Rainer on Leadership

Podcast Episode #328

SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play

A post by Chuck Lawless serves as the basis for today's podcast. Dr. Lawless has been consulting with churches for nearly two decades and shared ten things he had learned from dozens of church consultations.

Some highlights from today's episode include:

* Most of the time, when a church consultant is called in, it is too late.

* Every church should consider having a health check-up every three years.

* The primary purpose of contracting a church consultant is to have outside eyes that will point out things the church is blind to.

* Most pastors and lay leaders don't know the attendance trends in their own church.

* Just because a church is growing numerically doesn't mean it's growing transformationally.

* The pulpit has a primary purpose: the proclamation of the Word of God.

The ten items we discuss are:

* Churches often wait too long to address decline.

* Statistics really are helpful.

* Prayer in unhealthy churches is reactive rather than proactive.

* Churches often settle for numerical growth rather than life transformation.

* Churches do not know their community.

* Most churches aren’t ready for conversion growth if God were to send it.

* Sometimes the most obvious suggestions seem the most revolutionary.

* The leader in the pulpit matters.

* In most churches, somebody wants the congregation to make an eternal difference.

* God is still growing His church.

Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.

Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting WeStaffTheChurch.com.

Midwestern Seminary, one of the fastest growing seminaries in North America, exists to train leaders For The Church. The local church is God’s “Plan A” for the proclamation of the gospel, and there is no Plan B. And this is Midwestern’s vision and heartbeat—equipping pastors and other ministry leaders who are called to expand God’s mission in the world through the local church. At Midwestern Seminary: they train leaders ‘For The Church.’

Visit them online at MBTS.edu and start your ministry training today.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you'll receive a free copy of

Podcast Episode #328

A post by Chuck Lawless serves as the basis for today's podcast. Dr. Lawless has been consulting with churches for nearly two decades and shared ten things he had learned from dozens of church consultations.

Some highlights from today's episode include:

* Most of the time, when a church consultant is called in, it is too late.

* Every church should consider having a health check-up every three years.

* The primary purpose of contracting a church consultant is to have outside eyes that will point out things the church is blind to.

* Most pastors and lay leaders don't know the attendance trends in their own church.

* Just because a church is growing numerically doesn't mean it's growing transformationally.

* The pulpit has a primary purpose: the proclamation of the Word of God.

The ten items we discuss are:

* Churches often wait too long to address decline.

* Statistics really are helpful.

* Prayer in unhealthy churches is reactive rather than proactive.

* Churches often settle for numerical growth rather than life transformation.

* Churches do not know their community.

* Most churches aren’t ready for conversion growth if God were to send it.

* Sometimes the most obvious suggestions seem the most revolutionary.

* The leader in the pulpit matters.

* In most churches, somebody wants the congregation to make an eternal difference.

* God is still growing His church.

Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.

Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting WeStaffTheChurch.com.

Midwestern Seminary, one of the fastest growing seminaries in North America, exists to train leaders For The Church. The local church is God’s “Plan A” for the proclamation of the gospel, and there is no Plan B. And this is Midwestern’s vision and heartbeat—equipping pastors and other ministry leaders who are called to expand God’s mission in the world through the local church. At Midwestern Seminary: they train leaders ‘For The Church.’

Visit them online at MBTS.edu and start your ministry training today.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here on Church Answers.

Resources Mentioned in Today's Podcast

* ChuckLawless.com

* The Lawless Group

* Pastoral Leadership, Prayer, and Church Health – Rainer on Leadership #316

* Transformational Church Survey

*

Podcast Episode #327

SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play

Warren Bird joins us today to talk about how your church can break growth barriers at any level.

Some highlights from today's episode include:

* People are in your community. Are you ready to reach them?

* "Pastors shouldn't be the only minister in a church. They should be the minister maker."

* "Hire developers before you hire doers."

* "It's not how many seeds are in an apple, but how many apples are in a seed."

* We will lead change, or it will lead us.

* "In anything you do in ministry, are you taking someone with you and teaching them?"

* The Great Commission cannot be dichotomized into evangelism or discipleship. It's both.

The seven myths about breaking growth barriers we discuss are:

* It can't be done here

* I could do it if I could work longer hours

* We could break the 200 barrier if we could hire a _______.

* The people God has given us are afraid to grow.

* I'm not wired to develop and coach the leaders we need,

* God's got us in a different season right now. I don't think he wants us to grow.

* We could do it if we were in different facilities.

About Warren Bird

Warren Bird is research director for Leadership Network, the nation's leading catalyst for helping innovative church leaders move from ideas to impact. An ordained minister, he teaches at Alliance Theological Seminary. He is also author or coauthor of twenty-eight books, including Next: Pastoral Succession That Works. He and his wife, Michelle, live in a suburb of New York City.

Episode Sponsors

The Timothy Track, from Midwestern Seminary, offers select residential M.Div. students placement in internship positions in a local church in the area. Now you can complement your studies with in-the-field ministry experience. In addition, all Timothy Track students will receive up to 12 credit hours for the internship and a 50% tuition scholarship for the first year.

Find out more at mbts.edu/TimothyTrack.

Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.

Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting WeStaffTheChurch.com.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you'll receive a free copy of Who Moved My Pulpit?

Podcast Episode #327

Warren Bird joins us today to talk about how your church can break growth barriers at any level.

Some highlights from today's episode include:

* People are in your community. Are you ready to reach them?

* "Pastors shouldn't be the only minister in a church. They should be the minister maker."

* "Hire developers before you hire doers."

* "It's not how many seeds are in an apple, but how many apples are in a seed."

* We will lead change, or it will lead us.

* "In anything you do in ministry, are you taking someone with you and teaching them?"

* The Great Commission cannot be dichotomized into evangelism or discipleship. It's both.

The seven myths about breaking growth barriers we discuss are:

* It can't be done here

* I could do it if I could work longer hours

* We could break the 200 barrier if we could hire a _______.

* The people God has given us are afraid to grow.

* I'm not wired to develop and coach the leaders we need,

* God's got us in a different season right now. I don't think he wants us to grow.

* We could do it if we were in different facilities.

About Warren Bird

Warren Bird is research director for Leadership Network, the nation's leading catalyst for helping innovative church leaders move from ideas to impact. An ordained minister, he teaches at Alliance Theological Seminary. He is also author or coauthor of twenty-eight books, including Next: Pastoral Succession That Works. He and his wife, Michelle, live in a suburb of New York City.

Episode Sponsors

The Timothy Track, from Midwestern Seminary, offers select residential M.Div. students placement in internship positions in a local church in the area. Now you can complement your studies with in-the-field ministry experience. In addition, all Timothy Track students will receive up to 12 credit hours for the internship and a 50% tuition scholarship for the first year.

Find out more at mbts.edu/TimothyTrack.

Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.

Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting WeStaffTheChurch.com.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here on Church Answers.

Resources Mentioned in Today's Podcast

* How to Break Growth Barriers: Revise Your Role, Release Your People, and Capture Overlooked Opportunities for Your Church

* The Everychurch Guide to Growth: How Any Plateaued Church Can Grow

Podcast Episode #326

SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play

Millennials are being called to established churches, so today we cover six reasons they should answer those calls. Thanks to Sam Rainer for the outline for today's podcast.

Some highlights from today's episode include:

* Established churches are more likely to be more generationally diverse than church plants.

* A sense of history of the church is invaluable to a new pastor.

* Sometimes an established church's history can be damaging to its reputation.

* If you're being considered to pastor a church, ask other pastors in the area about the church before you make your decision.

* There are a lot more opportunities to serve in an established church than in new churches.

* Established churches need good pastors too.

* I wish Millennials were more enthusiastic about leading in established churches.

The six reasons we discuss are:

* Diversity includes multiple generations.

* The older generations will teach you things your own generation may not.

* Established churches tend to be more stable.

* Younger people need a sense of history.

* Established churches are more rooted in the community.

* There are a lot more of them.

Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.

Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting WeStaffTheChurch.com.

Midwestern Seminary, one of the fastest growing seminaries in North America, exists to train leaders For The Church. The local church is God’s “Plan A” for the proclamation of the gospel, and there is no Plan B. And this is Midwestern’s vision and heartbeat—equipping pastors and other ministry leaders who are called to expand God’s mission in the world through the local church. At Midwestern Seminary: they train leaders ‘For The Church.’

Visit them online at MBTS.edu and start your ministry training today.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you'll receive a free copy of Who Moved My Pulpit?

Resources Mentioned in Today's Podcast

* SamRainer.com

* Est. Podcast

*

Podcast Episode #326

Millennials are being called to established churches, so today we cover six reasons they should answer those calls. Thanks to Sam Rainer for the outline for today's podcast.

Some highlights from today's episode include:

* Established churches are more likely to be more generationally diverse than church plants.

* A sense of history of the church is invaluable to a new pastor.

* Sometimes an established church's history can be damaging to its reputation.

* If you're being considered to pastor a church, ask other pastors in the area about the church before you make your decision.

* There are a lot more opportunities to serve in an established church than in new churches.

* Established churches need good pastors too.

* I wish Millennials were more enthusiastic about leading in established churches.

The six reasons we discuss are:

* Diversity includes multiple generations.

* The older generations will teach you things your own generation may not.

* Established churches tend to be more stable.

* Younger people need a sense of history.

* Established churches are more rooted in the community.

* There are a lot more of them.

Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.

Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting WeStaffTheChurch.com.

Midwestern Seminary, one of the fastest growing seminaries in North America, exists to train leaders For The Church. The local church is God’s “Plan A” for the proclamation of the gospel, and there is no Plan B. And this is Midwestern’s vision and heartbeat—equipping pastors and other ministry leaders who are called to expand God’s mission in the world through the local church. At Midwestern Seminary: they train leaders ‘For The Church.’

Visit them online at MBTS.edu and start your ministry training today.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here on Church Answers.

Resources Mentioned in Today's Podcast

* SamRainer.com

* Est. Podcast

* Volunteer Apocalypse

Podcast Episode #325

SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play

Listener feedback has been great recently, so we take some time to answer your questions on this week's episode. We cover everything from hiring to boring churches to problems with former staff.

Some highlights from today's episode include:

* If a ministry event is high on resources and involvement but low on results, it may be time to pull the plug on it.

* You hire in the church based on Christian commitment and a sense of call.

* Pastors should be careful when taking on the title of pastor emeritus.

* The title "pastor emeritus" can be very confusing for church members and those in the community.

* Pastors who follow those who left due to moral failure have to build more trust with the congregation.

* Sometimes enthusiasm in one area of ministry will spill over into other areas that are completely unrelated.

The listener questions we ask are:

Les asks:

How do you determine when an event/outreach just isn't going to develop as you had hoped vs. giving it one more year or one more try?

Cameron asks:

How is hiring in the church changing? How is it, or how should it be different from the secular world?

Jim asks:

How do I deal with a pastor emeritus who thinks the church should be more like it was when he was pastor? He still refers to himself in the community as pastor emeritus even though he hasn’t been on staff for more than a decade.

James asks:

9 months ago the founding and senior pastor of 27 years stepped down after admitting a 4 year affair with a woman in the church. Half of the church left. Everyone is wounded. But thankfully we have very strong and committed leaders. What 3 or 4 things / actions / behaviors would you recommend to a new pastor walking into that situation? Within the first few months? Year? 2-3 years?

Matt asks:

What do I do if our church is boring? We've been attending for about a year now and nothing has changed a lot not much growth maybe a couple families. The preaching is expository style but it's more of a verbal commentary with not much application. Not many kids, not enough to have bible studies because the ages are so wide, no greeters you will walk into an empty sanctuary. they have a high view of Gods word and that's what keeps us continuing. It's causing some division in the household because one wants to go and the rest of the family wants to visit other churches.

Quentin asks:

Hello, I'm a pastor and this is my fourth year there. The ministries where on fire my first 2 years. Now there is a dramatically drop in our choir and youth ministry. It's like the leaders settle for the bare minimum, and that trickles down to the rest of the members. I've tried to encourage them, offered corrective measures, and attempted to help them. However, no avail. Service on Sundays are starting to really reflect this issue. Can you help?

Episode Sponsors

The Timothy Track, from Midwestern Seminary, offers select residential M.Div. students placement in internship positions in a local church in the area. Now you can complement your studies with in-the-field ministry experience.

Podcast Episode #325

Listener feedback has been great recently, so we take some time to answer your questions on this week's episode. We cover everything from hiring to boring churches to problems with former staff.

Some highlights from today's episode include:

* If a ministry event is high on resources and involvement but low on results, it may be time to pull the plug on it.

* You hire in the church based on Christian commitment and a sense of call.

* Pastors should be careful when taking on the title of pastor emeritus.

* The title "pastor emeritus" can be very confusing for church members and those in the community.

* Pastors who follow those who left due to moral failure have to build more trust with the congregation.

* Sometimes enthusiasm in one area of ministry will spill over into other areas that are completely unrelated.

The listener questions we ask are:

Les asks:

How do you determine when an event/outreach just isn't going to develop as you had hoped vs. giving it one more year or one more try?

Cameron asks:

How is hiring in the church changing? How is it, or how should it be different from the secular world?

Jim asks:

How do I deal with a pastor emeritus who thinks the church should be more like it was when he was pastor? He still refers to himself in the community as pastor emeritus even though he hasn’t been on staff for more than a decade.

James asks:

9 months ago the founding and senior pastor of 27 years stepped down after admitting a 4 year affair with a woman in the church. Half of the church left. Everyone is wounded. But thankfully we have very strong and committed leaders. What 3 or 4 things / actions / behaviors would you recommend to a new pastor walking into that situation? Within the first few months? Year? 2-3 years?

Matt asks:

What do I do if our church is boring? We've been attending for about a year now and nothing has changed a lot not much growth maybe a couple families. The preaching is expository style but it's more of a verbal commentary with not much application. Not many kids, not enough to have bible studies because the ages are so wide, no greeters you will walk into an empty sanctuary. they have a high view of Gods word and that's what keeps us continuing. It's causing some division in the household because one wants to go and the rest of the family wants to visit other churches.

Quentin asks:

Hello, I'm a pastor and this is my fourth year there. The ministries where on fire my first 2 years. Now there is a dramatically drop in our choir and youth ministry. It's like the leaders settle for the bare minimum, and that trickles down to the rest of the members. I've tried to encourage them, offered corrective measures, and attempted to help them. However, no avail. Service on Sundays are starting to really reflect this issue. Can you help?

Episode Sponsors

The Timothy Track, from Midwestern Seminary, offers select residential M.Div. students placement in internship positions in a local church in the area. Now you can complement your studies with in-the-field ministry experience. In addition, all Timothy Track students will receive up to 12 credit hours for the internship and a 50% tuition scholarship for the first year.

Find out more at mbts.edu/TimothyTrack.

Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.

Podcast Episode #324

SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play

Construction debt can be debilitating for churches, but there can be a way out. Today we discuss the unintended consequences of building too big and how to overcome them.

Some highlights from today's episode include:

* If you build too big of a church facility, these things may happen.

* Don’t let unneeded building debt replace needed ministry funding.

* Unwieldy debt can get a church off message. They start thinking about surviving instead of thriving.

* It’s likely that less than 1% of churches have done a facility usage study in the past five years.

* There’s a perception that if you build a new church facility, people will come. That is simply not the case.

* People are more attracted to a church because of relationships and ministry, not facilities.

* Dealing with “the good ole days” is one of the most challenging thing any leader will face.

The eight consequences of building too big are:

* Debt becomes shackles.

* Morale is hit hard.

* Leaders spend too much time with a new narrative.

* Utility costs are too high and burdensome.

* They built it, but they didn’t come.

* The church becomes dangerously nostalgic.

* There are fewer financial resources for ministry.

* The church has difficulty finding good successor pastors.

Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.

Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting WeStaffTheChurch.com.

Midwestern Seminary, one of the fastest growing seminaries in North America, exists to train leaders For The Church. The local church is God’s “Plan A” for the proclamation of the gospel, and there is no Plan B. And this is Midwestern’s vision and heartbeat—equipping pastors and other ministry leaders who are called to expand God’s mission in the world through the local church. At Midwestern Seminary: they train leaders ‘For The Church.’

Visit them online at MBTS.edu and start your ministry training today.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you'll receive a free copy of Who Moved My Pulpit?

Resources Mentioned in Today's Podcast

*

Podcast Episode #324

Construction debt can be debilitating for churches, but there can be a way out. Today we discuss the unintended consequences of building too big and how to overcome them.

Some highlights from today's episode include:

* If you build too big of a church facility, these things may happen.

* Don’t let unneeded building debt replace needed ministry funding.

* Unwieldy debt can get a church off message. They start thinking about surviving instead of thriving.

* It’s likely that less than 1% of churches have done a facility usage study in the past five years.

* There’s a perception that if you build a new church facility, people will come. That is simply not the case.

* People are more attracted to a church because of relationships and ministry, not facilities.

* Dealing with “the good ole days” is one of the most challenging thing any leader will face.

The eight consequences of building too big are:

* Debt becomes shackles.

* Morale is hit hard.

* Leaders spend too much time with a new narrative.

* Utility costs are too high and burdensome.

* They built it, but they didn’t come.

* The church becomes dangerously nostalgic.

* There are fewer financial resources for ministry.

* The church has difficulty finding good successor pastors.

Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.

Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting WeStaffTheChurch.com.

Midwestern Seminary, one of the fastest growing seminaries in North America, exists to train leaders For The Church. The local church is God’s “Plan A” for the proclamation of the gospel, and there is no Plan B. And this is Midwestern’s vision and heartbeat—equipping pastors and other ministry leaders who are called to expand God’s mission in the world through the local church. At Midwestern Seminary: they train leaders ‘For The Church.’

Visit them online at MBTS.edu and start your ministry training today.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here on Church Answers.

Resources Mentioned in Today's Podcast

* The Importance of Church Facility Stewardship featuring Tim Cool – Rainer on Leadership #317

* CoolSolutionsGroup.com

* Envelope3.com

* The Money Challenge

* When Not to Build

* Church Answers