Podcasts about church answers

Historically, Christians have favored burial. That practice was not accidental. Burial reflects the biblical pattern of honoring the body, treating death with gravity, and looking forward to the resurrection. In Scripture, the body is not treated as disposable. At the same time, the Bible does not give a direct command that Christians must be buried or that cremation is sinful. Josh and Sam discuss this question on today's episode. The post Should Pastors Encourage Burial Over Cremation? appeared first on Church Answers.

Americans are moving far less than they did in previous generations, and Gen Z may become the least mobile generation in American history. In the 1950s, about 20% of Americans moved each year. By 2019, that number had fallen to roughly 11%. Even more surprising, younger adults are more likely than older generations to say they have lived in the same local community their entire lives. Nearly half of those born in the early 2000s report never having moved from their local community. Ryan and Sam discuss how this trend also has implications for churches. People who stay rooted in one place appear somewhat more likely to remain connected to religious life than those who move away. Moving disrupts habits, relationships, and rhythms—including church attendance. For many dechurched people, the issue may not be a conscious rejection of faith, but the loss of a weekly rhythm after relocating. The post The Burge Report: Why Gen Z Might Be the Least Mobile Generation in American History appeared first on Church Answers.

Many churches are beginning to recognize that their discipleship systems are no longer working as well as they once did. The problem is not necessarily neglect. In many cases, the problem is that the model was built for a different era—one marked by more frequent church attendance, earlier marriage, more stable family rhythms, and Baby Boomers providing much of the volunteers. That world is fading. Josh and Sam discuss how churches that adjust their discipleship strategies now will be better positioned to disciple effectively ten and twenty years from today. The post How to Prevent Your Discipleship Model from Aging Out with the Older Generations appeared first on Church Answers.

Sam and Thom welcome Dr. Ryan Blackwell to Rainer on Leadership to share his hope for Lifeway as the 11th President and CEO. The post My Hope for Lifeway: An Interview with Dr. Ryan Blackwell, President and CEO of Lifeway appeared first on Church Answers.

Preaching has not changed in its core calling: proclaiming God's Word faithfully to God's people. But the context around preaching has changed dramatically. Josh and Sam discuss the major changes in preaching over the last two decades. Pastors today must still preach the text, but they also have to work harder to explain context, build trust, apply Scripture clearly, and communicate in a world conditioned by short-form content. The post What Has Changed the Most in Preaching the Last 20 Years? 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.

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.

Many churches say they value older adults, but their staffing decisions often tell a different story. Thom and Sam discuss how ageism is a real and often overlooked problem in church personnel decisions, especially for staff members approaching retirement. Churches may seek “younger energy,” cut older staff under the banner of stewardship, or assume older workers cannot adapt. But a healthy, multigenerational church should value a multigenerational staff and help older leaders finish well. The post The Problem of Ageism and Church Staff Near Retirement appeared first on Church Answers.

The question of whether a church should have an armed security team is both practical and pastoral. Churches want to be welcoming places of worship, but they also have a responsibility to protect the people gathered on campus. An armed security team may be appropriate in some contexts, but it should never be treated casually. The decision requires clear policies, legal guidance, extensive training, insurance awareness, pastoral wisdom, and a churchwide commitment to safety that goes far beyond firearms. The post Armed Church Security Teams: Good Idea or Bad Idea? 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.

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.

Some denominations and networks seem to have a controversy du jour. Many of them have deep theological implications. Others are distractions to the primary mission of churches. Sam and Thom review five controversies that were once heated but have now faded significantly. The post Five Relatively Recent Theological Controversies That Have Faded appeared first on Church Answers.

Josh and Sam discuss why many churches have moved away from old-school hymns, not always because they reject them, but because worship culture has changed. Modern worship music is often easier to lead with a band, more familiar to younger generations, and shaped by digital platforms, conferences, and major worship publishers. But the disappearance of hymns can also come at a cost. Hymns often carry theological depth, congregational memory, and a sense of continuity with the broader church. In this episode, we discuss why hymns have faded in many churches and how leaders can reintroduce them wisely without turning worship into a generational battle. The post Why Don’t Churches Sing Old-School Hymns Anymore? 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.

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 Sam welcome Chris Brauns, Lead Pastor at The Red Brick Church in Stillman Valley, IL, to discuss his book, "The Way of Repentance." The post An Interview with Chris Brauns on “The Way of Repentance” appeared first on Church Answers.

What should a church do if someone wins the lottery and wants to tithe from the proceeds? The question is more complicated than it first appears. On one hand, churches should teach biblical stewardship and encourage generosity. On the other hand, gambling raises serious concerns about wisdom, exploitation, addiction, and the source of financial gain. In this episode, we discuss how church leaders can think carefully, pastorally, and biblically about whether to accept a tithe from lottery winnings. The post Should a Church Accept a Tithe from a Lottery Winner? 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.

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.

A common argument says immigration could help reverse America's secular drift because immigrants are assumed to be more religious than native-born Americans. Ryan Burge's analysis challenges that assumption. Using Cooperative Election Study data, he finds that immigrants are only slightly more religious than Americans whose families have been in the United States for generations—and not nearly enough to shift the country's overall religious trajectory. The larger story is assimilation: immigrants, like the broader American population, are becoming more secular over time. The post The Burge Report: Why Immigration Won’t Reverse America’s Secular Drift appeared first on Church Answers.

Josh and Sam have a little fun and talk about the preaching distractions most likely to get the pastor's attention. The post The Top Preaching Distractions (What Stops Pastors Mid-Sentence in the Pulpit) 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.

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.

Thom and Sam explore why the pastorate remains one of the most secure callings in an AI world. Artificial intelligence can help with research and administrative tasks, but it cannot replace the heart of pastoral ministry: presence, trust, discernment, and shepherding. The more ministry is rooted in real relationships rather than production alone, the more durable it becomes. In many ways, the rise of AI may actually clarify what people need most from pastors in the years ahead. The post Why the Pastorate Is One of the Highest Security Jobs in an AI World appeared first on Church Answers.

Josh and Sam discuss a scenario that is more common than most realize: when a key donor or two are the only ones keeping the church afloat. The post What Should a Pastor Do When One or Two Key Donors Keep the Church Doors Open 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 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.

To help raise well-rounded young men and women who know they are loved by God, one church has created a focus on MASS: Mental, Athletic, Spiritual, and Social. Brian Kelly from Northside Church in Liverpool, NY joins Sam on the show to discuss how his church has used MASS to engage families in their community. The post The Four Domains of Successful Outreach to Families with Children appeared first on Church Answers.

Josh and Sam discuss why churches should still believe in short-term mission trips when they are approached with the right biblical purpose and practical care. While these trips are sometimes criticized for being expensive, shallow, or more about the travelers than the mission field, they can still be powerful tools for gospel partnership, spiritual growth, and leadership development. When done well, short-term trips do not replace long-term missions. They support and strengthen missions, and help churches cultivate a deeper heart for the nations. The post Why We Still Believe in Short-Term Mission Trips for Churches 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 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.

Pastors often look to the book of Nehemiah for practical lessons on leadership. However, in times of rebuilding and revitalization, we should not overlook the book of Ezra, with its story of the rebuilding of the temple. Ken Roach, Vice President of Innovation at Wesley Biblical Seminary, joins Sam to share the three “royal decrees” found there and how they translate into leadership principles every rebuilder needs to consider. The post Unique Church Leadership Lessons from the Book of Ezra You Haven’t Heard appeared first on Church Answers.

In this episode, Josh and Sam explore how pastors can prepare their churches for one of the most strategic ministry seasons of the year: back-to-school. As families shift routines, students face new pressures, and parents feel the weight of another busy season, churches have a unique opportunity to serve, encourage, and disciple. A strong back-to-school plan is not about adding more activity to the calendar. It is about aligning ministries, equipping volunteers, and intentionally supporting parents as they lead their homes through a demanding season. The post The Back-to-School Checklist for Pastors (Prepping Your Church for Ministry to Parents and School-Age Children) 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 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.

The 1990s may have been the most pivotal decade for religious change in modern America. In this episode, we look at Ryan Burge's analysis of young adults and the sharp rise of the religiously unaffiliated during those years. The surprising part of the story is that no single Christian tradition collapsed on its own. Evangelicals, mainline Protestants, Black Protestants, and Catholics all lost ground, while church attendance also weakened. The result was not just a momentary shift but a long-term realignment that still shapes the religious landscape today. The post The Burge Report: Why the 1990s Were the Most Consequential in Modern U.S. Religious History appeared first on Church Answers.

Only 1% of churches have an ongoing emphasis on evangelism. Josh and Sam break down what successful evangelistic churches actually do. The post What Successful Evangelistic Churches Actually Do for Outreach 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 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.

Sam talks with Mike Stadelmayer at Church Growth Services about the harm a failed campaign can do and how to avoid those failures. The post Dodging Detours: Five Ways a Feasibility Study Protects Your Campaign from Pitfalls appeared first on Church Answers.

In this episode, Josh and Sam tackle a question many pastors quietly wrestle with: Should I respond to that post… or just scroll past it? Social media makes it easy to jump into theological skirmishes and digital debates, but Scripture calls pastors to something higher than winning arguments. Online quarrels often produce more heat than light, drain emotional energy, and distract from the real work of shepherding people face-to-face. While there is a time to contend for the faith, most comment-section fights are poor stewardship and rarely change hearts. Sometimes the most pastoral response is silence... and logging off. The post Should Pastors Engage in Online Fights? 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 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.

As more churches struggle to find qualified pastors, the future of church hiring is changing fast. In this episode, Thom and Sam explore what pastor shortages mean for congregations, why old search processes are becoming less effective, and how churches can adapt with greater clarity, flexibility, and realism. The conversation focuses on practical ways churches can rethink staffing, develop internal leaders, and build healthier expectations for the next generation of pastors. The post The Future of Church Hiring When Pastors Are in Short Supply appeared first on Church Answers.

In this episode, Josh and Sam explore a subtle but damaging leadership style in the church: the amiable autocrat. These are leaders who are friendly, well-liked, and often effective on the surface, yet they lead primarily through positional authority and leave their teams frustrated. We unpack the paradox of the “nice dictator” and why this leadership style can produce visible ministry success while quietly undermining staff health and long-term effectiveness. The post Amiable Autocrats: Why Some of the Nicest Pastors Make the Worst Bosses 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 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.

In this episode, Thom and Sam tackle a growing challenge for churches across the country: finding qualified staff. What once seemed routine—posting a position and waiting for candidates—has become far more difficult. This conversation explores why the staffing pipeline has narrowed, how outdated assumptions are exacerbating the problem, and why churches that rethink staffing models and develop leaders internally will be better positioned for the future. The post Why Churches Are Struggling More and More to Find Staff appeared first on Church Answers.

Happy 250th America! Josh and Sam get political on this episode. The post Why Can’t Pastors Talk About Politics? appeared first on Church Answers.

In this episode, Ryan Burge and Sam explore the rise of non-denominational Christianity and ask a provocative question: are non-denoms essentially just Southern Baptists without the label? Drawing on recent survey data, this conversation examines how non-denominational Christians compare to America's largest Christian traditions in age, racial diversity, church attendance, and views of the Bible. The trends suggest that non-denominational churches are not simply a rebranded version of older evangelical traditions. They may represent a significant part of the future of American Protestantism. The post The Burge Report: Are Non-Denominational Churches Just Southern Baptists in Disguise? appeared first on Church Answers.