Rainer on Leadership

By Thom RainerBusiness Religion & Spirituality Christianity Education Courses Management

Favorites
102
Followers
Typical duration
23 min
per episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

Rainer on Leadership episodes

November 20, 2025The Top Reasons Why It’s Painful for Pastors to Lose Church Members
One of the more painful aspects of ministry is losing church members. Sometimes these departures are for good reasons, like moving to another town or planting a church. More often than not, pastors struggle with the reasons why people leave. Josh and Sam discuss why pastors experience pain with the loss of members, and they explore some ways to cope with the accompanying sadness.
When people leave the church, it feels personal because it often is.
Most pastors genuinely love their church members, even the difficult ones.
The time invested in people can feel like a waste when they leave for petty reasons.
Morale often drops when well-known people exit.
Pastors fear others will follow the lead of those who left.
Resources:
“Leadership in a Chaotic World” by Dr. Andrew Walker, Dr. Justin Irving, and Dr. Jeremy Pierre
Doctor of Ministry, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Join Platinum for 1-on-1 and group coaching with Sam. Email [email protected]
FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights
Church Answers Central
The Hope Initiative
Episode Sponsors:
If you’re feeling the weight of leadership in today’s unstable world, you’re not alone.
Southern Seminary is offering a free ebook called Leadership in a Chaotic World—written by trusted faculty to equip pastors with biblical clarity, character, and conviction.
It’s a short, practical guide from Dr. Andrew Walker, Dr. Justin Irving, and Dr. Jeremy Pierre to help you lead well in the midst of cultural pressure, spiritual fatigue, and ministry complexity.
Download it for free.
The post The Top Reasons Why It’s Painful for Pastors to Lose Church Members appeared first on Church Answers.
23 min
November 17, 2025An Entrepreneurial-Minded Pastor in an Established Church: The Unique Story of a Baltimore Congregation
In this episode, Sam interviews Tim Byer, pastor of FAITH in Glen Burnie, MD, to hear how his congregation is making a real impact in their community. Pastor Tim shares the story of how his church began using VisitorReach, a tool designed to connect churches with first-time guests and neighbors. What started as a simple outreach effort has become a powerful way to build relationships, welcome new families, and share the hope of Christ in Baltimore.
Resources:
Rooted
Upward Sports
Upward Running
FAITH
VisitorReach
Church Answers Platinum Membership
FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights
The Hope Initiative
Episode Sponsors:
The Rooted experience can help you create a discipleship culture that connects your people and leads to ongoing life change in Jesus. Rooted is…
A proven plan for helping people connect to God, their church, and their purpose
A sustainable way to launch groups
An approach to discipleship that helps people step out of their comfort zones and experience life-changing rhythms of discipleship
An opportunity to change the culture of your church
Visit experiencerooted.com/churchanswers for free resources to help you learn more, including the What is Rooted? video and a free download of the Rooted experience framework and Rooted Workbook sample.

Upward Running for Adults: Your Church’s Next Step in Outreach
Offer a 5K Challenge for adults at your church (engage your adults in 2026): Inspire your congregation and engage your community with a meaningful running ministry. Upward provides:
Tailored training plans to help your runner or walkers move from the couch to completing a 5k.
Access to the new RunClub app for tracking progress and building community.
A fully customizable program that fits your church’s timeline — all led by your run coach who will be fully equipped with the Upward Running materials to lead.
Simple to Start: With just one passionate leader and no facility needed, your church parking lot can become the starting line for life transformation.
Build Stronger Connections: Use running to foster relationships, promote healthy habits, and grow spiritually while expanding your church’s impact.
Upward Sports is ready to help you start this at your church: Visit Upward.org/Runcoach to get started today!
The post An Entrepreneurial-Minded Pastor in an Established Church: The Unique Story of a Baltimore Congregation appeared first on Church Answers.
27 min
November 13, 2025Three Things Every Church Small Group Leader Should Be Doing
In this episode, Sam interviews Michael Kelley of the Rooted Network. They discuss three essentials that every great small group leader should consistently practice. These simple but powerful habits can transform any group into a place of authentic community and spiritual growth.
Guide more than lecture: By listening well and encouraging dialogue, small group leaders can create environments where people are more engaged.
Share group responsibilities: Assign key weekly tasks to people in the group: hospitality, food, follow-up, prayer, service projects. When everyone has ownership, development and growth in the group occurs more quickly.
Leverage the before and after time: Life-changing conversations often happen in the margins, before and after the meeting. Wise leaders show up early, stay late, and invest in those relational moments.
Check out this Rooted article from Chad Cronin.
Resources:
“Leadership in a Chaotic World” by Dr. Andrew Walker, Dr. Justin Irving, and Dr. Jeremy Pierre
Doctor of Ministry, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
“3 Essential Practices of Every Great Small Group Leader” by Chad Cronin
FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights
Church Answers Central
The Hope Initiative
Episode Sponsors:
If you’re feeling the weight of leadership in today’s unstable world, you’re not alone.
Southern Seminary is offering a free ebook called Leadership in a Chaotic World—written by trusted faculty to equip pastors with biblical clarity, character, and conviction.
It’s a short, practical guide from Dr. Andrew Walker, Dr. Justin Irving, and Dr. Jeremy Pierre to help you lead well in the midst of cultural pressure, spiritual fatigue, and ministry complexity.
Download it for free.
The post Three Things Every Church Small Group Leader Should Be Doing appeared first on Church Answers.
25 min
November 10, 2025How to Grow Generosity in Your Church (Without Making It Complicated)
The reality is that growing generosity doesn’t require a big program or complex strategy. It requires simplicity. Specifically, one simple principle: communicate, communicate, communicate, communicate. Mike Stadelmayer of Church Growth Services joins Sam on the show to discuss some simple ways you can grow generosity in your church.
Communicate Gratitude — Say thank you often. Express genuine appreciation for your congregation’s giving, whether you’re over or under budget. Gratitude inspires faithfulness.
Communicate Ministry Impact — Tell stories of ministries that exist because of generosity. Connect giving to tangible outcomes in the life of your church.
Communicate Life Change — Highlight stories of transformation: a salvation, a restored marriage, a person helped. These moments show the spiritual return on investment.
Communicate the Word — Ground every message in Scripture. Follow Paul’s example of thanking, encouraging, and celebrating believers for their faithfulness and impact.
The bottom line: you don’t need a new committee or a glossy campaign. Just keep it simple, keep it biblical, and keep communicating. Generosity grows when gratitude and stories flow freely.
Resources:
Rooted
Upward Sports
Church Growth Services
Brown Church Development Group
Church Answers Platinum Membership
FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights
The Hope Initiative
Episode Sponsors:
The Rooted experience can help you create a discipleship culture that connects your people and leads to ongoing life change in Jesus. Rooted is…
A proven plan for helping people connect to God, their church, and their purpose
A sustainable way to launch groups
An approach to discipleship that helps people step out of their comfort zones and experience life-changing rhythms of discipleship
An opportunity to change the culture of your church
Visit experiencerooted.com/churchanswers for free resources to help you learn more, including the What is Rooted? video and a free download of the Rooted experience framework and Rooted Workbook sample.

Start Preparing Now for 2026! Sports that Bring People Together.
Start preparing now for 2026 with sports that bring people together! As you look ahead to what’s next in your ministry, consider creating an outreach strategy that offers a warm invitation to the whole family—using sports as that natural and powerful invite. Whether it’s basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball, pickleball, or even running for adults, Upward Sports is ready to equip your church to reach families right in the heart of your community. All it takes is one passionate leader and a church ready to make an impact.
Learn more at www.Upward.org/ChurchAnswers.
The post How to Grow Generosity in Your Church (Without Making It Complicated) appeared first on Church Answers.
24 min
November 06, 2025The Unchurched Are Not Angry with You (But They Are Indifferent)
Why don’t unchurched people attend church? It’s not because they’re mad or too busy. The top reason is simple: they just don’t see the point. Indifference is the enemy of engagement. In today’s episode, Josh and Sam share why that’s actually good news—and how the combination of spiritual conviction and a personal invitation can break through the apathy.
Don’t argue with indifference—disrupt it with love and presence.
Personal invitations still work and remain the #1 reason people attend.
Start with a relationship, not a program.
Pray for spiritual openness—then act on it with intentionality.
Resources:
“Leadership in a Chaotic World” by Dr. Andrew Walker, Dr. Justin Irving, and Dr. Jeremy Pierre
Doctor of Ministry, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Join Platinum for 1-on-1 and group coaching with Sam. Email [email protected]
FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights
Church Answers Central
The Hope Initiative
Episode Sponsors:
If you’re feeling the weight of leadership in today’s unstable world, you’re not alone.
Southern Seminary is offering a free ebook called Leadership in a Chaotic World—written by trusted faculty to equip pastors with biblical clarity, character, and conviction.
It’s a short, practical guide from Dr. Andrew Walker, Dr. Justin Irving, and Dr. Jeremy Pierre to help you lead well in the midst of cultural pressure, spiritual fatigue, and ministry complexity.
Download it for free.
The post The Unchurched Are Not Angry with You (But They Are Indifferent) appeared first on Church Answers.
20 min
November 03, 2025The Church Number: From 137 to 60 The Shrinking Median Church in America (2000–2023)
Since 2000, one of the most reliable sources of data on congregations in America has been the Faith Communities Today study, often referred to as FACT. It’s been conducted every five years, with the most recent survey in 2023 representing tens of thousands of congregations across every major faith tradition.
The FACT research gives us a clear picture of what the ‘typical’ church looks like over time. And here’s one of the most striking trends: in 2000, the median church in America had 137 people in attendance at weekly worship services. By 2023, that number had dropped to just 60. Today, Sam and Thom will talk about what that shift means for pastors, leaders, and the future of congregations.
Resources:
Rooted
Upward Sports
Upward Running
FACT 2023 Summary Reports
“The Surprising Return of the Neighborhood Church: Discover How Your Church Is Primed to Reach Your Neighbors” by Sam Rainer (affiliate link)
Church Answers Platinum Membership
FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights
The Hope Initiative
Episode Sponsors:
The Rooted experience can help you create a discipleship culture that connects your people and leads to ongoing life change in Jesus. Rooted is…
A proven plan for helping people connect to God, their church, and their purpose
A sustainable way to launch groups
An approach to discipleship that helps people step out of their comfort zones and experience life-changing rhythms of discipleship
An opportunity to change the culture of your church
Visit experiencerooted.com/churchanswers for free resources to help you learn more, including the What is Rooted? video and a free download of the Rooted experience framework and Rooted Workbook sample.

Upward Running for Adults: Your Church’s Next Step in Outreach
Offer a 5K Challenge for adults at your church (engage your adults in 2026): Inspire your congregation and engage your community with a meaningful running ministry. Upward provides:
Tailored training plans to help your runner or walkers move from the couch to completing a 5k.
Access to the new RunClub app for tracking progress and building community.
A fully customizable program that fits your church’s timeline — all led by your run coach who will be fully equipped with the Upward Running materials to lead.
Simple to Start: With just one passionate leader and no facility needed, your church parking lot can become the starting line for life transformation.
Build Stronger Connections: Use running to foster relationships, promote healthy habits, and grow spiritually while expanding your church’s impact.
Upward Sports is ready to help you start this at your church: Visit Upward.org/Runcoach to get started today!
The post The Church Number: From 137 to 60 The Shrinking Median Church in America (2000–2023) appeared first on Church Answers.
25 min
October 30, 2025Many Churches Face Future Sticker Shock with Deferred Maintenance
Sam interviews Tim Cool of Smart Church Solutions to dig into a hidden but pressing crisis facing many North American churches: deferred maintenance. Too often, churches delay costly but necessary facility repairs until the problems become overwhelming. This pattern of neglect can saddle pastors with impossible burdens and even push congregations toward closure. Yet, church buildings remain vital assets for kingdom work, providing gathering spaces, anchoring communities, and making ministry possible. We’ll explore both the challenges of sticker shock and practical strategies for churches to get ahead of the curve—budgeting wisely, prioritizing projects, and cultivating generosity that keeps facilities vibrant for generations.
The Hidden Cost of Delay: Deferred maintenance is often ignored until it becomes catastrophic. Sticker shock from million-dollar HVAC replacements or six-figure roof repairs can cripple a congregation’s future.
Facilities as Kingdom Assets: Church buildings aren’t just expenses; they’re strategic tools for ministry. Their visibility, accessibility, and welcoming environment play a direct role in evangelism and discipleship.
The Pastor’s Burden: Neglected campuses can wear pastors down, distracting them from ministry and overwhelming them with constant facility crises.
Practical Solutions Churches Can Implement: Create a budget line for deferred maintenance, prioritize projects quarterly, use surpluses strategically, and celebrate visible progress to inspire generosity.
The Role of Ongoing Generosity: Encourage members to give consistently to a building fund, alongside the operating budget and missions giving, to sustain the church’s facilities long term.
Resources:
Doctor of Ministry, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Smart Church Solutions
Smart Church Solutions, Resources
“Facility Management Devotional: A Year-Long Practical Guide” by Tim Cool, Nathan Parr, and Patrick Hart (affiliate link)
FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights
Church Answers Central
The Hope Initiative
Episode Sponsors:
The Doctor of Ministry at Southern Seminary is designed to strengthen both you and your church.
You’ll bring a real challenge from your ministry into the program—and through trusted faculty mentorship and applied theological study, you’ll develop a biblically grounded, practical plan that equips you to implement lasting change in your church.
This is theological scholarship applied where it matters most: your local ministry.
Study under faculty mentors who are both scholars and seasoned ministry leaders.
Sharpen your thinking, deepen your theology, and lead with clarity.
Build a network of peers who share your calling and understand your challenges.
Learn how at sbts.edu/dmin.

Looking for a better way to manage your church or school facilities?
eSPACE is the leading facility management software built specifically for churches.
It helps you schedule events, manage work orders, and track assets – all in one place.
You can even automate things like HVAC and door access to save time and money.
Trusted by over 1,250 organizations – including some of the largest churches in the country.
If you’re tired of spreadsheets, sticky notes, or last-minute maintenance emergencies, it’s time to check out eSPACE.
Learn more and book a personalized demo at smartchurchsolutions.com/rainer/.
The post Many Churches Face Future Sticker Shock with Deferred Maintenance appeared first on Church Answers.
25 min
October 27, 2025The Burge Report: The Biggest Little Denomination: The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)
Sam and Ryan Burge take a deep dive into the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), unpacking the denomination’s unique growth patterns, size distribution, and robust recordkeeping. They explore surprising statistics on membership trends, baptisms, and church finances—revealing why some PCA congregations thrive while others remain stagnant. The co-hosts highlight key takeaways for understanding both the strengths and challenges of one of America’s most data-rich evangelical denominations.
High Data Compliance and Transparency – Nearly 90% of PCA churches submitted membership and financial data within the last three years, making their statistics unusually reliable compared to other denominations.
Outsized Influence – The PCA has a significant presence on social media and a large-scale influence on evangelical Christians through their pastors and leaders (e.g., Tim Keller).
Strong Growth but Uneven Distribution – While the PCA adds 1.5–2% to its membership rolls annually, growth is concentrated in larger churches, with many smaller congregations stagnant or declining.
Predominantly Small to Mid-Sized Churches – The median PCA church has 117 members, and roughly 75% have 250 or fewer, mirroring national church size trends.
Mixed Baptism Trends – About one-third of PCA churches had zero adult baptisms last year, and nearly half had fewer than three infant baptisms, signaling challenges in evangelism and retention.
Financial Realities – Church income strongly correlates with size, averaging about $3,500 in additional annual income per new member, but with notable outliers in both wealth and scarcity.
Resources:
Upward Sports
Upward Sports: Pickleball
Life Application Study Bible
Church Connect
Tyndale House Publishers
“A Deep Dive into the Presbyterian Church in America” by Ryan Burge
Ryan Burge
“The American Religious Landscape” by Ryan Burge (affiliate link)
Church Answers Platinum Membership
FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights
The Hope Initiative
Episode Sponsors:
A Variety of Sports for Every Church. From basketball, cheerleading, soccer, flag football, volleyball, and baseball to running for adults — and now pickleball — Upward Sports offers flexible league options to fit your church’s unique needs.
Exciting News: Did you hear? Pickleball is the newest offering – Claim your TWO free net sets, while supplies last! Launched in April, pickleball is perfect for middle and high schoolers — easy to learn, quick to set up, and highly engaging. Whether you prefer a traditional league or a flexible practice-and-play format, Upward Sports is here to guide you. Plus, to help you get started, Upward is offering two free Pickleball Net Sets when you create your league. But act fast — only 200 sets are available! Schedule your call today and build a purposeful pickleball ministry in your community. Learn more at www.Upward.org/Pickleball where you can access an equipment list, court dimensions, and more.
Be the Neighborhood Church. Want to create a welcoming space for families? Upward Sports provides a first-class, well-organized, and fun league experience. As a self-sustaining ministry, any church — big or small — can get started. Customize your outreach ministry today.
Learn more at www.Upward.org/ChurchAnswers.

Experience profound transformation as you encounter God through the pages of the Life Application Study Bible. Bible engagement is not just about knowing Scripture; it’s about living it out! The Life Application Study Bible deepens your connection with God and inspires a transformed life through a growing relationship with Christ.
Crafted by dedicated scholars and pastors, the Life Application Study Bible is filled with thousands of study resources that increase understanding so you can experience Scripture’s life-changing power. For readers from nine to ninety and beyond, the Life Application Study Bible is designed to help you find true heart transformation.
Learn more here.
The post The Burge Report: The Biggest Little Denomination: The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) appeared first on Church Answers.
26 min
October 23, 2025The One-Person Church Communication Plan (That Actually Works)
Many pastors and church leaders face a common challenge: how to develop an effective communications strategy when you don’t have a big team to help you. Julie Masson, church communications expert, joins Sam on the show to discuss a simple, repeatable approach to managing church communications without burning out. You’ll learn how to build a messaging calendar around the predictable rhythms of church life—like Easter, Christmas, and the fall ministry launch—and how that calendar can help you stay ahead, reduce stress, and communicate with clarity and consistency. With this plan, you will hear fewer comments like “I didn’t hear about that” and more comments like “thanks for letting me know.”
Resources:
Smart Church Solutions
Doctor of Ministry, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Julie Masson
FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights
Church Answers Central
The Hope Initiative
Episode Sponsors:
Looking for a better way to manage your church or school facilities?
eSPACE is the leading facility management software built specifically for churches.
It helps you schedule events, manage work orders, and track assets – all in one place.
You can even automate things like HVAC and door access to save time and money.
Trusted by over 1,250 organizations – including some of the largest churches in the country.
If you’re tired of spreadsheets, sticky notes, or last-minute maintenance emergencies, it’s time to check out eSPACE.
Learn more and book a personalized demo at smartchurchsolutions.com/rainer/.

The Doctor of Ministry at Southern Seminary is designed to strengthen both you and your church.
You’ll bring a real challenge from your ministry into the program—and through trusted faculty mentorship and applied theological study, you’ll develop a biblically grounded, practical plan that equips you to implement lasting change in your church.
This is theological scholarship applied where it matters most: your local ministry.
Study under faculty mentors who are both scholars and seasoned ministry leaders.
Sharpen your thinking, deepen your theology, and lead with clarity.
Build a network of peers who share your calling and understand your challenges.
Learn how at sbts.edu/dmin.
The post The One-Person Church Communication Plan (That Actually Works) appeared first on Church Answers.
30 min
October 20, 2025How to Get Families in Your Church to Read the Bible Together
Sam welcomes Amanda Jass to the Rainer on Leadership podcast. Amanda serves as the general editor for the NLT GO Bible and is a gifted writer, editor, illustrator, and encourager. She has a passion for creating content for all ages, with a special focus on resources for kids and families.
Why is it important for multiple generations to read God’s Word together?
In a time when generations often seem at odds, how can churches model a better way?
How can the New Living Translation and resources like the GO Bible help foster multigenerational relationships?
Children’s ministry is sometimes viewed as “less than” or simply something we have to do. How can we change that perception—and why does it matter?
Why is it important to model Bible reading and study for kids, and what are the benefits of doing it in community?
Resources:
Kids GO Bible
Amanda Jass
Life Application Study Bible
Church Connect
Tyndale House Publishers
Upward Sports
Upward Sports: Pickleball
Church Answers Platinum Membership
FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights
The Hope Initiative
Episode Sponsors:
Experience profound transformation as you encounter God through the pages of the Life Application Study Bible. Bible engagement is not just about knowing Scripture; it’s about living it out! The Life Application Study Bible deepens your connection with God and inspires a transformed life through a growing relationship with Christ.
Crafted by dedicated scholars and pastors, the Life Application Study Bible is filled with thousands of study resources that increase understanding so you can experience Scripture’s life-changing power. For readers from nine to ninety and beyond, the Life Application Study Bible is designed to help you find true heart transformation.
Learn more here.

Start Preparing Now for 2026! Looking ahead to what’s next in your ministry? Create an outreach strategy that includes a warm invite for the whole family – use sports as that invite. Whether it’s basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball, pickleball, or running for adults, Upward Sports is ready to support your church in reaching families right in the heart of your community. All you need is access to a gym or field and one passionate leader — Upward will support you with the rest.
A Variety of Sports for Every Church. From basketball, cheerleading, soccer, flag football, volleyball, and baseball to running for adults — and now pickleball — Upward Sports offers flexible league options to fit your church’s unique needs.
Exciting News: Did you hear? Pickleball is the newest offering – Claim your TWO free net sets, while supplies last! Launched in April, pickleball is perfect for middle and high schoolers — easy to learn, quick to set up, and highly engaging. Whether you prefer a traditional league or a flexible practice-and-play format, Upward Sports is here to guide you. Plus, to help you get started, Upward is offering two free Pickleball Net Sets when you create your league. But act fast — only 200 sets are available! Schedule your call today and build a purposeful pickleball ministry in your community. Learn more at www.Upward.org/Pickleball where you can access an equipment list, court dimensions, and more.
Be the Neighborhood Church. Want to create a welcoming space for families? Upward Sports provides a first-class, well-organized, and fun league experience. As a self-sustaining ministry, any church — big or small — can get started. Customize your outreach ministry today.
Learn more at www.Upward.org/ChurchAnswers.
The post How to Get Families in Your Church to Read the Bible Together appeared first on Church Answers.
23 min