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

January 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 of the pandemic.
1. The big change: digital giving
2. The impact of government funds
3. The concern of fading Boomer finances
4. The challenge of paying staff

Resources:
Church Growth Services
Church Growth Services Grow Generosity Academy

Episode Sponsor:
Church Growth Services
The post A Special Three-Part Series with Church Growth Services: Changes in Church Finances Every Leader Needs to Know – Part 1: Post-Quarantine Church Finances appeared first on Church Answers.
16 min
January 24, 2023Six Things We Would Tell Our Younger Selves about Pastoring
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 people more.
Make certain your first line of ministry in your church is your family.
You will forget most of the criticisms that come your way.
Don’t neglect the big three.
Practice tactical patience.
If possible, stay.

Resources:
New Filament Bible Journals
See the whole Filament Bible Collection
Tyndale House Publishers
Logos.com/churchanswers
Church Growth Services Grow Generosity Academy
Check out the Church Answers Christian bookstore! Shop curated, trusted resources for Christian life and ministry.

Episode Sponsors:
Enhance your Bible study through the free Filament Bible app
What makes these Bible portions unlike any other is that as they are paired with the Filament Bible app on your device, they become the most convenient and interactive journaling Bible experience available. The Filament Bible app features thousands of study notes, devotionals, videos, reading plans, and more, which display when you scan to identify the page you’re on.
The Filament Bible app includes:
25,000+ study notes
350+ videos
40+ maps and infographics
400+ profiles and articles
1,500+ devotionals
Library of worship music
The Filament Bible app turns these journals into a powerful study and devotional experience, offering more to expand your mind and touch your heart than you can possibly hold in your hand. And there is no additional cost for the Filament Bible app. No additional purchase. No additional size or weight.
Of course, you can use these journals without the app, but when you want to dig deeper, grab your phone or tablet and open the Filament Bible app. It’s so easy to use.
Nothing beats digging into the Bible for yourself. After all, there’s life in the words of Scripture. But if your Bible study habits have been stale or maybe nonexistent, where do you even begin?
Introducing Logos 10: the new release from the leaders in digital Bible study. Logos takes you beyond Bible reading into deep studying of Scripture.
Want to do a Bible word study? Prep a sermon? Understand a difficult passage? Start (and actually finish) a Bible reading plan? Do all that and more with the study tools and theological library in Logos 10.
With it, you can uncover biblical insights whether you have five minutes or five hours. And the new Logos is lightning fast on desktop, web, and mobile. It has a sleek, modern look that helps you focus on what matters—Scripture.
With Logos 10, Sermon Manager now on iPad.
Visit Logos.com/churchanswers to find the best Logos package for you.

The post Six Things We Would Tell Our Younger Selves about Pastoring appeared first on Church Answers.
26 min
January 17, 2023New Data Reveals Big Gains for Non-Denominational Churches
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 on this report and what it may mean for the future of churches affiliated with Protestant denominations.
Some churches claim non-denominational when in reality they are loosely affiliated.
Institutional decline of denominations is not a new phenomenon. The denomination is only as healthy as the churches in it. Mainline denominations have struggled for decades.
Many denominations are at the point of having too many struggling churches and not enough healthy churches. The healthy churches are too few to resource and help struggling churches.
Historically, non-denominational churches grew through Mainline transfer growth. Today, the growth is fueled by those who are coming from a Catholic background.
Conversion growth is unfortunately extremely rare. Gains in attendance are more often attributed to transfer growth and biological growth (people in conservative churches have higher birth rates).
Christianity Today article referenced in this podcast: https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2022/august/nondenominational-growth-mainline-protestant-decline-survey.html

Resources:
Logos.com/churchanswers
New Filament Bible Journals
See the whole Filament Bible Collection
Tyndale House Publishers
Christianity Today article referenced in this podcast
Check out the Church Answers Christian bookstore! Shop curated, trusted resources for Christian life and ministry.
The Hope Initiative

Episode Sponsors:
Nothing beats digging into the Bible for yourself. After all, there’s life in the words of Scripture. But if your Bible study habits have been stale or maybe nonexistent, where do you even begin?
Introducing Logos 10: the new release from the leaders in digital Bible study. Logos takes you beyond Bible reading into deep studying of Scripture.
Want to do a Bible word study? Prep a sermon? Understand a difficult passage? Start (and actually finish) a Bible reading plan? Do all that and more with the study tools and theological library in Logos 10.
With it, you can uncover biblical insights whether you have five minutes or five hours. And the new Logos is lightning fast on desktop, web, and mobile. It has a sleek, modern look that helps you focus on what matters—Scripture.
Machine translation of 111 languages in L10.
Visit Logos.com/churchanswers to find the best Logos package for you.

Enhance your Bible study through the free Filament Bible app
What makes these Bible portions unlike any other is that as they are paired with the Filament Bible app on your device, they become the most convenient and interactive journaling Bible experience available. The Filament Bible app features thousands of study notes, devotionals, videos, reading plans, and more, which display when you scan to identify the page you’re on. Then you have available at your fingertips content that pertains specifically to the chapters you are reading.
The Filament Bible app includes:
25,000+ study notes
350+ videos
40+ maps and infographics
400+ profiles and articles
1,500+ devotionals
Library of worship music
The Filament Bible app turns these journals into a powerful study and devotional experience, offering more to expand your mind and touch your heart than you can possibly hold in your hand. And there is no additional cost for the Filament Bible app. No additional purchase. No additional size or weight.
Of course, you can use these journals without the app, but when you want to dig deeper, grab your phone or tablet and open the Filament Bible app. It’s so easy to use.

The post New Data Reveals Big Gains for Non-Denominational Churches appeared first on Church Answers.
24 min
January 10, 2023When the Pastor’s Spouse Wants to Leave the Church
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 surprising responses to the question, “Why?”
The pain that is real
Kids or no kids?
Understanding 1 Timothy 3:5 more fully
Resources:
“Axis Parent’s Guides: Cultivating Lifelong Conversations with Your Teen”
Tyndale House Publishers
Logos.com/churchanswers
Check out the Church Answers Christian bookstore! Shop curated, trusted resources for Christian life and ministry.
Church Answers Central, Silver Membership
Episode Sponsors:
FOMO. Influencers. Instagram. TikTok. YouTube.
This new year, help parents have the tough conversations about social media. Equip the parents of teens in your ministry to join the conversation on what it means to navigate modern teen culture through social media platforms and to interact with both Christians and non-Christians in a way that is reflective of the gospel.
Grab a copy at your favorite bookstore of Axis’ updated Parent Guides to Social Media and equip parents to cultivate lifelong conversations with their teens!
Nothing beats digging into the Bible for yourself. After all, there’s life in the words of Scripture. But if your Bible study habits have been stale or maybe nonexistent, where do you even begin?
Introducing Logos 10: the new release from the leaders in digital Bible study. Logos takes you beyond Bible reading into deep studying of Scripture.
Want to do a Bible word study? Prep a sermon? Understand a difficult passage? Start (and actually finish) a Bible reading plan? Do all that and more with the study tools and theological library in Logos 10.
With it, you can uncover biblical insights whether you have five minutes or five hours. And the new Logos is lightning fast on desktop, web, and mobile. It has a sleek, modern look that helps you focus on what matters—Scripture.
With Logos 10 you can print library catalog-Digitize print books to be searchable in L10.
Visit Logos.com/churchanswers to find the best Logos package for you.

The post When the Pastor’s Spouse Wants to Leave the Church appeared first on Church Answers.
22 min
January 03, 2023What Changes with a Move from a Church of 50 to a Church of 150
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 church to another, they have to adapt.
Formalities and structure increase
Leadership approaches shift from one-on-one conversations to group settings
There are fewer family-run churches of 150 people
Micromanagement will kill you
Diplomacy becomes more of a need
Resources:
Logos
Tyndale House Publishers
“Axis Parent’s Guides: Cultivating Lifelong Conversations with Your Teen”
Check out the Church Answers Christian bookstore! Shop curated, trusted resources for Christian life and ministry.
Church Answers University
Episode Sponsors:
Nothing beats digging into the Bible for yourself. After all, there’s life in the words of Scripture. But if your Bible study habits have been stale or maybe nonexistent, where do you even begin?
Introducing Logos 10: the new release from the leaders in digital Bible study. Logos takes you beyond Bible reading into deep studying of Scripture.
Want to do a Bible word study? Prep a sermon? Understand a difficult passage? Start (and actually finish) a Bible reading plan? Do all that and more with the study tools and theological library in Logos 10.
With it, you can uncover biblical insights whether you have five minutes or five hours. And the new Logos is lightning fast on desktop, web, and mobile. It has a sleek, modern look that helps you focus on what matters—Scripture.
Any book is now an audio book on L10 mobile.
Visit Logos.com/churchanswers to find the best Logos package for you.

FOMO. Influencers. Instagram. TikTok. YouTube.
This new year, help parents have the tough conversations about social media. Equip the parents of teens in your ministry to join the conversation on what it means to navigate modern teen culture through social media platforms and to interact with both Christians and non-Christians in a way that is reflective of the gospel.
Grab a copy at your favorite bookstore of Axis’ updated Parent Guides to Social Media and equip parents to cultivate lifelong conversations with their teens!

The post What Changes with a Move from a Church of 50 to a Church of 150 appeared first on Church Answers.
24 min
December 27, 2022What Is a Smaller Church? What Is a Larger Church? Part 2: The Implications of this New Data
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 adoptions
New forms of ministry and theological training
More bi-vocational and co-vocational pastors and staff
New networks
And more . . .
Resources:
Listen to Part 1: The Surprise (Shock?) of this New Data
Tyndale House Publishers
“The Life Recovery Bible”
Logos.com/churchanswers
Check out the Church Answers Christian bookstore and shop curated, trusted resources for Christian life and ministry!
Church Growth Services Grow Generosity Academy
Church Answers University
“The New Very Large Church” by Thom S. Rainer –
Episode Sponsors:
For over 30 years, The Life Recovery Bible in the New Living Translation has helped nearly 4 million people take important steps toward a new life.
It has become essential to those starting or running recovery groups at churches or within communities.
It brings Twelve Step recovery back to its original source—God’s Word.
Each feature in The Life Recovery Bible leads readers to powerful resources for recovery found in the holy Scriptures.
Co-edited by Stephen Arterburn, founder of New Life Ministries, The Life Recovery Bible is a unique tool that returns the focus of recovery to Scripture where people can encounter a God of love and restoration.
Nothing beats digging into the Bible for yourself. After all, there’s life in the words of Scripture. But if your Bible study habits have been stale or maybe nonexistent, where do you even begin?
Introducing Logos 10: the new release from the leaders in digital Bible study. Logos takes you beyond Bible reading into deep studying of Scripture.
Want to do a Bible word study? Prep a sermon? Understand a difficult passage? Start (and actually finish) a Bible reading plan? Do all that and more with the study tools and theological library in Logos 10.
With it, you can uncover biblical insights whether you have five minutes or five hours. And the new Logos is lightning fast on desktop, web, and mobile. It has a sleek, modern look that helps you focus on what matters—Scripture.
With Logos 10 you can centralize and catalogue all your former Microsoft Word sermons.
Visit Logos.com/churchanswers to find the best Logos package for you.
The post What Is a Smaller Church? What Is a Larger Church? Part 2: The Implications of this New Data appeared first on Church Answers.
23 min
December 20, 2022What Is a Smaller Church? What Is a Larger Church? Part 1: The Surprise (Shock?) of this New Data
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: under 50 in worship attendance (31%)
The new mid-size church: 50 – 99 (37%)
The new larger church: 100 – 249 (24%)
The new very large church 250 + (8%)
Resources:
Logos
Tyndale House Publishers
“The Life Recovery Bible”
Brown Church Development Group
Check out the Church Answers Christian bookstore! Shop curated, trusted resources for Christian life and ministry at https://churchanswers.christianbook.com/
“The New Very Large Church” by Thom S. Rainer
Episode Sponsors:
Nothing beats digging into the Bible for yourself. After all, there’s life in the words of Scripture. But if your Bible study habits have been stale or maybe nonexistent, where do you even begin?
Introducing Logos 10: the new release from the leaders in digital Bible study. Logos takes you beyond Bible reading into deep studying of Scripture.
Want to do a Bible word study? Prep a sermon? Understand a difficult passage? Start (and actually finish) a Bible reading plan? Do all that and more with the study tools and theological library in Logos 10.
With it, you can uncover biblical insights whether you have five minutes or five hours. And the new Logos is lightning fast on desktop, web, and mobile. It has a sleek, modern look that helps you focus on what matters—Scripture.
Centralize all your former MS Word sermons and catalogue into L10.
Visit Logos.com/churchanswers to find the best Logos package for you.
For over 30 years, The Life Recovery Bible in the New Living Translation has helped nearly 4 million people take important steps toward a new life.
It has become essential to those starting or running recovery groups at churches or within communities.
It brings Twelve Step recovery back to its original source—God’s Word.
Each feature in The Life Recovery Bible leads readers to powerful resources for recovery found in the holy Scriptures.
Co-edited by Stephen Arterburn, founder of New Life Ministries, The Life Recovery Bible is a unique tool that returns the focus of recovery to Scripture where people can encounter a God of love and restoration.
The post What Is a Smaller Church? What Is a Larger Church? Part 1: The Surprise (Shock?) of this New Data appeared first on Church Answers.
24 min
December 13, 2022Exactly What Is Women’s Ministry in the Church? An Interview with Jacki King
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 homes, workplaces, and communities. Jacki is a native Texan who now lives in Central Arkansas with her husband Josh, who is a Lead Pastor, along with their three boys. Jacki holds a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and Ministry to Women from Criswell College and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Church Answers is blessed to have more women become a part of the community. Some of these women are directly involved in the women’s ministry in the congregation. In an interview with Jacki King, director of women’s discipleship, Thom explores the changing world of this ministry.
Just who is Jacki King? How did you get involved in this ministry?
How does women’s ministry (or women’s discipleship) play out in many churches?
Are women sometimes hesitant to take a ministry role or leadership role in a church? If so, why?
Tell us what you are doing at Church Answers.

Resources:
Bibles for Nicaragua
Tyndale House Publishers
Logos.com/churchanswers
Collaborate with ministry leaders around the world! Join us at Church Answers Gold!
Church Answers University – Certification in Women’s Discipleship
At the Table with Jacki C. King Podcast
EST. church Podcast
Episode Sponsors:
You can help Tyndale House Publishers and ShareWord Global give 50,000 bibles to high-school graduates in Nicaragua.
Students in Nicaragua have grown up in a country full of drugs, violence, and poverty. Few have held a bible. Fewer have read one.
Graduating students now step into an uncertain future in need of guidance from God’s Word.
Each dollar you give will help local churches put bibles in their hands and put the hope of Christ in their hearts.
Your gift is an investment in the next generation of school and community leaders in Nicaragua.
Just $6 sends a bible to Nicaragua and changes a life. How many lives will you change today?
Donate now at gospelforgrads.com
Nothing beats digging into the Bible for yourself. After all, there’s life in the words of Scripture. But if your Bible study habits have been stale or maybe nonexistent, where do you even begin?
Introducing Logos 10: the new release from the leaders in digital Bible study. Logos takes you beyond Bible reading into deep studying of Scripture.
Want to do a Bible word study? Prep a sermon? Understand a difficult passage? Start (and actually finish) a Bible reading plan? Do all that and more with the study tools and theological library in Logos 10.
With it, you can uncover biblical insights whether you have five minutes or five hours. And the new Logos is lightning fast on desktop, web, and mobile. It has a sleek, modern look that helps you focus on what matters—Scripture.
Any book is now an audio book on L10 mobile
Visit Logos.com/churchanswers to find the best Logos package for you.
The post Exactly What Is Women’s Ministry in the Church? An Interview with Jacki King appeared first on Church Answers.
25 min
December 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 and why it's important for churches to "rediscover" spiritual gifts.

The short answer is "no."

It is vitally important to understand the role of spiritual gifts in our churches today.

The challenge of the sign gifts versus functional gifts

The challenge of the number of gifts

The challenge of definitions of spiritual gifts

Is there a better way?

Resources:

Logos.com/churchanswers

Register for the December 8th webinar and learn more about 2023 Church Answers Cohorts.

Bibles for Nicaragua

Tyndale House Publishers

Collaborate with ministry leaders around the world! Join us at Church Answers Gold!

Episode Sponsors:

Nothing beats digging into the Bible for yourself. After all, there’s life in the words of Scripture. But if your Bible study habits have been stale or maybe nonexistent, where do you even begin?

Introducing Logos 10: the new release from the leaders in digital Bible study. Logos takes you beyond Bible reading into deep studying of Scripture.

Want to do a Bible word study? Prep a sermon? Understand a difficult passage? Start (and actually finish) a Bible reading plan? Do all that and more with the study tools and theological library in Logos 10.

With it, you can uncover biblical insights whether you have five minutes or five hours. And the new Logos is lightning fast on desktop, web, and mobile. It has a sleek, modern look that helps you focus on what matters—Scripture.

With Logos 10 you can centralize and catalogue all your former Microsoft Word sermons

Visit Logos.com/churchanswers to find the best Logos package for you.

You can help Tyndale House Publishers and ShareWord Global give 50,000 bibles to high-school graduates in Nicaragua.

Students in Nicaragua have grown up in a country full of drugs, violence, and poverty. Few have held a bible. Fewer have read one.

Graduating students now step into an uncertain future in need of guidance from God’s Word.

Each dollar you give will help local churches put bibles in their hands and put the hope of Christ in their hearts.

Your gift is an investment in the next generation of school and community leaders in Nicaragua.

Just $6 sends a bible to Nicaragua and changes a life. How many lives will you change today?

Donate now at gospelforgrads.com
26 min
November 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 in light of Thom's new book, “I Am a Christian.”

So, do you have to be an active church member to be a Christian?

Why has church membership become minimized by many Christians?

How does a church leader move a congregation toward higher commitment?

What opposition do pastors face when they attempt to move a church toward higher commitment?

Is there hope for the local church?

Resources:

I Am A Christian by Thom S. Rainer

I Am a Church Member: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference by Thom S. Rainer

The Complete Membership Class Toolkit

Church Answers Consultations

One Year Bible for Men and One Year Bible for Women

Tyndale House Publishers

Logos.com/churchanswers.

Collaborate with ministry leaders around the world! Join us at Church Answers Gold!

Episode Sponsors:

The One Year Bible for Women and The One Year Bible for Men combine the bestselling daily Bible reading format with two-minute daily devotionals.

The One Year Bible for Women has devotionals written just for women, and The One Year Bible for Men, as you might expect, has devotionals written specifically for men, creating one-of-a-kind devotional Bibles.

Featuring the trusted and understandable New Living Translation, these Bibles have daily readings that include a passage from the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. Each daily reading also includes a short devotional.

These Bible can be paired together for couples’ devotions, but they are also perfect for individual daily devotional moments.

According to a recent survey, 30% of Evangelical churchgoers want more in-depth teaching. If you want to go deeper into the word, Logos is the Bible Study platform for you.

Logos fuses powerful technology with biblical resources. Access Bibles, search tools, commentaries, seminary-level courses, and even audiobooks right on your phone, tablet or desktop.

Logos offers nearly 200,000 digital books from the world’s top publishers.

Logos is now more affordable. Get started for just $49. Go to Logos.com/churchanswers.

26 min