Rainer on Leadership

My latest book, Scrappy Church, was written to offer hope to churches who think they may not have a future. God is not done with your church yet.

We need healthy churches. I've committed my ministry to helping churches grow healthier. But what does a healthy church look like? Today, we discuss seven traits they exhibit.

Legacy giving, or inherited funds, is something that churches often do not pursue. Today we discuss why that's often a mistake and how to do so.

We recently ran a Twitter poll to find out the most dealt with sacred cows in churches. The responses were both hilarious and worrisome.

Handwritten notes are a lost art for many. Today, we discuss why they are so important and how you can use them to boost encouragement in your church and ministry.

Leadership in the church tends to fall to those who are either the loudest or who want it the most instead of who is spiritually mature enough to handle it. Today we explore why this happens and how to avoid it.

I recently announced the launch of Revitalize Network—a 501c3 nonprofit organization focused on helping churches revitalize. Today, we discuss the details of the network and how you can join us.

With my upcoming retirement from LifeWay, we take time to look back on my 13 years as president. We discuss the challenges, the wins, the fun times, and the walk on the beach that changed the course of LifeWay forever.

Declining attendance isn't as much of an issue in churches as declining frequency of attendance. Today we discuss those who miss frequently and how to solve that.

Church unity is an issue in many churches. Fighting, gossip, and bullying can really play havoc on unity. Today, we discuss why and how churches can become more unified.

Pastors often fall into the trap of being people pleasers. Today, we discuss why and how you can say no to requests or even demands from church members.

Church staffing can be tricky in today's churches. On this episode we discuss reasons church staffing issues can hurt a church and how to deal with them.

Discipleship is something churches say they do, but also something they don't always really understand. Today we explain why.

Tim Cool joins us to discuss facility management and why a free building could be the most expensive building your church has. 

Many churches aspire to excellence, but unfortunately many of them miss the mark. Today we discuss how to excel in your church.

Burnout is a real issue for many, and pastors are not exempt. Today we discuss how church members can help their pastor avoid it.

Pastoral transition happens all the time. Today we discuss what makes for a successful interim pastorate and how InterimPastor. University can help.

There are several things you can do in worship services to improve the experience for guests and members. Today we discuss five such things—four of which cost nothing.

A recent LifeWay Research study reported on the invite habits of American churchgoers. Today, we examine the results and discuss how to correct the problems.

William Vanderbloemen joins us to discuss the problems churches often face when they are pastorless.

If churches want the next generation of members to give to their full potential, digital giving options are a must. Today, we explain why.

Tony Morgan joins us to discuss statistical trends he's finding in churches today and what those trends can mean for your church in the future.

Shannon Miles joins us today to discuss her new book, The Third Option, and the rise of working from home.

Is your church aligned with God's intended mission for her? A post by Sam Rainer serves as the basis of today's discussion on warning signs that you might be drifting from God's mission.

Money is a subject too many pastors avoid—but they shouldn't. It's important to preach and teach on biblical stewardship. Today we explain seven ways that can lead to increased giving.