Rainer on Leadership

Podcast Episode #327 Warren Bird joins us today to talk about how your church can break growth barriers at any level. Some highlights from today's episode include: * People are in your community. Are you ready to reach them? * "Pastors shouldn't be the only minister in a church. They should be the minister maker." * "Hire developers before you hire doers." * "It's not how many seeds are in an appl...

Podcast Episode #326 Millennials are being called to established churches, so today we cover six reasons they should answer those calls. Thanks to Sam Rainer for the outline for today's podcast. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Established churches are more likely to be more generationally diverse than church plants. * A sense of history of the church is invaluable to a new pastor....

Podcast Episode #325 Listener feedback has been great recently, so we take some time to answer your questions on this week's episode. We cover everything from hiring to boring churches to problems with former staff. Some highlights from today's episode include: * If a ministry event is high on resources and involvement but low on results, it may be time to pull the plug on it. * You hire in the ch...

Podcast Episode #324 Construction debt can be debilitating for churches, but there can be a way out. Today we discuss the unintended consequences of building too big and how to overcome them. Some highlights from today's episode include: * If you build too big of a church facility, these things may happen. * Don’t let unneeded building debt replace needed ministry funding. * Unwieldy debt can get...

Podcast Episode #323 Ministry résumés are a frequent topic for questions. So on today's episode we discuss all the details that go into a good résumé. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Want to make your ministry résumé stand out? Do it well. * The most common grammatical mistake on résumés is the use of random capitalization. * Use appropriate fonts on résumés. * If you’re going to p...

Podcast Episode #322 Mike Harland is back to talk worship and this time we discuss labels of music styles and if it's possible to have a congregation unified about worship styles. Some highlights from today's episode include: * "The lack of unity in worship is an indictment on the worship that's happening in our churches." * "You cannot build unity in a church around a music style." * "Because of...

Podcast Episode #321 Staff culture is important for healthy churches. Today, we talk with Bryan and Shannon Miles who lead the #1 staff culture in the U.S. according to Entrepreneur magazine. Some highlights from today's episode include: * "You can't ask others to do things you're not willing to do as the leader." * "As a leader, you can't force or create a policy that you're not willing to live a...

Podcast Episode #320 Church replanting is becoming more and more of a need as more and more churches face death. More than 4,000 churches a year die every year, but through replanting, they can live again. Today, Mark Clifton joins us to explain how. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Church replanting is working with churches so that they don't die or rescuing their resources if they...

Podcast Episode #319 A recent post on the urgency needed in many churches struck a nerve with many readers. Today, we unpack that post and talk about nine much needed changes for many churches. Some highlights from today's episode include: * We must be intentional about reaching people instead of depending on easy growth in the church. * We cannot go into our holy huddles wanting church to be abou...

Podcast Episode #318 Based on several research projects over the past two decades, it's safe to say pastoral tenure is increasing. Today we look at six reasons behind this increase. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Pastoral tenure has almost doubled over the past 20 years. * Baby boomer pastors know that if they leave a church, it will be tougher to find another one because of their...

Podcast Episode #317 Nearly every church has a facility. But not every church stewards their facility well. Tim Cool joins us to discuss facility stewardship and how churches can save money on their facilities in the long run. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Everything on earth has been entrusted by God to us to care for. * Stewardship in the church isn’t just about money. * The ex...

Podcast Episode #316 I recently spoke at a church in central Arkansas. What I discovered was a prayer ministry entering its 15th year. Here are my takeaways from the experience. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Prayer should fuel every ministry in a church. * There tends to be less conflict when a church's ministries are rooted in prayer. * Praying churches are typically unified chu...

Podcast Episode #315 Entitlement is a real problem in many churches. So today, we discuss warning signs you might see in a church that has a problem with entitlement mentality. Some highlights from today's episode include: * The pervasive force affecting the Millennial generation is entitlements. * We are living in an entitled atmosphere, and it’s affecting our churches. * One of the ways the chur...

Podcast Episode #314 Released just this month, the Christian Standard Bible is optimal point for accuracy and readability. Trevin Wax joins us to shed light on this new translation and highlights some of its unique characteristics. Some highlights from today's episode include: * When selecting a Bible, you shouldn't have to choose between accuracy and readability. * The CSB Translation team went t...

Podcast Episode #313 Easter is only three weeks away, so today we cover a few trends we are seeing in churches as we lead up to Resurrection Sunday. Also, we talk pants splitting, camels falling, and sets burning. Some highlights from today's episode include: * If your worship center is already at +70% capacity on Sundays, you might consider adding a service on Easter. * Churches should be taking...

Podcast Episode #312 Churches can measure so many things—giving, attendance, involvement and much more. But what should they measure? Today, we talk assessments, lead metrics, lag metrics, and how churches can more effectively assess what's going on in their church. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Try to do a secret guest survey at your church at least once a year. * General attend...

Podcast Episode #311 I hear far too often about the very real problem of preacher eating churches. We cover six traits that are found in these churches and how to remedy them. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Many times, church members are unaware that pastoral tenure is an issue in their church. * There are bullies and power groups in nearly every church. * Perpetual church conflic...

Podcast Episode #310 Kevin Ezell joins us to discuss trends in church planting, relief ministry, and missions in North America, as well as the Send North America Conference. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Church planting takes more than a planter. It takes a team. * "Every believer is called to be on mission." * "There are needs to be met right in the shadow of our own steeple. Bu...

Podcast Episode #309 Regardless of the size of the church, the pastor typically has to manage a staff. They may be volunteers; they may be paid. So today, we cover ten traits pastors should develop as they manage their staff. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Pastors need to have a compelling vision for their church. * Good bosses will always be looking to build up those who work und...

Podcast Episode #308 Regardless of the size of the church, the pastor typically has to manage a staff. They may be volunteers; they may be paid. So today, we cover ten traits pastors should avoid as they manage their staff. Some highlights from today's episode include: * These principles can apply to any leader— not just pastors. * Usually a pastor does not have time to micromanage staff constantl...

Podcast Episode #307 Mark Dever joins us on the podcast to talk congregational singing, politics, DC life, and ecclesiology. Some highlights from today's episode include: * "In the 1960's church services started changing into rock concerts." * "I see too many churches get tied up in battles over music, which is a shame." * "Most pastors like good congregation singing when they hear it, but haven't...

Podcast Episode #306 Keith and Kristyn Getty stop by for a discussion on congregational singing and practical steps you can take in your church to help the congregation sing more. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Pastors who take congregational singing seriously will lead churches who take congregational singing seriously. * "We are all called to sing and sing praises to God." Krist...

Podcast Episode #305 Evangelism in the church is waning, so today we cover 10 questions you can use to determine the evangelistic health of your church. Also, the "bee-line to the cross" quote is Spurgeon after all. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Relational evangelism without a gospel presentation is not really evangelism. * Once you move people to an outward focus, they stop thin...

Podcast Episode #304 The post this podcast is based on really caused a stir. Today, we give a little more explanation as to the reasons the 11:00 AM worship service is disappearing and offer tips on changing your service time if needed. Some highlights from today's episode include: * When deciding what time to have a worship service, survey the church and the community. * 11:00 AM is rarely, if ev...

Podcast Episode #303 Men's ministry is lacking in many churches, so today we cover the four essentials churches should consider when launching or sustaining a men's ministry. This episode is based on a blog post by Eric Geiger and walks you through these four essentials with practical application focused on ministering to men. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Every man needs godly m...