Church for the Rest of Us Podcast

By Family Church Network

A place for leaders to find principles, strategies, and ideas that you can implement right now with the resources you have.... more

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FAQs about Church for the Rest of Us Podcast:

How many episodes does Church for the Rest of Us Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 218 episodes available.

Church for the Rest of Us Podcast episodes:

October 14, 2019CFTROU 0084: The Business on Church Business: Hire Slow, Fire Fast
CFTROU 0084: The Business on Church Business: Hire Slow, Fire Fast
An integral component of the business of running a church is the people on your team. We discuss the relationship between having sound hiring practices in place and having to make the tough decisions to fire people when necessary. In this conversation, we talk about the useful idea of hiring slow and firing fast – the slower and steadier you are when hiring people, the less likely you will need to fire people. Unfortunately, situations do call for people to be let go and we suggest in those situations you do not stand on ceremony. Do not prolong the inevitable. There have been previous scenarios where a church has not handled these situations well and it can get quite messy and open yourself and your church to risk. A forthright and purposeful approach will serve you well. Being deliberate in the interview process is key. Conduct multiple interviews with new applicants, as this will help paint a clear picture of the person and their character. If the hiring is done well, you will avoid difficult situations in the future. When a parting of the ways is called for, we espouse the philosophy of transition without injury, where the employee that you have let go can find their way into another line of work and be fruitful in their endeavors. These are all principles of honoring God by being wise stewards of church resources.
Key Points:
The struggles churches face when needing to let employees go when the situation calls for it.
The ramifications of not having solid hiring practices in place.
The details of the hire slow, fire fast philosophy.
Chemistry, family background, and multiple meetings with different leaders are important aspects to consider when hiring an employee.
How important it is to gauge the character of the candidate.
Getting through the difficult process of firing.
The gray areas of bad performance versus taking ownership of a bad hire.
Some of the worst hiring decisions have been made on a gut-feeling, without thoroughly vetting a candidate.
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Hiring slow is difficult because we often find ourselves having to make up for that unfilled position.
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Hiring decisions is where we see the benefits of collaborative decision-making.
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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Society for Human Resource Management
Scott Crawford on Twitter
Leslee Bennett on Twitter
Jimmy on Twitter
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This will help us place the podcast in front of more pastors and ministry leaders. It also lets us learn from you. Thank you for taking the time to get the word out about Church for the Rest of Us.
...more
23min
September 30, 2019CFTROU 0083: The Business on Church Business: Hire the Best People You Can Afford
CFTROU 0083: The Business on Church Business: Hire the Best People You Can Afford
Our Lead Pastor, Jimmy Scroggins, talks about the important of hiring employees. The crux of the matter is – hire the best people you can afford. Rather than cutting corners on employee salaries, it is worthwhile to invest in the right people for the positions you are actively recruiting for. Doing this will end up costing you less in the long run. The consequences of not investing wisely leads to a higher turnover rate and incurring additional costs in the recruitment process. Employee retention is not only about the money. Your vision and mission must be compelling. A happy and healthy organizational culture plays a significant role in employee retention.
Key Points:
The different models and approaches churches use throughout the recruitment process.
Consider the message a paycheck sends to employees.
Different strategies for finding and hiring the best people.
Why members of your church often make the best hires.
How the job description and compensation philosophy help to determine the salary range.
The tangible and intangible cost that a church incurs when they lose a good leader.
Consider other ways you can support and care for your staff.
Combine a compelling vision and mission with a caring environment.
Good leadership comes at a premium. The higher up you go in leadership, the more often that is true.
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It is much cheaper to spend a little money and retain an employee, than it is to find a new one.
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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
First Baptist Church of Shepherdsville
City Church of Evansville
MinistryPay.com
Church Law & Tax
LifeWay
Leadership Network
Scott Crawford on Twitter
Leslee Bennett on Twitter
Jimmy on Twitter
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If you like us, rate us or leave a comment below.
Hopefully, this episode has given you principles, strategies, and ideas that you can implement right now with the resources you have. If so, can you let others know?
The best way to do that is to rate the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher and leave us a brief positive review!
This will help us place the podcast in front of more pastors and ministry leaders. It also lets us learn from you. Thank you for taking the time to get the word out about Church for the Rest of Us.
...more
19min
September 16, 2019CFTROU 0082: The Business on Church Business: Cash Flow is King
CFTROU 0082: The Business on Church Business: Cash Flow is King
Cash flow within the context requires careful consideration. When relying on the generosity and contributions of members, it may be difficult to make projections. When times are lean, cash flow can be inconsistent. In this episode, our Family Church Business Administrator and CFO, Scott Crawford joins the conversation as we define cash flow and cash flow management. Scott explains the important of having financial goals and not losing sight of key priorities. We also talk about operating expenditure, estimated weekly income, the involvement of the senior pastor, and the biggest obstacles to healthy cash flow.
Key Points:
The three main things that positive cash flow will enable a church to do.
How a positive cash flow can impact your ability to obtain third-party financing.
Measuring the priority of each new idea against the mission of the church.
How to actually manage the cash and why you should start with revenue.
Looking at expenses, forecasting future expenditure, and checking liquidity requirements.
Determining the amount of money you should have in the bank each week.
Coaching tips for how involved a senior pastor should be when it comes to finances.
How unforeseen economic conditions can be a challenge when managing cash flow.
For the church, we can think of cash flow as the amount of unrestricted cash available to us once all of our obligations have been accounted for.
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Cash flow is scalable. Every church has to manage their cash flow the same way – it’s scalable in every context.
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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dave Ramsey
Church Law & Tax
Church Finance
ECFA
Church and Nonprofit Tax and Financial Guide
Scott Crawford on Twitter
Leslee Bennett on Twitter
Jimmy on Twitter
Get podcast updates delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe for free and never miss out on an episode of Church for the Rest of Us.
Subscribe via
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If you like us, rate us or leave a comment below.
Hopefully, this episode has given you principles, strategies, and ideas that you can implement right now with the resources you have. If so, can you let others know?
The best way to do that is to rate the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher and leave us a brief positive review!
This will help us place the podcast in front of more pastors and ministry leaders. It also lets us learn from you. Thank you for taking the time to get the word out about Church for the Rest of Us.
...more
23min
September 02, 2019CFTROU 0081: The Business on Church Business: Be Prepared to Manage Risk
CFTROU 0081: The Business on Church Business: Be Prepared to Manage Risk
Most everything in life involves some element of risk. Risk is an inevitable consequence of running a church. For example, there is the risk of someone getting physically injured, while participating in an activity that is hosted by your church. The bigger your congregation and the more activities and ministries you have, the greater your exposure to risk will be. Our Family Church Business Administrator and CFO, Scott Crawford, educates us on taking calculated risks. This process includes performing a risk assessment, determining your risk tolerance, and creating a plan to mitigate risk. We discuss when it makes sense to take a risk and what to do when something goes wrong. We also talk about the role insurance plays in the comprehensive plan a church should create that balances risk and cost.
Key Points:
The different types of risk involved with running a church.
How intentionality as the forefront when it comes to risk management.
What calculated risk looks like.
Aspects to consider when assessing risk and who should perform it.
What risk tolerance is and how to determine this at your church.
The role an attorney and insurance agent can play in reducing risk.
Examples of how internal controls mitigate risk when handling church finances.
The importance of oversight in finances and why multiple people should be included.
What to consider when figuring out how much insurance you need.
Life with no risk is no fun.
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Everything you do in life includes some element of risk. There is no way to avoid that.
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We encourage that you insure as much as you can afford.
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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
George Patton
Brotherhood Mutual
GuideOne
Church Law & Tax
Scott Crawford on Twitter
Leslee Bennett on Twitter
Jimmy on Twitter
Get podcast updates delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe for free and never miss out on an episode of Church for the Rest of Us.
Subscribe via
Email
iTunes
Google Play
Stitcher
RSS
If you like us, rate us or leave a comment below.
Hopefully, this episode has given you principles, strategies, and ideas that you can implement right now with the resources you have. If so, can you let others know?
The best way to do that is to rate the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher and leave us a brief positive review!
This will help us place the podcast in front of more pastors and ministry leaders. It also lets us learn from you. Thank you for taking the time to get the word out about Church for the Rest of Us.
...more
17min
August 26, 2019CFTROU 0080: The Business on Church Business: Setting Senior Pastor Compensation
CFTROU 0080: The Business on Church Business: Setting Senior Pastor Compensation
Setting the compensation of the senior pastor of a church is a significant decision and one best handled with transparency. It is so important for churches to establish how compensation should be determined and who should be responsible for setting it. Some pastors may want to have an open discussion with other church leaders about this topic. They might feel they are not being compensated enough, but may be uncertain of the best way to approach this. Our Family Church Business Administrator and CFO, Scott Crawford weighs in regarding what is involved with the compensation process. He talks about working with a volunteer-based board, who makes decisions, and to consider the message that compensation communicates.
Key Points:
Understand the weight of this topic and how to best handle it according to the context of your church.
The need for a church to establish its philosophy regarding compensation.
Defining compensation as a comprehensive package and what that entails.
Working with a committee on this and following IRS guidelines.
The three main things to consider when thinking about what a pastor should earn.
Encouragement for pastors to communicate financial needs to their church leadership.
The variables to consider when determining fair compensation.
Whether churches should make their salaries public.
Everyone wants their pastor to do okay, but not too okay.
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Everybody is looking at 'wealth' through their own perspective.
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Every church is sending a message to their pastor through their compensation plan, and that message can either be positive or not.
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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
MinistryPay.com
Church Law & Tax
GuideStar
LifeWay
The Leadership Network
Scott Crawford on Twitter
Leslee Bennett on Twitter
Jimmy on Twitter
Get podcast updates delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe for free and never miss out on an episode of Church for the Rest of Us.
Subscribe via
Email
iTunes
Google Play
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RSS
If you like us, rate us or leave a comment below.
Hopefully, this episode has given you principles, strategies, and ideas that you can implement right now with the resources you have. If so, can you let others know?
The best way to do that is to rate the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher and leave us a brief positive review!
This will help us place the podcast in front of more pastors and ministry leaders. It also lets us learn from you. Thank you for taking the time to get the word out about Church for the Rest of Us.
...more
21min
August 19, 2019CFTROU 0079: The Business on Church Business: Pay for an External Audit
CFTROU 0079: The Business on Church Business: Pay for an External Audit
Our Family Church Business Administrator and CFO, Scott Crawford, joins us to talk about another important topic in the world of church business — external audits. These rigorous financial processes might seem out of place in the context of a church, however, on this episode we cover the many reasons that external audits are absolutely vital. They offer assurance to the leadership of your church and they help create a culture of accountability. We discuss the primary components of an external audit and where to begin the process. We also talk about the smaller steps you can take to gain greater control over the stewardship of finances, even before the external audit takes place.
Key Points:
Defining an external audit and the many reasons why it is a necessity.
The two primary components of an external audit.
The valuable support an external accountant can offer to lead pastors.
How external audits provide accountability to your accountability.
The reasons for resistance towards an external audit.
The process of selecting an accounting firm that’s a good fit for your church.
Viewing auditors as friends who help your team be better stewards of your church’s resources.
What internal controls are and the role they play in a comprehensive external audit.
As a pastor, I am 100% dependent on our team to give me the financial information that I have and an external audit makes sure of it.
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It’s always a great thing that we can tell those who give to our church that we do an external audit every year.
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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
ECFA
Church Law & Tax
Scott Crawford on Twitter
Leslee Bennett on Twitter
Jimmy on Twitter
Get podcast updates delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe for free and never miss out on an episode of Church for the Rest of Us.
Subscribe via
Email
iTunes
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If you like us, rate us or leave a comment below.
Hopefully, this episode has given you principles, strategies, and ideas that you can implement right now with the resources you have. If so, can you let others know?
The best way to do that is to rate the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher and leave us a brief positive review!
This will help us place the podcast in front of more pastors and ministry leaders. It also lets us learn from you. Thank you for taking the time to get the word out about Church for the Rest of Us.
...more
17min
August 12, 2019CFTROU 0078: The Business on Church Business: Lawyer Up
CFTROU 0078: The Business on Church Business: Lawyer Up
Today’s guest is Scott Crawford, our Family Church Business Administrator and CFO. We’re continuing our conversation about best practices when handling business matters concerning the church. Scott is an expert in this arena. He talks about why getting legal assistance is critical. It’s important to create relationships with people who have the legal expertise to come alongside you and help navigate complex legal situations. Every church, regardless of how big or small, needs to have the right subject matter experts on their team to deal with the minefield of legal implications in the world today. It’s also important for them to understand the values of your church. Being proactive, rather than reactive, in all matters concerning the law and risk management is a game changer.
Key Points:
How attorneys help interpret the law and help implement business plans the right way.
Resources available for churches who have no budget available for legal assistance.
The differences between hiring an attorney and relying on pro bono work.
How a legal committee can function within the framework of a church.
Sheds light on the need for legal counsel when merging with another church.
When you’re dealing with important business matters, I suggest pastors hire the best attorney that they can.
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You look at regulations and ordinances that change all the time and most of them are written in a way that the average person struggles to actually comprehend. This is why churches need lawyers.
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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Church Law & Tax
Alliance Defending Freedom
Brotherhood Mutual
Christian Legal Society
Scott Crawford on Twitter
Jimmy on Twitter
Get podcast updates delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe for free and never miss out on an episode of Church for the Rest of Us.
Subscribe via
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If you like us, rate us or leave a comment below.
Hopefully, this episode has given you principles, strategies, and ideas that you can implement right now with the resources you have. If so, can you let others know?
The best way to do that is to rate the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher and leave us a brief positive review!
This will help us place the podcast in front of more pastors and ministry leaders. It also lets us learn from you. Thank you for taking the time to get the word out about Church for the Rest of Us.
...more
17min
August 05, 2019CFTROU 0077: The Business on Church Business: Know Your Bylaws
CFTROU 0077: The Business on Church Business: Know Your Bylaws
Welcome back to the Church for the Rest of Us Podcast! Today we’re starting a new season on some topics that most pastors don’t get taught in seminary and therefore have to learn the hard way! We’re calling it The Business on Church Business where we get into the underbelly of running a church. There are so many intricacies involved in leading a congregation and we would like to share some of our experiences at Family Church. The best teacher is, after all, learning from other people’s experiences so that you don’t have to take the knocks yourself. Most pastors don’t get into ministry to run a business but to reach people and make disciples, yet it is necessary to equip themselves in this area so that they can be successful. We discuss why pastors need to be experts on their bylaws, what bylaws constitute and when it might be advisable to change them.
Key Points:
The need for pastors to be equipped in the business side of running a church.
Changing bylaws that shifted most of the responsibility from deacons to senior pastors.
Why pastors have to familiarize themselves with the bylaws of their church.
Defining bylaws, the content it should cover and how it pertains to state law.
How bylaws protect the church and afford integrity to the decision-making process.
When it makes sense to revise bylaws and recommendations for formulating them.
The relationship between the bylaws and the core doctrinal beliefs of the church.
Much more to follow!
Every lead pastor, every senior pastor should know their bylaws.
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If we make decisions in violation of our bylaws, we then open ourselves up to people challenging those decisions, if necessary in court, and we can actually lose if we don’t make decisions according to the rules that we’ve agreed to…
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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Beth Moore
Sharper Conference
Family Church Network
Jimmy on Twitter
Leslee on Twitter
Get podcast updates delivered to your inbox.
This podcast releases every Monday morning. Subscribe for free and never miss out on an episode of Church for the Rest of Us.
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If you like us, rate us or leave a comment below.
Hopefully, this episode has given you principles, strategies, and ideas that you can implement right now with the resources you have. If so, can you let others know?
The best way to do that is to rate the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher and leave us a brief positive review!
This will help us place the podcast in front of more pastors and ministry leaders. It also lets us learn from you. Thank you for taking the time to get the word out about Church for the Rest of Us.
...more
16min
June 17, 2019CFTROU 0076: Church Planting Challenges & Opportunities
CFTROU 0076: Church Planting Challenges & Opportunities
Thank you for joining us! Our guest today is Rick Duncan who is the founding pastor of Cuyahoga Valley Church in Broadview Heights, Ohio. Rick talks to us about planting his church and growing it into one of the leading churches in our network of Southern Baptist churches. He now serves with the North American Mission Board as the Northeast Regional Church Planting Catalyst. In addition to facing the challenges he and his family faced in the Cleveland area, they persevered because of the need for a church to address the needs of the local community. He advises us on the cornerstones of church planting and how important it is to have a missionary mindset.
Key Points:
How to think like a missionary when designing a church for the local community.
Cultivating a spirit of generosity to encourage the planting of more churches.
Perseverance as a key component when planting a church.
Having a model for church planting that focuses on sharing the gospel, not putting on a show.
Why it’s tougher to start a church today than it has been in recent history and how to stay encouraged.
Strategies for funding and generating financial support.
I remember @richardduncan sharing wisdom with a bunch of us. One of the biggest problems with church planters is that they overestimate the show they’re about to put on and underestimate the show other people put on.
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You don’t want to start a church for evangelism, you want to start a church from evangelism.
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Have that spirit of perseverance, be in it for the long haul, focus on the people that God has given you — and then God will send more.
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God honored our missional attitude, our posture of prayer, and our spirit of generosity.
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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Cuyahoga Valley Church
North American Mission Board
Rick Duncan on Twitter
Southern Baptist Convention
Andy Stanley
The God Ask by Steve Shadrach
John Maxwell
Derek Sivers: How to Start a Movement
Leslee Bennett on Twitter
Jimmy on Twitter
Get podcast updates delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe for free and never miss out on an episode of Church for the Rest of Us.
Subscribe via
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iTunes
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If you like us, rate us or leave a comment below.
Hopefully, this episode has given you principles, strategies, and ideas that you can implement right now with the resources you have. If so, can you let others know?
The best way to do that is to rate the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher and leave us a brief positive review!
This will help us place the podcast in front of more pastors and ministry leaders. It also lets us learn from you. Thank you for taking the time to get the word out about Church for the Rest of Us.
...more
31min
June 10, 2019CFTROU 0075: Training a New Generation of Leaders
CFTROU 0075: Training a New Generation of Leaders
Join us on the show as we talk with Dr. Jason Allen who is the president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Allen speaks with us about his passion for biblical truth and his commitment to training the next generation of pastoral leaders. Under his leadership, the vision of Midwestern Seminary is to focus on building up the local church. Dr. Allen also discusses the advantages of attending seminary on campus, and how this is a great time for leaders to pour into the lives of students in an immersive environment.
Key Points:
How Dr. Allen was called to ministry and his involvement in theological education.
How theological education and pastoral training intersect.
What it means to be “For the Church.”
How Midwestern has become a resource for pastors and churches.
The benefits of a residential seminary education and being on campus.
Any entity, Christian or non-Christian, needs to have a reason for existence. For me to give my life to this, I wanted to be able to answer the question to anyone who would ask, “Why are we here?”
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I have watched from a different part of the country as @jasonkeithallen has made @mbts a resource for churches and pastors.
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There’s a general principle that is this: the closer you are to our campus, the more we can invest in you as a student.
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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southern Baptist Convention
Dr. Jason K. Allen
Dr. Allen’s email
Jimmy on Twitter
Leslee Bennett on Twitter
Get podcast updates delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe for free and never miss out on an episode of Church for the Rest of Us.
Subscribe via
Email
iTunes
Google Play
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RSS
If you like us, rate us or leave a comment below.
Hopefully, this episode has given you principles, strategies, and ideas that you can implement right now with the resources you have. If so, can you let others know?
The best way to do that is to rate the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher and leave us a brief positive review!
This will help us place the podcast in front of more pastors and ministry leaders. It also lets us learn from you. Thank you for taking the time to get the word out about Church for the Rest of Us.
...more
22min

FAQs about Church for the Rest of Us Podcast:

How many episodes does Church for the Rest of Us Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 218 episodes available.

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