Rainer on Leadership

Vance Pitman is one of our favorite leaders. We are excited to share our recent interview with Vance as he shares his journey and the story behind his powerful new book, “Unburdened: Stop Living for Jesus So Jesus Can Live through You.”

Bio:

Vance Pitman is the pastor of Hope Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, a church he planted in 2001. He speaks across America and around the world to inspire people to join in God's eternal, redemptive mission of making disciples and multiplying the church among every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. He lives outside Las Vegas, Nevada, with his family.

Highlights:

* How did an Alabama boy end up in Las Vegas?

* Every book has a story behind it. What is your story about Unburdened?

* Why do so many Christians work so hard and get so tired trying to live for Jesus?

* You emphasize relationships as being key to following Jesus. Expand on that.

* What are some other key points that a reader will take away from Unburdened?

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* Unburdened: Stop Living for Jesus So Jesus Can Live through You - by Vance Pitman

* Vance Pitman Leadership Podcast

* Revitalization Specialty Certification

Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen has been serving churches for nine years, but did you know that Vanderbloemen also serves Christian schools, nonprofits, and Christian businesses? So if you're listening, and you know a Christian school, nonprofit, or values-based business that is hiring, contact our friends at Vanderbloemen for your staffing needs.

For more information, visit Vanderbloemen.com.

The mission at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. The school offers more than 40 different degree programs, including the new Master of Arts in Church Revitalization in partnership with Church Answers and the Revitalization Network. This 37-hour degree is designed to help students move established churches from flatlining to flourishing.

Learn about this program and more by visiting sebts.edu. Where are you going? Southeastern will help you get there.

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.

To say we are excited about this new report is an understatement. Church Answers now offers an incredible demographic and psychographic report known as Know Your Community. A basic name for this incredible resource which will help you reach and love your community. Listen in as Thom and Sam discuss the report, how it was created, and why it is an important resource for your church and its future growth.

Highlights:

* It's hard to reach your community if you don't know your community.

* It's easier to love your community if you know your community.

* The call to lead a church is a call the shepherd the community.

* Perceived demographics are often different than actual demographics.

* The Know Your Community report and how to get it.

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* The Know Your Community Report

* Church Future Indicator

* Micro Consultations

* Anatomy of a Revived Church

Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen has been serving churches for nine years, but did you know that Vanderbloemen also serves Christian schools, nonprofits, and Christian businesses? So if you're listening, and you know a Christian school, nonprofit, or values-based business that is hiring, contact our friends at Vanderbloemen for your staffing needs.

For more information, visit Vanderbloemen.com.

The mission at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. The school offers more than 40 different degree programs, including the new Master of Arts in Church Revitalization in partnership with Church Answers and the Revitalization Network. This 37-hour degree is designed to help students move established churches from flatlining to flourishing.

Learn about this program and more by visiting sebts.edu. Where are you going? Southeastern will help you get there.

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.

The issue at hand is sensitive, but we want to provide clarity on best practices. How do you respond to key leaders who don’t attend church faithfully? Listen in as Thom and Sam provide five options for how to address this area of concern.

Highlights:

* Option 1: Do nothing (and watch things get worse).

* Option 2: Discover the reason behind the infrequent attendance.

* Option 3: Address the issue one-on-one with the person.

* Option 4: Reset the criteria for leadership in the policies or bylaws.

* Option 5: Ask ley leaders to sign a covenant.

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* I Will - Thom S. Rainer

* Example of a Church Covenant

* Outreach Bundle

Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen has been serving churches for nine years, but did you know that Vanderbloemen also serves Christian schools, nonprofits, and Christian businesses? So if you're listening, and you know a Christian school, nonprofit, or values-based business that is hiring, contact our friends at Vanderbloemen for your staffing needs.

For more information, visit Vanderbloemen.com.

The mission at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. The school offers more than 40 different degree programs, including the new Master of Arts in Church Revitalization in partnership with Church Answers and the Revitalization Network. This 37-hour degree is designed to help students move established churches from flatlining to flourishing.

Learn about this program and more by visiting sebts.edu. Where are you going? Southeastern will help you get there.

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.

Where do you find meaning in life? Family, career, your faith? Thom and Sam dive into current data from Pew Research to discover where many Americans find meaning in life and how it practically applies to your church.  

Highlights:

* Family (40% in closed-ended questions, 69% in open-ended questions). Some churches compete with culture; other churches complement culture.

* Religious faith (20% and 20%). Churches should recognize the intensity of this issue for those who find meaning here.

* Careers (4% and 34%). It's important, but it's not close to being the most important.

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* Pew Research - Where Americans Find Meaning in Life

* The Discipleship Funnel - FREE Webinar

Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen has been serving churches for nine years, but did you know that Vanderbloemen also serves Christian schools, nonprofits, and Christian businesses? So if you're listening, and you know a Christian school, nonprofit, or values-based business that is hiring, contact our friends at Vanderbloemen for your staffing needs.

For more information, visit Vanderbloemen.com.

The mission at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. The school offers more than 40 different degree programs, including the new Master of Arts in Church Revitalization in partnership with Church Answers and the Revitalization Network. This 37-hour degree is designed to help students move established churches from flatlining to flourishing.

Learn about this program and more by visiting sebts.edu. Where are you going? Southeastern will help you get there.

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.

We think this episode is unique because of its specificity. Over the course of today’s episode of Rainer on Leadership, Thom and Sam debate the pros and cons of keeping pastoral candidates' identities confidential until being formally presented. 

Highlights:

* No. The congregation can't make an informed decision if they are told at the last minute.

* Yes. The current church of the pastoral candidate will be stressed and in limbo until a decision is made.

* No. If the call is meant to be, God will protect the candidate and the candidate's church.

* Yes. If the call of the pastor fails, the pastor may effectively have no church.

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* Rainer on Leadership Episode #611

* The Discipleship Funnel - FREE Webinar

* Church Future Indicator

* Evangelism in the 21st Century - Thom S. Rainer

* Anatomy of a Revived Church - Thom S. Rainer

Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen has been serving churches for nine years, but did you know that Vanderbloemen also serves Christian schools, nonprofits, and Christian businesses? So if you're listening, and you know a Christian school, nonprofit, or values-based business that is hiring, contact our friends at Vanderbloemen for your staffing needs.

For more information, visit Vanderbloemen.com.

The mission at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. The school offers more than 40 different degree programs, including the new Master of Arts in Church Revitalization in partnership with Church Answers and the Revitalization Network. This 37-hour degree is designed to help students move established churches from flatlining to flourishing.

Learn about this program and more by visiting sebts.edu. Where are you going? Southeastern will help you get there.

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.

Chuck Lawless from the Church Answers team joins us to talk about an exciting new tool created by Southeastern Seminary. The Church Future Indicator is a free tool everyone will want to get ahold of. The tool is helpful and gives great insight into where your church is headed.

Highlights:

* A tool meant to be a motivator, not a discourager

* The need for churches to face reality

* The need for churches to have hope and solutions

* Hint #1: The Primacy of Prayer

* Hint #2: The Great Commission Is Still Great

Other Highlights:

A church cannot turnaround until they are ready to face reality.

The Church Future Indicator tool helps churches see hope for the future.

Praying churches are led by praying pastors.

It is a sin to be good when God has called us to be great.

The Great Commission is still great.

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* Church Future Indicator

* Pray and Go

* Breakout Churches - Thom S. Rainer

Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen has been serving churches for nine years, but did you know that Vanderbloemen also serves Christian schools, nonprofits, and Christian businesses? So if you're listening, and you know a Christian school, nonprofit, or values-based business that is hiring, contact our friends at Vanderbloemen for your staffing needs.

For more information, visit Vanderbloemen.com.

The mission at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. The school offers more than 40 different degree programs, including the new Master of Arts in Church Revitalization in partnership with Church Answers and the Revitalization Network. This 37-hour degree is designed to help students move established churches from flatlining to flourishing.

Learn about this program and more by visiting sebts.edu. Where are you going? Southeastern will help you get there.

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.

Thom and Sam continue their conversation from episode #610 examining major trends churches can anticipate and prepare for in the coming year. While some of these trends will seem familiar, others will be new with the hope all will be informative and helpful for church growth.

Highlights:

* Evangelism will return to its rightful place of importance and priority. 

* Fewer pastors and church staff members will be compensated full-time wages. 

* Fewer churches will align exclusively with denominations.

Other Highlights:

Churches will return to the basics and the call to the Great Commission. 

There are a number of pastors choosing to become marketplace vocational, staying within the context of community businesses and ministering part-time for the church. 

Contract work is a great opportunity for those who believe they may be called to ministry. 

As the gig economy grows, the number of full-time staff members will decrease. 

Many churches will identify with multiple organizations, networks, and denominations.

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* Rainer on Leadership - Episode #610

* Church Consultation University

* Evangelism in the 21st Century

* Family Church - West Palm Beach, FL

Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen has been serving churches for nine years, but did you know that Vanderbloemen also serves Christian schools, nonprofits, and Christian businesses? So if you're listening, and you know a Christian school, nonprofit, or values-based business that is hiring, contact our friends at Vanderbloemen for your staffing needs.

For more information, visit Vanderbloemen.com.

The mission at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. The school offers more than 40 different degree programs, including the new Master of Arts in Church Revitalization in partnership with Church Answers and the Revitalization Network. This 37-hour degree is designed to help students move established churches from flatlining to flourishing.

Learn about this program and more by visiting sebts.edu. Where are you going? Southeastern will help you get there.

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.

We are one month into 2020 and there is much we can learn about anticipated trends and how churches can begin to connect the dots and prepare for the future. While some trends you will expect, others will be new and our hope is that these four trends will be informative.

Highlights:

* Worship sizes will grow significantly smaller.

* There will be a significant increase in the number of worship services offered at times other than Sunday morning. 

* Church facilities will undergo dramatic transformation.

* Attendance will become a greater emphasis.

Other Highlights:

While average weekly attendance in worship will grow smaller this trend does not infer lower overall attendance.

The conversation among pastors is moving from size of worship space to quantity of worship opportunities. 

Thursday evening worship services may become a popular choice for creating a new service time.

As churches build smaller worship space they will often times concurrently build larger community and common space.

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* Church Answers

* Church Consultation University

* Revitalize 2020

* Church of the Year Nominations

* Cosco & Associates

Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen has been serving churches for nine years, but did you know that Vanderbloemen also serves Christian schools, nonprofits, and Christian businesses? So if you're listening, and you know a Christian school, nonprofit, or values-based business that is hiring, contact our friends at Vanderbloemen for your staffing needs.

For more information, visit Vanderbloemen.com.

The mission at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. The school offers more than 40 different degree programs, including the new Master of Arts in Church Revitalization in partnership with Church Answers and the Revitalization Network. This 37-hour degree is designed to help students move established churches from flatlining to flourishing.

Learn about this program and more by visiting sebts.edu. Where are you going? Southeastern will help you get there.

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.

Using research gleaned from the successes of turnaround churches, Thom and Sam reveal the five most significant single changes made by a turnaround church.

Highlights:

Concerted and intentional corporate prayer

A pastor-led outward focus

Necessary subtractions 

A movement of focus

A pastoral commitment to stay 

Other highlights:

Prayer is a key element in helping move your church from a negative tone to a positive tone.

Expecting your church to turnaround without prayer is an improper expectation.

Churches which are human centered are doomed for failure. 

The church is not supposed to be a cafeteria for church members.

Turnaround in the church is usually not going to occur with a series of short-term pastors.

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* Anatomy of a Revived Church - Thom S. Rainer

* Rainer on Leadership - Episode #607

* SEBTS Church Future Indicator

* Revitalize 2020 Convention

* Simple Church

* Church Consultation University

* Church of the Year Nominations

Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen has been serving churches for nine years, but did you know that Vanderbloemen also serves Christian schools, nonprofits, and Christian businesses? So if you're listening, and you know a Christian school, nonprofit, or values-based business that is hiring, contact our friends at Vanderbloemen for your staffing needs.

For more information, visit Vanderbloemen.com.

The mission at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. The school offers more than 40 different degree programs, including the new Master of Arts in Church Revitalization in partnership with Church Answers and the Revitalization Network. This 37-hour degree is designed to help students move established churches from flatlining to flourishing.

Learn about this program and more by visiting sebts.edu. Where are you going? Southeastern will help you get there.

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.

If you can afford Netflix you can afford an online community where pastors can come together regularly at Church Answers Central. Today’s post comes from the blessing of pastors who have decided to focus on each other and four lessons they have learned from each other.

Highlights:

* “I am not alone.”

* “I am not crazy.”

* “There are resources available.”

* “There is hope.”

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* Church Answers

* Church Consultation University

* Revitalize 2020

* Church of the Year Nominations

Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen has been serving churches for nine years, but did you know that Vanderbloemen also serves Christian schools, nonprofits, and Christian businesses? So if you're listening, and you know a Christian school, nonprofit, or values-based business that is hiring, contact our friends at Vanderbloemen for your staffing needs.

For more information, visit Vanderbloemen.com.

The mission at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. The school offers more than 40 different degree programs, including the new Master of Arts in Church Revitalization in partnership with Church Answers and the Revitalization Network. This 37-hour degree is designed to help students move established churches from flatlining to flourishing.

Learn about this program and more by visiting sebts.edu. Where are you going? Southeastern will help you get there.

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.