Hosted by Thom Rainer
Episodes
100
Latest episode
Aug 2026
Language
EN-US
Your online home for leadership lessons for both the church and the workplace.
Josh and Sam discuss a scenario that is more common than most realize: when a key donor or two are the only ones keeping the church afloat. The post What Should a Pastor Do When One or Two Key Donors Keep the Church Doors Open appeared first on Church Answers.
To help raise well-rounded young men and women who know they are loved by God, one church has created a focus on MASS: Mental, Athletic, Spiritual, and Social. Brian Kelly from Northside Church in Liverpool, NY joins Sam on the show to discuss how his church has used MASS to engage families in their community. The post The Four Domains of Successful Outreach to Families with Children appeared first on Church Answers.
Josh and Sam discuss why churches should still believe in short-term mission trips when they are approached with the right biblical purpose and practical care. While these trips are sometimes criticized for being expensive, shallow, or more about the travelers than the mission field, they can still be powerful tools for gospel partnership, spiritual growth, and leadership development. When done well, short-term trips do not replace long-term missions. They support and strengthen missions, and help churches cultivate a deeper heart for the nations. The post Why We Still Believe in Short-Term Mission Trips for Churches appeared first on Church Answers.
Pastors often look to the book of Nehemiah for practical lessons on leadership. However, in times of rebuilding and revitalization, we should not overlook the book of Ezra, with its story of the rebuilding of the temple. Ken Roach, Vice President of Innovation at Wesley Biblical Seminary, joins Sam to share the three “royal decrees” found there and how they translate into leadership principles every rebuilder needs to consider. The post Unique Church Leadership Lessons from the Book of Ezra You Haven’t Heard appeared first on Church Answers.
In this episode, Josh and Sam explore how pastors can prepare their churches for one of the most strategic ministry seasons of the year: back-to-school. As families shift routines, students face new pressures, and parents feel the weight of another busy season, churches have a unique opportunity to serve, encourage, and disciple. A strong back-to-school plan is not about adding more activity to the calendar. It is about aligning ministries, equipping volunteers, and intentionally supporting parents as they lead their homes through a demanding season. The post The Back-to-School Checklist for Pastors (Prepping Your Church for Ministry to Parents and School-Age Children) appeared first on Church Answers.
The 1990s may have been the most pivotal decade for religious change in modern America. In this episode, we look at Ryan Burge’s analysis of young adults and the sharp rise of the religiously unaffiliated during those years. The surprising part of the story is that no single Christian tradition collapsed on its own. Evangelicals, mainline Protestants, Black Protestants, and Catholics all lost ground, while church attendance also weakened. The result was not just a momentary shift but a long-term realignment that still shapes the religious landscape today. The post The Burge Report: Why the 1990s Were the Most Consequential in Modern U.S. Religious History appeared first on Church Answers.
Only 1% of churches have an ongoing emphasis on evangelism. Josh and Sam break down what successful evangelistic churches actually do. The post What Successful Evangelistic Churches Actually Do for Outreach appeared first on Church Answers.
Sam talks with Mike Stadelmayer at Church Growth Services about the harm a failed campaign can do and how to avoid those failures. The post Dodging Detours: Five Ways a Feasibility Study Protects Your Campaign from Pitfalls appeared first on Church Answers.
In this episode, Josh and Sam tackle a question many pastors quietly wrestle with: Should I respond to that post… or just scroll past it? Social media makes it easy to jump into theological skirmishes and digital debates, but Scripture calls pastors to something higher than winning arguments. Online quarrels often produce more heat than light, drain emotional energy, and distract from the real work of shepherding people face-to-face. While there is a time to contend for the faith, most comment-section fights are poor stewardship and rarely change hearts. Sometimes the most pastoral response is silence... and logging off. The post Should Pastors Engage in Online Fights? appeared first on Church Answers.
As more churches struggle to find qualified pastors, the future of church hiring is changing fast. In this episode, Thom and Sam explore what pastor shortages mean for congregations, why old search processes are becoming less effective, and how churches can adapt with greater clarity, flexibility, and realism. The conversation focuses on practical ways churches can rethink staffing, develop internal leaders, and build healthier expectations for the next generation of pastors. The post The Future of Church Hiring When Pastors Are in Short Supply appeared first on Church Answers.
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