The Church Answers Podcast

Jess and Thom discuss the downsides of high personnel expenses that approach or exceed 60–65% of the budget.

Jess and Thom discuss the often-asked question about personnel costs in churches. Though there are guidelines, there is no simple answer.

Thom and Jess discuss what research reveals about the unchurched and why many churches misunderstand the people living around them.

Jess and Thom explore why some churches consistently reach new people while others struggle to do so.

Thom and Jess discuss why so many church volunteers are burned out and how leaders can better care for them.

Jess and Thom welcome Matt Steen, Co-Founder of Chemistry Staffing, to The Church Answers Podcast.

Thom identifies four signs that indicate a church may be ready to move from decline to renewal.

Thom opens with a reality many church leaders are already experiencing: the traditional fully funded pastorate is no longer the norm in many churches. Financial pressures, changing attendance patterns, and shifting expectations are forcing churches to rethink ministry models.But this is not simply a problem to solve—it is an opportunity to steward. In this conversation, Thom talks with Dr. Andy Miller, the president of Wesley Biblical Seminary, about why the co-vocational trend is one of the most important developments in the future of the church and how it can actually strengthen gospel impact.

Thom looks at why many churches are finding people more receptive to the gospel and how churches can take advantage of this opportunity.

Thom discusses why churches are finding it more difficult to recruit volunteers and what leaders can do to reverse the trend.

Thom and Jess unveil the 12 categories of the Church Answers Awards. They discuss why these particular categories were chosen.

Jess and Thom discuss the inaugural Church Answers Awards and five key reasons the Awards are so important to the health of churches in the United States.

Thom examines the common attendance ceiling of around 70 and the leadership, structure, and mindset issues that keep churches from breaking through.

Thom discusses the often-overlooked mission field of Sunday workers—and how churches can rethink schedules and structures to engage them.

Thom identifies clear, measurable indicators that a church is aging—and what leaders can do before it becomes irreversible.

Thom explores the less obvious barriers to growth—especially internal culture, comfort, and unspoken preferences that quietly resist change.

Most ministry positions are not vulnerable to advancing AI capabilities, especially those that are people-to-people ministries. Thom looks at other aspects of AI influences on the church.

Thom welcomes Dr. Chris Lohrstorfer, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Enrollment and Professor of Wesleyan Theology at Wesley Biblical Seminary. He talks about how many pastors ascribe to theologically orthodox trinitarianism, but haven't really thought through what it means for their ministry, especially the fullness of the role of the Holy Spirit. As a pastor himself and an educator of pastors, he is seeing the surprising shifts that can happen when the light bulb switches on for leaders about what it means to partner with the Spirit in ministry.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Scripture offers strength when leaders feel weary. Jess and Sam share a brief biblical devotion.

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.

Thom continues to review the data from the Cooperative Election Study and Ryan Burge. There are many surprises, including the trends among the Boomers.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thom interviews Dr. Danny Akin, the president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, about his new book, Vibrant Church.

Many factors can affect the pace of change in a church. Thom discusses three of the biggest factors.

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.

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.

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 about this phenomenon. You will be amazed, encouraged. and informed!

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.

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.

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.

In the previous podcast, Jess and Thom examined the aging and dying denominations. In this podcast, they discuss the two youngest denominations.

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.

Thom and Jess interview Pastor Jeff Cranston, Lowcountry Community Church, about creating a culture of evangelism.

Thom and Jess welcome Pastor Jeff Cranston from Lowcountry Community Church in South Carolina.

Why Death Is Coming Soon to Many Churches (and How to Prevent It)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.

Why Death Is Coming Soon to Many Churches (and How to Prevent It)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.