz, the president of Alpha USA, to The Church Answers Podcast. The post How Alpha Is Impacting Churches in the United States appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess look at seven key traits of long-term pastors. The post Top Seven Traits of Pastors Who Stay at a Church for at Least 15 Years appeared first on Church Answers.

Jess and Thom share the top seven reasons pastors told us they felt led to leave a church. The post Top Seven Reasons a Pastor Chooses to Leave a Church appeared first on Church Answers.

Jess and Thom share the top seven reasons pastors choose to go to a church. The post Top Seven Reasons a Pastor Chooses to Go to a Church appeared first on Church Answers.

The Enemy seeks to destroy. He loathes evangelism and will do anything he can to hinder church members from sharing the gospel. Jess and Thom share five of his most common tactics. The post How Satan Attempts to Hinder Churches from Being Evangelistic appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom knows this person well, because he is one. He and Jess dive into how church leaders can best understand and utilize introverts in the church. The post The Quiet Power of the Church Introvert: Why the Most Influential People in Your Church May Be the Least Noticeable appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess continue to examine the largest unchurched group in America, the U3s. In this episode, the Rainers provide some highly practical ways to reach them. The post How Churches Can Reach the Largest Unchurched Group in the United States appeared first on Church Answers.