EST. - For the Established Church with Sam Rainer and Josh King

Pastors are held to higher standards. These standards are clearly defined in Scripture. Josh and Sam continue the discussion they began in the previous episode and talk about the practical implications of being above reproach. On this episode, they cover items like social media, bullying, power dynamics, and gluttony. Episode Sponsor: On March 22-24, experienced ministry leaders from around the co...

Pastors are held to higher standards. These standards are clearly defined in Scripture. Josh and Sam discuss the practical implications of being above reproach. On this episode, they cover items like work ethic, finances, hospitality, and the Billy Graham rule. Episode Sponsor: On March 22-24, experienced ministry leaders from around the country will gather on the campus of Southwestern Seminary i...

Josh and Sam debate some controversial subjects--all in good fun, of course! The spirited banter in this episode includes the topics of blended worship, how pastors should dress, age-segmented worship services, and pastors with side gigs. Listen in and have a laugh with them. Episode Sponsor: On March 22-24, experienced ministry leaders from around the country will gather on the campus of Southwes...

When you have a down day in worship it can bring you down as well. How do you respond? What can you do to stay encouraged? Sam and Josh discuss how low attendance affects pastors and how they can deal with an emptier room when preaching. Episode Sponsor: On March 22-24, experienced ministry leaders from around the country will gather on the campus of Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, to...

Hospitality is one of the most underrated spiritual gifts. Unfortunately, churches tend to invest too little in the ministry of hospitality. Good first impressions are critical to church growth. Josh and Sam discuss how your church can have a good first impressions ministry. They also talk about SWAG bags and what's reasonable for churches to give to guests and members. Episode Sponsor: On March 2...

Pastors can be busy. But you should not be too busy to make the most of your lunch hour. There is a better use of your time than eating a sandwich at your desk. Josh and Sam discuss three key ways to leverage your lunch to make the most of ministry. Episode Sponsor: On March 22-24, experienced ministry leaders from around the country will gather on the campus of Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth...

Most pastors and church leaders are still in recovery mode from a two-year whirlwind. Decision fatigue and burnout are real. But there is hope. On this episode, Josh and Sam discuss some good things that are coming for the church. God has a way of using difficult seasons to refine His people. Better days are on the horizon! Episode Sponsor: On March 22-24, experienced ministry leaders from around...

Not only are church members shuffling during this season but so are church staff. Almost every church will lose some people and some staff, but you can minimize the impact. A new focus on retention is necessary. On this episode, Josh and Sam discuss how you can keep your people during the great reshuffling. Episode Sponsor: On March 22-24, experienced ministry leaders from around the country will...

Every church uses technology. Air conditioners, heating units, or electricity are all forms of technology. But can you overdo it with lighting, screens, and sound amplification? The EST.church producer, Taylor Standridge, joins the show to discuss what is appropriate for worship and what might be too much. Episode Sponsor: On March 22-24, experienced ministry leaders from around the country will g...

A lot of church leaders have a lot of emotions right now. On this episode, Gary Moritz of City United Church joins the show to discuss the emotional impact of leading a church revitalization. Josh, Gary, and Sam discuss some personal stories of leading while also experiencing many emotions. Check out Gary's new book, "Carry On". Episode Sponsor: On March 22-24, experienced ministry leaders from ar...

A great reshuffling is occurring in ministry. Many pastors and church leaders are considering leaving. Many churches are looking to hire. On this episode, Josh and Sam discuss what you should consider before being hired. What is reasonable to expect from the church and what is unreasonable? We dive into preparing for the interview and how to research a potential church position. Episode Sponsor: O...

A great reshuffling is occurring in ministry. Many pastors and church leaders are considering leaving. Many churches are looking to hire. On this episode, Josh and Sam discuss what you should consider when making a hire. We discuss some simple tactics that can make a big difference in discovering the right person. Episode Sponsor: On March 22-24, experienced ministry leaders from around the countr...

Preaching isn't easy. On this episode, Josh and Sam discuss what they believe to be the hardest parts of communicating God's Word through a sermon. All of the Bible is preachable, but not every part is easy to teach. We cover the delivery of sermons, the concepts in writing sermons, and the best way to apply sermons through illustrations. Episode Sponsor: This summer, Southwestern Seminary announc...

The church is not a business, but business principles can help the church. How can you discern which aspects of business to incorporate into the life of the church? Mac Mayer from Life Church in Boise, ID joins the show with Josh and Sam to discuss. On this episode, we cover issues of pace, strategy, stewardship, and branding. Episode Sponsor: This summer, Southwestern Seminary announced a new nam...

Your church facilities are the most expensive discipleship tool. Why are they often neglected? Josh and Sam discuss their top ten reasons why facilities are important and how not to overlook them. Episode Sponsor: This summer, Southwestern Seminary announced a new name and vision for their undergraduate college. Scarborough College is now Texas Baptist College! TBC exists to glorify God by providi...

Whether you have paid staff or volunteer leaders, it's a good idea to have a retreat with your team. A change of pace and new scenery are good for creativity and thinking differently. On this episode, Josh and Sam discuss where you should go, how you can pay for the retreat, and designing the purpose of the retreat. Episode Sponsor: This summer, Southwestern Seminary announced a new name and visio...

Don't avoid awkward conversations. Good leaders take the initiative with tough conversations. What are some ways to receive and give criticism in a way that is helpful and not hurtful? Jonathan Smith joins the show with Josh and Sam to discuss ways to have difficult conversations without losing a relationship with someone. Episode Sponsor: This summer, Southwestern Seminary announced a new name an...

Do you plan your vacations months in advance? You should. On this episode, Josh and Sam discuss key ways to get the most out of your vacation. You can prepare for your vacation to minimize interruptions and maximize family time. Episode Sponsor: This summer, Southwestern Seminary announced a new name and vision for their undergraduate college. Scarborough College is now Texas Baptist College! TBC...

David Raney, Executive Pastor with Second Baptist Conway, joins the show to discuss a simple tool that any pastor can use to help create culture, develop Small Group Leaders and communicate more clearly. Episode Sponsor: This summer, Southwestern Seminary announced a new name and vision for their undergraduate college. Scarborough College is now Texas Baptist College! TBC exists to glorify God by...

Churches and pastors can fight. Sometimes these battles are worth it. Many times they are not. How can you make sure you're fighting the right battles? On this episode, Josh and Sam discuss issues of integrity. They discuss how you can make sure you have the right information before making assumptions of others. They also get into how you can check your motives before making a stink out of an issu...

It's that season! Time to prepare your church's annual budget. What are the best practices? What might you be missing in your budget? Josh and Sam discuss their recommendations for the process of determining next year's budget. Episode Sponsor: This summer, Southwestern Seminary announced a new name and vision for their undergraduate college. Scarborough College is now Texas Baptist College! TBC e...

For some churches, the best pathway to better health is through adoption. When a church is adopted, a healthier and stronger congregation receives a more vulnerable congregation into the family. How can you start the process if you are trying to lead the struggling church? Josh and Sam offer their insight into this phenomenon. Don't wait until a crisis hits. Now is the time to build bridges with o...

There is a reshuffling of pastors and church members occurring right now. Many pastors are considering leaving, and many churches are looking to hire for a variety of positions. But it seems like potential candidates and congregations are not connecting. Why is church hiring difficult right now? Josh and Sam discuss some reasons why on this week's episode. Episode Sponsor: This summer, Southwester...

Your lead pastor has mentioned or hinted that you are next in line for the role. What should you do? And what are the pitfalls to consider? On this episode, Josh and Sam walk through several real-life case studies. In most scenarios, the pathway is not as clear as you might think. We discuss the realities of succession in the typical established church. Episode Sponsor: This summer, Southwestern S...

Few preachers are in the pulpit all 52 weeks of the year. When you are not preaching, who do you invite to fill your place? On this episode, Josh and Sam talk about whether or not it is wise to bring someone in from the outside or to utilize current staff. Should you be gone on holidays or not? They also discuss how to train up others in the church to be ready to preach in your absence. Episode Sp...