Rainer on Leadership

In your 30s and 40s, you start to learn what you don’t know. The older you get, you either become more self-aware or stop caring. Josh and Sam talk about what they still haven’t figured out after twenty years of ministry in the church. Balancing being a “boss” and being a “pastor.” Balancing work, family, and church is a never-ending tug-of-war. Creeping cynicism is constantly a struggle. The temptation to cruise is always there. The feelings of inadequacy are in the background. Keeping the Christmas series fresh, reaching single people, and getting people to tithe. Resources: The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Churchteams FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Episode Sponsors: Pastors and ministry leaders are invited to apply now to be accepted into a new– fully online–PhD program at Southern Seminary. The Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Studies at Southern is not a series of recorded lectures. Scholars in this program will experience live interactions with the same professors who teach at Southern Seminary’s Louisville campus. This program provides the opportunity for ministry leaders to engage in rigorous theological study while continuing to serve in their current ministry. The PhD in Christian Studies includes seminars in New Testament and Old Testament exposition, historical theology, biblical theology, ethics, leadership, and discipleship. Come join the long line of ministry faithfulness that dates back to 1892 when The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary launched the first seminary-based doctoral degree in North America.  That degree became the PhD, and it has grown into one of the most respected in higher education. Learn more at SBTS.edu/rainer   You see the need for systems to follow up on guests, volunteers, pastoral care; but right now that is really sporadic and siloed. Each person doing their own thing and people falling through the cracks. Churchteams will help you build and implement the system you need. Tired of not being able to get the help you need for your software? Churchteams support staff have all served on Church staff. They know the software and they know how churches work. Call, text, set up free support appointments. Integrated. How many different software systems are you using that require sharing people’s data? If 2 or more, you know the challenge and limitations of data in different systems that don’t play well together. Churchteams has all your people data in one place, including your communication data (email, texts, workflows). Ease of use. Do you feel like you should be getting more from your church software, but just can’t get people to use it? Churchteams makes it easy for guests, members, volunteers, and leaders to do everything they need to do including giving without having to create an account. Check it out to learn how. Reports. Are you getting the feedback on your ministry that you need from your database when you need it? Churchteams reports are extremely customizable. Let each staff save the ones they use on their dashboard. Or, schedule it to show up in their inbox. Learn more at Churchteams. The post Things About Church Leadership We Haven’t Figured Out Yet appeared first on Church Answers.

This time of year, many commentators and researchers prognosticate about the future of the church. Thom and Sam take a different approach in this episode. While many of their predictions from previous decades have turned out to be correct, not all of them did. They look back and evaluate a few predictions they got wrong from years ago. Sunday school would not survive the turn of the Millennium (Thom in the early 1990s). Multi-ethnic churches would become the fastest-growing (Sam in the early 2010s). The multi-site administrator would become an important church staff position (Sam in 2010). Evangelism will return to its rightful place of importance and priority (Thom in the mid-2010s). A recession will negatively impact church giving (Sam and Thom during the pandemic). Resources: Upward Sports My Church Staff Church Growth Services: Get your free campaign capacity analysis! “The Book of Church Growth: History, Theology, and Principles” by Thom S. Rainer (affiliate link) “Why Conservative Churches Are Growing” by Dean Kelley (affiliate link) FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Episode Sponsors: Who is Upward Sports? Upward Sports is the World’s largest Christian youth sports organization, dedicated to partnering with local churches to use sports outreach to reach the community. Upward Sports offers basketball, cheerleading, soccer, flag football, volleyball, baseball, and soccer as a league offering. When partnering with Upward Sports, your church can reach the community, attract young families, and share the Gospel. Upward Sports will customize your sports outreach strategy to support your church budget and community needs. We know one size does not fit all. Start the year off right by using sports as part of your outreach ministry! Are you looking to engage new families, bless your community, or mobilize your congregation to serve? Consider adding sports ministry in 2025. If you have a gym, field space, or even access to a facility consider Upward Sports. Upward Sports stands ready to support your church in creating a first-class, organized, intentional outreach ministry… that tells families, “you are welcome here!” Whether you already have your own sports ministry at your church, looking to start sports ministry for the first time, check out Upward Sports. It’s the game changing outreach ministry in this new year! Schedule Your call today – www.Upward.org/ChurchAnswers   Develop your next staff member for $100 per month! Church answers will provide best practices for finding a staff member, then we will provide an expert to help train that staff member. We are starting with two staff positions: stewardship (led by Art Rainer) and worship (led by Mark Harland). Take some of the burden off of yourself; let Church Answers help you develop a great staff team through My Church Staff. Join now for $100 per month and cancel at any time (though we don’t think you’ll want to). Visit My Church Staff to learn more. The post Five Predictions We Got Wrong about the Future of the Church appeared first on Church Answers.

Art Rainer joins Thom to unpack some amazing research that can help you know how to lead your church members to higher levels of giving. You will be amazed how a few simple things can move your church toward greater stewardship. Resources: “The Daily Walk Bible” Tyndale House Publishers My Church Staff 8 Money Milestones Christian Money Solutions FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: The Daily Walk Bible: Your guide to walking daily with God The Daily Walk Bible takes you on a guided path through Scripture. Each of the 366 daily Bible readings is enhanced with a short overview that emphasizes different aspects of God’s story and a devotional to immerse you in what you have just experienced. Every seventh day you’ll pause to reflect, reconnect with what you have read, consider areas where deeper understanding beckons, and open your heart to hear God’s voice. Ready to go deeper? Just download the Filament Bible app and scan the icon at the top of each page for an in-depth exploration of the passage you are reading with notes, devotionals, videos, graphics, and more. Let The Daily Walk Bible be your guide as you explore Scripture throughout the year and discover more of who God is through his Word. Start Walking Through God’s Word Visit The Daily Walk Bible to learn more.   Develop your next staff member for $100 per month! Church answers will provide best practices for finding a staff member, then we will provide an expert to help train that staff member. We are starting with two staff positions: stewardship (led by Art Rainer) and worship (led by Mark Harland). Take some of the burden off of yourself; let Church Answers help you develop a great staff team through My Church Staff. Join now for $100 per month and cancel at any time (though we don’t think you’ll want to). Visit My Church Staff to learn more. The post What Every Church Leader Needs to Know to Move Church Members to Higher Levels of Generosity appeared first on Church Answers.

The holiday season can be stressful for pastors. The sprint to year-end can exhaust even the most seasoned church staff. Thom and Sam discuss ways to enjoy this busy time of year. Start a family tradition on the “off days” of Christmas, especially the week after Christmas Day. Don’t fight the inevitable church calendar or set false expectations with your family. Better to delay family time than cram it between church activities. Grumpiness confuses your congregation and becomes contagious with your family. Pick a couple of days for your family and ignore your phone notifications. Ask your spouse about doing something special together shortly after Christmas. Resources: My Church Staff “The Daily Walk Bible” Tyndale House Publishers FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: Develop your next staff member for $100 per month! Church answers will provide best practices for finding a staff member, then we will provide an expert to help train that staff member. We are starting with two staff positions: stewardship (led by Art Rainer) and worship (led by Mark Harland). Take some of the burden off of yourself; let Church Answers help you develop a great staff team through My Church Staff. Join now for $100 per month and cancel at any time (though we don’t think you’ll want to). Visit My Church Staff to learn more.   The Daily Walk Bible: Your guide to walking daily with God The Daily Walk Bible takes you on a guided path through Scripture. Each of the 366 daily Bible readings is enhanced with a short overview that emphasizes different aspects of God’s story and a devotional to immerse you in what you have just experienced. Every seventh day you’ll pause to reflect, reconnect with what you have read, consider areas where deeper understanding beckons, and open your heart to hear God’s voice. Ready to go deeper? Just download the Filament Bible app and scan the icon at the top of each page for an in-depth exploration of the passage you are reading with notes, devotionals, videos, graphics, and more. Let The Daily Walk Bible be your guide as you explore Scripture throughout the year and discover more of who God is through his Word. Start Walking Through God’s Word Visit The Daily Walk Bible to learn more. The post How to Really Enjoy Your Christmas as a Pastor appeared first on Church Answers.

How can you lead (and love) a church that is dying? Thom and Sam discuss this listener-submitted question. No church should die, but some will. Some pastors must shepherd congregations on what amounts to spiritual hospice care. It’s a difficult calling, but there are some ways to glorify God, even as a church goes through the process of closing. You are not less of a pastor for shepherding a dying church. Your real estate is a kingdom asset. Consider merger and church planting options. Start on your “what’s next” plan well before the church closes. Ask people to write or record their favorite church memories and document their contributions. Find a way to celebrate the legacy of the church. If a church will die, there is no need to rebuke the congregation. Simply love and encourage them. Resources: “The Daily Walk Bible” Tyndale House Publishers My Church Staff Brown Church Development Group Church Growth Services: Get your free campaign capacity analysis! Ryan Burge FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: The Daily Walk Bible: Your guide to walking daily with God The Daily Walk Bible takes you on a guided path through Scripture. Each of the 366 daily Bible readings is enhanced with a short overview that emphasizes different aspects of God’s story and a devotional to immerse you in what you have just experienced. Every seventh day you’ll pause to reflect, reconnect with what you have read, consider areas where deeper understanding beckons, and open your heart to hear God’s voice. Ready to go deeper? Just download the Filament Bible app and scan the icon at the top of each page for an in-depth exploration of the passage you are reading with notes, devotionals, videos, graphics, and more. Let The Daily Walk Bible be your guide as you explore Scripture throughout the year and discover more of who God is through his Word. Start Walking Through God’s Word Visit The Daily Walk Bible to learn more. Develop your next staff member for $100 per month! Church answers will provide best practices for finding a staff member, then we will provide an expert to help train that staff member. We are starting with two staff positions: stewardship (led by Art Rainer) and worship (led by Mark Harland). Take some of the burden off of yourself; let Church Answers help you develop a great staff team through My Church Staff. Join now for $100 per month and cancel at any time (though we don’t think you’ll want to). Visit My Church Staff to learn more. The post Leading (and Loving) a Dying Church appeared first on Church Answers.

The prevailing wisdom for pastors is longer tenure is better. This principle is generally true. A string of shorter tenures is usually not healthy for churches. But it is possible to stay too long. What are some of the warning signs? When you become the lightning rod with every change effort. When you give up on innovation and find deep comfort in the status quo of the past. When your physical body can no longer take the demands of ministry. When apathy or anger dominates your feelings. When you consistently blame the congregation for lack of progress. When your primary motivator is paying the bills or cruising to retirement. When you would rather let the church die than die trying to save it. Resources: My Church Staff “The Daily Walk Bible” Tyndale House Publishers FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: Develop your next staff member for $100 per month! Church answers will provide best practices for finding a staff member, then we will provide an expert to help train that staff member. We are starting with two staff positions: stewardship (led by Art Rainer) and worship (led by Mark Harland). Take some of the burden off of yourself; let Church Answers help you develop a great staff team through My Church Staff. Join now for $100 per month and cancel at any time (though we don’t think you’ll want to). Visit My Church Staff to learn more.   The Daily Walk Bible: Your guide to walking daily with God The Daily Walk Bible takes you on a guided path through Scripture. Each of the 366 daily Bible readings is enhanced with a short overview that emphasizes different aspects of God’s story and a devotional to immerse you in what you have just experienced. Every seventh day you’ll pause to reflect, reconnect with what you have read, consider areas where deeper understanding beckons, and open your heart to hear God’s voice. Ready to go deeper? Just download the Filament Bible app and scan the icon at the top of each page for an in-depth exploration of the passage you are reading with notes, devotionals, videos, graphics, and more. Let The Daily Walk Bible be your guide as you explore Scripture throughout the year and discover more of who God is through his Word. Start Walking Through God’s Word Visit The Daily Walk Bible to learn more. The post The Warning Signs You’ve Stayed Too Long at a Church appeared first on Church Answers.

It’s understandable why people would think, “This place is full of Christians. It must be one of the safest places in my community.” But churches are not inherently safe. Quite the opposite. Churches have a target on them! You are a spiritual target for the powers of darkness. Sam Rainer and Matt McCraw discuss some key issues involving church safety. Churches are typically high-trust, high-hospitality, and low-security environments. The way a new person is treated in a church is completely different than at an elementary school. Churches assume the best and start at a place of trust. Schools start at a place of caution. The biggest threats are usually internal, not external. It can be hard to spot a person intending harm because they do not typically announce their motives. Background checks are not enough to ensure safety. There can be no exceptions to the rules, even with your best and most involved people. Resources: “The Daily Walk Bible” Tyndale House Publishers My Church Staff Safe Church Training “Make My Church Safe: A Guide to the Best Practices to Protect Children and Secure Your Congregation from Harm” by Sam Rainer (affiliate link) FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: The Daily Walk Bible: Your guide to walking daily with God The Daily Walk Bible takes you on a guided path through Scripture. Each of the 366 daily Bible readings is enhanced with a short overview that emphasizes different aspects of God’s story and a devotional to immerse you in what you have just experienced. Every seventh day you’ll pause to reflect, reconnect with what you have read, consider areas where deeper understanding beckons, and open your heart to hear God’s voice. Ready to go deeper? Just download the Filament Bible app and scan the icon at the top of each page for an in-depth exploration of the passage you are reading with notes, devotionals, videos, graphics, and more. Let The Daily Walk Bible be your guide as you explore Scripture throughout the year and discover more of who God is through his Word. Start Walking Through God’s Word Visit The Daily Walk Bible to learn more.   Develop your next staff member for $100 per month! Church answers will provide best practices for finding a staff member, then we will provide an expert to help train that staff member. We are starting with two staff positions: stewardship (led by Art Rainer) and worship (led by Mark Harland). Take some of the burden off of yourself; let Church Answers help you develop a great staff team through My Church Staff. Join now for $100 per month and cancel at any time (though we don’t think you’ll want to). Visit My Church Staff to learn more. The post Why Churches Are Not Inherently Safe Places appeared first on Church Answers.

Money is a sensitive subject but ignore financial best practices at your peril. Many churches publish two sets of numbers weekly: worship attendance and giving. There it is, front and center—how many attended and the collective amount they gave. Despite the visibility, churches can struggle with the right amount of financial oversight. What are some common ways financial mismanagement occurs in the church? Major spending outside of the budget. Using part of the budget for unintended purposes. Hiding personal expenses. Burying unnecessary expenses in vague line items. How can you start to solve these problems? Have a consistent process. Multiple checks by multiple people. Transparent reporting. Leadership accountability. Resources: Upward Sports California Baptist University Safe Church Training “Make My Church Safe: A Guide to the Best Practices to Protect Children and Secure Your Congregation from Harm” by Sam Rainer (affiliate link) Brown Church Development Group Church Growth Services: Get your free campaign capacity analysis! FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: Who is Upward Sports? Upward Sports is the World’s largest Christian youth sports organization, dedicated to partnering with local churches to use sports outreach to reach the community. Upward Sports offers basketball, cheerleading, soccer, flag football, volleyball, baseball, and soccer as a league offering. When partnering with Upward Sports, your church can reach the community, attract young families, and share the Gospel. Upward Sports will customize your sports outreach strategy to support your church budget and community needs. We know one size does not fit all. Are you looking to engage new families, bless your community, or mobilize your congregation to serve? Consider adding sports ministry in 2025. If you have a gym, field space, or even access to a facility consider Upward Sports. Now is the time to consider using sports as your 2025 outreach ministry! Schedule a call to learn more about launching a first-class, organized, intentional league in the new year! Visit https://www.upward.org/ChurchAnswers/   Are you preparing the leaders in your church for the future? Are you considering pursuing YOUR degree? Let California Baptist University help you live your purpose and achieve your goals! CBU offers a full breadth of courses through its online degree programs. Whether you’re looking to start your degree, finish your degree, or prepare others, CBU’s degree programs provide a flexible, online learning environment for everyone. Classes start every eight weeks; begin any time. An online degree can: Help you gain a better understanding of your life’s purpose; Symbolize competence and integrity in your career; and Provide you with the skills and knowledge to make a difference in the lives of others. Your team may benefit from a degree in business, leadership, finance, communications or Christian studies. There are dozens of online CBU programs available to you! Are you looking for a degree to prepare your team for active leadership roles in the church or your organization? Consider the online Bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministries, which develops servant leaders with the tools for understanding and communicating biblical truths. Financial aid is available, and thanks to CBU donors, online undergraduate degrees in Christian Ministries and Christian Studies may qualify for additional scholarship, making earning your degree more affordable. Visit https://calbaptist.edu to learn more. The post Common Ways Financial Mismanagement Occurs in the Church appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom is joined by Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group, who are “The Church Facility Experts.” In this third episode, we discuss what a church should consider when moving to a new piece of property or completely starting over. Go through the steps (in the first episode) to prove you must relocate because relocating to a new piece of property can be a tough process. Finances are usually the toughest boundary to overcome. Relocating to a new property usually, but not always, doesn’t give you more building on the first phase.  Use the program that you developed to determine your current property doesn’t work and use it to tell you how many acres of land you need. Rule of thumb – 1 Acre per 100 people. Many churches buy too much property, and the dirt delays building.  Take special time to find the right land in the right location. Depending on your location, land cost can be crazy expensive. You will need help assessing the property because there are several issues to consider including shape, topography, easements, zoning, and connection to utilities. Create a Blocking Diagram on the prospective site to confirm the property would be a good location for a church. Some properties are not good for churches. Resources: Brown Church Development Group Part 1: Is Your Church Really Ready for Relocation? Part 2: Moving Your Church to Another Building Church Growth Services Episode Sponsor: The post Things to Consider When Relocating Your Church Facility – Part 3: Starting All Over–New Property, New Building With Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom is joined by Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group, who are “The Church Facility Experts.” In this second episode, we discuss what a church should consider before relocating to another building. Calculate the space requirement needed for your current and future ministry needs. This is typically part of what architects call programming. With this, you can know the potential size of the facility you need and the space needed later.  Do a conceptual Master Plan (Growth Strategy) on the prospective property before purchase. This will give you the potential of the relocation site. Do a cost analysis comparing a new site and building to renovation and expanding. Site cost for some of these buildings could be huge savings (parking lots). Inspect the roof as that can be a big cost. Analyze the location – is it where you want to be?  Buildings typically considered: Other church facilities. This usually can work great for a smaller church. Consider parking and land limits. Commercial properties (big box stores, malls, and store fronts). Resources: Brown Church Development Group Part 1: Is Your Church Really Ready for Relocation? Part 3: Starting All Over–New Property, New Building Episode Sponsor: The post Things to Consider When Relocating Your Church Facility – Part 2: Moving Your Church to Another Building With Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group appeared first on Church Answers.