Rainer on Leadership

Ministry today and in the future will necessitate more co-vocational pastors and church leaders. What about full-time pastors who need to supplement their income? A side job may relieve financial pressure, expand skills, and create meaningful community connections outside the church. However, it can also be a distraction and create divided attention.

On this episode, Josh and Sam discuss some critical functions of their work as pastors that are not included in the typical church job description.

Churches rarely maintain success in a single ministry for 25 years, but one church has figured it out. In this episode, Sam sits down with Upward Sports Ambassador Donnie Sisk from First Baptist Church Pelham in Pelham, Alabama. For more than 25 years, Donnie has used sports ministry—especially basketball—to connect with families and share the gospel. His church now hosts a thriving league with ov...

Josh and Sam have a personal conversation about the ways they are intentionally working to keep their marriages healthy.

Though there have certainly been more difficult times in the course of church history for pastors, leading a church today is much tougher than it was 20 and 30 years ago. There have been some demographic and cultural shifts that reflect this reality. But some of the challenges can only be understood in the context of spiritual warfare. On this episode, Thom and Sam discuss six reasons why pastors...

In this tongue-in-cheek episode, Josh and Sam discuss their top annoyances as pastors. Everyone has their pet peeves, and the co-hosts share theirs.

In this episode, Ryan Burge and Sam examine newly released national survey data that reveal a significant shift in how young adults understand and report gender identity. Drawing on high-quality data from the Cooperative Election Study, the research shows a clear and statistically meaningful decline in the share of 18–22-year-olds identifying as transgender since 2020, with similar downward trends...

Lead pastors often provide management oversight of staff. But should they know what church staff give to the church? Josh and Sam break down the arguments on both sides, examine potential safeguards, and discuss how church culture and pastoral character shape the best approach.

How does a church grow without relying on people transferring from other congregations? Thom and Sam take a dive into this topic.

One of the biggest mistakes church leaders can make is assuming that abuse won’t happen in their churches. The belief that “it can’t happen here” is dangerously naïve. Any organization that works with children and other vulnerable individuals can be a target for predators. Satan specifically aims to attack churches and seeks to harm children and vulnerable people. Josh and Sam discuss this very im...

If your church cares about reaching the next generation, there’s an upstream strategy that strengthens every part of ministry: investing in marriages. Children’s and youth ministries matter deeply, but without discipling the parents who shape the spiritual culture of the home, churches often work harder than they need to. When marriages grow in grace, stability fills the home, volunteers serve wit...

Are aging churches a real problem? The US population has a median age of 39 years old. Most denominations have a median age of congregants close to 60 years old. Josh and Sam discuss why churches are a generation older than their surrounding communities. What are the implications of the aging trend in churches?

Big events can be a way for churches to reach people, but they often fail to draw people back once the event is done. Thom and Sam unpack what it actually takes to turn community events into gospel opportunities.

Josh and Sam talk about the rising tide of gambling addiction in the U.S., fueled by the explosion of online betting and sports wagering. With millions of adults and youth affected, and billions lost in social and personal costs, the issue is quickly becoming a pastoral and congregational challenge. This episode highlights the scope of the crisis, why it’s escalating, and how the church can respon...

While big cities often dominate attention and resources, it is the small towns and rural communities where congregations are disappearing fastest and where the church’s presence is most at risk. Thom and Sam explore why revitalizing and supporting small churches is essential for the future of Christian witness and how these congregations uniquely embody relational, community-anchoring ministry tha...

Josh and Sam tackle a growing and uncomfortable reality for pastors: what to do when one of your own church members becomes an online troll. The cohosts explore how to discern genuine critics from disruptive trolls, protect your church’s unity and safety, and lead with grace even when someone is trying to provoke you publicly.

Only one denomination in the United States has grown consistently. Drawing from nearly fifty years of data, Ryan Burge’s analysis shows a denomination that has not only maintained stability but also demonstrated resilience, growth, and demographic vitality. From membership and attendance trends to conversion inflows and racial diversity, the Assemblies of God presents a statistical profile that is...

Is the strength of our prayer life really measured in minutes? And what if shorter, consistent rhythms of prayer throughout the day lead to a more sustainable, joyful connection with God? In this episode, Josh and Sam explore how pastors and church leaders can cultivate a meaningful prayer life without tying their spiritual health to a stopwatch.

Thom and Sam interview Dr. Andy Miller, the president of Wesley Biblical Seminary, to explore what every potential seminary student needs to consider before enrolling. While seminary can provide clarity and theological depth, it is not a magic formula for ministry success. This discussion breaks down the practical steps every prospective student should consider.

Most nonprofit organizations have clear visibility into donor activity: who gives, how often, and how much. But churches often treat data on giving very differently. Should pastors know who is giving in their churches? Josh and Sam take a fresh look at this sensitive and often misunderstood topic.

In this episode, Thom and Sam shine a light on a trend few church leaders see: the silent exodus of senior adults. While much attention is given to reaching Millennials and Gen Z, an equally significant group is slowly drifting away: older adults who once formed the backbone of many congregations. Their departure isn’t loud or dramatic. It’s subtle: an empty pew, a missing volunteer, a longtime me...

Josh and Sam discuss the best way to handle Super Bowl Sunday. Should churches say anything about it? Play into the day with gimmicks to increase attendance? What's the best approach?

A surprisingly high number of churchgoers attend because someone simply invited them. In this episode, Sam and Thom unpack why 60% might be the most overlooked and powerful number in church outreach today.

In this episode, Josh and Sam explore what happens when a church becomes discouraged and how God restores hope in a congregation that feels stuck, tired, or overwhelmed. Discouragement drains energy, distorts reality, and slowly turns a church inward. Encouragement is both spiritual and strategic. It starts with leaders who refuse to catastrophize and instead cast vision. Pessimists predict failur...

In 2006, Simple Church encouraged churches to streamline programming, clarify discipleship pathways, and focus on moving people toward spiritual maturity rather than filling calendars with activities. The book had a significant impact, shaping how thousands of pastors thought about ministry systems and structure. Nearly two decades later, Thom and Sam take a fresh look: What principles stood the t...