Podcasts about church answers

Scripture gives clear qualifications for the characteristics of pastors. But who in the church should hold pastors accountable to these qualifications? Josh and Sam dive into the best practices for pastoral accountability. The post Who in the Church Should Hold Pastors Accountable? appeared first on Church Answers.

In this episode of The Church Answers Podcast, Thom and Jess Rainer begin a two-part discussion on the widespread neglect of outreach in local churches. They unpack the foundational barriers that keep churches from obeying the Great Commission. The post 8 Reasons Most Churches Do Not Do Outreach – Part 1 appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess Rainer continue their honest conversation about why outreach has dropped off the radar in many churches. The second half of the list offers insight into theological drift and misplaced priorities. The post 8 Reasons Most Churches Do Not Do Outreach – Part 2 appeared first on Church Answers.

In this episode, Sam and Matt McCraw unpack weekly church attendance trends from 2016 to 2024 across four generations. While Boomers slightly increased from 27% to 28%, Gen X dropped from 24% to 22%, Millennials from 26% to 22%, and Gen Z saw the sharpest decline—from 29% to 24%. What do these shifts mean for the future of church engagement, discipleship, and ministry strategy? We explore the implications for leadership, generational outreach, and the need for intentional connection points that resonate with each group. The post Weekly Church Attendance Patterns by Generation: 2016 to 2024 appeared first on Church Answers.

“The whole purpose of it is what are the key resources that we can provide to help churches without breaking the bank and being the type of servant that we need to be.” Thom Rainer, founder of Church Answers, discusses the partnership that was formed between the NAFWB and Church Answers. Through the partnership, Church Answers provides many of their church health resources with exclusive discounts for Free Will Baptist churches. Find the partnership page at bit.ly/4mqLvCR. #NAFWB #BetterTogether #ChurchAnswers #Church #Ministry #ChurchHealth

On this episode, Sam and Josh unpack a landmark development for churches: the Internal Revenue Service's shift on the 1954 Johnson Amendment. In a joint court filing with two Texas churches and the National Religious Broadcasters, the IRS now affirms that clergy can endorse political candidates from the pulpit without risking their tax-exempt status. The IRS reframes such endorsements as comparable to a “private family discussion” within the congregation during worship—with statements made via usual church communication channels not qualifying as political intervention. The post The Johnson Amendment Reversal: Endorsing Political Candidates from the Pulpit appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom welcomes Tim Cool to The Church Answers Podcast. Tim is the founder and CEO of Smart Church Solutions, the developer of eSPACE software platform which includes Event Management, Work Order Management, Life Cycle Calculator, IoT Integrations, and other church facility management consulting services. He has assisted thousands of churches throughout the United States with their facility needs including facility planning, facility condition assessments, as well as life cycle planning and facility management. The post How Churches Can Best Address Facility Costs appeared first on Church Answers.

Do you know any church members who have made demands based upon their financial giving to the church? Okay, that's probably a rhetorical question because most of you readers certainly have experienced that discomfort. I asked a number of church leaders to share with me how this “hostage taking” usually takes place. Here are the five most common responses. The post Five Ways Church Members Hold the Church as a Financial Hostage appeared first on Church Answers.

Sam welcomes Dan Block to the Rainer on Leadership podcast. Dan is a Senior Translator for the New Living Translation. They discuss why the New Living Translation is the best choice for those seeking a Bible that is accurate, understandable, and audibly enjoyable. The post Why the NLT Might Be the Best Bible You've Never Considered appeared first on Church Answers.

In this episode, Josh and Sam explore a fresh way to approach sermon illustrations. Instead of building a massive database with search tools and tags, consider categorizing your illustrations by type—like recent personal stories, historical examples, and visual aids. The goal isn't to store every idea, but to know what kind of illustration you're looking for and then go find it. Plus, we talk about how tools like ChatGPT can help you brainstorm the right type of illustration for your message. The post Sermon Illustrations that Connect to the Bible Text (And Your Church!) appeared first on Church Answers.

Churches have long embraced technology to enhance their ministries, but the most successful churches are shifting beyond simply broadcasting information—they're leveraging technology to create belonging—authentic connections. In this episode, Thom welcomes Sarah Nashif-Tan from VisitorReach to the podcast for an inside look at their latest innovation: VisitorTap. She is a strategic and passionate leader who blends business and ministry skills to empower local churches for cultural impact. Discover how this easy-to-use tap technology is revolutionizing the way churches engage guests and connect with their congregation. The post The Easiest (and Most Incredible) Way to Get Information from Your Guests! appeared first on Church Answers.

Welcome to a special four-part podcast series titled "Thomas Edison on Leadership." In this series, we'll explore the surprising and insightful leadership principles of one of history's most prolific inventors—principles that still speak powerfully to today's leaders in business, ministry, and innovation. Thomas Alva Edison (1847–1931) was not only the mind behind the electric light bulb, the phonograph, and motion pictures—he was also the founder of 14 companies, including General Electric. Over the course of his lifetime, he was granted 1,093 patents, a staggering achievement that speaks to both his creativity and his tenacity. But what often goes unnoticed is Edison's extraordinary ability to lead others, manage chaos, overcome failure, and build an enduring legacy of innovation. Edison was an incredible leader, a tireless experimenter, and a shrewd entrepreneur. His Menlo Park and later West Orange labs were among the first true innovation hubs, long before the term became common. In this fourth episode, we see how Edison used persistence to succeed, while being highly selective in when he chose to be persistent. The post Thomas Edison on Leadership – Part 4: The Powerful Lesson of Selected Persistence appeared first on Church Answers.

Welcome to a special four-part podcast series titled "Thomas Edison on Leadership." In this series, we'll explore the surprising and insightful leadership principles of one of history's most prolific inventors—principles that still speak powerfully to today's leaders in business, ministry, and innovation. Thomas Alva Edison (1847–1931) was not only the mind behind the electric light bulb, the phonograph, and motion pictures—he was also the founder of 14 companies, including General Electric. Over the course of his lifetime, he was granted 1,093 patents, a staggering achievement that speaks to both his creativity and his tenacity. But what often goes unnoticed is Edison's extraordinary ability to lead others, manage chaos, overcome failure, and build an enduring legacy of innovation. Edison was an incredible leader, a tireless experimenter, and a shrewd entrepreneur. His Menlo Park and later West Orange labs were among the first true innovation hubs, long before the term became common. In this third episode, we see how Edison saw chaos as necessary -- up to a point. The post Thomas Edison on Leadership – Part 3: The Incredible Lesson of Managed Chaos appeared first on Church Answers.

New religious data in the United States was released recently, and Ryan Burge joins the show with Sam to discuss the details. In 2024, Gen Z showed relatively strong religious attendance compared to other generations. Twenty-four percent of Gen Z reported attending religious services weekly—two percentage points higher than both Millennials and Gen X. While 53% of Gen Z attend less than once a year, that's actually the lowest percentage of infrequent attenders among all the generations analyzed. The post The Burge Report: Is Gen Z More Religiously Engaged than Their Parents? appeared first on Church Answers.

Pastors provide spiritual guidance, but there are times when counseling crosses into territory best handled by trained professionals. In this episode, Josh and Sam explore the limits of pastoral care—when ethical, legal, and practical concerns make it necessary to refer someone elsewhere. From mental health crises to marital conflicts beyond a pastor's expertise, knowing when to step back is crucial for both the pastor and the person seeking help. We'll discuss red flags, healthy boundaries, and how pastors can support without overstepping. The post The Limits of Pastoral Care: When Counseling Isn't Appropriate appeared first on Church Answers.

Welcome to a special four-part podcast series titled "Thomas Edison on Leadership." In this series, we'll explore the surprising and insightful leadership principles of one of history's most prolific inventors—principles that still speak powerfully to today's leaders in business, ministry, and innovation. Thomas Alva Edison (1847–1931) was not only the mind behind the electric light bulb, the phonograph, and motion pictures—he was also the founder of 14 companies, including General Electric. Over the course of his lifetime, he was granted 1,093 patents, a staggering achievement that speaks to both his creativity and his tenacity. But what often goes unnoticed is Edison's extraordinary ability to lead others, manage chaos, overcome failure, and build an enduring legacy of innovation. Edison was an incredible leader, a tireless experimenter, and a shrewd entrepreneur. His Menlo Park and later West Orange labs were some of the first true innovation hubs—long before that term became fashionable. In this first episode, we learn that Edison was a once-in-a-lifetime force, but he also left enduring lessons for those who want to learn growth principles for their own churches and organizations. The post Thomas Edison on Leadership – Part 1: Understanding the Mind of a Growth Leader appeared first on Church Answers.

Welcome to a special four-part podcast series titled "Thomas Edison on Leadership." In this series, we'll explore the surprising and insightful leadership principles of one of history's most prolific inventors—principles that still speak powerfully to today's leaders in business, ministry, and innovation. Thomas Alva Edison (1847–1931) was not only the mind behind the electric light bulb, the phonograph, and motion pictures—he was also the founder of 14 companies, including General Electric. Over the course of his lifetime, he was granted 1,093 patents, a staggering achievement that speaks to both his creativity and his tenacity. But what often goes unnoticed is Edison's extraordinary ability to lead others, manage chaos, overcome failure, and build an enduring legacy of innovation. Edison was an incredible leader, a tireless experimenter, and a shrewd entrepreneur. His Menlo Park and later West Orange labs were among the first true innovation hubs, long before the term became common. In this second episode, we delve into the failures of Edison, failures he considered essential to success. The post Thomas Edison on Leadership – Part 2: How Failures Succeed appeared first on Church Answers.

HCP - 263 - **Repost Podcast with Sam RainerSam will be the speaker at ReCharge 2025.To Register:https://bmaamerica.org/recharge/Sam RainerSamRainer.comChurchAnswers.comGuest Sam Rainer - HCP 232On this podcast Larry and Drew welcome Pastor, Author and Church strategist Sam Rainer. Sam, with his father Tom Rainer (former lead for Lifeway Research) lead Church Answers and other businesses that help support, train and equip church leaders for effective ministry.You can find Sam's books wherever books are sold.You can email us at info@healthychurchpodcast.com orTo find more information about The Healthy Church Podcast go to:http://www.healthychurchpodcast.comor find us on FaceBook!

Churches may be spiritual communities, but they operate in a legal world. And many aren't prepared. In today's episode, Sam interviews Ryan June of Castañeda + Heidelman LLP, and we unpack the five most common legal issues churches face: child protection, property disputes, employment law, governance and bylaws, and intellectual property. Ignorance of the law is not a spiritual gift. Whether your church is 50 years old or just starting, these legal risks can't be ignored. The post The Top 5 Legal Issues Churches Face Today appeared first on Church Answers.

Many of the disruptions in local church life are widely known. For example, most congregants and church leaders can clearly see the impact of COVID several years ago. But there have been a number of “quiet” disruptions that don't get much attention. Thom and Sam look at ten of them over two episodes. The post Ten Quiet Disrupters in American Church Life (Part 2) appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom examines why churches should be more intentional about reaching the Boomer generation, those born between 1946 and 1964. The post Why There Has Never Been a Better Time to Reach the Boomers appeared first on Church Answers.

They are called the Anxious Generation in addition to Gen Z. For years, we have assumed they were not receptive to the gospel or to the church, but something has changed, and it's rather dramatic. Thom looks at key reasons why there has never been a better time to reach Gen Z. The post Why There Has Never Been a Better Time to Reach Gen Z appeared first on Church Answers.

Many of the disruptions in local church life are widely known. For example, most congregants and church leaders can clearly see the impact of COVID several years ago. But there have been a number of “quiet” disruptions that don't get much attention. Thom and Sam look at ten of them over two episodes. The post Ten Quiet Disrupters in American Church Life (Part 1) appeared first on Church Answers.

Most every church desires to grow with young families. But what do they look for in a church? Josh and Sam discuss a few key ways to attract and retain families with children. The post What Young Families Really Want in a Church appeared first on Church Answers.

Jess and Thom share the story of Sugarloaf Church, an almost deceased church in the Florida Keys. Braydenton McCormick became the lead pastor of the church two years ago. The church was facing insolvency, but last year it reached its budget, even putting away an additional year's worth of funds for rainy days. The church had only seven members, and the pastor's family added five more. The facilities were stale and outdated, but the church had no debt. We will examine ten key ways the church transitioned from near death to hope. The post Ten Ways an Almost Deceased Church in the Florida Keys Is Being Revitalized (Part 1) appeared first on Church Answers.

Jess and Thom share the story of Sugarloaf Church, an almost deceased church in the Florida Keys. Braydenton McCormick became the lead pastor of the church two years ago. The church was facing insolvency, but last year it reached its budget, even putting away an additional year's worth of funds for rainy days. The church had only seven members, and the pastor's family added five more. The facilities were stale and outdated, but the church had no debt. We will examine ten key ways the church transitioned from near death to hope. The post Ten Ways an Almost Deceased Church in the Florida Keys Is Being Revitalized (Part 2) appeared first on Church Answers.

Hiring staff can strengthen a church—but not always. In this episode, Thom and Sam discuss seven times when adding staff is a mistake, from removing ministry opportunities from the laity to financial missteps and agenda-driven hires. Learn how to make wise, mission-focused staffing decisions for your church's health. The post Seven Occasions When You Should Not Hire More Church Staff appeared first on Church Answers.

A pastor's salary is determined by several factors, including church size and budget, geographic location, cost of living, education, experience, and responsibilities. While there is no universal answer, Josh and Sam discuss general guidelines and what pastors should expect from their churches. The post How Much Money Should a Pastor Make? appeared first on Church Answers.

A church's growth is the work of the Holy Spirit, but God uses different methodologies for different seasons. Jess and Thom examine four of the most effective actions that growing churches of all sizes are taking today. You probably don't hear much about these four. The post Four Off-the-Wall Actions That Are Highly Effective for Attendance Growth appeared first on Church Answers.

While some churches continue rounds of ungodly worship wars, more churches don't have worship wars because it's difficult to impossible to define a position or style to defend or attack. Jess and Thom examine the reasons behind this blessing. The post Why We Can No Longer Define Worship Styles appeared first on Church Answers.

Both prophets and conspiracy theorists cater to the human desire to make sense of chaos. This connection sparks compelling questions: Do religious belief and conspiracy thinking go hand in hand, as both involve leaps of imagination? Or does a strong religious framework offer enough structure, reducing the need for conspiracy theories? Ryan Burge joins the show to discuss what the hard data reveals. The post The Burge Report: Are Religious People More Prone to Conspiracy Theories? appeared first on Church Answers.

The future of America's largest churches (specifically megachurches—2,000+ weekly attendees) is a complex mix of momentum, innovation, and cultural headwinds. Eric Geiger from Mariners Church joins Sam on the show to discuss the reality facing large churches. Will they keep growing? Some will, but many are plateauing or entering slow decline. The post The Future of America’s Largest Churches: An Interview with Eric Geiger appeared first on Church Answers.

The time of offertory is a relatively recent phenomenon in local churches. Thom and Jess take a historical excursion to look at three methods of giving that helped churches raise money. The post How did churches raise money before the introduction of the offertory? appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom has seen a precipitous decline in the use of offering plates in churches. He joins Jess as they both examine the reasons behind the decline. The post Why has the use of the offering plate declined? appeared first on Church Answers.

In this episode, Sam interviews Michael Kelley, Executive Director for the Rooted Network and a seasoned writer of church small group curriculum. As churches adapt to evolving discipleship needs, small group materials are also transforming. We'll explore what's driving these changes, how new approaches are resonating with different congregations, and practical insights for church leaders who are choosing curriculum in today's landscape. The post The Shifts in How Churches Choose Small Group Curriculum (What You Need to Know): An Interview with Michael Kelley appeared first on Church Answers.

Many people are passionate about Bible translations and have strong opinions about which one is the best. Pastors are no exception. Josh and Sam discuss what translations they believe are best suited for preaching. The post The Best Bible Translation for Preaching appeared first on Church Answers.

For churches in many traditions, particularly among Presbyterians, Methodists, and Baptists, Sunday evening services were a staple for decades. Jess and Thom examine the origins of these services. The post What is the origin of the Sunday evening worship services? appeared first on Church Answers.

Some traditions, particularly among Methodists and Baptists, provided Wednesday night meals with as much fervor as Sunday services. Thom and Jess looked at the origin of the Wednesday night meal in many churches. The post What is the origin of the Wednesday-night meal in many churches? appeared first on Church Answers.

In this episode, Thom and Sam explore four types of church leaders who are unlikely to lead effectively in revitalization. The post Four Kinds of Church Leaders Who Will Not Lead in Revitalization appeared first on Church Answers.

One of the most challenging parts of ministry is the rejection of getting fired by a church. Josh and Sam discuss the immediate next steps pastors can take to begin the healing process. The post What Should I Do After Getting Fired from a Church? appeared first on Church Answers.

An “unforced error” is a term borrowed from sports, especially tennis, meaning a mistake made due to one's own lapse rather than being forced by an opponent. In everyday language, it refers to an avoidable mistake or misstep, typically resulting from a lack of attention or care rather than external pressure. Thom and Jess examine one of the most common unforced errors in this podcast: lack of guest-friendly signage and markers. The post Lack of Guest-Friendly Signage and Markers: The Unforced Error Series appeared first on Church Answers.

An “unforced error” is a term borrowed from sports, especially tennis, meaning a mistake made due to one's own lapse rather than being forced by an opponent. In everyday language, it refers to an avoidable mistake or misstep, typically resulting from a lack of attention or care rather than external pressure. Thom and Jess examine one of the most common unforced errors in this podcast: lack of focus on clean and well-supplied restrooms. The post Lack of Focus on Clean and Well-Supplied Restrooms: The Unforced Error Series appeared first on Church Answers.

As soon as I saw the title of the upcoming book by Dr. Thom Rainer, I knew I had to have him on the show. He told me right away to call him Thom and it was easy because he's friendly and down to earth. But his newest book, “The Anxious Generation Goes to Church” is anything but down to earth. It is a compelling, well researched and fascinating look at what our kids are navigating with church involvement while growing up in a tech saturated world. And while it would be easy to believe kids nowadays really aren't interested in church, Thom's research shows something different. He has found that kids today are interested in spiritual things and are longing for a place to belong. Inviting them to church is not something we should be afraid of. Rather, it should be at the top of our list of things to do to reach the hearts of today's youth. And if it's our own kids we're talking about, Thom's advice is that we model showing up for church and actually being involved in church. That is the best way for our kids to care about being part of church—by seeing that we care. You will find this conversation encouraging and hopeful. Thom is a loving father and grandfather and his wisdom and kindness felt like a warm hug to me. I loved having him on the show and you will love hearing him share. Go pre-order his book today so you can read it as soon as it hits the shelves. You won't be disappointed! Where to find Thom: Pre-order Thom's new book here Find Thom's website, Church Answers, here  Where to find Greta: Find Greta's new book here Find Greta's website here Find Greta's other books here and here Find Greta on Instagram here The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

What stops a church from having a breakout? Thom and Sam discuss four primary reasons they often see in their consultations and research. The post Four Common Reasons Most Churches Aren’t Breakout Churches appeared first on Church Answers.

Sam received a message from a friend recently. His question was simple: How many people typically give in a church? Statistically, about 75% of people will give in a typical church. In his case, only 50% of the church was giving regularly. Josh and Sam discuss some ways to teach church members about the importance of tithing. The 10% mark can be controversial, but committing to give regularly should not be. The post Five Key Tips to Teach Your Church to Tithe appeared first on Church Answers.

An “unforced error” is a term borrowed from sports, especially tennis, meaning a mistake made due to one's own lapse rather than being forced by an opponent. In everyday language, it refers to an avoidable mistake or misstep, typically resulting from a lack of attention or care rather than external pressure. Thom examines one of the most common unforced errors in this podcast: failure to remind people about digital giving. The post Failure to Remind People About Digital Giving: The Unforced Error Series appeared first on Church Answers.

An “unforced error” is a term borrowed from sports, especially tennis, meaning a mistake made due to one's own lapse rather than being forced by an opponent. In everyday language, it refers to an avoidable mistake or misstep, typically resulting from a lack of attention or care rather than external pressure. Thom examines one of the most common unforced errors in this podcast: failure to have a secret guest. The post Failure to Have a Secret Guest: The Unforced Error Series appeared first on Church Answers.

No church grows week after week and year after year. Additionally, our spiritual growth has highs and lows. A slump is inevitable in churches and people. Thom and Sam discuss some causes of a ministry slump and what you can do to stop the slide. The post Eight Causes for a Ministry Slump appeared first on Church Answers.

The long, slow death of mainline churches is well documented and goes back to the 1970s. In the mid-twentieth century, approximately half of all Americans were identified as members of one of the seven mainline denominations. Today, it's between 10% and 15%. Not much is said about revitalizing these churches, but there is hope. Josh and Sam interview one mainline Methodist elder, Chad Brooks, who has a plan to solve this problem. The post Is There Any Hope for Revitalizing Mainline Churches? appeared first on Church Answers.

Fifty years ago, non-denominational churches were more of an anomaly. Today, they are one of largest religious groups in the United States and one of only a few growing religious groups. Why is this? Ryan Burge joins the show to discuss the reasons for growth among non-denominational churches. The post The Burge Report: Why Are Non-Denominational Churches Growing? appeared first on Church Answers.