Podcasts about church answers

Josh and Sam tackle a growing and uncomfortable reality for pastors: what to do when one of your own church members becomes an online troll. The cohosts explore how to discern genuine critics from disruptive trolls, protect your church's unity and safety, and lead with grace even when someone is trying to provoke you publicly. The post When Church Members Become Online Trolls: What Pastors Should Do appeared first on Church Answers.

Only one denomination in the United States has grown consistently. Drawing from nearly fifty years of data, Ryan Burge's analysis shows a denomination that has not only maintained stability but also demonstrated resilience, growth, and demographic vitality. From membership and attendance trends to conversion inflows and racial diversity, the Assemblies of God presents a statistical profile that is almost entirely positive, even after the shock of COVID-19. While many traditions wrestle with long-term decline, the Assemblies of God appears poised for continued strength. The post The Burge Report: The Assemblies of God: Why This Denomination Is Defying Gravity appeared first on Church Answers.

Is the strength of our prayer life really measured in minutes? And what if shorter, consistent rhythms of prayer throughout the day lead to a more sustainable, joyful connection with God? In this episode, Josh and Sam explore how pastors and church leaders can cultivate a meaningful prayer life without tying their spiritual health to a stopwatch. The post How Long Should a Pastor Pray Each Day? appeared first on Church Answers.

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. The post “Gradually… Then Suddenly”: Why Church Decline Is About to Accelerate appeared first on Church Answers.

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. The post When the Average Age Lies: The Demographic Tipping Point appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Sam interview Dr. Andy Miller, the president of Wesley Biblical Seminary, to explore what every potential seminary student needs to consider before enrolling. While seminary can provide clarity and theological depth, it is not a magic formula for ministry success. This discussion breaks down the practical steps every prospective student should consider. The post Before You Enroll: What You Need to Know About Seminary appeared first on Church Answers.

Most nonprofit organizations have clear visibility into donor activity: who gives, how often, and how much. But churches often treat data on giving very differently. Should pastors know who is giving in their churches? Josh and Sam take a fresh look at this sensitive and often misunderstood topic. The post Should the Pastor Know How Much People Give to the Church? appeared first on Church Answers.

For most churches, the position of church bookkeeper or treasurer is a volunteer role. While there are many qualified volunteers, this position is too often held by someone who is not. Thom and Jess share four real-life stories about the problem some bookkeepers have created for churches and pastors. The post Four Real Stories about How Church Bookkeepers Messed Up appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess share how many pastors have lower take-home pay even though their stated pay has not decreased. The post How Pastors Are Taking Pay Cuts without Taking Pay Cuts appeared first on Church Answers.

In this episode, Thom and Sam shine a light on a trend few church leaders see: the silent exodus of senior adults. While much attention is given to reaching Millennials and Gen Z, an equally significant group is slowly drifting away: older adults who once formed the backbone of many congregations. Their departure isn't loud or dramatic. It's subtle: an empty pew, a missing volunteer, a longtime member who quietly stops attending. The post The Silent Exodus of Senior Adults (What’s Happening in Churches?) appeared first on Church Answers.

Josh and Sam discuss the best way to handle Super Bowl Sunday. Should churches say anything about it? Play into the day with gimmicks to increase attendance? What's the best approach? The post Should Churches Acknowledge Super Bowl Sunday? appeared first on Church Answers.

Most churches spend weeks crafting job descriptions and reviewing résumés. Very few ask the right questions. Today, Thom and Jess argue that hiring mistakes in churches rarely come from a lack of talent. They come from overlooked questions—questions that reveal heart, alignment, resilience, and long-term fit. This is part one of a two-part conversation on 10 often overlooked questions every church should ask before hiring its next staff member. The post 10 Often Overlooked Questions Churches Should Ask Before Hiring Staff – Part 1 appeared first on Church Answers.

In part one, Thom and Jess focused on questions that reveal inner wiring and emotional maturity. In part two, the focus shifts to longevity, mission alignment, and team health. These questions don't just help you hire well. They help you avoid pain—for the church, the staff member, and their family. The post 10 Often Overlooked Questions Churches Should Ask Before Hiring Staff – Part 2 appeared first on Church Answers.

A surprisingly high number of churchgoers attend because someone simply invited them. In this episode, Sam and Thom unpack why 60% might be the most overlooked and powerful number in church outreach today. This statistic comes from Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts, which recently asked more than 1,000 American evangelical Protestants about their church experiences. The post The Church Number: 60% The Power of a Personal Invitation appeared first on Church Answers.

In this episode, Josh and Sam explore what happens when a church becomes discouraged and how God restores hope in a congregation that feels stuck, tired, or overwhelmed. Discouragement drains energy, distorts reality, and slowly turns a church inward. Encouragement is both spiritual and strategic. It starts with leaders who refuse to catastrophize and instead cast vision. Pessimists predict failure. Realists describe what is. But optimistic, faith-filled leaders show what could be. The post The Best Ways to Encourage a Discouraged Church (Your Next Three Steps) appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess are joined by Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group, who are “The Church Facility Experts.” In this two-part series, we discuss the five myths of church building and why they cost churches millions. The post The 5 Myths of Church Building (and Why They Cost Churches Millions) – Part 1 appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess are joined by Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group, who are “The Church Facility Experts.” In this two-part series, we discuss the five myths of church building and why they cost churches millions. The post The 5 Myths of Church Building (and Why They Cost Churches Millions) – Part 2 appeared first on Church Answers.

In 2006, "Simple Church" encouraged churches to streamline programming, clarify discipleship pathways, and focus on moving people toward spiritual maturity rather than filling calendars with activities. The book had a significant impact, shaping how thousands of pastors thought about ministry systems and structure. Nearly two decades later, Thom and Sam take a fresh look: What principles stood the test of time? What challenges emerged in practice? And how should churches apply "Simple Church" today in a ministry landscape that's more complex, digital, and post-pandemic than ever? The post Revisiting Simple Church: What Worked, What Didn’t appeared first on Church Answers.

Letting a staff member go is one of the hardest leadership moments a pastor will ever face. Churches are relational environments, and employment decisions are deeply personal. But there are times when releasing someone is the most loving, wise, and responsible step—for the staff member, for the team, and for the health of the church. In this episode, Josh and Sam talk through how to navigate this complex process with clarity, compassion, and integrity. The post How Do You Fire a Church Employee? appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess interview Dr. Andy Miller, the president of Wesley Biblical Seminary, about seminary training for co-vocational church leaders. The post Finally! Seminary Training for Co-vocational Church Leaders: An Interview with Andy Miller appeared first on Church Answers.

Dr. Andy Miller joins Thom and Jess to share the story of Wesley Biblical Seminary. The post From Near Closure to Incredible Growth: The Story of Wesley Biblical Seminary – An Interview with Andy Miller appeared first on Church Answers.

In this episode, we look at Ryan Burge's latest analysis showing how the modern Democratic coalition is being pulled apart by widening religious divides. While Republicans continue to draw support from a largely Christian voter base, Democrats now include two groups with opposite religious profiles: highly secular white voters and deeply religious voters of color. This creates major messaging and policy tensions within the party, tensions that didn't exist at the same scale in earlier decades. The post The Burge Report: The Democrats Have a Religion Problem (Does It Matter?) appeared first on Church Answers.

As churches grow, leaders often reach a tipping point where the senior pastor can no longer carry the full weight of vision, preaching, pastoral care, administration, staff oversight, and organizational leadership. That's when the question arises: Is it time to hire an Executive Pastor? In this episode, Josh and Sam unpack what an Executive Pastor actually does, why this role has become more common across church sizes, and how to know whether your church is ready for one. The post When Should a Church Hire an Executive Pastor? appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess welcome John Wentz, the president of Alpha USA, to The Church Answers Podcast. The post How Alpha Is Impacting Churches in the United States appeared first on Church Answers.

What if a first-time guest experienced your church the way a customer experiences Amazon? No confusion. No friction. No wasted steps. Just clarity, care, and consistency. This episode is not about turning the church into a corporation. It's about learning from an organization that obsesses over people, removes barriers relentlessly, and improves every system on purpose. Today, Thom and Jess ask a simple but uncomfortable question: If Amazon ran your church for one year, what would actually change? The post If Amazon Ran Your Church: What Would Change in 12 Months? appeared first on Church Answers.

Many are tired of online worship. What happened? When the pandemic forced churches online, digital worship seemed like the future. Congregations grew virtually, and pastors reached audiences they never imagined. But five years later, that momentum has faded. The church is discovering what technology can—and cannot—do for worship. On this episode, Thom and Sam explore why online engagement has declined and how churches can find balance between digital convenience and in-person community. The post Digital Worship Fatigue: Why Online Church Can't Replace the In-Person Gathering appeared first on Church Answers.

Every pastor has seen it. Churches splitting hairs over things that don't matter. Beard length. Carpet color. Playground equipment. These disputes may sound absurd, but they reveal something much deeper. Small conflicts are rarely about what they seem. Beneath the surface, emotions, control, and trust are at play. In this episode, Josh and Sam explore why trivial fights erupt in churches, what they reveal about church health, and how leaders can keep the small stuff from becoming spiritual landmines. The post Church Conflict: Five Common Ways Small Fights Turn into Big Problems appeared first on Church Answers.

Jess and Thom share the top seven reasons pastors told us they felt led to leave a church. The post Top Seven Reasons a Pastor Chooses to Leave a Church appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess look at seven key traits of long-term pastors. The post Top Seven Traits of Pastors Who Stay at a Church for at Least 15 Years appeared first on Church Answers.

Church attendance is both a helpful tool and a potential trap. Numbers can reveal momentum, but they can also distort priorities if leaders focus on counting heads instead of making disciples. In this episode, Thom and Sam unpack the healthy and unhealthy ways to measure worship attendance, and how pastors can move from chasing growth to cultivating spiritual health. The post Does Counting Church Worship Attendance Still Make Sense? appeared first on Church Answers.

Most New Year's resolutions focus inward on personal growth, habits, and goals. On this episode, Josh and Sam challenge church leaders to flip the script on traditional resolutions by making them about the people you serve, not yourself. Instead of trying to become a better version of you, resolve to make those around you better. The post Five Pastoral New Year’s Resolutions that Aren’t About You appeared first on Church Answers.

The Enemy seeks to destroy. He loathes evangelism and will do anything he can to hinder church members from sharing the gospel. Jess and Thom share five of his most common tactics. The post How Satan Attempts to Hinder Churches from Being Evangelistic appeared first on Church Answers.

Jess and Thom share the top seven reasons pastors choose to go to a church. The post Top Seven Reasons a Pastor Chooses to Go to a Church appeared first on Church Answers.

Nearly five years after COVID-19 lockdowns, the research reveals surprising truths about how Americans engage with church online and what that means for pastors and ministry leaders. While 91% of churches now livestream services, only about 14% of Americans watch weekly. Most online viewers are also in-person attenders, meaning livestreams tend to serve already-committed believers rather than reaching the unchurched. The dream of a large “online-only” congregation just doesn't match the numbers. In this episode of the Burge Report, Ryan, Thom, and Sam give their key takeaways. The post The Burge Report: Who's Really Watching Online Church? appeared first on Church Answers.

The week after Christmas—those quiet days between December 26 and New Year's—is often the lightest week of the year for pastors. After weeks of preparing Advent services, coordinating Christmas Eve worship, managing volunteers, and caring for members in a season that's both joyful and emotionally draining, pastors finally exhale. This week isn't about laziness; it's about recovery. The adrenaline of December ministry fades, the calendar clears, and the phone stops ringing. Even the most active church members are traveling, resting, or spending time with family. For once, the pastor doesn't have to be “on.” Josh and Sam discuss why this week is so light and so important. The post After the Christmas Chaos: The Lightest Work Week of the Year for Pastors appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom knows this person well, because he is one. He and Jess dive into how church leaders can best understand and utilize introverts in the church. The post The Quiet Power of the Church Introvert: Why the Most Influential People in Your Church May Be the Least Noticeable appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess continue to examine the largest unchurched group in America, the U3s. In this episode, the Rainers provide some highly practical ways to reach them. The post How Churches Can Reach the Largest Unchurched Group in the United States appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Sam dive into Ryan Burge's latest analysis of the 2023–2024 Pew Religious Landscape Survey, which asked nearly 37,000 Americans a simple question: “How happy are you with your life these days?” The results reveal one of the clearest and most consistent findings in social science. Religious people report being happier than non-religious people. The post Religious People Are Happier (And the Data Proves It) appeared first on Church Answers.

Churches help prepare couples for marriage and rescue them when things fall apart, but what happens in between? That middle space—the “fine zone”—is where most couples slowly drift while everyone assumes they're okay. The truth is, fine isn't faithfulness. It's fatigue. And most churches don't have a plan for discipling marriages before they reach the breaking point. Sam interviews Brad Rhoads of Grace Marriage to find out more. Grace Marriage is helping churches change that by creating pathways for ongoing marriage discipleship, not just crisis care. The post Unbelievable: 72% of Churches Have No Marriage Ministry! appeared first on Church Answers.

The Rainer Scale helps churches understand how open an unchurched person is to the gospel, to spiritual conversation, and to attending church. It is not a judgment of spiritual worth, but a practical tool for identifying likely openness. The post The Rainer Scale of Unchurched Receptivity appeared first on Church Answers.

There are 30 to 35 million unchurched people in the United States, whom we call “the U3s.” Thom and Jess describe this unreached field and examine its key traits. The post The Largest Unchurched Group in the U.S. (and You’ve Never Heard of Them) appeared first on Church Answers.

For decades, seminaries have promoted the ideal—full-time, on-campus study in a traditional academic setting. But for most adults pursuing ministry training, that ideal simply isn't practical. New research reveals a clear tension between what people would love to do and what they can realistically manage. Theological education thrives when schools position themselves as a bridge between the ideal and the practical, maintaining depth and quality while removing unnecessary barriers. Sam interviews Dr. Andy Miller, from Wesley Biblical Seminary, about four key points shaping the future of seminary enrollment. The post NEW Research: What Really Matters in Theological Education? appeared first on Church Answers.

In this follow-up episode, we examine the other side of the conversation—the rise of big-box church architecture. Often found in converted retail spaces or new multipurpose campuses, these designs emphasize functionality, flexibility, and accessibility. They reflect a different theology of space, one that prioritizes mission, efficiency, and comfort over formality. Sam interviews Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group. The post Non-Churchy Looking Churches: The Advantages of Big-Box Church Architecture appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess continue the “Future Church” series with an episode on how church staffing is changing in this new era of ministry. Churches are smaller, leaner, and more focused than ever. Budgets are tighter, but opportunities for mission are wider. The result is a new kind of church staff—leaders who serve both inside and outside the church, combining pastoral calling with marketplace skills. In this conversation, Thom and Jess introduce four co-vocational roles that are shaping the staff structure of the future church. The post Future Church Series – Episode 5: The Rise of Four New Co-Vocational Church Staff appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess conclude the “Future Church” series with an episode that puts church size into perspective. In an age when many pastors feel pressure to grow larger, the reality is that most congregations are small—and that's not a problem. This episode explores what the data actually reveals about church attendance, why most churches are smaller than we think, and how leaders can find encouragement no matter the numbers. The post Future Church Series – Episode 6: What Is the Size of the Typical Church in the Future? appeared first on Church Answers.

In this episode, we explore why traditional church architecture still resonates deeply with people, even those who rarely attend church. A recent research project found that 90% of Americans want church buildings to be "easily identifiable." Sam interviews Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group to find out more. The post Should Churches Look Churchy? The Advantages of Traditional Architecture appeared first on Church Answers.

When a major donor or key financial supporter leaves a church, it can feel personal, unsettling, and even threatening to the ministry's stability. But pastoral leadership during this moment matters immensely. On this episode, Josh and Sam walk through the practical steps pastors should take when the church's largest giver steps away. The post How to Handle Losing Your Church’s Biggest Financial Supporter appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess continue the “Future Church” series with an episode focused on one of the most important—and most misunderstood—topics in today's congregations: evangelism. The way people come to faith is changing, and so are the methods churches use to share the gospel. Attendance patterns are different. Communities are more skeptical of institutions. And more often than not, the first place someone encounters the church is online, not in person. In this conversation, the Rainers look at how evangelism is evolving, why it still matters deeply, and four major trends shaping how local churches reach people today. The post Future Church Series – Episode 3: Trends in Evangelism in the Local Church appeared first on Church Answers.

God has done something remarkable at First Baptist Church in Caldwell, NJ. They have limited space and limited parking. However, through Upward Sports, the church has developed a large outreach ministry within the community. Hundreds of children participate, and the church is reaching people from diverse backgrounds. Sam interviews Pastor Travis Clark to reveal exactly what happened. The post Small-Church Breakout Growth: The Incredible Story of First Baptist Caldwell, NJ appeared first on Church Answers.