Rainer on Leadership

Podcast Episode #277 Healthy churches have healthy church staffs, but unresolved staff conflict can harm a church staff and keep a church from realizing her full potential. Today, we discuss how to handle 12 causes of staff conflict. Some highlights from today's episode include: * I have seen too many pastors go into a church and get eaten alive because they had no relational skills. * Focus on ho...

Podcast Episode #276 Church financial issues can sometimes precipitate church death. So today we cover a post by Art Rainer on the warning signs that a church may be dying financially. Also, we're collecting church budget data for a massive research project. If you'd like to participate, email your church budget to amy@churchanswers.com . Every participant will receive a free copy of the research...

Podcast Episode #275 Christmas is right around the corner for churches, so today we discuss 10 ways your church can better reach those in your community this Christmas. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Christmastime evokes feelings of tradition values that even secularists experience. * Nearly seven out of ten churches will have a Christmas Eve service this year. * Nearly two-thirds...

Podcast Episode #274 Drawing from a recent post on bad church guest experiences, we discuss how churches can respond to or avoid some of these issues. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Pastors typically do not hear about bad guest experiences because the guest simply does not return. * Any time you're expecting big crowds, be sure to prepare your members and remind them to sacrifice...

Podcast Episode #273 Maintenance mode can take over in any church regardless of its age or its size. Today, we discuss how to combat it and how to stay focused on the mission. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Regardless of the age or size of a church, the natural tendency is to turn inwardly focused. * Reversing the natural tendency of a church requires a supernatural response. * Ch...

Podcast Episode #272 Church compensation is always a hot topic of discussion, so on a recent trip through Nashville, William Vanderbloemen stopped in to discuss some new research and what he's seeing right now in church search. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Large churches are starting to move toward merit-based bonus compensation for the senior pastor. * "It's not helpful for eve...

Podcast Episode #271 Zechariah 4 serves as the textual basis for today's discussion on being a biblical church member. Some highlights from today's episode include: * A healthy church is nothing more or nothing less than healthy church members. * The New Testament is clear that believers are to be a part of a local church. * When someone is struggling with change in the church, the first thing you...

Podcast Episode #270 We cover listener questions on a host of topics including multi-level marketing in the church—something we've never really discussed on the podcast or blog. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Fellow church members should not be seen as targets for multi-level marketing and sales. * One of the worst things an associate pastor can do is become disloyal to the pastor...

Podcast Episode #269 Jared Wilson joins us today to talk about how writing informs blogging and vice versa as well as what it's like to go from pastoring in one of the most-churched states in America to one of the least-churched. Some highlights from today's episode include: * The way people consume content online has really changed over the past 10-15 years. * "I would rather have my preaching dr...

Podcast Episode #268 We conclude our two-part series on multiple styles of worship in today's episode. If you missed part one on why you shouldn't have multiple styles of worship (Episode 267), you can listen to it here. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Overall, I am more for a singular style of worship at a church than multiple styles. * Most communities do not have an abundance of...

Podcast Episode #267 In this first part of a two-part series on worship styles, we look at why you shouldn't have multiple styles of worship at your church. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Multiple service styles can create a sense of superiority or inferiority in a church. * When churches have multiple worship styles, it's often easy to tell which the pastor prefers. * There are a...

Podcast Episode #266 Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., joins us to talk about cultural issues in the church and how pastors can best minister in our changing cultural landscape. Some highlights from today's episode include: * “In about 25 years time, we’ve seen the most concentrated, high-velocity social change that human beings have ever experienced.” * “We need pastors whose intuition and worldview are...

Podcast Episode #265 Its rare to find a church who doesn't think they are friendly. But don't be fooled, not all churches are friendly. They just think they are. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Many churches are not friendly because the people are in holy huddles. * You have to have an eye for those you do not know in the church if you want to be genuinely friendly. * I know they'r...

Podcast Episode #264 Discipleship is critical to many aspects of the church, but today we discuss the link between the lack of discipleship and dropping out of church. It's a much closer link that you might think. Disciple's Path is but one resource we mention that might help combat this. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Churches where people demand to be served instead of being ser...

Podcast Episode #263 This recent post at ThomRainer.com sparked an intense debate on the subject of pastors and visitation. So today, we highlight that post and the points made in the post and the comments. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Pastors are to equip members for the work of the ministry. * If a pastor is doing all the ministry in a church, the members are having their God-...

Podcast Episode #262 I'm often asked for advice on discerning a call to ministry. Dr. Jason Allen joins us to flesh out this call and discuss his new book on the topic. Some highlights from today's episode include: * "Every Christian everywhere is called to minister." * "The first sign of a call to ministry is an intense, all-absorbing desire for the work.” * "God has very clear expectations for h...

Podcast Episode #261 The relationship between the music leader and a pastor is one of the most important relationships in the church. In this episode Mike Harland explains why. Some highlights from today's episode include: * “What happens on Sunday morning isn’t two things (music and preaching)—it’s one thing (worship).” * “Worship is not a performance ministry. It’s a discipleship ministry.” * “T...

Podcast Episode #260 Virtual outsourcing can be a real advantage for churches when used appropriately. We cover nine areas that can save churches time and money in this episode. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Sometimes it’s better to have someone on the outside do things for you that aren’t core to the ministry of the church. * Too many leaders hold onto everything, and they start...

Podcast Episode #259 Dying churches is a frequent topic on the blog. Today, we discuss four specific models of churches that can be considered on a path to death. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Without the centrality of Scripture, you don't really have a church. * The natural tendency of a Christian or a Church is to drift away from Scripture. * If you look in the mirror and ask t...

Podcast Episode #258 Reflecting on a post by Sam Rainer, we discuss the parameters of when office hours are needed—and not needed—for church staff. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Does your staff have a good work ethic? Do you trust them? Are they accountable? * At least a modest number of office hours is a good thing for church staff. * The world of ministry is not an 8-5 job. * M...

Podcast Episode #257 Other than salary and benefits, these ministry tools of the trade can be some of the most helpful for pastors and church staff. Some highlights from today's episode include: * These items are extremely helpful for pastors and staff when doing ministry. * If you want to make a pastor or staff member happy, tell them they have a book allowance. * If churches can't afford to pay...

Podcast Episode #256 As multiple worship services become more normative, the reasons people choose one service over another are not quite as simple as worship style. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Yes, some people choose a worship service based on style, but there are often other reasons. * Small group timing will affect what worship service people choose to attend. * When plannin...

Podcast Episode #255 Mike Harland joins us again to discuss worship in the church and how multiple styles can segregate generations within a local community of faith. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Churches are looking to go back to one worship style more than they are looking to move to multiple worship styles. * "If our worship and Bible study are segregated, the generations in...

Podcast Episode #254 Church bullies are a problem in many churches. Here are eight ways to spot them in your church. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Church bullies don't just have one of these symptoms, but multiple. * A strong personality does not a bully make. * You can't argue your way into favor with a church bully. * Arguing with a church bully can make things even worse. * Ti...

Podcast Episode #253 Experience takes time and doesn't come without mistakes. Today we discuss a recent post on rookie pastors and the mistakes they make as well as how to avoid them. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Most rookie pastors have never had to handle HR issues until they're in charge and then have no experience. * You should not go into personnel issues without guidance o...