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Rainer on Leadership

Church Answers

Your online home for leadership lessons for both the church and the workplace.

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23 episodes
a few times a week
Avg 23 min
English

Episodes 23

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#1060
Friday · 21 min
Why Don't Churches Sing Old-School Hymns Anymore?
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,...
#1059
August 26 · 23 min
An Interview with Chris Brauns on “The Way of Repentance”
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."
#1058
August 24 · 26 min
Should a Church Accept a Tithe from a Lottery Winner?
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,...
#1057
August 21 · 27 min
The Burge Report: Why Immigration Won't Reverse America's Secular Drift
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...
#1056
August 18 · 21 min
The Top Preaching Distractions (What Stops Pastors Mid-Sentence in the Pulpit)
Josh and Sam have a little fun and talk about the preaching distractions most likely to get the pastor's attention.
#1055
August 14 · 21 min
Why the Pastorate Is One of the Highest Security Jobs in an AI World
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,...
#1054
August 11 · 23 min
What Should a Pastor Do When One or Two Key Donors Keep the Church Doors Open
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.
#1053
August 6 · 22 min
The Four Domains of Successful Outreach to Families with Children
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...
#1052
August 4 · 22 min
Why We Still Believe in Short-Term Mission Trips for Churches
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...
#1051
July 30 · 23 min
Unique Church Leadership Lessons from the Book of Ezra You Haven't Heard
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...
#1050
July 28 · 22 min
The Back-to-School Checklist for Pastors (Prepping Your Church for Ministry to Parents and School-Age Children)
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...
#1049
July 23 · 29 min
The Burge Report: Why the 1990s Were the Most Consequential in Modern U.S. Religious History
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...
#1048
July 21 · 24 min
What Successful Evangelistic Churches Actually Do for Outreach
Only 1% of churches have an ongoing emphasis on evangelism. Josh and Sam break down what successful evangelistic churches actually do.
#1047
July 11 · 22 min
Dodging Detours: Five Ways a Feasibility Study Protects Your Campaign from Pitfalls
Sam talks with Mike Stadelmayer at Church Growth Services about the harm a failed campaign can do and how to avoid those failures.
#1046
July 10 · 23 min
Should Pastors Engage in Online Fights?
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...
#1045
July 8 · 26 min
The Future of Church Hiring When Pastors Are in Short Supply
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...
#1044
July 7 · 22 min
Amiable Autocrats: Why Some of the Nicest Pastors Make the Worst Bosses
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...
#1043
July 2 · 21 min
Why Churches Are Struggling More and More to Find Staff
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...
#1042
June 30 · 25 min
Why Can't Pastors Talk About Politics?
Happy 250th America! Josh and Sam get political on this episode.
#1041
June 26 · 28 min
The Burge Report: Are Non-Denominational Churches Just Southern Baptists in Disguise?
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...

Showing 1–20 of 23 episodes