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

Most pastors will transition to a different size church. Many move to larger churches, but some move to smaller churches. On this episode, Sam and Josh discuss the heart issues and organizational expectations when making the leap to a church of a different size. We offer some tips on how to prioritize your first few months and connect with people in the church. Whether you move to a larger or smal...

Ed Litton joins the show again to talk about the importance of ministering to your family, especially during a time of acute crisis. He shares his personal story of losing his first wife to a car accident. On this episode, Ed gives some of the best advice we've ever had on the podcast. We ask him pointed questions about what to do when your family is going through a horrible tragedy. Episode Spons...

When the community changes around a church, should the congregation change the name? Ed Litton of Redemption Church joins the show today. He shares the story of the name change at his church. The New Testament word for church is ekklesia, which implies a mobile group of people. The church must be flexible to accomplish the vision. On this episode, we cover good motivations for a name or location c...

Almost every church is smaller right now, which means the pool of potential volunteers is even smaller. Nowhere does a church feel this impact like in children's ministry. Jenny Smith joins the show and shares what churches can do right now to recruit more people. She talks about what it means to have a reset mindset and how to stabilize a volunteer base when people are not able to commit weekly....

Many established churches struggle to incorporate the whole family into the ministry of the church. While the need for age-segmented ministries will always exist, silos can form with age groups. Jenny Smith joins the show today to discuss how a church can equip the entire family together. Her ideas include a new way of doing a children's sermon, how to write your own curriculum that matches the se...

Credit cards can be helpful, but pastors need to be careful using them. On this episode, Josh King and Sam Rainer discuss best practices for pastors and church leaders when using credit cards. What limits should be on the card? How do you track receipts? Have a clear process with your church credit cards because it's something most church members don't see. Accountability and transparency are a mu...

Your voice is one of the most used tools in the pastor toolbox. If you preach regularly, then you must have a strategy for training your voice and a recovery method for your voice. On this episode, Josh and Sam talk about their voice strategies. We discuss whether or not pastors should sing in the service and how to engage people on Sunday morning without straining the voice. Credit for this episo...

The opportunity in 2021 is bigger than the crisis of 2020. In this week's episode, Josh and Sam talk about how they are planning for the upcoming year. They share some personal goals and goals they are setting for their churches. Your ability to pivot is just as important as the quality of your planning. Episode Sponsors: Located in Fort Worth, Texas, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is c...

Everything is breaking news now, and it's hard to discern what is important. Not everything being reported is newsworthy, and most media outlets sensationalize their stories. Josh and Sam discuss the ways they discern when to change a sermon based on a national or global event. Two key questions help. First, is it a biblical issue? Second, is it a culture-shaping event? Much of what is reported is...

Every pastor and church leader needs to have an appreciation and understanding of race, ethnicity, and culture. Chip Luter of Idlewild at the Springs joins Sam and Josh on today's episode. Chip shares his experience in transitioning from a predominantly black church in New Orleans to a diverse church in Tampa. Don't be afraid to talk with people of different ethnicities, hear their stories, and as...

Pastors often receive gifts from church members. Sometimes these gifts can be substantial. What should you do with cash gifts? What is your process for receiving gifts as a pastor? Chip Luter of Idlewild at the Springs joins Sam and Josh on today's episode. We share stories about some good gifts we have received and some odd gifts we have received. As a pastor, be willing to receive gifts but don'...

Both introverted and extroverted pastors can be encouragers. Matt Carter of Sagemont Church joins Josh and Sam on the show. They discuss how any pastor--no matter what their leadership style--can be intentional about encouraging others. Some churches are notorious for piling discouragement on pastors, and the cumulative effect of constant discouragement can be more than most realize. But pastors s...

What is a "normal" church? On this episode, Josh and Sam join Jimmy Scroggins of Family Church to discuss why every church is at least a little weird. All churches are messy! It's normal to be messy, but good shepherds will lead their people through the mess. The church you are in now is your "normal." It is not helpful to be obsessed with being like someone else or some other church. Josh, Sam, a...

With rising COVID case counts, many churches are wondering what to do about the Christmas season. On this episode, Josh and Sam discuss some ideas for Christmas Eve services and other events. You should not cancel Christmas at your church, but you may have to get creative. Don't be reckless for the sake of tradition but think of ways to serve your church and community. Episode Sponsors: Located in...

Every pastor makes mistakes. On this episode, Josh and Sam discuss some of the more common mistakes younger pastors make. Do not underestimate the power of symbols like the remembrance table, pulpits, and altars. Misdirected ministry ambition can lead to bitterness and jealousy. A lack of accountability can take you to a dark place. You don't have to know everything, so stop pretending like you do...

Jesus used sermon props like coins and sheep. He also used illustrations like parables. Sermon props and illustrations can be useful, but there is a point at which too much can become a distraction. Don't start your sermon preparation with the prop or illustration; always start your sermon preparation with the text. Josh Teis of Idea Network and Southern Hills Church joins us for this episode. Jos...

Pastors and church leaders are preparing for a lot of uncertainty with the next year. You should expect 2021 to become the new baseline for your church. Almost all of your metrics will reset. The first step in preparing for 2021 is to accept reality and don't get caught in the comparison trap with other churches. Now is the time to implement needed change... but graciously and carefully. Pastor Ma...

The number one indicator of spiritual maturity is daily Bible reading. On this episode, we discuss how to get your congregation reading their Bibles and share our favorite Bible reading plans. Steve Bezner of Houston Northwest Church joins us. Accountability and encouragement are key with Bible reading plans. When people read the Bible together, they are more likely to stick with it than doing a B...

As pastor appreciation month closes out, Sam and Josh share some honest feelings about how we show appreciation to each other. Churches should honor the entire staff, not just lead pastors. And unfortunately, not enough pastors and staff are as appreciated as they should be. The best thing church members can do to encourage their pastors is to invite someone to church and do God's work. Pastors sh...

Mid-week services are making a comeback as churches reopen. In fact, some churches are experiencing faster growth on Wednesday nights than on Sunday mornings. In the past churches could count on people attending three timeslots a week: Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday evening. Today, the most you will get is two timeslots. Wednesday evenings are a good option for the second timeslot. If...

Pastors are burning out at a record pace, but there is a way towards recovery. Karl Vaters joins Sam and Josh on this week's episode. The post-COVID recovery will take years, not months, in many small churches. Karl Vaters shares some key ways churches can begin the recovery process. Church unity is more important than church uniformity. Saving money is not a lack of faith; it's stewardship. Check...

In the coming months, a larger-than-usual shuffling will take place. Many pastors will transition to new ministry positions as others transition out. William Vanderbloemen joins Josh and Sam to discuss how you can prepare for your next ministry position. He also shares the fascinating inside story of how he started his company and his new venture, Christian Teams. We discuss several tips for pasto...

There are real dangers with constant notifications on your phone. Pastors must manage how and when to connect with people. Social media can be especially toxic. Mark Satterfield, Senior Pastor of the Glade Church, joins us on the show. How do we keep the phone from keeping us? It takes work to break the confirmation bias of social media algorithms. It's good to establish deep work patterns away fr...

Preaching and worship venues are getting smaller. The average size of a new worship space or new sanctuary is down significantly. Churches with large spaces are asking the question about downsizing. What does this mean for the future of the church? Michael Wood, the lead pastor of First West, joins Sam and Josh on this week's episode. While COVID-19 has temporarily changed how people feel about th...

Preaching has changed with COVID-19, but it's anything but dead. More pastors are in front of a camera than ever before. The preaching audience is broad digitally but also smaller in size in live venues. Clay Smith joins us on the show. He is the senior pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in the Atlanta area. We discuss what the next eighteen months of preaching will look like. A renewed apprec...