Rainer on Leadership

Podcast Episode #152 We discuss a recent post on guest friendliness and seven steps churches are taking to increase their friendliness toward guests. Whether your church has a dedicated greeting time in the service or not, these principles will increase the friendliness in your church and help you retain guests better. Some highlights from today's episode include: * When you conclude services on t...

Podcast Episode #151 Talking about a recent post on what keeps churches from growing. While we cover the six main issues listed in the blog post, don't miss the bonus at the end. Some highlights from today's episode include: * It's much more difficult to lead a church to growth today than it was a few decades ago. * I don't think most church leaders realize most attendance decline is due to less f...

Podcast Episode #150 Today we discuss a recent post by Chuck Lawless on discipleship and cover eight steps that can lead to more effective discipleship in your church. We also reveal some lead indicators which show that discipleship is growing in your church. Some highlights from today's episode include: * The entire Bible is a discipleship passage—not just certain verses. * You will catch more pe...

Podcast Episode #149 Discuss the activity-driven church and how that has hindered ministry in many churches. Churches doing activities for activities' sake have created an insulated membership and stifled community involvement. Today we talk about how to get your church back on track with activities that match the purpose of the church. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Church activi...

Podcast Episode #148 A recent post, Six Reasons Why Women May Be Leaving Your Church, really generated a lot of feedback. So much so, that we took today's episode to discuss the topic further and cover these six reasons. While they may apply to men in the church as well, these are specific issues we are hearing from women as to why they decide to leave a church. Some highlights from today's episod...

Podcast Episode #147 We cover a few guidelines on dealing with giving in the church, who needs to know what, and how to assess current and potential leaders as it pertains to financial stewardship. Also, don't miss the story about the "budget pledge wall" at a church I once spoke at. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Violating the confidentiality of the giving records of church membe...

Podcast Episode #146 We discuss a recent blogpost on ministerial attire, and how that definition changes from church to church and region to region. Also in this episode, Jonathan managed to work in a Downton Abbey reference, and we completely sidestepped the women's attire discussion. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Demographic context matters a great deal in what a pastor wears i...

Podcast Episode #145 Discussion about ministry involvement in the community for church leaders. We also reminisce about a few small festivals and town nicknames. Some highlights from today's episode include: * There has been a notable shift in how pastors and ministers connect in the community. * Most ministers are probably not involved sufficiently in the community. * You shouldn't treat your com...

Podcast Episode #144 We explain the 10 symptoms found in sick churches. Some may exhibit a few of these—others may exhibit all of them. Jonathan also shares an idea for a church food blog. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Churches without a joyous spirit are most likely to be ones in decline. * There needs to be a way to measure evangelistic fruit in your church. * A church with a c...

Podcast Episode #143 A look at church vision statements and how they must be memorable, succinct, and connected to your church's discipleship process. If not, they will either fail or be quite ineffective. Some highlights from today's episode include: * A vision statement is God's specific plan for a specific church at a specific time. * Too many vision statements are abstract and don't click with...

Podcast Episode #142 This week, my newest book, I Will, was released. So today on the podcast, we give an overview of the book and the resources related to I Will. Be sure to listen for the giveaway in the podcast and be one of ten winners who will get a free, signed copy of the book. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Church membership is more about how you can serve than how you can...

Podcast Episode #141 Today on the podcast, Selma Wilson joins us to discuss the challenges and opportunities women face in leadership. Selma serves as vice president of organizational development at LifeWay Christian Resources and has been with LifeWay for more than 20 years. Some highlights from today's episode include: * The diversity and strength of your team makes you a stronger leader. * The...

Podcast Episode #140 Today on the podcast we discuss a recent post about pastors and why they shouldn't throw in the towel and quit. Some highlights from today's episode include: * It is rare that a "storm" hangs over a church indefinitely. * Leaders always get attacked the most. Critics see leaders as a convenient target. * Critics are often upset with the change more than they are upset with the...

Podcast Episode #139 Today on the podcast we tackle a problem every church has in some form—recruitment of volunteers. Whether you need teachers, small group leaders, ushers, or nursery workers, these seven keys will help you activate and retain volunteers in your church. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Too many times, we bring members into a church without letting them know the ex...

Podcast Episode #138 Today on the podcast we discuss a recent post from Chuck Lawless entitled 12 Signs of Mediocrity in a Church. Some highlights from today's episode include: * It is a sin to be good when God has called you to be great. * Churches should evaluate everything they do to determine how it can be done better. * Rather than doing several things poorly, do fewer things really well. * W...

Podcast Episode #137 We discuss how church culture has changed, is changing, and will continue to change in the future. Our society is pressing in on the church and will change much of how church is done, but we must hold fast to the unchanging Word of God in the midst of any change. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Cultural Christianity is ending. * As people change, culture shifts...

Podcast Episode #136 Jackie Bledsoe joins us this week on the podcast to discuss ministry and family balance, technology, and his upcoming book, The Seven Rings of Marriage. Some highlights from today's episode include: * There are so many benefits to technology but we have to watch our use of it and eliminate distractions to our family. * Pastors basically have two families, and there is a natura...

Podcast Episode #135 On the podcast we discuss power groups—both positive and negative groups. I also found out something about Jonathan that I did not know before. Some highlights from today's episode include: * I don't think any pastor has ever served in a church where there wasn't some form of a power group. * Gaining power for power's sake is a problem. * Every power group thinks they are doin...

Podcast Episode #134 Discussion about financial barriers and budgets in the local church. As we mention in the podcast, if you want us to examine an item in your church budget, email jonathan.howe@lifeway.com . Some highlights from today's episode include: * Both browbeating people about giving and completely ignoring it are not healthy for a pastor. * The church should lead by example in good ste...

Podcast Episode #133 Today on the podcast we discuss a recent post on trends in worship service times. Some highlights from today's episode include: * Psychologically, when a church service goes past noon, it feels "too long" for many. * Early services are growing in popularity with young families and Boomers. * There is not rapid growth in non-Sunday worship services. The growth is steady, but sl...

Podcast Episode #132 We cover a pair of posts on guest friendliness and what you should and shouldn't say to guests at your church. Some highlights from today's episode include: * If you tell someone they're sitting in your pew, they'll likely get up...and never return. * There is nothing good that comes from telling guests they are late and the service has already begun. * Parents do not want to...

Podcast Episode #131 We cover an often overlooked aspect of ministry: counseling. Most, if not all, ministers will be needed for counseling at some point in their ministry. So it is important to establish guidelines for counseling for the benefit of both the minister and those seeking the counseling. We also discuss premarital counseling and whether or not ministers should perform the weddings of...

Podcast Episode #130 There are a host of positive benefits to denominations. But their reputations can often be less than positive with those outside of the denomination. We often unfairly ascribe issues in local churches to a denomination as a whole as well as larger denominational issues to local churches within that denomination. So today on the podcast, we discuss the place denominations have...

Podcast Episode #129 We discuss many of the issues involved in moving to or from multiple worship services. In most cases, it's not just about adding an hour of programming. There are logistical issues almost at every turn, and communication and foresight are key parts to a successful transition. * Churches hold multiple worship services for various reasons: seating capacity, worship style, conven...

Podcast Episode #128 We discuss why church members dislike change and ways that pastors and church staff can help ease this tension when a church begins to grow. This comes from a recent blog post entitled Seven Reasons Some Church Members Don't Want Their Churches to Grow.. Some highlights from today's episode include: * When there is growth taking place, new people come into a church and things...