Podcasts about 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.

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: the holy huddle. The post The Holy Huddle: 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: zero invitations. The post Zero Invitations: The Unforced Error Series 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.

The co-hosts have noticed something—it seems church members are cussing more these days. But are their anecdotal experiences supported by data? Josh and Sam talk about the expletive problem in churches today. The post Are Church Members Cussing More Today Than in the Past? appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess interview Mike Stadelmayer of Church Growth Services. In this episode, they discuss how to reconnect your congregation to the vision through generosity. The post Reconnect Your Congregation to the Vision through Generosity: An Interview with Mike Stadelmayer appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess interview Mike Stadelmayer of Church Growth Services. In this episode, they discuss how to grow your congregation in the grace of giving. The post Grow Your Congregation in the Grace of Giving: An Interview with Mike Stadelmayer appeared first on Church Answers.

Churches can struggle with seeking outside help, even when it's obvious they need it. Thom and Sam discuss why healthy churches often have outsiders speak into the operations of the church. The post Five Reasons Healthy Churches Seek Outside Help appeared first on Church Answers.

Very few churches are growing, which means most pastors will lead plateaued or declining congregations. Some pastors experience an entire ministry career in no-growth situations. Why does this happen? Josh and Sam discuss several reasons why some pastors never experience church growth. The post Why Some Pastors Never Experience Church Growth 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: the time of worship services on the website is not correct. The post The Time of Worship Services on the Website Is Not Correct: 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: failure to have a parking lot greeter. The post Failure to Have a Parking Lot Greeter: The Unforced Error Series appeared first on Church Answers.

The average age of a pastor is 60 years old. The question of retirement is one many pastors are asking. Being a lead pastor comes with unique demands and extra attention. Is there an ideal age to retire? Thom and Sam discuss some guidelines for those who are closer to retirement than not. The post What Is the Right Age to Retire as a Lead Pastor? appeared first on Church Answers.

A generation ago, student ministers would often make the leap to the lead pastor role after a few years. Does this kind of move still happen? If so, is it a good thing or not? Unfortunately, sometimes ministry positions outside of the lead pastor are seen as a lesser role in the life of the church. Josh and Sam break down the good and bad of leaping from student ministry to lead pastor. The post Is Student Ministry Still a Stepping Stone? 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 first episode, they discuss five powerful ways “Simple Church” principles can shape not just how we do ministry, but how we build the spaces that facilitate it. The post 5 Ways “Simple Church” Can Apply to Your Church Facility with Brown Church Development Group 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 second episode, they discuss why intentional, purpose-aligned church facility planning is so critical. Smart churches don't just build for growth; they build for purpose. The post Church Facility Growth Strategy: How to Build with Purpose with Brown Church Development Group appeared first on Church Answers.

Do you love to preach but at times loathe sermon prep? Do you find preaching incredibly fulfilling yet preparation frustrating or even overwhelming? If so, you're not alone. Many pastors struggle with the inefficiency of sermon prep—feeling bogged down by research, unsure how to faithfully interpret Scripture, or intimidated by today's hot-button topics like politics, gender, and race. Dr. Bruce Clark (PhD. in Biblical Studies, University of Cambridge) from Interpret Consulting joins the show to discuss the common frustrations of sermon prep and explore practical ways to streamline the process while strengthening your preaching skills. Interpret Consulting aims to come alongside busy faithful pastors (in churches of all sizes and stages) and assist them in sermon preparation by helping them strengthen their exegetical skills and tackle today's seemingly endless sensitive “hot button” issues. The post The Pastor's Dilemma: Loving Preaching, Loathing Sermon Prep appeared first on Church Answers.

Most pastors want to be liked and respected by their congregations. This desire is part of the reason they are motivated to serve others. However, approval addiction can become a major barrier to leadership. When people pleasing becomes the priority, pastors often do more harm than good in their congregations. Marty Duren joins Josh and Sam to discuss this important topic. The post Approval Addiction, People Pleasing, and How Pastors Can Let Go appeared first on Church Answers.

From 2008 to 2014, the Nones (those who have no religious affiliation) were the fastest-growing demographic segment in the nation. They are no longer growing. In fact, they are declining slightly. Here are five major implications for churches. The post The Nones Are Rising No More: 5 Things Church Leaders Need to Know appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess discuss how the total of all Nones is at its lowest level since 2018. The post Where Have All the Atheists and Agnostics Gone? appeared first on Church Answers.

We've all heard the stereotypes of homeschooled children. But what does the data say? Ryan Burge joins Sam on the show to discuss the facts. The co-hosts also discuss implications for the church. The post The Burge Report: Does Homeschooling Change the Political and Religious Views of Children? appeared first on Church Answers.

Most pastors go through the process of hiring someone to help them minister to the church. What should you do for your first hire? Josh and Sam walk through a helpful checklist. The post A Checklist for Making Your First Hire in the Church appeared first on Church Answers.

What can pastors do to affair-proof their marriages? I've had the opportunity to talk with a number of pastors whose marriages seem to be healthy. They are certainly long-lived; the most recently married of the pastors to whom I spoke has been married 31 years. The longest marriage was 41 years in my sample group. From them, I learned some important lessons. We will look at eight ways pastors affair-proof their marriages over two episodes. Here are the second four. The post How Pastors Can Affair-Proof Their Marriages (Part 2) appeared first on Church Answers.

What can pastors do to affair-proof their marriages? I've had the opportunity to talk with a number of pastors whose marriages seem to be healthy. They are certainly long-lived; the most recently married of the pastors to whom I spoke has been married 31 years. The longest marriage was 41 years in my sample group. From them, I learned some important lessons. We will look at eight ways pastors affair-proof their marriages over two episodes. Here are the first four. The post How Pastors Can Affair-Proof Their Marriages (Part 1) appeared first on Church Answers.

Preachers and other public speakers should avoid these fillers in public speaking. Sam and Thom listened to several podcasts and sermons, where they heard these common fillers. The post Um, Uh, and You Know: Killer Fillers in Public Speaking appeared first on Church Answers.

No church should die, but some will die. What if God calls you to a church that just isn't going to make it? Josh and Sam discuss how pastors can shepherd dying churches. Miracles still happen! If God can save any person, He can save any church. The post Going to a Dead Church on Purpose appeared first on Church Answers.

Church Answers continues to hear stories about churches reaching their communities through sports. Jess and Thom interview Chris “Tiny” Seely, the children's pastor of Woodbridge Baptist Church in Kingwood, Texas. His church has some amazing stories about how it has used sports to reach people in their community. The post A Church That Is Really Reaching Its Community with Sports: An Interview with Chris “Tiny” Seely appeared first on Church Answers.

In many (if not most) of the growing churches that are reaching their communities, Church Answers hears a repeated theme in our consultations. These churches are growing through sports ministries. Thom interviews Kevin Drake, Executive Director of Upward Sports, to get a "behind the scenes" perspective of this incredible growing ministry. The post The Amazing Growth of Sports Ministries to Reach Communities with the Gospel: An Interview with Kevin Drake appeared first on Church Answers.

When Sam and Thom research local churches, they inevitably calculate average worship attendance. But how can they tell if it's accurate or not? They share five ways to be certain. The post Five Ways to Report Truthful Worship Attendance appeared first on Church Answers.

The typical age of a pastor is around 60 years old. Young pastors are becoming increasingly rare. What happened? Josh and Sam discuss some demographic realities with the aging pastorate. The post Young Pastors Are Rare (Here Is What Happened) appeared first on Church Answers.

In an unusual departure from the style of this podcast, Thom and Jess look at American Protestantism in the 21st century, highlighting 10 amazing contributions and 10 abject failures. For number 21, the Rainers give American Christianity a “grade” they believe is objective based on the past 25 years. They will take four podcasts to take you on this journey. The post The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of American Protestantism the Past 25 Years, Part 3: Key Strengths of American Protestantism in the 21st Century appeared first on Church Answers.

In an unusual departure from the style of this podcast, Thom and Jess look at American Protestantism in the 21st century, highlighting 10 amazing contributions and 10 abject failures. For number 21, the Rainers give American Christianity a “grade” they believe is objective based on the past 25 years. They will take four podcasts to take you on this journey. The post The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of American Protestantism the Past 25 Years, Part 4: Abject Failures of American Protestantism in the 21st Century appeared first on Church Answers.

Wedding ceremonies today are very different from those of the 1990s. Thom and Sam discuss what's changed. What's surprising and what's not? The post How Wedding Ceremonies Are Different Than in the 1990s (A Pastor’s Perspective) appeared first on Church Answers.

Many church buildings sit empty for a good portion of the week. What are the pros and cons of sharing the campus with other non-profits? Josh and Sam discuss some items to consider before opening your doors to other groups, churches, and ministries. The post Should Churches Share Their Campuses with Other Non-Profits? appeared first on Church Answers.

In an unusual departure from the style of this podcast, Thom and Jess look at American Protestantism in the 21st century, highlighting 10 amazing contributions and 10 abject failures. For number 21, the Rainers give American Christianity a “grade” they believe is objective based on the past 25 years. They will take four podcasts to take you on this journey. The post The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of American Protestantism the Past 25 Years, Part 2: Abject Failures of American Protestantism in the 21st Century appeared first on Church Answers.

In an unusual departure from the style of this podcast, Thom and Jess look at American Protestantism in the 21st century, highlighting 10 amazing contributions and 10 abject failures. For number 21, the Rainers give American Christianity a “grade” they believe is objective based on the past 25 years. They will take four podcasts to take you on this journey. The post The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of American Protestantism the Past 25 Years, Part 1: Key Strengths of American Protestantism in the 21st Century appeared first on Church Answers.

Ryan Burge discusses his most-read research post of the year. Every age group is having less sex than they were a generation ago. Not only has sexual behavior declined among young people, but it has also declined among Evangelicals and other religious groups. What are the implications for the church? How should pastors address this reality, if at all? The post The Burge Report: Everyone Is Having Less Sex (What It Means for the Church) appeared first on Church Answers.

Student ministry is often where rules about minors break down in the church. Student ministries don't need fewer rules than children's ministries, but they need different rules. Though rebellion seems to be a rite of passage for many teenagers, they are far more receptive to guidance than you might think. Josh and Sam discuss what's often missed in churches. The post What’s Often Missed with Student Ministry Safety in Churches appeared first on Church Answers.

Yes, there are times when you should consider changing your church's name. Jess and Thom review six of them. Look at our other podcast this week, where we review the top 15 most common church names. The post Six Reasons You Should Change the Name of Your Church appeared first on Church Answers.

Listen to the previous podcast where Jess and Thom review the six reasons you should change the name of your church. In this podcast, they look at the 15 most common church names. The post The 15 Most Common Names of Churches in the United States appeared first on Church Answers.

Where people organize, power will be present. The church is no exception. Thom and Sam discuss seven common power groups in churches. Hint: They are not all bad. How can you manage power dynamics among congregants in a way that is helpful to the church and glorifying to God? The post Seven Power Groups in Churches (The Good and the Bad) appeared first on Church Answers.

Continual learning is the philosophy that you keep growing in knowledge over a lifetime. Most of the time, this kind of learning is ongoing and self-motivated. Sam and Josh interview Timothy Paul Jones to discuss what happens when churches have continual education built into their discipleship process. The post The Surprise Benefits of a Culture of Continual Education in Your Church: An Interview with Timothy Paul Jones appeared first on Church Answers.

In Part 3, Thom and Jess look at some of the most common issues and questions you have about church revitalization. Your questions have directed us in our research and writings, and they will continue to do so. Though there were several hundred questions you submitted, we selected 23 most common questions about revitalizing churches. Because of the number, we cover the questions in four consecutive podcasts. The post 23 of the Most Common Questions Asked about Church Revitalization, Part 3 appeared first on Church Answers.

In Part 4, Thom and Jess look at some of the most common issues and questions you have about church revitalization. Your questions have directed us in our research and writings, and they will continue to do so. Though there were several hundred questions you submitted, we selected 23 most common questions about revitalizing churches. See the previous episodes to get the complete series. The post 23 of the Most Common Questions Asked about Church Revitalization, Part 4 appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Sam interview Steve Graves and discuss how pastors should shepherd business leaders in their churches. Steve has been coaching business leaders for decades and has a deep knowledge of the church. He shares his wisdom in this episode. The post What Business Leaders in the Church Want Pastors to Know: An Interview with Steve Graves appeared first on Church Answers.

Time away is essential. Every pastor needs it, and every church should give it. Josh and Sam revisit a Church Answers article from a few years ago, and the co-hosts discuss the continued importance of rest and relaxation for pastors. The post The Ten Commandments of a Pastor’s Vacation appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess look at some of the most common issues and questions you have about church revitalization. Your questions have directed us in our research and writings, and they will continue to do so. Though there were several hundred questions you submitted, we selected 23 most common questions about revitalizing churches. Because of the number, we cover the questions in four consecutive podcasts. See the previous episode and stay tuned for Part 3 and 4. The post 23 of the Most Common Questions Asked about Church Revitalization, Part 2 appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Jess look at some of the most common issues and questions you have about church revitalization. Your questions have directed us in our research and writings, and they will continue to do so. Though there were several hundred questions you submitted, we selected 23 most common questions about revitalizing churches. Because of the number, we cover the questions in four consecutive podcasts. The post 23 of the Most Common Questions Asked about Church Revitalization, Part 1 appeared first on Church Answers.

Three out of four churches in America have no type of welcome ministry. Why do church leaders fail to see its importance? What are the most significant challenges in starting and maintaining a welcome or guest services ministry? How might hospitality be underutilized in churches? Thom and Sam interview Danny Franks of Summit Church to learn more about this important and often-ignored topic. The post The Hidden Opportunity of Hospitality in Churches: An Interview with Danny Franks appeared first on Church Answers.

Since 2010, depression among teens is up 145% in girls and 161% in boys. During the same time period, anxiety is up 139% in those between the ages of 18 and 25. Josh and Sam discuss the findings from the book The Anxious Generation. Much of the problem stems from the widespread adoption of smartphones. What is the impact on student ministries in churches? The post Are Smart Phones Killing Student Ministries in Churches? appeared first on Church Answers.