Revitalize & Replant with Thom Rainer

The Rainers discuss big opportunities to make the front door bigger and more effective. The post Why Your Church’s Front Door Is Bigger Than You Think appeared first on Church Answers.

Jess and Thom review five areas where churches keep repeating mistakes. The post Five Things Churches Keep Doing That No Longer Work appeared first on Church Answers.

Jess and Thom share five innovative and rare strategies that increase giving in the church. They estimate that fewer than one percent of churches use any of these strategies. The post Five Giving Strategies Almost No Church Is Using appeared first on Church Answers.

Jess and Thom welcome Dr. Ryan Blackwell, President and CEO of Lifeway, to The Church Answers Podcast. He shares the incredible story of First Baptist Church of San Francisco. The post The Incredible Story of First Baptist Church of San Francisco: An Interview with Dr. Ryan Blackwell appeared first on Church Answers.

Though percentage metrics are helpful, church leaders should ask these questions. Jess and Thom explain why these four questions are most helpful. The post Four Better Questions than “What Percent Should Our Church Personnel Expenses Be?” appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess share why church leaders should watch for these indicators. The post Church Personnel Expenses Warning Signs appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess discuss the challenges if personnel costs fall below about 40%. The post When Personnel Costs Are Too Low appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess welcome Eric Geiger to The Church Answers Podcast. In his new book, “The Rooted Leader: Seven Rhythms of Leaders Who Bear Fruit That Lasts” (Tyndale Momentum, August 2026), Eric provides practical guidance for leaders in any area of life, helping them grow in influence and impact. Drawing from the biblical story of Nehemiah, often called history's first leadership book, he introduces seven intermingling rhythms that result in the fruit all leaders desire: vision, conviction, servanthood, perseverance, credibility, transformation, and resolve. Eric serves as senior pastor of Mariners Church in Irvine, California, and has been heavily involved in the Rooted Network, a discipleship program impacting thousands of churches nationwide. The post The Rooted Leader: An Interview with Eric Geiger appeared first on Church Answers.

Jess and Thom discuss the downsides of high personnel expenses that approach or exceed 60–65% of the budget. The post When Personnel Costs Are Too High appeared first on Church Answers.

Jess and Thom discuss the often-asked question about personnel costs in churches. Though there are guidelines, there is no simple answer. The post What Percent of a Church Budget Should Personnel Costs Be? appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess discuss what research reveals about the unchurched and why many churches misunderstand the people living around them. The post What the Unchurched Really Think About Your Church appeared first on Church Answers.

Jess and Thom explore why some churches consistently reach new people while others struggle to do so. The post Why Some Churches Reach New People and Others Don’t appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess discuss why so many church volunteers are burned out and how leaders can better care for them. The post The Great Volunteer Burnout Problem appeared first on Church Answers.

Jess and Thom welcome Matt Steen, Co-Founder of Chemistry Staffing, to The Church Answers Podcast. The post What You Need to Know about Staffing Your Church appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom identifies four signs that indicate a church may be ready to move from decline to renewal. The post Four Signs Your Church Is Ready for a Turnaround appeared first on Church Answers.

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. The post Why the Co-vocational Trend Is So Important appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom looks at why many churches are finding people more receptive to the gospel and how churches can take advantage of this opportunity. The post The Return of Evangelism: Why Outreach Is Working Again appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom discusses why churches are finding it more difficult to recruit volunteers and what leaders can do to reverse the trend. The post Why Volunteer Recruitment Is Harder Than Ever appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess unveil the 12 categories of the Church Answers Awards. They discuss why these particular categories were chosen. The post The 12 Categories of the Church Answers Awards appeared first on Church Answers.

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. The post Why the Church Answers Awards Are So Important appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom examines the common attendance ceiling of around 70 and the leadership, structure, and mindset issues that keep churches from breaking through. The post Why Some Churches Plateau at 70 (and Stay There) appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom discusses the often-overlooked mission field of Sunday workers—and how churches can rethink schedules and structures to engage them. The post How to Reach People Who Work on Sundays appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom identifies clear, measurable indicators that a church is aging—and what leaders can do before it becomes irreversible. The post Five Early Warning Signs Your Church Is Aging Too Fast appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom explores the less obvious barriers to growth—especially internal culture, comfort, and unspoken preferences that quietly resist change. The post The Hidden Reason Most Churches Stop Growing appeared first on Church Answers.

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. The post Five Major Shifts in Churches Influenced By AI appeared first on Church Answers.

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. The post Why Too Many Pastors Are Not Fully Relying on the Holy Spirit appeared first on Church Answers.

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.