Practical Church
Dylan Dodson
Practical church exists to give you practical tips, advice, and encouragement when it comes to leading and growing healthy churches. Whether you are interested in planting a church, are in the process of planting a church, or just want to learn more about building healthy churches, you've come to the right place.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 19, 2025 • 36min
PC 065: 5 tips for big Christmas services
Welcome to the Practical Church podcast brought to you in partnership with Mission Support. Mission Support This episode was brought to you by Mission Support. Stay focused on your mission and let Mission Support help you with everything you didn't go to seminary for! Get support from experts with decades of experience working with churches who know your unique needs and challenges. Click here to talk with a guide today & love being a pastor again! HERE ARE THE 5 TIPS I DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODE Start pushing it now Prepare marketing material Three primary asks Make the service speical Tell new guests their next steps Get more church tips and advice Click here to join the Practical Church Facebook group
Nov 5, 2025 • 38min
PC 064: 8 tips for telling better stories when preaching
Welcome to the Practical Church podcast brought to you in partnership with Mission Support. Mission Support This episode was brought to you by Mission Support. Stay focused on your mission and let Mission Support help you with everything you didn't go to seminary for! Get support from experts with decades of experience working with churches who know your unique needs and challenges. Click here to talk with a guide today & love being a pastor again! HERE ARE THE 8 TIPS I DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODE Capture stories Include a story/illustration with your main/final point Don't write out your story in your notes Don't be the hero Aim for 3-4 stories/illustrations Use images when helpful Remember: you are not your favorite preacher Get more church tips and advice Click here to join the Practical Church Facebook group
Oct 22, 2025 • 32min
PC 063: 7 ministry pet peeves to avoid
Welcome to the Practical Church podcast brought to you in partnership with Mission Support. Mission Support This episode was brought to you by Mission Support. Stay focused on your mission and let Mission Support help you with everything you didn't go to seminary for! Get support from experts with decades of experience working with churches who know your unique needs and challenges. Click here to talk with a guide today & love being a pastor again! HERE ARE THE 6 PET PEEVES I DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODE Church planters wanting to meet to raise money, but give no response when you say you can't give financially Not responding to emails Pastors not prioritizing sermon prep Acting like people in the Bible were crazy/dumb Trying to look/be cool Not managing their household well (1 Timothy 3:4-5) A personal pursuit and love for Jesus Get more church tips and advice Click here to join the Practical Church Facebook group
Oct 8, 2025 • 38min
PC 062: 6 Church money mistakes to avoid
Discover six crucial financial pitfalls that churches often fall into. Learn why budgeting for mission is essential to prioritize church desires. Understand the risks of depending solely on a few big donors and the importance of diversifying income. Get insights on avoiding costly rent and finding the right space. Dive into why transparency in financial matters builds trust and boosts giving. Lastly, hear why discussing money should be normalized in churches, empowering pastors to talk confidently about generosity.
Sep 24, 2025 • 34min
PC 061: 8 ways to preach with more clarity
Welcome to the Practical Church podcast brought to you in partnership with Mission Support. Mission Support This episode was brought to you by Mission Support. Stay focused on your mission and let Mission Support help you with everything you didn't go to seminary for! Get support from experts with decades of experience working with churches who know your unique needs and challenges. Click here to talk with a guide today & love being a pastor again! HERE ARE THE 8 WAYS I DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODE Limit the number of sermon points One point per slide Limit the number of slides Set the sermon up with a question you are going to answer Sermon review with others before preaching Use illustrations/stories The more space between initial writing and preaching, the better Preach 40 minutes or under (mostly under) Get more church tips and advice Click here to join the Practical Church Facebook group
Sep 10, 2025 • 36min
PC 060: 7 ways to avoid an overloading church calendar
Welcome to the Practical Church podcast brought to you in partnership with Mission Support. Mission Support This episode was brought to you by Mission Support. Stay focused on your mission and let Mission Support help you with everything you didn't go to seminary for! Get support from experts with decades of experience working with churches who know your unique needs and challenges. Click here to talk with a guide today & love being a pastor again! HERE ARE THE 7 WAYS I DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODE Plan 6-12 months out (knowing things can change) There is a difference between Sunday events and non-Sunday events Don't plan multiple things same week/weekend if it is a larger church ask/invitation Consider what you will announce from stage/email/etc., when making your schedule Not everything your church does has to be a church "event" Don't close shop in the summer Remember the more you share/have going on, the less people will see the importance of going Get more church tips and advice Click here to join the Practical Church Facebook group
Aug 27, 2025 • 35min
PCP 059: 7 reasons your announcements aren't working
Welcome to the Practical Church podcast brought to you in partnership with Mission Support. Mission Support This episode was brought to you by Mission Support. Stay focused on your mission and let Mission Support help you with everything you didn't go to seminary for! Get support from experts with decades of experience working with churches who know your unique needs and challenges. Click here to talk with a guide today & love being a pastor again! HERE ARE THE 7 REASONS I DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODE Too long + too much info No training or feedback Announcing stuff too far in advance (some exceptions) One next step per announcement No guardrails on what to announce You are giving too much weight to the difference announcements can make You do them at a bad time in your service Get more church tips and advice Click here to join the Practical Church Facebook group
Aug 13, 2025 • 33min
PC 058: 7 lessons from becoming a portable church
Welcome to the Practical Church podcast brought to you in partnership with Mission Support. Mission Support This episode was brought to you by Mission Support. Stay focused on your mission and let Mission Support help you with everything you didn't go to seminary for! Get support from experts with decades of experience working with churches who know your unique needs and challenges. Click here to talk with a guide today & love being a pastor again! HERE ARE THE 7 LESSONS I DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODE Repeatedly share the need, then follow up with people People are very willing to serve if they think what they do matters Schedule set up + tear down teams separately People are more gracious with imperfection when portable People need to be trained Pay for signage Pay for portable equipment Get more church tips and advice Click here to join the Practical Church Facebook group
Jul 30, 2025 • 34min
PC 057: 7 things to fix on your church website this week
Welcome to the Practical Church podcast brought to you in partnership with Mission Support. Mission Support This episode was brought to you by Mission Support. Stay focused on your mission and let Mission Support help you with everything you didn't go to seminary for! Get support from experts with decades of experience working with churches who know your unique needs and challenges. Click here to talk with a guide today & love being a pastor again! HERE ARE THE 7 THINGS I DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODE Simplified home page Service Times + Address + I'm new button Update your website Real pictures of your church gatherings Too many menu options in header Use a 3rd party Add contact info (emails) on staff page Get more church tips and advice Click here to sign up for the Practical Church newsletter Click here to join the Practical Church Facebook group
Jul 16, 2025 • 34min
PC 056: 7 ways to announce big changes
Welcome to the Practical Church podcast brought to you in partnership with Mission Support. Mission Support This episode was brought to you by Mission Support. Stay focused on your mission and let Mission Support help you with everything you didn't go to seminary for! Get support from experts with decades of experience working with churches who know your unique needs and challenges. Click here to talk with a guide today & love being a pastor again! HERE ARE THE 7 WAYS I DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODE Have conversations with some people before the announcement Don't over explain the change from stage Sunday morning or member meeting best option, then video if needed, not email Invite questions when announcement is given Remember: most people are fine if you are fine Don't share any changes or reasoning that isn't solid Encourage your people and thank them Get more church tips and advice Click here to sign up for the Practical Church newsletter Click here to join the Practical Church Facebook group


