Rainer on Leadership

By Thom Rainer

What's Rainer on Leadership about?

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

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When Is It Time to Fight in...

01.31.2023

While we encourage church leaders to be peacemakers, if at all possible, there are times when a battle is necessary. Thom and Sam look at five of those scenarios. 1. When essential doctrines are being compromised. 2. When abuse is ...

Rainer on Leadership episodes:

01.31.2023 When Is It Time to Fight in a Church? While we encourage church leaders to be peacemakers, if at all possible, there are times when a battle is necessary. Thom and Sam look at five of those scenarios. 1. When essential doctrines are being compromised. 2. When abuse is ...
01.27.2023 A Special Three-Part Series with Church Growth Services: Changes in Church Finances Every Leader Needs to Know – Part 3: Increasing Capital Giving in a Challenging Environment Thom and Sam are joined by Mike Stadelmayer, president of Church Growth Services, to discuss how church finances are changing, especially in light of the pandemic of recent years. In this third episode, the three men address the issue of ...
01.27.2023 A Special Three-Part Series with Church Growth Services: Changes in Church Finances Every Leader Needs to Know – Part 2: How to Increase Budget Giving in a Challenging Environment Thom and Sam are joined by Mike Stadelmayer, president of Church Growth Services, to discuss how church finances are changing, especially in light of the pandemic of recent years. In this second episode, Mike shares with Sam and Thom how ...
01.27.2023 A Special Three-Part Series with Church Growth Services: Changes in Church Finances Every Leader Needs to Know – Part 1: Post-Quarantine Church Finances Thom and Sam are joined by Mike Stadelmayer, president of Church Growth Services, to discuss how church finances are changing, especially in light of the pandemic of recent years. In this first episode, the three men specifically address the impact ...
01.24.2023 Six Things We Would Tell Our Younger Selves about Pastoring https://youtu.be/id8WmvySvj0 Thom and Sam take a trip to the past and share about their early victories and mistakes when they first became pastors. From this venture, they share six things they would like to tell their younger selves. Love the ...
01.17.2023 New Data Reveals Big Gains for Non-Denominational Churches https://youtu.be/rW0BmIdJ3Zo A recent Christianity Today article reported on data from the 2020 Religion Census. According to the report, every Protestant denomination has declined while those congregations claiming to be non-denominational gained millions of people. Thom and Sam discuss their thoughts ...
01.10.2023 When the Pastor’s Spouse Wants to Leave the Church https://youtu.be/1f3f4t4YJoE We hear more frequently from pastors whose spouses feel strongly that they want to leave the church. These pastors ask us the tough question, "What do I do?" Sam and Thom respond to the question in this podcast. The ...
01.03.2023 What Changes with a Move from a Church of 50 to a Church of 150 https://youtu.be/i1gB_KI3OjA All churches have leadership challenges, regardless of size. Small churches are not easier to lead than large churches. Large churches are not easier to grow than small churches. But they are different. When pastors move from one size of ...
12.27.2022 What Is a Smaller Church? What Is a Larger Church? Part 2: The Implications of this New Data https://youtu.be/HSsbHquxU8I Thom looks at new data from Lifeway Research that powerfully depicts the changing landscape of American congregations, particularly in terms of size. In part 2, he looks at the implications of this surprising new data. Smaller budgets More church ...
12.20.2022 What Is a Smaller Church? What Is a Larger Church? Part 1: The Surprise (Shock?) of this New Data https://youtu.be/BgcTHg5lRjY Thom looks at new data from Lifeway Research that powerfully depicts the changing landscape of American congregations, particularly in terms of size. In part 1, he tries to grasp the meaning of these new categories. The new smaller church: ...
12.13.2022 Exactly What Is Women’s Ministry in the Church? An Interview with Jacki King https://youtu.be/QfvhOQKy1Zw Jacki C. King is a respected and popular Bible teacher, conference speaker, and ministry leader. She has a passion for seeing women fall in love with Jesus and His Word while challenging them to be on mission in their ...
12.06.2022 Do We Have a Clear Picture of Spiritual Gifts Today? https://youtu.be/zkbgtNwQgJ4 For a good part of the last half of the twentieth century, spiritual gifts were a topic of intense interest in churches. Now it seems as if that interest has faded. Thom and Sam examine why the emphasis faded ...
11.29.2022 Do You Have to Be Committed to a Local Church to Be a Christian? https://youtu.be/O9_IA2HdOi0 The importance of the local church in the life of a Christian is powerfully clear and obvious in the New Testament. Today, however, many Christians minimize the role of local congregations. Sam asks Thom several questions about this issue ...
11.22.2022 Why Many Churches Are Becoming Mini-Seminaries https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qdAMAdGmfk More churches are providing ministry and theological training for their staff and lay leaders. Thom and Sam look at the reasons for this major development. They also interview two pastors, Tyrone Barnette and Matt McCraw, who have built ministry ...
11.15.2022 How a Financial Champion Can Significantly Increase Giving in Your Church https://youtu.be/KC1LGWyhrUI Money issues can be the source of stress, marital problems, job problems, and anemic giving in your church. Thom and Sam interview Art Rainer to discuss the concept of a financial champion in your church, and how that person, ...
11.11.2022 A Special Four-Part Series with Brown Church Development Group: How to Increase Attendance and Align Ministries with Your Church Facility – Part 4: You MUST Listen to This Podcast Before Moving into a Here is the complete guide for taking your church facilities from worn and patchwork to exciting and ministry aligned. In just four short podcasts, you will likely learn more about church facilities than you have in years. Todd Brown of ...
11.11.2022 A Special Four-Part Series with Brown Church Development Group: How to Increase Attendance and Align Ministries with Your Church Facility – Part 3: Making Your Facilities Guest Friendly and Ministry A Here is the complete guide for taking your church facilities from worn and patchwork to exciting and ministry aligned. In just four short podcasts, you will likely learn more about church facilities than you have in years. Todd Brown of ...
11.11.2022 A Special Four-Part Series with Brown Church Development Group: How to Increase Attendance and Align Ministries with Your Church Facility – Part 2: Dealing with Patchwork and Worn-Out Facilities Here is the complete guide for taking your church facilities from worn and patchwork to exciting and ministry aligned. In just four short podcasts, you will likely learn more about church facilities than you have in years. Todd Brown of ...
11.11.2022 A Special Four-Part Series with Brown Church Development Group: How to Increase Attendance and Align Ministries with Your Church Facility – Part 1: Turning Your Facilities into Exciting Relational Sp Here is the complete guide for taking your church facilities from worn and patchwork to exciting and ministry aligned. In just four short podcasts, you will likely learn more about church facilities than you have in years. Todd Brown of ...
11.08.2022 The Serious Inflationary Warning for Churches https://youtu.be/jG2s_yaStD4 Inflation will become a more serious challenge than most church leaders realize. In fact, inflationary pressures could very well be a once-in-a-generation challenge. Thom and Sam examine the "why" behind the new inflationary pressures, and the "what" our response ...
11.01.2022 Six Ways to Make Certain Evangelism Does Not Die in Your Church https://youtu.be/V22HDnU91WE Evangelism is dead in approximately 9 out of 10 churches in America. The Great Commission has become the Great Omission. In this episode, Thom and Sam look at six practical ways evangelism can return as a priority in your ...
10.25.2022 How Streaming Has Changed Preaching https://youtu.be/wMQhDYgGIo0 Streaming is the ability to upload and receive video and audio over a computer device. Fifteen years ago, streaming was not widely available. Today, almost everyone streams. Thom and Sam discuss what this next phase of the digital revolution ...
10.18.2022 Is It Wise to Bring Family Members on Church Staff? https://youtu.be/SjkzPdOdXNI Thom and Sam look at the different perspectives of bringing family members on staff. As you would expect, it is not a clear-cut issue. It depends. Why it has succeeded Why it has failed Clear boundaries and guidelines What ...
10.11.2022 The New Rules for Staff Office Hours at Church https://youtu.be/27QDgjCZK2U Can a church staff work entirely from home? Should the church maintain consistent office hours where staff are at their desks? Thom and Sam discuss the new rules for staff office hours. While there is more flexibility today, office ...
10.04.2022 An Update on Church Health Post-COVID Heading into 2023 https://youtu.be/eq1g0s3wxKk So many changes took place in congregational life in 2022. Thom and Sam look at those changes and the implications for churches as we move into 2023. The co-vocational movement grew both out of necessity and out of desire. ...
09.27.2022 How Churches on the Edge of Death Survived https://youtu.be/YbRDDEj1R88 Their stories are rare, but they are worth telling. Some churches that were expected to close did not. Many of these churches seem to have everything going against them. Thom and Sam explain what took place in these churches. ...
09.20.2022 Why Revitalization May Not Be Working in Your Church https://youtu.be/A94ikruPpA8 Many pastors are leading churches that need revitalization. But a number of those leaders are discouraged that the process is not working or that it's working minimally. Sam and Thom discuss some reasons why revitalization may not be working ...
09.13.2022 How to Bring Evangelism Back into the Rhythms of Your Church https://youtu.be/JdpyeXkovow Evangelism is dead or nearly dead in most churches. Thom and Sam discuss why this sad situation developed, and what your church can do to see evangelism renewed among the members. Conversion growth is woefully lacking in most churches. ...
09.09.2022 Special Series: What You Are Likely Missing with Family Discipleship in the Church – An Interview with Matt Markins, President and CEO of Awana Thom and Sam welcome on the show Matt Markins, president and CEO of AWANA. Matt is a global leader and researcher in child discipleship. On this special episode, Thom, Sam, and Matt discuss what you are likely missing with family ...
09.09.2022 Special Series: How the Pandemic Has Changed Children’s Ministry (For the Better) – An Interview with Matt Markins, President and CEO of Awana Thom and Sam welcome on the show Matt Markins, president and CEO of AWANA. Matt is a global leader and researcher in child discipleship. On this special episode, Thom, Sam, and Matt discuss the current environment for children's ministry. Much ...
09.06.2022 Why You Should Teach Your Church Members to Understand the Bible as a Whole https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3-zhBzX-uU Your church may be lagging in health because your members do not understand the Bible well. Sam and Thom explain why most church members need to grasp the Bible as a whole before they can understand its parts. The ...
08.30.2022 How Church Guests Are Different Now Compared to Ten Years Ago https://youtu.be/1CZfrAowK1I Most churches have more guests than they realize. About 2% to 5% of those who worship on Sunday will identify as guests. How has this group changed in the last ten years? Thom and Sam discuss what is different ...
08.23.2022 The Four Ways Almost Every Growing Church Does It https://youtu.be/nCrwT2UUYw8 Every person who joins your church is a unique story of God’s grace. These individual stories are important and should be celebrated. From a statistical standpoint, however, there are four main ways churches grow. Thom and Sam discuss how ...
08.16.2022 The Changing Landscape of Ministry Education and Training https://youtu.be/44uJZp4vLM0 Like so much in the world and in churches, change is constant. Thom and Sam look at the fascinating changes in ministry training and education. These shifts will have a profound impact on local churches. The early winds of ...
08.09.2022 Helping Your Church Members Understand How Their Story is Intertwined with God’s Story: An Interview with The Chronological Bible Teaching Team https://youtu.be/ZnBqXAxhV74 Most Americans today read, but consume information via media and through storytelling. What does this mean for Bible reading and engagement? The Bible tells a story filled with themes and threads that connect us to God’s love and truth, ...
08.02.2022 What the Overturning of Roe v. Wade Means for the Church https://youtu.be/RHBUlfnUuH4 On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and eliminated the constitutional right to abortion after ruling on a new court case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Thom and Sam discuss the implications of this ...
07.26.2022 Six Prudent Practices to Prepare Your Church Budget for a Potential Economic Recession https://youtu.be/YW_hqAPlPaE Interest rates are on the rise. The stock market recently entered into bear territory. How will a potential recession affect your church? Thom and Sam discuss six ways you can help prepare your church for an economic downturn. Discipleship ...
07.19.2022 Should School and Similar Ministries Tied to a Church Be Self-Supporting? Six Key Thoughts https://youtu.be/J9AQXr-pzT8 Many churches have Christian schools, preschools, mom's day out, and other similar ministries. Should these ministries be financially self-supporting? The answer is not always clear. Thom and Sam discuss six key thoughts about this issue. There are a number ...
07.15.2022 15 Digital Tools Every Church Needs: A Special Three-Part Series – Part 3: The Newer Thom and Sam take the listeners through a three-part series detailing essential digital tools for the church. Some will be expected; others may not be. In each of the 15 categories, Thom and Sam are likely to provide you with ...
07.15.2022 15 Digital Tools Every Church Needs: A Special Three-Part Series – Part 2: The Helpful Thom and Sam take the listeners through a three-part series detailing essential digital tools for the church. Some will be expected; others may not be. In each of the 15 categories, Thom and Sam are likely to provide you with ...
07.15.2022 15 Digital Tools Every Church Needs: A Special Three-Part Series – Part 1: The Basics Thom and Sam take the listeners through a three-part series detailing essential digital tools for the church. Some will be expected; others may not be. In each of the 15 categories, Thom and Sam are likely to provide you with ...
07.12.2022 The Rise in Popularity of the New Living Translation: An Interview with Tremper Longman, III https://youtu.be/ohpi8S8gDLY Over the last few years, the New Living Translation has seen significant growth in popularity, even moving into the #2 spot for several months in a row. Still, some pastors are hesitant to use it as their main translation. ...
07.05.2022 Four Glaring Church Leadership Deficiencies You Can Correct Immediately https://youtu.be/5RfRdlMqgc0 Romans 12:18 makes clear believers are to do all they can to live at peace with everyone. This same sentiment is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:11, in which Paul instructs the church to live a quiet life and mind ...
06.28.2022 Why Younger Generations Are Leaving the Church and How to Reengage Them: An Interview with Streetlights Ministry https://youtu.be/BeJO6JjFXJ8 Pastors often ask us what they need to do to reach Millennials, Gen Z, and younger generations. On today's episode, Thom and Sam talk to Esteban Shedd and Loren La Luz from Streetlights about the Streetlights New Testament and ...
06.21.2022 How to Handle a Toxic Church Member https://youtu.be/VCQasIkc5wg At some point in ministry, most church leaders will face the reality of one or more toxic church members. Thom and Sam examine this challenge and offer tough but challenging steps to deal with this problem. Remember the power ...
06.14.2022 Your Church Members Won’t Always Agree with You And Why That’s Ok https://youtu.be/QeSgeMoobSE It’s unreasonable to expect everyone to agree with everything you say. In fact, if you’re doing your job well as a pastor, taking firm stances and having a clear vision, then you will likely have dissent. In most cases, ...
06.07.2022 Your Call to Pray for the Persecuted: An Interview with Todd Nettleton from the Voice of the Martyrs https://youtu.be/DWSR4trSeQM The Bible tells us to remember the prisoners as if we were in prison with them (Heb. 13:3), and the first request of persecuted Christians is that we PRAY for them. In today's episode, Thom and Sam talk to ...
05.31.2022 The Early Warning Signs Preceding a Decline in Church Health https://youtu.be/yW0CAuXn1Wg I have yet to see a church drift towards greater health. The current of apathy always pulls away. But what causes this drift? What are some early warning signs of an unraveling in a congregation? Thom and Sam discuss ...
05.24.2022 What Transparent Church Leaders Gain and What Secretive Church Leaders Lose https://youtu.be/qgF1ZgVxcJs Unless you work for an organization like the CIA, then transparency is often among the top characteristics requested of leaders. Of course, even organizations built on the foundation of secrecy have gotten into trouble for a lack of transparency. ...
05.17.2022 Things Believers Do that Make the Unchurched Bristle https://youtu.be/IPirUlLi_Lg Through our research, we’ve heard from the unchurched about things believers do that make them bristle the most. On this episode, Thom and Sam discuss a few of the most abrasive turn-offs. Confuse me with gossip and bad behavior. ...

Older episodes

Rainer on Leadership

What's Rainer on Leadership about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Rainer on Leadership episodes:

When Is It Time to Fight in a Church?

A Special Three-Part Series with Church Growth Services: Changes in Church Finances Every Leader Needs to Know – Part 3: Increasing Capital Giving in a Challenging Environment

A Special Three-Part Series with Church Growth Services: Changes in Church Finances Every Leader Needs to Know – Part 2: How to Increase Budget Giving in a Challenging Environment

A Special Three-Part Series with Church Growth Services: Changes in Church Finances Every Leader Needs to Know – Part 1: Post-Quarantine Church Finances

Six Things We Would Tell Our Younger Selves about Pastoring

New Data Reveals Big Gains for Non-Denominational Churches

When the Pastor’s Spouse Wants to Leave the Church

What Changes with a Move from a Church of 50 to a Church of 150

What Is a Smaller Church? What Is a Larger Church? Part 2: The Implications of this New Data

What Is a Smaller Church? What Is a Larger Church? Part 1: The Surprise (Shock?) of this New Data

Exactly What Is Women’s Ministry in the Church? An Interview with Jacki King

Do We Have a Clear Picture of Spiritual Gifts Today?

Do You Have to Be Committed to a Local Church to Be a Christian?

Why Many Churches Are Becoming Mini-Seminaries

How a Financial Champion Can Significantly Increase Giving in Your Church

A Special Four-Part Series with Brown Church Development Group: How to Increase Attendance and Align Ministries with Your Church Facility – Part 4: You MUST Listen to This Podcast Before Moving into a

A Special Four-Part Series with Brown Church Development Group: How to Increase Attendance and Align Ministries with Your Church Facility – Part 3: Making Your Facilities Guest Friendly and Ministry A

A Special Four-Part Series with Brown Church Development Group: How to Increase Attendance and Align Ministries with Your Church Facility – Part 2: Dealing with Patchwork and Worn-Out Facilities

A Special Four-Part Series with Brown Church Development Group: How to Increase Attendance and Align Ministries with Your Church Facility – Part 1: Turning Your Facilities into Exciting Relational Sp

The Serious Inflationary Warning for Churches

Six Ways to Make Certain Evangelism Does Not Die in Your Church

How Streaming Has Changed Preaching

Is It Wise to Bring Family Members on Church Staff?

The New Rules for Staff Office Hours at Church

An Update on Church Health Post-COVID Heading into 2023

How Churches on the Edge of Death Survived

Why Revitalization May Not Be Working in Your Church

How to Bring Evangelism Back into the Rhythms of Your Church

Special Series: What You Are Likely Missing with Family Discipleship in the Church – An Interview with Matt Markins, President and CEO of Awana

Special Series: How the Pandemic Has Changed Children’s Ministry (For the Better) – An Interview with Matt Markins, President and CEO of Awana

Why You Should Teach Your Church Members to Understand the Bible as a Whole

How Church Guests Are Different Now Compared to Ten Years Ago

The Four Ways Almost Every Growing Church Does It

The Changing Landscape of Ministry Education and Training

Helping Your Church Members Understand How Their Story is Intertwined with God’s Story: An Interview with The Chronological Bible Teaching Team

What the Overturning of Roe v. Wade Means for the Church

Six Prudent Practices to Prepare Your Church Budget for a Potential Economic Recession

Should School and Similar Ministries Tied to a Church Be Self-Supporting? Six Key Thoughts

15 Digital Tools Every Church Needs: A Special Three-Part Series – Part 3: The Newer

15 Digital Tools Every Church Needs: A Special Three-Part Series – Part 2: The Helpful

15 Digital Tools Every Church Needs: A Special Three-Part Series – Part 1: The Basics

The Rise in Popularity of the New Living Translation: An Interview with Tremper Longman, III

Four Glaring Church Leadership Deficiencies You Can Correct Immediately

Why Younger Generations Are Leaving the Church and How to Reengage Them: An Interview with Streetlights Ministry

How to Handle a Toxic Church Member

Your Church Members Won’t Always Agree with You And Why That’s Ok

Your Call to Pray for the Persecuted: An Interview with Todd Nettleton from the Voice of the Martyrs

The Early Warning Signs Preceding a Decline in Church Health

What Transparent Church Leaders Gain and What Secretive Church Leaders Lose

Things Believers Do that Make the Unchurched Bristle