The Church Answers Podcast

By The Church Answers PodcastReligion & Spirituality Christianity

The Church Answers Podcast episodes

October 28How a Church of 120 Used Demographics and AI to Reach Its Community
Jess and Thom welcome Joe Thompson, Senior Minister at Smithfield Christian Church in Smithfield, VA, to The Church Answers Podcast. They discuss how a church of 120 used demographics and AI to reach its community.
Resources:
Know Your Community
Joe Thompson, Senior Minister, Smithfield Christian Church
Unchurched Receptivity Report
Church Answers Gold
Church Equip
The Hope Initiative
FREE Research Report: New Surprising Insights
Episode Sponsor:
The post How a Church of 120 Used Demographics and AI to Reach Its Community appeared first on Church Answers.
19 min
October 21What Churches Can Learn from Dead Malls
Many malls are dying. That has become a common refrain in both the business and consumer worlds. But some malls are thriving. Jess and Thom examine the differences and how many principles apply to churches.
A tale of two malls in Raleigh/Durham.
The world changed; most malls didn’t.
Demographics and psychographics tell much of the story.
Deferred maintenance is deadly.
Safety is paramount.
Resources:
Church Answers Awards
Unchurched Receptivity Report
Church Equip
The Hope Initiative
Church Answers Central
FREE Research Report: New Surprising Insights
Episode Sponsor:
The post What Churches Can Learn from Dead Malls appeared first on Church Answers.
19 min
October 14How to Eliminate Programs and Ministries
Most church leaders acknowledge that their churches are too busy and that their church calendars are too cluttered. Jess and Thom share a simple process for focusing on the right ministries and eliminating or minimizing others.
How the Simple Church model brought elimination to the forefront.
Sometimes decreased focus is better than elimination.
One key question.
Does every program and ministry have a champion?
Understanding zero-based budgets.
Resources:
Unchurched Receptivity Report
Know Your Community
“Simple Church: Returning to God’s Process for Making Disciples” by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger (affiliate link)
Church Equip
The Hope Initiative
Church Answers Central
FREE Research Report: New Surprising Insights
Episode Sponsor:
The post How to Eliminate Programs and Ministries appeared first on Church Answers.
23 min
October 14Why the Decline of Church Transfer Growth is a Good Thing
Isn’t any growth in a local church a good thing? Jess and Thom demonstrate why one particular type of growth can do more harm than good.
Transfer growth can be associated with consumerism.
Transfer growth can mask a lack of evangelistic growth.
Transfer growth is a net negative for the “sending” church.
Resources:
Unchurched Receptivity Report
Church Equip
The Hope Initiative
Church Answers Central
FREE Research Report: New Surprising Insights
Episode Sponsor:
The post Why the Decline of Church Transfer Growth is a Good Thing appeared first on Church Answers.
25 min
October 07Why Have (Most) Churches Stopped Using Spiritual Gift Inventories?
Thom reviews the history of a tool that received widespread use for three decades. He looks at the reasons why it has almost faded away.
Skepticism about their precision
Discover through serving
The fading of the infrastructure
Unintended consequences
Functional gifts versus sign gifts
Simple church concerns
Resources:
Wesley Biblical Seminary, Master of Ministry
Church Answers University
“Simple Church: Returning to God’s Process for Making Disciples” by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger (affiliate link)
Church Equip
The Hope Initiative
Church Answers Central
FREE Research Report: New Surprising Insights
Episode Sponsor:
Ready to take the next step in your ministry calling but don’t want to spend the next five years in school?
At Wesley Biblical Seminary, we’re excited about our new Master of Ministry, a 37-credit-hour graduate degree for pastors and Christian leaders that provides a solid foundation in biblical and theological studies and can be completed in as little as two years.
You’ll strengthen your ability to study the Bible, improve your preaching, teaching, and leadership skills, and learn to think theologically.
What’s great about this degree program is, if you like what you’re learning and decide to pursue the more comprehensive Master of Divinity degree, all your courses in the Master of Ministry will transfer up.
Classes are affordable and offered live online—so you get the benefit of real interaction with your professors and classmates, while still enjoying the flexibility of working from home on your own schedule.
Learn more and apply today at wbs.edu/mm.
Want to save even more time and money?
Right now, you can get nine hours of credit towards the Master of Ministry for any Church Answers University certificate program that you complete—a savings of $4,500. Learn more at wbs.edu/cau.
The post Why Have (Most) Churches Stopped Using Spiritual Gift Inventories? appeared first on Church Answers.
25 min
October 07Fostering Connections in the Community and Church Through Sports
Josh Jordan, Family Life Pastor, from First Baptist Church Covington, LA joins Jess and Thom on the show to discuss how his church has used Upward Sports to engage families in their community.
Resources:
Wesley Biblical Seminary, Master of Ministry
Church Answers University
Church Equip
Upward Sports
Josh Jordan
First Baptist Church Covington, LA
Unchurched Receptivity Report
The Hope Initiative
Church Answers Central
FREE Research Report: New Surprising Insights
Episode Sponsor:
Ready to take the next step in your ministry calling but don’t want to spend the next five years in school?
At Wesley Biblical Seminary, we’re excited about our new Master of Ministry, a 37-credit-hour graduate degree for pastors and Christian leaders that provides a solid foundation in biblical and theological studies and can be completed in as little as two years.
You’ll strengthen your ability to study the Bible, improve your preaching, teaching, and leadership skills, and learn to think theologically.
What’s great about this degree program is, if you like what you’re learning and decide to pursue the more comprehensive Master of Divinity degree, all your courses in the Master of Ministry will transfer up.
Classes are affordable and offered live online—so you get the benefit of real interaction with your professors and classmates, while still enjoying the flexibility of working from home on your own schedule.
Learn more and apply today at wbs.edu/mm.
Want to save even more time and money?
Right now, you can get nine hours of credit towards the Master of Ministry for any Church Answers University certificate program that you complete—a savings of $4,500. Learn more at wbs.edu/cau.
The post Fostering Connections in the Community and Church Through Sports appeared first on Church Answers.
25 min
September 30The Volunteer Model Is Breaking
Jess and Thom discuss why this reality has reached a crisis stage in many churches.
Churches are competing with increasingly crowded schedules.
Many churches still recruit volunteers with guilt rather than purpose.
The same dependable people are repeatedly asked to do more.
Churches often recruit people to fill slots rather than match gifts and calling.
Training is weak or nonexistent.
Some volunteer roles are unnecessarily complicated or time-consuming.
Churches need to move from “We need someone to do this” to “Here is how you can make a difference.”
Resources:
Wesley Biblical Seminary, Master of Ministry
Church Answers University
Church Equip
“I Am a Church Member: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference” by Thom S. Rainer (affiliate link)
The Hope Initiative
Church Answers Central
FREE Research Report: New Surprising Insights
Episode Sponsor:
Ready to take the next step in your ministry calling but don’t want to spend the next five years in school?
At Wesley Biblical Seminary, we’re excited about our new Master of Ministry, a 37-credit-hour graduate degree for pastors and Christian leaders that provides a solid foundation in biblical and theological studies and can be completed in as little as two years.
You’ll strengthen your ability to study the Bible, improve your preaching, teaching, and leadership skills, and learn to think theologically.
What’s great about this degree program is, if you like what you’re learning and decide to pursue the more comprehensive Master of Divinity degree, all your courses in the Master of Ministry will transfer up.
Classes are affordable and offered live online—so you get the benefit of real interaction with your professors and classmates, while still enjoying the flexibility of working from home on your own schedule.
Learn more and apply today at wbs.edu/mm.
Want to save even more time and money?
Right now, you can get nine hours of credit towards the Master of Ministry for any Church Answers University certificate program that you complete—a savings of $4,500. Learn more at wbs.edu/cau.
The post The Volunteer Model Is Breaking appeared first on Church Answers.
25 min
September 30Why Church Guests Don’t Come Back
Jess and Thom spend a good bit of this podcast discussing this issue.
They never make a meaningful relational connection.
The church experience is confusing for someone who doesn’t know the culture.
Children’s check-in or security processes create unnecessary friction.
The worship service feels designed almost entirely for insiders.
Follow-up is either nonexistent or feels intrusive.
Guests cannot determine an obvious next step.
Resources:
Wesley Biblical Seminary, Master of Ministry
Church Answers University
Church Equip
The Hope Initiative
Church Answers Central
FREE Research Report: New Surprising Insights
Episode Sponsor:
Ready to take the next step in your ministry calling but don’t want to spend the next five years in school?
At Wesley Biblical Seminary, we’re excited about our new Master of Ministry, a 37-credit-hour graduate degree for pastors and Christian leaders that provides a solid foundation in biblical and theological studies and can be completed in as little as two years.
You’ll strengthen your ability to study the Bible, improve your preaching, teaching, and leadership skills, and learn to think theologically.
What’s great about this degree program is, if you like what you’re learning and decide to pursue the more comprehensive Master of Divinity degree, all your courses in the Master of Ministry will transfer up.
Classes are affordable and offered live online—so you get the benefit of real interaction with your professors and classmates, while still enjoying the flexibility of working from home on your own schedule.
Learn more and apply today at wbs.edu/mm.
Want to save even more time and money?
Right now, you can get nine hours of credit towards the Master of Ministry for any Church Answers University certificate program that you complete—a savings of $4,500. Learn more at wbs.edu/cau.
The post Why Church Guests Don’t Come Back appeared first on Church Answers.
23 min
September 23Five Signs Your Church Is Becoming an Insider Church
These are much more dangerous than most church leaders and members realize. Jess and Thom discuss why.
Most calendar decisions center on members’ preferences.
Church language assumes everyone already knows how things work.
Budget priorities increasingly favor those already attending.
Few ministries are designed specifically with outsiders in mind.
Members become irritated when guests or new people disrupt familiar patterns.
A bonus warning sign: the church talks much more about “our people” than “our community.”
Resources:
Wesley Biblical Seminary, Master of Ministry
Church Answers University
Church Equip
Know Your Church
Invite Your One
The Hope Initiative
Good News Neighbor Toolkit
“Eating the Elephant (Updated)” by Thom S. Rainer (affiliate link)
Church Answers Central
FREE Research Report: New Surprising Insights
Episode Sponsor:
Ready to take the next step in your ministry calling but don’t want to spend the next five years in school?
At Wesley Biblical Seminary, we’re excited about our new Master of Ministry, a 37-credit-hour graduate degree for pastors and Christian leaders that provides a solid foundation in biblical and theological studies and can be completed in as little as two years.
You’ll strengthen your ability to study the Bible, improve your preaching, teaching, and leadership skills, and learn to think theologically.
What’s great about this degree program is, if you like what you’re learning and decide to pursue the more comprehensive Master of Divinity degree, all your courses in the Master of Ministry will transfer up.
Classes are affordable and offered live online—so you get the benefit of real interaction with your professors and classmates, while still enjoying the flexibility of working from home on your own schedule.
Learn more and apply today at wbs.edu/mm.
Want to save even more time and money?
Right now, you can get nine hours of credit towards the Master of Ministry for any Church Answers University certificate program that you complete—a savings of $4,500. Learn more at wbs.edu/cau.
The post Five Signs Your Church Is Becoming an Insider Church appeared first on Church Answers.
22 min
September 23The Quiet Crisis of the 100–200 Attendance Church
This crisis is real and pervasive in American churches. Jess and Thom discuss why it is “quiet.” The church is often too large to operate relationally like a small church but too small to operate like a larger church.
The pastor can no longer carry the ministry personally.
The key transition is from a pastor-does-ministry church to a church-does-ministry church.
Volunteer systems become essential, yet many churches never develop them.
Informal communication begins to break down.
Longtime members may resist the changes necessary for continued growth.
Facilities, children’s space, parking, or worship capacity can quietly become barriers.
Resources:
Wesley Biblical Seminary, Master of Ministry
Church Answers University
Church Equip
The Hope Initiative
Church Answers Central
FREE Research Report: New Surprising Insights
Episode Sponsor:
Ready to take the next step in your ministry calling but don’t want to spend the next five years in school?
At Wesley Biblical Seminary, we’re excited about our new Master of Ministry, a 37-credit-hour graduate degree for pastors and Christian leaders that provides a solid foundation in biblical and theological studies and can be completed in as little as two years.
You’ll strengthen your ability to study the Bible, improve your preaching, teaching, and leadership skills, and learn to think theologically.
What’s great about this degree program is, if you like what you’re learning and decide to pursue the more comprehensive Master of Divinity degree, all your courses in the Master of Ministry will transfer up.
Classes are affordable and offered live online—so you get the benefit of real interaction with your professors and classmates, while still enjoying the flexibility of working from home on your own schedule.
Learn more and apply today at wbs.edu/mm.
Want to save even more time and money?
Right now, you can get nine hours of credit towards the Master of Ministry for any Church Answers University certificate program that you complete—a savings of $4,500. Learn more at wbs.edu/cau.
The post The Quiet Crisis of the 100–200 Attendance Church appeared first on Church Answers.
27 min

About The Church Answers Podcast

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The Church Answers Podcast with Thom Rainer is fast-paced, to the point, and sometimes witty. It addresses one question about church life and leadership in just ten minutes. Buckle your seatbelt and…