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October 22, 202622 min
An Honest Perspective on Celebrating Halloween as Christians
Halloween often creates unnecessary tension among Christians. Some avoid it because of its association with spiritual darkness and the occult, while others view it as a harmless cultural tradition centered on costumes, candy, and neighborhood fun. Josh and Sam discuss how churches do not need to retreat from their communities during Halloween. The post An Honest Perspective on Celebrating Halloween as Christians appeared first on Church Answers .
October 19, 202623 min
How Churches Can Better Support Moms in the Unseen Midnight Moments of Motherhood
Sam welcomes Susan K. Pitts and Becky Thompson to the Rainer on Leadership podcast. They are a mother-daughter team who have built their lives around encouraging moms right in the middle of everyday life. Susan has spent over forty years in ministry, walking alongside women and families with wisdom and compassion. She is the prayer director for the Midnight Mom Devotional and co-author of the Midnight Mom Devotional books. Becky has spent the last decade creating resources to equip and encourage the heart of the momma. They are both bestselling authors and Becky is a national speaker who speaks honestly about faith and family. They are the authors of two devotional books, "Tonight We Pray for the Momma" and "Midnight Mom Devotional" and are the content writers for the devotional content in the "Midnight Mom Devotional Bible." In addition, they have a vibrant social media community on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok where they lead over 2 million mommas in nightly prayer. The post How Churches Can Better Support Moms in the Unseen Midnight Moments of Motherhood appeared first on Church Answers .
October 15, 202622 min
Hitting Home Runs with Church Marketing
Sam interviews David Graham of Five Loaves Marketing, and they talk about the best ways for churches to utilize marketing resources. The post Hitting Home Runs with Church Marketing appeared first on Church Answers .
October 12, 202623 min
Church Worship Attendance Is… Up! (For the First Time in Years)
A new Hartford Institute report shows median in-person worship attendance increasing from 65 to 70 since just before the pandemic. That five-person gain may sound small, but it represents a 7.7% increase and moves the median congregation above its pre-pandemic level. Still, the story requires careful interpretation. This is not a return to the church landscape of 2000, when the median congregation had 137 in worship. It is better understood as a modest but meaningful inflection point—encouraging enough to notice, but not strong enough yet to call a trend. The post Church Worship Attendance Is… Up! (For the First Time in Years) appeared first on Church Answers .
October 8, 202624 min
The Pastoral Burden of Never Having “Off Hours”
Josh and Sam discuss how to avoid the “always available” trap of shepherding a congregation. Unfortunately, many pastors, if not most, are never truly “off.” The post The Pastoral Burden of Never Having “Off Hours” appeared first on Church Answers .
October 5, 202631 min
Why Preachers Should Pick One Translation (And Which One Is Best)
Sam welcomes Dr. Nijay Gupta back to the Rainer on Leadership podcast. Nijay is a senior translator for the New Living Translation, a Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary, and the author of several books, including A Beginner's Guide to New Testament Studies and Tell Her Story. Today they discuss why preachers should commit to one primary translation in the pulpit, and why the New Living Translation is the best choice. The post Why Preachers Should Pick One Translation (And Which One Is Best) appeared first on Church Answers .
October 1, 202620 min
Should Pastors Encourage Burial Over Cremation?
Historically, Christians have favored burial. That practice was not accidental. Burial reflects the biblical pattern of honoring the body, treating death with gravity, and looking forward to the resurrection. In Scripture, the body is not treated as disposable. At the same time, the Bible does not give a direct command that Christians must be buried or that cremation is sinful. Josh and Sam discuss this question on today's episode. The post Should Pastors Encourage Burial Over Cremation? appeared first on Church Answers .
September 28, 202627 min
The Burge Report: Why Gen Z Might Be the Least Mobile Generation in American History
Americans are moving far less than they did in previous generations, and Gen Z may become the least mobile generation in American history. In the 1950s, about 20% of Americans moved each year. By 2019, that number had fallen to roughly 11%. Even more surprising, younger adults are more likely than older generations to say they have lived in the same local community their entire lives. Nearly half of those born in the early 2000s report never having moved from their local community. Ryan and Sam discuss how this trend also has implications for churches. People who stay rooted in one place appear somewhat more likely to remain connected to religious life than those who move away. Moving disrupts habits, relationships, and rhythms—including church attendance. For many dechurched people, the issue may not be a conscious rejection of faith, but the loss of a weekly rhythm after relocating. The post The Burge Report: Why Gen Z Might Be the Least Mobile Generation in American History appeared first on Church Answers .
September 24, 202625 min
How to Prevent Your Discipleship Model from Aging Out with the Older Generations
Many churches are beginning to recognize that their discipleship systems are no longer working as well as they once did. The problem is not necessarily neglect. In many cases, the problem is that the model was built for a different era—one marked by more frequent church attendance, earlier marriage, more stable family rhythms, and Baby Boomers providing much of the volunteers. That world is fading. Josh and Sam discuss how churches that adjust their discipleship strategies now will be better positioned to disciple effectively ten and twenty years from today. The post How to Prevent Your Discipleship Model from Aging Out with the Older Generations appeared first on Church Answers .
September 21, 202623 min
My Hope for Lifeway: An Interview with Dr. Ryan Blackwell, President and CEO of Lifeway
Sam and Thom welcome Dr. Ryan Blackwell to Rainer on Leadership to share his hope for Lifeway as the 11th President and CEO. The post My Hope for Lifeway: An Interview with Dr. Ryan Blackwell, President and CEO of Lifeway appeared first on Church Answers .
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